"Sucker Punch!"

Decidueye slammed his wing into Golduck's face, who was trapped beneath the Grass Ghost type.

Eve returned Golduck, eyes narrowed. "So it seems you want to reenact your battle with my mother."

She unclipped another pokeball from her waist. "You know, I was there. When you battled her beneath Ten Carat Hill."

Her eyes shook slightly. "I watched as she was crushed by falling debris, unable to save her."

Her gaze steadied. "She could've lived if you hadn't beaten her, Zeno. So, this time, I will win for her!"

She threw out Volcarona, who flapped her wings, the wind warmer now. "Use Heat Wave!"

Volcarona flapped her wings harder now, waves of heat cascading towards Decidueye.

"Let's see if we've lost our touch or not," I said grinning. "Phantom Force!"

Decidueye sank into the shadows, avoiding the attack.

"Double Team!" I shouted and a dozen Decidueyes appeared from one place behind Volcarona. "Spirit Shackle!"

A dozen arrows were fired, which all sank into Volcarona's shadow, damaging her.

"Destroy them all with Hurricane!" Eve shouted.

Volcarona stirred up the wind into a powerful force of nature, blowing away all the copies and the real Decidueye. He landed on the ground, wincing.

"Don't give up now," I yelled. "Let's finish her quickly with the new move you learned while on the ranch!"

Decidueye gave a sharp cry and got into position, body bent, head forwards, wings outstretched, a harsh glow emanating from him.

"Don't let them!" Eve warned. "Fiery Dance!"

Volcarona twirled, embers scattered from her wings and shooting towards Decidueye. Upon contact, a tornado of fire erupted around the Grass type. When the flames died, Decidueye was still there, slightly charred, but still glowing.

"Now then," I shot out my hand. "Sky Attack!"

Decidueye gave a loud shriek and burst towards Volcarona, slamming into her middle. Wind streamed behind him upon impact, creating a small explosion as Volcarona shot backwards, slamming into a nearby tree, leaves falling to the ground.

Decidueye stood, dusting his feathers off as Eve returned Volcarona. I heard Riolu and Froakie cheering from behind and I smiled. This would be good experience for the two of them, to see my old team in action.

"Return Decidueye," I said, calling him back into his pokeball. "You did well."

"What's the meaning of this!?" Eve asked angrily.

I smirked. "Look, he already beat two of your Pokemon quite easily. If you insist on continuing this futile battle, I feel like giving my other Pokemon some attention."

Hey right eye twitched, but she calmed down. "My intention isn't to beat you, Zeno, despite what I said earlier. We are only here because I want to know your strength, why my mother lost and died by your hand."

Her eyes narrowed. "I fully expect you to get in my way like you did in Alola, but that is an undetermined future."

"So you just want to battle as normal trainers then," I raised an eyebrow.

She nodded and I asked, "Then why kidnap those Pokemon?"

She gave a sideways glance at Vivillon, Tyrunt, and Heliolisk in the cage behind her. "Insurance. I had no way of knowing if you would battle me like this because of my background."

She held out her hands. "I assure you Zeno, Team Radiance isn't going to be causing this region any trouble."

"And why don't I believe that?" I asked dubiously.

She sighed. "Believe what you will. But your true enemies lie in the shadows, waiting for their opportunity to strike."

Not giving me the chance to question her further, she pointed her finger at me. "Now, let us continue this battle."

I chuckled, grinning. "Alright then, Eve. Let us battle, not as enemies, but as trainers. But only this once."

I flipped a pokeball into the air, releasing Lycanroc, who shook his body. "Accelerock!"

He growled and sped forwards.

"Earthquake!" Eve shouted and Aurorus began stomping on the earth, cracks spreading along the ground.

Lycanroc leaped over the rising ground, slamming into Aurorus.

"Freeze Dry!" Eve yelled.

The spot where Lycanroc made contact burst with a cloud of mist and ice, trapping Lycanroc in ice. As he fell, the ice shattered explosively as he was thrown across the shaking earth.

"Nature Power!"

Aurorus launched an Energy Ball, sending Lycanroc crashing to my side. He got up, snarling.

"You won't be able to last much longer," I warned. "You wanna keep going?"

He barked and padded forwards, glaring at Aurorus.

"Alrighty then," I threw out my hand. "Accelerock one more time!"

"Keep it coming!" Eve shouted. "Earthquake!"

I smirked. "Change gears! Rock Climb!"

Lycanroc howled, claws extending as he ran across the moving, broken earth. Launching himself into the air, he came down slashing along Aurorus' side, knocking her off balance.

"Aurora Beam!" Eve yelled and the beam went wild as the Ice type came crashing down.

"While she's down," I raised my hand. "Stone Edge!"

Sharp stones appeared around the Rock type and were sent flying into Aurorus, making her cry out in pain.

"Keep him at bay with Blizzard!" Eve commanded.

The air around Aurorus became frigid, before a storm of ice and snow blasted from beneath Aurorus, slamming Lycanroc away. The Ice type got to her feet as Eve shouted, "Hyper Beam!"

Aurorus tilted her head back slightly before unleashing a beam of energy, pushing Lycanroc further into the ground where he lay. When the dust cleared, he had fainted in a crater.

I returned him and tucked his ball away. "Don't feel too bad. We can't win against every Pokemon."

I grabbed my third pokeball. "Now we're back on equal footing with her. Not for long. Let's go, fossil against beast!"

With a mighty roar, Gyarados appeared on the battlefield, glaring at me.

"Hey now," I said, holding up both of my hands. "Look, we have Team Radiance present, so let's get along now shall we?"

He came closer, staring into my eyes, before turning to face Aurorus.

"There we go," I nodded. "Now then, let's give them a taste of their own medicine. Hyper Beam!"

Gyarados reared back his head and unleashed a more powerful beam of energy, making Aurorus slide backwards, before falling down on the ground with a loud THUMP!

Eve just smiled and returned Aurorus, before sending out Tsareena. "Teeter Dance!"

Tsareena twirled around confusingly and Gyarados began shaking his head, eyes unfocused.

"Oh no," I backed up about five feet. "Not good. Gyarados, can you hear me!?"

His head swiveled from right to left, before he began charging up another Hyper Beam.

"Now's our chance," Eve grinned maniacally. "Use Leaf Storm to get above him!"

Leaves began swirling around Tsareena's feet and she shot upwards, avoiding the Hyper Beam.

"Razor Leaf!" Eve shouted. "Follow up with Trop Kick!"

Tsareena blasted Gyarados with sharp leaves from above, before descending right foot first, slamming it into the side of his head.

"Use Bounce!" Eve commanded as I grimaced. At this point, while he was still confused, I wouldn't be able to get through to him. I would just have to hope he would snap out of the confusion.

Tsareena bounced off his head as Eve yelled, "Power Whip!"

A long grass whip grew out from Tsareena's right hand as she snapped it around Gyarados' body. While still in the air, she swung the glowing vine upwards, then down, slamming Gyarados onto the earth, forming a crater.

"Trop Kick!" Eve shouted.

It was now or never.

"C'mon Gyarados!" I yelled. "You can do this! Ice Fang!"

Gyarados shook his head as Tsareena descended upon him, his eyes focusing with rage. Frost began flowing from his mouth as he surged upwards and around Tsareena, biting into her side. She cried out in pain as ice spread along her body and Gyarados' mouth began lighting up.

"That's it!" I shouted in glee. "Now use Hyper Beam!"

Tsareena's eyes went wide, matching her trainer's, before she was blasted from Gyarados' mouth and sent slamming into the earth, fainted.

"Come on back Gyarados," I said, returning him as Eve returned her Grass type.

We both sent out our next Pokemon. Mine being Mimi the Mimikyu, and Eve's being Malamar.

"Saving Florges for last huh," I remarked.

"Something like that," Eve smirked. "Malamar, use Psycho Cut!"

He swung one of his tentacle arms, a blade of psychic energy crashing into Mimi, causing her doll head to flop down.

"Don't be discouraged," I said. "Shadow Sneak!"

Mimi sank into the ground, becoming a shadow. She zoomed behind Malamar before launching herself up and slashing at Malamar.

"Night Slash!" Eve yelled.

A dark, fierce wind swirled around Malamar and he directed it into Mimi, sending her tumbling on the ground.

"Wood Hammer!" I shouted.

Mimi launched herself back up, using her green glowing 'tail' to stop herself. She then launched herself forwards, aiming for Malamar's head.

"Pluck!"

Malamar's beak glowed blue and he bit onto Mimi's 'tail', wincing in pain, before swinging Mimi into the air.

"Now use Signal Beam!" Eve ordered.

"Break through it with Drain Punch!" I shouted.

A shadowy hand emerged from beneath Mimi's Pikachu costume, curling into a green glowing fist. She fell towards Malamar as he fired the beam of energy at her from his beak. The Drain Punch deflected the beam attack, smashing into Malamar's face.

Mimi landed on the ground as Malamar fell on his back, so I yelled, "Shadow Claw!"

Another shadowy hand emerged and both grew larger and sharper. She sliced Malamar up into the air, before slashing downwards. As Malamar's body bounced off the surface of the earth, sparks of electricity ran across his glowing body.

"Thunderbolt!" Eve yelled.

Malamar wrapped a tentacle around Mimi, zapping her with a bolt of electricity.

"Two can play at that game!" I shouted. "Use Thunderbolt as well!"

Mimi's eyes gleamed red as she absorbed the electricity, before zapping Malamar with his own power, shocking him into fainting.

Sighing, Eve returned Malamar. "Oh well. I was hoping I could beat you without pulling out my trump card."

Her eyes gleamed. "It seems I have no choice."

"Mimi," I said cautiously. "Be ready for anything."

Eve held up an Ultra Ball. "Florges was my mother's signature Pokemon, the one closest to her. It wouldn't be right for me to use her. But, I have my own partner to help me out."

Her grip tightened. "I had said I was there when my mother was crushed. Hadn't you wondered I how I survived that."

I didn't like where this was going. "How did you survive?"

"Simple," she smirked. "He saved me."

She clicked the button on the Ultra Ball, the ball opening, but nothing came out. The only thing inside it was a blinking red light.

Suddenly, the sky, which had already descended into dusk, darkened even further as huge storm clouds formed above. With a loud thunderclap, a bolt of lightning struck the ground ten feet in front of Eve, a cloud of dust drifting into the air. A figure rose onto his hind legs, paws sparking with electricity. Electric blue eyes gleamed as stray blue sparks zipped off his body.

"Meet Zeraora," Eve held out her arms. "The Mythical Thunderclap Pokemon."

"Mythical," I breathed, realizing the situation I was now in as I heard gasps from behind me.

My mouth tightening into a thin line, I said, "Let's do our best. Shadow Claw!"

Mimi lunged for Zeraora as Eve said, "Use Plasma Fists."

I blinked and Zeraora was gone, only to reappear in front of Mimi in just half a second, punching her with a blue electricity enhanced fist. She was blown backwards, landing at my feet fainted.

I returned her, shocked by the Pokemon's speed and power. At this point, I couldn't back out. Decidueye and Gyarados were already damaged, and Kabutops was a Water type.

"Only one choice then," I held up a pokeball. "Arcanine, I choose you!"

He appeared on the battlefield and I had a feeling even with his strength, he wouldn't be able to match up against a Mythical Pokemon.

"Extreme Speed!" I shouted.

Arcanine burst towards Zeraora, becoming a blur. However, he was knocked up in the air by the Electric type, who had appeared beneath him on his back, fists pointed up. He leaped to his feet and jumped up and above Arcanine.

"Discharge!" Eve yelled.

Zeraora let out a roar, a sphere of electricity forming around him in the air, blasting Arcanine back onto the ground.

As Zeraora landed back on the ground, Arcanine laid where he had fallen for a few seconds before his legs twitched.

I raised my hand. "Extreme Speed!"

In a flash, Arcanine had gotten to his feet and slammed into Zeraora, who seemed not to have expected Arcanine to still be able to fight.

"Unexpected," Eve admitted. "But we'll still win."

"Yeah," I fished something out of my pocket and clasped it onto my left wrist. "You likely will. But we won't lose without a fight."

I clicked the red crystal onto the bracelet, energy connecting me and Arcanine. I uncrossed my arms in front of me, recrossing them, fists pointed towards Arcanine. I billowed my hands upwards, then reached out with my left hand while reaching back with my right. My left hand closed itself on a fiery bow while my right drew a fiery arrow. Arcanine crouched, before running full tilt for Zeraora, who's fists sparked with blue electricity.

I drew back the arrow on the bow, eyes narrowed, before letting go and shouting, "INCINERAZING ARROW!"

The arrow struck Arcanine on the flank, flames erupting around him, forming into an arrow shape. He blazed towards the Mythical Pokemon, who lunged forwards, holding out his electrified paws. The flaming arrow slammed into Zeraora, who managed to slow the Z-move down. The Electric type's face turned into a snarl, before morphing into a wide grin.

I could feel Arcanine in the Z-move, pushing with all his might against Zeraora's strength. Bursts of fire and electricity occurred at the point where the two met, each one not giving the other an inch.

"ZERAORA!" Eve shouted.

"ARCANINE!" I roared.

Both Pokemon pushed with renewed energy, but it was Zeraora who made the first slip. His back paws slid backwards against the ground, pushing up the dirt around them. I had to shield my eyes as the red and yellow lights from the two became almost blinding. Then, with a burst of speed and power, Arcanine surged forwards as Zeraora's arms gave out. Arcanine slammed into him, an explosion of fire and electricity lighting up the sky. When the cloud of smoke cleared, Arcanine stood, breathing heavily, Zeraora nowhere in sight, only a blue lightning bolt zigzagging its way back up into the thunderclouds, which then disappeared.

Eve just shook her head, smiling. "So this is the power of the Hero Born of Darkness."

I walked up to stand next to Arcanine, feet from Cassandra's daughter. "I'm not him anymore. I'm just Zeno."

Eve laughed, and for a moment, I saw Cassandra in her place. "Alright then, Zeno. But, don't let that stop you from being a hero for this region."

"You mentioned something like that before," I said. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "Not something I could tell. It's more of a feeling. Trust me on that."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is your endgame, Eve?"

She waved her hand. "You'll figure it out. It isn't something region threatening, much less world threatening."

She raised her hand and Kamake pressed a button on her suit's sleeve. "As promised, the Pokemon will be returned. Thank you for this battle, Zeno."

I nodded as the three captured Pokemon made their way back to their trainers. "Look, if I could have saved Cassandra, I-"

She held up her hand to stop me. "That doesn't matter anymore. Farewell, Zeno."

She walked past me, her grunts following her. Kamake put a hand on my shoulder. "Next time we meet, let us battle."

I sighed. "Seems like everyone wants to do that with me."

Kamake gave a small smile. "If it's any consolation, working for Eve is much better than working for her mother."

With that, she followed Team Radiance. When they had all disappeared down Route 7, I went over to my friends, Clara, and the two gym leaders after returning Arcanine.

Froakie leaped onto my shoulder. "Froak Froak Froakie!"

I laughed and rubbed his head as Riolu punched my leg softly.

"What did she say?" Alex asked.

My mouth twisted into a grimace. "We don't have to worry about her, for now at least. But, there are others out there. I don't know who or what they're planning, but it isn't good."

Robert sighed and ran his hand through his short blonde hair. "So, the usual then."

Grant laughed. "Sounds like it'll be a tough road for you three. I would object to you three dealing with shady people like Eve, but Zeno's strength proved to me that you're capable. I look forward to your gym battle. Meet me in Cyllage City and we'll have some fun."

He waved us goodbye as he entered the cave up ahead.

Viola sighed, smiling. "He's always like that. Once he sees a wall that looks promising, he can't wait to climb it."

She looked at the four of us in turn. "Good luck on your journeys, all of you. If trouble arises, don't hesitate to call on us gym leaders. It's part of our duty to protect Kalos."

She looked at Clara now. "I have a feeling you won't be coming back to the Chateau. Remember, having fun isn't always a bad thing."

With that, she began walking back in the direction of the Battle Chateau.

Clara sighed, then glared at me. "Zeno."

"Yes?" I asked hesitantly.

She looked like she was struggling for a moment, before saying, "Let me join you three on your journey."

Both Alex and Robert's eyes widened, but I asked, "Why?"

She gripped a fist. "I want to know how you were able to get your Pokemon to be that powerful. Show me. Please."

I stood there, staring at her for several seconds, before deciding. "Alright then."

I held out my hand. "Welcome to our team, Clara Acord."

Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. Been busy with things. Anyway, I might only be able to get another two chapters of this before school starts for me, so be aware of that. Till the next update. Toodles