A/N: Inspired by Nat-The-Black-Cat and their amazing Nullified story. Originally  Sub. 4 now named Zero (A shiny type Null who's past is explained in The Chimera Experiments) would've remained by Flowey's side and appeared later on. Instead it will be traveling with Selene.

—-
Selene and Lillie made their way back to Iki Town when the Professor noticed them.

"Hello Professor." Selene waved

"Oh Selene! I see you have already met Lille. She's my assistant. If you don't mind, can I have a word with Lillie?"

She nodded as Kukui and Lillie spoke.

"Lillie, I thought you were with the kahuna?"

Lillie shook her head "Kahuna Hala? He said he had to attend to, so he left town on his own.

I was just taking a, um, stroll up to Mahalo Trail while I waited for him to return..." Lillie blushed nervously.

"And so that's how you met up with Selene, huh?" Both had turned to face Selene.

"Well Lillie got attacked by a flock of Spearow. Pearl and I helped to chase them off." She left out the part about Nebby on purpose.

"Well then." Kukui smiled "Seems like we have a little hero here."

"Thank you Selene." Lillie replied.

Meanwhile, the residents of Iki Town cheered for the Kahuna was back from his errand.

"Our Kahuna is back!

Kahuna Hala has returned!"

The person is question, an elder man in a yellow shirt passed by the crowd taking notice in the Professor, Selene, Pearl, and Lillie.

"Did I miss something while I was away?" He spoke up, getting the attention of the three.

"Kahuna Hala! Was there some kind of trouble?"

"Someone in the village claimed to have seen a strange dog-like Pokemon roaming the outskirts of town. Likely just a Rockruff or a Dog Monster." Hala said as he walked up to them.

Selene smirked with amusement. It was likely Lesser Dog or one of the K-9 Unit being dogs again.

"On my way back I swore I saw Tapu Koko flying about...."

Lillie nodded.

"Um yes, Kahuna Hala.... Nebby got attacked by some Spearow on the Plank Bridge. And Selene helped protect it." She motioned at Selene, whom waved.

"Oh Selene! I didn't notice you there. That was very kind of you for helping Lillie, I'm sure Toriel would be proud of you." Hala remarked as Lillie continued.

"But the bridge collapsed and I thought they would both fall into the ravine... And that's when the Island Guardian swooped in-"

LOOK OUT!

Lillie was taken aback as a strange Pokemon leaped from the bushes, right in her direction when it stopped. Something about this Pokemon was strangely familiar to her.

Kukui and Hala stood there in shock while the village filled with worried chatter. Selene remained still as the beast turned towards her.

"Selene! Back away slowly!

Hala will handle this..." Kukui warned yet the creature made no move to attack.

"I don't think it wants to hurt anyone." Selene commented as the others calmed down.

"If I had to say anything." Hala spoke up "It seems interested in Selene. Maybe it wants to battle her."

Kukui had an idea, abet it felt kinda dumb.

"Selene why don't you battle it and I'll teach you how to catch your own pokemon?"

Selene nodded and Kukui handed her an Ultra Ball.

"Ready?" Selene looked to her partner Pearl, whom nodded "Let's go!"

---

*Wild ??? Appeared

"Go Pearl!" Selene released Pearl from her arms.

"Now the first thing you need to do when trying to catch a wild pokemon is to weaken it." Kukui explained.

"Alright! Pearl use Bubble!" The Popplio let out a stream of bubbles, hitting the strange pokemon who didn't even attempt at making a move, merely watching.

"NOW USE DISARMING VOICE!!"

The wild pokemon stumbled a bit, yet it still refused to fight back.

"Now Selene!"

Taking the Ultra Ball, Selene threw the Ultra Ball. On the ground it shook a few times before-

*click*

??? was caught

---

"Nice job Selene." Hala complemented "Look's like we have a budding new and kind pokemon trainer on our hands. I think this is a cause to celebrate."

Kukui nodded before speaking.

"I nearly forgot. This is for you, since you're starting your journey and all."

Selene was handed a pokedex.

"The pokedex is a high-tech device for recording information on pokemon you might encounter on your journey. And..."

Kukui also handed her a Passport.

"I meant to give it to you earlier but this is your Trainer Passport, it will be important while you're on your island challenge.

Well now that you have met the Kahuna. Ready to head home and introduce Toriel to your new Pokemon?"

"Mom will be delighted to meet Pearl." Selene hugged her Popplio when her newly caught pokemon came out from it's pokeball.

"And you too, but what are we going to call you?"

Bwark!

"What is it Pearl?"

The Popplio pointed to a set of numbers carved into it's helmet.

"Null-004? That's an odd name."

It shook it's head, leaping onto the dirt, proceeding to draw a round circle with it's reptilian claws.

"A circle?" Hala raised an eyebrow

The Pokemon shook it's head.

"Is it an O?" Lillie suggested

It shook it's head no again.

"How about a zero?" Kukui said, the pokemon nodded in response.

"Is that what you want to be called? Zero?" Selene asked.

It nodded yes.

"Well than, your name is now Zero."

- - -

Come along, I'm sure mom will be glad to meet you and Pearl" Selene made to leave when she was stopped.

"Hey Selene!" Hau called out to her when he noticed Zero.

"Aw no fair, you already have a second pokemon... And what is with that mask it's wearing?"

"I'll explain later Hau. In the meanwhile, did you forget something?"

"You're  the one asking me. Who's the one who wanders off on a stroll without telling anyone and Selene ends up catching a weird masked pokemon." Hala chuckled when he noticed Zero pawing at something in Selene's pocket.

"Hm?

Selene...

Would you be so kind as to give me a look at the Sparkling Stone in your pocket?"

Selene was confused until she remembered the odd rock Lillie had given to her.

"Oh this?" She fished it from her pocket and handed it to Hala.

"Could it be..." He remembered the day very similar to this one where two other rookie trainers, who both had Eevees brought him two Sparkling Stone just like this one nearly 10 years ago.

Hau looked concerned

"Tutu, isn't that?"

Hala looked back at Selene, a serious tone in his voice.

"You were rescued by Tapu Koko at the Bridge- Right Selene?

"Yes, and that's where I got that stone!" She explained, Pearl barking.

"So it even decided to give you a stone..... Just like those two trainers.... She's also Toriel's daughter...." The last two lines he said in his head before clearing his throat.

"Allow me to borrow this stone for a while. Fret not, I will return it to you tomorrow evening. You have the markings of a brilliant trainer, Selene. I can see the light within you, too. You must do us in honor of joining in on our festival tomorrow."

Kukui approached Selene with Lillie behind him.

"Well Selene, I think Toriel's beginning to worry. Let's head on back."

"Wait!" Hau called out "Can I come too?"

Selene smiled "Sure".

Hau's eyes lit up at the thought of Toriel famous butterscotch-cinnamon pie, earning a chuckle from Hala.

"Oh Selene, don't forget to invite your mother to the festival. And Hau, don't gorge yourself on pie." Hala gave her a scrap of paper to give to Toriel.

- Toriel's House -

Toriel sat in her chair reading a book on snails when her Nidoqueen and Leavanny nudged her, gesturing to Selene and her pokemon, Hau, and Kukui at the door.

"Oh I'll be right there dear." She called, getting up and opening the door to let everyone in.

"Welcome home my child. I see you've brought a friend with you."

"Hello Miss Toriel!" Hau beamed "Selene told me you made some pie.". Toriel giggled.

"Oh Hau..." She made her way over to the stove and cut a slice, handing it to the boy "I have plenty left.". She turned back to Selene and noticed Pearl.

"And you must be the pokemon Selene chose." Toriel crouched down as Pearl jumped free, doing a little dance.

"And what a lively one at best. Selene dear, does this little girl have a name?"

"This is Pearl." She said

"That's a lovely name."

Selene looked over to the door where she could see the outline of Zero. It looked scared. Toriel took interest as well.

"Oh did you catch a second one, my child?"

Kukui nodded "She did a good job too."

"He's a little shy Mom. It's ok Zero, she won't hurt you."

Slowly the Chimera Pokemon walked into the house. His gold highlights glowing in the evening Alolan sunlight seeping through the windows, eyeing the goat women from under his masked glance.

Toriel noticed the mask and a sad look grew on her face as she approached him. Zero growled.

"You poor dear. It must be so hard to breath in that thing. Who knows how long you've been stuck with that wrenched thing on your head. Here... let me help you."

Zero, still not letting his guard down let the goat women do what she was going to do. He watched in fear as she conjured a fireball in her hand. It reminded him too much of all the pain he went through.

Toriel took notice of the pokemon's worry.

"Do not be afraid. I've made it so that my magic will not hurt you but hopefully get you out of that mask. Just hold still."

Toriel aimed her fireball at the center of the mask, hoping the impact would be enough to sever it in two. She was surprised when the fireball ricocheted right off of it, leaving no sign it ever made contact.

"Oh my!" She called off the fireball with a flick of her wrist "That mask must be made from some magic resistant material. Whoever put it on you must've done it for some reason." She grumbled.

Pearl had taken interest in Leavanny, whom was now cradling her like a baby. Hau watched as he munched on his slice of pie.

Still Toriel wasn't giving up, she scanned the mask until she noticed a few things.

First was the Null-004 marking.

Second was an odd trident shaped symbol she had sworn she had seen before etched right next to the marking.

And lastly was a flap on the mask, near where Zero's mouth was supposed to be.

She opened it. The opening was just big enough to allow Zero to eat but it allowed Toriel to get a look at his face. She noticed the gold coloring of his upper jaw and its turquoise ears but what caught her attention was the round screw-like part on the side of it's face. They seemed to change color slightly from white to an orange, same with his eyes.

"At least you can still eat, that's good. Come along Pearl and Zero, I have two big slices of pie just for you."

---

Pearl instantly dove into her slice while Zero picked at it's, not sure what it was. He had rarely had any decent food, only that nasty stuff They gave him form time to time. Before he escaped however, he had been fed Raman by that Lizard when she took him away from them. The Raman wasn't too bad, it was heaven compared to that other stuff but not something he would eat a lot of.

Finally he decided to take a bite of the pie. Cutting a chunk off and raising it to his mouth, Zero took a bite.

A rush of flavor overtook him. Never had he tasted anything so good that he quickly gobbled down the rest of his, right before Pearl even finished hers.

"Someone must have been hungry." Toriel commented, taking the plate "Would you like another slice my dear?". Zero nodded.

-Timeskip-

The starlit Alolan sky flooded Selene's window as she left the bathroom to get dressed for bed. Pearl and Zero sat there waiting on her bed.

"You two ready for bed?"

Pearl jumped about while Zero raised his head up from the floor. Selene climbed into her bed, followed by Pearl.

"Zero? Don't you want to sleep on the bed with me and Pearl."

The Null cocked his head in confusion. He was used to sleeping on the cold metal floor of his cage or the ground after his escape. Why was this girl being so nice to him?

His experiences with humans had been rough. From being chased by an angry store owner for stealing scraps from his dumpster or the cruel smile of that Man knowing pain would soon follow.

Then there was Selene. A complete stranger he had come across when he had taken refuge under her house after some Employees tracked him down. For days he watched how she interacted with some of the local Pokemon and just how nice she was to them. He saw the fire in her heart and could sense her Determination, just like the stuff that flowed through him.

As she stood her ground against that Yungoos and how she risked her life for some complete stranger did he want to see her for himself. Revealing his presence and allowing her to capture him in Iki Town once she was a full fledged trainer.

And how she kindly offered him a place to stay and food to eat. Just like that other person. Of how much he wanted to take the old Goatman's offer, Zero had to flee once those nosy Employess showed up at his cabin.

Now she wanted him to sleep on something comfortable.

"You don't have to if you don't want too. I'm not forcing you."

Zero slowly climbed onto the bed, curling up by the window when the light got his attention.

Stars

Zero remembered the first time he had seen them. Just how beautiful they were.

After he was locked away he remembered how much he wanted to see them again. His wishes came true the night he and his Friend, a flower, escaped. For many nights they were there as he slept, warding off the nightmares and memories of his old home.

Selene noticed his interest in the starry sky.

"You like the stars don't you?"

He nodded.

"How about I open the curtains so you can see them better?"

Reaching up, she pulled back the fabric covering as the room was engulfed in starlight.

"When we start our journey, we'll get to see them every night."

Selene yawned.

"Well, we should go to sleep, tomorrow is a big day for us."

Pearl cuddled up to her trainer as Selene lay back down, closing her eyes.

"Good night Pearl.

Good night Zero."

Zero lay his head down as to not jab Selene with his mask by accident as he eyed the stars one last time, letting sleep finally take him as the three slept under the starry sky of Alola.