Raikiri was tolerant of most weather, but he did not like heavy rain one bit. Unlike many electric Pokémon, Josh's Zeraora did not like the feeling of electrolysis within his fur. He withdrew the thundercat and sent out a Pokémon he just had fitted a few days ago: Steel Needle, a saddle-wearing Gliscor. It was a good thing the engineers at Verdanturf had great imaginations, because her saddle had to be quite unusual to accommodate the winged scorpion's body shape!

As Josh soared into the canopy astride the poison-type, he caught sight of a large squadron of Pipipek-line Pokémon, including a shiny Toucannon that he immediately recognized, given it was one of the owner's signature Pokémon. This had to have been the Fortree Gym Leader's Secret Base. Surrounded by Alolan birds, Steel Needle readied a THUNDER FANG to try to repel the horde. Though some of the smaller Pokémon were scared away, the shiny Toucannon made a move on not Josh, but his backpack. His entire supply of Pokémon treats dropped through holes the shiny Pokémon's BULLET SEEDs created. He would need to get his bag repaired when he returned to Verdanturf!

With the avians distracted, Josh entered the treetop residence, seeing an impressive array of aviation pennants, whether they be for Pokémon or for aircraft. Yep, this was Alexei Ivanov 's base, indeed. Sighting the icebox full of ice cream sandwiches, Josh unwrapped one and enjoyed it while perusing the rest of the base. He was not fooled by any of the fake flags; would the Unovan Djinn be on any but the real flag? He snatched it up before circling to the back of the base and gliding to the surface aboard his Gliscor.