The noise made Josh's ears scream, drowning out every word CIAN MAHER had to say. Only able to rely on nonverbal communication, the Champion set Extratone's reins down and guided the Kommo-o to a stop. He slid down from the saddle and faced his co-worker, tapping the palms of his hands against his ears before covering them continuously. It seemed the weather expert had already taken in the message.

Deeply inhaling, Extratone raised his scaled tail straight up, much like a rattlesnake would its tail when trying to scare critters away. He knew what was coming, and it forced him to be back on foot. Unlike a certain Shalin Nariya , the fighting-type's vibrating scales would reduce him to jelly were he to remain mounted while his partner discharged the explosive noise of his CLANGOROUS SOUL. It was so loud that even Aleph the Type: Null retreated well behind his trainer.

Even from a distance, the dragon's sonic attack rattled Josh's bones uncomfortably, causing him to fall and land on his rump. It was a testament to how top quality the work of Verdanturf's most prolific tanner was. Despite being exposed to truly furious vibration, Extratone's saddle was completely intact. Whatever they were made out of, they were incredibly tough.

Just as the Gym Leader managed to get to his feet and back aboard his dragon, the world around he, Cian, and their Pokémon began to fade into darkness at an alarming rate. Though it appeared that the pages of a book were about to flatten them, Josh didn't look alarmed at all. "I've been in enough of these, Cian. It's okay; we're just passing to the next stage."

The Slateport invasion was before Josh's time, but the Champion had heard much about it from Alexei Ivanov . Perhaps that was why he was so opposed to the young man going to the Ultra Sea and bagging a Poipole for himself. Naganadel were incredibly powerful poison-type steeds in the Gym Leader's eyes, if a little awkward to ride because of how they flew. Even so, he wouldn't turn the opportunity down.

Besides, he was curious. He had seen how hopeless it was the last time he came to the simulation and went down this road. He wanted to see what happened if he fought alongside them for a change. A sly smile grew on the Champion's face.

"Do we?" Josh replied. "What if we fought alongside Rocket for a while, then caused confusion in their ranks?"

Plucking the RAINBOW FEATHER from his outfit, Josh began to draw a Sign in the air. Ashes floated in its wake as he made a stroke from above his head to chest level, then three more strokes crossing the initial one in the shape of a lightning bolt. The black powder, charged with divine electricity, formed the shape of a monochrome tiger Pokémon revered in his homeland. A loud purr rattled their air around the Champions as Josh rested his hands on top of Swift's thundercloud, ready to vault himself on the thundercloud seat at any moment.

"And Cian... I believe this is your first time meeting Swift."

"Cian, I don't mean for real," Josh reiterated. "As a farce. A false alliance to destroy Rocket from within. If sprung at the right time, we can cause their forces to split apart." As the Rockets came closer, he reciprocated Cian's grin momentarily before thinking about Kyle again. "If only it were under better circumstances. It was... Kyle's last gift to me before he died and the Great One disappeared. I'll... have to carry on his legacy. Alongside Isaac Merlo and whoever Entei chooses. Now, let's saddle up and kick some ass."

Joah and Swift turned around as the Rockets' front lines approached. With a tap to Swift's sides, the legendary tiger led the charge, electrified paws rushing toward the citizens of Slateport. He aimed to break through the lines in spots where the fewest people would be harmed. He needed to limit the damage as much as possible while he feigned loyalty to Rocket. When the time was right, Swift would rear and turn on them in the most vicious SPARK attack any of his Pokémon could muster.

Under a false pretense of Rocket alliance, Josh and Swift led the charge toward League forces, ramming and trampling enough of them to make Rocket feel comfortable with him in his role. As he returned to the Rockets' side, he delivered a swift kick to the Beast's sides. With destructive speed and power, he tore through Rocket lines with even greater ferocity. Though he only managed the electrified tackle that was a SPARK attack, over and over again, it was the fastest SPARK Hoenn had known.

The ashen tiger was a black blur until a wide EARTHQUAKE caused the Beast to trip and tumble. With great skill, Josh grabbed the outermost tufts of thundercloud, reining the electric cat much like one would a horse Pokémon. With a sharp slide that made even Josh grunt loudly, he stopped next to Cian to pick up the Rustboro Gym Leader. Were he to accept the lift out of Slateport, the now-wanted Gym Leaders would race the god of speed out of the Rocket-occupied city's clutches.