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Josh's cuddlefest with the feline he once believe was Raikou was interrupted by the warm greetings of two great friends and coworkers. His entire rainbow of saddle-wearing Eeveelutions formed a large semicircle around him as Yuina Higashi and Mika Nakayama approached. The sound of two Talonflame lighting up the cloudy skies with blazing calligraphy brought a smile to his face, observing when the navy-haired Ranger brought it to his attention.

"Thanks for dropping by, both of you," he replied to them both as Blinky, Clyde, and the others sounded a chorus of friendly cries. "I'm going to wait for some of the others to show up before opening it, Mika. A lot of people RSVP'd, and it would be more fun for things to get a little more lively before opening the pile of surprises."

Resheph, Josh's Dragonair, whooshed above the two guests, accompanied by a father-and-daughter's laughter. It seemed the two were having the time of their lives aboard the living roller coaster that DRAGON DANCED above the Racing Grounds. "You two are, of course, welcome to play with any of the Pokémon here. Even Raikiri," he offered, the Zeraora laughing as Josh tickled the feline's cheek.

---

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present.

{PC: 2}

Ettie, admittedly, had a bit of a limited understanding of birthdays. She had a good enough grip on how time passed now that she could understand what someone meant when someone was born on a given day - but she never paid too heavy attention to the passing days, beyond the changes in weather and climate with the shifting seasons. She didn't wholly understand parties, either, having never participated in one directly - to live another year was certainly a long time, and things like candles sounded fun, but she didn't exactly have experience in it!

Which was to say, that when she came along for one of her usual visits to Mauville Gym - to socialize with Josh and lend a hand for a few days before she moved on - Ettie was surprised to be met with the sight of a party on the Racing Grounds, with people aplenty attending!

Anne, at her side, made a disgruntled sound - there were too many strangers for her liking. Duchess, on the other hand, was instantly enthused - the Manectric barking and yipping with excited joy as she ran over to join one of Josh's pokemon in racing around the grounds! Play! Run! And Princess, the slowpoke Granbull that she was, just went at a brisk power-walk to follow after her adoptive sister.

Ettie, however, would smile brightly as she ran up to Josh with a happy little "Arf!" in greeting, and wrapped him up with a hug. "Josh! Friend! Hello!" She chirped, smiling bright. "Lots people! What happening?" She questioned - glancing around.

Following behind her would likely be some new faces for Josh. There was a shiny Midnight Lycanroc - Ebon - who had a strangely serene look about him, and a Smeargle - Yip - who was watching the other pokemon with distinct interest; when she catches a glimpse of Braver using Teleport, her ears and tail perk up in intrigue, and she is quick to Sketch it. On top of that, there was Orion the Type: Null; the chimeric creature sticking close to Anne's side, looking a little shy and timid with all of these new people. And finally...

... Was that another Duchess? The second Manectric certainly looked identical, from size, basic features, and even down to the saddle; but no, this was a Ditto - Doppe - in disguise.

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Many of Josh's attendees were used to their clothes getting a little ruffled from traveling on a Pokémon's back, whether it be for leisure or for competition. The commotion coming from the Shiny Hydreigon, as well as Andrea Vaneau 's unique voice, would get the Leader's attention like she wanted. "Hi, Andrea!" Josh waved, momentarily distracted by the hollering of a teenager overly excited from experiencing the maddening speed that Blitz the Shiny Luxray could put on with a QUICK ATTACK. "Thanks for dropping by. Work at Fallarbor Gym been steady?" he asked, Kokusho the Hydreigon swooping in to greet Chomper.

Josh turned his attention to the Galarian presenting him with a gift, on top of the quick greeting. "Hi, Remiel! No, I get it; the Draciary is as much of a full-time job as taking care of the Racing Grounds. Let me at least open this in front of you." The sound of wrapping paper being torn would attract the attention of several guests, watching him open it. It was a statuette of a Spectrier and rider in medieval armor, along with a voucher for Hanniaon's Workshop in Verdanturf. They were the highest quality leatherer in the city, and perhaps all of Hoenn. Verdanturf Leather and Saddle was the budget retailer Josh and his Gym had an affiliation with. Hannison's was truly a luxury brand. "You didn't have to, Remiel!" Josh answered, setting the two items down on a nearby table and giving him a hug if he allowed it. "Best of luck with your situation at the Draciary!" He would stand a little closer and whisper into the ear of the Exacting, "And do try to let me know a date when we can make that trip to Ultra Plant together, okay?"

Not long afterward, a familiar, young, and wild face would approach the popular Leader and sports enthusiast at high speed. The barking would likewise get the attention of several of Josh's dog Pokémon, including both his Arcanine. Craggro was still overweight, but no longer morbidly obese like the Hisuian Arcanine once was. He would get his racing strength back in due time. "Ettie ! It's a birthday celebration. I turn twenty-five on Tuesday." The presence of Orion the Type: Null scared Josh inside; if Aleph got anywhere close, there was no predicting how such an encounter would end. Though he remained silent about the normal-type in trying to keep a positive demeanor, it was clear from his body language that he wanted to talk to Ettie in private about Orion.

---

Andrea Vaneau Remiel Calcifet Ettie

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present.

{WC: 423}
{PC: 3}

Ohh, a birthday! Ettie nodnodded in understanding - she could get that much! And this meant that Josh was going to be 25 years old! "Is... when Ettie say Happy Birthday?" She asked innocently, smiling bright and wide. She'd never got to do that before, but the people here seemed to be having fun saying it to Josh!

... 25 felt like a long time, though. But she also knew that there were people much older than Josh out there. How old were they? How long was it until Josh started getting wrinkles like a Snubbull?

Ettie's thoughts would wander along this train of thought for a few moments longer, before she took note of a change in Josh's body language. A certain tension that she didn't notice before, and the gaze he settled on Orion (who was beginning to fidget, upon noticing the attention on them...) Glancing between the two, she'd glance to Josh - tilting her head and asking "Is okay? Orion is friend! Just shy."

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"It's close enough," Josh returned Ettie's nod with one of his own. "Like I said, the actual date of my birthday isn't until Tuesday." He looked noticeably uncomfortable when Orion's gaze settled upon him, shifting his eyes out to see where Aleph was. He was terrified inside to see the Type: Null head in Orion's direction, though Aleph was still quite the distance away. He hoped his own Type: Null was just roaming and not looking for a sparring partner. Josh would get close to Ettie and speak softly, "I just don't want to cause a scene. Aleph... my own Pokémon or Orion's kind... is really disobedient."

The high-quality Pokémon feed did not go without appreciation. "Treats for my gym Pokémon!" Josh answered Andrea with an equally big smile. Despite the great size of the bags, he knew he would go through them fairly quickly. "This was such a good idea, Andrea! Thank you! I'll have to bring some of this with me when we go to Sinnoh with our dragons!" The SUNNY DAY was welcome, especially for the young woman soaring above the Gym on Ao's back. The Roaring Moon's PROTOSYNTHESIS kicked his flight into high gear, the female cocooned to the flying dragon's back crying out in joy as she wheeled above faster than she expected to go.

Turning toward Elise Calcifet , Josh opened up the bag he was presented. It did not take him long to cuddle the Glastrier stuffie close. "This will go great next to the Spectrier statue. I'll have to find a shelf for both in my office. Thank you so much!" He might have to put one of his other smaller stuffies in the Glastrier's saddle. Perhaps a Zeraora. Though his ran on all fours, all the mass-produced stuffies of the thundercat were bipedal. "I've known Andrea and Ettie for a bit. Andrea's a Gym Leader up in... Fallarbor, if memory serves?" He stopped for a few seconds to think, but didn't seem confident in his answer. "Anyway, she's really good at what she does. You can't just bring Ice and Fairy Pokémon against her and expect to win. I've recommended her for promotion a couple times now."

---

Andrea Vaneau Elise Calcifet Ettie

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present.

{WC: 368}
{PC: 4}