Seeing the Galarian royal alongside the High King filled Josh's mind with jealousy. So many of his friends had been acknowledged by one of the gods. Was Elise, Josh's student, about to eclipse his own leadership capabilities? As steamed as he was internally, that steam would soon vent away, as he would soon enter a "pact" with the "Paldean Forme" of the Beast he had chased for the majority of his life. He subtly shook his head before swallowing his pride.

"To think the one I had brought up as a leader would be evaluated by a god for exquisite leadership qualities..." Josh breathed a deep sigh as Elise floated the idea of becoming an Avatar. "I would be very, very cautious about accepting any sort of Patronage from the High King. I once thought the Titan of Ice, Articuno, to be a benevolent Patron. There are too many Patrons that dominate every aspect of their Avatars' lives. There are some days I wonder how much free will Laurence Anderson has..."

Josh would slide off Hylda's back, yielding to the High King to take a seat on his rightful steed. "O High King, for today's journey, take command of what is rightfully yours," he gestured toward the Glastrier. Aleph was already scouting ahead, the Type: Null looking for trouble.

There were, of course, Patrons out there that built truly symbiotic relationships with their Avatars, Remiel Calcifet being one of them. Even so, there were so many that seemed to rule their Avatars, subjecting them to unreasonable demands. "I wasn't trying to stop you. I was just trying to give you a fair warning was all." Josh echoed Michael Navidson 's sentiments on working with legendary Pokémon. While he wasn't in cahoots with a god, the rider was working with two legendary Pokémon: Aleph and Hylda. Even if their Infinity Energy fields weren't quite as oppressive as that of a Patron, they still made Josh sick one day. "I have to limit how many of them I carry on my belt, even," he concluded from his trip deep into Area Zero with Laurence Anderson . The reason for the rash that day was far more complex than that, but being surrounded by an entire team of six rare Pokémon was still not good for his health.

Not wanting to exasperate the issue any longer, Josh clicked open Oberon's Poké Ball, the Gym Leader taking a seat on the Sceptile's back, dinosaur-style. "High King, lead the way!" he called out, wondering how Elise would keep up with them.

Josh's frown began to disappear after Elise's apology. The High King was a wonderful partner for Elise; he couldn't have chosen anyone better in his eyes. Seeing Charles hold Hylda's reins and direct the ice horse expertly was a real treat, drawing out even more speed that the Gym Leader was able to. It was an incredible sight to see. That it took AGILITY from Elise's Rapidash and Josh pushing Oberon to close to full speed just to keep up was a testament to how in tune the two were with one another.

It would not take long for a blast of HYDRO STEAM to rise from beneath the trio, a desperate young woman and her Dodrio screaming for help. The cry of a Walking Wake would soon follow. "...Suicune?!" Josh gasped, keeping his eyes peeled for the aquatic dragon-type. Aleph was on edge, too, ready to pounce as soon as their paradox foe came into view.

"That won't work, Elise!" Josh tried to stop her. "Suicune is too fast to--"

The SPIRIT SHACKLE, to Josh's surprise, kept the Suicune immobilized. Far from helpless, the dinosaur-like Beast roared, loosing two waves of DRAGON PULSE toward Elise, Josh, and their Pokémon: one from its forehead crystal, and one from its open maw. Those weren't flying-type attacks! Did this Hoennian Suicune, as Josh understand it, have dominion over dragon energy instead of the wind?

To Josh, though, their foe wasn't Walking Wake. It was Suicune. Wind powers or no, it was still a member of the Great One's Most Sacred Creation. It was a shame he had to fight it. Aleph pounced after the Dragon Pulse washed over him, Oberon, and Josh, the Gym Leader hissing in pain from the purifying dragon energy that burned on contact. All three of them looked like they had seen better days, the rider struggling to rein Oberon in the Walking Wake's direction for a powerful LEAF BLADE counterattack.

The Walking Wake's BOOSTER ENERGY began to glow, looking like it would be consumed at any moment. Were it given the chance, the formula would make the already fast paradox Pokémon even faster.

"No time! We gotta act now!" Josh urged Elise. Aleph, sensing the immediacy of the situation, bolted toward the Walking Wake, slashing across the paradox water-type's side with his X-SCISSOR. Even with the two LEAF BLADES, one augmented by the High King's HELPING HAND, the Suicune look-alike remained standing. Drunk on BOOSTER ENERGY, the Walking Wake became substantially faster.

With a cry that sounded exactly like a Suicune, HYDRO STEAM began to erupt from around the Walking Wake, directing blinding, high-speed thermals outward from its forehead crystal. The searing steam caused Josh's and Oberon's skin to blister, and may have left Elise and her team in intense pain, as well. This Suicune had wind powers much like the familiar Johtonian variety, though its winds were searing hot instead of deadly cold.

The Gym Leader wailed in nightmarish pain, he, Oberon, and Aleph all on the ground in a heap. The last time his entire body burned so much was at Dewford when he had more Bullet Seed holes in him than a hunk of Swiss cheese.

Charles' HEAL PULSE relaxed many of Josh's burns away, though it did not affect Oberon and Aleph. Sighing, he had little choice. He had to use his Sacred Swords against the Walking Wake. "Come on out, Sigmund," Josh huffed, getting to his feet. From the Ball emerged an Iron Crown that looked furious at the water dragon for attacking Josh indiscriminately. Cutting into the weakened Walking Wake's chin with his SACRED SWORD, the psychic-type landed the finishing blow.

The Galarian and Johtonian had kept one another safe. Without each other, their lives would be over at the dangerous paradox Pokémon's hands. "...Suicune's power is no joke, Elise. Let's get back to Oldale. I think I still need to go to immediate care." With that, Sigmund levitated Josh onto the steel-type Pokémon and kept a swift but comfortable pace to the surface.