InMeeting at Terminus Cave! andA Cellular Connection!, Z2, as a Zygarde Core, was contacted bySquishy. During one of their conversations, Z2 tried to convince Squishy to cut contact withhumans, claiming them to be destructors of order. Squishy, however, disagreed with it, wanting to continue observing humans.
InAn Explosive Operation!, Z2 was cornered by Mable,Aliana, and a trio of Grunts under their command. When it tried to escape via camouflage, it was hit byTeam Flare's special ray gun, stunning it and disabling its cloaking. To overcome this, Z2 entered 10% Forme and usedExtreme Speed to fend off the scientists'Weavile andDruddigon, and make its escape. After reverting to its Core Forme, Z2 ran intoTeam Rocket, who had recently set their sights on Squishy. Discovering that there were two Zygarde Cores, the trio tried to capture Z2 themselves but were stopped by Team Flare.Jessie,James, andMeowth protected Z2 from Team Flare's ray gun, which was then destroyed byInkay. Jessie then usedGourgeist'sSeed Bomb to escape with the Zygarde Core.
Exhausted from their escape, Team Rocket let Z2 recover by allowing it to absorb sunlight. Soon after recovering, however, they were once again found by Team Flare. Although the trio fought hard, they were eventually defeated. Left with few options, Z2 transformed into its 50% Forme and fought back withDragon Pulse and Land's Wrath, overpowering Team Flare's Pokémon. Before Z2 could finish off Team Flare, it was stopped by aFlamethrower fromAlain's Charizard.Alain and his Mega Charizard X then battled Z2, covering for Mable and Aliana. After gettingDragon Clawed, Z2 managed to blast Charizard into a rock with Extreme Speed. It was then struck by Dragon Claw again, but Z2 quickly retaliated with Land's Wrath, dealing serious damage to Charizard. Despite having gained the upper hand, it was eventually surrounded by the two scientists, who proceeded to stun it with full-power blasts from their ray guns and sapping its strength, causing it to revert back to its Core Forme. After blasting away Team Rocket, Z2 was secured by Mable, who deemed the operation a success. Z2 was later seen atLysandre Labs, glaring atLysandre.
Following these events, Z2 was seen several times, being observed and experimented on by Lysandre andXerosic. It appeared again inSeeing the Forest for the Trees!, where it was listening to Squishy talk aboutAsh and hisGreninja.
InKalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, Z2 was moved intoLumiose Gym with several Zygarde Cells in preparation for the climax of Team Flare's plans. Team Flare's scheme was put into action inDown to the Fiery Finish!, where Z2 was placed under influence of Team Flare by Xerosic's Mega Evolution energy weapon. After reaching the summit ofPrism Tower, it transformed into its 50% Forme and unleashed massive roots through the city and theLumiose Conference stadium, interrupting the ending ceremony. In thenext episode, Z2 continued to destroyLumiose City. Even when Squishy confronted it atop Prism Tower, Z2 did not respond and launched aDragon Pulse at Squishy which overpowered the latter's Dragon Pulse and knocked it down from the tower. After Squishy transformed into its 50% Forme, Z2 jumped down to battle it. During their battle inComing Apart at the Dreams!, Z2 took some harsh hits from Squishy, but was eventually able to constrict Squishy with its giant roots, allowing Xerosic to hit Squishy with the Mega Evolution energy weapon. With Squishy being controlled as well, both Zygarde continued their rampage.
Z2 and Squishy leaving together
Z2 was finally freed from Team Flare's control inthe following episode, afterClemont andClembot managed to destroy the machine.Later, it reunited with Squishy and after listening to it talking about the things it had experienced during its travels withBonnie, Z2 reluctantly began to trust humans. It later accompanied the group to theGiant Rock. After witnessing how hard everyone was fighting to protectKalos and after a brief conversation with Squishy, Z2 finally came to an understanding that not all human beings are evil and decides to believe in them just like Squishy does. Z2 and Squishy stepped in and combined into their Complete Forme and usedCore Enforcer to destroy the Giant Rock, causing Lysandre to vanish. Both Zygarde then said goodbye to everyone and disappeared with each other.
InFacing the Needs of the Many!, Z2 and Squishy rescued Team Rocket from getting hit by a root. Ash andhis friends were later brought to Z2 by Squishy, and the two Zygarde Cores explained that they had been weeding out negative energy left over from the Team Flare crisis, with the energy spreading throughout Kalos in the form of the same roots that destroyed parts of Lumiose City. However, tracking down the source of the negative energy proved to be a difficult task for them to accomplish. Having witnessed Greninja's ability to locate the negative energy within the roots, Z2 and Squishy asked Greninja to lend them its strength to protect Kalos, which Ash agreed on. Z2 then left with Squishy and Greninja, bidding farewell to Ash and his friends.
InTill We Compete Again!, Z2 appeared alongside Squishy as both oversaw Ash's Greninja destroying a root that was attacking the Kalos region.
Personality and characteristics
Unlike Squishy, Z2 greatly distrusts humans. InA Cellular Connection!, Z2 suggested that it and Squishy completely seclude themselves from humankind. When Squishy disagreed, Z2 asserted that humans disrupt the order they exist to maintain, and are a threat toKalos. It has a blue core, as opposed to Squishy's red core. This distrust was exploited by Lysandre, who gained control over Z2 and used it to attack Lumiose City from the top of Prism Tower. Even after it was freed from Team Flare's control byClemont, Z2 still showed a great amount of mistrust towards humans. It would take the combined efforts of Ash and his friends fighting alongsideAlain,Steven Stone,Diantha, theKalosGym Leaders,Meyer, andMalva to show Z2 that humans were not disruptions of order, but rather protectors of it.
