Josh had only just returned to Hoenn three weeks ago, and he had already seen more action on the front lines than he had seen in years of living in Johto. Hoenn had become a true warzone. After a tumultuous first day on the job, he needed to unwind. Leisurely riding Twilight around town, he came to the entrance to Round One Arcade's branch near Slateport's south coast.
Just as Josh was about to slide off his Absol's back, he frowned and changed his mind. His eyes instead shifted to a large gathering on the beach, with a large pile of wood in the center of where all the people were at. A bonfire, perhaps? As active as he liked to be, maybe Josh needed to just spend time with other people and watch his troubles burn away in the sunset.
"Let's check that out, instead, Twilight," he said to his close partner.
He kept the dark-type to no more than a trot, wandering the sands and finding a table with a notepad and pens. There were instructions to write something painful from one's past on a small piece of paper to be burned away in the bonfire once the run had reached the horizon. The Absol's horn-blade grew softer as it was clear that the gathering had a solemn mood.
Then, Josh thought he saw a familiar face.
"Is that..." he muttered before raising his voice and facing
ana fell .
"Swan? Is that you?" he asked, sliding off his Absol's back.
"It's been a while! Are these all your friends? I'd love to get to know them!" He took a seat around where the others were, Twilight sitting close to her trainer and poking her head into the circle. "Josh, a Pokémon racer looking to turn pro," he introduced himself, listening intently if anyone else in the circle dropped their names. "Nomi, Xiura, Isaac, and I missed the rest of them, I'm sorry! But it's great to meet you all!"
"Oh, you're into video games too, Nomi?" Josh related.
"I was going to go to the arcade this afternoon, but I found myself here instead. I could spend all day playing rhythm games there!" Though he did zone out at the talk of beer, he did toast with the others, using the sports drink he was planning on having while at the arcade.
"I haven't had S'mores in a while!" Josh replied at the notion of having dinner out here. His smile turned toward Isaac.
"Count me in on that, too! All I have is some leftover trail mix from work, but if we're having a potluck, that's what I got! Should have been more prepared!"Josh reflected on how different his first day of work with the Rangers was compared to all the training he did for the Gym Challenge. It was a lot more fulfilling, yes, but it was also a lot harder work. He took out his Johto Gym Badge case containing five Badges, pulled out a small notepad stored underneath the raised tray that held them. It was filled with notes on all his battles with Gym Leaders, particularly on ones he had repeatedly lost to. He also reflected on the words racing through his subconscious, dreaming mind last night. If the others listened closely, they could hear him repeating these words aloud:
Your courage is admirable, but you sorely lack the foresight to use it. Your confidence is admirable, but you sorely lack the judgment to use it. Your ambition is admirable, but you sorely lack the insight to use it.
Those words flew through Josh's mind on loop as he flipped through his old notes on what he did well in his Gym Challenge and what he could do to improve. He closed the lid on his Badge case, with the notepad still in his hand.
"Today...today I chose a new path," Josh said with a solemn look on his face.
"To do that, I had to give up one dream to pursue another. A dream that did not work out. But now I have a new dream. One I am sure will come true. I want to pursue this new dream as a new and better person." He undid the belt containing his five other Pokémon, doing his best to hold their Balls up to eye-level.
"Today...I'm retiring from the Gym Challenge. I have no need for these anymore." He tossed the notepad into the fire in front of him, then redid his belt. Many of his Pokémon, even the normally emotionless Absol, became beady-eyed as they saw it burn.
{WC: 772}
{PC: 1}
Isaac Merlo Zev Harcourt Aurelie Lefevre Xiura Balfaltin jack wainwright Naomi Sato NAME SPECIES STATUS
Resheph Dragonair Good
Twilight Absol Good
Aslan Pyroar Good
Saber Manectric Good
Bladestorm Skarmory Good
Snacker Sharpedo GoodTIER 1
Share your hopes for Hoenn's future (0/1)
Meet three new people: (3/3)Think about your own personal future two times: (1/2)
TIER 2
Admit something to a friend: (0/1)
Feed a paper to the fire (1/1)
Talk about your future, romantic or platonic, with 5 different characters: (5/5)
Toni is only mildly disappointed that Jupiter doesn’t seem to know what may be going on. Another quick look around gives her a few more clues. Pondering the future, praying for hope. It’s all a futile effort but Toni can see how people may find solace in it. Growing up, it was instilled in her, rooted deep in her philosophies, that you made your own future. You take what you want, everything can be bought for a price so have plenty of money and you’ll be happy.
