The children in Littleroot's park would be in awe of the sounds of clopping hooves, fully captivated by a Spectrier and Glastrier passing through the sleepy town. Astride the ghost-type was a black-haired young man recognizable just about anywhere. He was one of Hoenn's Gym Leaders and Champions, and the only one known for keeping so many saddled Pokémon.

As Josh slowed Eriette to a stop upon being questioned, one of Hylda's hooves kicked the fountain pen into the air, making it clearly visible. "It wouldn't be that one, would it?" he pointed to the twirling object, landing in the middle of the road rather than half-buried in grass.

Another scratch may have been added to that pen today from Eriette's hoof. Perhaps it gave the pen that much more character. "Not as much as I used to," Josh replied. "Only when my Ranger work takes me out here anymore." Much of his Ranger work was predicated around the Mauville area. It was one of the most biodiverse counties in all of Hoenn; within a couple hours' ride, one could find beach, plains, rainforest, mountains, canyons, and desert.

His eyes briefly shifted toward Littleroot Gym nefore turning back toward Morrighan Cahill . "Gym Leader Devlin or Champion Devlin, but please, you can call me Josh," he introduced himself, twirling the Spectrier's ghostly mane. "And these two are Eriette and Hylda." The Glastrier's mist may have been refreshing amidst the summer heat, floating all around the ice-type except directly above her saddle.

While Josh wasn't exactly fond of drinking tea, for he felt its flavor and texture were too watery, it would be rude to refuse the traveler's offer. "Sure thing. I'd be willing to give it a try!" A story collector was an interesting title, reminding him of both Alexei Ivanov and Jack Napier . It was unfortunate that he had his falling out with Fortree's ex-Gym Leader. They would have gotten along well.

"A story collector... that's an interesting title," Josh mused, Eriette snorting away from Morrighan. He slid down from the obedient Spectrier's back, taking a seat at a nearby, well-worn picnic table. So well-worn that he had to be careful how he rubbed it, or he would get a sliver. "Do you know much about the Lorekeepers?" he asked. "They sound a lot like your story collectors."

Before telling his tale of the Lorekeepers, and what he had learned from them, Josh gave the tea a sip. Not expecting it to be as bitter as it was, he squinted, bringing the liquid to the back of his tongue. While he didn't choke on it, it was easy to tell it was not a taste that was for him. "Sorry -- it's a bit too bitter for me," he replied, sliding the cup back. Once he was comfortable at the table, he clicked open a third Poké Ball, from it emerging a Type: Null that sized up the two Galarian legendary horses.

"The Lorekeepers are those who pass down stories of legendary Pokémon from generation to generation," Josh explained. "The one I know best is former Fortree Gym Leader Alex. He's intimately familiar with two of my favorite Pokémon legends in the world: the Unovan pantheon, and the Johtonian pantheon. The latter in particular is very special to me." A sly smile grew on his face as the scintillating RAINBOW FEATHER reflected prismatic sunlight...

Josh frowned as Morrighan seemed to sniff out the reality of Josh's drinking preferences. "You figured it out, didn't you? I'm not much of a tea drinker in general." She was a smart fellow, picking up on what made Josh the person he was in the region. "You're quite perceptive! I'm arguably Hoenn's most talented Pokémon rider," he tooted his own horn. "I'm the Leader of Mauville City Gym. When John Sullivan stepped down, I turned the military base into a Pokémon riding and racing academy." Perhaps she hadn't been in the region for long? Josh was quite the celebrity, being the only Champion that wasn't also a member of the League's upper echelons.

Come to think of it, he hadn't heard from either of them recently, had he? After all, Fortree Sanctuary was Alexei Ivanov 's life. With it being stripped of public funding, he didn't imagine it lasting much longer in its current form. "You see, I'm not originally from Hoenn. I'm from Johto. And since I've been a child, I've admired the three Pokémon that the Great One, Ho-oh, resurrected from the dead after they passed in the tragedy of the Brass Tower's collapse."

Josh didn't respond to Morrighan's remarks about the tea; he had learned long ago that when he had nothing nice to say, those remarks were better off unspoken. His smile returned as the writer seemed to shower him in compliments. "I am. I'm one of seven Champion-Ranked trainers in Hoenn, and can back up my title as Gym Leader: the Master of Faster." The Galarian horses near him were evidence of it; even the ice-type, one not known for speed, could gallop at quite the clip. "Go ahead! I've got nothing to hide."

Once Morrighan was ready, Josh plucked the RAINBOW FEATHER from his vest, SACRED ASH floating from its quill toward the ground. "About a hundred and fifty years in the past, two ideologically opposed legendary bird Pokémon roosted upon the Brass Tower and the Tin Tower. Their names are Lugia, the Beast of the Sea, and Ho-oh, the Great One. A gigantic storm descended upon Ecruteak, chasing both birds away. Lightning struck the Brass Tower, sparking a fire that raged for three days. It was only a torrential downpour that had reduced the tower to rubble."

Josh would stop to let Morrighan catch up with any notes she was taking, the feather scintillating in the park's natural light.

The rhyme was part of his title's charm, and only made him easier to be well-known in the region. "The downpour, according to the legend as I know it, is connected to a different Pokémon that descended upon Ecruteak that day. Once the rain stopped, the Great One shined a rainbow deep into the Brass Tower's now-exposed basement, bringing life to three Pokémon that had perished in the tower. Those Pokémon became the three I revere over any other: the Great One's children. Their names are Suicune, Entei, and Raikou." At the name being mentioned, the RAINBOW FEATHER's glow became slightly more intense, Morrighan perhaps able to notice a few sparks descending from it.

When he was done gushing about his three favorite Pokémon, Josh returned to the story about Lugia. "After that, according to the legend as I know it, Lugia fled Ecruteak, never to return. It's been speculated that her nesting grounds were deep within an island chain between Olivine and Cianwood, but no one knows. Unfortunately, since then, she's fallen from grace. She is now under command of internationally-wanted terrorist Cillian Quinn ... and her power has only grown after joining him. The two are... almost invincible."

Almost invincible. Swift had no hope of defeating Cil and Lugia in his current state. One day, when Swift reached the peak of his power as he did under kyle lopez, that hope would exist. And it would be a lightning bolt the League would remember and cherish.