Lightning (Zoroark)

* Default
* Origin

Lightning is a reformed protagonist of Nightfall, introduced in Volume 1.

## Appearance

As Lightning is a Corrupt Pokémon, his colors are drastically changed from the original’s. He is primarily red with a yellow mane. The fur on his chest is a dark red and the inside of his ears are the same color. The pattern on his ears is shaped more like an arrow; reminiscent of a Lucario’s. His claws and the tips of his mane are purple, while his eyes and bangle are light blue.

Lightning lacks the facial markings seen on a normal Zoroark, and his body structure is more stronger-built compared to the agile form of others’. He also tends to act more humanoid, running on two legs, standing up straighter, and not curling up when sleeping. The Electric-type does seem to become more “feral” when in his Origin Forme.

He stands at 5’06” rather than the average 5’03” and he has the scar of a bear trap on his right ankle. His eyes are also more rectangular-shaped rather than triangular.

### Origin Forme

In this form, Lightning takes on the features of a Giratina. His primary red color becomes black, with his fur, mane tips, and inside ears being darker in color. His mane is a duller yellow and the tips of his mane are more arrow-shaped as a fixed pattern.

There are two curved, red markings on his torso, sprouting from the fur on his chest to his waist. His claws and bangle are also red, as well as his eyes. He gains yellow arrow-like markings on his hands and feet.

Perhaps the most prominent features are the metallic crest on his head and his wings. The crest mimics that of an Altered Giratina’s, and same goes for his wings. The wings change from being translucent to solid, and Lightning appears to be able to control whether or not they can manifest on his back.

The middle of his crest glows a bright blue when Shadow Force is in use. When the Giratina who possesses him gains full control, Lightning’s eyes become a vibrant red and his sclera changes to black. This is when he is most violent.

## Personality

Outside of combat, Lightning is like an elder brother to the Alliance. He loves food, is very playful, and cracks jokes nonchalantly regardless of what the context is. His bond with Glaze is the strongest, as they are like siblings to each other, and Lightning is often seen by the Shiny’s side. He doesn’t mind the accidents that happen, like if someone spilled water on him or threw something at him; the Zoroark often just laughs it off.

Inside of combat, however, Lightning’s demeanor changes drastically. He becomes much more serious and bold, usually the one to go on the offense first as he prefers offense instead of defense. He has no problem with attacking those who are much bigger or powerful than he is, and like the other members on his team, he will go to great lengths to protect those he cherishes. He’s even willing to kill his enemies or sacrifice himself if that’s what it takes.

He also becomes more short-tempered when focused and takes on the leader role alongside Glaze, though he is much more strict about orders. Much of his combat-style is improv and he plans his attacks and strategies on the spot.

It takes the Prism Followers’ control mechanisms to cause Lightning to hurt his friends. If he does manage to accidentally harm his allies, he becomes extremely downhearted and guilty about what he did, as prominently shown with Floaty and Dawn’s deaths and after he caused Glaze’s scars.

Lightning seems to have a dark side that he refuses to show to others. The guilt that had formed over the years from the deaths he caused had made him significantly cast down. When alone, he sometimes starts to cry over what he’s done, but immediately lightens up if someone is near. Glaze, Crystal, and Zera do notice the mask he puts on to hide the pain.

## History

### Childhood

As a Zorua, Lightning’s name was Kodai. This was his real name. He was best friends with another Zorua named Rua, who went on to become Bolt. He lived his life carefree until a human scientist stumbled upon the duo and took them to the Pokémon Research Center. She managed to distract them enough to essentially “kidnap” them from their home without them knowing.

The facility is where Kodai then spent his adolescent and adult years, evolving into a Zoroark and improving his fighting capabilities while under the care of Layla, the scientist who took him and Rua.

### The beginning of Dark Pokémon

A strange infection had been spreading to the other Pokémon living in the building, making them become extremely hostile and even changing colors and abilities. To combat this, Layla gave Kodai a vaccine that was supposed to make him immune to the virus, but unbeknownst to the staff, this only fueled the fire.

The medicine had become contaminated as the virus was strictly airborne. It caused Kodai himself to become what he is today, an Amber Zoroark, one of two variants of Corrupt Zoroark. Kodai was infused with uncontrollable rage and went on to commit genocide, slaying anyone who stood in his way as he darted around the facility to find a way out.

One imprisoned Pokémon was a Corrupt Lunala, Infinity. Like Kodai, Infinity had gone mad, but sensing a connection, Kodai broke the chains that restricted the gray Lunala. Infinity crashed through the roof of the facility, rising into the air. He was followed shortly by Kodai, who, with the Lunala’s power, was able to transform into a 10% Zygarde and use Core Enforcer to shatter the ceiling and free the other Corrupt Pokémon.

He then continued to terrorize the humans and the Pokémon who hadn’t turned violent, even going as far as to cause a news helicopter to explode. Kodai managed to escape and landed back inside the now-ruined building. After slaughtering a non-infected Swanna, Kodai regained his composure and was horrified by what had just transpired.

In his shocked state, a group of humans found Kodai and tranquilized him, rendering him no longer a danger. But unfortunately, they didn’t pick him up and take him away. They left him there in the ruins as it started to snow the next day.

### Shadow City

Kodai woke up, covered in snow in the bloodstained ruins of what was once the research facility. Ignoring some bodies that hadn’t been removed yet, the Zoroark stumbled out of the building, sick to his stomach. It wasn’t long until someone found him.

This someone was another Corrupt Pokémon, Sapphire. She led him to Gilded City, a once-abandoned building now under-construction by the Dark Pokémon. That was where he met a now-calmed Infinity. As the Electric-type didn’t remember his name, Infinity decided to call him Lightning.

All was calm until a Necrozma showed up through a portal from Ultra Space. Taking over Infinity, Gilded City became a place of violence. He ordered all of the city’s inhabitants to kill anyone who got near the building if they weren’t Corrupt too. This affected Lightning greatly as it increased his hostility and he turned trigger-happy. It wasn’t until Sapphire went missing that he started to calm down again.

### Reforming

Lightning had several encounters with Glaze prior to Arcane and they had become enemies. After Arcane had started, Bolt was murdered by Infinity. Lightning was chased to the outskirts of Nightfall where he was found by Glaze and a few others. His immediate reaction was to attack, but was halted by Sapphire. Overjoyed that his friend was alive, he agreed to remain calm while she sorted things out.

It didn’t stop the rivalry between him and Glaze, though. But when Glaze took a hit for Lightning, injuring himself, the Zoroark was astonished. They hated each other, but the Gallade still protected him. That was when he started to see the good in Glaze and his friends. He became part of the Light Team and remained extremely loyal to the group.

Lightning continued to soften and become more inviting to the point where he is now; everyone’s big brother. Glaze even stated that Lightning would be next-in-line for the Light Team leader. He still accepted Lightning even after the incidents with his Origin Forme, as he knew Lightning wasn’t in charge when it happened. One infamous incident is the cloning process Lightning underwent, where Thunder was born.

## Additional Information

As a Corrupt Zoroark, Lightning is able to completely shapeshift into any Pokémon he desires, save for Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia. Legendary and Mythical Pokémon require more energy, but otherwise, Lightning calls himself a “cooler Ditto”. On top of this, he’s also able to cast the signature illusions that all Zoroark possess.

He’s also part Electric-type, which allows him to use Electric-type moves that Pure Zoroark can’t use.

Additionally, Lightning has a special technique of Shadow Ball that he uses, where he coats his arms in the energy, essentially creating a Shadow Claw. He often throws his Shadow Claw hand into the ground, creating spikes of Ghost-type energy that erupt from the ground similar to Stone Edge. It’s been proven very successful in combat and he calls it “Spectre Salvo”.

### Origin

In his Origin Forme, Lightning retains his illusion ability, but loses his shapeshifting powers. On top of his Levitate Ability, Lightning’s Spectre Salvo is powered up due to his Ghost-typing.

His wings give him the ability to fly/float in the air, but they don’t flap like a bird’s. As mentioned above, Lightning’s wings don’t always appear, but they’re commonly seen fully manifested. Also stated previously, the triangular center of Lightning’s metallic crest glows blue when he uses Shadow Force, as seen when a Giratina uses the move.

## Trivia

* The first art of Lightning depicted him completely normal like other Zoroark, with a slender build, facial markings, and the like.
	+ Lightning’s arrow-like ear pattern was actually a memory error. However, even after it was found out that this was incorrect, the pattern remained. The last-minute "excuse" was Lightning’s Lucario mother, and some of her features being passed onto him.
* Despite Lightning’s fusion form being called Origin, his appearance strongly resembles the Altered Forme.
* Lightning originally was supposed to possess the Light Sword.
* His former name came from Grings Kodai, the main antagonist of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
* Excluding Zera, Lightning is the oldest Alliance member.
* Lightning wasn’t planned to have a scar at first.
* In an early stage of Zera’s character being developed, Lightning’s mind was placed into Zera’s body while the actual Mythical sat there and watched “in the background.” During this time, Lightning’s real, unconscious body was cloned and made into Thunder.