Marshal hugged Nemona, his sister, and thanked her, 'Thanks for supporting me through all this."

Nemona inquired now, ending the hug and turning to Geeta, "Hey Iono's stream is tomorrow. Are you ready?"

Geeta nodded and smiled, "The league will support you in stopping Ubel." She turned to go back inside, "Best of luck Marshal. I have preparations to take care of." Geeta returned inside, leaving Nemona and Marshal with the rest of the day ot prepare for the stream.

There was an awkward silence as they wondered what to do with this time. It wasn't the right day to go do something fun or large, leaving them aimless for a moment, Eventually Nemona asked, "Uhhh, so... we should go tell everyone right?"

Marshal nodded, "Yeah. We should make sure everyone's ready. TOmorrow is... it's gonna be a bad day."

"We have each other," Nemona reassured with a gentle hand on Marshal's shoulder, "As family."

Marshal nodded, "Yeah. I think we should check on Team Star, our family there, first. Make sure they're doing alright. It's been a rough month for em, so I wanna make sure they're OK."

"Yeah you're right," Nemona replied, "Let's go."

When they arrived at Mela's Team Star Base, it was bustling with activity. Grunts stood around, preparing their Pokemon, the Team STar leaders talked amongst themselves, going over their plans, and Mela worked on the Supernovamobile, last minute tune ups before the big day.

Penny spotted Nemona and Marshal across the field, greeting them with a wave and walking over, past the swarms of grunts eager to fight to stop Ubel's bigoted tyranny, and his gradual decay of the region's freedoms. Penny greeted the duo eagerly, "Oh hey! How y'all holding up?"

"We're just checking in on everyone before the big day," Marshal replied, "Are you all doing OK?"

Penny nodded, "Yeah we got things under control here, Team Star is ready to go supernova."

Nemona inquired, "Are you sure you're alright? We' re family you don't have to put on a brave face."

Penny sighed, shaking her head, "Nah nah, I'm actually OK. I know this is gonna be rough we all do, but we have each other, you know? He killed our sister and he's eroding trans rights bit by bit. He cut off gender affirming care. He has ot be stopped."

Marshal offered a hug, "And we'll stop him together."

Penny accepted, pulling Marshal and Nemona close, "I love you guys." She let go and reassured, "This will all finally be over soon."

Nemona nodded in agreement, "Yeah."

Marshal added, "Just be careful. We all know Ubel isn't going down without a fight."

Penny gestured towards the forces of Team Star, "We're prepared."

Marshal nodded, "Thanks for everything Penny."

Penny smiled, "It's what family does, right?"

Marshal nodded, but then added, "Yeah, but speaking of we should go check on Arven, make sure he's ready."

"I think him and Clavell were over at the entrance of Area Zero," Penny replied.

"What are they doing there?" Nemona asked.

Penny shrugged, "I dunno, he said he needed to think. He seemed to have something on his mind but he didn't seem ready to talk about it."

"I'll check on him," Marshal assured. "Ready to go?"

Nemona nodded, patting Penny on the back, "Cya later Penny."

"Stay safe sis," Penny replied.

With that the duo went to see Arven and Clavell, finding them at the entrance to area zero, where the wind howled as it stirred the clouds that obscured the Great Crater of Paldea. Arven and Clavell simply sat in silence,a silent moment between father and son. Nemona realized that this was personal, and whispered to Marshal, "Hey this kinda seems like a, father and son thing. Clavell isn't really a father figure to me so imma..."

"I won't be long," Marshal replied, "Thanks for understanding."

Nemona nodded and left the rocky cliffs at the edge of the crater, "I'm gonna see if any nearby trainers wanna battle. Let me know when you're ready to go."

Marshal nodded and approached the duo, sitting by them. Clavell smiled and rustled his hair, "Hey kiddo. You ready for the big day?"

Marshal nodded, "I just wanted to make sure you guys were ready."

Arven assured, patting Marshal on the back, "I mean, after what happened in Area Zero, I can imagine I can take on most anything. Besides, we have our family."

Clavell added, "However there is one thing I meant to discuss with you. I think it's best you leave Paldea for a while after this is done."

Confused Marshal asked, "What? Why?"

Clavell elaborated, "You have that photoshoot, and frankly, I feel as though it may be good for you to spread your wings. Staying here with the pain of all this still fresh on your mind wouldn't be good for you. Blueberry Academy has an exchange student program with us. I feel it would be best to send you to attend it so you can mentally recover from all this."

Marshal shrugged, "I mean, I get where you're coming from but... I feel like my family, the people I care about are here. You know?"

Arven added, "I mean, he does have a point. Healing takes time and it's not like I tried to rush into Area Zero right after what happened. We'll come visit you, if that's your concern, and you could make new friends there."

Clavell sighed, and leaned down to look Marshal in the eye, "I just... worry. After you stop Ubel, all eyes will be on you as a hero, and I don't think you're ready for that kind of pressure yet."

Marshal sighed. He knew he wasn't. TIme and again he had cracked under the pressure of stopping Ubel. He knew that he would be seen as a hero for stopping Ubel by many, but he wasn't ready to handle that. The photo shoot he could handle, but staying here, in the thick of it? He would need time and therapy to help process what he had endured. He agreed, "No... you're right. Mental health wise I need to process all this, and I think I could use professional help, especially given how violent and angry I feel towards Ubel. The more I actually think on it, taht's not... good for me or anyone."

Arven nodded in agreement, and pat Marshal on the back, "Yeah but. You'll do the right thing. It's almost over bro."

Clavell added with a smile, "You've made me proud son. You both have actually.I have always been proud of you two."

"Thanks dad," Marshal smiled.

Calvell tussled their hair and stood up, "We should go kiddos. It's starting to get late."

Marshal looked up to see the sunset cresting over the tall walls of the crater. Arven nodded, "Yeah. Hey, Marshal, bro, you got this. OK?"

Marshal nodded and smiled, "Yeah. Thanks for everything. Love you guys."

"Love you too," Arven replied fist bumping Marshal as he left.

Marshal reunited with Nemona as he exited. She smiled at him, "You about ready for tomorrow bro?"

Marshal nodded, "Let's go touch base with our sister."

Iono was in the center of Levincia as the lights flared to life and the city's nightlife awoke. She was ordering around various workers to set up cameras and talking on the phone. "Yes. I wanna rent out the billboards for my stream tomorrow. This is the big one." Iono smiled and replied to the person on the other end, "Excellent. Thank you."

She hung up, and turned around to see Marshal and Nemona weaving through the scrambling employees working to set things up for the stream tomorrow.

Iono greeted them with a hug, and they ran through what was going to be said on that stream, before turning in for the night.

Tomorrow, it would be the end of all this pain and suffering.

This was it...

Iono took a deep breath as she stood in the center of Levincia. She asked Marshal, who stood by her side, "You ready lil bro?"

Marshal sighed, shaking his head. He was afraid. Terrified. He was going to confront the bigot who had killed his sister and harmed his entire family by extension. The man who nearly cut off his arms atop the mountains of Paldea. He was scared, but he turned to Iono, who placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's gonna be OK. We'll do this together."

Marshal nodded, "OK. Let's go."

Iono took a deep breath and signaled a cameraman, and the stream went live. Iono took a serious tone and did not smile as she usually did. Already many could sense this stream would be something unusual to say the least. However none were prepared for what was about to happen on that stream. Iono had advertised it as a stream "everyone needs to see." All eyes were on her now.

She took a deep breath and spoke, "Hello everyone, this stream is going to be a bit different. We will be showing some disturbing footage. Viewer discretion is advised. We have a special guest today: Champion Marshal."

The stream chat was confused, completely lost on where the stream was going. Marshal walked in front of the camera. Iono whispered, reassuring him, "You got this."

Marshal took a deep breath, the pressure of the eyes upon him felt like a stone around his neck, but he knew it had to be done. That he could do this. If justice was to prevail he had to swallow his fear and speak. His voice was shaky, but Iono placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He took a deep breath and steadied himself, and he spoke. His voice was strong, full of resolve, stern, like a judge's gavel that silenced the world around him. "My name is Marshal, and I am a sixteen year old trans man. You all know me as the man who handled the hordes of Paradox Pokemon and titans across Paldea as they wreaked havoc across the region, alongside Arven. I am a member of Team Star, am on par with their captains and leaders, and I am a Champion. I speak to you not as a Team Star member, not as the man who stopped what Ubel ignored, or as a Champion. I speak to you as one of you, a young man, a boy, who was wronged by Ubel, as the rest of you have been."

Marshal revealed the black notebook from Area Zero, "Exhibit A: This is a diary kept by Ubel, which details his desire to create the future paradox Pokemon, his intentions to take over Paldea, criminalize the LGBT, especially trans people, and worst of all, the fact he released the paradox Pokemon to spread chaos and allow himself to claim power under the guise of saving the region." Marshal pointed towards one of the large electronic billboards, "But it contains more than that, with footage acquired by Team Star. In this journal..."

The footage of the murder was shown for all to see, the horror of that day, laid bare, and the people of Paldea watched in horror as they witnessed her death. What else could they do? They finally knew the truth.

Ubel was a murderer.

"Ubel killed my sister, our sister, Champion Madeline." Marshal held back tears, trying to not to cry or look at the screen. His voice shook as he continued, "Iono... was to marry her, before she died. She..."

Iono assured Marshal, "I think I should speak now." She stepped forward and continued, death in her eyes, "I lied to you all, about my face reveal two years ago. It was intended to be a face reveal, yes, but I was going to purpose to Champion Madeline that day. Before she was killed in cold blood by this bigot. This is a declaration. Ubel will be apprehended for his crimes against Paldea and its people and Director Clavell reinstated. He also has intentions to abuse his powers to exile Team Star, that they can not oppose him. The time for justice is now. We ask anyone who is in Mesagoza to leave immediately, as Ubel has men at his command who will protect him."

The stream chat became a panicked mix of support, shock, and anger. Word spread like wildfire, as Ubel crushed his phone in his hand. He screamed orders to lock down the city and brace for the assault. Iono pat Marshal on the shoulder, asking "Are you OK?"

Marshal nodded, but asked in turn, "Are you?"

Iono nodded and smiled, "I have my family, and my little brother after all."

With that Iono and Marshal left for Mesagoza, which was completely locked down, the surrounding area a free for all between Ubel's followers and Team Star. Mela called Marshal over, where Penny sat behind the wheel of the Supernovamobile. She revved the engine. Iono pulled herself atop it, helping Marshal up behind her.

"Gun it sis!" The two exclaimed in unison. Penny floored it, her normally timid nature overshadowed by her desire for justice and love for her family. She cackled gleefully as the engine roared with fury, flying through the air and shattering the gates to the city. The chains groaned and snapped, causing the drawbridge to collapse, allowing Team Star to push Ubel's forces back.

The city had fallen into chaos. Iono leapt down, overlooking the city, embers danced in the air as small fires began to spread. "Oh Arceus!" she cried. She helped a fleeing civilian who stumbled up. Penny ordered, "Tell Team Star to help evacuate the citizens!"

"You go on ahead!" Iono replied, "I'll handle it! I love you guys, OK?"

"Love you too sis," Marshal replied. Penny smiled and nodded, nonverbally reciprocating. Iono helped lead people out of the city, the Team Star leaders driving the Starmobiles into the city to load children onto them and rush them out first. Students rushed towards them in a stampede, desperately fleeing Ubel's violent insurrection.

Time seemed to slow in the chaos, Marshal marched through the city, Penny by his side. Penny took out a radio and began to play a somber song over the embers. Maybe to calm her nerves, maybe to fit the mood. She wasn't sure herself, but... it felt right. In the center of town, the league battled Ubel's forces. Marshal and Lenny exchanged a knowing look.

This was their duty as men, after all. To do the right thing.

Nemona spotted the duo and began to follow them as they approached the school. Arven and Clavell fought alongside the staff outside the school, the grass ruined, torn apart at the soil, or burned. The smell of smoke filled the air from behind them. CLavell said he was proud of Marshal and Arven, and told Arven to assist his brother.

There was a stillness in the air, as the song came to a close, and Marshal with his siblings entered the academy...

The air was still and tense as Ubel sat in a chair in the center of the lobby, waiting for the group to enter. Ubel greeted them with a deep hatred in his eyes, it was like they were frozen, in a single moment of raw wrath. "You degenerate fools..." He stood at his full height. Towering over the teens, he marched forward, crystals dancing in the air, little shards of sparkles. They danced like flies around rotting meat, surrounding Ubel, and hardly noticeable to the naked eye. Nemona saw this and tossed Marshal a Tera Orb, realizing something important...

"Wait did he not have one?" Arven asked.

"Wait yeah I never got one," Marshal realized.

"Take me seriously you petulant BRAT!" Ubel screamed. Crystals shot from the ground, shattering the floor with a booming crash and blocking the trio off form Marshal. They tried to call to him to no avail. "I will bring about the utopia foretold by Arceus! The turtle God has granted me power and chosen me as its vessel!"

"You know even by your own logic you're wrong right?" Marshal inquired, "Let alone your logic is wrong to begin with and nothing more than harming people because you refuse to understand or accept them. You use your zealotry as an excuse to be hateful. However by yoru own logic, you killed an innocent women. Does that mean nothing to you?"

"She protected a degenerate," Ubel snapped back, "She will burn in Hell by your side."

Marshal glared, "My journey... my Treasure Hunt... do you know what my treasure was, Ubel?"

Marshal gripped his Pokeball, "It was stopping YOU!"

"You'll pay for your sins you vile beast! Madeline died for nothing, if she died saving a sinner like YOU!" Ubel screamed, shaking the very earth. Marshal stood his ground.

This was it...

He had to be stopped...

Tyrant Ubel would like to battle.

Ubel opened with his Delibird, the festive creature stared daggers at Marshal, its beak sharpened to a razor point. Marshal was, however, ready this time, and retaliated with Walking Wake. Delibird lunged forward, stabbing Walking Wake in the chest with a brutal Drill Peck. However, this left the bird wide open. Walking Wake opened its maw and blasted it with a scorching flamethrower turning it into fried chicken, and fainting it instantly.

There were no more words now, only a battle between good and evil. Ubel glared with death and his eyes and sent out his Hydreigon. The scales of the dragon were black as night, and seemed to darken the world around it with the shadow of their sade. Walking Wake lunged forward, sprinting low to the ground ready to attack, but the dragon was to fast, grabbing the primal beast in one of its spare heads, before bloating it with a harsh beam of draconic energy, crashing Walking Wake into the ground and fainting it with Dragon Pulse.

Marshal countered with Grips, who lunged forward, ready to beat the dragon into submission. The dragon roared with fury, shaking the walls of the academy and cracking the crystal walls of the arena around the two. Marshal knew that Hydreigon could faint Grips with a brutal blast of dark energy. He tossed his Tera Orb, causing crystals to gather in the shape of a heart atop their hea, terastallizeing them into a fairy type. A brutal Dark Pulse crushed the creature of the past, but it wasn't enough. Grips grabbed the dragon by the neck of its center head with its tail and slammed it about, fainting it with Play Rough.

Volcarona emerged next, taking a blow of psychic power from Grips, only to stay standing. It opened its wings, like a false sun. Marshal had to shield his face with his arms from the shielding heat, which burned off his hair on his arms. It fired a focused attack of roaring fire, a Fire Blast, which fainted Grips.

Marshal countered, sending out the fish of festive colors. Glitter grit her teeth, before charging forward, slamming into Volcarona in a stream of conjured water at breakneck speeds, slamming into the bug with Aqua Jet. Volcarona cried out in pain, and the heat of the false sun gave way to cold.

Was it getting colder? Marshal looked back at the tera crystals. They were a shade of frosty blue...

No, now wasn't the time for that. He had to focus. Now was the time for actions

Ubel sent out his Hariyama, the large Pokemon rubbed its palms together, causing sparks to fly from its inhumanly large palms that could shatter boulders. Glitter grit her teeth and lunged, biting down hard on one of those palms with teeth covered in psychic energy Hariyama briefly lost focus, but snapped its fingers, firing off the stored electricity, which fried Glitter, fainting her.

Marshal sent out Sparky, who howled and charged forward in the blink of an eye, slamming into Hariyama with Extreme Speed, fainting the bathered Hariyama. Ubel countered with Tyranitar, who shook the very earth, impaling Sparky with jagged rock which shattered the floor of the academy and cut clean through, fainting him with Stone Edge.

Paws was quick to counter, a Headlong Rush and a roar from the Hisuian beast filled the air, shacking the room. The blue was brutal, and shattered the green rocky shell of the Tyranitar. It cried in pain and collapsed, fainted.

Ubel sneered as Gallade emerged. A cold wind blew through the air, as the bladed creature's sword arms scraped on the shattered tile floor, creating a sound like nails on a chalkboard. Gallade sliced clean through the torso of Paws, leaving Paws fainted on the ground with a brutal slash. Ubel laughed as Paws fell, and ordered, his eyes full of mad, evil glee, "Kill the degenerate!"

Marshal sent out Wick. His starter Pokemon. Him and all his Pokemon friends had helped him in his moment of need, and now it was down to Wick, ending as it had begun. Ubel sneered and yelled an order. Dark energy gathered around Gallade's arms, and WIck was sliced to ribbons with Night Slash, a single massive gas across the side of Wick, a blow that should have fainted him...

Wick held on so Marshal wouldn't be upset! Wick surrounded himself in spectral energy, the howling echoes seemed to resemble Madeline's Mabosstiff's howls. Wick charged at Gallade consumed by spectral energy. The purple energy flowed like water around him, before he phased through Gallade. Gallade seemed to laugh, before suddenly decaying on the spot, its life formed drained on the spot by Last REspects. Wick collapsed from exhaustion.

Marshal glared, walking forward, "It's over! You lost! Now, you'll pay for your crimes against Paldea and-"

Ubel let off a deranged scream, "No! I BRING THE LIGHT OF ARCEUS! NOTHING CAN STOP ME!"

Ubel lunged forward.

Marshal only had a moment to react...

Pokemon?

He had no more Pokemon...

Run?

Even if he could break through the damaged crystalline wall where would he run to?

Bag?

He had nothing that could help him...

He had only one option.

Zealot Ubel isn't backing down...

Ubel charged forward, death in his eyes...

Marshal has been Marked for Death.

Ubel's Ability: Murderous Bigot - Upon entering battle Ubel renders one target "Marked for Death". The target effected with this state will be killed if KOed.

Marshal wasn't afraid, not now. He knew he wasn't alone,. He had everything his family had taught him to defend himself in this exact situation.

Marshal crushed up a mushroom and blew it in Ubel's face. He inhaled the spores and coughed, but even so kept charging, landing a shoulder bash on Marshal which staggered the boy and left him winded.

Marshal used Poison Powder!

Ubel used Body Slam!

Marshal stood his ground, digging his feet in and steadying his stance. Ubel wan't going to hurt his family, any of them. Not again... Ubel charged forward, grabbing Ubel and tossing her over him, slamming the boy into the staircase. Marshal groaned in pain, burt quickly regained his stance.

Marshal used No Retreat!

Ubel used Vital Throw!

Marshal ignored the pain and took a deep breath. Ubel;'s strength was sapped by the poison powder now, and Marshal knew the old man was tired and worn down, just as he was. Ubel was faster, but Eri had prepared him for that. Marshal watched Ubel's moments for an opening as he lunged, and when he saw Ubel drop his guard to strike, he struck ture, right in Ubel' stomach, toppling him.

Marshal used Mach Punch!

Ubel fainted!

"Marshal!" Arven yelled, shattering through the crystal and rushing over to him. He lifted Marshal into a hug, "Are you OK?"

Marshal assured him, "Yeah... yeah. It's OK... I'm OK..."

Neomna joined in on the hug, crying, "I thought we were gonna lose you!"

Penny joined in on the hug, relieved now, "It's OK guys. It's... it's finally over..."

After this sibling group hug, Nemona looked up to see Ubel rising to his feet, holding his Tera Orb. She screamed, "Look out!" It was in the nick of time for everyone to dodge. Ubel was now a snarling mess of hatred, the words spoken were a series of slurs that shall not be recounted here. He ended his deranged ramblings, as he crushed his Terae Orb in his hand. "If Arceus will not grant me the power to make his world, I will call to the god of crystals! The god that spoke to your parents Arven! The go that spoke in their head then mind! Heed my call! Terapagos!"

The crystal walls were restored, trapping the four, as Ubel was consumed by Tera Crystals, a Tera Crown of the ice type atop his head.

It WAS getting colder earlier...

The four knew that this was his last stand. In the form of Tera Raid battle...

Heathen Tera Ubel isn't backing down...

Marshal was Marked for Death!

"We have to take him down," Arven declared, glaring at Ubel.

"We'll do it together," Nemona reassured.

"For our family," Penny added.

"For Madeline," Marshal added, "No, for EVERYONE, our family and everyone he's hurt!"

Arven struck first, shouting orders, "Steady your stances! Dig your feet in!"

Arven used Coaching!

Arven's allies' attack and defense increased!

"I always carry this just in case!" Penny exclaimed, pulling out a taser which stunned Ubel with an electrical shock.

Penny used Thunder Wave!

Tera Ubel was paralyzed!

Nemona saw an attack directed towards Marshal, Ubel with death in his eyes as the air became cold as ice. It was like a dagger cutting through her skin. SHe screamed, "He's about to strike, look out!"

Nemona shoved Marshal out of the way of the oncoming attack, protecting him from a beam of frost that blasted her into a wall, shot from Ubel's fingertip like a frozen gun. Nemona struggled to get back up, Arven rushing over to her. Nemona couldn't stand. She told Arven, "i... ow... I'll be fine! Just... he's trying to kill Marshal! Protect Marshal!"

Nemona used Ally Switch!

Nemona swapped places with Marshal!

Ubel used Ice Beam!

Nemona fainted!

"You'll pay for that you scumbag!" Marshal screamed as he dug his feet in, steadying his stance, just as Eri taught him to do...

Marshal used No Retreat!

Marshal's stats increased!

Ubel summoned heavy snowfall, a localized snowstorm above the battle, which sent down snowflakes like the ashes of a fire...

Tera Ubel used Snowscrape!

Penny began to shake a potion and took out a lighter, a sly grin on her face. "Florian taught me this trick before they left! Check this out!" She sprayed the potion over the lighter, creating a makeshift flamethrower which scorched Ubel as he blocked with his arms.

Penny used Flamethrower!

"We're only gonna get one shot!" Arven told Marshal, "When he attacks there's an opening! You got this, OK bro?"

Marshal nodded, ready to strike when the time was right.

Arven used Coaching!

Arven's allies' attack and defense increased!

Ubel screamed in a flurry of hatred, and a blast of ice barrage the remaining trio, slamming Nemona and Arven back, and knocking Marshal to his knees. Marshal was too slow...

They had lost...

Ubel lunged forward, ready to kill Marshal. He grabbed Marshal with a grip like steel as Marshal struggled.

"Marshal!" Nemona screamed in desperation.

"Brother!" Arven cried crawling to his aid to no avail.

Tera Ubel used Sheer Cold!

Marshal was thrust into into the snow to suffocate and ie just as Madeline had. Ubel began to boast his victory, but Marshal didn't give up, wouldn't give up. He heard Madeline's voice, "I was always proud of you. You're more a man than he ever was. Take him down."

Marshal felt someone pull from from the snow, he saw Nemona, battered as Penny and Arven held off Ubel who tossed them to the side. He pulled back his fist to finish marshal with one hand as he slammed Nemona aside with the other, but Marshal was ready...

Marshal's Ability: Soul of a Man - When KOed when Marked for Death, gain a second win. You're a true man, take out this bigot.

Marshal screamed, and spectral energy gathered around him. The energy of some guardian angel, of Madeine, being there for him one final time. Last Respects is a move that grows stronger the more fallen allies one has, and Madeine is dead...

Marshal tackled Ubel to the ground, beating him in the face over and over again with a spectral power, until the Tera Crown atop his head burst in a dazzling display, and the crystals dissipated. Ubel coughed up blood, sobbing, "No... Paldea can't fall to degeneracy."

"You're right," Marshal sneered, struggling to his feet, staggering for a moment. Everything hurt. "The degenerates have been stopped. You and yours... it's over..."

Tera Ubel fainted!

Marshall rushed over ot check on his family, Penny leaned against a wall, sighing with relief, as Arven sat beside her, groaning, "Oh... that's gonna be sore tomorrow. You guys OK?"

Nemona nodded, sitting beside the two, Marshal not far behind. Marshall nodded, "I... I dunno what that ghost stuff was, but I think Madeine was watching over me there?"

Arven dug through his backpack, handing some premade Shinnohian poffins to everyone, "Yeah... I wouldn't doubt it but I guess we'll never know for sure."

"What..." Penny asked, confused, "What now?..."

Marshal looked at Ubel, who quietly sobbed in agony, "Well, Ubel pays for his crimes and... I seek my own happiness." Marshal smiled and pulled everyone in to a group hug, "I have a great family so, that's a good start."

"I wish Iono and the others were here," Nemona admitted.

"We'll talk to them later," Marshal replied, yawning, the exhaustion setting in his the adrenaline left him. "Sorry I... I need a nap..."

With that he nodded off. Over the next few days, Clavell returned to being Director, taking Ubel's place, and repairs at the school were handled swiftly. He tended to the well being of his two sons, assisting Marshal in finding a therapist before his photoshoot.

Penny and Team Star spent time with Marshal and helped with the repairs to the academy, along with protecting anyone still harassed by followers of Ubel at the academy. There was a family movie night one of theri bases as things calmed down, simply enjoying each other's company as family.

Iono handled giving Madeine a proper burial, and held a memorial stream where she revealed a status atop the mountain Madeline died at, in memorial to her. Nemona and Marshal would battle often for fun, and finally...

The day for Marshal to head to the photoshoot and then Blueberry academy arrived...

Marshal stood at the edge of the boat docks, ready to head for Kitakami, but first he had to say his goodbyes to everyone. Team Star was the first to arrive, and he hugged each of them.

Giacomo was the first to speak, "I'm gonna miss you man. Be sure to text alright?"

Marshal nodded, "I will; keep dropping some sick beats while I'm gone. Would love to see an album from you."

Giacomo chuckled, giving Marshal one last fist bump, "You know I will dude. Got a diss track on Ubel in the next one."

Marshal chuckled, "Eager to listen to it man."

Mela pat Marshal on the back, "Go tear Blueberry Academy up man! Show them a real star!"

"Only if you keep tearing up Paldea and showing those bigots who's boss,' Marshal replied.

Mela nodded, "We'll burn their bigotry to the ground."

Atticus bowed to Marshal, "Having you as a brother is a great honor."

"As is it for me to have you all," Marshal nodded bowing back.

"Be sure to call us if you wanna hangout," Ortega added.

Marshal gave the boy a high five, "You know I will man!"

Eri rustled Marshal's hair, "You've come a long way. Thanks for coming back to us."

Marshal replied, "Hey, home is where the herat is, and mine is with my family."

Penny added, "Marshal... we don't have a base for you but... we wanted to give you this."

Penny handed Marshal a Team Star Leader Badge. It had the colors of the trans pride flag, with a symbol of scales on it. Penny continued, "We wanted ot make you a Team Star Leader, the Justice Team we decided to call it."

Marshal hugged Penny, "I love it, thank you." Everyone joined for a group hug, before Marshal continued, "I love you guys. All of you. I'll visit when I can."

"Cya later bro," Penny replied with a bittersweet smile. Everyone said their goodbyes to their brother as he carried on, greeting Nemona and Iono with hugs, "Hey sis!"

"Hey marshal!" Iono replied happily, "You excited for the photoshoot?"

"Sure am!" Marshal replied, "Shame we won't be able to hangout for awhile."

"I mean we'll be able to visit when ya head to Blueberry Academy." Nemona reminded, "And you'll get to meet Florian too!"

"Yeah," Marshal replied, "That'll be fun. How things going there?"

Nemona replied, "Great! I'm going to visit him, we got a date next week!"

"You go girl!" Iono exclaimed, patting Nemona on the back before the three laughed.

"I love you guys," Marshal took a genuine tone, "I'll call you guys later."

"We could game over the internet on stream!" Iono suggested, "Just have a wild Minecraft server! All of us!"

Marshal chuckled, "Yeah, that'll be fun. I'll let you know when I'm free."

"Love you bro," Nemona smiled patting him on the shoulder.

"Stay safe lil bro," Iono added, "I love you."

"Love you too," Marshal smiled, "I'll keep in touch."

Marshal went to the docks, where Clavell and Arven awaited to say their farewells. He hugged them. Clavell inquired with a fatherly concern, "Do you have everything you need? Clothes? Snacks? Money?"

Marshal nodded, "Yeah I got it don't worry dad."

"Hey stay safe out there bro," Arven requested.

"I will," Marshal assured, "I've had enough danger for a LONG time."

"You did great kid," Clavell smiled, "I'm proud of you, OK? Blueberry Academy will be a great fit for you for the rest of the school year."

Marshal nodded, "Yeah I could use a change in scenery, with how fresh in my mind this Ubel stuff is."

Clavell hugged his two sons, "I love you. BOth of you. If you need anything just ask."

"Thanks dad," Marshal replied. He fistbumped Arven, "Love you bro."

"Love you bro," Arven replied with a smile, "Stay safe. We'll visit."

WIth that, Marshal waved goodbye one final time,a dn got on the boat. Walking Wake swam beside it, following Marshal early, as Grips napped on its back. WIck and Sparky snuggled, napping on the front deck, and Glitter swam beside Walking Wake, racing the beast playfully which Walking Wake reciprocated. Paws napped on the back end of the ship, yawning lazily. Marshal looked out at the open ocean, ready to live freely, his family and happiness ahead, and justice revealed.

He truly was more a man than Ubel ever was...

Author's Notes

Well, this took way too long.

I wanted ot dunk on transphobe and loved gen 9 so, here we are.

Some things of note is I felt burnt out near the end cause not many people are reading this so, you know.That can be demotivating, but I had to finish before the DLC dropped in case the DLC contradicts the fic. If I release it before the DLC I have an excuse and I am posting this HOURS (I think) before the DLC drops.

I am overall proud of the story even if the bad endings were a mistake that was rushed and served little thematic purpose. This was, in my mind, a story that dunks on transphobes, encourages found family, and explores themes of revenge.

Overall most of this speaks for itself thematically, but some things I do wanna share my thoughts on.

The sorta emotional moments, particular the beach chapter, were my favs to write. I did write this as an almost "harder" pokemon, hence why some opponents cheat, but did get tired of writing fight scenes, hence why they became sparse. Skipping the Geeta fight in this fic was meant as a like "Geeta weak joke" because... lmao. They just became tedious after a while, you know? I also couldn't figure out how to have her cheat so, two birds one stone.

Speaking of fights, early planning had Ubel have an evil team, but with this crapped he was rendered a passive antagonist. Hence I added the mountain fight, which I am quite proud of, to make Ubel a scary villain and show readers how terrible the affair truly is. This is also marked by a tonal shift after that point. I feel I did a great job of that.

Originally Team Star was intended to be harsher on Marshal but I preferred the more hopeful narrative of reconciliation and leaned into that instead. I kinda wanted the implication to be, especially for this storyline, that this all happened in the background of the game, hence Ubel being deputy director. He was mentioned but unnamed and I elaborated on this plot point and ran with it. An attempt to make it feel like a natural part of the narrative that was always there.

The storyline about the titans was originally going to focus more on Arven's mourning but I feel it's good as is. The whole idea of Marshal fighting a ghost of Madeline and learning last Respects was planned really early on. I felt that Last Respects being used to finish off Ubel in the final fight was right and was planned very early. Since Last Respects gets stronger for each fallen ally it felt... poetic, like Madeline was protecting Marshal one final time. Even the name, Last Respects, the Last Respects to Madeline, fit perfectly. Along with the scene of Marshal walking through the chaotic burning city. I was playing Disco ELlsium heard the song Boat Ride before the game was even out and I knew I had to write this. I listened to Boat Ride while writing that scene as well. That scene had been in my head for a long time and I'm happy with how it turned out.

Originally, I didn't like Iono in the base game but she had trans flag colors in her hair and I wanted to challenge myself to make her likable which I feel I did. Meanwhile Nemona's arc was about failure to communicate and paranoia causing problems in relationships, which I feel I handled decently. That whole arc is kinda the weakest imo. It's... just OK. The Larry chapter was good though.

Marshal not being revealed as trans for a bit was a conscious choice, so any transphobe who happened to read this would get invested enough to give the themes a chance and hopefully change their ways. Do I expect this to work? No, but it was worth a try. Better to try and fail rather than not try at all.

The battle against Madeline was sorta meant as her passing on, hence how she goes from Spectre Madeline to Angel Madeline. Seeing Marshal surpass her was her unfinished business before she left. Or you could read it as Terapagoes messing with Marshal, there's a little intentional ambiguity though I personally read it as her passing on, I'm not gonna force a religious reading of the text on people. That'd just make me a jerk.I had a couple ideas I don't have time to write cause I need this out before the DLC and I had to write the rest of the author's notes after a shift at work and the DLC drops in FOUR HOURS! Christ I am... cutting this one close. The ideas were this.1: A storyline about the DLCs and Marshal's journey through them,, with a side plot about Terapagoes trying to get Marshal on its side by promising to bring Madeine back, which leads to an alt ending. However this got no reads so imma pass on this.2: A "Superboss" between Grant and Marshal, Grant being the protag of a prior fic who was mentioned in this work as a fun cameo.3: A "Superboss" which outlined how the player of the original games could fight Madeline's ghost.Not using these due to the DLC dropping soon and lack of audience/burnout.Imma play Teal Mask the SECOND it drops.Trans rights and have a great day.