Dark times were upon Kalos, not that anyone noticed nor cared. An underground villainous team was beginning to rise in power, led by a very powerful man that the media still couldn't place. No one could even begin to comprehend who they were or what they were trying to achieve, so it was all swept under the rug as parents sent their children out to fulfill their dreams of becoming the new Kalos Champion and Gym Leaders prepared for the new challengers of the season. No one knew what was going to happen, no one cared what was happening now.

A young man who was about to cross the threshold into adulthood was comfortable at home in his ignorant bliss. He didn't have a care in the world as acquaintances that he has known his entire life left home one by one, eager to finally prove themselves. He, on the other hand, had no interest in becoming Champion. The Pokémon League was full of crooks and fakes as far as he was concerned, so he stayed at home with his family, to train and become powerful on his own for the sake of his future.

He heard a voice call out to him, one that he recognized as his mother's. He left his room to hurry downstairs, his parents standing in the foyer along with a rather strange looking woman. His mother stood anxiously and his father looked as stone faced as ever, but even the young man could sense his father's anticipation.

"Mother, Father, what is going on?" He asked, his mother letting out a sigh as she gestured to the woman standing across from her.

"This woman has arrived to come collect you. Your father and I have signed a contract and paid the necessary fee for you to join an elite team for the betterment of the world. Isn't that right, Miss-"

"My name is not important, Madam Damirez. Your son shows great promise in furthering our cause, and I am sure my superior will be ever grateful for his service. However, you know what must happen now that you've signed him away." The woman said, the mother nodding reluctantly.

"Darling, you must go and pack your things. You will be leaving soon, and we don't want to keep your new superiors waiting, right?" She said, the young man frozen in shock at the words coming from his mother's mouth.

"Why are you doing this? I thought I was meant to stay here and assist at home, not go off to some far off place without even telling me where I'm even going!" He shouted, his father moving for the first time as he knelt down just the slightest bit to look into his son's eyes.

"Alexandre, listen to me very closely. Your mother and I have made up our minds to send you off. Some...dark times are almost upon us and this is the only way to keep you safe. These people are dangerous, but you must listen to every word they say if you want to stay alive, is that clear?" He whispered, the young man gulping as he nodded.

The father straightened, though he did not have much to move as the young man leaned to see the strange woman smiling serenely at him, as if she hadn't a care in the world.

"My superior has requested that you bring only your Pokémon and clothes to hide your face long enough to return to our headquarters. You will be provided whatever you may need once we arrive. We must stay discrete, as it is imperative to our safety, as well as your parents. You wouldn't want to endanger them, would you?" She asked with a grin, Alexandre refraining from frowning as he nodded once.

"Good, now run along, and be quick. My presence here has long been overstayed."

Alexandre walked back up to his room and grabbed the Poké Ball laying on his bed. He had others but he wasn't going to put them into needless danger, he only needed his most trusted partner for this.

He grabbed a coat and hat from his closet to hide his red hair and shadow his unnaturally bright eyes. His mother used to joke that he had the eyes of a cat, but those memories were long behind him.

His parents had signed him off to what he had no doubt was that shady team everyone has been talking about. It was what had kept him home for so long, but now he was being thrown right into their clutches. He was furious, but he knew if he stayed it would put everyone around him in danger. He had no choice.

He went back downstairs to see his parents had left the foyer, leaving the strange woman alone. She seemed relieved when he arrived, as if she was eager to leave this place behind.

"Ah, good. You work fast. My superior will be pleased with you, I think. Our transportation has arrived, but you will be told this here and now. Your past is no longer relevant once you leave this house. You will never be allowed here again, and you are not to speak to anyone outside of our organization unless it is for business. We are merciful, but we will not hesitate to resort to punishment if you become too bothersome. You are no longer who you are now, you are a part of our cause alongside your comrades. Is that clear?" She said, Alexandre nodding.

"Y-yes ma'am."

The woman chuckled as she went to step out the house, her heels hitting the tile floor with each step.

"We are colleagues now, you will refer to me as Aliana. None of that formality nonsense." She said simply, Alexandre nodding as he tentatively took the last few steps to the open doorway. He took a deep breath as he stepped outside to see a black car sitting just outside. The woman smiled as she opened the door to the interior of the car.

"Welcome to Team Flare, #42."

                                   ————

Team Flare continued to rise in prevalence all across Kalos as months went by since #42 had first joined. Upon his arrival to their headquarters, he was given a glaringly red suit and glasses by another strange woman, though she was dressed in mostly all white compared to Aliana's poofy red skirt and top.

However, each person at the base was wearing some sort of eye covering, whether it be the standard red glasses #42 himself was given, or the goggles worn by Aliana. It was strange, but the woman who had given him his uniform had told him that the glasses were enhanced with state of the art technology meant to conceal one's identity. Whie Team Flare Grunts were always happy to reveal their allegiance to the organization, stealth was sometimes required for some missions, especially the ones that took them deep into Lumiose City.

Normally, each Grunt was given a standard issue Pokemon or two for battling, but upon seeing that #42's Charizard had the ability to Mega Evolve, he was allowed to keep it. For that, he was grateful. His Key Stone lay on a ring hidden underneath his gloves, but even the ability to Mega Evolve set him leaps and bounds above everyone else. He was sent on more dangerous missions than most other Grunts, and when completed successfully, he was given high praise by his teammates and his superiors.

So much so that he had been summoned for a personal audience before the leader of all of Team Flare. No Grunt had ever personally seen him, and few knew his actual identity, so it was considered a huge honor to meet with him in person.

However, once #42 had seen who it was, he was at a loss for words. It was Lysandre, the CEO of Lysandre Labs and also the fiancé to Professor Augustine Sycamore, the leading researcher in Mega Researcher. He was leading this entire operation?! It was unbelievable, if he hadn't heard him speak what he was thinking.

"Surprised, aren't you? Most who have come before me in this manner usually are, it does not bother me. What is your ranking?" He asked, #42 trying not to stutter as he spoke.

"I am #42, sir-I mean Lysandre." He said, receiving a small laugh from the man standing before him.

"I see Aliana has given you the 'no formalities' speech, hm? I am pleased to hear it. Any who have the honor of being in my presence are allowed to call me by name. And you have certainly earned that right, #42. I have heard great things about you, your battle prowess certainly precedes you, and the ability to Mega Evolve is just a top to it all. Not everyone has the power for that, you know." He said, #42 nodding in gratitude.

"Thank you. Do you...have the ability to Mega Evolve your Pokémon?" He asked, Lysandre smiled as he held up his hand to show off the Key Stone in a ring of its own.

"Indeed I do, but that is not what I have called you here for. As you may have noticed, our ranks have been growing in size lately, and I haven't the time to survey them all on my own. Xerosic, one of the scientists who assists me in my vision, has suggested that one powerful Grunt from a selected group will survey a certain number of his or her comrades. The Admins and other Scientists have agreed this is a sound idea, and you have been at the top of all of their recommendations."

That did not surprise #42. He had done his utmost to be as diligent as possible when carrying out the various tasks assigned to him. It had been mainly to distract him from his guilt that had been plaguing him ever since leaving home for aiding in the destruction of the world. However, it served him well in gaining the trust of his superiors, meaning that it was easier to get permission to leave base for his own personal time or for training.

"I am honored that you would consider me for such a position, Lysandre. However, perhaps it would be easier if I had a partner to assist me in this and any other Grunts you decide to assign to this?" He said, Lysandre nodding thoughtfully.

"Yes of course, that is a reasonable request. If we fulfill that, will you take the position? You will still be allowed to come and go from headquarters as you please even in this elevated position." Lysandre said, #42 clasping a hand to his chest as he nodded in agreement.

"I accept your offer, it is my duty to do whatever I am able to further the cause of Team Flare." He said, Lysandre smiling at his declaration.

"Wonderful! You have made me very grateful, #42. You are dismissed. From here on out, you will be placed under Xerosic's charge, you report only to him and you will obey every order he gives you. Is that clear?" He asked, #42 nodding before leaving the room, leaving Lysandre alone once again.

As soon as he had left, a short man wearing red goggles and lab coat came in through another door, looking particularly flustered as he attempted to collect himself.

"Lysandre, we have discovered the location of the Trainer that has been disrupting our plans thus far." He panted, Lysandre's smile turning into a frown.

"Where is she, Xerosic?" He asked, the scientist flicking his wrist to show a hologram from a Holo-Caster in his hand.

"She is on her way to Cyllage City, presumably to challenge the Gym Leader." He said, Lysandre sighing.

"Cyllage City is not an easy place to reach, but the Glittering Cave on the path there may serve some purpose to us. #42 has just been placed under your charge, you are to find a partner for him as soon as possible and send them both to intercept her, understood?" He ordered, Xerosic nodding as he pulled up his records of the Grunts in his division.

"It would appear #51 has a similar battle prowess to #42, though it doesn't seem she can Mega Evolve her Houndoom as of yet, but she shows great promise. I think I'll assign her as #42's partner, is that acceptable Lysandre?" He asked, Lysandre nodding.

"Yes, now leave me. I have much work to be done."

The scientist left the room, leaving Lysandre alone once again as he surveyed three large empty pods before him as well as a giant column.

"I will achieve my perfect world, one way or another. I can only hope that you will forgive me once you find out what I have done, Augustine."