Betty wanders around the main tent area. She notices many of her coworkers all reading newspapers and fixed on the employment section of all of them. The brionne makes her way to Zach. “Hey, Zach.” Zach lifts his head from the paper and meets her gaze. “What gives? Why is everyone just sitting around doing nothing?”
“They all have given up… They figured ‘what’s the point?’ All shows have been canceled and we’re all getting cut loose…”
Betty sighs. “All right, listen everyone!” She draws the attention of all her coworkers. “I know times are hard, but we need to hang on and not lose hope! We still have each other, am I right? We’re family!”
“And what do you suggest we do, Betty?” asks Manny. “What do you propose?”
“Haven’t thought of that, but whatever happens, we’ll find a way!”
“Betty.” Ringmaster Raichu approaches her. “I have two pokemon in my office who want to talk to you. They’re both from the theatre.” Betty doesn’t say another word. She follows the raichu outside and into the office hut.
When Betty enters, her eyelids peel back upon seeing the two pokemon standing before her. “Elle and Gloria?!”
Gloria smiles. “Hey there, Betty! It’s good to see you. We have wonderful news to tell you.”
“Let me guess… We all will be sacked and you two and your theatre friends will be taking over…”
“Actually,” Elle begins. “We’re bringing together both the theatre and circus to provide entertainment to all of Heroto!”
“W-wait, what?! You two were the pokemon who bought us out?!”
“That’s right! We want to enhance entertainment for the whole town. Pokemon deserve to see spectacular performances.”
“We’re also making you the biggest attraction,” adds Gloria. “’Betty the Brionne, Heroto’s Beautiful Brionne!’ Best voice in all of the region!”
Betty manages a smile. “Well, that sounds amazing… But, what about the other pokemon?”
“Don’t worry about them,” Elle claims. “The other circus pokemon are a part of it, too. They will keep their acts, as well as be included in plays for the future. This will be incredible for every pokemon!”
“So, we’re all not getting canned?! We’re all keeping our jobs?”
“Well, not all of you," Gloria says. “We have made a decision to cut ‘certain pokemon’ from the new business in order to brighten audiences.”
“What do you mean by ‘certain pokemon…?’” Both the shiny celebi and goodria stay silent as they look at each other. “Zach’s one of them, isn’t he? Who else…?” Still silence. “Just Zach?! Why?”
“Betty…” Gloria takes a step forward. “Zach doesn’t share the same vision as we do. He doesn’t fit in with the new company. We cannot keep him on.”
“But, he’s part of the circus! He’s part of our family.” The brionne faces Elle. “Why are you allowing this?! You dated him! You know him well!”
“Yes,” Elle tells her. “But, I talked everything over with Gloria…”
“You shouldn’t do this… He has nowhere else to go.”
“Are you willing to sacrifice your career for that riolu?” asks Gloria.
“Not really… But this is wrong…”
“We understand,” Elle injects. “We have to make good business decisions, however."
“Just give Zach a chance,” Betty insists. “Ringmaster Raichu did, and so did we.”
Elle turns to look at Gloria, then back at Betty. “We… will think about it… First, we need to make our announcement. You better head on out there. Don’t say anything to him, okay?”
“Fine…” Betty turns and leaves the office and heads back into the main tent. Zach comes up to her and asks her if everything is okay. “Huh? Oh, fine, Zach. It’s just-”
“Ladies and gentlemon!” shouts Elle, coming into appearance with her girlfriend. The performers all stop and look. “We are happy to inform you that I, and my girlfriend, Gloria, are the circus’ new owners, as well as the theatre. Now, we want to address many questions you all may have. To summarize everything, we are merging the theatre and circus businesses into a large entertainment company! This means, you guys and the theatre pokemon will be working side-by-side.”
“So, we’re all not losing our jobs?!” cries Richie.
“We’re all okay?!” spurts the chimchar.
“Yes!” Elle continues. “You guys won’t be losing your jobs at all! You will both be working together to bring smiles and joy to all pokemon of Heroto, and many others coming to visit from all over! On top of that, you will also be staring in plays and your own acts at the same time. This marks a new era in the entertainment industry! So, my fellow pokemon, let’s get out there and make the world smile!” The circus pokemon all cheer and applaud, except for Betty. They all then disperse and chat amongst themselves,
“That is great to hear,” says Zach. “It will be an honor to make pokemon laugh and smile.”
“Um, yeah,” Elle begins. “About that…”
“Maybe now I can show off some new agility tricks and routines!”
“Zach, listen. We-”
“Or maybe I can partner up with Betty and perform alongside her. Pokemon would love-”
“Riolu, you’re fired,” Gloria interrupts.
Zach freezes. “W-what?!” He lets out a chuckle. “Ah, you got me. Funny to fool with me.” His smile disappears when he notices the three pokemon are silent and staring. “Y-you aren’t joking…? W-why…?”
“You do not fit in well with us. In fact, the new company wishes to focus on making pokemon smile and laugh. They do not want to be reminded of fails from loser pokemon.”
“But, I’m much better than that!” He shifts to Elle. “You know well, right? You said it yourself; I’m more than just a pathetic loser.”
Elle crosses her arms. “Zach… We both talked about it already. We’ve made our decision.”
“You can’t be serious… Maybe I can do something else besides my normal act. I can show you I can fit in.” He turns to Betty next. “Right? Please tell them. I know you’d stick up for me…” Zach notices she tilts her head and places her paw on it, remaining silent. “Betty… Please…” Still nothing from the brionne. He looks back at the two girls. “Listen, I-”
“Go back to your trailer,” Gloria orders. “Take off your outfit, and be off the premise by sundown. You are done…”
“I’m sorry, Zach,” Elle tells him. “It has to be this way.” Zach’s ears droop down. He turns and bolts out of the main tent with his face hidden behind his paws.
***
Betty enters his dwelling and looks around. “Zach?” She then spots him sitting on his bed. His head tilted downward toward the ground. “There you are…” She moseys on over to him. “You doing okay?”
“No,” the riolu responds, keeping his gaze fixed downward. “I am not…”
“I’m sorry… I wanted to tell you… I just-”
“I just want to ask you something,” he interrupts. “Why didn’t you stand up for me…?”
“I was going to… But they told me off.”
“I thought we were family… I thought we’d be in this together…”
“Zach, believe me! I wanted to yell at them. I even told them to give you a chance! They didn’t listen to me!” She lets out a sigh. “They promised to make me a huge star… They want me to be the main attraction of Heroto…”
“I see that’s more important,” he says, sarcastically. “Being a huge star instead of standing up for your friend… Your family member…”
“I know I’m being an asshole… But, I don’t have anything left… The circus is all I have. What am I supposed to do? Get put out on the street and sacrifice everything I ever worked for, all for the runt riolu?” Zach stands quickly and into a ready stance. He uses his force palm move, but Betty backs up in time with a raised hand to him. “Whoa, shit! Zach… I-”
Zach relaxes his stance. Tears develop in his eyes. “Get out of my sight…! Leave… Please…”
“Zach… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean for it to come out like that…”
Zach sits back down on the bed into his previous position. “You know what, why bother…? I’m always getting hurt… I shouldn’t even be mad at you… It shouldn’t be fair for you to lose your job over me… Right…?”
“I’m sorry…”
“Stop apologizing…”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“No…”
“Well… I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors…”
“You, too…”
“Maybe, we’ll meet again, one day…”
“Doubt it…” Betty turns and leaves the hut, leaving the riolu to himself.
***
Zach is last to exit his former home, having stripped himself of the jester outfit and makeup, heading on his “merry” way. Upon waltzing into town, he is taken aback by many pokemon clapping and cheering around him. Zach becomes flattered and smiles before taking bows.
“Yo, Team Rescuers!” shouts an onlooker. Zach ceases and looks ahead to see the guild passing by, waving and smiling at all the pokemon cheering for them. The riolu keeps his gaze on the pokemon as they travel down, remaining silent as the crowd applauds. He decides to vacate the area and continue onward.
