"Okay…so this is it." Himiko said as the group stood in front of the large lake. "Casseroya Lake…"

"This is a lake? It's almost big enough to be an ocean." Rainbow said.

"It's so pretty!" Nuna smiled.

"Hmm?" Tails said as they saw some fish flopping on the shore. "What are those things?"

"Reminds me of sushi." Catra said.

"Bzzt! Tatsugiri, the Mimicry Pokémon! A Dragon and Water Type! Tatsugiri is an extremely cunning Pokémon. It feigns weakness to lure in prey, then orders its partner to attack." Rotomphone said.

"Partner…?" Adora asked before she saw some splashing around in the water as something went and swallowed one of the Tatsugiri. This figure was a giant fish-like creature.

The False Dragon Titan

Dondozo

"It's huge! Is this the Titan? What is it?" Pinkie asked.

"Bzzt! Dondozo, the Big Catfish Pokémon! A Water Type! This Pokémon is a glutton, but it's bad at getting food. It teams up with a Tatsugiri to catch prey." Rotomphone said.

"Now it's starting to make sense." Himiko said. "False Dragon… that title was talking about Tatsugiri luring us into face the real titan, Dondozo."

"Not bad. But it's still a Water type. A little Thunder and Grass will have it down in no time." Dan said.

"Got it. Leave it to me!" Himiko said. "Go! Floragato!" she said. "Use Magical Leaf!" she commanded as Floragato attacked Dondozo with multiple flying leaves before forcing the big guy to swim to a cliff face. "That was quick." she said as Dondozo started eating the herbs within before powering up.

"I'm here…what's…oh my…" Arven said arriving as he saw Dondozo.

"Glad you're here, Arven. Meet the False Dragon titan." Hope said.

"THAT thing's the False Dragon Titan?! No matter. Just need to beat it and get the last Herba Mystica." Arven said as he sent out Greedent.

"Bulu and I will help too!" Nuna said, sending out Tapu Bulu.

"Me too! Go, Electivire!" Hope said, sending out his Electric type. "This thing is big, but we should be able to take it out if we attack together."

"All out attack! Go!" Arven said as they all attacked the large Dondozo together, not even giving it a chance to fight back as it sank.

"We got it!" they cheered.

"Good…let's get the herb before…" Arven said as something jumped out of the water. "What the?"

Above them all was the Tatsugiri that Dondozo had swallowed whole as it looked fierce.

The REAL False Dragon Titan

Tatsugiri

"What is…Tatsugiri wasn't bait…its the real Titan!" Himiko realized as Tatsugiri thrusted into Tapu Bulu, Greedent and Electivire, taking them all out in an instant.

"Aw, crap!" Hope said.

"Bulu!" Nuna said as she ran over to him.

"This thing's the size of an actual fish…and it can cause this much damage?!" Arven said in surprise.

"Himiko, it's up to you!" Tenko said. "I know you can do this, Himiko. After all, you survived Danganronpa when Angie and I couldn't, right? Come on! That little fish is nothing compared to all of that!"

"(Why…did I do all this again?)" Himiko thought as Floragato was being rapidly attacked by Tatsugiri. "(Right…it was cause of David. Ever since what happened at the tower, he's been doing nothing but talk about cat girls like Cheetah and fawn over members like Shun or Mei…it's like he's leaving some of us behind. He may deny it but it's true. But even I know, he can't take everything forever. Even after he fought Kaido, he was still critically hurt even though he played it off. So…we need to step up…be the protectors for the things he can't face.)" she thought. "We…won't back down…to some little sushi…" Himiko said.

Floragato was impressed by this as it let out a meow before rising up as it glowed.

"Huh? What's that?" Tenko asked. "It's… It's evolving again?"

In Floragato's place stood a taller looking feline with a mask and cape as a flower floated near it.

"Bzzt! Meowscarada, the Magician Pokémon and the evolved form of Floragato! A Grass and Dark Type! With skillful misdirection, it rigs foes with pollen- packed flower bombs. Meowscarada sets off the bombs before its foes realize what's going on." Rotomphone said.

"Wow, look at them together, it's like they're made for each other!" Bow said, checking Meowscaradas stats. "Himiko, Meowscarada has a new move, how bout you give it a try?"

"Of course…use Flower Trick!" Himiko said as Meowscarada went and dropped the flower on Tatsugiri as it just casually walked over as Tatsugiri fell right to the ground.

"Nice work, Himiko. You fought so hard, all by yourself." David said as he and Miraidon came into view. "I'm…sorry if I sounded like I doubted you. I know I try to take the brunt of everything myself, but… I did that with all of you guys in mind. I couldn't stand the thought of one of my closest friends dying on me."

Himiko just smirked as she went and lightly punched his cheek. "Don't go thinking like that. You aren't a god. So we need to pick up the slack for the things you can't, all right?" Himiko said.

"R-right. Thanks, Himiko. I guess I should've been more considerate to how all of you felt." David said.

"Yeah." Himiko said. "Well…we should wait inside. No doubt Rutega is on her way for a bite as well."

"Yes…let's hurry…before both these fishes wake up." Arven said.

"Yeah, I'm here!" Rutega exclaimed as she glided in on Koraidon, who saw the group and went for a quick landing, as Rutega was launched off. "Whoa!" Rutega exclaimed as she was now in free fall. "Buddy, we gotta work on your control in the air!" Rutega exclaimed as Koraidon flew back under Rutega to catch her, as Rutega chuckled. "Good catch."

Rutega landed with Koraidon as she looked around. "So… I missed the Titan fight, didn't I?" Rutega asked.

"Yeah, you did. Himiko took it out on her own." David said. "At least you came in time for the last Herba Mystica."

"Good job, Himiko!" Rutega complimented.

"It was a close one, though. But I pulled it off." Himiko said.

"She's…had a lot of thoughts going on, but she pulled through in the end." David said.

"I won't pry further. But let's get this last Herba Mystica and replenish Koraidon and Miraidon both!" Rutega said in excitement.

Inside the cave was the Spicy Herba Mystica, the last type of Herba Mystica they needed. Arven made tons of Sandwiches from it for the group, of course Koraidon and Miraidon getting David and Rutega's share. Upon eating them, they got a big boost to their limbs.

"Looks like their latest meal has got them back into climbing shape." Adora said.

"So they should be back to full strength right?" Al asked.

"Let's see. Can you go into battle mode, Koraidon?" Rutega asked, as Koraidon attempted to do so… only to not be able to. "Huh!?"

"Looks like something is still keeping them from going into battle specs." David said.

"Hmm… Rutega, right?" Arven asked. "Is it true you tried going into Area Zero?"

"Not just tried, I did it. That's why I have Iron Valiant." Rutega explained. "Why?"

"Well, I'm sure you figured this out by now, but both Koraidon and Miraidon came from Area Zero. And now, something's wrong with them to not make them go back in." Arven said.

"It was weird to me why Koraidon didn't follow me in… made it really tricky to get out." Rutega remembered.

"This may sound crazy, but what if the reason they can't go into battle mode…is because there are monsters like them in Area Zero?" Ace asked.

"I've been wondering about that myself actually." Rutega mused.

"Perhaps. I mean, the Ultra Wormholes in Alola and the Dynamax Adventures in Galar proved that it's possible." Tsumugi said.

"We won't know for sure unless we go to Area Zero ourselves." Hope said. "But… let's not worry about that right now. Here comes the moment of truth." he said as everyone looked to Arven as he was about to feed Mabostiff.

"Here you go." Arven said as he fed Mabosstiff. However, the poor dog simply lied there. "I see…don't…don't worry. You tried your best." Arven said as he walked away as his Pokéball rolled off the table as Mabosstiff looked at it. It slowly got up as it picked it up with its teeth.

"Ruff…" Mabosstiff barked as Arven looked over with a teary eyed look.

"Bud…" he said as he ran over and hugged the dog.

Natyal merely gave a soft smile upon seeing this.

"Mabostiff's made a full recovery! Our hard work paid off!" Bow celebrated.

"Everyone… thank you." Arven said. "Thank you…for all of this."

"Hmm…" David said as he held his head as his comm buzzed.

"Whoa…dude? You okay?" Luna asked.

"Someone's trying to…" David said.

"Greetings." a voice said on the comm. "Am I correct in assuming I'm talking with the one who took Miraidon?"

"Yeah, that's me. But… Who are you? And how are you reaching this frequency?" David asked.

"It wasn't hard to hack into your comm's frequency." they said.

"That voice….Dad?" Arven said.

"It's not just him." a voice said coming from Rutega's comm. "I am currently hacked into the comm of the one who took Koraidon."

"Eh!?" Rutega exclaimed.

"Mom too?" Arven said.

"Professors Sada and Turo. So now they finally show themselves." Adora said.

"Not really. Why are you contacting us?" Tails asked.

"Because we can feel it…both Koraidon and Miraidon have regained most of their power." Sada said.

"What do you want or mean by that…?" Rutega asked.

"You must bring them over to our lab in the lighthouse in the south. We can discuss more there." Turo said. "We'd greet you in person but our work in Area Zero is keeping us far too busy."

"This is incredibly suspicious. Like, I get the fact that there are people who can sense energy…" Rutega pondered. "But this is way too conveniently timed…"

"We've been tracking your progress for a long time." Sada said. "Ever since your arrival in Paldea. Also your little trespassing in Area Zero."

"So now you're going to tell me that you two have done this because you both slipped trackers on us or Koraidon and Miraidon while we weren't looking." Rutega asked.

"Their Pokéballs did originally belong to us. It isn't hard to track those." Turo said.

"Mmmhm." Rutega said, still incredulously suspicious about this entire thing. "And why can't we just meet you two in Area Zero? Why do we have to go to the lighthouse? And how can you even meet us there when you two are working in Area Zero? Remote communication? Face time?"

"Remote Communication, yes. There are…many circumstances that leave us unable to leave the area." Turo said.

"As for that…there are a few things we need to discuss." Sada said.

"I don't like this one bit…" Rutega grumbled.

"Hmm…they don't feel like they have malicious intent anyway. But that's just going off the tones of their voices." Jexi said.

"We deserve some answers. Like that Iron Valiant…what's up with that thing?" Bow asked.

"Ah…so that's why she was down there. There's no harm in sharing that. Iron Valiant…is a Pokémon from the Future." Turo said.

"I'm guessing Iron Treads is from the future too then." Ace said.

"Yeah. And its counterpart is from the distant past." Sada said.

"But that's not possible…unless…the project you two were working on was…" Tails said.

"A time machine." both professors said.

"It would explain why those entries never appeared in the Rotomphone. There wouldn't be any documentation of ancient or future Pokémon." Twilight said.

"Hmm…" Rutega had her arms folded and eyes closed, taking this all in as she still did not trust any of what she was hearing.

"Alright. We'll go to your lab in the Southern Province and hear what you guys wanna discuss with us." Hope said.

"Wh-!? But-!" Rutega tried to retort.

"I know how you feel. But those two are probably the only ones who know more about Koraidon and Miraidon than we do." David said.

"...Fine. But if things go South, don't think I won't use Zana to turn the tides." Rutega sighed.

"We will discuss further details soon." Sada said as both she and Turo signed off on the separate comms.

"Honestly…just what were my parents thinking?" Arven groaned.

"Gah… My head." David said.

"Still, wouldn't it be best to wait for the others first?" Ace asked.

"That's probably a good idea. We have no idea what's waiting for us down there." Jexi said. "Though before we call for an expedition, we should at least visit the lab."

"You good with that idea, Himiko?" Shuichi asked.

"I'm more than ready." Himiko said.

"Still…Pokémon from the past and future…it would be hard to believe if we didn't see the proof in the desert." Twilight said.

"Who knows what other Pokémon have versions like that, other than Donphan." Adora said.

"A Paradox in a way." Rime said.

"In that case…we'll call them Paradox Pokémon for the time being." Twilight said.

"Well…we should be going out then." Arven said. "Don't think I'm sitting this out. I have a lot of questions they need to answer as well."