The Z Adventure

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Kenshin: Finally, back to this.

Yusei: Fan-freaking-tastic. With Sun and Moon out, you'd think he'd just give up and move onto that.

Kenshin: I don't care either.

Kei: Look, just ask the audience; do they want to continue this story, or do they want us to try again using Sun and Moon?

Journal Entry 7: Burn to Ash

Calem and Diantha walk through the greenery together. Her arm around his makes him feel a little uncomfortable, but she feels happy with this set up. "So, how do you feel?"

"A little nervous," he replies, breathing slowly. Her perfume smells incredible, and he can feel her soft skin as well. The whole set up is making him feel uncomfortable.

Diantha leads him closer down the road, until they soon reach Coumarine City. The two walk along the coastal bay, the cool breeze blowing by them. Diantha sees a monorail station up ahead. "He should be just inside."

"Who is?"

"Professor Sycamore. Plus I think it works out for you; you can't get to Coumarine City's gym or Pokemon Center without hitting the monorail."

Inside the station, Calem sees Professor Sycamore standing by the counter. "Congratulations Calem."

"What?"

"I heard you finally obtained the means for Mega Evolution, a strong bond between human and Pokemon, a Mega Accessory and a Meta Stone," he explains, pointing to the item on Calem's arm. "Have you used the Charizardite I gave you?"

"Not yet."

"A bond between humans and Pokemon?" Diantha curiously turns to the professor at this.

"Exactly!" He holds up a finger to emphasize his point. "There's a theory in my research that this bond is needed as the key to this new evolution. But so far this has only appeared in Kalos, and in two separate incidents within Unova and Hoenn. There's still so much we don't understand..."

"I feel it may be involved with Kalos' Legendary Pokemon," Diantha adds. This grasps Calem's interest, who becomes worried at the same time.

"OH!" A flash of inspiration hits Sycamore. "That may be it! The more you know, the more there is to research; the excitement never ends, does it?" As he writes down notes he prepares to move on. "Calem, Diantha, I shall take my leave. I hope to see you both again someday." With that, Sycamore makes his exit.

Diantha watches as he exits. "Bonds… They really are important to us all, aren't they? Like me and my sister, or you and Serena."

"Serena?"

Diantha turns to the boy. "As I act I try to form a connection between me and my character for a better, more real performance. If I think all about how I'm nothing like that person, then I'll just have to keep playing it. But by focusing on what we have in common I start being able to understand her by standing in her shoes. The same goes for people, and Pokemon. That's why I want you to open up Serena's heart the next time you meet her. You're the only one I can count on in that regard, her oldest friend."

"Do you two have some sort of connection?"

"Yes." Diantha looks down at her Mega Necklace. "I met Serena a long time ago while she was a child."

"You have?" This surprises him. When they first met Serena acted like they were strangers. "But, she doesn't seem like-"

"She may have forgotten; I was anonymous in her rescue."

"Rescue?!"

"I found Serena collapsed and in pain on the ground of a forest when she was 5." Calem's eyes widen as she tells the story. "She was by this weird blob thing that disappeared shortly after I arrived. When I brought her to her family and went back to check up, I noticed she kept away from me for a reason."

"What reason?"

"… I found out later her father died." Calem backs away in shock. "I don't know how it happened, but I never approached her again after that, and went back to my life. And when I saw her with you I thought she had gotten better. But, she kept away from me again for a short moment when I spoke to her."

"Wait, you never approached her again? You think she may have been why he died?"

"You think so?" Calem looks to the side wondering how that's possible. "That's why I want you to talk to her; she won't open up to me, and she seems comfortable around you. Plus, I now believe that thing whatever I saw may have been connected to it and to what's happening now with Team Flare."

"Flare?"

"They're looking for the Legendary Pokemon, Xerneas and Yveltal. I don't understand why, but I know it will be horrible. Nothing will ever come out right when it comes to these types of groups. And I'm sad they're turning out like that; the Flare I remembered would not try to amass resources and seek out the Legendaries." Diantha places a hand on his shoulder. "I hope you can protect Serena at a time like this."

Diantha takes her leave, with Calem left confused and head tilted. "The Flare she remembered would not try to… Was there another Team Flare?"

Taking a moment to put this behind him, he looks over at the lady at the counter and approaches her. He asks her, "When does the monorail move on?"

"In the next 10 minutes. There's room for more passengers," she tells him. Calem buys a ticket, sighing at having to pay, and boards the monorail. Once ten long minutes have passed up, the transport begins moving.

Calem looks out the window, staring at the shifting area with a smile. His brief cheer disappears as he thinks back to Serena, and what Diantha said about her. "What exactly did happen to Serena? And why does it sound so similar to what happened to me? She couldn't have… No, it's just my imagination; I'm only thinking the worse because of me." These are all thoughts he voices in a low whisper. He can't think more on it until he can deal with his own issue, or atleast without confronting her. The girl he loves isn't dead.

After a period of time that seems longer than the ten minute wait, the monorail reaches the top of the mountain. Calem steps out and using his Town Map spots the Pokemon Center, to which he jumps right for. "While I heal my Pokemon I'll take the time to look into the Gym Leader."

After leaving his Pokemon to heal up, he takes the time to examine the gym. There he reads the epithet: "Coumarine City Gym Leader Ramos – the old growth is still in bloom."

"Hmm… That must have something to do with his Pokemon type… Maybe…" An idea hits him, and so he returns to the center where his Pokemon are ready to be picked up. Once there he changes his team around.

"Acno, Nanami, Pikachu, Yaoki, Garo and Kouga should do the trick." He moves towards the Pokemon Gym and enters.

Inside the gym he sees that there's a giant tree stationed at the back with a larger tree trunk as a battlefield. Surrounding it is a luscious garden where trainers are with their Pokemon gardening. "Interesting. It really IS Grass types."

"Oya! A new challenger has arrived," says an old man in one of the nearby gardens. He walks with a cane towards Calem. "Are you here for the Coumarine Gym Badge?"

"Yes I am sir," he replies.

"Oh good. That's better than those Flare youngins… I'm Ramos."

"Flare? Team Flare was here? What were they after?"

"Those folks in Flare want to monopolize the Gym Leaders. Already have three under their collar, believing the lies of setting the world right because of declining resources. But enough about that; let's get a move on with your gym battle."

"Okay. You're not getting any younger."

Ramos pokes him with the cane before laughing. "Clearly!" The two share a quick laugh, before separating for battle. One of the gardeners comes in.

"Let the battle between Ramos of Coumarine and Calem of Vaniville begin!" With that both trainers send out their Pokemon. Ramos' is Jumpluff, while Calem's is Acno.

"A fire type off the bat. You sure you won't want to keep him in reserves?" asks the aged Gym Leader.

"No, he'll be fine for now. Flame Burst!"

"Jump in the air!" The Charmeleon unleashes a fireball, which splashes along the field even though it misses Jumpluff. The cotton ball Pokemon floats high up, using the heat to create an updraft. "As you can see, we're well prepared for Fire types."

"Smokescreen!" Acno uses his tail flame to unleash a smokescreen, blocking Jumpluff's vision. "Return!"

'He's retrieving his Pokemon? For whom?'

"Let's go, Yaoki!" He sends out Fletchinder, who coos while taking flight. "Quick Attack!"

Yaoki's highspeed movements take Jumpluff off guard, causing her to fall backwards. "Jumpluff, Cotton Spore!" Jumpluff unleashes several spores all around to entrap Yaoki, who flutters about trying to blow it away. "Cotton Spore slows down any Pokemon that it contacts."

"Ah crap," Calem mutters seeing the effects take action.

"Bounce!" Jumpluff launches up in the air before coming down upon Yaoki and knocking the bird into the ground. He then jumps up to return the strike, before exploding in a twister of flames. "What?"

"Yaoki burned your monster cause you touched him. Now Yaoki has the advantage. Nitro Charge!" His bird Pokemon ignites on fire and flies in, jabbing Jumpluff in the face.

"Bullet Seed!"

"Nitro Charge once more!" Yaoki blazes hotter and moves faster, able to avoid the seeds coming in way. She strikes again, and the flames topple over the Grass type. Jumpluff falls over fainting.

"It would appear Jumpluff wasn't enough to handle you." Ramos retrieves his Pokemon, before holding up another ball. "I wonder how you'll overcome this wall."

His next Pokemon ends up being Weepinbell. "Hit 'em with Nitro Charge!"

"Poison Powder!" Weepinbell exhausts a cloud of poisonous pollin, that Yaoki flies head first into. The fire burns the powder into smoke, which enters her nostrils and poisons her.

"Yaoki!" Calem retrieves his Pokemon, knowing she can't fight any longer. "Seems I can't rely on him any further." Calem then thinks over his options. He can't send out Nanami because she's Water, and Pikachu won't do much against Grass either. His only options are Acno, Garo and Kouga. "So, lets try Garo!"

His next Pokemon is Honedge, who unsheathes himself to simply float in midair. "Shadow Sneak!" His sword stabs into the ground, sending its shadow forward to pummel Weepinbell.

"A ghost Pokemon huh? Weepinbell, Acid!" The yellow bell upchucks acid, but it does no damage. "Eh?"

"Steel Pokemon are immune to Poison attacks," says Calem, glad with the choice he made. "Slash!"

Without waiting, Garo slashes Weepinbell, knocking him down. "Now, Aerial Ace!" The blade then spins as it comes in, piercing the grass bell. Weepinbell falls over, fainting.

"Oh my! Well, I guess you're pretty wise for a youngster," says Ramos as he bows before his Pokemon and comforts it. "You're the first one to think about using a Steel Pokemon against Weepinbell."

'Completely forgot about that until now actually.' Calem wouldn't tell him this; wouldn't help after all. But with this, all he has to do is take care of the next Pokemon and he can finally move on with his quest.

Ramos retrieves his Pokemon. "Then, I would be ill fit to face you without bringing out my strongest friend. Let's show him the ropes, Gogoat!" Ramos' last Pokemon ends up being the evolution of Skiddo, Gogoat. Calem scans with the Pokedex.

Gogoat, the Mount Pokemon; they are mountain inhabitants who are skilled at scaling great heights. Their leaders are determined by battles of clashing horns.

"I see. We can handle this, Garo. Aerial Ace!" Garo spirals himself before shooting out to strike Gogoat.

"Counter it with Razor Leaf." Gogoat makes a hurricane of leaves that enshrouds him. Garo cuts through it however, and with its ability intact makes a direct hit. But, at the same time, the leaves gather overhead and pummel the sword critically. "Now, Bulldoze!"

"Eh?!" Gogoat then charging, trampling Garo under its hooves. The sword comes up from the dust having fainted. "Garo!"

Ramos makes a short chuckle. "You didn't expect Ground attacks did you?"

"... Yeah, you got me there." Calem takes Garo's Pokeball and taps him. "But, there's still one left. Let's finish the job, Acno."

Charmeleon returns to the stand sharpening his claws with anticipation. "Acno, Smokescreen!" The fire lizard uses his tail to create a wall of smoke.

'Protecting it from a straight forward Bulldoze huh? Not bad. But...' "Gogoat, show him your Vine Whip's hurricane."

"His what?" Calem watches as Gogoat uses his vines to shoot forward in and out the smokescreen. They miss Acno, but spiral within in all corners surrounding Acno. Pulling back, the vines entangle the lizard. "Acno!"

"Toss him." Gogoat throws Charmeleon into a tree, causing him to bounce off painfully. "Now, Razor Leaf."

The leaves collect into a hurricane towards Acno. "Flame Burst!" Acno recovers enough to fire into the eye of the storm, blowing up the hurricane and burning away the leaves. Collateral flames burst out in all directions, forcing everyone to dodge.

Gogoat gets hit by a stray shot, but easily recovers from it. "Horn Leech!" The goat then turns its horns into energy spears that impale and send Acno flying into another tree. Balls of energy retreat into the goat afterwards.

'It must have healed itself.' "Acno, this may be it. Brace for his next move."

As Charmeleon gets ready, Gogoat makes a small noise. "I see, so you're enjoying the match? Good. Gogoat, Vine Whip."

"Fire Fang!" As the vines come forward, Acno bites down on them enough to ignite them. Gogoat then charges in to use Horn Leech, forcing the lizard to grab them. "At this range, Flame Burst!"

"What?!" Acno unleashes Flame Burst at point blank range, causing a powerful explosion that sends Gogoat spiraling in the sky. "Gogoat!"

"Dragon Rage!" Acno fires one last shot, a sphere of dragonic energy that sends Gogoat sliding along the ground. It makes one final stand, before collapsing on its weight. "We did it? We did it!"

Ramos looks on in shock, surprised his ace lost in such a way. He was sure he didn't leave any openings in that last move, and yet he found a way through. 'An impressive little whippersnapper.'

"Gogoat is unable to battle; the winner is Charmeleon! The victor of his battle is Calem of Vaniville Town!" As the judge calls it, both trainers graciously retrieve their Pokemon.

"That was pretty good. Yer managed to slow down to keep yerself in the game; can't rush things," says the elder as he takes out a badge. "Yer bond with yer Pokemon saved yeh. Here's the Plant Badge for yer very own."

Calem walks up to him and takes the badge with pride. He then takes Ramos' hand and shakes it. "Thank you for the match."

"No problem youngster." As Calem leaves, Ramos looks down at his hand feeling something. 'This is... interesting little boy, aren't you?'

The X protagonist makes his way to the center, getting his Pokemon healed for the next journey. Which he'll decide as soon as he checks his Town Map. "Let's see... Next route is 13, which takes me to... Serena. Wait, no! Not Serena!"

With the battle over his mind's now back to wandering, which leads to her and what Diantha meant saying those things. He's got to worry about his mother and her financial situation.

With the ding ringing in the Pokemon Center, Calem heads up to reclaim his Pokemon. "Thank you for waiting! Your Pokemon are now fully healed; please come again!"

"Would love to," he quickly says, still not used to pretty girls. Calem grabs the Pokeballs and makes his way out the door. "Alright, Route 13 should be up ahead."

He throws on his skates and jets like radio set in the future, towards the gateway leading to the next route. Upon entering he's stopped by a shout of, "Halt!"

"What took you so long making us wait like that?" He looks up to see Dexio and Sina waiting for him. "Just kidding; we weren't really waiting for you!"

"We were on our way to the Power Plant at Professor Sycamore's request," says Dexio, before cupping his chin. "But, the gate connecting Lumiose City and Route 13 has been shut down by a mysterious power outage."

"Power outage?" Of course, it's odd he would ask that; he doesn't know much of something like that. The gist of it makes him believe there's no power.

Instead of answering that, Sina says, "We have to investigate. Try to stay out of trouble."

"But first!" Dexio steps forward and takes Calem's Pokedex, before he could allow permission by the way. He has it scan a card, which causes it to beep. "With that, your Pokedex is upgraded to including Mountain Kalos Pokedex."

"Mountain?"

"Let's just say you'll see more Ground Pokemon than usual." Sina blinks before coming out of her smile, moving forward to examine Calem's face.

He backs away with obvious redness. "W-What?"

"You seem different somehow, like... You're more mature for some reason."

"Eh?" Sina then laughs, throwing him off.

"Just joshing ya. Here. Take this, Cal!" She hands him a small green cube.

"What's this?"

"It's a cube needed for collecting special cells. Think of it as a side project if you ever get bored. Take care!" The two assistants then make their exit, leaving behind the confused and flustered Calem.

He's not sure what to make of that meeting, and instead moves on with his gig. He still has to move onto the next gym in Lumiose. He prepares to go further south, into Route 13.

Sina and Dexio look back as Calem leaves. "Dexio, do you think it's fair to make him do this without telling him?"

"If what the professor said is true, then this is for his benefit. He won't live otherwise," says Dexio before they leave.

Upon reaching the outside, his eyes are bombarded almost immediately by the pressuring winds. He makes his way forward, ignoring the sand and wind coming his way. "It's just sand; nothing I can't get over." As he makes his way, he spots what is obviously Team Flare members passing by. Taking out his skates he chases after them. 'As long as they're around it can't be good. But, let's just see what they're up to.'

Chasing them, he finds they're heading for the Power Plant. 'Wait, Sina and Dexio said something about a power outage, and this is the Power Plant for all of Kalos... Maybe...' Seeing a connection, Calem takes out Kouga's Pokeball before trying to pry open the door inside. 'Sealed.'

"Better start looking for a key... Nah! Kouga, Power Up Punch!" Kouga pops out, and the Lucario makes a powerful punch to blow open the door. "Good work, let's go." They then rush inside, Calem taking off his blades to run inside. As they make their way inside, Calem comes across the interior finally. There, a large assortment of Team Flare members have gathered, with one of the white suit Admins at the highest point staring down at him.

"Intruder!" he shouts, pointing down at Calem. The other grunts run in and face Calem, who is forced to take out more of his Pokeballs. "Make sure he doesn't stop the experiment!"

"Who is it?" asks a lady beside him, dressed in the classic red colors they adorn while sporting short orange hair. She's messing with a device that's absorbing the electricity of the Power Plant.

"It's that boy we were told about," says the admin, as she raises her head with interest.

"Oh? Then you better hope they can defeat him." Several explosions go off down below, inciting the battles have already begun.

Down below, Calem's Pokemon Kouga, Garo, Pikachu and Yaoki are hard at work fighting against the enemy Pokemon. At the end of everything, all of Flare's Pokemon have been defeated, leaving Calem left with four tired Pokemon. "Good work everyone." He then retrieves everyone and makes his way up the stairs.

After going up a flight, he sees the Admin and the woman, who finally turn to face him. The admin speaks, "So, I guess those idiots couldn't handle you at all. Aliana, it's time for the job."

"Job? I'm already working; we almost have enough energy for the device," she tells him rudely. "If you want the trainer gone, do it yourself."

He groans with annoyance, before taking out his own Pokeball. "Go, Houndoom!" He sends out Houndoom, who growls ferociously.

"Nanami, time to work." Calem's is Nanami, who lands with ease on the ground. "Water Pulse!"

"Dark Pulse!" The hellhound unleashes twin streams of darkness at Nanami, who counters using a sphere of water.

"Now, Double Team!" She then runs in a circle, summoning many clones to confuse it. Houndoom on orders of its trainer shoots out at all of them, which leaves nothing left. "Aerial Ace!"

Nanami comes down from above to swipe and strike Houndoom on the head. "Water Pulse!" She then traps the hellhound in a sphere of water, before slashing with Aerial Ace arms. The attack sends Houndoom across into the Admin's chest.

"Ah damn it!" curses the Admin.

Aliana laughs seeing the admin's failure. "Then I guess it's my turn huh?"

"Or, just tell me what's all this before we do anything we'll both regret," says Calem calmly. He then looks aside her to keep his eyes from her pretty frame.

"Fine. There'd be no point with the one Pokemon I have with me," she replies. "I'm Aliana of Team Flare, one of their most brilliant scientists. I'm busy researching something you wouldn't understand, so take care. We'll settle this another time." She throws a flash grenade to the ground, and soon everyone leaves.

Calem shields his eyes, before sighing seeing they've all escaped. "Whatever." He picks up Nanami, saying, "Let's go," before leaving with his Pokemon.

As he makes his exit, he notices the lights above are returning to normal. All the power is returning to normal. "Good. I guess they've really left."

He leaves the Power Plant, and together with Nanami skates down the ragged road watching his Town Map. "Let's see... The next stop is Lumiose. I guess we're hitting the gym there... But..."

He takes a moment to stop and look over at the sky. "What am I doing? Is there really a point to all this?" He blinks looking back when he feels something. "Who's there?"

Only for nothing to appear. "No one..." He ignores it and returns to skating forward to Lumiose. Calem looks down as he jets down the steps, just in time to see the tall man from before. He turns around, glaring at Calem intensely. "Uh..."

"Can I help you?"

"... I'm sorry?" He turns around.

"Nevermind. I have something to do. To find the Pokemon with eternal life." With that, he takes the time to exit.

Calem watches him leave, his heart feeling strange. "Do I know him? Why do I feel a connection?"

Julia: And this chapter has finally ended.

Kenshin: The rest of this story lies in the hands of the reader.

Calem's Pokemon: Frogadier/Nanami, Fletchinder/Yaoki, Pikachu, Charmeleon/Acno, Honedge/Garo, Kouga/Lucario, Eevee, Meowstic/Mythic, Amaura

Serena's Pokemon: Quilladin/Maurice, Wartortle, Blaziken/Talonburn, Fletchling, Meowstic/Mystic, Tyrunt

Shauna's Pokemon: Braixen/Sakuya, Bulbasaur

Trevor's Pokemon: Flabebe, Pikachu

Tierno's Pokemon: Corphish