Eddie's Pokémon had supernatural toughness, Terastallization or no. When the rider's PLASMA FISTS socked Beau's crystallize body, it resonated with a tuning fork-like sound that repelled Zaborg's fist with recoil his battered body could not withstand. He fell off the charging Walking Wake's back and out of bounds, leaving Suicune's saddle unoccupied. The riderless paradox was far from out of it, though.

The HYDRO STEAM made the Walking Wake as fast as the real Beast of Winds, retaliating against the electric-type bull using the beyond-boiling water not defensively, but offensively. Getting close to Beau, the aquatic dragon sprayed scalding water all around the Tauros, only to leave himself vulnerable. Not to the Entei look-alike's fangs and claws, but to a weapon far more deadly.

Its horn.

The horn didn't gouge Suicune's tough skin, but it did send the crystal-horned paradox flying upward, more HYDRO STEAM raining down upon the Gouging Fire. The ancient relative of the Beast of Winds stirred after crashing into the ground with a loud thud. His body throbbed in its heroic attempt to muster the strength to get back into the battle... but could not.

Josh's mouth was agape. Eddie had beaten some of his toughest Pokémon, perhaps validating MATIAS SILPH 's, Callan Young 's, and PENELOPE LIVY 's assessments that Kyle had thrown his title match with Josh and let the boy become arguably the "weakest" of Hoenn's Champions. Barring his Sacred Ash Raikou, the Avatar had defeated some of his toughest Pokémon, and he wasn't sure how much Swift could hold his own, either.

Was his ascension to Champion Rank really just a fluke?

Josh withdrew his Walking Wake, shivering as he affectionately cuddled Swift. "I... I don't know what to say..." the Gym Leader trailed off, looking genuinely distressed.

It was hard for Josh to see his own accomplishments through not only his own humility, but his feelings on the way others perceived him. The ashen Beast crouched, letting Josh sit on his thundercloud. Though a mighty purr from the feline construct massaged away much of his disappointment, pangs of it remained on his face and in his tone. "Thanks, Swift, I needed that," Josh softly said, though he was aware that was his inner strength keeping his outer weakness in check.

Only then did Josh see the hand extended, the rider awkwardly reaching downward to shake it.

"It's just so hard when you're a Champion and you can't seem to defeat anyone when both sides use their best Pokémon," Josh replied, thinking about how many of the higher-ups in the League seemed to feel it was a fluke that he got to Champion Rank in the first place. "When it seems like half the higher-ups think that my ascension to the most elite of Hoenn's trainers was a fluke, that I've been turned down for Elite Four once already, and more on top of that, it makes me wonder if applying the second time is just a waste of time. Eddie, this is why Navy endorsed you for Elite Four, and now... I'm still stewing on it, but I may withdraw my own application to endorse you, too."

As though it were a real Gym Challenge, Josh pulled one of his Gym's Badges out of his pocket and presented it to the officer. No theater, no glitz, no excitement. Just a HOENN LEAGUE QUICK BADGE in the palm of his hand. "And Eddie, this belongs to you."

When Eddie gently tapped his other hand against Swift, the Beast would loose a thunderous purr of gratitude, his good friend perhaps losing feeling in that hand for a few moments. Were there really just bad actors, corrupt ones, within the League's ranks, trying to sabotage Josh for nefarious reasons? Or was it really just a hot button topic? The Gym Leader didn't exactly have a clean history, but who in the League did?

"...Thank you, Eddie," Josh replied as he made eye contact with his buddy for the first time since the beginning of the battle. "It's just... disheartening when those in power seem to have a vendetta against you. Almost like the whole world's working against you, whether they're friend or foe. But your words mean a lot. I'll need some time to decide if I want to pull out of the race for the Elite Four seat. You need a ride back to the lobby?" Regardless of how they traveled, Josh would lead the way back to his office building, directing Eddie to the showers if he needed to take one after such an intense match.