The fact that Duchess needed to slow a little bit to recover from the prior breakneck sprint served the duo well, in avoiding falling off the slope. This obstacle is a bit of a treacherous one compared to prior loops - but Ettie is just glad she wasn't getting her leg pinched again. That hadn't been pleasant!

The twisting track ahead seemed like another good opportunity for Duchess to catch her breath too, being mild compared to what was just beyond. "Steady," Ettie gently instructed Duchess - her gloved fingers briefly running through the wolf's fur.

(Really though, she wasn't used to gloves. If it weren't for the concern of electricity, she would've tossed em off ages ago...!)

Duchess would make an affirmative bark in response, still somewhat on cloud nine from the adrenaline offered by the sprint. She knew they couldn't stay too leisurely for long, however - there was still more to come..!

Having gone around the course twice already, Josh was more than familiar with the uphill curve's angle. If this were a time trial, he would be having his Manectric floor it up that hill in a QUICK ATTACK that had a good chance to restrict circulation to his right leg. Even Saber seemed like he wanted to go all out. Josh, though, knew better. "Saber, what matters isn't how much you win by," he gently chided the electric wolf, who nodded in understanding. "Stay steady!"

As the curve came, the Gym Leader gradually raised the tension of the right=side reins, gently coaxing Saber into a tighter and tighter turn. He could tell the Manectric was starting to tire, and a high-speed, MAGNET RISE-powered drift up the ramp might have not left his partner with enough stamina for the big push before the finish line. As fast as Lyndon and Crash were charging, he needed to avoid a disaster that would end his race.

After all, sometimes slow and steady wins the race!

The "steady" command that Ettie gave Duchess was the name of the game for all five teams of trainer and Pokémon. All of them except the overzealous Shawn and Blinky, the Jolteon insistent on showing off her powerful, speed-fueled drift. Sparks flying all around her as she slid up the gentle, rightward-facing slope with MAGNET RISE, the electric fox took the turn a little too tight, tripping on the inside of the curve. Her strong momentum carried her and Shawn all the way to the outside of the wide turn, Duchess briefly passing her.

The challenger's Manectric held fourth place through the dangerous S-curve, where the Jolteon passed Ettie's Pokémon again by taking advantage of her raw speed. While they were running out of real estate to catch up to Josh's Pokémon, the most difficult turn on the course was still ahead of them, and it required a deep well of stamina to remain in the inside lane the entire time. It was stamina that Luxray and Jolteon were not known for having.

Prompt: After the Pokémon in the race had a chance to take a breather, the course's titular Obstacle lurked beyond once more. With the racers now up to full speed, it would make the turn feel tighter than it did before! The top and bottom lanes were split by a steep slope that was easy to slide down if a Pokémon was unable to hold the full-circle turn. Carrying the drifting momentum of a QUICK ATTACK through such a curve was possible for highly skilled Pokémon, but was risky! One miscalculation, or even the rider's muscles cramping from the exertion needed to hold a physical command for that long, could send teams into the rail on the lower, outside lane!

Target Number: 130 (Endurance)

Special: TP loss as a result of a Pokémon rolling beneath this Obstacle's Target Number is multiplied by 1.5, rounded up.

Duchess would give a playful bark in Blinky's direction as they kept passing by each other - the manectric's tail wagging. She almost wanted to invite some play, but you weren't supposed to nip others in a race, apparently; even thought it's basically like one big game of chase. Ah well - at least the running was great!

Ettie giggled at Duchess' friendly reception to the fellow racer though - briefly scritching along her shoulder. "How feel?" She'd ask - to which Duchess gave a positive bark in response. With the given opportunity to recuperate, they were both feeling good about the obstacle ahead - a familiar twisting slope.

The end of the race was in sight - they just had to keep at it a little longer..!

o|PWrQz1

Speed: A (4) // Endurance: C (2) // Reaction: C (2)
Josh Devlin

As Josh and Saber approached the long, uphill turn for the final time this race, he glanced back to see where the competition was. He was still way out in front. As amazing as it would be to smash the course record, this wasn't the time. "Winning by ten seconds or a tenth of a second doesn't matter," he mumbled to himself. He cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Saber, you're doing great. Get ready to stomp on it once you're out of the curve!"

Once the long, full-circle turn came, Josh swung his weight to his left and reined Saber back subtly. The electric wolf relaxed, letting the friction of his paws touching the ground slow him enough to, in his rider's judgment, avoid falling to the lower part of the course. If he could just avoid a fall, this race was his to win!

Josh's more conservative approach was working, if the goal was purely to win the race. Lyndon, too, had Crash put on the brakes to make sure he and the Boltund stayed on the inside, top road. Leaping back to the top road was possible, but it carried a great deal of risk; a leap off the course and out of bounds was a real danger. Several seconds behind them, Blinky and Shawn had slid down to the course's lower level from trying to make up ground on the Luxray in front of them, allowing Ettie and Duchess to easily pass them.

When it looked like the challenger was about to pass the Shiny feline, Duncan abd Blitz sounded simultaneous war cries as the Gym trainer spurred Blitz to dangerous speeds. The stress that the g-forces put on the young man's body pushed the muscles in his limbs to their limits. Though he surged toward toward the Boltund far ahead of him in a flash of electricity, it looked like he might fall off if he kept going!

As the finish line loomed ahead, the race looked mostly locked up: Josh was in a commanding lead, with Lyndon and Duncan in an intense battle for second, and Shawn and Ettie in a similar battle for fourth.

Prompt: The home stretch was all that remained, an official standing near the starting arch and waving the checkered flag. There was little risk of an accident on this straight sprint to the finish! Now was the best opportunity for the five electric Pokémon to give it everything they had!

Target Number: 0 (Speed)

Special: None

The final stretch was up ahead - no frills, no bells and whistles, no tricky obstacles to worry about. It was just a straight stretch of running, and Duchess was eager to let her legs carry her onwards to the very end!

Ettie leaned low to nuzzle against the back of the manectric's neck - even as the electricity from the wolf's fur conducted on the sweat of the wildchild's brow, causing a jolt that hurt a little and making her hair noticably puff, she was simply enjoying the chance she got to take a breather in all of this. "Is-there," She whispered encouragingly, a hand brushing over the side of Duchess' neck.

This was the final stretch, before the race was over.

xL|g7BAE

Speed: A (4) // Endurance: C (2) // Reaction: C (2)
Josh Devlin

Josh took a peek back after hearing Shawn's war cry. He knew from Meteno that the shiny Luxray was capable of putting on some unreal burst speed. After all, the two had gone for their first hypersonic rides that day. With a Pokémon capable of putting on that kind of speed, no lead was safe, despite there being very little distance between the Manectric and the finish line. Knowing that, there would be no coasting to the finish line for the Gym Leader.

"Saber, use QUICK ATTACK!" Josh commanded, slamming his heels into the electric-type's sides. With a bark from the yellow Pokémon, electricity arced among his four blurred legs. He expected the competition would do much the same during the race's final seconds.

All of Josh's Gym trainers mimicked Josh move, their Pokémon letting out yelps from their riders spurring them into bursts of AGILITY and QUICK ATTACK. The sound of a stampede rumbled in front of the stands, excited fans with their eyes not on the Gym Leader, but on the battle between Ettie and Shawn. While some were impressed with the surreal, almost legendary speed Blitz displayed, making a run on Josh and his Manectric but falling short, the spotlight was on the final two finishers giving their all to avoid crossing the finish line last.

By the time the five racers had all crossed, the final finishing order was still undetermined. Josh guided Saber toward Ettie and gave her a pat on the shoulder if she allowed it. "I can't wait to watch this replay back. To be able to keep pace with one of my very fastest Pokémon, my Jolteon, is no small feat. To do that takes not only skills as a trainer, but athleticism, too. It's hard to imagine for less experienced trainers, but riding on a Pokémon can be more strenuous than walking or even running on foot." As the frame-by-frame was displayed on the screen, it showed Shawn just barely edging Duchess out at the line.

"To keep up with those two, you have more than demonstrated your prowess, Ettie. I never said you had to win the race to win the challenge!" With that, he reached into his pocket, drawing into a closed, right fist one of his Gym's Badges. "The whole time, you never gave up, even when you seemed hopelessly behind. Despite that, you nearly outran one of my fastest Pokémon. That alone deserves to be recognized. The bond you and your Manectric have will see you far in the Pokémon League."

The Mauville Leader opened his closed fist in front of the wild child, revealing his Gym Badge for the taking "This is the official Hoenn League Quick Badge. You and your Manectric shall be enshrined in the Gym's list of Qualified Riders as champions." He paused to let his friend claim her Badge and let the title sink in. As he reached for Saber's reins to guide Ettie to the door, he felt a tang of pain in his left arm. "Ugh, I might need to check in with medical after that one. That was rough."

As the two crossed the finish line, Duchess would come to a gradual stop - the Manectric allowing herself to drift, to loop around the other racers that had come to a stop. The wolf panted heavily, but her tongue lolled and her tail wagged with happiness. That had been fun! Lots and lots of fun, in fact!

And Ettie, even whilst she was catching her own breath, couldn't help but laugh in delight from the adrenaline that still coursed through her veins. If it weren't for the fact that Duchess clearly needed some rest, she would've felt as though she could go again, and again! (But, the wildchild was somewhat cognizant that she'd likely want some rest, once said adrenaline wore off.)

As Josh came in for the shoulder pat, Ettie would giggle - and leaning in, would go for giving him a big hug in return! "Is-fun!" She chirped brightly, grinning up to him. When Duchess barked in agreement, Ettie couldn't help a laugh as she added "Duchess want more-race, later!" Even if the two had ultimately come in 5th, this race had been a thrill like none other - it, in a somewhat funny way, scratched at and satisfied those prey drive/thrill of the hunt instincts that had been instilled in Ettie's mind by her upbringing.

The two would be more than happy to have another go at these races, sometime - maybe even let some of Ettie's other pokemon try their hands (or more accurately, paws) at a race!

But, for the efforts that Ettie and Duchess put in, they'd be rewarded. Josh extended the Quick Badge to Ettie - and the wildchild's eyes lit up, reaching out and accepting it without any hesitation. "Thank you!" She spoke, grinning brightly and wiggling happily. She wasn't wholly sure where she wanted to put it - but! It was a badge! A shiny!

But much like how Josh's arm was hurt, Ettie couldn't help but wince as she got down from Duchess' back - her leg still aching from being pinched earlier. Thankfully, the pack had arrived - a number of canids coming down to greet everyone, happy barks and tails wagging alike! Ettie laughed as Anne gave her a lick across the head - and Princess would pat the wildchild and Duchess both on the shoulders in clear praise.

Anat, though, was quick to catch on that the two were hurting a little - and thus, she'd reach out with a Heal Pulse for Ettie's leg and Josh's arm, helping ease discomfort.

With that, Ettie could further relax - smiling softly to Josh once more. Reaching up, she'd take his hand - following him out the door, with the pack at their heels.