ZEL

> *Only four of you entered? We expected more. Four are easily dealt with.*
>
>

**ZEL** is an admin of Team Meteor, and an amalgamation of three different personalities, namely Zero, Eve and Lumi, in the body of Zero. They are responsible for developing PULSE Machines.

Zero is the most aggressive personality, acting harsh to others and even their other personalities. Eve is the smartest personality, developing PULSE machines entirely on her own, and possessing a great understanding of Pokémon's abilities. Lumi is the kindest of the three, cheering on the Tangrowth in the PULSE Machine despite all the damage it causes, encouraging Eve, and attempting to be friendly and polite to the player. She also gets angry at Zero constantly for yelling at Eve about the PULSE machines.

## Story Events

### Obsidia Park

ZEL is first encountered in Obsidia Park, in front of a mass of metal and flora that has ensnared Amaria and Florinia. ZEL at first appears to be arguing with an unseen accomplice, but as the conversation continues, it is revealed that ZEL has three distinct personalities and is talking to themselves. The personalities introduce themselves as Zero, Eve, and Lumi, and appear respectively as Zel, zEl, and zeL in the dialogue box, the capital letter indicating the personality that is speaking.

After the defeat of the PULSE Tangrowth, Zero and Eve argue with each other over Zero's error in using the PULSE Tangrowth for battle, while Lumi apologizes to it for not stopping them.

### Rhodochrine Jungle

ZEL is next met outside the Rhodochrine Tree in the Rhodochrine Jungle alongside Taka, Ace, Borealis, and several other lower-ranked Team Meteor members, guarding the PULSE Tangrowth that has been set up there. They end up fighting Fern (if the player avoided being trapped in a Nuzleaf cage) or Cain (if the player does not avoid being trapped) while the player takes on Ace, vanishing once Ace has been defeated.

### Blacksteam Factory

ZEL later reappears in Blacksteam Factory, where they are monitoring the PULSE Muk along with Solaris. Solaris explains that the PULSE Muk is responsible for poisoning Azurine Lake before attempting to kill the player with his Garchomp; after Amaria stops Solaris, ZEL fights the player in an attempt to keep them from deactivating the PULSE. After the battle, the PULSE is defeated and Team Meteor retreats; however, the lake has already been poisoned.

### Tanzan Meteor Base

When the player raids the Tanzan Meteor Base, ZEL appears to have trouble stabilizing PULSE Abra when the player encounters them alongside Sirius and Dr. Connal. Lumi explains that they were hoping to ask Abra nicely to teleport them inside the gate underneath the Grand Stairway but Zero replies that it's not listening and has instead been using its amplified teleportation powers to cause havoc in Spinel Town. The player, Saphira, and optionally Laura (if Saphira was captured earlier) try to stop them but instead get teleported to the Tanzan Depths.

The player later comes back to the Tanzan Meteor Base only to find ZEL being teleported around by the Abra. Due to Abra's repeated defiance against Team Meteor, Sigmund suggests to simply terminate the project before Lin arrives, to which Eve agrees. Lumi, in contrast, is against hurting the Abra, but nonetheless the player is asked to fight the Abra in order to terminate the project.

After the Abra is defeated, Sirius and Lin both arrive to check on the Abra's progress; the player is blamed for the PULSE's destruction in an attempt to cover up ZEL's authorization of the project's termination.

### Ametrine City

A diary discovered in Ametrine City reveals the history behind this odd character- ZEL truly *is* three people in one body, fused together as the result of a PULSE Machine attached to a Magneton that evolved into a Magnezone while it was still hooked up. Evelynn Seijaya, the original identity of Eve, had developed the machine in an attempt to heal her sister, Lumina Seijaya, the original identity of Lumi, hoping to keep her from dying. Zero, a member of Team Meteor, somehow learned of Evelynn's project, and attempted to force her into giving the power behind it to the organization. Lumina, sickly and frightened, simply feared death and being alone. As the great accident occurred, all three of them got what they wanted, but in a terrible manner.

### Devon Corp?

After the player, Victoria, Arclight, Adrienn, and Ame are all captured by Team Meteor during the attempted raid on a Meteor facilty hidden in Devon Corp and transported to a hidden base elsewhere in the city, ZEL is met alongside PULSE Magnezone. Here, they explain through an argument among their personalities that the PULSE has been damaged by a corrupted program added to the system by an unknown source, hence why they stayed behind while the base was evacuated. They then notice the player, Lumi asking if they really came to destroy everything before they battle the player.

Once ZEL is defeated, the Magnezone explodes, damaging the room and knocking ZEL unconscious. When the player interacts with them, Zero notes that it's oddly quiet before trying and failing to get a response from Lumi and Eve. He then runs out of the room, heading to Agate City. The character ZEL ceases to exist from this point onwards, as Lumi and Eve no longer inhabit Zero's body.

## Story Battles

### Obsidia Ward Battle

ZEL is battled on a Forest Field in a Single Battle format.

### Blacksteam Factory Battle

ZEL is battled on a Factory Field in a Single Battle format and they have two Hyper Potions.

### Tanzan Meteor Base Battle

ZEL is battled on a Factory Field in a Single Battle format.

### Devon Corp? Battle

ZEL is battled on a Factory Field in a Single Battle format and they have three Ultra Potions.

## Quotes

* "*...This is why you should't talk so much, Lumi!*" -After defeat in Obsidia Ward.
* "*...Still?*" -After defeat in Beryl Ward.
* "*Tch, no choice then!*" -When sending out last Pokemon in Blacksteam Factory.
* "*Ah-ah... I'm sorry, I was too weak...*" -After defeat in Blacksteam Factory.
* "*I'm so sorry it had to come to this, Abra...*" -After defeat in Tanzan Meteor Base.
* "*I'm sorry, Magnezone... If we're gonna get through this, we need your help!*" -When sending out last Pokemon in Devon Corp.
* "*Lumi, regardless of what happens now-- please remember that I will always, always love you.*" -After defeat in Devon Corp.

 [???]: I TOLD you they would get here too soon! If you had made this machine go faster...
[???]: No! Tangrowth wouldn't be able to take anymore!
[???]: The speed has already been optimized. Be glad the Pokemon was able to capture those two girls.
[???[: You're really strong to be able to do everything so well, Tangrowth!
[???]: Hey! How much longer are we gonna ignore the other problem?
[???]: Oh, hello. Um, my name is Lumi--
[???]: Only three of you entered? We expected more.
[???]: Three are easy to deal with.
[???]: Um, it might be more polite if we introduce ourselves. I'm--
[???]: You've already introduced myself, Lumi. Needlessly, at that! I, however, am Zero.
[???]: I am Eve. Collectively we are referred to as ZEL.
[Zel]: And we're not gonna let you touch the PULSE!
[zeL]: But But that's probably what you came here for, right?
[zeL]: All of the growth here is a result of this machine.
[zeL]: And Eve built it all by herself!
[zEl]: Correct. The Link System is a simple hybridization-amplification mechanic.
[Zel]: So with that machine behind it, it can manipulate even the smallest root into a massive arbor wrecking ball!
[Zel]: Think you can stop it? Just try!

 [zEl]: Zero, next time, rather than showing off the mission's keystone, let's fight with our own Pokemon.
[zeL]: I'm sorry, Tangrowth... I should have intervened.
[Zel]: Stop yelling at me! You said this machine was supposed to make it stronger!
[zEl]: Your misjudgement was the key factor. Refardless, with Tangrowth incapacitated, the malignant growth will now regress.
[zeL]: So it's all going to go back to normal?
[zEl]: Correct. So there's no longer any purpose to remaining here. Recover the model, and escape at once.
[Zel]: Hey, <player>, right?
[Zel]: Don't think this is over.

 [Zel]: You!
[Taka]: Oh, hey.
[???]: What is it now?
[Taka]: This is the trainer that defeated the PULSE in Jasper.
[Taka]: I invited <player> to come here so we could deal with this issue thoroughly. See?
[zEl]: <player> is also responsible for destroying the PULSE in Obsidia.
[???]: Ah. That was you.
[???]: An alley cat parading as a tiger.
[???]: Heroism is vainglory.
[???]: But you will learn. You've stepped out of your alley, and into the world.
[???]: I will introduce you to the cold pain of reality.
[???(2nd)]: Hold it right there!
{Heather enters area}
[Taka]: Hey, isn't that---
[zEl]: Heather, daughter to the Beryl Ward Gym Leader and--
[???]: I know all too well who she is. But why is she here?
[Heather]: What kind of question is that?!
[Heather]: I'm stopping you evil people, duh!
[???]: How reckless. Weren't you raised to be more responsible?
[Heather]: Who cares?!
[Heather]: People try to stop me from doing things all the time but their true rules are totally stupid anyway!
[???]: Just because you do not understand something does not make it 'stupid'.
[???]: You will learn, someday.
[Heather]: Would you just shut up!?
[Heather]: I'm here to beat you up, not get lectured, so shut up!
[???]: Taka, ZEL. Deal with <player> and protect the PULSE.
[???]: Leave the girl to me.
[Taka]: Sure thing.
[zeL]: Um, I guess I have to... Sorry, <player>, but...
[Zel]: But it's payback time!

 [Taka]: Well, that's not good.
[zEl]: The PULSE has been deactivated. There is no longer any purpose in defending this location.
[Taka]: In that case, I'm just gonna make myself scare. You coming?
[zeL]: Um... I... I guess so...

 [zeL]: Oh, it's you. Um, you... you probably shouldn't be here.
[???]: You're an annoyance.
[???]: You meddle in dangerous affairs, but I'll congratulate you for cutting through my subordinates.
[???]: Your reward: Come, observe.
[zEl]: They already know about the PULSE, sir. It was they who contributed to the destruction of the PULSE-Tangrowth project.
[???]: I'm aware. But, <player>, this is slightly different from the one you have seen already.
[???]: Look at this Muk. The machine to which it's attached drains its lifeforce and suffocates its spirit.
[???]: Even its body gives way as it collapses drool into a mere puddle of itself.
[???]: And now that your back is turned, Garchomp, Dragon Rush. Execute!
[???](2nd): Atlantica, quickly! Ice Beam!
*{Kingdra enters area and Garchomp freezes}*
[???]: Hmph. You're lucky. I could have had you out of the way once and for all.
[Amaria]: Not on my watch!
*{Amaria enters area}*
[???]: Garchomp, return.
[Amaria]: <player>, are you okay?
[Amaria]: Phew! That was close.
[Amaria]: But I don't get it. This PULSE Machine floods the lake with poison.
[Amaria]: Why would you want to do that? You're destroying a beautiful lake and making life hard for Reborn City!
[???]: That's exactly why.
[???]: They should leave. We'll do whatever it takes to evacuate the city.
[???]: If their homes are destroyed by raging plants, or they can't even drink water anymore...
[???]: Then they'll leave.
[???]: All of them will.
[???]: And since Grandview Station is destroyed, no more will arrive.
[???]: This will become a vacant, ruined city again.
[???]: As it should have stayed in the first place.!
[Amaria]: You're awful!
[???]: Do not judge that which you do not understand. We have our motives. If you do not share them, you are an enemy.
[Amaria]: I'll never allow you to get away with it!
[???]: Interesting.
[Amaria]: Wh-what? Why did your tone change so suddenly?
[???]: That Sapphire Bracelet...
[Amaria]: What, this? It was a gift, from Tania.
[Amaria]: You're not taking it, if that's what you think!
[Amaria]: Anything Tania gives me is precious. I'll defend it with my life!
[???]: Suit yourself. Both are forfeit.
[Amaria]: <player>, try to deactivate the PULSE while I keep him busy!
[Zel]: Like hell you will!
[zEl]: It would seem your presence here is unnecessary.
[Zel]: So get the hell out already!

 [zeL]: Solaris, I- I'm sorry, we couldn't...
[Solaris]: Useless.
[Solaris]: Yes, you are as useless as your worthless actions.
[Solaris]: So you stopped the PULSE? Too late. The lake is already too-far gone.
[Solaris]: Speaking of gone, there's no point to us staying here. First, a parting gift.
[Solaris]: Tyranitar, Superpower.
[Solaris]: On the girl.
[Amaria]: A-ah...!
[Solaris]: Team Meteor, retreat.
*{Team Meteor exits area}*
[Amaria]: Ugh...
[Amaria]: Good job on shutting that thing down, <player>...
[Amaria]: I'm-- I'm okay...
[Amaria]: Just a little winded.
[Amaria]: Well, now the water won't be polluted anymore.
[Amaria]: But he said... it's too late?
[Amaria]: It's true, a lot's been ruined, but in time. the Water Treatment Center under the city will clean it out.
[Amaria]: So, I think we did something really great today-- ow!
[Amaria]: Deliverance, return!
[Amaria]: That attack might have hurt a little bit after all...
[Amaria]: But, you still need a way to cross the lake, don't you?
[Amaria]: Well, shoot.
[Amaria]: Okay... You can take my boat.
[Amaria]: It's true that the toxic water will probably destroy it if it's used, but...
[Amaria]: I get the feeling you need it now more than I'll need it later.
[Amaria]: So, here.
{player receives Harbor Key}
[Amaria]: That key opens my dock in the Coral Ward. You know, where we first ran into each other?
[Amaria]: Help yourself to the boat.
[Amaria]: Me? I think I'm just gonna go back home and rest for a while.
[Amaria]: Tania's probably waiting for me, too... Ahaha~
[Amaria]: I live up in the Aventurine Region, north of Reborn City, so if you're ever in the area, please drop by!
[Amaria]: And... thanks for your help! Truly.

 [Zel]: Behave, you stupid vermin!
[zeL]: Er, that is... Um...
[zeL]: Would you please listen to us, Abra?
{ZEL teleports}
[Dr. Sigmund]: I believe that was Abra's way of politely declining.
[Zel]: You little...
[Zel]: ...What, <player> made it back?
[Zel]: This thing really is useless.
[Dr. Sigmund]: Perhaps it would be best to just terminate the project before this "Lin" arrives.
[Dr. Sigmund]: It sounds like she has a rather critical nature.
[zEl]: This level of uncontrolled power would indeed be unacceptable.
[zeL]: But can we really hurt the poor Abra after all we've put it through?
[Zel]: We can't do anything at all if we can't even get close enough to deactivate the machine without the stupid thing jumping us away.
{ZEL teleports}
[Zel]: I don't need your sass, Abra!
[zEl]: <player>, you wish to spare the people of Spinel Town the chaos caused by this untamed teleportational energy, correct?
[Zel]: Good idea.
[Zel]: Let's just let <player> deal with it!
[Zel]: Go ahead, take the little bugger out!
[Zel]: It'll work out for all of us with how ANNOYING it is--
{ZEL teleports}
[Dr. Sigmund]: ...ZEL?
{ZEL enters through the door}
[Zel]: OKAY, that's enough!
[Zel]: <player>, deal with this.
[Zel]: We aren't gonna stop you, just take down this thing and you can put the chaos in Chrysolia to rest!

 [Dr. Sigmund]: That seems to be a relief.
[Dr. Sigmund]: So, Eve, will the nearby regions return to normal now or is the damage permanent?
[zEl]: Any objects that have been moved by Abra's energy previously will remain where they are.
[zEl]: And further, there are likely some objects that will still move, already having been imbued with unstable psychic energy.
[zEl]: However, no more instances of such things will be created.
[zEl]: Slowly, Chrysolia will calm itself.
{Sirius enters area}
[Sirius]: Lin has just arrived.
[Sirius]: ...<player> is back?
[zeL]: Um... yes.
[zeL]: And they helped us subdue Abra, so...
[Sirius]: Lin can't know that there's an enemy among us. She'll be furious.
[Sirius]: Right, <player>.
[Sirius]: You're going to pretend to be among our ranks.
[Sirius]: You're a new recruit.
[Sirius]: Understand?
[Sirius]: You may not like it.
[Sirius]: Neither do we.
[Sirius]: But I suggest we temporarily compromise or else we'll both be ripped to shreds.
[Sirius]: Got it?
{Lin enters area}
[Lin]: Report.
[Sirius]: We experimented with using the PULSE to amplify Abra's powers to teleport a party into the heart of the ruin.
[Sirius]: However, in the end, Abra's power could not be controlled, and the project was terminated.
[Lin]: In competent.
[Lin]: Why are these here?
[Sirius]: This is <player>... A new recruit.
[Sirius]: <player> has been helping us with the PULSE-Abra project.
[Lin]: Lying becomes you, Sirius.
[Sirius]: I beg your pardon?
[Lin]: And the other?
[Dr. Sigmund]: Ahem. Excuse me fot the tardy introduction. My name is Dr. Sigmund Connal, resident psychiatrist to Reborn City and proud administrator to the city orphanage.
[Sirius]: Dr. Connal has been a grea asset to us.
[Sirius]: With his help, we have now obtained two of the four keys: Ruby and Amethyst.
[Lin]: Doctor.
[Dr. Sigmund]: Forgive me for asking, but have we, somehow, met before?
[Lin]: Impossible.
[Dr. Sigmund]: Y-yes.
[Sirius]: As for the other keys, Solaris has reported a lead on Sapphire, and Elias is currently tracking down Emerald.
{Screen shakes}
[Grunt]: Commander!
[Grunt]: A giant Steelix has just breached the side of the base!
[Grunt]: It bit right through the holding-cells!
[Sirius]: A what?
{Screen shakes}
[Lin]: You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you <player>?
[Lin]: Size doesn't equate to strength.
[Lin]: I'll deal with this.
{Lin exits area}
{Screen shakes}
[Sirius]: <player>, leave now.
[Sirius]: If she doesn't see you again, it's better for everyone involved.
[Sirius]: Get going.
[Sirius]: This will be your only chance.

 [zeL]: Please calm down! Please!
[Zel]: Just what the hell did you mess up so badly?
[zEl]: This wasn't a user error.
[zEl]: Some kind of corrupted program must have been injected into the system.
[Zel]: So then your security was just shit.
[zeL]: Stop blaming her! I don't see you helping!
[Zel]: Shut up, Lumi. Can the data be repaired or not?
[zEl]: All PULSE2 and Arc-PULSE data have been left unaltered.
[zEl]: However, the PULSE-Magnezone damage is irreparable.
[zEl]: I will need to rewrite it.
[zeL]: What? But... if Magnezone is damaged--
[Zel]: There's no time to rewrite it! Lin wanted all the PULSEs out of here hours ago.
[zEl]: I'm aware. Hence why the PULSE2 and Arc-PULSE projects have been safely relocated.
[zEl]: However, Magnezone cannot be moved under the current circumstances.
[zEl]: The timing could not be worse.
[Zel]: Tch, Lin must have known this coming.
[Zel]: I bet it has something to do with the hero brigade she has hauled in here.
[Zel]: They're probably plotting to destroy Magnezone like all the other ones.
[Zel]: Speak of the devil, huh?
[zEl]: So it's too late already.
[zeL]: <player>... Did you really come to destroy everything here? {Yes/No}

 [Zel]: I knew it.
[Zel]: Well, there's no way in hell we're gonna let you do that!
[zEL]: Control your temper, Zero.
[zEL]: Remember, Lin requested that <player> not be harmed.
[Zel]: Yeah, but I'm not about to sit back and let them do whatever they want with my projects.
[zeL]: Your projects? Eve is the one that does all the hard work!
[zeL]: You just bully her all the time!
[Zel]: Just stop talking and fight already!

 [Zel]: Yeah, right. Don't bother lying!
[Zel]: We know all about your little hacking scheme too!
[Zel]: There's no way in hell we're gonna let you get away with this!
[zEL]: Control your temper, Zero.
[zEL]: Remember, Lin requested that <player> not be harmed.
[Zel]: Yeah, but I'm not about to sit back and let them do whatever they want with my projects.
[zeL]: Your projects? Eve is the one that does all the hard work!
[zeL]: You just bully her all the time!
[Zel]: Just stop talking and fight already!

 [zeL]: Magnezone, Magnezone, no! Please be okay!
[zeL]: Please--
{Explosion}
[Zel]: ...
[Zel]: Uggh...
[Zel]: It's so quiet...
[Zel]: The PULSE--
[Zel]: We didn't lose hearing in the explosion, did we?
[Zel]: H-hey, Lumi, Eve! Say something!
[Zel]: No-- Magnezone!
[Zel]: I...
[Zel]: I'm alone.
[Zel]: I'm alone...
[Zel]: I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone...
[Zel]: And I'm...
[Zel]: Empty.
[Zero]: I need to get to Agate.

## Trivia

* Zero's name is a possible reference to his Umbreon. It could also be a reference that he used to be a regular unimportant grunt, hence a *Zero*.
* Eve's name is a word play on 'evening', a reference to her Espeon.
* Lumi's name means 'snow' in Finnish, a reference to her Glaceon.
* ZEL's VS sprite is based on that of Grimsley from Generation V of the official Pokémon games.
* The types of the three Eeveelutions ZEL uses in battle reflects their personalities-Ice, being rather frail, matches with Lumi, Psychic, relating to the mind, matches with Eve, and Dark matches with Zero's more cruel personality.
* According to Amethyst, ZEL belongs to Reborn user Ice, and gave permission to Amethyst to use them, as well several other characters belonging to him and another user, Will. The eeveelutions as ZEL's signature pokemons were also part of the original character.

1. ↑ https://amethystblack.tumblr.com/post/175119054887