Laurence Anderson had scolded Josh many a time, and it at last had been beaten into his skull why. Among his Gym commitments, his Ranger work, and his former self's fruitless pursuit of Raikou, he had at last realized where he had fallen short. For most with a work ethic issue, it was only wanting to do enough to get by at their jobs.

For Josh, it was his tendency to overwork himself. It took a personal visit from Top Champion kyle lopez to at last get him to understand why he was declined for the Elite Four. He could not do a proper self-evaluation. If he could not do a proper self-evaluation and recognize his work ethic was self-toxic, he was not one to be the judge of others' character. It was perhaps the most important duty the supersoldiers had. In that moment, it dawned on him that the role he was in, that of Gym Leader, was perfect for him the way he was.

"Fearsome Pokémon," Josh complimented Elinor on the Metagross. "It's probably the Pokémon I get asked the most about... why I don't ride one, given how fast they can move. There's something about being able to feel what your Pokémon can do." What he could not find the words for were was what all his ride Pokémon had in common: their bodies were the right shape to sit on straddle-style. Metagross was a Pokémon that could only be ridden sidesaddle. He wasn't sure what it was, but that particular style is what made him feel in his element.

As Toralf bounced toward their destination, keeping up with Bel for the time being, Josh felt it was a good time to catch up. "So what you been up to the last few months? You picked a good time to take a leave of absence. Dewford Two was horrible."

Metagross was one of those Pokémon that a rider didn't sit on like a traditional Pokémon. They were more Pokémon ridden like surfboards. More like living, levitating chairs one would sit in. It wasn't the type of steed Josh looked for. He loved the ones that lightly bounced riders with every stride. Ones a rider could feel every running stroke of. Every wingbeat. Every stroke of a fin. Josh lived for that.

"Funny you left to visit family," Josh started to relate the tale of his own family. "Mine moved to Hoenn from Johto. Couldn't stand being apart from me now that my life's tied to the region. I still have to lead Mauville Gym, after all." That and his Ranger duties left him busy, but he loved them both too much to give them up.

"Dewford Two was a bloodbath. All for naught, too. Far as I'm aware from war reports, both the League and Team Rocket are kinda back where they started. I was on the front lines for that war. It was hell." He sighed, remembering the operations with Greyson Connors , Hideo Kino , and others. They were operations he could no longer share with Elinor, as her League credentials had long since been revoked. "I should show you the cup of Bullet Seeds they had to cut out of me. I was in the hospital for weeks. And... one of my Pokémon friends near and dear to me... didn't make it."

"It was Slider, my Braviary, that was killed in action," Josh lamented. "I miss him. Even if I catch another Braviary, it won't be the same." War and premature death were constants in Hoenn, a region ravaged by never-ending conflict. "A year ago, if I knew what I knew today, I never would have applied to be a Gym Leader, nor a Ranger in this region. Now, though? I wouldn't have it any other way. And I have you to thank for it." Had she never suggested Josh become a Ranger, he would never have achieved all he had in the region. He was a household name, the face of Mauville, and to a lesser extent, the face of sports in Hoenn.

A ping on Josh's RaiCorp Vision would set him back on task. "Keep an eye out for them. We're getting close," be briefly turned to Elinor and her Metagross as Toralf continued to run around the riverside in a bouncy fashion.

"...Thanks," Josh shed a singular tear that rolled down his cheek and off the back of it from the speed Toralf was running at. It was true; while Elinor did guide Josh down his path, his accomplishments were his own, and something he needed to take credit for. Humility was a great trait to have, but not to the point of self-deprecation. It was something he struggled with to this day, and perhaps one of the reasons MATIAS SILPH may have felt Josh was not worthy of the title Champion.

If he wanted to be a Champion, he had to embrace his own pride. Healthily, of course. Without demonstrating that, he was sure Michael Navidson would decline him, as well.

The river wasn't a huge one; there couldn't be too many islands in the middle of it. As the natural waterway widened, it split into two around one such island, motion catching Josh's eye. He shifted his sight toward the island, where two stranded people were waving toward the Metagross for help. "Elinor, I've got a visual at your one-o'clock," Josh relayed. Without a flying Pokémon, he would have to cross the river by water.

Slowing Toralf to a stop, Josh slid off the Raichu and withdrew him. He clicked the switch on Ulysses' Poké Ball, the Dewgong using his ICE BEAM to make a slick trail to get up to speed with. Once the Ranger was aboard, the ice-type slid into the river, paddling his way to the marooned couple.

Ulysses' ice bridge glowed a faint purple-pink as Elinor's Metagross reinforced it. While the metallic psychic-type would prevent the bridge from collapsing in the river's current, it would still melt with three Pyroar running across it. The Dewgong finished swimming across the river, clicking open the Poké Ball containing Roil, his Gyarados.

The Elite Ranger greeted the couple. "Mauville Elite Ranger Devlin, but you can call me Josh. Can you two help me load your kayaks onto Roil here?" he pointed toward the well-behaved aquatic serpent. Despite being slightly smaller than the norm for his species, he more than had the strength to carry both Josh and the kayaks.

With a bit of help from Josh, the family was able to get the aquatic vehicles secured to the large water-type. "Now, hop on Ulysses, my Dewgong. He'll get you back to the mainland."

With great teamwork, as well as quite a bit of convincing, Josh was able to ford the river alongside the couple and their equipment. Their clothes dripped from water splashing against them during the choppy ride. The Gym Leader was used to it, having trained Ulysses as a backup mount for the Silph Cup race in case Snacker couldn't complete. They didn't have such training, Josh flinching when they nearly lost their balance. All was well; the hardest part of their journey was over.

The Gym Leader withdrew his Dewgong and faced the couple, whistling for his three Pyroar to come. "Alright, the worst of it is behind us. The fastest way home will be on these Pyroar," he gestured toward the saddled fire-types, their seats bearing the Hoenn Ranger logo. "Rani, Kion, be gentle with them."

Once the two were securely aboard, Josh would climb onto Aslan's back himself. "Great work, Elinor! Couldn't have done it without you and your Metagross," he replied, offering the Captain a high-five. Even if they couldn't physicall touch one another due to being too far apart, the gesture was still there. "Now we just gotta get them back to Littleroot safely. Keep your eyes peeled for threatening Pokémon, okay? I gotta watch these two to make sure they don't fall."