»Alright, Diana, this is your room,« Friede said to the black-haired trainer as the Rising Volt Tacklers returned to the Brave Olivienne. Most of the members headed directly to their positions on the airship to do their work on board; Diana on the other hand got a guide through her new home by Friede while Captain Pikachu was sitting at the wheel.

»During the tour, Dot installed our internal RVT app on your Smart Rotom,« Friede continued. Diana took out her Smart Rotom to see a new icon on the screen which showed the logo of the Rising Volt Tacklers.

»That way, you can always stay in contact with every crewmember,« Friede explained. »But for now, you should take a rest; you must be tired after your battle with Jack. Later, when we meet up for diner, you can tell us more about yourself and your Greninja.«

Diana gave a short nod as Friede left her room, allowing her to take off her cape and jacket and having a seat on her quite comfortable bed.

One positive part about Diana being deaf was that she couldn't be affected by loud noises like other people with Autism had. Since she was unable to recognize any sound at all, it couldn't cause stress, headache or any other issue she would normally go through.

As she lied down on the bed, Pikachu and Lycanroc next to her, she was finally able to process everything she witnessed today: Just by bumping into a white-haired woman and her Corviknight, she found a whole crew of allies who invited her to join their team and offered to help her finding out about her Greninja's strange power.

Lost in thoughts, Diana patted Pikachu and Lycanroc. The two Pokémon enjoyed her gentle touch, making her heartbeat finally calm down.

Before she had realized it, Diana closed her eyes, falling into a deep slumber.

It only felt like a few seconds when Lycanroc and Pikachu woke her up by smashing their paws on her face.

Diana snapped out of her sleep and looked around. Pikachu and Lycanroc seemed rather nervous for some reason.

Then Diana's gaze fell on Roy, the young man with the Skeledirge who was, if she remembered correctly, Liko's best friend.

The boy looked like he was fleeing from something incredibly terrifying. His eyes were wide open, and he pressed his body against Diana's door.

Diana raised an eyebrow, looking at Roy with a gaze of confusion.

»Pssst!« Roy said, holding his index finger in front of his mouth. »I'm hiding from Liko! Please don't tell her I'm here!«

Before Diana could give an answer, Roy jumped into the closet in her room, closing the doors in front of him and, as it seemed, trying not to make any sound.

Diana looked at Pikachu and Lycanroc in confusion, then she shook her shoulders and took out a book from her backpack as she laid back into her bed again and started to read.

Only a few seconds later, Diana's door opened again: This time, it was Liko, the black-haired girl with blue highlights and the blue jacket who trained a Meowscarada. She looked kinda angry, and as her eyes fell on Diana, she suddenly realised why Roy had been in such a panic.

»Diana, have you seen Roy somewhere?« Liko asked, starting to search the room for her friend.

Diana, rather unsure if she should reveal Roy's position to Liko or not, just shook her shoulders while looking up from her book.

»Come out, Roy, I'm not mad at you; I just wanna talk to you,« Liko said while looking in every corner of Diana's room.

»He really is hiding from an angry Paldean lady,« Diana told her Pokémon in sign language. Pikachu and Lycanroc nodded, trying not to laugh.

A few minutes later, when Liko was searching behind Diana's bed, Roy suddenly jumped out of the closet and ran out of the room. »Roy, come back here right now!« Liko yelled, running after Roy as fast as she could while Diana stood up to close the door again.

»Those two seem rather special. And they show me once again one of the benefits of being deaf,« Diana told her Pokémon. Pikachu and Lycanroc laughed a bit, but they decided not to interfere in the two's argument. They were the new faces in the team, so they should not get into the other's arguments too much.

Diana looked out of her window to see the blue sky and the clouds they were flying through. It was a wonderful sunny day, no sign of rain or a storm, which promised to be a perfect opportunity to spend some time outside.

So Diana decided to head for the little battle area on the airship Friede had shown her before. He also told her that the battle area could turn into wings for an increase of speed and movability. Right now, the battle area was fully accessible, so Diana called out all of her Pokémon to let them get some fresh air.

Once they were outside, Swallow started to soar through the air, performing its special tricks and moves it loved so much while Arcanine and Ninetales made themselves comfortable to enjoy the warm sunlight. Pikachu and Lycanroc chased after each other all over the field, giving Diana the chance to sit down on the stairs and having a closer look at the world underneath them.

Since her Swallow wasn't big enough to carry Diana, she never really got the chance to watch the sky as free as she could do it now; the only other opportunities had been in regular air planes when she travelled to another region.

Diana tried to think. Should she trust the Rising Volt Tacklers so easily? Her Pokémon were concerned about it being the right choice, but as always, Diana didn't know if that would be the right way for her to go.

A sudden touch of her shoulder made Diana snap out of her thoughts, and as she turned around, she saw Jack standing behind her. »Oh sorry, forgot to stand in front of you,« Jack said with a slight laugh, holding one hand on the back of her head. »I'm not used to be with deaf persons to be honest.«

Diana nodded slightly as Jack took a seat next to her, looking at Diana' team. »Well, one thing is for sure: your Ash-Greninja was a surprise I didn't expect.«

»Yeah, all my opponents say that,« Diana answered via text message. »That's why I usually don't use Greninja in battle that often; too many people called me a thief or anything else just because only Ash Ketchum's Greninja was known to have the Battle Bond ability.«

Jack nodded. »It is special, that's for sure. You could be a great rival for me as well as for Liko, Roy and Dot, you know that?«

Diana shook her head. She never really thought about getting along with someone, let alone a whole group of adventurers she only met by bumping into one of their members. She was used to being alone with her Pokémon, finding out everything on their own.

And now these Rising Volt Tacklers were willing to travel around the world only to help her find the answers she was looking for. She still struggled to understand that.

»So, how about you tell me something about yourself?« Jack asked. »You didn't give us that much information, and I gotta say … I'm just super curious how your Greninja can have Battle Bond! Oh, but I would also love to know more about you as a person! Like, have you ever won a tournament or a League? And what are your plans for the future?«

Diana backed away when reading all those questions from Jack at once. She needed a moment to process everything she was just asked, then she texted Jack: »I have no idea how Greninja can have this ability. I can't really tell much about me: I am just a trainer who reads a lot of books and does a bit of martial arts. Now I travel around the world in order to find some answers about my Greninja.«

After reading her answer, Jack seemed rather underwhelmed. »I gotta say, I can't really believe that's all. You seem like a mysterious, yet cool person with more interesting aspects than you tell others. But I'm concerned that you'll warm up during our journey.«

Diana raised an eyebrow in disbelief. In the past, a lot of people were sure to make her become more open-minded to others and socialize more, but Diana had proven them all wrong.

Lost in thoughts again, Diana looked up in the sky, trying to recognize any figures in the clouds.

»Hey, doesn't this one look like a Salamence?« she asked herself in mind and looked closer at the strange cloud in the sky.

Jack, who seemed to have recognized Diana wasn't paying attention anymore, followed her gaze, then she startled. »Hey, there's a Salamence flying in the sky!«

Diana blinked several times, then realized that Jack was right: a real Salamence was flying around, and it seemed like it headed directly for the airship.

»I don't know what you think, but this looks like trouble,« Jack guessed. »Someone's flying on that Salamence too. Did you activate the barrier around the battle area before you entered?«

Diana blinked and looked at the white-haired woman in confusion. No one told her about a barrier.

As the Salamence landed in the middle of the battle field, the two trainers were finally able to have a closer look at the trainer on its back: It was a young man with short black hair and sunglasses covering his eyes. His clothes consisted of a simple black business suit and a golden belt around his waist, with six Poké Balls attached to it.

»Hey, you there. You had no permission to enter the Brave Olivienne,« Jack approached the stranger while Diana's Pokémon headed to their trainer, focusing on the man who didn't seem to care about Jack.

»Diana Blackwing, I am here to take you with me,« the stranger spoke up, looking at Diana who was still in confusion. »Our research organisation wants to find out how your Greninja can have the mysterious Battle Bond ability. We need to make sure you and your Greninja are no threat to anyone. So please follow me now. Our scientists are waiting for you.«

For a few seconds, Diana was only able to stand in front of the stranger, not knowing how to react to this. She had never witnessed someone telling her to follow him for scientific research.

»Now hang on a sec, lad,« Jack interrupted the stranger and stood between Diana and the man who was looking at Diana's team through his sunglasses. His gaze stopped as he saw Greninja who gave him a cold stare. »First of all, you have landed illegally at the airship of us Rising Volt Tacklers. And second, it is Diana's decision whether she goes with anyone or not. You have no right to force her to come with you. So get lost!«

The stranger looked at Jack without any fear - at least that's how Diana saw it. »You, as a mere person, are not in the position to talk to me like that. I know very well how dangerous those two can be. Also for the sake of you and your friends, literally everyone you hold dear, Diana Blackwing needs to come with me immediately.«

Jack and Diana startled for a moment and looked at each other. Then Jack said: »As if you'd know that, lad! As far as I got to know her, Diana is a friendly and calm person who'd never harm anyone. So just finally leave the Brave Olivenne and never show up here again!«

The stranger shook his head as if he was disappointed by the two. »Then you leave me no other choice …«

Suddenly, the man held out his right arm towards the trainers, revealing some strange devices attached to his hand. Then a red beam of light appeared out of his open hand, like when a Pokémon was called out of its Pokè Ball.

As the light faded, a metallic warrior-like Pokémon showed up on the battlefield, holding its sword-like arms towards the two women.

»That's … that's Iron Valiant, a Paradox Pokémon from the future!« Jack gasped as she recognized the enemy' Pokémon.

Diana's eyes were wide open when she read that from Jack's lips. She was so confused she wasn't sure if she read it right. A Pokémon from the future?

While they were still shocked, the stranger held out his arm again, and his Salamence returned the same way Pokémon did when being called back, yet again without a Poké Ball.

»Be careful, Diana. This guy is not just some ordinary trainer,« Jack warned her as she called out her Corviknight. Diana chose her Arcanine while calling back all her other Pokémon, especially Greninja. Jack on the other hand informed the crew about what happened and called them to the battle area.

»I was hoping this would be possible without any complications,« the stranger said and shook his head. »But in order to obtain you and your Greninja, I am allowed to do anything. So don't say that I didn't warn you afterwards.«

»Diana, you and Arcanine take on his Salamence, and Corviknight goes for that Paradox Pokémon,« Jack said to Diana. »This arrogant lad needs to be taught a lesson! Corviknight, Steel Wing!«

Before Diana could say anything against it, Jack's Corviknight dashed forward, attacking Iron Valiant who seemed to be prepared for the attack.

»You are a fool, Jack,« the stranger said without any fear of the attack. »I know every little thing about you and the other Rising Volt Tacklers. Iron Valiant, use Fire Punch!«

Suddenly, the stranger's Pokémon fought back with a fist filled with fire that caused high damage to Corviknight, its Steel Wing was interrupted.

Diana on the other hand tried to focus on the Salamence in front of her and Arcanine. Since it was a Dragon- and Flying-Type, Arcanine's rock moves would be a good option.

She gave her Pokémon the sign to use Head Smash, a powerful move that would cause extremely high damage to the Salamence.

»Counterattack with Dragon Claw,« the stranger ordered, and within a few moments, all four Pokémon clashed with each other several times in a row, neither of them giving an inch.

»I must admit, your way of ordering your Pokémon is confusing,« the stranger said with a monotone voice. »Unfortunately, there aren't much information about you or your Pokémon; well, no wonder since you were completely forgotten during history, unlike the Rising Volt Tacklers.«

Diana blinked in confusion. What was this man talking about? Could it be that he was …

»Hey, you're talking like you're from the future …« Jack seemed to realise too.

»Well, it took you long enough to find out,« the stranger said with a certain disappointed look on his face. »But come to think of it, the version of you that I once saw seemed like she couldn't realize anything. Well, whatever. Salamence, Draco Meteor, now!«

The stranger's Salamence jerked its head up, firing a powerful blast in the sky which separated into countless meteors aiming directly at the two Pokémon.

Diana reacted immediately. With a fierce throw of the Poké Ball, she called out her Ninetales to use its special ability Snow Warning to let it snow on the field. Then it used Aurora Veil which would cut damage from all enemy attacks in half for a while.

When the Draco Meteor fell down, Arcanine and Corviknight were able to take the hit without being damaged too much, and since Alolan Ninetales was a Fairy-Type, the Dragon-Attack was useless on it.

»You're really starting to get on my nerves,« the stranger from the future said and bared his teeth. »Well then, you two stubborn trainers asked for it. Then I'll have to take it a step further in order to beat you.«

Suddenly, the man pressed his fingers on the palm of his hand, making sounds like buttons when they were pressed. A few seconds later, a shining light appeared out of his glove, letting the Salamence do a Mega-Evolution which gave him wings in form of a crescent moon and turned its body to be more aerodynamic.

»It performed a Mega-Evolution without a Mega Stone?!« Jack shouted as she protected herself from the energy the enemy's Pokémon was radiating.

»Only one possibility where I come from,« the man said unmoved. »Before I'm gonna take Diana and her Greninja, you should know that my name is Marcus from the Infernal Protectors. We protect our present by traveling to the past. And in order to do so, we need the Ash-Greninja from you. I'll give you one last chance now: hand over yourself and Greninja or have it ripped from you.«

Diana, who was usually a calm and quiet personality, was starting to get mad at this guy. He just appeared out of nowhere, claiming that he was from the future and telling her and Greninja to follow him. She didn't know what his real intention was, but she already had enough of Marcus.

Diana gave her Arcanine the sign to use Raging Fury, one of his strongest attacks. It spit out incredibly hot flames to both Iron Valiant and Salamence who were stunned for a moment by the ferocious heat.

»Hey, you! Stop right there!« Liko's voice suddenly sounded through the area, and as Marcus and Jack looked around to spot them, both Liko and Roy were flying down on the back of the shiny Rayquaza who had been the partner Pokémon of the legendary adventurer Lucius, also known as Liko's great-great-grandfather. Now it had become Roy's companion Pokémon in the role of both a strong fighter and a fast aviator.

The black Rayquaza roared over the battlefield, making Diana spot it now too, who wasn't able to hear Liko's voice at first. As they got closer, Diana saw that Roy had a big red stain on his forehead which must mean that Liko caught him in the end.

»Don't you dear attacking either of them again!« Liko shouted and jumped off of Rayquaza's back onto the battlefield, taking out one of her Poké Balls. »Come on, Meowscarada! Use Flower Trick on that Iron Valiant!«

As the girl threw her Poké Ball, a Meowscarada, a Grass- and Dark-Type Pokémon, appeared and attacked Marcus' future Pokémon with a bag full of flowers that caused a huge explosion that never missed; plus, it was always a critical hit.

Marcus seemed to be rather annoyed then feared by the two's appearances. »I gotta say, it has been a fun time with you, but even for a traveler, time is not infinite. Let's bring this to an end.«

Diana and Jack blinked, and in this one little moment, Marcus disappeared, as well as Iron Valiant and Salamence. »Wait, where did he go?« Liko asked as she ran to the place he had been standing.

Diana on the other hand suddenly felt someone touching her belt, and as she turned around, she saw Marcus who had grabbed Greninja's Poké Ball, smiling. »It could have been so easy, yet you thought you had to fight a fight you could never win. Farewell.«

Before either of them could react, Marcus jumped on his Salamence, calling back Iron Valiant, then soaring into the air.

»Oh no, you don't! Rayquaza, Dragon Pulse!« Roy ordered as the dark Pokémon shot a beam of draconic energy towards Marcus. But the mega-evolved Pokémon dodged the attack easily.

»Come on, Corviknight, fly after them!« Jack shouted.

Diana, who had been completely stunned when Greninja was stolen from her, suddenly bared her teeth and growled.

Then, without thinking twice, she ran across the battlefield and jumped from the airship, landing right on Marcus' back and got him in a headlock.

»Let go, you damn foul!« Marcus snarled, trying to break free from Diana's grip while she tried to grab Greninja's Poké Ball. »You have no idea what you're doing! You're destroying our present!«

Diana only gave out another growl as she reached closer to Marcus' other arm to get Greninja back.

»If you want a Pokémon so bad, then take this!« Marcus suddenly said, reaching in the bag of his jacket with the free arm and quickly placing a Poké Ball in Diana's hand.

Diana was taken by surprise that much that she loose her grip around Marcus, giving him the chance to push her off of Salamence's back.

»Say goodbye to your Greninja, Diana Blackwing! It will write history as the savior of me and my people!«

Diana's eyes were wide open as she saw Marcus flying away, with Greninja still in its ball.

»GRENINJA!« Diana shouted with all her might as she started to fall, only seeing the blue sea underneath her.

Then, Diana suddenly stopped falling as she found herself back in the claws of the black Rayquaza.

Diana's heart was pounding like crazy when she looked at the legendary Dragon- and Flying-Type Pokémon and Roy who was still sitting on its back with a gaze of disappointment in himself.

»Diana, did you just … talk?« Roy asked.

Diana sighed. The time had come earlier than expected.

It was time for some explanations.