Josh greeted him warmly. The blonde simply waved at the guy, and back at his Pokemon. Payday? "I didn't think there was any realy prize money to be had here. I just thought this would be good practice. Besides, Big Bert is enjoying himself. Don't spoil it for him." Raju released his monstrous Paldean Blaze Breed Tauros. Josh had fought him before. But last time was a double battle. This time was a singles match, and wasn't a test. Not that that part really mattered, They were going to put everything they had in this match...well, all of them really. The Tauros dug at the ground, ready to charge full speed and engulfed flames. But like all the other matches, waited for the countdown to run dry.

Josh Devlin

"Big Bert better be ready," Josh replied with a smirk. "Raikiri is no joke. He's the strongest, fastest Pokémon I have. And if I have anything to say about it, he might have a cousin roaming the Gym when this tournament's over." Any other trash talk would be cut short by the starting horn.

In just a split second, the Zeraora was effortlessly dashing about the arena. It would have been hard for other competitors to follow, but Raju had been trained in the art of speed. That extra split second of time he had from faster reactions by virtue of being a trainer of the fastest Gym. Determined to outpace Big Bert, Raikiri zoomed around the Tauros, circling him with impressive AGILITY unlike that of any of Josh's other Pokémon.

---

wchzvxAF

Raju Mystic

Planning to use a Z-Move!

{PC: 2}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikiri       Zeraora        ♥♥♥

Oh? Well, this ought to be fun. Almost immediately, the Pokemon started to zip around with Agility, a staple of the gym. Well, two can sort of play that game. BB's Intimidate ability may help in weathering assault, but a one two for speed may help with actually hitting the guy. "Scary Face, then follow it up with Flame charge!" With a very scary face to hopefully make the other Pokemon hesitate, the bull charged forward, engulfing himself in flames. BB was great in the power and full straight on running speed, but not so much the sheer mobility that Raikiri just showed. That would make this a difficult fight. But then again...he just seemed to just be facing those with high mobility. Well, worst case, he may just end up face planting into the dirt from missing. Embarrassing, and maybe damaging physically, but more ego damaging than anything....

HP: 3/3

xptIccXG

Josh Devlin

Raikiri was running so fast that Big Bert's facial features, including his SCARY FACE, were almost unrecognizable. The FLAME CHARGE to follow was well-timed, but not quite well enough; the Zeraora escaped with some singed fur but little to no lasting harm. Raju's tactics were savage and swift, exactly how the Gym Leader had taught him. The young man was looking more and more like an Interim Gym Leader every time they met one another, whether in battle or out in the field.

For all the speed Raikiri had, it came with a price: the only defense he had was evasion. One strong horn strike from Big Bert, and it would be all over. Such was Mauville Gym: his Pokémon were easy to overpower... if one could hit them. Keeping his distance, the electric-type hurled a volley of ELECTRO BALLS toward the black bovine.

---

ujOZFDvt

Raju Mystic

Planning to use a Z-Move!

{PC: 3}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikiri       Zeraora        ♥♥♥

The Scary Face had no effect, likely due to the speed of the creature. That figures. But the Flame Charge was soo close to hitting, but missed. Trying to stop, the beast ended up doing a face plant and flip. Getting up, he shook his head, and Big Bert was ready for round two. Charging ahead, with psychic energy swirling around his head with a Zen Headbutt. Maybe charging through and maybe even bouncing a few Electro Balls back would catch them by surprise. Big Bert was a tough ol boy, but the sheer speed of the Pokemon was definitely going to be a problem...more so with that combination with Electro Ball. Timing and patience may be the key to winning this fight.


HP: 2/3

ZI6yReRM

Josh Devlin

The psychic extension of Big Bert's horns gave him the range he needed to ricochet the volley of electric projectiles right back at the Zeraora. His VOLT ABSORB, powerful as it was, would be useless in the face of his own attack coming back at him with double the speed. Raikiri let out a pained squeal, recoiling and shaking from being overloaded with his own electricity.

As much as he didn't want to get in melee with the bull, Josh felt he had little choice. When accounting for both speed and power, the Zeraora and Tauros were equals. Where Raikiri was brutally fast, Big Bert was equally strong. Josh's Pokémon had strength not to be trifled with, either. His next maneuver would be dangerous, but if it paid off, would put him in an almost insurmountable position. Sliding to one corner of the arena, Josh's partner leaned low, his four paws carrying his body forward like an electric comet. When it looked like he was going to ram down the Tauros, Raikiri leaped and BOUNCED skyward, trying to launch Raju's Pokémon skyward.

---

MTReIF_|

Raju Mystic

Planning to use a Z-Move!

{PC: 4}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikiri       Zeraora        ♥♥♥

It worked! The bounced Electro Balls smacked the electric pokemon, making him squeal. The Zeroara moved to the corner. Oh? The bull moved closer cautiously before attempting a Close Combat. Only to miss, and the creature bounced high into the sky. Good move. Turning around, Big Bert's horns glowed red and instead tried to use Raging Bull. Well, trying to time it right to strike at the Zeroara at the same time as the opponent. That was going to be tricky. The bull had to reposition himself to be at his previous location, to better strike at the lightning fast Pokemon. They just had to hope that the timing would be correct. Raju's eyes narrowed as he searched his memory. He soon remembered that Bounce was a flying type move, oddly. Which means that if it hit, it would hurt...a lot.



HP: 2/3

81WbsZGL

Josh Devlin

With a discharge from his front paws, Raikiri was able to avoid landing on Big Bert's horns. Such a counterblow would have used the big cat's momentum against him, perhaps even knocking him out of the match then and there. It was not to be, though, as he landed from his acrobatic leap.

The Gym Leader had his top trainer right where he wanted him. With a smirk, he raised his Z-GLOVE to head level, bathing his partner in Z-Energy. Raju had to have known what was coming: a triple threat of the fastest-moving paws in Hoenn, a line of lightning bolts in their wake, and the aural explosion of crashing thunder to follow.

The Z-MOVE: HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE. It was a move Josh wanted to teach Raju about if he were to acquire a compatible Pokémon.

---

IyEjskly+50

Raju Mystic

Z-Move used this turn!

{PC: 5}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikiri       Zeraora        ♥♥♥

The lightning fighter was nimble, able to avoid the attack and smack the Tauros's head into the ground, almost digging it in. Pulling his head out of the dirt and shaking it to get the dirt off his face, he spun around angrily. Then came something he's only heard about. Z-moves. In a flash of lightning, Big Bert was thrown out of the ring, electricity circulating around him. And very clearly knocked out. Well, so much for that. Still, knowledge was power. And maybe some need to increase it, just to see if there was any counters to Z-moves. Only thing he could think of right off hand was another Z-move. With a heavy sigh, he just walked to his big boy and patted him on the side, as if to say that he did good. And he did. Just like in their test fight. Maybe next time it will be different.


HP: 1/3

qO61K3GI

Josh Devlin

Even the might of another Z-Move would be too slow; there were very few Z-Moves that could defend against such a fast attack. One of those was another HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE, matching the move's blistering pace. SANCTUARY was another, able to repel anything an ordinary Pokémon could do and perhaps even give the gods themselves trouble.

Josh was still unbeatable in his domain. All of the trainers that had taken him down in the tournament had landed a lucky or skillful first strike. "Good match, Raju. When you get a Pokémon for it, I'd love to show you how to use this move. It's the Mauville Gym special, and my favorite move of all."

---

Raju Mystic

{PC: 6}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikiri       Zeraora        ♥♥♥

Walking up to his one of employers, Raju held out a hand for a handshake. As Josh took it, he complimented Raju. Didn't feel all that good really. Been off his game after the first few good matches. Nodding, he did look at the Zeraora. He had to get himself one of those. Raju was a quiet lad, and just headed off to get Big Bert checked out for the next match. Hopefully the next one was going to be at least a better showing. This one may not be as bad as some of his other losses, but it was still bad enough to make him a little embarrassed. Hoenn may have just better trainers overall...hence his bad luck...or perhaps just getting out played.

Josh Devlin