The racing season was over. Josh wasn't sure whether or not to be satisfied with his performance at the Silph Cup's championship event. Without having to prepare for big races, the overcast evening would be a great opportunity for him to catch up on Ranger and Gym paperwork. After all, his first performance self-report had to be at the Commissioner's office by the end of October, and he had just barely started! Why did the League need a report this detailed, anyway? Did they really need to study absolutely every facet of his he was running his Gym? His overall metrics were well within standards... well, except for one glaring metric that was well out of range.

His Traditional Battle Badge Award Rate had climbed to an egregious 80%. There was no way that was going to fly. Sighing, the Gym Leader logged into his Racing Grounds' computer network via VPN, ready to get to work. Just as he was about to start, his apartment's front door shattered, the explosion immediately getting his attention. "...Nana?!" Something horrible must have happened to Matt for the Arcanine to not only disturb him in the middle of the night. He ran to the back room to grab his A-squad; he grabbed the six Pokémon he would bring with him to any life-threatening situation.

When he returned, Oto was there, as well. These were two of Matt's most powerful Pokémon. Without the ability to lock the door, Josh had to improvise. He also had retrieved Blinky's and Inky's Poké Balls, sending the two out. "I need you to keep watch over the apartment until I'm back to get the door fixed." The two nodded. "Let me on your back, Nana. You lead the way." Provided the Arcanine agreed to it, Josh would mount up once the fire-type was outside and there was plenty of room for her. He held her reins for support, but let Matt's Pokémon be his guide.

Oto cawed and moved out of the way, taking back to the sky as Nana was left with Josh. Nana was snarling- she almost looked feral. When Josh got close, he could see how she tensed. Something was terribly wrong. Once Josh had gotten to her back, the canine gave him one warning look-

Then she took off like a Zubat out of Hell.

Nana navigated through the city, dodging what late night people were there. In the sky, Oto followed as he flew over the building surrounding the city and back to where Matt and Isaac had been, in case he needed to go back and redirect Nana.

However Nana was running so hard it was like she was almost using Extreme Speed. Pushing herself so hard over her limit to get back to her trainer, busting through the city exit and back along the outskirts of the wall back to the correct location.

Josh Devlin Isaac Merlo

Nana's bounding was as powerful as a Pyroar's in a full sprint, and was even rather painful. It would have been painful even if Josh was at full strength. Her dangerous swerves meant something was truly urgent, if the Arcanine breaking down his apartment door wasn't already a five alarm fire indicator of the situation.

Josh let out a wail at the first particularly sharp swerve completely uncharacteristic of the species. He felt like he was being swung around on a whip from the rapid and sudden back and forth turns. These were turns that could easily have caused fractures under the Pokémon's massive bulk, but Nana didn't seem affected at all. It was as though she was under pure adrenaline.

By the time Nana stopped, the Leader's back was throbbing, and he felt and looked like he was going to hurl. Looking almost like someone under the influence of alcohol, he swayed back and forth in Nana's saddle before falling into her cream-colored fur and passing out, his tight-fitting shirt being pulled upward and exposing parts of the wounds Luck & Pluck had inflicted. He had just been able to remove the bandages earlier that day, so they still looked like they hurt. At least they looked healed enough that there was no risk of infection.

Nana may have been going off pure rage- but she felt the difference in the weight of her back. Coming herself to a halt, she turned her head back and gently nudged at Josh. Whining and frantically nudging- no she needed him awake. He had to help her trainer. Quickly she trotted the distance close, barking towards Kazzy to gain the canines attention.

Though a squint was offered to the now demasked Isaac- sniffing- oh it was just Blackjack. Very well, she settled, going to walk to the side and lower herself down, motioning to Josh on her back.

Matt however was blacking in and out, feeling Kazzy constantly nosing his side, whimpering, trying to make sure he stayed with them. Kazzy snapped his head to snarl at Isaac's reproach- blinking as he spoke to him. Seeing the mask removed.. he perked up. A slow nod given, looking back down at his hurt trainer.

Whimpering as he shifted to hold Matt in his arms, to try and ease the strain on his side. Holding him up with the pitiful and sad look in his eyes. What could he do? There was nothing to do! He felt so useless.

As Nana came back, he barked and whined at her. Seeing Josh passed out and frowning, that wasn't good! This wasn't why he sent her out! Whining and snarling at her, the two snapping back and forth with a series of barks before they settled, their eyes all on Isaac now. They needed help.

Isaac Merlo Josh Devlin

Echo's LIFE DEW did the trick. The first sign of Josh stirring was a moan coming from his voice, finding himself face-first on the pavement, and not in the cream fur of Nana's neck. Though he had smashed his schnoz on impact, the Ralts' act of kindness made it as though he felt no pain there. Most of the rest of the pain around his Shadow Sneak wounds had been whisked away, as well. Now, he was mostly just tired. Sleep deprived. And confused.

"Where...am I?" he moaned, hearing Isaac's voice but unable to see from how much his head was still pounding. He tried to tilt his head to see who it was that addressed him, but could not move it enough. "...Isaac? Is...?" The weak verbal reply was all the confirmation Isaac needed, though; while he wasn't meaningfully conscious, he would at least be conscious enough to be teleported.

It did not take long for Grace Hospital's medical staff to arrive at the front door and find the injured duo and their Pokémon. Thankfully the hospital also had a Pokémon Center on site, so the Pokémon could easily be taken care of. While it was well past visiting hours, the night shift wasn't going to simply ignore the two in need. The teleport wore Josh out, but he was starting to gain meaningful consciousness again. He moaned, sprawled on the pavement outside Grace Hospital's familiar main entrance; he had just been discharged from the place not too long ago.

No more than a couple of minutes later, the receptionist from the main desk had run outside with a cell phone in her hand. "Are all of you okay?" she asked, Rosalie her name if any of them read her name tag.

"It's not me..." Josh moaned. "It's...Matt..." he weakly pointed to his friend who looked seriously hurt. "Help him... first..."

Matt had no idea what was going on. He had long lost his consciousness before the teleportation. Rushed to a hospital to be tended to by nurses, along with Josh. Not that even knew Josh was there, just the stinging pain that had been in his side.

The next thing Matt knew, he was waking up with a light in his eyes. Blinking as his hearing came slowly, hearing beeping of machinery, the weight of something against his leg- the gust of a heavy breath at his face?

Looking down, he spotted Kazzy laying against his leg- wait, was that Kazzy? That was a Lycanroc... did.. .Kazzy evolve? Turning his head, he saw Nana with her head resting against the bed near his head, dozing. Matt smiled, patting her head gently, then reaching down to pet Kazzy- shrieking at the pain that erupted in his side.

That made both pokemon jump to life, snarling and snapping- before they realized it was Matt. Both of them barking loudly and going to start licking his face. He was okay!

Isaac Merlo Josh Devlin

Josh had been taken to a room for examination, and his injuries weren't too bad at all. It was mostly stress from his existing injuries that caused him to collapse. That and barreling through Mauville's streets at over triple the posted speed limit. He wasn't really injured like Matt was; it was mostly exhaustion. After all, his body needed rest. While the PSYCHO CUT wound from his journey in the Cloud was still there, it had almost completely healed, and would be nothing but a scar in weeks. He would be at full capacity again by the end of the month, if all his home treatments were successful.

Matt, on the other hand, was in bad shape. Josh's walking was still a little unsteady, but he was able to make it to Matt's room. Thankfully, they were on the same floor, just on opposite sides of the wing. "I never found out what happened, Isaac," Josh asked his friend, noticing him waiting outside the room. "What happened to him? Also before I forget, thank you for last night. I should be released later today; they mostly want to just observe me for a day. I'm glad my insurance covers it all; I swear, observation days are a scam for people who don't have full-ride health insurance."

At the knock, Kazzy opened the door. Peering dangerously at who it was- but perked up when he saw it was Isaac and Josh. Barking, he opened the door and allowing them inside. Pointing towards Matt on the bed with Nana at his side.

Matt looked up at them, giving a faint smile towards them both. "Hey, guys." He said, before his face went a blank. Oh lord.

"....okay which one of you texted Nico and how long do I have to prepare before he gets here to kick my ass all the way to Kanto."

Really, Matt?

Isaac Merlo Josh Devlin