In recent months, the Mauville Gym Leader had expanded his team quite a bit. While he and his Zeraora were inseparable, Josh sitting on the mythical thundercat's back for a casual, but still fast, stroll east of Fortree, several of his newest Pokémon accompanied the powerful electric-type.

Prowling alongside the Zeraora were several others, all wearing Verdanturf-branded saddle and bridle. First was Screech, a Linoone with an unusual, raised saddle that made sitting on the back of such a short Pokémon possible at all. The leatherwork was clearly custom. Second was Mirri, a Delcatty that would have made level eye contact with shorter trainers. Third was Pura, a Purugly whose stubby legs somehow carried him at speeds that could keep up with many of the Leader's swiftest Pokémon. Fourth was Expresso, a Shiny Espathra that looked the most traditional out of the ride Pokémon he had with him. Last was Xira, a Yanmega who flew just below the canopy, the drone of her wings almost certainly attracting the Spinda's, and perhaps lam logan 's, attention.

Josh waited for Xira to land, silencing her large and loud wings before returning the Gym Leader's greeting. "Hi there, Lam!" the Gym Leader greeted as Raikiri stopped, prompting the rest of his team to do likewise. "I heard the news - congratulations on your promotion! I should drop by your Gym sometime. Though I've heard I... can't do so alone."

Pura bumped Josh's left leg, purring and meowing toward the Gym Leader. "Alright, if you want a turn, then I can let Raikiri run on his own." As the young man slid off the electric-type and onto the rotund, stubby-legged, yet still swift cat, he waved toward the new Lilycove Leader. "I am! Trying to get some new Gym recruits into racing condition. I've never raised any of these kinds of Pokémon before... except the Zeraora, of course." Even for Josh, some of the Pokémon before Lam had to look quite unusual, perhaps even funny, with saddle and bridle on. Mirri the Delcatty in particular didn't look especially capable other than her great size.

Could a Delcatty really carry a trainer at high speed?

Though not mandatory, Josh was encouraged to bring a partner to Lam's gym. He had completed many doubles matches before, but never a "couples" format match. It would be a fun, new experience. "I'll have to see if I can find someone that's both interested and who complements my style well," Mauville's Leader answered with a nod. The unique challenges each Gym had made Hoenn such a great region to take the League challenge in. Though it had dropped off in volume in the last few months, Josh still got quite a few challengers from abroad, not interested in challenging Hoenn's Pokémon League, but for the racing experience.

Lam's question about Josh's ride Pokémon came as no surprise. "It's tradition at Mauville Racing Grounds that if I have a Pokémon of the same species that a challenger registers for a racing challenge with, I use that one." Mirri purred adorably, though Pura looked as fierce and as serious as before. She shook her body about, startling Josh. "Just a little more patience," he responded to his needy Pokémon. "Purugly are notorious for being difficult to raise. It will take a lot of time, but he'll be ready for the track hopefully early next year."

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD LINOONE APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] PICKUP
[attr="class","wildtabox"]SLASH	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]BELLY DRUM
[attr="class","wildtabox"]TACKLE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]BABY DOLL EYES
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Josh Devlin lam logan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD WIGGLYTUFF APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] COMPETITIVE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]ROUND	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ECHOED VOICE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]SWALLOW	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]POUND
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Josh Devlin lam logan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

lam logan CAUGHT THE LECHONK!

As much as Josh loved the idea of challenging Lam's gym with Mika Nakayama , there was something important discouraging him from doing so. Gym Leaders were busy taking challengers trying to get into the Pokémon League. Those were the challenges that mattered most. "I just don't want to take an appointment slot from someone actually trying to qualify for the Pokémon League," the Master of Faster replied. "I only want to sign up in the event your challenger volume gets low. While the League doesn't outright forbid trainers that have already qualified for the Pokémon League from challenging Gyms, they would prefer if those appointments were left open for people who haven't yet met the qualifications. I'm going to be challenging kyle lopez soon, you know!"

He had one match remaining to schedule, and that was against MATIAS SILPH . His nemesis. There was a vacancy in the Elite Four. It would have been an easy ticket for him to get into the AQUA Initiative. The Gym Leader was reliable and had clearly learned from the mistake he made earlier in the year. As long as Matias was Elite Four, though, an almost certain "nay" vote would prevent Mauville's Master of Faster from bring promoted. It would take some kind of override from the Commissioner herself, and getting that would be a challenge all on its own.

"As a matter of fact, I have," Josh answered. "In recent memory, El Sunderland challenged me with a Scolipede. I didn't have one of my own to match them. Still don't. Been looking for one." The mean-looking cat purred loudly as Lam approached, stretching her lips away to reveal some intimidating-looking incisors. "Come on, Pura, Lam doesn't mean any harm! Stop it." With a snort and what could only be interpreted as a "harumph", the big cat relaxed her face, her teeth hidden once again.

On the flip side, tenured trainers challenging new Gyms wasn't the worst thing for the Leaders, either. If Melody Miro , Katherine Fairburne , and kyle lopez challenging Mauville Gym so quickly meant anything, it was important for fellow Gym Leaders to do in order to help with Gym inspection. There were few people in Hoenn better for Gym Leaders to collect feedback from than other Gym Leaders. "That, and the matches tend to be close. It's really fun watching, and especially playing in, a match where both sides really know what they're doing. I, of course, prefer challengers sign up for my racing challenge, and most people do, but some just want a regular ol' slugfest."

The defeat the Volatile handed Josh last time was crushing. Their animosity toward one another was a known quantity within and outside of the League. The less he had to see that man, the better. If his bout with Michael Navidson meant anything, he was not above making battles bloody and lethal. It was something he had to take into consideration when constructing his team. If they were to battle, would Matias play for keeps? While any loss would be hard for him, some would be unbearable. What if Raikiri died? What if Saber died? There were so many unknowns at work, and if he was wrong about even one of them, he could witness a lot of spilled blood.

"After seeing them run, I want one now," Josh said, his hand briefly on Xira's Poké Ball before relaxing again. "It's one of the few bug-types big enough to ride on that won't make you feel like you're sitting on a jackhammer." Many bug-types were nimble in the air, but the vibration bothered Josh. It was part of the reason he brought the Yanmega with him: to try to get used to it.

Pura allowed only a few scratches under his chin before stepping back. "Sorry, Lam. He's a bit particular and petty. Haven't had the chance to use him at the Gym yet." The Purugly was new to his roster. It took quite a bit of convincing for him to wear a saddle at all. A loud purr from the creature made the end of the last sentence sound like it was being spoken through whirling fan blades.

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD ZANGOOSE APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] TOXIC BOOST
[attr="class","wildtabox"]PURSUIT	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]DETECT
[attr="class","wildtabox"]POWER TRIP	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SLASH
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Josh Devlin lam logan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD TRANQUILL APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] RIVALRY
[attr="class","wildtabox"]QUICK ATTACK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]LEER
[attr="class","wildtabox"]SKY ATTACK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]TAILWIND
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Josh Devlin lam logan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

lam logan CAUGHT THE INKAY!