Welcome to the post where I talk about Zach from Pokemon Legends: Z-A with way more info than I need to give (and conspiracy theories!).
Now to really understand what started my love, I love loser-guys. That's about it. You literally are introduced by Urbain/Taunie slandering him. (After you win, Naveen takes a dig at him, too.)
But before we get into after the Z Rank battle, why is he even participating in the Royale?
He loves his job. Oh my god, what a life goal truly. I have never had a job I loved so much as Zach loves his job. Which! I would like to point out, is not actually the same as the other taxi drivers. But that's for later. It's also worth the mention that... he knows about his nickname. Other drivers are aware that he's not good at battling. But, why continue it if he's bad?
Zach says this during a cab ride to the player and then I have had the same Zach conversation with male cab drivers twice. So they genuinely just. Know that Zach is competing in the Z-A but also know that he's apparently garbage at it. Which again puts the context of... he loves his job AND he enjoys battling even if he hasn't won a PROMOTION match (but surely he's won other matches or else he would not be the Z Rank Promotional match to lose 100 promotion matches).
All of this put out there, you can encounter him around the city. And while all the other cab drivers have their "Lumi Cab is here for you!" speech bubble, Zach's says "Just as Z is the ultimate letter, I am the ultimate taxi driver!" which you could use as a "well that's how you tell him apart" line. But if you ride with Zach... he tells you he's an independent cabbie who does his own mechanic work.
All of this for a guy you have to beat as the "tutorial" match to learn about the rankings. But wait! There's more! He talks about the first Mega Evolution, explains why people thought of the redevelopment plan was a good step, is proud of his driving to the point he will help a wild injured Pokemon to a PokeCenter, and also mentions the Gogoat Shuttle service in the same ride as "so I helped the International Police". All during cab rides to wherever you want! Yeah you gotta pay him but come on, worth the 710 PokeDollars if you ask me.
So far, no other cab driver has mentioned these things while I ride around supporting Lumi Cabs in the name of science (aka secondary profile).
Also he astral projects while driving which is. Definitely insane Zach Lore (to me). Possibly wilder to say, it's NOT the only insane Zach Lore that he openly tells the player.
So looking at everything above that you can learn about XY-plot/lore given by a cab driver who just REALLY loves his job, is there anything else I want to point out? Yes in fact!
After you fight him and he has levels up to 10 in the tutorial match, he then fights you post game with Pokemon that have not really leveled up in the entire course of the game. While that in itself is just cruel when you look at the other lower ranked promotional match trainers who have their Pokemon leveled up to 65+, I do want to point out that on my 23rd Infinite Royale match, it was against Zach. And his Pokemon had leveled up by one level basically. Like, he still has Pokemon less than level 15 but admits he enjoys battling even though he's not great at the promotional matches... but he's also the Z Rank you HAVE to face. But there are other Z Ranking trainers, so why aren't they promotional match possibilities?
Does Zach just somehow have a hoard of Slowpoke, Pidgey, and Pikachu that he keeps low level and then has to swap out if they get too much experience in promotional matches?
Also for the taxi driver who says it's "lucky" to catch Zach driving, I have another quick observation. I was doing the main story quests and was at the rogue mega evolutions in trios portion (one of em). And as I run over to the location of one that's on a rooftop, Zach is parked literally at the base of that building. He's just. On the road to my actual plot destination. Vibing under it. Which I was very happy about and did plot and jumped off the roof to land down next to Zach and take his cab elsewhere. But for that to be considered "lucky" ?? He's RIGHT next to the plot.
And on that note, after achieving A Rank and being told I can have a wish granted? Is it just me that has the "protag" group and then Zach in the bg? Or is that everyone's experience? I want to make a joke that my boyfriend drove me to the plot but, truly, hey, why was Zach there during a cutscene? He has to be relevant somehow. His two fixed locations in post game for me are: the taxi lot you face him in and outside of Zone 20 facing it (he is along the Zone 5 wall, I believe).
And take into consideration his name/rank and title as "Le Z Eternal" aka he's always going to be Z? In a game follow X/Y? And -
Oh, sorry, the DLC for Z-A involves not one but TWO Mega Raichu for the guy who has three Pokemon all of which he could evolve and then mega evolve? Wild! Almost like he should have a more important role. He does in fact recite more X/Y lore in cab rides and this is already long enough so trust me when I say, it's a long ride and I am sparing you for now but it does end with him saying:
This man loves his job and his cab so much and everyone is bullying him for being bad at battling when honestly we couldn't handle him if he actually applied himself. He gets battle-fright, like stage fright, but for battle.
I'm not joking. He gets stage-fright for battles.
He's so real for that, too. I genuinely attacked his Pidgey in the 23rd Infinite Royale promotion match with Simisear's ghost move. I literally just ignored the fact it even shows me the "X" over the move for doesn't effect it, and just. Attacked a Pidgey with a ghost move. With my level 100 Simisear. I feel ya, Zach.
Some less plot important but still relevant (to me) info is, when you battle him, it's a little familiar. Why could it be familiar. Oh -
Urbain/Taunie bowing to greet you as your friend... and Zach bowing as a greeting to you as an opponent.
You can even become HIS friend if you ride in his cab twice! He talks to the player as "hey, friend" as you have seen above if you just talk and use his cab services twice! I think that's really cool and also other cab drivers don't refer to you that way. So, again, hey! The more you know!
Zach is the friendliest guy around who loves to talk to people and drive them around and he takes care of his own car and all three of his Pokemon are going to be capable of mega evolution if he ever evolves them once December hits and hoo boy I would LOVE to see him again.
And on a final note because I think it's hysterical Zach lore, he first drove when he was 3.
Zach, I love you so much, what the hell is the first favorite thing in your life right now? What secrets are you hiding? (Tell me in the DLC I'm going to cry.)
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