Josh had been chosen to help out with a summer camp in Littleroot for one reason: his ride Pokémon made him very good with children, and had enough relatively small ones to go around. The shade that the dense woods provided let even Inky, the Glaceon Josh rode to the campground on, handle the summer heat well. Surrounding him were the ice-type's seven brothers and sisters: the entire Eeveelution rainbow, so giant as to be near the limits for how big their kind could grow. Each one of them wore a saddle that covered almost their entire backs. While they could bear an adult rider, and just so at that, they would be perfect for older children and even young teens.

"Morning, Hideo!" Josh waved, a crowd of attendees surrounding him, hooting at the large Eeveelutions. One of the more excitable kids leaped at Kairi's sides, the Vaporeon wagging her long tail back and forth cutely. "Your Gym been keeping you busy? I've noticed a big drop-off in challenger volume over the summer. Wonder if it's seasonal." He sighed at seeing another jump at Kamuy's side, the glow of the Umbreon's rings barely visible in daylight. "My Gym is really well known for these eight Pokémon. They're special to me, and I think they'd get along well with the kids. Look at those two. They'll grow up to be great Trainers some day."

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 235}
{PC: 1}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

The message passed through Hideo's Psychic Pokemon over the boy himself: reinforcements had arrived, thank Arceus. And with a good deal of Eeveelutions, as the children that soon approached them said aloud.

Hideo approached his savior, just about ready to thank him for saving his life there - until he recognized the voice. Josh Devlin, the one who'd tested his challenge back when he was still in Minor League. The one that Eris said tried to kill her.

The displeasure was clear on Hideo's face - only for a moment, as his displeasure quickly moved towards the Hatterene pinching his flank. Not in front of the kids was the message he got from that - and he didn't doubt he'd get more than a pinch if he didn't listen.

Right. He'd save that conversation for another time, when they were in private.

Hideo resumed his approach, a forced smile on his face. Focus on the positive. "Mornin', Josh. It's slowing down, yeah, but we're still getting a decent number of challenges. And when I got enough free time, I try to help around town."

As best he could.

A good deal of kids broke away from their games to go look at Josh's Pokemon, gossiping over which were cooler or cuter or fuzzier. "Well, can't say I can take a look, but it sounds like the kids like'em. Think I would've tried riding them too if I was their size, but I'm too big for that now; kinda realized it last time I tried to ride my Lycanroc years ago."

He had plenty of appropriately-sized Pokemon to ride atop if he needed.

"But hey, anything to keep these guys under control. Gives me a minute to actually think of something to set up. Think you can keep them occupied for a bit? I can keep my Pokemon around to help; I won't leave you stranded like the camp counselors did to me."

Josh Devlin

Mission: Summer Camp

The look on Hideo's face did not go unnoticed, as did the forced smile, though now was not the right time to press the Gym Leader for answers. There were young children to be entertained. "Sounds like the life of a Gym Leader. I've got around two dozen employees at Mauville Gym, and I still have my hands full there. Ranger contracts keep me busy, too. With annalise henderson gone, I practically run Mauville by myself now. I wouldn't have it any other way. Wouldn't give up my Gym for anything." He sniffed, recalling his Gym Challenge with Hideo while still in the Minors. "Not even for Raikou." Ever since the RONDEZ-VIEW OF LUV app went viral, it was well-known that he desired to be Raikou's Avatar in spite of the immense danger it would put him in.

The Gym Leader covered his mouth when he remembered that Hideo could not see. "Right..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry for forgetting." Their low-pitched cries compared to others of their kind may have tipped their sizes off; in particular, the Shiny Sylveon's cry was uncanny. Otherworldly. Creepy, even. "They're actually really big for their kind. I use them for racing at my Gym regularly. They're around the size of smaller equine Pokémon, like Zebstrika."

Josh's eight Eeveelutions would be great at keeping the children occupied. "Can do! I'm sure they'll love Blinky, Kairi, and the others!" He had warned his eight Pokémon not to run too fast, but would let the children frolic and play with them. Pinky the Shiny Sylveon in particular was popular among them, tickling a child or two to their delight.

The brave among the attendees mounted up when prompted by Josh's Pokémon crouching next to them. While some of the smaller ones, like Blinky the Jolteon and Clyde the Flareon, could only seat one at a time, the larger ones could carry two. Josh smiled as he watched a young boy and girl play knight-and-princess with Kamuy, his Umbreon, going for a harmless romp through the campground.

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 342}
{PC: 2}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

Hideo nodded along, his Pokemon congregating around him. He recalled the non-psychic ones, letting his psychic-types start to set things up.

He cringed slightly at the mention of Raikou, though he turned his face away to try and hide it.

He'd gotten the hint that Josh was fascinated with Raikou during the Minor League challenge, and that RONDEZ-VIEW OF LOVE game made it clear he wanted to become an avatar; he was also aware what lengths he was willing to go for it, even attempting to kill Eris Halla over it.

A pinch on the cheek from his Hatterene got Hideo to look towards Josh, trying to hide his discomfort. "Uh, yeah. Heard things have been pretty rough at your Gym too, with that attack that happened. Things have been pretty quiet around Littleroot, and the people at my Gym handle most of the paperwork. I mostly handle the challenges and help out around town."

Part of the reason he was here was to dissuade any more attacks by Rocket. And there hadn't been any raids since that day with the meteor, so he was doing well so far.

"No offense taken. And I didn't know they could get that big. Only Eeveelutions I got are Sylveons. They're only a meter tall, and they ain't strong enough to carry kids on their backs."

His psychic Pokemon spread out, surrounding the area around the kids and the Eeveelutions. Hideo got the Telepathic ping the moment their preparations were complete. "Think my Pokemon got things ready. I'm gonna give the kids a taste of the stuff I do for my traditional battles. Wanna take a look? We won't actually have to battle."

Josh Devlin

Mission: Summer Camp

Josh rolled his eyes at the mention of the Mauville attacks. "That's not even the first one, but it was the most intense one. I don't know what it is with Mauville Gym specifically being targeted." He listened to the way the young Gym Leader divvied up his duties, nodding in approval. "Sounds like you've got a really good grasp on the position. I've got two dozen employees at my own place, but that's largely due to how expansive the property has to be. Gotta have a lot of room to go fast, after all!" he smiled.

Pinky's deep cry may have given Hideo an idea just how large Josh's Shiny Sylveon was. "There hasn't been any concrete evidence to support it, but I've noticed that really large Pokémon became more common in Hoenn once the distortions started showing up. Whether they're related or not is still a mystery, and one that the League sadly does not have the resources to pursue." Josh paused to watch a particularly brave child climb onto Blinky's back. The Jolteon had a scary amount of speed, but was obedient enough to know to keep any runs to a brisk, rather than breakneck, pace.

As the electric-type slid about, making her guest rider's stomach turn in ways that made the child unable to stop cheering, Josh agreed to Hideo's proposal. "I've yet to see your new setup at all since you were on 117," he replied. "Plus, my Pokémon are all gonna be busy entertaining the kids. At some point I wouldn't mind a match with you, though; the Champion Assessment's been destroying me. I've had three battles with the Elite Four so far, and not a win to my name."

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 288}
{PC: 3}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

Hideo didn't say anything regarding the frequency of attacks - in part because he had a decent idea why at least one happened; if Josh was as violent towards the rest of Rocket as he'd been towards Eris Halla , Rocket would probably be seeking to retaliate.

But he cast that thought out of his mind - in part because he could pretty much feel his Hatterene glaring at him. Nobody deserved the kind of violence dealt at Josh's Gym.

"I think I got about a dozen human employees," Hideo said, "but I also got a good number of my Pokemon help keep stuff together. Psychic Pokemon are pretty capable with finer tasks like helping run a Gym, but others can still lend a hand!"

His Shaymin was pretty popular with kids younger than him. Same for his Joltiks and Swinubs.

Hideo nodded as Josh made his theory. "Wouldn't shock me if that's true. I got me a huge Jigglypuff in the Ultra Deep Sea. Like, several times larger than a normal Jigglypuff. And it had a tail on its head. Wouldn't shock me if stuff like that was making bigger Eeveelutions too - or even new ones."

But enough speculation: onto the spectacle!

"Well, you already got a good taste of what I can do when I was in Minor League. Best I got now are rooms that can really take the brunt of a battle. They make for great spaces for illusions, but my Pokemon can cook up something quick out here if I need it. Not sure if it'll make up for your loss streak with the Champ assessment, but hey, at least you started yours and got some battles."

His Pokemon laid out a Psychic Terrain, already getting to work. The kids were already starting to "ooh" and "ah" at the Illusion, though Josh would likely only see a faint overlay over the forest, a slight discoloration to the trees around them.

Unless he stepped in it, of course. Then the area would change into something slightly different.

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Hideo's notion was absolutely correct; while neither was aware, dorian westcliff 's motive for attacking Mauville City Gym in the sprint was because of the violent attack against Eris. If it were anyone else in Rocket -- anyone else -- his actions wouldn't have been such a big deal. Eris was special, though; she had many sympathizers on both sides of the aisle. She was also a minor, significantly complicating matters. If it were any other Rocket, especially one ranking at least the level of Executive, the League likely wouldn't have batted an eye. It was this series of unfortunate coincidences that defined the only blemish on Josh's otherwise spotless career.

It had made him a better person, though; had he continued on the dark path, perhaps he would have wound up like his evil twin he had fought alongside Andrea Vaneau , the first true test of his Sygna Suit's combat capabilities. "My Pokémon help out with what they can, too," Josh added. "I don't use a traditional PC storage system like many trainers do. The only thing I use it for is if I need to transport a Pokémon. My entire squad of Pokémon, when I'm not using them, roams Mauville Gym." There were a lot, too; didn't he have almost a hundred by now? It was a good thing a lot of his Gym's operating expenses were subsidized by the League; he would have to let go of so many of his Pokémon if he ever lost his job!

"Oh, right, from the Interdream Zone," Josh remarked, the children likely having no idea what they were talking about. They were too busy giggling and yee-haw'ing from riding Josh's giant Eeveelutions. One brave lass's hair flew in the wind as she pushed Blinky, his Jolteon, to the maximum speed the Gym Leader allowed. Despite being nowhere close to true racing speed, it was borderline dangerous for a child to ride that fast. He was confident the seven knew what they were doing, though. "That's what happens when you get promoted to the Major League," he smiled at Hideo's Gym expansion. "It was one of the reasons I got so excited that I would be taking over Mauville City's Gym. Mauville peeps are wealthy. That means a huge budget for the Gym. I was able to expand my Gym from five courses as a Minor Leaguer to... twenty-four as a Major Leaguer. It's like having a whole racing video game on one property. It's pretty wild."

After the PSYCHIC TERRAIN had been laid, Josh guided his Glaceon into it, witnessing a gorgeous, illusionary landscape. Inky played with some of the illusionary terrain, even going as far as to attempt to FREEZE-DRY part of the lake. "You're...incredibly talented," Josh gasped at how photorealistic the illusion was. "And you said you can make this a lot better at your Gym. This is amazing. Are you a psychic yourself?" he asked as he watched Blinky zoom about the camp.

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 496}
{PC: 4}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

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Alexei Ivanov let many of his Pokémon roam his Gym, too. It seemed common for Gym Leaders to let their Pokémon out and about on their property. "That's what's hard about having the huge collections Gym Leaders have to have. It's hard to give them all the attention they deserve." Hideo's lightshow even caused some of the more astute children, ones that had figured out how to use the Eeveelutions' reins, to slow them to a stop to admire the Gym Leader's illusions.

Hearing Hideo reinforce his own disability made Josh frown; he couldn't imagine what it was like going through life not being able to see. "No wonder you have so many psychic Pokémon. With a close enough bond with a psychic-type, I bet you could see through their eyes. Oh, speaking of which, with the big pay bump to the Major League, have you thought about a Sygna Suit? I bet with a strong enough psychic-type, you'd be able to see their their eyes directly and be able to see your Pokémon's illusions for yourself!" He went on to describe how his own Manectric suit let him withstand maddening speeds, even its passive powers letting him ride during the Z-Move, Hypersonic Plasma Charge, without trouble. Of course, he couldn't tap into the full powers of his suit mid-move, but it was enough to let him avoid passing out from the whiplash-inducing acceleration the charge would otherwise subject him to. It was like riding on a lightning bolt.

"It does! Once the initial funding for the Racing Grounds was secured, budget hasn't really been an issue for me." It hadn't for much of his life, especially not after making the big pay jump himself. His racing career had also paid pretty well, not in raw earnings, but in sponsorships. He was a celebrity in multiple circles, letting him live a comfortable, but not extravagant life. "Of course, my Pokémon help how they can, too." He heard the incessant giggling of a young girl being tickled by Pinky's feelers, the Shiny Sylveon's low-pitched squeal frightening some of the more reserved kids and causing them to back away. "These eight are great with kids, too. Think I'm gonna join them for a bit with Inky." With that, he gently coaxed the Glaceon in the young riders' general direction.

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 391}
{PC: 5}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

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That was one of the major differences between Hideo and Josh. The younger Gym Leader was willing to bring on Pokémon that weren't Psychic-types. Josh was very picky about what he raised. It was rare for him to own a Pokémon that couldn't wear a saddle. Only two came to mind: Pokey, his Maractus that served as a garden scarecrow, and Danjuro, his trusty sword arm for when he needed to fight on his own. It was a sign of the teen's maturity - maturity that many felt the Master of Faster lacked. To each their own, though! One of the best and most underappreciated aspects of raising Pokémon was that there was truly something for everyone.

"If you're looking to serve the League on a higher level, it's one of the greatest investments you can make," Josh replied with a nod. "The possibilities with them are limitless. When I'm in mine and riding Saber, the Manectric the suit is set to, it really feels like I'm on Raikou's back. Almost like they would be an even match, both in battle and on the track." The analogy bordered on hyperbole, but from his experience with Kyle's Raikou-familiar, it wasn't that far from the truth. "I've seen some really wild things they let their wearers do. One of my good friends has one set to a Flygon. That Flygon can lift her off the ground using its wing, as unbelievable as it sounds. She'll sit on the wing and let it buzz her, and she'll be fine afterward. Wildest thing I've ever seen. It truly is like a light version of being an Avatar, isn't it?" It was little wonder the technology was so prohibitively expensive.

Hideo's Espathra giving him a ride made Josh smile on the inside. They were zooming, too. Whatever Pokémon that was, he had to have one. "I've never seen that kind of Pokémon before!" he exclaimed, impressed with the psychic-type. "What kind of Pokémon is that, and do you know where they're at in Hoenn? They can put on some real speed - I wouldn't mind catching one for myself!" His head briefly turned toward the giggling of a young girl being tickled by Pinky's feelers as her rider slid down, having had her fun with the fairy-type. Another child was quick to hop on and take her place. Another let out what could only be an adrenaline-fueled cry as Janus made a sharp turn, the psychic hold on his rider the only reason he didn't fall off completely.

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 427}
{PC: 6}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good

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"A psychic ride Pokémon..." Josh mused at Hideo's description of the flightless bird. "Those are so rare. Definitely gonna track one down. I think it would be a valuable addition not only to Mauville Gym, but during the Champion Assessment, too." He smiled at the telepathic Pokémon's strange tendency to describe the way they ran. "Sounds like a Pokémon good at come-from-behind wins. Will have to keep that in mind once... right, you were looped in on that email, so I can talk about it with you. Once my community service is over and I have more time on my hands again. Ugh, I cannot wait to be free of that burden..."

It seemed Hideo was in agreement with wanting to get a suit. "Not just that. Imagine being able to see fully through your Beheeyem," Josh speculated. "As in visually. It'd be on par with what her suit is capable of. I'm still trying to figure out what all mine can do, but I know it makes my Manectric really fast." As many benefits as his suit had, Sygna Suits could have dangerous drawbacks, too. It gave him the benefits of being an electric Pokémon... but also all the drawbacks of one. He was one hit with a Ground-type attack away from being seriously hurt. MAGNET RISE from his ride would keep him out of the way of those attacks, but if he was ever caught off guard, it wouldn't be pretty.

The Master of Faster smiled when he saw Hideo and his Espathra take off. The duo put on amazing speed that even his pride of Pyroar could not match. The leap over the Espeon left the psychic-type's young rider, the rest of the children, and even Josh himself, in awe. "Your Espathra is really something," Josh complimented the psychic-affiliated Gym Leader as the child on the Espeon asked if he could get a turn on the Espathra. He shook his head. "We... might want to take the kids inside for an indoor activity before they get too many ideas," he whispered to Hideo, not wanting to see the children get hurt. The speed the bird was capable of was completely unsafe for a minor.

---

Hideo Kino

NOTE: Josh does not have Kairi's or Blinky's Poké Balls on his belt.

{WC: 371}
{PC: 7}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Kairi         Vaporeon       Good
Blinky        Jolteon        Good
Clyde         Flareon        Good
Basil         Leafeon        Good
Inky          Glaceon        Good
Janus         Espeon         Good
Kamuy         Umbreon        Good
Pinky         Sylveon**      Good