Even with the dizzying speeds the Skarmory moved with, Haguru's gaze remained firmly locked upon the steel bird - following with almost supernatural precision. The small gear they bore began to crackle with electricity - building more, more, and more...

"Now - Zap Cannon!" Makoto called, as Bladestorm stooped into a whistling dive.

... Before Haguru finally fired - as if in the hopes of shooting the bird-turned-arrow out of the sky!

Even if the move itself was a sure-fire thanks to Lock-On, only time would tell if it'd be enough to stop Bladestorm's momentum - else, this will be a nasty trading of blows.

Josh Devlin

While the steel-type's ZAP CANNON was unerring, it was also slow, giving plenty of time for Josh to make another mounted quick switch. This one would be much more difficult, given the incredible speed Bladestorm was diving toward the steel-type at. He clicked open another Poké Ball beneath him, this time a Kilowattrel materializing beneath him. Knowing exactly where the saddle on the electric bird's back was made it possible for him to land directly on it. Without that photographic memory, there was no way he would have been able to pull the difficult maneuver off; Etali had already slowed, unable to keep up with the pace of the steel-type's dive.

Bladestorm and Haguru crashed into one another, their attacks colliding with force the steel-type simply could not handle. He did his best to get back to his feet, but could not. He was tough, though, and could spend time outside his Poké Ball until his trainer saw an opportunity to swoop in and recall him. Josh also drew Danjuro into his hand. Wielding the ghost-type Pokémon as a personal weapon, he looked ready to slice and dice Makoto into fine cuts of flesh if they didn't call their Pokémon to their side!

A trading of blows; though the Skarmory was down for the count, so was Haguru - the air filled with a shrieking sound like that of tearing metal from the collision the two had. The edges of the Klinklang's gears were shredded - but they were still alive, if the sluggish attempts to stay afloat were of any indication.

The sight was still one that sent a brief chill down Makoto's spine, as they were quick to return the steel-type. But before they could send out the replacement pokemon, Josh was on the offensive - swooping in close with a Honedge!

But, Kuro was still present - hidden in the smallest pocket of shadows that Makoto cast on Nobusuma's own saddle. And as Josh came close, the little Zorua would snarl - ready to protect its beloved adoptive parent - and let loose the ghostly flames of Bitter Malice in his direction, in an attempt to force him back!

Own pokemon KO'd

Josh Devlin

Kuro's BITTER MALICE was just fast enough to repel the Gym Leader's swordsmanship, knocking Danjuro out of his hand and whirling through the air. The advantage holding the Ghost-type over using a normal sword was the semi-sentient blade could float through the air and return to Josh's hand. He felt the sword throbbing in his hand after that nasty blow. For now, he sheathed Danjuro, keeping his focus on Etali's mobility while letting the Kilowattrel focus on offense.

Swooping high into the air in a burst of AGILITY, the electric bird aimed to overtake Makoto and their Crobat. If they remembered their past battles with Josh well, the speed boost would not only enable Etali to evade the Crobat's attacks more easily, but it would herald the most devastating electric attack in the Gym Leader's arsenal.

Josh's blade had been fended off - but that wasn't the end of the troubles. Makoto could see as the Kilowattrel that he was seated upon ascending higher and higher, speed accelerating until the bird could easily outpace Nobusuma; quick as an arrow. If worse came to worst, they wouldn't be able to escape from this gym leader, more likely than not.

But, they at least had a trick up their sleeve; sending out yet another pokemon. At a glance, this would look to be a Kilowattrel of their own. But in truth, it was their ditto Obake - having transformed into Etali with Imposter, up to even the speed increase!

"Overtake them - Agility!" Makoto called. They had no awareness of the strategy that Josh had in mind - but instead was simply attempting to threaten Josh's current advantage by having a faster pokemon.

And in turn, Obake would begin to use the very same move to increase its own speed; at first ascending alongside - and then completely passing by - Etali!

Josh Devlin

Josh was in his element now, the speed perhaps growing maddening for Makoto. He wondered how much more they could handle, tempted to order Etali to truly fire off the afterburners with a follow-up burst of Agility. Etali dropped the Electro Ball foaming at the mouth; despite his AGILITY, it wouldn't be as effective against the Crobat as he would have liked. The Gym Leader relied on his experience as the Master of Faster, confident that if they pulled enough evasive maneuvers, he would be able to wear Makoto out and force them to slow down to catch their breath.

Trying to lure the thief's two flying Pokémon close to one another, Etali wheeled through the sky erratically, squawking in a loud UPROAR that the rider planned to overload the Crobat's echolocation and the unbeknownst-to-him Ditto's hearing. He kept vigilant, with hands steady on Etali's reins. The masquerading bird was catching up to him fast, and would overtake him if he didn't make a move soon!

The shrill squawks may have had the opposite effect - because as Etali began to squawk up a racket, Makoto was directing the disoriented Nobusuma out of the fray. They did not want the Crobat to get caught up in these attacks - not when aside from Obake, he was the one remaining pokemon who could keep them in the air. If he went down, then their hope would be that Obake could carry them away...

... But, their main hope was that it wouldn't have to come to that.

While Nobusuma played keepaway though, Obake was ready to play interference. Using his superior speed from the copied increase and his own Agility, he'd try to swoop in closer to Etali and Josh both - getting inbetween the Gym Leader and Makoto to block the way, all so that he could let out a Uproar of his own, squawking up a storm!

Makoto winced - even from where they were in the sky, the ruckus was grating on their ears.

Josh Devlin

The dueling soundwaves created a pulsating, headache-inducing beat that amplified the effects of each UPROAR. The clash was so loud as to be physical, rattling the Gym Leader's helmet. He was too caught up in the battle to realize he was bleeding just above one of his cheeks. Unbeknownst to him, he was now the one on a clock.

With the urgency to end the battle rising, Josh performed another mounted quick switch, the stress of them building on his battered, weakened frame. Now seated on the back of a vicious Hydreigon, the three-headed dark-type raised his heads, ready to belch one of his many breath weapons all over Obake. His three mouths glowed with dragon energy, a triple DRAGON PULSE imminent.

In the face of such an imposing dragon, there was only so much that Obake could do. With his enhanced speed, he did well to dodge the first couple streams from Kokusho's Dragon Pulse - but the third would strike him in the wing, drawing out a shrill squawk! Feathers were burned away to reveal shiny azure beneath - hinting to his true nature - and it was plain to see that he was struggling to stay aloft from the injury inflicted.

Though he tried to keep away from the Hydreigon like a Murkrow to a scarecrow, his speed had been hampered. It'd be child's play to knock him out of the sky here, safe to say - and so, Makoto recalled Obake. It'd be easier to tend to him when they got back to safety, than to have to revive him.

And while Makoto certainly had options, they weren't necessarily good or reliable ones. This was a losing fight - their two other pokemon were landbound - and rather than potentially risk their life from a fall into the ocean, they had no choice but to cut their losses and fall back. "Supersonic!"

Thus, it'd be with a parting shriek from Nobusuma, that the two would attempt to turn tail and run - with the hope being that a confused Hydreigon wouldn't be able to give chase...

Josh Devlin

The main head's attack struck true, the Kilowattrel-Ditto's disguise unraveling. At last, he had the upper hand. The Gym Leader kicked the dark dragon's sides, coaxing him into a high speed chase. The Crobat's sound waves at first covered their retreat, inducing a painful triple-headache in Kokusho. "Come on, don't let them get away! Kokusho, DOUBLE TEAM!"

Fighting through his thumping heads, the black brute's wings flapped faster and faster, a trail of images forming behind them from the extreme speed the Hydreigon was putting on. This kind of speed may have taken Makoto by surprise; while Hydreigon were not known for their speed, the Master of Faster could take almost any Pokémon and make it fast as lightning!

Much as Makoto expected - and much to their chagrin - Josh was giving chase. And though Nobusuma was able to outspeed Kokusho at first, the Hydreigon's Double Team proved to be a problem - as before they knew it, the dragon was quickly gaining on them with blazing speeds..!

But, as Kuro stirred in their shadows, they knew what to do. "Give me a Swift - just enough to knock them off-kilter." Makoto murmured to the little Zorua. And it would do as asked - emerging from Makoto's shadow for just the moment that it'd take, to let loose a flurry of stars in Kokusho's direction!

Hopefully, that would be enough to get the Gym Leader off their tails.

Josh Devlin

When it looked like Kokusho was about to catch up to Nobusuma and attempt to rip Makoto off their Pokémon, an unexpected SWIFT flew toward the dragon. Breaking his focus, the dragon started bucking and writhing. With so much weight to throw around, every one of Kokusho's thrashes made Josh wince, feeling like his spine could be crushed at any moment. He let out a loud yelp at the fiercest one, stretching the material his cocoon was made out of.

By the time Kokusho calmed down, the Crobat was long gone. Josh could feel himself shifting around with every move the dragon made. Feeling like he could fall at any moment, he unzipped his cocoon, relying on his balance to remain mounted until the weary Hydreigon landed. While he had successfully repelled the Phantom Thief, it came with a price: some of his strongest flying Pokémon were out of commission. He would have quite the report for kyle lopez when he returned to HQ on foot...

Makoto didn't dare look back, as the shadow of the Hydreigon loomed. All they could bring themself to do was stare on ahead - at the island, and potential salvation, as they hoped that their gambit with Kuro would drive the dragon off... And thankfully, the Zorua was successful. They could hear as Josh yelped - the sounds of the duo growing more and more distant as Nobusuma continued to fly as hard and as fast as he could, a figurative fire lit under his rear.

When the only sound around Makoto was that of the rushing wind, it was only then that they glanced back - and much to their relief, couldn't see anyone. They had made it - and even if they felt a hue of shame for having to flee as they did, there was that certain sense of lingering adrenaline, like from that of a successful escape from a heist. A feeling of jitters and strange almost-elation, their heart beating in their chest...

... They'd have to return to camp to tend to their pokemon - but at the very least, even if they failed to prevent the Gym Leader from reaching this island, survival was a victory of its own.