Marshal arrived in the gorgeous city of Cascarrafa, the sound of flowing water was soothing and the white tile decor along the elevator he rode upward was elaborate and pristine. He had decided, since he was already here, that he would check out the gym. He greeted the receptionist as he entered the gym lobby, "Good afternoon madam, Marshal, holder of two badges. I would like to ask about the Gym Test please."

The receptionist shook her head, "I'm terribly sorry but the Gym Leader is at the auction house responding to an emergency."

"What's going on down there?" Marshal inquired.

"Some sort of..." the receptionist shrugged, "Metal birds I think it was?"

"Well I was headed that way anywho thank you," Marshal replied before leaving. Metal birds? Could that be a Paradox Pokémon, or perhaps a Corviknight migration landed in the town?

There was only one way to find out, and thus Marshal began to head for Porto Marinada. The journey there was at first uneventful under the warm afternoon sun but as he neared the port he ran into a large bald man in a blue apron next to what appeared to be a small robotic Delibird which he pat gently on the head, chuckling, "See? There's no need to fight little one. You're still a Pokémon, we can still be friends. Ho ho ho!"

"Sir get back that thing-" Marshal cried out.

The man shook his head, "Oh Iron Bundle here is nothing to be afraid of young man. Any Pokémon from past or future can still be a friend."

Iron Bundle let out a mechanic sounding caw, it seemed to be agreeing with the man. Kofu and Iron Bundle approached, Kofu shaking Marshal's hand, "I'm Kofu. Gym leader."

Marshal smiled, "Oh you're Kofu? It's a pleasure." Iron Bundle approached, looking at Marshal curiously.

Kofu assured the metallic Pokemon, "It's OK, he's a friend." The Iron Bundle let out a mechanical but happy squawk and returned to Modi's side. Kofu turned towards Marshal and explained, "If you're here about the gym I'm afraid I'll have to ask that you wait. I-"

"If it's about the sightings of Paradox Pokémon I'm here to help with that as well," Marshal explained, "I assume Jacq sent you?"

"It was Clavell actually," Kofu replied as the two began to walk into town. "Apparently some Titan Pokémon were spotted nearby and he wanted to make sure the citizens wouldn't be endangered."

"Yeah I've had some run in with Titans actually," Marshal nodded in agreement, "Dangerous things but-"

Paws stopped suddenly and sniffed the air, catching Marshal's attention. He asked the Teddiursa, "What's wrong little fella?"

Paws suddenly ran off towards the Market. "Hey wait!" Marshal exclaimed as he gave chase, catching up with Paws who had stopped in front of a stall eying a strange gray block of a rocky substance.

Marshal picked up Paws and inquired, "What is it you want so bad?" Marshal looked down at the block and inquired, "Sir what is this?"

The auctioneer replied, "Why sir this is a genuine Hisuian Peat Block! Said to evolve certain Pokémon centuries ago!"

"How much is it?" Marshal inquired.

The auctioneer look at Paws and Marshal. He inquired, "You truly love your Pokémon, don't you boy?"

Marshal smiled and nodded, "Yessir." He tickled Paws's belly, who laughed and playfully pushed Marshal away, "This little guy came up to me while I was having a picnic. Seemed like he needed a home so I took him in."

The auctioneer rubbed his chin, sure he could make more money if he didn't do what he was about to do but cultivating a genuine bond was worth more than any price he could get. He offered, "Tell you what kid. I was gonna auction this off for 30k minimum but I've heard they can go for past 50k. You really seem to be a good loving trainer so what say we skip the auction? 30 grand and it's yours."

"Are you sure sir?" Marshal inquired.

The man nodded, "I'm not exactly hurting for funds."

"Thank you sir!" Marshal exclaimed eagerly, handing him the money.

Marshal handed the Peat Block to Paws, who grinned with a blissful excitement. Marshal inquired, "Hey Paws why did you want this thing so bad anywho?"

Kofu began to realize a connection and stated, "Eh let him have it. There's a full moon in a few days. Maybe it'll become more clear then."

Marshal shrugged, "Eh I trust Paws either way I was just curious." Marshal and Kofu left the auction house, looking out over the sea, "Now we should keep an eye out for any strange Pokémon."

"That's a lot of Delibird," Kofu added pointing to a swarm of them, along with pink spheres floating in the water towards the town.

"Wait..." Marshal looked closer, "Kofu? Those aren't Delibird."

The pink spheres turned, revealing themselves to be Pokémon. They all in synch let out a horrifying banshee like screech and the swarm began to swim towards the town.

"Oh Arceus's Hall!" Marshal cried, "Quick! Evacuate the citizens!"

"What about you?" Kofu demanded.

"I'll hold them off!" Marshal assured.

Marshal sent out Sparky and Wick, well aware that he would be fighting this swarm alone. Arven wasn't here to help him. He was on his own.

Paradox Pokémon Horde would like to battle!

Two odd looking jigglypuffs, Screamtail, and two Iron Bundle, leapt from the water to attack. Wick was the first to act, disappearing into darkness and chomping down on the torso of the Iron Bundle, a critical blow which shattered its metallic shell, fainting it instantly with Shadow Sneak. The first Scream Tail acted next, it looked like it was thinking before Sparky was suddenly crushed by an unseen force, fainted with Psychic.

Marshal sent out Paws as another Iron Bundle leapt into the fray. Marshal once more ordered Wick to take it out as Paws lunged for the Scream Tail, Paws went after Scream Tail with a full force body blow, knocking it out with Take Town but slamming shoulder first into the metal railing at the edge of town.

"Paws are you OK?" Marshal called.

Paws forced himself back to his feet and nodded, despite clearly having taken recoil from the blow. The final Scream Tail charged for Paws before anyone could react, grabbing the small Pokémon with its tail-like appendage and slamming it around in a playful fashion with Play Rough. Marshal returned Paws to his Pokéball. He knew he was in real trouble now, but Wick, reliable as always, charged forward, barking, determined to avenge his fallen friends. A ghastly energy surrounded the Pokémon as it charged through Scream Tail with a spectral power, like it has sliced it in two but not leaving an external wound, fainting it with Last Respects.

"Good job boy!" Marshal exclaimed, petting Wick on the head. Marshal looked around, the rest of the horde seemed to have been intimidated by Marshal's display, and waited in the water. He saw two Scream Tail screech at the smallest of the swarm before throwing it onto the docks. The small Pokémon screamed in terror at Marshal, and clearly didn't want to fight.

"Hey hey easy!" Marshal assured it, "I won't fight if you won't."

The Scream Tail calmed down, still breathing heavily and shaking. Marshal offered it some ham, "It's OK. If you won't hurt me I won't hurt you."

The Scream Tail, timidly and slowly approached, taking the ham and dashing to the other end of the docks as it chowed down. Marshal sighed, "Poor thing. Must be the runt of the group."

Marshal didn't think that any more of the swarm would attack the town which left only the Titans, wherever they were. Marshal would quickly learn their location as two giant versions of the Pokémon in the swarm charged forward from the other side of the cliff where the lighthouse sat atop of.

Arven dashed forward, yelling, "Marshal! Marshal sorry I'm late!"

Arven sent out his Scovillain, "Come on let's take these things out!"

The Titan Iron Bundle roared and grabbed its sack. There was a mechanical whirling sound like a blender before a torrent of water blasted outward, slamming Wick into the cliff side, fainting him with Hydropump.

"Send in Paws he can handle it!" Arven yelled.

"Wick was all I had left," Marshal replied, "The rest were taken out by the horde!"

Arven looked at the two titans in terror, "Oh Arceus we're in trouble..."

Then, there was a song, a horrible song like a banshee attempting to sing opera began to become louder and closer. Marshal and Arven covered their ears, Arven exclaimed, "What is that horrible sound?"

A small Scream Tail leapt out in front of Marshal, as if protecting him. It slurped up the last slice of ham Marshal had given it prior.

Scream Tail used Perish Song!

"Arven we have to stall them out!" Marshal yelled. Arven nodded and switched in his Greedent.

"Scream Tail!" Marshal ordered, "Defend yourself!"

The Scream Tail summoned a psychic barrier to shield itself from attacks with Protect. The two titans tried to attack it, one with a blast of lunar energy the other with a beam of ice, but the attacks merely bounced off the shield.

Their perish counts fell to two.

Arven ordered his Greedant to slam into the Iron Bundle full force. The mighty blow staggered the Titan, leaving it badly wounded and making movement labored, paralyzing it.

Marshal's new friend rubbed its hands together, charging static electricity which it then shot at the Titan Scream Tail. The shock did not do any external harm, but left its muscles in disarray, causing paralysis with Thunder Wave. The two Titans struggled to move, but their wounds left them unable to act, paralyzed, frozen in place as their perish counts fell to one.

With Scream Tail protecting itself one final time the two fell to the song, toppling over and fainting, causing a huge splash from the water which Arven and Marshal shielded themselves from instinctively, only to wind up drenched all the same.

Arven sighed, he shook his head to get his wet hair out of his eyes and chuckled, "Well, that could have gone worse."

The Scream Tail smiled and leapt on Marshal's shoulder, it wrapped its tail around Marshal's torso. Arven stepped forward panicked for a moment but Marshal held his hand out, "Easy! Easy! It's still a Pokémon."

The Scream Tail let out a playful growl and snuggled up to Marshal, its body soft and slightly fluffy. Marshal inquired to it, "So do you wanna be friends?"

Scream Tail cried out joyously and entered the Pokéball Marshal offered to it. Marshal sent it back out and asked it, "So what do I call you, Screech?"

Scream Tail shook its head.

"How about Grips?" Marshal inquired, "Your tail sure is strong."

Grips cried happily, and wrapped its tail around Marshal's arm, as if hugging him as it rode on Marshal's shoulder.

"OK we need to get caught up to speed with Jacq and Clavell," Arven explained, "They should be arriving soon. Let's go see if we can still get a bit or if it's still pandemonium in town."

Marshal and Arven entered the town to see everyone calming down. They saw Kofu give a thumbs up as his Iron Bundle and him explained that the danger had passed. Arven looked and saw two kids playing with a friendly Scream Tail.

They were still Pokémon after all.

Arven and Marshal began to eat, Marshal explaining to Arven, "Hey so I am making progress rallying Team Star to help Penny. Any word from Nemona?"

Arven shook his head, "Nope."

Arven sighed, distraught.

"What's wrong?" Marshal inquired.

"Eh it's nothing," Arven lied, "Don't worry about it."

"Arven dude," Marshal shook his head and spoke kindly but firmly, "You don't have to talk to me but if something is bugging you talk to someone. Anyone."

Arven thought for a moment. He couldn't go to Penny or Nemona, not with both of them stressed enough. Marshal was his friend but what he wanted to talk about was quite grim.

Arven took a deep breath, "I... lost one of my parents in Area Zero recently, and I try to cope by my clinging to my family who loves me but they aren't exactly talking to me much right now and I just feel so... useless, and abandoned. Like, yay we saved Paldea and then we were supposed to stick together and they just... left."

"I mean I'm sure they still see you as their brother," Marshal assured, "They're both just, having a hard time right now."

"Yeah but I just..." Arven shook his head sadly, "Wish I could do something and spend more time with my sisters and my brother, but that she left the region for some festival."

"We'll figure it out," Marshal assured offering a fist bump, "Together."

"You're right," Arven sighed, half with weariness, half with relief, "Thanks dude."

"Anytime man," Marshal smiled.

"Ah there you are," a voice greeted the duo. The two turned to see Clavell and Jacq approaching. Jacq continued, "How you been?"

"Quite well," Marshal replied, "I think we should touch base on the situation."

The two men sat down. Clavell nodded, "Yes, our research has led to some... troubling revelations."

"More troubling than whatever attacked Mabosstiff?" Marvel asked.

Jacq nodded and explained, "These Pokémon do not appear capable of reproduction, at least, not in captivity. As such it will be safe to rehome them to loving trainers or families. However this leads us to another issue. They appear to be stronger than their modern counterparts in most cases, by huge margins."

"I mean that kind of makes sense with the past," Marshal replied with a shrug, "The world was crueler then and it's a better place now. I believe it'll keep improving at least for the most part."

"Yeah that doesn't work though," Arven shook his head, "If we assume the past was worse and if the world improves because humans are good at heart or something then... why would future Pokémon also be stronger?"

"I do believe humans are inherently good and our world becomes better as time goes on," Clavell elaborated, "I believe this inherent good will cause this improvement to perpetually accelerate. I call this concept natural progression. I believe that due to this good we always keep improving. That the good deeds we do add to this acceleration which cannot be slowed or removed only stalled and everyone who is not evil adds a little by default. Therefore everyone leaves a small but positive and permanent mark on the world. I see this potential in all my students, or, I did before Ubel showed up. Technically not my students anymore."

"But if we assume that that is true and that past Pokémon are stronger because the past was worse then wouldn't future Pokémon be weaker? Not needing to be as strong to survive?" Jacq inquired, "This carries the disturbing implication that... something goes wrong to ruin the future."

Everyone fell silent. It was a... worrying implication to say the least. If something would ruin the future there was one man with the power in Paldea's society along with the malicious will.

"Ubel..." Marshal growled.

Clavell adjusted his glasses, "Your fears are well founded. We have found a name engraved on the bodies of many of the future Pokémon. "Ubel Industries."

"Do we even know that these Pokémon are actually from the past and future?" Arven demanded opening a copy of the Scarlet book, "I have a theory they may be born of dreams and-"

"Even if they are," Jacq interjected, "This does show the future Ubel desires is a truly wretched one. One where he rules with an iron army. If he stays in power it is not impossible that he will use these Pokémon, or outright be their future creator, and use them to enforce his backwards views upon Paldea."

"I mean I would assume they are from the future," Marshal shrugged, "But that's just an assumption. The base assumption holds true. Ubel will ruin the future of Paldea based on this theory, either it's the one he will create or the one he desires. A harsh one where Pokémon struggle to survive, and by extension, likely people as well. It's either he is fated to do so or desires to currently. Neither bodes well."

"Was Ubel on the research team to Area Zero," Arven inquired.

Clavell nodded, "He did enter Area Zero with the professor, yes. Even if they are born of dreams, this shows they were influenced by his dreams."

"So what do we do?" Jacq asked, "Ubel is in a very high position in our region and he could easily pivot into gaining political power."

"We continue to take out these strange Pokémon and rehome them," Clavell ordered, "Ubel can no longer hide his inaction after what happened here today. This is our chance to ruin his authority and undermine him. Expose his inaction."

"It may also be worth grabbing some of his research notes from Area Zero," Jacq added, "We could learn more on his true goals."

"No far to dangerous," Clavell shook his head, "That is not worth the risk."

"Yeah rather not go back there," Arven added, before getting up, "In that case we should get ready for the next Titans, they were spotted a bit north from here at Casseroya Lake. Wanna meet up there Marshal?"

Marshal nodded, "Yeah but I gotta get some more gym badges so, no rush."

"Cya there man," Arven replied with a smile, patting Marshal on the back as he left.

Jacq stretched and stood up, "I'm gonna go gather the stragglers. It'll be good for research. You're doing good work Marshal."

"Thanks," Marshal replied offered a high five to Jacq who reciprocated as he walked away.

This left only Marshal and Clavell to speak to each other. Clavell inquired to Marshal, "Are you holding up OK?"

Marshal inquired, confused, "In that sense?"

Clavell elaborated with a gentle tone, "All this must be hard on you. The ordeal with Ubel and his return."

"I mean yeah," Marshal sighed, "It is. First Penny is right in Ubel's crosshairs and then I have to become champion and handle the titans all in a month. I just... why me? Yknow?"

Clavell shook his head solemnly, "I can't say life is truly fair, but I do believe that it can and will get better as long as you keep fighting for it. However no one will blame you if you flee Paldea to live with other family."

"Madeline was my only family," Marshal shook his head, "Or at least, my only genetic family. Our parents died when I was a baby and she raised me herself. In a sense she was more like a mother to me than anything else."

"I'm sure that there are people who can be your family who are not genetic," Clavell assured.

Marshal nodded in agreement, "Family is merely a form of love."

Clavell smiled, "Indeed. For what it's worth Marshal, I have watched you grow up into the teen you are today, and I am genuinely proud of the man you're becoming, in spite of your anger."

Marshal felt a joy in his heart at Clavell's words. Just to know someone, anyone, cared about how hard he was trying to defeat Ubel meant a lot to him. It reminded him of movies he had seen, when a father is proud of his son in a way.

"But I do have some concerns about said anger," Clavell elaborated, "Ubel isn't worth it. He has to be stopped but don't do anything you'll regret."

Marshal brushed off this solid advice, "I'll do what needs to be done. Anyways, I do need to take on Kofu's gym. So I'll cya later."

"Stay safe," Clavell sternly requested. Marshal waved farewell, slightly annoyed but still wanting to be find to Clavell.

"Not worth it," he muttered to himself, "What else do I have to treasure aside from my revenge?..."

Author's Note: I want this done before DLC comes out and at this rate that won't happen unless I trim some of the fat. There are 8 gym battles and I really don't need 8 chapters to tell Nemona's story in this so Marshal will start getting gym badges really fast from here on out.