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"With great speed comes great responsibility."

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POSTED ON May 1, 2023 20:13:38 GMT

After two months, Josh's restitution had really started to weigh on him. While all of it was agonizing, the most punishing aspect was not even monetary. It was being separated from his Gym for so long. He felt empty. It wasn't just the battles and races that he missed when he read through reports of Interim Gym Leader JACKIE MYERS' work. SHAWN RICHARDS had done a fantastic job of picking up the mantle for the first month and a half of Josh's forced absence. After his death, though, the numbers began to trickle in the wrong direction. Mauville Gym was giving out too many Badges again, and even the notoriously difficult racing challenge was getting easier for challengers to pass. Josh had worked so hard to get his Gym in line with where the League wanted it to be, and a single grave mistake had rippling consequences.

The poor man just wanted his life back.

To get the experience of the wind in his face, or the adrenaline rush of a breakneck-pace ride once more, Josh had returned to his old romping grounds: the long, relatively flat trail that was Route 111. It was where he got on the map as a Minor League Gym Leader. All his equine Pokémon were lined up, ready to race across the land with a guest rider. Raiden the Zebstrika in particular looked ready to bolt ahead. Flanking the electric-type were a pair of Rapidash: Dashie the Galarian, and Ixion the Shiny Kantonian. The Gym Leader could have sworn he had made correspondence with a friend of his...

{WC: 267}
{PC: 1}

NAME SPECIES STATUS
Raiden Zebstrika Good
Dashie G!Rapidash Good
Ixion K!Rapidash** Good

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LunarMona

Elly, El

she/her

December 24

Hammerlocke, Galar

Bisexual

Galarian Ambassador

Medium

5'7" / 170 cm height

i long to stay where the light dwells to guard against the cold that i know so well

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TAG WITH @elise

POSTED ON May 1, 2023 22:23:29 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","elisetest3"]

[attr="class","body"]

It would be two months after the attack on the Mauville gym that she still remembered how Shawn, Nathan, and the other two new hires from Shawn’s class were gone from this world. The gym had a new interim gym leader since the death of Shawn left a shoe for Jackie Myers to fill, so the royal was transferred to Jackie’s class. Since class was over and there were some lessons to go over with her Absol later, Elise decides to take the path over to the long relatively flat trail known as Route 111 while riding on Celeste the Galarian Rapidash.[break][break]

Sitting on the saddle of her Galarian Rapidash, the Galarian princess held the reins of the pastel-colored horse as Celeste gallops towards the group of other equine Pokemon, one which was the same species as her, along with Josh being present near them. The female Galarian Rapidash stops to let her trainer talk to the Mauville gym leader as Elise greets him warmly. “Greetings, Josh. I hope you are doing alright after being away from the Mauville gym for so long.”

Josh Devlin [break][break]

NOTES

- None.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Celeste ♀ / Pastel Veil (Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Megahorn, Stomp, Agility, Psycho Cut)

Minerva ♀ / Telepathy (Flamethrower, Air Slash, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Tailwind, Dragon Pulse)

Sayori ♀ / Justified (Night Slash, Future Sight, Swords Dance, Slash, Psycho Cut, Quick Attack, Springtide Storm)

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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raikourider

Master of Faster

He/Him

December 12

Goldenrod, Johto

Straight

Mauville Gym Leader

Champion

6'1" height

"With great speed comes great responsibility."

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TAG WITH @joshdevlin

POSTED ON May 3, 2023 7:35:42 GMT

The presence of Elise Calcifet caused Josh to perk up a little, impressed with seeing the Galarian Rapidash the princess was atop. Was that new? He didn't remember her having one before. "Oh hey, Elise," Josh greeted her with a somewhat dejected tone. It was clear the young man wasn't himself. Even Dashie felt that as Josh got onto his own Galarian Rapidash. "You might know Raiden from the Gym, but these two are new. He's Dashie, and she's Ixion," Josh pointed to his mount, then the Kantonian Rapidash flickering with blue flames. He could feel the equine harness him on with PSYCHIC power. "Thanks, Dashie." He tilted his head back to Elise. "Dashie was actually a birthday present. I just hadn't brought him to the Gym before." Raiden reared, impatient as ever to get going.

"Not exactly. I wish I could share more details with you, but there are so many things I'm not at liberty to say. Being on my Gym staff, there are a few things I can share with you, but on most of it, I'm hamstrung by NDA," the Gym Leader-in-name lamented. "And on top of losing Shawn, Nathan, and those two kids... not to mention, I almost lost you! dorian westcliff almost killed you, too!"

Dashie snorted, also anxious to get going as Josh's rambling continued on. "And it's all because my... obsession... with Raikou. I let my obsession consume me." Obsession. It was such a difficult word for him to say. "Every indication I've heard so far points to him no longer being alive. It's so hard to move on after spending thirteen years of my life chasing him. But it has to be done."

Elise Calcifet

{WC: 280}
{PC: 2}

NAME SPECIES STATUS
Raiden Zebstrika Good
Dashie G!Rapidash Good
Ixion K!Rapidash** Good

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played by

LunarMona

Elly, El

she/her

December 24

Hammerlocke, Galar

Bisexual

Galarian Ambassador

Medium

5'7" / 170 cm height

i long to stay where the light dwells to guard against the cold that i know so well

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TAG WITH @elise

POSTED ON May 5, 2023 15:34:16 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","elisetest3"]

[attr="class","body"]

Being introduced to Josh’s other equine Pokemon than the Zebstrika she knew before from their last meeting in the jungle of Route 119, she nods to Josh saying his Galarian Rapidash was a birthday present who wasn’t brought to the gym before. “I know Raiden from before, but Dashie and Ixion are new to me. Both of your Rapidash look very magnificent when they’re together.” [break][break]

Josh said that he wasn’t at liberty to say why he was not at his gym and she did understand completely that it was a result of an NDA. Yet, he blamed himself for getting the two other new hires, Shawn, Nathan, and on top of that, almost losing her to the assailant. This was all tied to his obsession with the legendary Pokemon, Raikou, which the feline Pokemon wasn’t alive anymore. [break][break]

“This is also…a shock to me as well. I didn’t know Raikou wasn’t here in this world anymore, but I hope his soul will find good rest.” Her expression fell to a somber one, wondering if the other two were out there somewhere. “I’d blame myself for the people on your staff that were lost in that incident. If I had Sayori react in time to save them… If I did not get trapped in a hostage situation… None of it would have happened.”

Josh Devlin [break][break]

NOTES

- None.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Celeste ♀ / Pastel Veil (Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Megahorn, Stomp, Agility, Psycho Cut)

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster

He/Him

December 12

Goldenrod, Johto

Straight

Mauville Gym Leader

Champion

6'1" height

"With great speed comes great responsibility."

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TAG WITH @joshdevlin

POSTED ON May 8, 2023 2:42:14 GMT

"...Thanks," Josh tried to smile but couldn't bring himself to do it. "They mean a lot to me. I love every single one of my Pokémon, and wish I could give them the time they all deserved. But that's part of being a Gym Leader who, by craft, has to have such a large collection."

Josh went on to describe his unforgettable ride on the back of Kyle's Raikou-familiar, sharing some of the measurements with the Galarian. It was faster than many bird Pokémon renowned for their speed were capable of flying... and that was the electric tiger's sustained speed. "If you want to know what it was like, I should take you on Braver, my Arcanine, some time. His Extreme Speed is comparable to what Raikou is capable of without breaking a sweat."

His tone likewise turned somber as the two reflected on the accident. "It had nothing to do with you. He used you to draw me out. I lost sight of who I was that day. Why I was chasing Raikou. And I lost control of myself in my own desperation for answers. I'm sorry I can't tell you more. I really want to, and I know I could trust you to keep quiet about it. I just can't." The tone of his voice was one of pain. Pain he wanted to release and get off his shoulders. "But enough of that. Did Celeste harness you up? I hope so, because in true Mauville fashion, I'm ready to go fast."

Elise Calcifet

{WC: 255}
{PC: 3}

NAME SPECIES STATUS
Raiden Zebstrika Good
Dashie G!Rapidash Good
Ixion K!Rapidash** Good

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played by

LunarMona

Elly, El

she/her

December 24

Hammerlocke, Galar

Bisexual

Galarian Ambassador

Medium

5'7" / 170 cm height

i long to stay where the light dwells to guard against the cold that i know so well

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TAG WITH @elise

POSTED ON May 10, 2023 4:33:54 GMT

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[attr="class","elisetest3"]

[attr="class","body"]

Nodding to her friend when he thanked her and his gym Pokemon meant a lot to him since they were very special to him, she could understand a bit about having Pokemon that were sentimental to a trainer. As part of being a gym trainer who was in training, she would have expected to know how to give her Pokemon some time and care when they weren’t in racing or battling challenges. Her collection of ghost and dragon type Pokemon had all the love and care she could give them in her home too.[break][break]

“I will take you on that offer next time since it sounds like it could be a nice ride to compare with Raikou’s running speed.” She responds to Josh with a little smile while he talks about the entire incident being his fault than hers and how the masked man used her to draw him out. Though the female royal didn’t want to pry over what happened to cause Josh to take a temporary leave from his gym, he asks if Celeste harnessed her up and that he was ready to go fast. “Yes, Celeste did harness me up and in the presence of my boss, I am prepared to go fast with you.” Her response came with a firm nod to show that she’ll use what she learned from class today to have a good race with Josh.

Josh Devlin [break][break]

NOTES

- None.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Celeste ♀ / Pastel Veil (Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Megahorn, Stomp, Agility, Psycho Cut)

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster

He/Him

December 12

Goldenrod, Johto

Straight

Mauville Gym Leader

Champion

6'1" height

"With great speed comes great responsibility."

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POSTED ON May 11, 2023 5:51:04 GMT

Josh smiled when Elise agreed to the Extreme Speed run. It was dangerous, no doubt, especially with a Pokémon like Arcanine. Yes, he had his Zeraora, but even his thundercat couldn't maintain Quick Attack speeds for long. Arcanine could maintain Extreme Speed for quite a bit longer, which would give the Galarian a much closer idea what it was like to ride Raikou. "It's either going to be the greatest feeling you've ever had in your life, or it's going to overwhelm you. One of the two. There's no in between."

With Celeste also mentally harnessing Elise up. the two were ready to bolt down Route 111. While it wasn't a race, just a mere high speed jaunt to the Great Desert and back, Josh held posture much like he was at a race. "Hyah!" the Gym Leader cried, spurring the Galarian Rapidash into a run. The force behind Dashie's acceleration caused even him to lurch quite far back. As fast as that was, Ixion's was even faster, taking only a few running strokes to get up to a speed most would consider dangerous. The wind howled around Josh and his three equines as the straight trail to the desert flew by, the rider directing his mount into some shorter grasses to give slower traffic the entire road.

Elise Calcifet

{WC: 219}
{PC: 4}

NAME SPECIES STATUS
Raiden Zebstrika Good
Dashie G!Rapidash Good
Ixion K!Rapidash** Good

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played by

LunarMona

Elly, El

she/her

December 24

Hammerlocke, Galar

Bisexual

Galarian Ambassador

Medium

5'7" / 170 cm height

i long to stay where the light dwells to guard against the cold that i know so well

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POSTED ON Jun 1, 2023 19:11:07 GMT

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[attr="class","elisetest3"]

[attr="class","body"]

Celeste’s psychic energy harnessed her and kept her from falling off, so the Galarian Rapidash gallops along with Josh, Dashie, and the rest of his equine Pokemon who were with him along the straight desert trail. The woman nods to the dark-haired man saying that it’ll be the greatest feeling in her life or it’ll overwhelm her, no in between before feeling the wind on her face during the ride across the trail. She did miss being able to horseback ride whenever she wasn’t busy with helping her elder cousin around the embassy or being in class with Jackie’s other students.[break][break]

The speed that her Galarian Rapidash was going with no obstacles to block the rate that the mare was going made the small rush of adrenaline pour over the rider’s body like the rush of the wind was very exciting to feel around her. Since Dashie was also trained for land races, Celeste had made sure to match the speed of her fellow Galarian Rapidash in a small bit of competition to see who was the faster of the two species.

Josh Devlin [break][break]

NOTES

- None.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Celeste ♀ / Pastel Veil (Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Megahorn, Stomp, Agility, Psycho Cut)

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster

He/Him

December 12

Goldenrod, Johto

Straight

Mauville Gym Leader

Champion

6'1" height

"With great speed comes great responsibility."

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7,268 posts

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TAG WITH @joshdevlin

POSTED ON Jun 3, 2023 3:56:55 GMT

To most trainers in Hoenn, the horned Fairy-type's bouncy and rapid gallop would have been terrifying. The rapid clacking of hooves made it sound like an entire horde of them were charging forward. The horde of three was just traveling at such a high rate of speed that it created the auditory illusion of many more. Maintaining the psychic hold did draw some of the Rapidash's energy away from running at full speed, letting the blue-flamed Ixion overtake them in a burst of AGILITY. Her blue flames were a real treat to watch billow in the biting wind; it was an image few trainers got to behold.

The desert's entrance rapidly approached, prompting Josh to pull back on Dashie to prevent them from being pelted by blowing sand. At the speed they were clocking, that would have hurt! Rapidash were known for their extreme acceleration, but they did not have the deceleration to match; they needed a lot of room to shed their speed. Thanks to the Gym Leader's foresight, they had plenty of room to slow to a stop.

"Whew! That felt great!" Josh whooped as he felt the adrenaline high begin to wear off. "We should head back, though. But... you know what, while we're here... do you remember the Rangers' Flagventures campaign from the spring?" he asked Elise. "My own base is still around here. It's by where my Gym used to be while I was still in the Minor League. I should show you around sometime."

Elise Calcifet

{WC: 234}
{PC: 5}

NAME SPECIES STATUS
Raiden Zebstrika Good
Dashie G!Rapidash Good
Ixion K!Rapidash** Good

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played by

LunarMona

Elly, El

she/her

December 24

Hammerlocke, Galar

Bisexual

Galarian Ambassador

Medium

5'7" / 170 cm height

i long to stay where the light dwells to guard against the cold that i know so well

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TAG WITH @elise