The Tropius Desiree flew on made Josh realize he hadn't taken Zetalpa for a flight outside the Gym recently. Perhaps on a sunny day, he would be able to fly with the leaf-winged grass-type. While not quick in overcast weather, on summer days when there wasn't a cloud in the sky, they were some of the fastest grass Pokémon around. The Zeraora took the compliments in stride, sharply pulling back on Blitz's reins and causing the Luxray to rear dramatically.

"Hard to tell if he liked or disliked being called cute, but he doesn't look angry, at least," Josh mused. "That did look fun, though!" The Gym Leader did the same, Raikiri eager to rear and get his trainer's blood pumping as well. "Yeehaw!" he whooped as the angle forced him to slide to the back of the saddle.

As Desiree said she was ready to go, Josh scooted forward on his mount, leaving room for his Gym Leader friend. "I believe I owed you a seat on the thundercat's back, didn't I?" he half-teased. "...Unless your Tropius can keep up with some of the fastest Pokémon on land!"

If there was a flying-type that could keep their cargo safe, it was Tropius. Their flight stability, even at speed, was astounding, making them great flying-type for beginning pilots to learn with. "Flying Pokémon are generally several times faster than comparable Pokémon on land." When it became apparent that Desiree would slide down from her Tropius and behind Josh, he saved the rest of his comments for after she made the seamless transition. Raikiri purred loudly after Desiree landed on his back, thrumming like a revving race car. "Raikiri must be really fired up today! Hold on tight!" Josh warned.

The Champion listened to Desiree as both of them got situated atop the Zeraora that looked ready to charge toward and through Meteor Falls at disgusting speed. "We... have similar stories. But once we get on the road, I'll tell you more." With a light tap to the Zeraora's sides, the Pokémon was off, his flexing back perhaps a bit rough on Desiree if she was used to only riding equine Pokémon. Once they had left Rustboro behind, Josh spoke up over the wind.

"I have one of those Pokémon, too. It's... from what I understand, another form of Raikou. It's why I wouldn't give mine a name. I just call mine Raikou. Tell you what. It's a long trip. When you need a break, let me know, and you can meet him." His, too, was most well-behaved in the Giant Chasm and Area Zero, as was his Gouging Fire and Walking Wake. Why they only behaved there was still a mystery. He didn't dare try to break them to the bridle; in his eyes, they were legendary Pokémon.

And only a willing, symbiotic god answered to the bridle.

There was a certain freedom gained from racing across the land. When he needed it most, he would click the switch of a Poké Ball and saddle up the Pokémon within. He would let his anxiety, his fears, and his concerns blow away upon the hurricane-force winds that blew in his face when he was astride one of the many ultrafast Pokémon that roamed his Gym.

"It's... certainly intriguing," Josh replied as he tugged on Raikiri's reins gently, slowly easing up his leg pressure as to not make Desiree uncomfortable after going what may have been too fast for her to handle. "Alright then, we can relax for a bit." Undoing the cocoon holding them fast to the thundercat's back, Josh slid down from the Zeraora and would help Desiree down if need be.

"Thanks," he sighed, thinking about Kyle again and how the Champion had his life taken from him. While he knew the identity of the Top Champion's assassin, he swore himself to secrecy. It was only a matter of time before the League found out. "It means the world to me. In more ways than you think." Unhooking a latch keeping the Cherish Ball on his belt, a saddled Raging Bolt emerged from it, the electric dragon's long neck curving around to cuddle Josh. "This... is Raikou," he introduced the paradox. "I couldn't bear to give him a name of my own. For he was... once a Johtonian Raikou beaten within an inch of his life by those horrible paradox Pokémon. Scream Tail, I think they're called."

After telling part of his story, he pulled out the RAINBOW FEATHER from where it was pinned to his outfit, ashes falling from its quill...

The past Josh couldn't take a compliment; he was humble to a fault, afraid to step on the feet of anyone that tried to exalt his own deeds. Self-deprecation was still a struggle for Josh, though he had conquered it some. He had to if he wanted to be a true Champion. Someone Hoenn could reliably depend on.

There was something between the two that just clicked, as though the Raging Bolt really was the Raikou that Josh inadvertently named the paradox after. That long neck didn't slow the electric dragon down, either; as he would find out, Raikou was more than capable of keeping up with Swift. "Ran into all kinds of those so-called paradox Pokémon. Think I ran into most of the known ones. I've got one of every single one at my Gym if it's got the right body shape and size to wear a saddle. The one called Roaring Moon is one of my favorites." He loved the way Ao flew and fought: one of his most powerful aerial mounts. Even if Yosei wasn't still suffering from chronic laziness, the Salamence would have a hard time keeping up.

The Raging Bolt's response sounded like rumbles of distant thunder as ashes continued to fall from the RAINBOW FEATHER's quill. "And this is why I needed such a rural route. Not just this Hoennian Raikou you see before you." Holding the iridescent object in his hand, he drew four strokes with it, its ashes suspended in midair in the shape of a lightning bolt. In a loud thunderclap accompanied by a brilliant flash, the ashes took the form of a monochrome Beast.



"This Raikou, too. His name's Swift." The regal creature's shape was of the more familiar Johtonian legend, dagger-like fangs extending from the top of his mouth. "He was Kyle's last gift to me before his death at Mount Chimney."

It seemed Josh was fated to collect many of the paradoxical Pokémon, and Desiree had some... traumatic experiences with them. Experiences she would rather not share. Josh respected it; after all, he was trauma-dumping on her a bit more than he would have liked.

"It was... truly special," Josh slowly and softly answered Desiree. "Ever since I was a child, I've admired Raikou. He must have known he was going to die, and recognized that I was the best person to wield Raikou's power." Swift purred softly by his standards, though it still sounded like a distant rumble of thunder.

"He was the Great One's Avatar," Josh reminded her, thinking about the scope of the blow the League as a whole suffered in his absence. "but I've never met anyone in a position of power more down-to-earth than he was. It was a shame you never got to meet him."

The Gym Leader rest his hand on the crown of the ashen Pokémon. "But enough of that," he shook his head as he moved his hands to the side of the thundercloud adorning the electric-type's back. "How are you feeling now? Refreshed and ready to continue? Not gonna lie, Desiree... I'm tempted to let Aslan get way ahead of us, then see how fast the electric tiger can go."

Wishes were the lifeblood of dreams, of desires, and of drive. As important as it was to have them, the only being that could make wishes come true was in custody of the League. If Josh had three wishes right now, one of them would be spent on bringing Kyle back to life after being murdered at the Volatile's whims. The Top Champion did not deserve to be run into the ground from a flourish of PRECIPICE BLADES. Only Team Rocket's truly devoted did.

"Exactly. Did I tell you the story of when I first met Swift and rode on his back?" he asked Desiree. "It was at Mauville Gym. Kyle dropped by for my birthday the year before last. After our battle, I asked if we could go riding Entei together. He didn't approve of it, but he did approve of not just me riding Swift, but controlling him. It was a moment I'll never forget... experiencing a Raikou's Extreme Speed for myself."

In the moment, his peripheral vision was such a blur that he couldn't see anything to his sides when riding as fast as a lightning bolt. Only what was directly in front of him was visible. It was terrifying, yet he had never had more fun in his life. It was the one pang of disappointment about Swift when the Beast had been passed down to him. Many of his basic skills were missing. Perhaps they were tied to Kyle, and he would have to raise Raikou like he would one of his other Pokémon.

If only Josh were around to ask him. Only Kyle knew, and it was a secret the Top Champion took to his molten grave. It would be his puzzle to solve.

"Got it! Swift, can you sit down for a moment?" Josh asked. The ashen Beast, obedient to his rider's every command, crouched to make it easy for Desiree to sit upon the dark thundercloud. The cloudy cushion made for a natural saddle, and its outer tufts served the same purpose as reins. It was almost like the electric cat was designed to be the fastest land mount in the world. If she needed further assistance, Josh would help pull the young lady up into place behind him.

"Remember when you were on your Arcanine mid-Extreme Speed?" he asked one more question of Desiree, the Beast's massive purr reverberating through both riders. "Well, this is going to be even faster. And Swift can sustain it."