After some deliberation, Marshal decided to head towards Artazon first, curious of the works of art there and needing to start somewhere. He marched through the dusty dunes between the academy and Artazon, the scorching sun doing little to deter him, and he knew this was not even the harshest that Paldea had to offer in terms of hot weather.

His quest towards Artazon was uneventful, the dusty dunes, while dangerous to navigate with a single Pokemon, were not excessively dangerous. However as he approached Artazon Marshal began to wonder if he could best a gym with only Wick.

Wick was not particularly strong or weak, but the gym leader would certainly have multiple badges. The gym in Artazon was grass type, so perhaps a fire type would work well there, but which one?

Wick whined, noticing his trainer stressed. Marshal scratched the spectral hound behind the ear, "It's OK Wick I'm just thinking is all." He looked across the wastes and explained his dilemma, "You're a ghost type, so you don't have an edge against the gym in Artazon, along with being my only Pokemon, we could be in a pickle if we just march in like we own the place."

Marshal sat down by Wick and looked up to the sky, "Sis would know what to do."

Wick nudged himself into Marshal's lap to cheer him up. Marshal chuckled softly and continued to pet Wick as he looked around, spotting a furry creature in the distance, the Pokemon's fur was brown and red with black stripes and it dashed across the landscape with great speed despite its small stature. Marshal nudged Wick gently, the hound leapt from his lap and the duo quietly approached the Pokemon to get a better look at it.

Wick growled ready to attack, but Marshal lifted his arm, "Wait. It's hurt."

Marshal watched closely, the Pokemon, which he could now tell was a Growlithe was running scared from something, and limping on one of her paws. Marshal approached it slowly as it ran into a corner, whimpering. It turned to see Marshal and lte out a low growl.

Marshal raised his hands and spoke softly, "Easy. easy. It's OK. I'm a friend."

The Pokemon's growl lowered but stayed at a constant low tone as Marshal approached. He got close enough to examine the wounded paw. It appeared to have been slashed by some sort of sharp appendage, a tusk perhaps?

He took out a potion, and extended his hand. Hesitantly the growlithe offered its paw to Marshal, who sprayed its wound. The Growlithe flinched at first before calming itself, and the growling stopped. It whined as it placed its head to Marshal's hand, its fur much warmer than Wick's. Marshal scratched the Pokemon and assured her, "See, all better." Marshal stood up and continued, "I'm a trainer and could use a fire Pokemon. Do you wanna tag along?"

The Growlithe bowed forward, wagging her tail. Marshal took out a Pokeball and offered it to her. She headbutt it eagerly and went inside. The ball shook three times and clicked. Marshal sent her back out and pet her on the head, "Do you like the name Sparky?"

Sparky woofed happily and the now trio headed towards Artazon, The dusty ground gave way to emerald green grass and the songs of Squakabily filled the air around the lively town. Marshal's stomach growled as he entered and he decided now was as good a time as any for lunch for him and his dogs.

He looked around for a place to eat only for his eye to be caught by a statue of a Sunflora with its leaves outstretched and looking upward.

Sparky sniffed the statue curiously, circling it and then barking.

"Surrendering Sunflora," Marshal muttered to himself as he examined the name engraved on the front of the pot of the statue.

A young man approached Marshal, also looking at the art piece. He had bags under his eyes and a purple suit, along with brown messy hair. He inquired to Marshal, "How do you feel about this piece?"

"I have never been one for the art of sculpting," Marshal confessed, "But the idea of surrender to another makes me uneasy. I can tell this wasn't the artist's intent but..."

"Art does tend to be subjective," the young man shrugged. "My name is Brassius," the young man introduced himself, "And you are?"

"Marshal," Marshal replied, "Hey if I may ask, do you know a good place to get lunch around here? I don't want to challenge the gym on an empty stomach."

"Ah you're a challenger?" Brassius inquired, "Well, you can get a nice Klawf al Ajillo over there. Might I be able to join you? I have not eaten myself."

Marshal nodded, "By all means friend."

The two began to walk towards the restaurant, Marshal followed by Wick and Sparky.

"Are you fond of dogs?" Brassius inquired.

Marshal shrugged, "I mean these two lil fellas yeah."

Brassius smiled, "I see. You truly care for your Pokemon don't you?"

Marshal nodded, "Wick has been with me for years, Sparky here though, she's a new friend, caught her just outside town. She had been injured, looked like she was gored by some sort of tusked Pokemon, perhaps Donphan?"

"There have been a fair number of reports of such things in the area," Brassius nodded as the two sat down to eat, "However I know little on the matter. I am curious about you as a retainer though. Tell me, do you consider battling to be art?"

"Art can be used to help people I suppose," Marshal shrugged, "And there is a beauty in it, a grace. It makes no difference to me if positive change comes at the end of a brush or a Flamethrower."

"Fasijnating," Brassius nodded, "Are you fond of the works of Siebold as well?"

Marshal shook his head, "His works no, unless we are counting his battles, which I guess we are."

Brassius nodded, "I see. Always good to broaden your perspective. Anyways I suppose I should explain that I am the gym leader you will be fighting today."

"Well then I look forward to our art," Marshal smiled, extending his hand for a handshake.

Brassius shook his hand and replied, "It will be a collaboration of a work."

Brassius finished his meal and stood up, "I look forward to it. I will be waiting for you at the battlefield. You can consider this as having passed the gym trial."

Marshal enjoyed the rest of his meal, sharing bits and pieces of the fresh Klawf meat with his two dogs, before finishing and standing up with a stretch, "Let's go guys, we have a gym badge to win."

Marshal approached Brassius at the battleground, the artist smiled, "Ah there you are Marshal, shall we begin?"

Marshal gripped his Pokeball, "Gladly."

"Then let this battlefield be our canvas!" Brassius exclaimed eagerly.

Gym Leader Brassius would like to battle!

Brassius smiled and elaborated, "I've honed my team since the last champion challenged me! I'm experimenting with a new form of art in my battles! Tell me what you think!"

Brassius sent out a Capsakid first, Marshal responding with Sparky.

Marshal gave the order, "Sparky! Charge him down!"

Sparky began to run around in small circles with increasing speed, sparks began to appear at the Growlithe's feet as she accelerated, before she burst into flames and lunged at Caspakid, scorching the plant in a roaring fire.

Caspakid staggered, but stayed standing, revealing Focus Sash wrapped around its head. The Caspakid cried out, the sunlight becoming unbearable in response, the Caspakid calling upon SUnny Day for some unknown reason.

"Why are you making fire stronger?" Marshal inquired,

"True artists are merely underappreciated in their time," Brassius smugly grinned.

Slightly anxious but ultimately undeterred, Sparky attacked once more on Marshal's orders, Caspakid falling to the flames. Brassius sneered, and it was then Marshal realized he had been played. Brassius's smile revealed his ploy as he drew his Tera Orb and Terastalized his Sunflora into a water type. As Sparky charged forward, the dazzling blue crystal blinded the Growlithe, who was blasted back by a powerful Tera Blast, a burst of water shot form SUnflora's mouth, knocking Sparky down instantly.

Marshal caught Sparky as the Growlithe was blasted back by the attack and assured him, "It's OK. You did good." He gently scratched his Pokemon behind the ear and returned Sparky to her Pokeball.

Wick leapt from his Pokeball, growling, ready to protect his trainer. Marshal examined the situation. It wasn't good. He could tell Sunflora as being sapped by the sunlight, clearly having the ability Solar Powered, but he could not stall long enough for this to be a means of defeating it. However if he just had a little more time he could land a finished blow.

"Wick just hold out!" Marshal ordered, "I have a plan!"

WIck nodded and took a low stance, using Protect to prepare to shield itself as Sunflora used Solar Beam. The flower exploded with a beam of green energy. Wick waited until the Sunflora fired, and leapt out of the way, however he lost his footing as the beam blasted apart the ground where he once stood, meaning he could not use Protect again reliably.

Marshal knew he had an ace up his sleeve, he only needed to make sure he could land the finishing blow, it was a risky maneuver but it was all he had.

"Wick!" Marshal ordered, "You can take him!"

Wick barked happily and charged forward. Brassius ordered, "Sunflora look out!"

However before Sunflora could react, Wick disappeared into darkness. Sunflora frantically looked around, panicking, when Wick reappeared behind his foe, and chomped down hard on its stem, striking with Shadow Sneak. However the blow was not enough to take out the Sunflora, who trashed about wildly, shaking Wick off and throwing him into the air before blasting him with a powerful green beam of energy, Solar Beam.

However...

Wick's Focus Sash broke!

"A Focus Sash!" Brassius exclaimed, "What artistry in your battling style! Exploiting the downsides of my Pokemon's ability to wear it down, but I am afraid that yours is too slow to defeat mine! One more attack and our collaboration, our art, will be complete!"

Brassius didn't realize that Sunflora was starting to wilt, that it was running out of strength, and seemed to have not accounted for the facts Shadow Sneak would strike before Sunflora could or that each time SUnflora attacked it grew weaker still.Marshal smiled, he had him. "Then let us end with a bang!"Brassius nodded to his Sunflora, who struck once more with Solar Beam, the burst of energy leaving only a cloud of dust on the battlefield which slowly cleared. Brassius began to walk forward to congratulate his battle weary friend only for Marshal to raise his hand, "Hold on."Wick leapt from out of the clouds, once more using Protect to ensure the blow and disappearing into the dust. When the dust cleared, Wick leapt into the air from the cloud, and disappeared into the darkness. Sunflora, now weakened, fell to its knees, unable to evade as Wick used SHadow Sneak one final time, chomping down hard on the body of his enemy and thrashing about wildly as he emerged behind Sunflora and whipped it about wildly, slamming it into the ground over and over before the crown atop its head shattered in a burst of brilliant light. Wick dropped his foe and returned to Marshal's side, who eagerly lifted his Pokemon up and exclaimed, "Good job! Who's a good boy? You're a good boy! Yes you are! Yes you are! Now let's get you to a Pokemon center."Marshal returned Wick to his Pokeball and went to shake hands with Brassius, who returned in kind and smiled, "Well played. I haven't seen skill like that since our last Champion.""Weren't they Neomona's rival?" Marshal inquired.Brassius nodded, "Yeah but they left one day, seeking greater challenges. ANyways, you have potential. Thank you for this work of art.""It's been a pleasure," Marshal smiled before finishing the hand shake and leaving town. After treating the wounds of his friends at the Pokemon Center. Wick suddenly burst from his Pokeball and began to bark at Marshal."What's wrong boy?" Marshal demanded, reaching out to calm Wick. Wick kept barking, until Marshal looked at the time on his Rotom phone, "Oh, right, Thanks boy!"Marshal put his new badge into and took out a bottle of blue pills, and popped one into his mouth. He scratched Wick under the chin, "Good boy. Good boy!" He then began to walk, sending out Sparkly as well to accompany him, "Now let's go. I think there's a Team Star base nearby. Seems like a good idea to handle that. We'll need their help to stop Ubel..."