While people fought White-Kyurem for the sake of truth and ideals and Hoenn at large, Preston watched men die.

Paradox Pokemon had emerged from nowhere, and as they emerged, they brought death by cold steel and pain. Several nameless Pokemon Rangers were cut apart by the blade of a mechanized deer. As the trainers fell, the Iron Crowns and Iron Boulders stepped over their bodies, leaking with the pain of the defeated.

"Fugu, counter it!" Preston shouted, his Tentacruel's eyes narrowing as it produced a Hydro Pump that splashed against the mechanized deer. As it fell, its fellow machines stepped over the body to take its place. One became two, and two became four.

Another man was cut apart by a steel blade. Preston began to sweat.

"Shit." Preston muttered as the dozens of trainers he had fought with were cut down. Was this how it ended? Not by fighting against Team Rocket, but due to a swarm of alien Pokémon?

Preston looked up to see an Iron Leaves standing over him. He let out a shout as it brought its blade down.

---

I HATE IRON BOULDER I HATE IRON BOULDER
ALL MY NPC FRIENDS ARE DEAD

"Trouble-maker?" Preston's gruff voice grunted as he knotted his rope. "Nah, nothing like that. Sirfetch'd doesn't make for good eating, and you have no supplies. Looks like you've lost a fight with Mother Nature, and I could beat you senseless, if I wanted. No offense." The knot tightened and Preston leaned over to start his outboard motor. The engine sputtered to life.

"I'm just a chef. Nothing more."

Imagining this man in a chef's outfit was borderline impossible. A rude customer demanding to meet the chef would likely get their head bashed in by this one, but he was a chef. It was something that surprised Preston, every once in a while.

Suddenly, a splash rang out as the two ships were jumped by wild Pokémon. With a huff, Preston reached for a Pokeball and tossed it, revealing a Tentacruel. It immediately focused in on the Mareanie that was latched to Preston's ship, crushing it with its tentacles.

"Wait, Fugu. I'll use this one." Preston eyed the Mareanie with interest, before reaching for an empty ball. He tossed it.

---

tavish rose
CATCHING MAREANIE

Ripest time. The stranger could say that again. Preston was here for the 'ripest' of times, even if the stranger didn't know it yet.

Preston was a hard looking man, with rough hands and a scowling face. He couldn't blame the man for being nervous. As he approached, he noted the full combat gear, and his frown deepened. There were only two types of people in Hoenn who wore full combat gear: Rangers and Rockets. There was no way to determine which was which. Well, there was, actually.

As long as Preston didn't step in that Stunfisk, that was. Galarian?

"You're lucky." Preston's eyes lingered on the Stunfisk and Sirfetch'd for a few moments. Galarian Pokémon. "You're a long way from home, stranger."

A heavy bundle of rope appeared, nearly clocking the Obstagoon in the face as Preston tossed half of it to the man's ship. "Tie it to your prow, and I'll pull you in."

If this was a trap, it was a good one. The Pokemon looked tired, the man who owned them even moreso. Preston was a decent enough trainer, and he was confident that he could take out an exhausted shipwreck victim if push came to shove.

---

tavish rose

Splash. Splash. Splash. The rowboat rocked close to the shore. To the untrained eye, it seemed likely that the ship would gently dock with Dewford's shores after a few hours. The experienced fisherman or sailor would say that the tide was soon to recede, taking much with it.

Krabbys, Sandygast, Pyukumuku, desecrated ships. All would be swept away with the tide.

What made this tale crueler was how serene everything was. There was nothing even remotely threatening to ruin the scene, beyond the shipwreck. Even that would disappear, if enough time passed. It was perfectly quiet. Then, the sound of an outboard boat motor rang out, startling the two Pokemon.

A ship appeared over the horizon.

On it was a man.

Preston stood by the motor, hair tied in a ponytail as he watched the ocean blue. Then, he saw the shipwreck. "What the...?"

He changed course.

---

tavish rose