Frenzied Lilligant
"Morning Zach!"
"Morning Akari!" The two close friends and research partners greeted each other outside of their dorms as per their morning tradition, Akari offered her friend a warm smile before tilting her head lightly as her gaze took in his hair. She hadn't really noticed until now but it had gotten a bit long over time as he didn't have access to the usual ways of trimming his hair. A light laugh escaped her lips as she reached out to brush his hair.
"We really need to find you a hairstylist, shame our old one's no longer around." Zach couldn't help but blush lightly from Akari's interaction and nodded his head in agreement to her.
"Did somebody say hairstylist? Cause you're looking at one!" The two turned to see a rather cute girl around the same age as the two of them and Rei. She wore the familiar blue robes of the Diamond Clan her leggings were a different color than Mai's as they were as red as her hair! She greatly resembled the Team Galactic member Mars had she been a few years younger and more warm as the girl's red eyes were bright and full of warmth and kindness! Rei stood alongside her, his hand grazing against hers as he looked towards his cousin and friend.
"Arezu!" Akari exclaimed.
"Hey Akari, long time no see!" Arezu gave off a light wave and offered her friend a smile. "So this is your boyfriend, eh? The one that fell from the sky?" Arezu looked Zach over and sized him up, Arezu was going to be part of their family once she and Rei tied the knot so she wanted to be sure that Akari found somebody nice. "Well I have to admit he is cute though he's got nothing on my Rei!" Arezu laughed.
"Heh, that's my Arezu!" Rei stated with a light laugh and blush as he nudged his girlfriend's arm. Arezu playfully nudged him back.
Zach meanwhile stood silently in place as his mind started processing what Arezu said while Akari's face shot bright red, she shot a frantic look in his direction before looking back at Arezu. "A-Arezu, this is Zach! Zach, this is Arezu!"
Zach quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts before offering a smile towards Arezu. "Hey there Arezu, Rei talked about you a lot. It's an honor to finally meet you!"
"And Rei's told me all about you as well!" Arezu laughed as her eyes flickered between Zach and Akari before her hands reached into her satchel to retrieve a pair of scissors. "Anyways you need a stylist right? You know, I'm something of a stylist myself. I'd be happy to give you a haircut! So what does your hair usually look like?"
"Uh..." Zach's expression went blank as he honestly couldn't remember. Mirrors weren't a thing yet and he'd never been the sort to stare at his reflection.
"I remember!" Akari exclaimed before quickly leaning forward to whisper into Arezu's ear. Arezu blinked before flashing a light smirk, her hands were quick to move towards his hair before snipping away, reverting his hairstyle back to the usual short messy style.
"And there you go-Oh snip! I forgot I came here to talk to Mr. Kamado!" Arezu's eyes widened as she came to the realization and she was quick to take off without further warning.
"Wait for me!" Rei raced after his girlfriend as he wanted to help out, he still had a slight limp but other than that his injury had healed!
Akari watched the two run off before turning around to face Zach. She intended on starting the day off by revealing her feelings for him, completely forgetting that Adaman mentioned another frenzied Noble until now. Arezu was one of Diamond Clan's wardens so perhaps she'd arrived to fetch them? Though if that were the case, she would have simply asked them. "Come on, this might be about that frenzied noble!"
Zach was still a bit spaced out from earlier but he was able to pull off a quick nod before the two raced off towards Galaxy Hall!
"Hm, so it's come to Ursaluna as well..." Kamado stroked his chin as Zach and Akari reached the top of the stairs. "This suggests that even Pokemon that are not nobles can become frenzied. I've received no word from Adaman or Irida about this but this is not something we can simply ignore." Ursaring was already a hassle to deal with, a frenzied Ursaluna could potentially be worse than the frenzied Kleavor! "In any case you have my thanks, miss Arezu. You did well to inform us of Ursaluna's situation."
"Wait how would she know...? I thought Ursaluna was watched over by Pearl Clan?" Akari softly questioned.
Zach gave her a quick look before looking back towards Arezu. "Maybe something happened to Ursaluna's caretaker..?"
"No problem, Adaman's got his hands full running our clan and all and Ursaluna's warden wouldn't even give me the time of day. You are the only ones I could turn to about this!"
"I see," Kamado narrowed his eyes as he took notice of Zach and Akari. "Zach, I order you to head to the Crimson Mirelands and quell Ursaluna's frenzy. The warden, miss Calaba, should be waiting in the Solaceon Ruins."
"Yes sir!"
Arezu smiled before taking her leave, Rei was quick to follow his girlfriend once more causing Akari to narrow her eyes.
"She's hiding something..."
"Maybe so but if Ursaluna truly is on a rampage then that's more important to deal with, we don't need it to maul people like Kleavor did!" Zach exclaimed.
"You're right, let's get going."
The Crimsons Mirelands was much darker and gloomier than the Obsidian Fieldlands despite it only being noon, Zach and Akari having arrived rather quickly thanks to Wyrdeer. The grass was a light brown color, matching the swampy environment around it while Croagunk, Hippopotas, Rhyhorn, Pichu, Yanma, Budew and several other Pokemon could be seen roaming peacefully about. Seemingly unfazed by the possible frenzied Ursaluna.
"What is a Ursaluna anyways..?" Zach questioned Akari as they walked along the path to the Solaceon ruins. "I vaguely recall what Ursaring and Teddiursa look like but I can't seem to remember what Ursaluna is."
"Ursaluna is said to be the evolved form of Ursaring," Akari simply stated while offering him a light smile. "I've never actually seen it so I can't describe it to you but I did hear rumors that it gains the Ground typing on top of it's regular Normal typing!"
"So Ground/Normal?" Zach looked towards Luxio and Dartrix's Pokeballs. "Well if it comes down to a battle, I've got Luxio's Ice Fang and Dartrix's Grass attacks!"
"And if there's time, you could catch one of those Croagunk for the medical corps." Akari pointed out as all the Croagunk could be seen standing in place, staring off with blank expressions while silently croaking out. "Doesn't seem like it'd be much trouble and they're right there."
"Right, I could catch one right there but it's best I keep my Pokemon in top form just in case."
The two stayed rather close to each other as they continued down the path before coming across some ancient ruins. Zach couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu as they stepped inside despite the fact that he hadn't been to these ruins yet! Up ahead stood an old woman who surpassed Opal in age, she had a light hunch and was shorter than Zach and Akari as her head come came up to their chests. She wore the same set of Pearl Clan robes that Lian had only hers had a hood which currently covered her head. She also wore a woven basket atop her back with long leafy plants of some sort hanging out of it while beside her stood a Bibarel.
"Hello there, I'm Calaba of the Pearl Clan. Warden-Oh, you've got a Celestica Flute!" Her gaze focused upon the flute as it stuck out of Zach's satchel. "You're neither Diamond nor Pearl Clan so you must be the one that fell from the space-time rift!"
"Is that really all people know me for...?" Zach sweated lightly while Akari nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "You'd think beating Kleavor would be more memorable."
"I heard about that too, I'm sure many lives were saved thanks to your actions but I can't help but wander if there was some other way to handle the situation. What you did is hardly different from bullying a Pokemon into submission after all." Calaba shook her head. "And you've trapped at least five Pokemon in those little 'Pokeballs' you carry. I don't need any help from your sort or the Diamond Clan for that matter!"
"Geez, I think we know why Arezu came to us now..." Akari silently muttered to which Zach was quick to agree.
"Now be on your way, get!" Calaba rudely brushed them off with a wave of her hands before turning her back to them as she walked towards the nearby wall.
"Ah Zach so we meet again!"
"Not this guy again..." Akari couldn't help but groan as Volo's voice rang out.
"How about you show me the strength that could quell a frenzied lord?" Volo asked with a friendly smile, either oblivious to Akari's words or pretending not to hear them.
"Maybe another time, there's more important stuff to worry about here." Zach was quick to respond with a shake of his head.
Volo lightly clenched his fist but his smile remained. "Ah well perhaps you can help me locate the wall fragment! With your skill, it should be a cinch!"
"Wall fragment...?" Zach questioned with a light tilt of his head.
"Yes, some bandits pillaged the ruins and made off with a fragment of the wall engravings!" Volo gestured towards the nearby wall which Calaba was looking at with a saddened expression. "It was the Miss Fortune sisters, they're a trio of bandits that even hit us Ginkgo Guild merchants more than a few times! Not the sort of regulars I'd like to have mind you. Mistress Calaba is doing everything she can to regain the fragment but at ninety nine years old it's a bit difficult for her to chase leads all over the place. In fact I might have a lead on where to find them! There's a camp fire just down the road from here!"
"Hold up, you've got Pokemon... if they're robbing you then why didn't you go to investigate?" Zach asked.
Volo's eyes widened as sweat poured down his face. "I-I'm afraid that I'm a bit of a coward..." He spoke with an untruthful tone causing Zach and Akari to narrow their eyes but they didn't dare question him further. If the sisters really were camped nearby then they needed to get there before they ran off!
The two raced out of the cave and took a quick look around before locating a trail of smoke a mile down the trail, the two gave each other a quick nod before rushing off to investigate however upon arrival the fire was nothing but smoke as whoever had been there snuffed out the flame.
"They're gone..." Akari frowned.
"No problem, Luxio can find them now that we've got a trail!" Zach reached for Luxio's before pausing in place as a strange feminine voice rang out across the clearing.
"Now who might you be? Not some stray traveler from the look of you." A trio of women came into view as Zach and Akari turned around however despite being 'sisters' the three sure didn't look it, suggesting that the three merely saw each other as sisters in the same manner that Zach and Marnie saw each other as brother and sister or how Zach viewed his relationship with his Pokemon. The one currently speaking appeared to be an ancestor of Candice as she looked exactly like her! The woman in the center could possibly be related to Bertha and Agatha as she resembled how they'd look in their youth while the third appeared to be Saturn's ancestor, a twist as the other ancestors Zach came across so far were all dead ringers or younger counterparts of people from the present day! "There's only one reason for people to be poking around here, you're after us three aren't you?!"
"Sisters we should introduce ourselves properly before we show this poor fool how wrong he was to assume he could ever beat us," Saturn's ancestor spoke.
"I bring good luck to my sisters wherever I go and ill luck to anyone who crosses our path. I'm the eldest and I'll be your unlucky Charm!" Agatha and Bertha's ancestor exclaimed.
"Thought you spotted a four leaf clover? Well I'll soon have you seeing double! I'm the middle sister and I'm one Clover you can't pick!" Candice's ancestor exclaimed.
"Heads I win and tails you lose, you've got no chance in this game of fortunes. I'm the youngest, Coin, but I'm definitely not your good luck piece!" Saturn's ancestor exclaimed before the three posed and shouted out simultaneously.
"We're the infamous bandit trio, the Miss Fortune sisters and your luck's just run out!"
"..." Jessie, James, Meowth and Wobbuffet all held their heads as they let out a frustrated grunt.
"It feels like somebody's ripping us off!"
"Wobbuffet!" The four angrily exclaimed.
"Toxicroak!" Coin shouted as she tossed a Pokeball into the air.
"Abomasnow!"
"Gengar!"
"Tox!"
"Aboma!"
"Gengar!" The three Pokemon flashed Zach and Akari a sinister smirk as they emerged from their Pokeballs. Akari had her grip on Piplup's ball but upon seeing the threefully evolved Pokemon, she couldn't help but utter a terrified yelp as she raced behind Zach.
"Luxio, Gabite, Dartrix let's do this!"
"Lux!"
"Gabite!"
"Dartrix!"
"Eeeek!" The sisters froze up at the sight of the alpha Pokemon. He was the only one to have captured an alpha Pokemon as far as most knew but the news hadn't spread far, mostly being contained to Jubilife, Diamond and Pearl's respective villages.
"Luxio use Discharge, Gabite use Draco Meteor, Dartrix use Razor Leaf!" Zach was quick to order a flurry of attacks that would hit all three of his opponents at the same time! Blue electricity crackled from Luxio's cheeks before his entire body sparked as multiple bolts of blue lightning discharged from his body and flew towards his opponents, delivering a painful electrical shock while a series of razor sharp leaves flew towards them courtesy of Dartrix.
"Gabit!" Gabite's mouth glowed a bright orange as he fired off a large meteor into the sky which soon burst into a series of smaller meteorites that pelted and exploded against his opponents, knocking them about before they all landed in defeated slumps before their trainers. The sister's could only stare in shock, jaws dropped as they stared at the sight before clenching their fists as they shot Zach a furious look.
"You Galaxy Team folk always ruin everything! Just take the blasted fragment and go, leave us alone! We thought it'd lead us to treasure but it turned out to be a worthless slab of nothing!" Coin retrieved the fragment from her satchel and hurled it towards Zach but Luxio was quick to leap up and grab it with his mouth, holding it for his trainer as Coin and Clover ran off.
Charm gazed towards Zach for a moment before speaking. "Why did you seek us out anyways...?"
"I wanted to help Calaba, she needs my help but she's refusing to accept it. I thought by beating you three and retrieving the fragment, I'd be able to gain her trust and have her allow me to help out with Ursaluna's issues!" Calaba was an old woman and from the sound of her words, a stubborn one. It would take action and not words to gain her trust and sway her mind.
"Huh?" Calaba was stunned once more as she stared off at him with widened eyes. "So selfless... good luck with Ursaluna." She turned to race after her sisters.
Zach watched her run off before turning to take the fragment from Luxio. "Thanks Luxio, I've got it from here... Luxio?" A bright blue light suddenly engulfed the lion's Pokemon as he began doubling in size, the top of his head now coming up to Zach and Akari's shoulders while his black mane extended to cover most of his head long with the entirety of the upper half of his body. The white in his eyes turned a shade of red while his pupils turned a bright yellow color.
"LUXRAY!" The newly evolved Pokemon cried out his name while Gabite and Dartrix cheered their partner on.
"Alright Luxray, I had a feeling you were close to evolving!" Zach was quick to hug his newly evolved Pokemon to which Luxray responded with a quick nuzzle.
"Lux lux!"
"Oh so you've come to bother me again?" Calaba rudely questioned as Zach and Akari returned to the ruins, Volo having seemingly disappeared. "Well come as often as you like but it won't change my mind!"
Her attitude was starting to get to him so rather than speak and potentially say something he'd regret, he held his tongue and simply held out the wall fragment to her causing Calaba's eyes to widen from shock. Zach and Akari's hearts raced for a moment as they feared she might give herself a heart attack. "You went and retrieved the fragment from those bandits? Why go out of your way like that for a complete stranger like me?"
"Ursaluna needs our help," Zach simply responded.
"I see..." Calaba frowned. "I'll admit, I honestly didn't expect anybody else to truly care for Ursaluna." She took the fragment from Zach's hand before turning to try and place it upon the wall. However she wasn't exactly tall enough to safely reach the proper spot.
"Here, I'll do it." Zach grabbed hold of the fragment and tried inserting it into the missing slot before frowning as it didn't fit. A light bulb then went off inside his head before promptly flipping it around, a perfect fit!
"And there we go, good as new." Calaba simply spoke. "'All lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive'... I see, I suppose it means people helping each other, like how you helped retrieve the fragment. I've read it many times but this is the first time I've truly understood what it means. Maybe this is almighty Sinnoh's guidance?"
Zach and Akari looked at each other in silence before Calaba turned to face them once more. "Zach then is it? Please lend me your strength so that we may help Ursaluna. It's true that he's become enraged but he doesn't seem to be in an utter frenzy. He should return to normal if we can just give him some medicine. I could never bring myself to engage Pokemon in battle but that's something I can rely on you for, right? Irida speaks highly of your battling strength."
"Of course, it's what I came here to do. I aim to calm down all the frenzied Pokemon throughout Hisui, wherever they may arise!" Zach vowed.
Calaba smiled lightly before waving her hand. "Come, we must go to Sludge Mound."
After roughly an hour of walking, the three stood atop a small mound of mud.
"Ursaluna is enraged but he should still recall his long relationship with the Pearl Clan," Calaba spoke while retrieving her Celestica Flute. "He never fails to show up once I play my Celestica Flute!" Calaba began playing her flute while Zach and Akari listened and kept an eye out for Ursaluna before letting out a shout as the large bear suddenly appeared right behind them!
"Ah!" Zach and Akari shouted, Akari fearfully clinging to Zach as Ursaluna raised up and prepared to slash!
"GAB!" Gabite seemed to sense the danger as he burst right up and headbutted Ursaluna away with a growl before raising his fins as the ground began splintering up around the bear, piercing his skin as Ursaluna uttered out a pained roar while getting pushed back down the hill, getting the three humans out of his attack range! Gabite snarled as he leaped down after him, taking the blunt of Ursaluna's Hyper Beam as the bear retaliated!
"He's got to recharge, Gabite strike him with Dragon Claw then follow up with another Bulldoze!"
"Gab!" Gabite slashed his green-blue claw against Ursaluna's chest before quickly raising his fin as the ground erupted beneath him once more, splintering up and piercing Ursaluna's skin! The bear let out a pained roar before dropping to his knees as swirls filled his eyes.
"Alright Gabite, you were awesome!"
"Gab!" Gabite smiled up at his trainer before keeping watch as Calaba slowly approached Ursaluna to give the bear his medicine, Gabite readied himself to lash out if the bear struck out but thankfully she was able to give the medicine without any issue!
"Blegh!" Ursaluna spat out from the awful taste, his eyes showed a sense of calm as he looked up at his warden with an apologetic expression. "Ursa..."
"That's weird, he wasn't glowing nor did that glow emit from his body when I beat him." Zach frowned as he recalled his battle with Kleavor, the frenzied noble's body had been glowing a bright yellow color while Ursaluna appeared to be perfectly normal despite his crazed state!
"Very astute of you," Calaba remarked. "When you quelled Kleavor's frenzied rage, I saw yellow lighting shoot up into the sky yet it was absent this time." She looked the bear over before spotting what appeared to be powder on his neck. "What's this, a powder of some sort...? That girl from the Diamond Clan, Arezu... I can't help but wonder why she'd approach me about Ursaluna the way she did..."
"Ursa!" Ursaluna slowly stepped towards Zach causing Akari to let out a frightened shout as she was still scarred from his attempted assault earlier on. Zach protectively raised his arm to shield Akari before lowering it as he saw a familiar plate in Ursaluna's jaw.
"Ursaluna is trusting you with the Earth Plate." There was that strange voice again.
"Zach!" Zach and Akari leaped up as Adaman came racing towards them, clearly out of breath as his hands rested on his thighs as he came to a stop. "I need... your help..."
"Oh..." Zach and Akari looked at each other as they came to a realization.
"Ursaluna wasn't who Adaman was talking about after all!" Akari exclaimed.
"Ursaluna?" Adaman questioned while giving the bear Pokemon a quick look before hastily shaking his head. "Nonono, it's the lovely Lilligant! S-She's... in a... frenzy... Arezu was supposed to have fetched you!"
"She was hiding something after all!" Akari narrowed her eyes.
"Rei must have known seeing how he went with her, they must be trying to fix the problem without us!" Zach theorized.
"Darn kids..." Adaman couldn't help but growl. "They're wasting their time and mine!"
"Wait a moment, Ursaluna... Arezu... you think Arezu did something to Ursaluna?" Zach couldn't help but ask as he started putting the pieces together.
"If she did then that could very well lead to our two clans warring again!" Adaman anxiously exclaimed with a slight hint of frustration. It was obvious he didn't want to get dragged into a war and based on Calaba's expression, neither did she.
"Now now, what's important is that we calm Lilligant down before anyone else gets hurt." Calaba exclaimed.
"You're right... Zach, mind summoning Wyrdeer? I'll... show it the way to go." Adaman breathed out.
"Of course, Gabite return!" Zach returned Gabite back to his ball before retrieving his Celestica Flute, playing a set of notes to summon Wyrdeer to their location. Zach, Akari and Adaman all quickly climbed aboard Wyrdeer before he galloped off.
"Good luck!"
"Ursa!" Calaba and Ursaluna waved after them as Wyrdeer disappeared over the horizon however as they got close to Lilligant's home, they'd spot a set of familiar figures laying on the ground holding their ankles.
"Not again..." Rei groaned.
"Heh... ow..." Arezu groaned as she held her own ankle. "It hurts..." She then looked up and flashed a casual smile at Zach and Akari as she saw them arrive, not taking note of her leader just yet. "Oh hey, how did it go with Ursaluna?"
"We calmed him down, what happened to you two?" Zach followed up with a look of concern. "You're not bleeding are you?"
"Ha, no!" Arezu laughed before gritting her teeth as she held her leg. "She just sprained our legs while making our escape from a foolish attempt to beat Lilligant!"
"W-We thought if a newcomer like Zach could quell Kleavor's rage then it shouldn't be much work for the two of us to quell Lilligant's. N-No need to trouble him, g-get him and Akari more time to spend together..." Rei groaned out.
"Well I'd scold you but it looks like you've learned your lesson," Adaman crossed his arms as he came into view. "Please tell me that you had nothing to do with Ursaluna..."
"Huh?! I-It wasn't me, that was Lilligant's fault! He got too close to her and got sprayed with her powder, it's not my fault honest!" Arezu hastily responded.
Adaman narrowed his eyes as he leered down at her, sensing sincerity in her gaze he gave a quick nod. "Alright I believe you, I just pray to almighty Sinnoh that Irida accepts the truth."
Arezu let out a sigh of relief before turning to look towards a basket full of balms. "Y-You can take these to Lilligant, I heard about the balms that Pearl Clan made to calm Kleavor so I gathered some of Lilligant's favorite offerings. They worked but we just weren't strong enough to take her down!"
Adaman let out a light scoff. "Well I suppose I better get the two of you back to Diamond Village, you mind hoofing it the rest of the way so I can borrow Wyrdeer?"
"Of course, we're almost there. We can walk home once I calm Lilligant," Zach responded.
"Alright," Adaman turned to help Arezu onto Wyrdeer.
"Good luck Zach!" Arezu called out.
"Yeah, good luck!" Rei called out with a light grunt before flashing his cousin a smirk. "And good luck to you too, cousin!" Akari blushed at Rei's words and shot a frantic look towards Zach but it appeared he didn't hear as he was already halfway up the hill! Upon reaching the hill Zach temporarily froze in place as he caught size of the Hisuian form of Lilligant, he'd encountered the Unovan form before so the name rang some bells but it's appearance was quite bizarre!
"Whoa..." Zach quickly shook his head and clenched his fists as he gazed towards Lilligant with a determined expression. "Alright Lilligant, it doesn't notice me yet." It's glowing yellow form made it quite visible and with every other Pokemon within the area frightened off on account of it's terrifying presence, he needed to be careful not to make a sound as he crept closer. His hand silently reached for a balm before throwing it at the back of Lilligant's head, pelting her as the golden glow began to fade from her body.
"Alright, Quilava let's light her up with Flame Wheel! Dartrix hit her with Peck! Luxray use Ice Fang!"
"Quil!"
"Hooot!"
"Lux!"
Quilava was quick to curl up as a fiery inferno covered her body before rolling off across the field, striking Lilligant's legs and knocking her over like a bowling pin as Dartrix swooped forward to give her neck a quick peck. Luxray's fangs glowed an icy blue color as he leaped forward, soon sinking them into Lilligant's arms! The Grass type soon stirred awake before unleashing a series of rapid punches and kicks upon Zach's Pokemon!
"Close Combat... you're part Fighting?"
"Quil!" Quilava landed in a defeated slump before her trainer as swirls formed within her eyes. Dartrix and Luxray were knocked down but got back up with Luxray recovering faster than Dartrix.
"Lux!" Luxray growled out.
"Goomy lend them your assistance!"
"Goomy!" The purple blob cried out as he emerged from his Pokeball.
"Goomy use Dragon Pulse, Dartrix use Aerial Ace, Luxray follow up with Ice Fang!"
The three Pokemon let out a cry as they fired off their attacks. Goomy fired a blue-green dragon shaped pulse of energy from his mouth which promptly exploded upon making contact with Lilligant. Dartrix swiftly followed up by soaring across the field before delivering a quick and precise slash across Lilligant's stomach while Luxray leaped onto her back, sinking his claws into her shoulders as he delivered a critical blow by biting into her neck with his icy fangs, sending an icy chill down her body! Luxray still had a habit of going for the neck but he never bit deep enough to deal serious harm.
"Lili!" The bright glow flew from Lilligant's body and shot towards the sky above as Lilligant fell to the ground before landing in a defeated slump.
"Alright, way to go everyone! You all did an amazing job!"
"Goomy!"
"Hooot!"
"Lux!" The three Pokemon smiled up at their trainer before turning their attention to Lilligant as she began rising back to her feet. Lilligant offered them a smile and a pleasant sounding cry as she extended her hands, revealing a grass plate that was similar to the ones Zach received from the other nobles.
"Lilligant trusts you with the Meadow Plate..." The Arc Phone read out.
"Lux?" Luxray stared at Zach's satchel.
"You hear it too?"
"Lux!" Luxray gave a nod of confirmation.
"Ah good, I'm not going crazy!" Zach chuckled before putting the Meadow Plate into his satchel. The others, part from the Earth plate which he received only an hour ago, were all safe back at his dorm as the satchel wasn't big enough to carry all of the seemingly useless plates.
"Hey you did it, thanks so much!" Adaman smiled as he, Akari and Calaba all came into view. Having kept a safe distance until the fighting was done.
"First Ursaluna and now Lilligant? My you must be quite the trainer..." Calaba spoke with a respectful gaze. "I'll be sure to inform Irida that both the Diamond Clan and Galaxy Team helped save Ursaluna. You did great out there, amazing what we can accomplish when all three of our teams set aside their differences!"
"Perhaps it's time for change," Adaman spoke with a light smile. "If we can all put our trust in a complete stranger, foreign to our land then we should be able to trust our rivaling clan."
"Perhaps, but not everyone will agree to that just yet." Calaba spoke with a light smirk. "It'll take some time."
A set of bushes rustled nearby as Zach returned Luxray, Dartrix and Goomy to their Pokeballs. He shot it a quick glance before shrugging it off as he figured it to be a wild Pokemon checking to see if the coast was clear but as Galaxy Team, Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan all went their separate ways, a certain hooded figure rose from the bush. His violent eyes focused on the departing figures of Galaxy Team.
"That kid almost beat Lilligant without a sweat, it didn't even stand a chance! My master was wrong, I have to do something now or his plans will come to ruin! You better watch out, Skyguy cause I'm coming for those that you love!" Shade snarled out. "With your spirits crushed, you won't be able to continue meddling with our affairs!"
"There you go, one Croagunk just as I promised!" Zach released a Croagunk from it's Pokeball, confirming to the Medical Corps member that it was indeed a Croagunk before handing the ball to the nurse. "Take good care of her."
"Oh we will, think of all the medicine we can make by studying it's poison!"
Zach smiled and turned to take his leave, Rei and Arezu were back at Diamond Village and Professor Laventon was locked up in his study so it was just him and Akari attending their usual dinner appointment. Akari was rather quiet as they ate, her left hand nervously brushed her hair as she ate her food.
"Lux, Luxray!" Luxray purred out in amusement as he watched Goomy and Quilava playing with each other upon finishing their food. Dartrix had fallen asleep shortly after while Gabite headed on to Zach's dorm and stood vigilant for his trainer's arrival.
Akari bit her lip as she finished eating, she was down now and there wasn't anything else to say. It'd been on her mind all day and now that the known frenzied nobles had been quelled and all their friends recovering or otherwise busy, there were no interruptions to be had! Zach saw her looking down at her feet and smirked lightly, figuring that she'd fallen asleep. He silently stood up as to not disturb her before silently nodding towards his Pokemon as he prepared to head to his dorm.
"Zach wait!" Akari blurted out rather loudly causing him to quickly turn.
"Something wrong Akari?" He asked with a quick tilt of his head.
Akari bit her lip as she began approaching him, her cheeks now glowing a fiery red as she looked up into his eyes. Zach felt his own cheeks glowing fiery red as his heart started accelerating. Though he found himself locked in place as Akari pressed a hand up against his chest before pressing her lips up against his, as soon as their lips made contact Zach's eyes widened for a brief moment. It was a sensation quite familiar to him, one he definitely recalled with a certain special somebody, he just couldn't remember her name... he wasn't sure why or how it was even possible but someway, somehow this was his girlfriend! Akari soon pulled away with a questioning look as he didn't return the kiss, the confusion briefly turned to sadness before quickly reverting back to sheer happiness as Zach placed his lips back against hers. Akari let out an excitable squeal as she deepened the kiss, their arms wrapped tightly around each other as they held each other in a warm passionate embrace.
Luxray seemed to know what was going to happen so he took charge, gathering Goomy and Quilava up before leading them back to Zach's dorm while Akari could be seen dragging Zach away to hers while being careful not to break the kiss.
Irida was walking through the Alabaster Iceland when she heard what sounded like pained howls of sorrow, a frown crossed her own lips as she turned to investigate. Glaceon by her side as she trekked towards the cave that appeared to be the source of the cry, upon opening it Irida couldn't help but gasp in horror at the sight as Zoroark and Zorua laid motionless around her with only one body moving.
"Zorrrr!" The Zorua tearfully sniffed. He was rather skinny, indicating that he'd likely been mourning for sometime and was in danger of starving! It was well possible that he was the last of the Zorua seeing how they didn't dwell outside the Icelands. Irida frowned and silently approached Zorua before scooping the wolf pup into her arms.
"There, there!" She pet his head while soothing him. "I've been here before, it's sad but you've got to move on. Your parents wouldn't want you to starve to death! I'll take you back to Pearl Village, we'll get you back in perfect shape!"
"Z-Zorrra!" Zorua tearfully cried out while Irida gave the other forms a look of concern. She doubted that a Pokemon would be capable of this carnage, one or two Zorua or Zoroark sure but an entire family?! Only a human, a very sick in the head one, could be capable of such evil!
Satoshi's eyes glowed a bright blue as he stood where Shade had been standing earlier in the day, overlooking the now sleeping noble Lilligant before turning to face Mai. "He's gone to Jubilife Village..."
"Almighty Sinnoh protect them..." Mai spoke while looking off towards the distance with a visible look of concern.
"Ash should battle so and so from Johto" Yeah, Marnie and Dawn won't let that happen lol. Ash will only be fighting bad guys and spoilers this arc, he'll be back battling trainers and powerful Pokemon in the Alola arc while Zach takes a backseat as he and Dawn simply relax and spend time together.
Anyways two nobles down, three to go! And I'm not making Hisuian Zorua extinct, let's just say there's a certain female fox of Zach's in the present that will be happy to see him! ;)