Zero: Chapter 10

The Tests of the Dragon


Once the Pokémon woke up, Kariiya explained to Zero that she needed something or someone to take them to the temple. Flyers can go in easily, but Pokémon that have no wings at all couldn't reach it at all.


'What do you mean?!' The Half Glaceon and the grey-blue Flareon blurted at the winged Leafeon.

'You see; Gorin and I have wings due to an accidental contact with horns as Eevees. We can get to the temple. However, you might not because you don't have any. Sorry guys.' Kariiya explained once more.

'How will we get there then?' Chase sighed.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. 'Hello?' the voice said from behind the door.

'Eh?' Zero gasped. 'That voice… could it be…?'


The Half-Glaceon ran towards the door and saw through the visor on it. She opened the door and greeted the Pokémon behind.


'Latios!' Zero said happily as she glomped the Eon Pokémon.

'It's been long time since I've seen you.' Latios replied. 'Well, honestly, the last 24 hours. Heheheh.'

'Anyways, what did bring you here?' Gorin asked to the Half-Shiny Latios. 'How are grandma and sister?'

'They are okay. Don't worry.' Latios assumed. 'I actually came here because Aethria forgot to tell you that you needed my help to get to the Dragon Temple as well. She told me all these things this morning.'

'…Wow.' Chase said, while in thoughts, he was planning to play a vengeful prank on his sister later.

'What's wrong with that Latios?!' the Leafeon yelled as she saw Latios.

'I am a Half Shiny Latios.' The Latios replied. 'My master wanted a Shiny Latios and not a normal one, so, I became this.'

'Okay…' Kariiya muttered, twitching her eyes.

'Don't worry. I won't hurt you.' Latios comforted the Leafeon.

'Will you take us to the Dragon Temple, please?' Zero asked.

'I don't see why not.' The Half Shiny Latios replied.

'Hey! How do I-' Gorin's speech was cut by Latios.

'Gorin, I've seen you fly. I think you can handle the flight.' Latios scolded him.

'Ugh! Okay! I will try to fly.' The winged Glaceon snarled as he set on flight position along with Kariiya.


After Chase was done sorting and packing the items they needed for the trip, Zero and him got on Latios' back and Latios began to fly forwards. After a while, the Eon Pokémon took height and began to fly into the sky. Suddenly, he began to fly slowly, waiting for Gorin and Kariiya, who, instantly, reached the three Pokémon in seconds and passed them.


'I'll lead from on here'. Kariiya suggested, placing herself in front of the party.


The winged Leafeon led the party for a few hours and, after a long time, they stopped by a big tower in the middle of a lake forest and next to a waterfall. There was all kind of dragon Pokémon flying on the sky, such as Dragonair, Bagon, Flygon, Druddigon, small Reshirams, as well as Pokémon going around on the water, such as special kinds of Vaporeon, Kingdra, Dratini, Gyarados, and such.


'This is it.' Kariiya spoke. 'The Dragon Tower.'

'Hold on there, mistress.' Gorin said. 'Didn't you say you would take us to the Dragon Temple?'

'Yes, I did.' She replied

'Then, why are we on a Tower rather than the Temple itself?' he blurted while pointing at the tower with his paws in disappointment.

'The Temple is on the top of the Tower, newbie.' She taunted as she entered the door in the tower, leaving the winged Glaceon dumbfounded as the whole group started entering as well.

'Hey, wait!' Gorin yelled as he ran towards the group.


Inside, the walls had a beautiful architecture that symbolized some honor inside. There were a few Dragon Pokémons inside looking at the paintings made by the Smeargles, which portrayed the most famous Dragon Pokémons in the story. In the middle of the circular hall, a circular elevator of sorts was standing there.


'Okay, so… we have to go upstairs, talk to the guardian of the horn and get out of here?' Zero asked to the Leafeon, looking a little nervous.

'No one easily gets the admiration of the Prism Horn Demigod. We have to get through a plethora of challenges and battles as we climb this tower. Do you get what I mean, newbie?' Kariiya spoke back.

'Uh… o-okay…' the Half Glaceon whispered, still nervous.

'Shall we step there to start?' the winged Leafeon stated while walking towards the elevator and sitting down there.


The other Pokémon, wordlessly, stepped on the elevator and then, it started to move at a slow pace. The elevator was going at a stable speed, while relaxing music was playing around the halls. Once the elevator stopped, the Pokémon got a little startled when it did. Then, the group started to check the room. The walls were painted white and celesta colors, making out a pattern of icy cavern. A big Pokémon was waiting for their arrival from a corner of the big room.


'Why hello there, newcomers.' The stranger said with a cold voice tone, startling the whole group, except for Kariiya.

'OH MY A-A-A-ARCEUS!!' Gorin screamed in fear at the big Pokémon he was seeing. 'IT'S K-K-KYUREM!!'

'I can't believe that fake rumor about me is still around…' the Neutral Pokémon muttered in embarrassment.

'How's everything, Kyurem?' Kariiya asked.

'Good, as always.' Kyurem replied. 'How about you?'

'Well, I had some inconvenient yesterday but I guess everything else is fine.' The winged Leafeon replied back.

'Technically, my only inconvenient is that stupid rumor about my species being a cannibalistic group of dragons.' He blurted. 'Anyways, what does bring you here?'

'These newcomers, Zero the Half-Glaceon and Gorin the winged Glaceon, are here to visit the Dragon Master.'

'That means they have to go through three tests: Knowledge, Courage and Power. I'll be the first test.' Kyurem assumed.

'Does that mean we don't have to fight you?' Zero asked.

'Yes, but no. Yes, because you don't need to use the force on this test. No, because is a fight using your knowledge.' Kyurem explained.

'Well, here we go.' Gorin said as he stepped forwards while dragging Zero with him. The rest of the party walked backwards and sat down.

'As you will, newcomers. You'll have 5 minutes to answer my 5 questions.' Kyurem said and took a deep breath, ready to ask something. 'Are you ready?'


The winged Glaceon and the Half Glaceon nodded, seeming to be sure of what they were doing.


'Here we go. Its tails are said to give a 1000 years curse upon those who touch them. Who is it?'

'It's Ninetales.' Gorin replied as fast as he could.

'Right!' Kyurem cheered him at his answer. 'Next question: There is a certain kind of Pokémon living in the museums. What kind of Pokémon is that?'


Gorin seemed puzzled at such a question, but knowing about his experience with a stroll with his mother at the museum 2 years ago, he managed to give a response.


'Prehistoric Pokémon.'

'That's so right!' Kyurem said, amazed at the knowledge of the winged Fresh Snow Pokémon had. 'Next question: What is the name of the main protagonist of the comic issues titled 'Metafighters: The Advent Knights Quest.'?'


Gorin and Zero never heard of such a comic, who made them feel unnerved. Gorin tried to think of the name, but didn't get it. Then, he saw the clock. He had 3 minutes and 15 seconds left. That's when he remembered of a sleepover party with his deceased friend years ago. Hiro was talking about his favorite heroine of the comic magazines at 3:15 in the morning. Then, the name kicked in his mind.


'Denkimoto Hikari!' Gorin answered.

'Well, I guess it's the other way around, but it's correct anyways.' Kyurem applauded. 'Next question: What's the name of my brothers?'


Gorin never read Pokéarth History that much, which made him feel dumb. 'Damn, why did people never tell me about his brothers?' he said in thoughts, looking at the clock, which had 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Zero, who actually read history while she was a simple Eevee, replied for him.


'Reshiram and Zekrom.' Zero answered.

'Well, that's mostly true! We are the Tao Dragon Trio!' the Neutral Pokémon said happily. 'Last question: What's the name of the sword that the legendary hero Derek Glenn used to defeat the Dragon Raichu?'


Both Pokémon seemed astounded at such question. They've never heard about that sword before. They were thinking for one minute and a few seconds. Gorin saw the clock, and there was simply 30 seconds left. 'Do you know the name or something?' Gorin whispered to Zero. 'I don't remember. I saw that on a comic and… wait! I got it!' she whispered back.


'It's Zansetsuken!' she yelled at the last second.

'That's…' Kyurem said in suspense. 'Totally correct! You've made it through this test successfully, newcomers!'


The two Pokémon were dancing happily, while the rest of the group was cheering happily.


'However, this is not the end of the three tests.' Kyurem interrupted them.

'What do you mean?' Zero spoke as she stopped dancing with the winged Glaceon.

'Your next test isn't going to be about questions. You'll see yourself when you arrive to the next floor.' The Neutral Pokémon assumed.

'I guess.' Zero said as she stepped on the center of the room, Latios, Kariiya, Chase and Gorin following her.


As soon as the Pokémon sat down in the elevator, it went up in the same slow pace it is used to. Gorin, then, proceeded to ask something of urgency to Zero. 'How did you even know about the legendary Dragon Trio of the far region of Unova?'


'That's pretty simple.' Zero replied while showing him a magazine about important characters of the History. 'My dad taught me how to read.'


After a few minutes of rising, the elevator stopped in the 3rd floor. The room was actually decorated like the sky at night; the walls were all painted dark blue and had stars and clouds painted over it. Charms could be heard with the blowing of the wind. While our heroes where looking at the puzzling look of the walls, a slithery figure was lurking in the dark ceiling and fell over Latios.


'Ugh!' the Half Shiny Latios moaned as he got smashed by the long creature.

'Darn! I knew lurking on the ceiling isn't my strongest point yet!' the long creature, being a light blue Dragonair, said as it tried to get up.

'Be careful next time!' Latios scolded the Dragonair.

'Who are you?' Zero asked to the Dragonair over Latios.

'I am Celeste.' The Dragonair said. 'I will test your courage, despite my angelical look.'

'I am Zero the Half Glaceon, and this is Gorin, my partner.' Zero said formally, causing Gorin to blush. 'The other guys are Latios and Kariiya.'

'I see. The test will be based off on your biggest fears. You and Gorin must outsmart them in order to complete this test.' Celeste explained.

'Oh, really? How do you plan to make us face our biggest fears?' Gorin asked, unwarned of Celeste's powers.

'This might answer your question.' Celeste replied as she used Hypnosis on the winged Glaceon.

'Hey! How did you do that?' Zero blurted in amaze.

'I have special hypnotic powers to put Pokémon to sleep. This room causes them to suffer nightmares about their biggest fears.' Celeste said as she smirked gently.

'I don't get it!' Zero yelled. 'This room looks so childish!'

'That's because the innocence is, sometimes, not what it seems. Now you are next.' She explained as she put Zero to sleep with Hypnosis.

'Celeste, how are we supposed to see their dreams?' Kariiya said.

'Don't worry, my friend. My assistant, Moi, will use his Dream Smoke to project their dreams. Moi, please.' She said as a Musharna teleported into the room and spread his Dream smoke upwards.


In Gorin's dream, there was Gorin standing in a room with blood red ice blocks and a Vaporeon corpse in front of him. In Zero's dream, she was running in an endless stream of glass-like blocks, running away from voices calling her a monster, freak, and such.


'Those aren't dreams…' Chase said, suspecting about the dreams the couple had.

'Exactly.' Celeste replied with a smile. 'They are facing their worst fears.'


What will Gorin do in the room he's stuck on with the corpse? What kind of place is he on? Where is Zero running to? How will our heroes face their worst fears? What is Celeste's motivation to cause this kind of phenomenon? Find out in next chapter!