Marshal shook his head and assured Arven, "No. I can do this. Besides we're running out of time."

"Are you sure you're gonna be OK?" Demanded sternly with genuine concern.

Marshal nodded, "Yeah... besides the longer I wait the more upset Eri and Ortega are gonna be.

Arven nodded, "That is true, isn't it? Look just, when this is over, take some you time, aight? You can't keep burning the candle at both ends, you know? Gotta take care of you too or then you won't be able to help anyone, let alone your own happiness which is more important."

Marshal nodded, "I will Arven, I promise."

Arven accompanied Marshal to the next Team Star base to ensure he wouldn't get jumped by Ubel. Their conversations along the way were lighter as the two entered a large flower field. Flowers of all the colors danced in the wind, Flabèbè cried playfully as they danced in the flowers.

Marshal looked towards Ortega's Team Star base. He hoped Ortega was alright but each Team Star member seemed more angry with him than the last. He had a hunch this trend would continue with Ortega.

"I can take it from here," Marshal assured.

"Good luck," Arven pat Marshal on the back, "Call me if you need me."

Arven left, and Marshal approached the base, tearing through Ortega's forces like a hot knife through butter. After doing so he awaited Ortega's arrival. He looked around, finding the other members of Team Star confused as he was.

He turned to one, "Hey uhhhhh... where's the boss?"

The grunt shrugged. Marshal walked towards Ortega's tent, looking for him. The grunts knew that they had already been defeated and that Marshal meant their leader no harm so they simply allowed him to pass.

Ortega sat in his tent, petting his Dachsbun, which napped peacefully in his lap. He didn't turn to face Marshal as he entered, and spoke with a callous bitterness. "You're not welcome here. Leave."

"Uh," Marshal replied confused, "I was... well I wasn't really a member but... I know the rules. We battle now."

Marshal walked forward, worried now, "Are... are you OK Ortega?"

"And why should I?" Ortega demanded dodging Marshal's question. "So you can run away again?"

"Ortega I know I'm late," Marshal sighed, "But... my sister died. What was I supposed to do? I... it hurt all of us Ortega, and I'm sorry I shut you out. However I just... I was broken, dude. I still am."

Ortega snapped around in his chair, startling his dog, which looked up at him worried. Ortega revealed he had been crying as he screamed in his fury, "BUT WHERE WERE YOU? YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE!"

Back before Madeline's death, Ortega and Marshal were hanging out on the beach outside the Team Star base. The two had made a game of jumping over the Wugtrio as they hid in their rocky homes. Marshal sat down, taking a break from the game and looking out at the sun setting over the sparkling deep blue, contrasting the brilliant orange and red hues of the sky lit ablaze by the star closest to Earth.

"Man," Ortega admitted sitting by Marshal in the sand, "I'm anxious about tomorrow, dude."

"What are the bullies gonna do?" Marshal reminded, "They'll gonna crap themselves when they see those Starmobiles."

"Yeah but..." Ortega sighed, shaking his head, "I don't know how the director and deputy director will react. Ubel seems the type to try to silence us cause it could damage his career."

Unaware of the horrors he would soon commit, Marshal assured, "He's DEPUTY director. He's not exactly some God lording over us. I do get a bad vibe from him sure, but he can't do anything, especially in front of so many. Besides, if he pulls anything, we have each other. I'll be here for you bro. Always."

"Promise?" Ortega asked.

Marshal smiled and hugged Ortega, "On my life, dude."

Back in the present Ortega broke down crying, "WHERE WERE YOU? Where?"

Marshal sighed and looked down at his feet. He admitted, "I was afraid... man. I was horrified. He killed my sister, thinking she was trans. If she didn't cover for me, I would have died and I was just... frozen in terror. He showed me her body recently."

Ortega wiped his tears and collected himself, the shock of Marshal's words snapping him out of his sadness for a moment, "What?"

"He assaulted me and revealed her corpse," Marshal sighed. "I'm horrified, Ortega, but I won't let him hurt anyone else we care about. I'm here for you. For real this time."

Ortega reached out to Marshal and shook his head, "No, Marshal. We're here for each other."

Marshal smiled, "Yeah."

Ortega sniffled, relief filled his face as he continued, "I missed you, man. Now come on, we have a battle to have, right?"

Ortega began for the exit of his tent, his dog followed close behind. Marshal stopped him, "Before we go out there, are you gonna be OK?"

Ortega nodded and retorted, "Are YOU OK?"

Marshal shook his head, "Not really but I can get by until I can get proper mental help."

"You need to do so asap," Ortega reminded, concern in his voice, "If you put it off you'll never take that first step and then you'll never heal."

Marshal nodded, "I will, I promise. Let's get a move on yeah?"

Marshal tussled Ortega's hair, "Just like old times huh?"

Ortega laughed and playfully slapped the hair to get Marshal to pull back, "Yeah bro. Just like old times..."

The battle between the two was one sided to say the least, Marshal crushing Ortega handedly, but at that point it was more a for fun battle between brothers who hadn't battled in far to long than a genuine battle.

Marshal accepted the bag from Ortega who asked, "You headed to see Eri next?"

Marshal nodded, "Yeah."

Ortega got a serious expression and looked Marshal in the eye, "Be careful. She's LIVID at you."

"I will," Marshal assured.

With that he left, taking a taxi to the bamboo groves in the north, where the tall green socks swayed in the winds, constructing the pink and yellow skies of the setting sun. He approached the front gates of the Team Star base and rang the bell.

No response.

Confused, he rang it again.

Nothing.

He now became worried and walked into the empty Team Star base to find not a soul therein. His footsteps echoed against the cliff walls on each side of the base. Unnerved, he sent out Wick, who sniffed the air and let out a low growl.

Marshal realized he was being watched.

He whipped around, placing his arm in front of his face as Eri struck with a brutal fist for his face, which Marshal narrowly blocked.

Eri glared at him, death in her eyes.

"Eri!" Marshal demanded, "What the Hell are you doing?"

Eri reached for her Pokéball silently, and Marshal understood words would do him no good here.

However by now Marshal was one of the strongest in Paldea, and Eri stood no chance against him in this wordless combat.

"I won," Marshal glared, "What is your problem Eri? It's me! Marshal! Your little brother if you still consider me that?"

The wind was hollowing, and Eri let her hair down to flow in the wind.

She spoke two words.

"No Pokémon."

Marshal sighed, "Fine. If that's the only way I can try to mend our bond..."

Eri isn't backing down...

This was not a Pokémon battle, but a fight. One on one. Mano y mano.

Eri dug her feet into the ground and straightened her posture. She stood tall with a combat ready stance, never fully sitting still, always at the ready.

Eri used No Retreat!

Eri's stats rose!

"I see there's no backing down," Marshal nodded in acknowledgement. "Fine."

Marshal prepared himself for battle, putting his fists up and digging his feet in, as ready as Eri was.

Marshal used No Retreat!

Marshal's stats rose!

Eri struck first, dashing forward quicker than the eye could see and striking Marshal hard in the stomach. Marshal briefly staggered, winded, but steadied himself.

Eri used Mach Punch!

Marshal grabbed a small mushroom from his pocket and blew a toxic powder into the air. Eri coughed as she breathed it in. She knew this poison well. It wasn't lethal and it didn't last long, but it would sap one's strength and induce nausea. Eri knew he learned this trick from Atticus.

Marshal used Poison Power!

Eri was poisoned!

Eri coughed, pushing Marshal away as she steadied her breathing and regained her composure, ready to continue the fight. She charged once more, this time with reckless s abandon, a Close Combat to finish things quickly, but Marshal was quicker.

Marshal copied her technique, with a sudden blow to the stomach, hitting right in the throat, leaving her winded. She gasped for air and fell to her knees.

Marshal used Mach Punch!

Eri was defeated!

Eri began to cry as Marshal appproached to help her up. "Are you OK?"

Eri accepted Marshal's hand as she rose to her feet, "I'm sorry I just had to be sure..."

"Sure of what?" Marshal asked.

"That you're strong enough..." Eri sighed.

Before her death on her way to Paldea's Highest Peak, Madeline made a detour, stopping to see Eri who she explained the situation to. She finished, "...and that's why I need a favor."

"Anything for my sister," Eri assured, patting Madeline on the back.

"If worst comes to worse, make sure he doesn't hurt Marshal, our brother." Madeline pleaded.

Eri nodded, "On my life."

Madeline smiled and hugged Eri, "I promise though it won't come to that. I'll see you soon."

Eri smiled and hugged Madeline back in a bear hug before she left.

That was the last time anyone saw Madeline alive.

Eri finished, struggling not to cry once again. "I had to know. I had to know if he attacked you, you could defend yourself. You're my little brother and I promised her..."

Marshal nodded and hugged Eri, assuring her, "It's OK. It's OK."

Eri continued, "Marshal... I saw the tape."

Marshal didn't respond, unsure what to say.

"He didn't kill her with Pokémon..."

"I think it's about time we see what's on that tape. All of us. Together."

Eri nodded, and took out her Rotom phone. As it rang she reminded Marshal, "Oh but Marshal, you haven't beaten all of Team Star's leaders."

"I kinda feel that's a formality at this point," Marshal shrugged.

"It's more about ensuring you're strong enough to beat Ubel," Eri conceded, "But by that logic, you do still have to beat Penny..."