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When Eddie phased into his next simulation, it was not at all what he expected. Wasn't there supposed to be, like combat encounters, or something? Designing a gym didn't seem like a particularly productive use of his time, but he had to admit that the prospect was a tantalizing one, [break][break]

“This one'll be a breeze for ya,” he chuckled to Josh as he watched the Tera crystal thoughtfully. [break][break]

Eddie stared into the sharp angles and flat planes of the crystal's cut surface for a moment, and suddenly felt uncharacteristically self-conscious, [break][break]

“So, uh, don't judge what I cook up too harshly, yeah? Don't really have a whole lot of experience with this sorta thing, but-” [break][break]

The crystal suddenly pulsed a bright flash of light, bathing them in a warm yellow glow, like golden sunlight, as their surroundings began to shift and change, [break][break]

“I think I got some ideas.” [break][break]

The gym was beginning to take shape. The ground below them shimmered into existence, and little tiles clattered together to form circular mosaics depicting primitive images of trainers and Pokemon. Alto Marean-style pillars grew from the stone ground, looming like marble sentinels and stretching up towards the open blue sky above, [break][break]

“Well ain't that somethin'.” [break][break]

Eddie watched with awe when, in a final sunburst of light, the walls formed around them, and stone stands rose up to stretch above the perimeter of the arena. They were in a coliseum, hewn from ruddy stone and decorated in rich shades of gold and amber and orange and marble white, and Eddie suddenly realized that something had formed in the palm of his hand. [break][break]

He grinned and held up the newly formed badge between his fingers to show his friend, watching as the light danced off the coppery gleam of the metal wreath of laurels, [break][break]

“Well? Whaddya think?”

[attr="class","bottom"]design![break]
Josh Devlin[break]

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Eddie grinned with pride, [break][break]

“Kinda-sorta, but not exactly.”[break][break]

At the far end of the arena, tiled rock shifted away and rearranged itself to form an arched entryway. Eddie gestured towards it with giddy excitement, [break][break]

“Check this out!” [break][break]

He walked through the archway, and the tiled floor beneath them gave way to a simple dirt path. More columns flanked the trek until they reached a dusty footpath that curved into an ovular track, marked by some white chalk scribbling and bordered by lush green grasses. Near the end of the interior portion of the track was a large, white paved circle, with a pair of lines extending from it and radiating outwards, and another pair of lines behind it that extended back as a narrow runway, [break][break]

“Figured I could do some sorta trainer-partner athletic competition sorta setup for the non-traditional challenge,” he explained, hardly able to contain his excitement, “Footrace, some kinda shot put or javelin throw, that kinda thing.” [break][break]

Beyond the verdant grasses that surrounded the track, the even ground of the athletic grounds gave way to little hills and the dark trunks of olive trees. Eddie turned over the badge in his hand and considered it again for a moment, [break][break]

“Thinkin' of callin' this the Myrmidon Badge.” [break][break]

He laughed suddenly, and pride gave way to a little more self-consciousness, [break][break]

“Sorry; that's kinda corny, ain't it?”

[attr="class","bottom"]design![break]
Josh Devlin [break]

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The Gogoat actually got more distance than Eddie would have guessed, considering the Pokemon didn't have hands to throw the shot with. He watched the goat reflect back the sun's light in a prismatic scattering of colors, [break][break]

“Thanks,” Eddie replied with a sigh of relief and a new, easy smile. [break][break]

It was less a joke and more of an exposing revelation of his own passions that had the older man second-guessing himself, but he should have known that Josh wouldn't judge him. As the simulation began to shimmer away, Eddie laughed again, more out of sincere joy than embarrassment, [break][break]

“So, Mister Champion, did I pass the inspection?”

[attr="class","bottom"]on to the next one![break]
Josh Devlin [break]

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“Ah, it's just one'a those things you daydream about,” Eddie insisted bashfully, “Like winnin' the lottery or baggin' yourself a trophy wife.” [break][break]

But wouldn't it be a hell of a thing if he made that little dream come true someday? He had never been the ambitious sort, but Josh's praise did wonders for Eddie's ego. When the Champion-ranked trainer proposed a challenge in Eddie's newly-formed gym, the older man grinned wide, [break][break]

“Oh hell yeah-!” [break][break]

Until the simulation fizzled out from under them and they began their transition to the next one. Eddie sighed and felt his shoulders slacken with disappointment, [break][break]

“Yeah, no kiddin',” Eddie finally chuckled in reply.

[attr="class","bottom"]on to the next one![break]
Josh Devlin [break]

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When the scene shifted again, Eddie found himself thrust into the setting of a classic fairy tale; the common folk plagued by a monstrous creature, spoken of in harsh whispers, until the specter of death itself came charging through a nearby fence. Eddie suddenly looked to Josh, unsure of how to proceed, [break][break]

“Oh shit, yer probably right,” Eddie realized, feeling suddenly foolish. Why hadn't he thought of that? Did he even remember to bring any Pokemon with him to the simulation? [break][break]

Maybe he wouldn't need one, though, even as he shivered in the cold. A shot at Avatarship? Who the hell would pass up a chance at that? Eddie grinned against the frigid air that enveloped them, [break][break]

“Easiest choice yet,” he chuckled as he started off after the horse. [break][break]

It wasn't hard to find the rampaging Glastrier as it bucked and whinnied and kicked its way through a fallow field, leaving streaks of ice in it's wake. It looked... pained, somehow. Like a creature lashing out in discomfort rather than malice. Eddie approached cautiously, holding his arms out wide, [break][break]

“Hey, easy, big guy.” [break][break]

The frozen equine skidded to stop, turning to fix it's cold, white eyes on the fool that dared to confront such a specter. Eddie felt another new icy surge of cold, like ice-water being injected into his veins, and he was no longer sure if it was solely a product of the weather, [break][break]

“You don't look like yer feelin' so hot,” Eddie offered, taking a testing step forward, “You need some help?” [break][break]

An audacious move, perhaps, especially when the Glastrier reared back and began to charge at him. Eddie kept his stance, though, welcoming and open, fighting back the fear that pricked at his heart. Pokemon of all kinds responded to body language, emotion; it was one of many ways that they could communicate with the trainers that loved them. Would the Glastrier also be able to see that Eddie had only the best of intentions? Or would he be crushed beneath those icy hooves before he'd get to find out? [break][break]

Mere inches away from him, the horse skidded to a stop again, rearing up with a cry. It's hooves cracked the frozen ground beneath it with a fierce stomp, but Eddie just watched it, and the way those frantic, heaving breaths slowed to something more tired. He frowned a little as those equine nostrils flared with agitation and the white eyes, even though they lacked pupils, seemed to dart frantically around. [break][break]

Now was the moment of truth, he supposed, as he reached forward to gently touch the glass-like hoarfrost coating the Glastrier's muzzle, [break][break]

“It's okay, I'm here now,” Eddie reassured the beast, voice low and soft, a dull and comforting rumble, “Don't know what's eatin' at ya, but we'll figure it out, and we'll get you fixed right up. That okay?” [break][break]

The Glastrier hesitated a moment, until, with a jarring and almost impossibly painful jolt of cold, it pressed it's nose against Eddie's open palm.

[attr="class","bottom"]taming glastrier![break]
Josh Devlin [break]