The Zoroark was fast. Dewott tried to distract it, but it was intent on chasing down the plasma members. It rushed past me again.

"Pansage, trip it!" Pansage swung a vine, catching Zoroark's leg. Zoroark tumbled but recovered almost instantly. It grabbed the vine and yanked Pansage to it. It slashed at Pansage several times.

"Razor shell!" Dewott lunged at Zoroark. It grabbed Pansage and threw it in Dewott's path. Dewott pushed past Pansage and swung its shells at Zoroark. Zoroark knocked the shells away and bit Dewott. I sent out Pignite.

"Flame charge!" Pignite engulfed in flames, rushing at Zoroark. Zoroark pushed Dewott away and met Pignites charge. Pignite knocked Zoroark into the air. It twirled in the air, landing in a tree. I returned Pansage. The Zoroark was focused on us now.

"We have to keep it still," Cheren said. "Water pulse!" Dewott fired the blast of water at Zoroark. It dropped out of the tree, charging.

"Pignite, protect Dewott!" Pignite got in the way, raising its arms. Dewott fired Water pulses at Zoroark. It kept evading them. It grabbed Pignite and started scratching it up.

"Cheren, now!"

"Water pulse!" Zoroark jumped off of Pignite, tumbling across the ground. The water pulse hit Pignite, knocking it out. Zoroark regained its footing and rushed at Dewott. I scrambled for another Pokeball. Zoroark slashed Dewott. Dewott collapsed. I sent out Pidove. Zoroark was going for Cheren.

"Steel wing! Protect Cheren!" Pidove moved like a blur, striking at Zoroark's head. Zoroark stopped, waving its arms at Pidove.

"Cheren, hurry, send another pokemon!" I shouted at him as I returned Pignite.

"I don't have anymore," Cheren said. "Just the useless Archen." Zoroark leaped at Pidove. Pidove flew above the treeline to get out of its reach.

"Cheren, hurry!" Pidove went for another attack, Zoroark grabbed it and threw it into a tree. Pidove collapsed, but it wasn't knocked out. Zoroark was moving faster than ever. It rushed at Cheren. Archen appeared in front of him, taking the hits. Pidove swooped in, slamming into Zoroark. Archen fell to the ground. I sent out Munna.

"Be careful, Munna, try to put it to sleep." Zoroark stumbled backward. The damage was starting to take effect. Pidove circled around for another attack. Munna used hypnosis. Zoroark turned to Munna, growling. Pidove attacked its head with a steel wing. Zoroark spun around, its movements slowing. "Pidove, keep it up!" Pidove chirped, starting to glow. Cheren picked up Archen. Zoroark slumped over. Sleeping. Pidove evolved into Tranquil.

"Your bond with your pokemon is incredible!" The man yelled. "Don't you see? Plasma idiots!" Tranquil landed on the ground beside me.

"What did you do to that Zoroark?" I asked. I started towards him. The team plasma people appeared again. They gathered between Cheren and me. The guy frowned.

"It'll be alright," he said. "It's only temporary."

"That's incorrect." Bronius walked up beside him. "That serum is a permanent scar on that pokemon."

"W-what?"

"While it receives a boost in strength and stamina, it cannot be controlled. Moreover, it doesn't have the presence of mind to perform any moves. The boost is only temporary. Once it wears out, that poor pokemon will be a husk of its former self." The man looked over at Zoroark. Bronius walked past him. "It was created by a former friend of mine, Colress." He approached the Zoroark, softly stroking its fur. The other team plasma members circled around him. "The audacity you must have. To preach about the bond between Pokemon and trainer while putting your own pokemon through this kind of torture." Bronius balled his fist. "You and your gang are truly scum."

"You shut your mouth!" The guy yelled.

"Cheren! Andrew" A Zebstrika rushed past The guy, running over to Cheren. Cheren smiled. Kenya and Bianca weren't far behind.

"Andrew!" Kenya waved her arms at me. The guy returned his Zoroark and ran off. Bronius spoke with the other plasma members. I remembered what Zinzolin said about the purge amongst team plasma. And what Bronius said in Nacrene.

"Are you guys, alright?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah, I'm good." I looked over at Cheren. He'd returned Archen and Zebstrika. He started to walk away. Bianca didn't say anything. Kenya glanced between Cheren and me. I returned Tranquil and Munna. Audino hobbled over to us, still carrying the egg.

"Andrew is your name, correct?" Bronius approached the three of us. I nodded. "And you two are?"

"I'm Bianca." Bianca beamed. "This is Kenya." Kenya waved.

"I am Bronius. I do believe we've met."