Z

                                    

                                          
Well it certainly didn't take long to lose Squishy... already... Sigh. Let's go find it then, shall we?
                          
~
                          
The group all went looking around the forest, Sawyer offering to join as they called for the small Pokemon. The smaller and more nimble Pokemon looked from up in the trees, while the others searched lower, in bushes and behind various plants.
                          
        After a few minutes of being unsuccessful, a sudden explosion came from their left, a huge cloud of smoke drifting upwards. "Do you think it could be...?" Ash trailed off.
                          
        "That might be Squishy; let's go!" Zenith agreed, running toward the sound as she called out Noivern. From experience, she knew Team Flare liked using Fire-Types and Dark-Types, plus having a Flying-Type at her side could get her there faster. She jumped on its back with one hand holding Star on her shoulder as Noivern flew them above the canopy, zooming until they reached the end of the trees. 
                          
        Squishy was pinned behind a Drapion's claws, three grunts from the team and a Skorupi along with Celosia around it. The others broke out of the forest a moment later, Pikachu interrupting them before Ash demanded what they wanted with Squishy.
                          
        "Who are you children!?" Celosia demanded before she saw the three Sawyer sisters on the ground. Zenith instructed Noivern to use Water Pulse, splashing her and Drapion in the face as Squishy was released. The scientist looked up in shock, noticing Zenith as well. "Wait, you four again!?"
                          
        "You know these guys?" Clemont asked as Zenith landed, stepping off her Dragon-Type with a pat on his head before staring down Team Flare.
                          
        "Let's just say we've met a few times before," Pine grunted, glaring daggers at the purple-haired villain, who took a nervous step backward. She seemed to realize her side was incredibly out-manned and outmatched, calling for backup, ready to run back to the boss and tell him everything.
                          
        Squishy had landed hard on the ground, hopping away from them before Drapion snatched it back up. "Uh-uh, not so fast. We put in a lot of work to get this 'Pokemon' back, so what we do with the little one is none of your concern." The various Pokemon cried their names in protest, Grovyle, Pikachu, and Noivern among the loudest.
                          
        Noivern had only been a Noibat when the first raid in Team Flare's hideout took place, still living at the Professor's place when the Sawyer sisters had to sneak in to stop the group's plans. Their family had a target planted on them, even moreso than many other magic folk. None of the girls had Pokemon yet during the attack, their uncontrolled powers the only thing that got them out alive.
                          
        "What do you mean?" Serena pressed. "'Our'? If you want that thing back, please take it." Shadow elbowed her before Crystal dragged her away.
                          
        "Look, Squishy is asking us for help," Bonnie argued. "So you let Squishy go right now!"
                          
        "Who do you guys think you are, anyway?" Ash demanded.
                          
        Zenith glanced over him with a grimace. "Imagine Team Rocket but worse. That's these guys: Team Flare. They want to harness as much strength as they can so they can activate a powerful weapon and wipe life off of Earth in the name of beauty."
                          
        "I don't have time for your games today. Drapion, use Toxic now!" Celosia commanded, taking a battle stance with her hand pointing straight at Zenith.
                          
        The Poison- and Dark-Type charged toward her, Squishy still in its claws, as it prepared to launch the corrosive purple goo. "Counter it with Hurricane!"
                          
        "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash added, the electric attack joining up with the incredibly powerful burst of wind Noivern let off as Drapion was knocked backwards, the Toxic obliterated. 
                          
        "Okay Grovyle, Leaf Storm!" Sawyer exclaimed, his Pokemon sending a huge barrage of leaves that, combined with being off-balanced by the prior attacks, freed Squishy from Drapion's grasp and sent it flying into the air. 
                          
        Bonnie ran toward it, ready to catch it just as she had before in the forest. She leapt right as Squishy was about to hit the ground, managing to wrap it in her arms protectively before Pine's Lucario ran out using Extreme Speed, catching both of them in his arms. Safe and sound.
                          
        "Ugh, Houndour, move out!" One of the grunts exclaimed, all three of the puppies leaping into battle.
                          
        "Noibat, let's go!" Ash exclaimed, calling out the young Pokemon. "Use Supersonic!"
                          
        The confusing attack left all three Houndour disoriented, but Celosia and her Pokemon regained their footing as she instructed it to use Sludge Bomb. Zenith and Noivern shared a look as she brushed her Keystone, posing with two fingers on each hand extended before crossing her arms over her body.
                          
        A colorful glow embraced the Pokemon before it erupted in light, two more wings having sprouted from its back and its colors shifting. Its purple, leathery skin gained a pinkish-red hue; red triangle patterns appeared on its wing membrane; its neck fluff and red horns on its face grew out; the spikes on its tail grew into a full-fledged battleaxe, lashing from side to side as it charged forward and launched a huge barrage of Draco Meteors.
                          
        The Dragon-Type move rained down, demolishing the Sludge Bomb and any other attacks as all the Team Flare members' Pokemon were knocked out. Zenith smirked, her Zen-Mega Noivern with the same expression. "I must say, we haven't used this form too much, but it certainly has its uses."
                          
        Keeping up the transformation was much harder than a normal Mega or bond, draining at Zenith's stamina more than any other, but it was also the most powerful without needing to last thanks to its ability, Deafening Roar. With it, the first attack used by Zen-Mega Noivern has thrice the power and range, but every subsequent attack becomes weaker and weaker. (However, usually the first attack or two were plenty enough to knock out any foes in their way, as was just demonstrated.)
                          
        Noivern de-transformed, Zenith returning her partner to its Pokeball before leaning heavily against a tree. As with any magical bond between a human and Pokemon, the fight sapped heavily at her strength and elemental reserves, and while she could usually handle it with Gardevoir or the others, a 3X Draco Meteor had her wiped.
                          
        At least Celosia realized they were on the losing side of the battle, calling her fainted Pokemon back. "Th-this isn't over! We'll be back; after all, we still have unfinished business to take care of with you!" She and the grunts took off running while Squishy nuzzled into Bonnie's arms.
                          
        The group came over to make sure she was okay, but most of the group was also asking questions about Noivern's new form. She muttered how it was like Gardevoir's, but was far too exhausted to do anything more than collapse on Pine's back until she could stand up straight again.
                          
        After downing some water from her bag, she gave a weary thumbs up, the idea of the Pokemon Center nearby too good to pass up by conking out on some rocks. She hobbled after the rest of the group once they triple-checked she was okay (and she triple-reassured them she'd been through worse).
                          
        Bonnie held Squishy up in her arms and giggled, too far away for Zenith to hear what she was saying. Remembering Serena, Ash, and Clemont's earlier dilemma about Squishy not being in the Pokedex, she discreetly pulled out her own and held up the scanner.
                          
        Zygarde: The Order Pokemon, the words popped up on the screen, silent as she'd hit the mute button. Core Form. You have already scanned this or part of this Pokemon previously. Number of species seen: 3
                          
        Sounds about right, she thought as she snapped the indigo National Dex shut and put it back in her bag, following the others. This one's probably from the original Z1, while Arrow and Wave are halves of Z3. I only hope they don't think of assembling parts of Z1 and Z2 together just as they had planned to before. We were the only thing that stopped them from doing so, but with that much power alongside the ultimate weapon... We simply cannot let them succeed, or they'll destroy the world as we know it.
                          
        Olympia's prophecy is starting to finally make sense; we have to face the same danger that tore our family apart and somehow save our people... even if it means our friends realizing what we're a part of.
                          
~
                          
👀

                          
Goodbye for now,
                          
Zenith