As Genevieve Cromwell and Zagreus entered the Gym's office interior, needing to be watchful that the Arcanine didn't bump any light fixtures, she would be able to spot Josh speaking to his secretary, SHELLY SPIEL. The young racer's left arm was covered in a thick, white wrap that limited how much he could bend his elbow. Were she to eavesdrop, she would be able to ascertain a serious conversation between the two.

"Shelly, I hate to put this on you, but I need you to send out an internal email about an Interim Gym Leader position. With my arm, I simply can't handle challenger volume like I used to. Certainly not for racing challenges."

"Josh, I am so very sorry this happened to you," Shelly replied. "No one deserves what happened to you on that ship. It's important that you take care of yourself. Get through rehab the best you can, and you'll be able to get back to what you love."

"Thank you," the Gym Leader gratefully replied. "Get a form up on our intranet, and I'll read the responses as I can. No external hires for this position. We're only promoting from within, and this is only until I'm out of rehab. Kind of like when I had to promote Shawn after Meteno."

With a nod, Josh's secretary got back to work just as Genny called out to him. "Oh, hey Genny - long time no see! Can I help you?"

Josh's face mirrored Genny's, under the understanding that whether she intended to or not, she was likely eavesdropping. "I appreciate you coming to check on me," he answered, trying to downplay things somewhat. "Thanks. How'd you know I like bananas so much?" Perhaps she had learned from overhearing celebrity gossip. Either way, he wasn't going to turn down fresh fruit.

As the topic of conversation turned toward the Megalopolan ship, Josh understood why she was so somber. She had been there, too, hadn't she? She had known the day Josh had exposed the secret of the RAINBOW FEATHER pinned to his shirt. Josh became increasingly uncomfortable as the heads of other patrons turned toward them. "Genny, would you prefer to continue this conversation in my office or over a trail ride around the concourse? It won't be the fast ride you're used to, but it'll be something."

Bananas were indeed helpful for the particular health situation Josh found himself in, what with his arm bones still healing. They were serviceable in low-stress environments, but nothing like holding the reins of a Pokémon moving at breakneck speed... or worse yet, gripping the thundercloud of a certain electric tiger that could outrun a firearm's bullets with a Quick Attack. Even after his arm was fully healed, getting used to speed like that would be an ordeal of its own.

Josh knew what Genny intended to finish that sentence with. "I know. And I wish I could get on him. I'm under doctor's orders to only ride psychic Pokémon or horse Pokémon until I've been through enough rehab. Ever since... then... now that the world knows, I've wanted to share with all my friends, including you, the joy of my childhood dream."

Once Josh led them outside, he whistled for Dashie, his Galarian Rapidash, to come to his aid. He and Raiden, a swift-looking Zebstrika, slid to a stop near the Gym Leader, the psychic-type quick to levitate him into the electric-type's saddle. "I'm not strong enough to lift myself onto a Pokémon one-handed, and my arm's not strong enough to help me climb on alone. It sucks. So much. Like I said, though, my dream..."

He plucked the RAINBOW FEATHER from his shirt, drawing the Sign that kyle lopez had shown him. The last favor the Top Champion had done for him before he passed away. Electrified ash hung in the air as it coalesced into the form of a monochrome, emotionless Beast.

"Genny... meet Swift."

Dashie whinnied playfully when Genny ran her hand through his mane. "Oh, did your mother own one as well?" Josh asked. "They really are gentle Pokémon. Couldn't ask for a better Pokémon to learn how to ride with." It was true; Galarian Rapidash were among the easiest Pokémon to learn with; their gait was steady, they were responsive, and their psychic abilities could keep a rider from falling, reinforcing their balance.

The reaction to Swift was expected; being in the presence of Johto's god of speed had to be overwhelming. The tiger was big enough that Josh could pet the top of his crown even while seated on the Rapidash's back. Swift purred in response to the affection, its rumbling throat sounding like distant thunder that Genny may have been able to feel, even from her distance.

"He was kyle lopez 's last gift to me before he died at Mount Chimney. It's like our Top Champion knew the hour of his death."

The name brought a smile to Josh's face. "That's a cute name," he mused, the thought getting his mind off Kyle for a fleeting moment. He had fond memories of a few Pokémon still stuck between Johto, including a mean-spirited Lapras he never truly tamed. Classie was one rough ride -- certainly unconventional for the most common aquatic mount in the country.

That smile again turned upside down as Swift walked toward Genny, gently nuzzling her in an effort to comfort her if she allowed it. As a Ranger, she may have been able to see the link between the Beast's behavior and Josh's emotions. "Yes, Swift was Kyle's Pokémon. We met the December before last, when I got to go for a ride on him as a birthday present. And now, I can do so of my own accord... or I could, if my arm didn't get smashed in that ship. Fuck, this is so frustrating!" he swore. His professionalism was almost spotless when on the job, either as a Ranger or as a Gym Leader. To hear such foul language come from the Champion's mouth was a true rarity.

Josh thought that MATIAS SILPH had killed Kyle. Or more accurately, Kyle had given his life to protect Matias. He had sworn that fact to secrecy; betraying Matias now would be to burn a bridge with him. They could be friends once again, now that Groudon was no longer influencing him. "He was at Mount Chimney when the volcano erupted. He died in the eruption," Josh told a half-truth. "No one's been able to recover his body. But given that he was the Great One's Avatar, I don't think he's truly dead. He's out there somewhere."

Josh, too, cherished his battle with the late Top Champion. He watched the recording of his match many times while he was in the hospital. It was a match any other candidate of the Champion Assessment would have killed for. From his perspective, Kyle truly went all-out, wielding his Patron against the Gym Leader. "I hope he's alive, too. I have a lot of questions about Swift. He was originally Kyle's Pokémon, and I don't know how to use him to his full potential. He has only been able to use Spark and Quick Attack under my control. And you know that wave of energy legendary Pokémon exude? Feels like you're being crushed under PRESSURE? Swift's not like that. It's like he's a shadow of the Beast I remembered him having, and I want to know why and what I can do to fix it. Sooner than later, before this war kicks into high gear."

Genny seemed to believe Josh's suspicions of Kyle not being dead after all; it brought a smile to his face in these trying times. "Thank you. No one else seems to buy that Kyle didn't truly die that day. I, too, would love to rematch with him one day. Show how much Swift and I have grown in understanding one another." One day, he imagined Swift and Entei would spar with one another. One day.

Josh sighed upon Genny's voicing of her sentiment to lay low. "Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time. I'll rest as much as I can and go through rehab as quickly as I'm comfortable... but war doesn't wait for Champions. I'm still one of Hoenn's Champions. I may not be an Avatar, but I've proven that I'm just as big of a threat to Rocket as an Avatar is." His frown turned into a smile at the mention of their Gym rematch. "I look forward to the day we can have our rematch. Perhaps that will be the day I get to... at last, live my childhood dream and... race Swift. Race on Raikou's back, going as fast as he can muster."

Josh would get better. He may have lacked strength in his arm, but he had the willpower to recover that strength. The desire to be able to saddle up again and go faster than anyone else in Hoenn. The Ranger's words helped a lot. At his lowest points, sometimes all the Champion needed was a pep talk. "If that's a Gym Challenge, I look forward to it. And I'm confident you'll do well this time," he smiled for perhaps the first time all afternoon.

The future was uncertain. He had crossed "befriending Raikou" off his bucket list. Soon, he would cross off "steering Raikou at full speed" off that list. What would be the next item? Only time would tell.

Josh returned the fist with a bump from the one attached to his good arm. "The next time you see me, I may be delivering messages and medicine by lightning strike," he bragged. "If your schedule's too tight to make any of the appointments in the near future, let me know. I may be able to finagle something."