AZ

AZ
Species	Human
Hair color	White
Eye color	Black
Height	Over 9 feet
Relatives	Younger Brother Lysandre (Brother's Descendant)
Debut	Pokémon X/Y

AZ is a character who was featured in Pokémon X and Y, where he played an important role in the game's backstory. He was a former king of Kalos and the creator of the ultimate weapon.

Background

Three thousand years prior to X/Y, AZ ruled over the Kalos region as its king. Under his rule, the Kalos region was united and became prosperous due to the spread of advanced technology. However, Kalos's prosperity made it a target for other nations. A war broke out which both people and Pokémon took part in. AZ reluctantly sent even his most beloved Pokémon, a Floette, out into battle. Several years passed before the Floette passed in battle, and its body was sent back to AZ in a box. AZ became determined to bring his Floette back and ended up creating a machine that harvested the life force of other Pokémon. With this machine, he was able to revive his Floette with eternal life. That was not enough, as he also wanted to get back at those who killed his Floette. So he activated the machine as an ultimate weapon, using the energy harvested from other Pokémon to send out a wave of destruction that wiped out a mass amount of people and Pokémon involved in the war.

AZ's Floette realized the sacrifice that was done to revive it and so abandoned AZ. This caused him to feel remorse for his actions. He disappeared from his position as king, and he took with him the key that was needed to activate the ultimate weapon, so that no one else could use it. He became a wandering loner, who endlessly searched for his lost Floette and made observations about what he had learned through his travels. His usage of the weapon had granted him eternal life too, so he would wander for many years. Around two thousand years into his journeys, visited the land of Hoenn and witnessed Rayquaza halting the destructive clash between the Primal forms of Kyogre and Groudon. He made an observation about Rayquaza's role and nicknamed it the Delta. While in the region, he also planted a tree by the Cave of Origin at Sootopolis City.

Three thousand years into his journey, he returned to Kalos during the events of X/Y. He could first be seen at Route 13 by the entrance to Lumiose City, where he was seen talking about Floette before moving onwards. Sometime after that, he was captured by Team Flare. Lysandre, the descendant of his brother, saw that he had the key and took it from him. He did not seem tor realize that AZ actually was the ancient king and thought that his name was just a coincidence. AZ was held prisoner in Lysandre Labs, and Lysandre soon showed him to Calem/Serena. AZ then explained his story to the young trainer. He attempted to urge them not to use the weapon and to avoid the "unending pain" that he had endured. Regardless, Team Flare still activated the weapon, but Calem/Serena was able to stop it from actually causing destruction beyond that of Team Flare's secret headquarters at Geosenge Town. AZ was then freed and met with Calem/Serena at Geosenge, where he reflected on what happened to Floette and wondered how he could meet it.

AZ made a final appearance during the game's ending. Calem/Serena had just become champion of the Kalos region, and a ceremony was being held for the trainer in the middle of Lumiose City. AZ approached the trainer and asked them to battle, as he wished to know what a Trainer truly was. After the battle concluded, regardless of the victor, AZ felt as if he was liberated from the part of himself that was consumed by sorrow for what he had done. At that point, his Floette finally appeared and reunited with him. AZ was overcome with emotion to finally meet his Pokémon again after 3000 years.

Pokémon Roster

As mentioned above, AZ had his beloved Floette. His Floette had a unique color scheme and flower, with that form not being available to the player through any means beyond hacking.

In battle, AZ uses the following Pokémon:

• Torkoal
• Golurk
• Sigilyph

Other Appearances

Other Media

• AZ was featured in the last episode of Pokémon Generations, which showed his backstory and his battle with Calem/Serena at the end of the game, as well as the subsequent reunion with his Floette.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, AZ appeared during the X/Y arc. His role was similar to that in the games, but with some expansions. This included playing more a role in the clash with Team Flare and warning them about Zygarde. At the end of the arc, AZ saw that X's group was feeling dejected that they did not get credit for saving Kalos, so he stole the key and claimed that he was going to activate the ultimate weapon. This caused them to battle him, and after his defeat, he admitted that he did that just to teach them a lesson, because their feelings were similar to the kind that fueled Lysandre's ambitions. After that, his Floette returned to him.

Trivia

• His name is taken from the letters A an Z, representing the beginning and the end, which is a theme related to the games and to that generation's Legendary Pokémon (as well as the ultimate weapon) being connected to the ability to give and take life. It also reflects that generation using the letters X and Y for its titles, and it also connects to the titles of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, as Alpha and Omega represent the beginning and the end in the Greek alphabet.
• AZ's battle does not grant any experience points, nor does it have any consequences for losing it (including the player not blacking out).
• Some more details about AZ were stated by [[Junichi Masuda] in interviews: his Floette was a gift from his late mother, and his soldiers forcibly took it away to take part in the war. He also stated that AZ's incredible height was another effect the weapon had on his body, and that he continued to age despite having eternal life.
• After completing the game, the player will be able to note that a painting in Parfum Palace resembles a AZ. A painting will also be unveiled at the Lumiose Museum depicting AZ during his time as the king (but noted to be historically inaccurate).
• In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, the plan to revive Groudon/Kyogre is codenamed Project AZOTH. It seems to be named in part after AZ, as it is remarked that the A and Z in its name reflect the beginning and the end, as in AZ's name.