Tae entered the Artazon Gym with a smile, followed by his friends, but his expression grew sour seeing Rika leaning against the counter of the reception with a smirk.

"Oh. It's the hag." Tae said with volume.

Rika casually kicked off of the counter with a smile, ignoring as the other students and civilians as she walked up to Tae.

She quickly pinched his ear and rushed him over to the reception counter.

"Ow! What the hell?!" Tae shouted, trying to pry her hand off.

"Special order by the Pokémon League. Please send Brassius the memo that we're executing the Zero Order." Rika nodded, making the man nod back and press a few numbers on the PA system.

Penny and Arven were confused about what that meant, but they'd all know seen enough.

•

Tae rolled over a massive root and vaulted off to leap onto the next one that lashed at him.

Wisp raced to his side and blocked a Breloom's Mach Punch, kicking it away before rushing after it.

Tae slipped under another root, gritting his teeth as it scraped his forehead.

Penny and Arven were shocked seeing the training he had to go through to access Area Zero. In hindsight of their shock, he would have to venture to territory ruled by Pokémon, so they wouldn't only attack his own.

Tae swat a root away at the cost of a nasty gash on his arm, but Mystic blocked the next to keep him safe, taking very little damage. However, a Scovillian's Fire Blast made Tae dash back in front of Mystic.

"What's he thinking?!" Arven asked in disbelief, Penny covering her eyes.

Ceruledge slashed with Shadow Claw, and Breloom went for Aerial Ace. Just before they clashed, Ceruledge's boot was suddenly in Breloom's face.

Wisp kicked off with a whistle and absorbed the fire of Scovillian's Fire Blast, activating Flash Fire.

Tae grabbed Mystic's arm, before shouting as he spun around Wisp and threw her past Scovillian and at Breloom.

Carefully intertwining their arms, Wisp, tossed Tae away as a Solar Beam crashed into where he stood.

Tae crashed on his back and rolled to his hands and knees, panting in pain and exhaustion. This wasn't anything compared to him and Mystic catching Wisp, so he had a lot of fight left in him.

Hearing loud clamps against the stadium ground, Tae turned to see a Winter Sawsbuck getting ready to use Megahorn on him.

'Oh SHIT—'

Koraidon emerged from its Pokéball and grabbed Sawsbuck's antlers with a growl, sliding back just before he could hit Tae.

Korai lifted Sawsbuck before chucking him toward Breloom, who was putting amazing offense on Mystic. Breloom was about to finally land a Mach Punch, but Sawsbuck slammed into its side, sending it crashing away.

Tae gulped as he stood up, Koraidon, Wisp, and Mystic falling back to him.

Brassius continued to stare blankly, unsure of his judgment on his potential. Surely he could handle his own, but it was only a three versus three. Another Pokémon in the mix may throw off his balance entirely.

Unfortunately, by League regulations he was only to deem whether his Pokémon had the reaction time and capabilities to withstand his most powerful Grass Pokémon.

"You done yet?" Tae asked with a smirk, the blood dripping down his arm of no concern.

"Fruitless. The entirety of it. Your tenacity is beautiful, but the purpose behind it is lacking. I decide that you pass the first trial." Brassius looked far from genuine with his decision.

Tae panted as he realized he was done, letting out a deep sigh before falling on his ass. He groaned and continued to lie on his back as the pain in his arms became relevant.

Rika clapped for a few seconds, before sighing. She knew this test alone was just to gauge his capacity. The only thing of note was his synergy. He didn't utter a single command and they worked so well together.

"Commendable, yet again. Unfortunately, the Chairwoman herself decided that the first be less of a test and more of an assessment like before. Your result and analysis will come in by tomorrow. I'll be sure to be at the next trial." Rika nodded, before leaving.

Brassius crossed his arms, as if waiting for the three to leave.

Tae hurried to his feet, returning to his worrier companions.

•

"Wow! I gotta do this seven more times— OW!" Tae winced as the School Nurse dabbed a wet swab over the scratch on is his forehead.

Miriam grimaced at her patient, familiar with his type. She had treated him countless times, and he had become her "favorite" student ever since his return from catch his Ceruledge.

The gashes and burns he acquired were beyond saving with human medicine. Luckily, the power of Pokémon was vast, and a simple heal pulse saved him from bleeding out and third degree burn scars.

"Quit whining. You of all people should be used to this." Miriam muttered, wrapping bandages around his head and arms.

She lightly pat his face, before tilting his head upward with disappointment.

"You've gone and gave yourself yet another reckless, painful task. Despite my warnings again. I can't berate you too much, since they are flying me out on account of you, and I get a bonus, so try not to die under my care." Miriam concluded, closing a "first" aid kit.

It certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Thanks, ma'am." Tae nodded.

Miriam pat his shoulder, before smacking the back of his head as she left the scene.

Tae stretched as Mystic, Wisp, and Korai walked over with Penny and Arven.

"Hey, guys. How'd I do?" Tae asked with a smirk, closing his eyes as if he knew the answer.

"You're not making it to fourth gym." Penny commented. Arven shook his head.

"You're as persistent as I remember. You're the first person I've seen willing to take a Fire Blast for a Pokémon. Luckily, Wisp always has your back." Arven smiled.

Wisp nodded her head and walked up to Tae. Tae chuckled and caressed her helm, making Wisp close her eyes.

"I wouldn't be here without you three. I know you've got my back. Forever and always." Tae nodded back.

"Soooo... Can you help me out now? It's a bit complicated." Penny asked with an annoyed pout.

"Of course. Where to and what to do?" Tae smirked.

•

Tae stood behind a tree, many meters away from a massive makeshift gate, stadium lights glowing like spotlights on the two Team Star Grunts that kept watch over their entrance.

In front of Tae, Penny used her Rotom Phone to hack the lights as the sun began to set.

With a small spark, the two lights went out, confusing the duo.

"What the hell? Don't tell me the Maschifs are getting to the generators..." A male grunt complained.

"Somebody'll check it. Quit talking. I'm playing Pokémon Cafe." The female grunt replied.

Tae glanced at Arven, who was sitting with Toedscruel in the same tree. Toedscruel shot a bullet seed at the gate between them, making the two teens flinch.

"What the hell?!" The girl shouted, before hearing a crunch of grass behind her. The two looked behind her, only to see nothing.

The male grunt let out a small gasp as Tae suddenly slid in and kicked him into the gate, knocking them out.

The girl turned again, but was silenced by Mystic chopping her neck.

"Woah... Didn't expect such a violent approach. I respect it." Penny commented as she walked up behind him.

Tae looked at the male grunt slumped against the gate and winced. He didn't want to admit he slipped on the grass for that kick.

Tae sighed and pushed open the gate, slow enough to go unnoticed by the camps closet to the entrance.

Arven was hanging back since he wasn't one to start a fight with a gang as big as Team Star. Tae respected it, and appreciated the diversion he created.

Penny suddenly jumped on Tae's back, and he caught her in time to not embarrass himself.

"What are you doing...?" Tae wondered.

"Warming up. And I don't mean temperature. You'll find out soon." Penny said ominously.

As Tae walked into the campgrounds, he could see only the illumination of a few vending machines. 'They're solar powered?'

Penny was looking around as she got comfortable, 'Where's the Starmobile?' She wondered.

Tae also noticed how barren the campgrounds were. With the cover of the fleeting sun, he and Mystic crouching as they snuck behind the massive white tents.

Penny observed Tae's serious stance, surprised out how serious he was taking the task she gave him. She decided she'd do her part too, and called out a Jolteon.

Jolteon dashed around Tae, expectantly wanting to be pet, but his arms were locked around Penny's thighs, so he couldn't do much.

With a laugh, Tae stumbled around in amusement, but he stopped seeing Jolteon's ears twitch as hit stopped.

All the lights around kicked back on and a loud growl of an engine made Tae and Mystic flinch.

Suddenly, a burst of wind smacked Tae and Penny, sending them and their Pokémon flying out into the open. Tae tried to protect Penny, but she flew off his back from the force before he crashed into a large tree.

Mystic clawed at the ground beside the tree, while Jolteon landed gracefully against the tree with a growl.

Tae wiped his eyes and looked around for Penny, and saw she was lying weakly against the grass several feet away. Tae stood up, but saw a bright orange light headed his way.

With no time to react, Tae was slammed into by a burning Flare Blitz from a Talonflame, making his eyes widen as he coughed up saliva, before being sent straight through the tree with burns on his chest and arms.

Tae flew back and crashed into a vending machine, breaking the glass and crushing cans and bottles, soaking his clothes.

With his already injured body, Tae was trying his hardest not to scream. Tae slumped forward in agony, only able to watch as a massive truck powered by a Revavroom. It was coated in red and orange flame decals, and a single teenager stood atop it, glaring with hatred.

Penny finally stirred from her daze and only saw Jolteon and Mystic frozen in shock.

She looked back and saw Tae limp against a vending machine with smoke and blood mixing within the water, juice, and soda. Her eyes widened too seeing her help reduced to this state.

Subconsciously she began crying, frozen just like their Pokémon.

"What quick work. Not a surprise. Went and jumped my crew and thought you'd get away with it." The girl a top the Starmobile began, the rest of her crew leaking back into the campgrounds to see the culprit.

"If you're still kicking... what's your name?" The girl asked, taking a seat as Team Star surrounded Penny and Tae.

Tae's eyes twitched open as he heard the question.

"Tae... first year..." Tae muttered, but fortunately the girl heard.

"Ah, I've seen you around. We even thought about recruiting you as an advisor. Eventually we settled with what we got." The girl explained, giving Tae time to reach for a certain Pokéball. A Master Ball.

"The name's Mela, Tae, and I just want answers. Why'd ya do it? You're the first to ever pull such stunt today. Even at the academy this morning." Mela asked with a smirk.

"Cause..." Tae was willing to reap what he sowed. "Someone has to."

A mechanical whir came from behind the vending machine as Tae rolled out of the way. The vending machine was sent flying forward and right into the Talonflame, sending it crashing into the gate they came through.

Tae stood up as Penny's Umbreon stood beside her with determined anger. It howled as a ray of the moon landed on Tae, healing his wounds far beyond what first aid could do.

Tae's hair fluttered up and down as a mechanical Pokémon towered over him. Battle form Koraidon emerged from his Pokéball too, having hung back to recover power.

With two Pokémon that rivaled legends staring them down, Mela and Team Star began to tremble as the team of five stepped in front of Penny and Tae.

"That someone is me." Tae smirked.