The images they saw of Pallet Town being overrun were in the past. Kanto had been healing, but the process was slow... and the region was still under Monroe's iron fist. Now he knew why she had turned so frightened and urged him to leave. "I hope your family made it out," was all he said as the Arcanine and Raikou galloped alongside one another, leaving Pallet Town behind. "I couldn't imagine losing my home. Even Goldenrod, though my family doesn't live there anymore. Now it makes sense why you were so distraught." But why? Why now would these images flash before their eyes?

The thundercloud crept lower and lower into the sky, lightning bolts illuminating the almost night-like backdrop. "I don't know if I shared this with you, but under the right conditions, Swift can fly. And unless you've got a Pokémon that can fly, the only way we're getting out of here is with Swift together. Hop on." Provided Eva didn't supply her own flying Pokémon that could handle the high winds of a thunderstorm, Josh would slow the Beast to a stop so he could make room for the Head Professor to be sandwiched between himself and Swift's billowing thundercloud. Just like she did to Josh when she was an Avatar.

Regardless of how they traveled, Ecruteak's skyline would come into view. Only this time, with two towers that stretched to the heavens, and not one...

---

Eva Morales

{PC: 6}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Good
Raikou        Raging Bolt    Good
Entei         Gouging Fire   Good
Suicune       Walking Wake   Good
Pazuzu        Pidgeot        Good
Regole        Dragonair**    Good

Josh had enjoyed Swift's companionship for what was it, going on seven months now? Had it really been so long already? And he hadn't spoken to Hideo all this time... some Gym Leader he was, not communicating with his colleagues. "No kidding," the Master of Faster nodded, rubbing his big scar. "Prepping Mauville for Rocket has been a handful, too. There was a Dynamax attack on the city's northwestern district not long ago, and if that's a best-case scenario, I don't think it's safe for the city have a Power Spot. I've been trying to get ahold of illeana reyes to talk about getting it removed, but she won't respond to my messages." Hitoshi Inoue 's attack, while it only took a few lives, injured many more, and disrupted the lives of countless more. As far as he was aware, this was the assassin acting independently.

A coordinated attack on the most densely populated city in Hoenn would be far worse.

"Yes, and then some," Josh answered, the last half of his sentence distorted from Swift loosing a low, deep, and prideful purr that reflected the rider's inner excitement. The sound was that of distant thunder. His monochrome appearance was perhaps the difference from Uxie's descriptions. "He was a blessing from the Great One, Ho-oh -- the last one given before Kyle's death. He's not a real Raikou, though. He's a memory of the Raikou that died in Kanto... and shaped by my inner self. He's... Raikou exactly as I want him to be."

Eyes shifted toward Aleph. Hideo seemed defensive around the Type: Null, and understandably so. "A lot has changed since then," Josh assured him, "both about me and about Aleph here. I've taken a lot of what you said during the Gym Challenge to heart. What Greyson Connors said. What Navy said. What Melody Miro said. I know I'm a Champion already, but one day when your Gym is slow, I would like to retry your challenge. To show you how I've changed for the better. I know our relationship has been rocky, but I truly want to be friends with my colleagues. All of that change has helped me understand Aleph. He and I still aren't exactly friendly, but it seems like he's a lot more willing to tolerate me now." Aleph still wouldn't permit Josh to sit in his saddle, but he would now permit others to do so, particularly in times of need.

Once the camera was rolling again, Josh debated whether he wanted Aleph or Swift to shatter Okidogi's effigy. While he felt the Type: Null would be better for the task, he decided that because of the publicity aspect, it would be best for Hoenn to see the ashen Beast in action. The rider dismounted from the construct Raikou, still worried about his arm thumping if he went too fast from a standstill. "Swift, QUICK ATTACK!"

The electric legendary's purr turned into a roar, flexing backward before lunging into a sprint too fast for the untrained eye to follow. The clay effigy broke into pieces upon impact, Josh happy to see the Okidogi idol reduced to the elements that formed it.

---

Hideo Kino

{PC: 2}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Good
Aleph         Type: Null     Good

Josh wasn't thrilled with the outcome of his battles, either. Sure, Swift had regained some of his lost powers, but it had come with the steep price of the lives of two of his Pokémon: Aslan at Rhea Armistead 's hands, and Resheph at jayden cross 's. Meeting Entei again, something he would have otherwise been happy about, was a consolation prize for the loss of two of his most well-cared Pokémon. They were both Pokémon integral to his rise to Champion Rank.

Even Champions needed time off to reflect.

As Josh and his own Dragonite, Tiamat, swooped toward Mauville's rooftop level, he caught sight of a familiar Ranger and his own Dragonite. Once the Gym Leader had reined his dragon toward Oliver Shrakes , Tiamat briefly hummed her wings to get his attention. The large Pokémon landed on a nearby landing pad meant for those traveling by air, letting Josh dismount. The Dragonite carefully walked alongside Josh, making sure not to inadvertently swing her tail into anyone else eating or drinking there. "Oliver! Long time!" Josh waved, his RAINBOW FEATHER still inert after the horrible battles around Petalburg...

---

Oliver Shrakes

{PC: 1}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         KO
Tiamat        Dragonite      Good

The wave of BURNING JEALOUSY, compounded by the HEAT WAVE's dangerous temperature, left Josh with little choice but to BOLDLY steel himself. Laying on top of Raikiri's back as much his saddle allowed, Josh compressed his body as much as he could, using the synced Zeraora as a shield. Unable to withstand the blazing assault, the thundercat fell, and with it, his now-inert SYGNA SUIT's power.

That was, until Saber charged it. He woozily undid the zippers on his Zeraora's cocoon saddle before sliding down and hastily switching to Saber's traditional saddle, wrought in the image of a Raikou's thundercloud. "Saber, let's ride!" the Gym Leader cried, erecting a SPECIAL SHIELD around himself and his Manectric to ward off the heat. The electric wolf dashed toward the Rocket's two Pokémon with great pace, the rider's SYGNA SUIT keeping him safe from the DISCHARGE he sought to ensnare both Pokémon with.

It sure felt good to be able to go fast again.

The Champion's Absol was also on the loose, the white-furred Pokémon's vacant saddle standing out. The nimble Pokémon BOUNCED into the air incredibly high, ready to NIGHT SLASH Hati from above with the crushing power of a sharp blade magnified by gravity. The Eevee would have but a split second to react to the deadly threat of an Absol pounce from the skies!

---

Tempest Quinn

{PC: 5}

TOTAL MP: 360
Post (50)
Paradox (10)
- involve the pokeballs of your pokemon in a meaningful way (e.g. type of pokeball described to reflect the pokemon or character, damaging them, seizing them). (50)
- have your character reflect on why they're fighting/reflect on their loyalties. (50)
- use an active sygna suit in your thread. (50)
- use a legendary, mythical, ultra beast, paradox pokemon in a way that reflects your character or highlights another character. (50)
- have your character "hit rock bottom" (their lowest point). (50)
- showcase your own character's strength(s) meaningfully. (50)

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Good
Raikiri       Zeraora        KO
Saber         Manectric      Good
Zaborg        Zeraora**      KO
Raikou        Raging Bolt    KO
Twilight      Absol          Good

There was a part of the region that was his, but Petalburg was not Mauville City. The Master of Faster was referring to "his turf" as a place in Hoenn where Swift could run. Chien-Pao had incredible agility, but the Raikou could outrun them. Under Josh's command, the ashen Pokémon could outrun almost anything.

Except RUINATION.

As PETRA MONROE 's Pokémon claimed the Trevenant's life, the malicious spirit within the ghost-type floated toward Josh, an ethereal scythe impaling him and causing him to instantly lose consciousness. Even with the Gym Leader unable to battle any longer, his mind still powered Swift. The legendary Pokémon struggled against the snow cat, kicking and stabbing with his fangs in an effort to gain control of the grapple. He reciprocated every bit of jayden cross 's hatred with hatred of his own, white and yellow sparks flying from his paws and into the feline in a last-ditch effort to regain mobility.

Were he to do so, Swift would push himself to his limits, the rest of Josh's Pokémon surrounding him to further protect him from harm. His hatred let him fight through the pain of his ashen body dissolving from the outside in. Faster and faster he sprinted, circling around Avatar and Patron in a full-blown QUICK ATTACK. The Beast's current speed limit, what with a key attack in his arsenal beyond Josh's understanding.

With a crash unlike anything that Jayden, Petra, or Josh (were he conscious) had ever seen from the Beast, a myriad of ELECTRO BALLS flew all over the battleground. The HATRED imbued with the shared mind of Josh and his Raikou caused them to fly toward all combatants indiscriminately, sounding like firearm ammunition whizzing toward them alongside the crackle of electricity. The mightiest attack the Raikou was capable of may prove to fell friend and foe alike. Between the friendly fire and Trevenant's DESTINY BOND, only Saber, the Pokémon that Josh had raised since the age of ten, remained standing. He seemed too busy guarding Josh to fight back, the Manectric howling in fear as RUINATION devoured the Raikou.

The RAINBOW FEATHER would turn inert, the Beast unable to be summoned for a time.

---

PETRA MONROE jayden cross

{PC: 5}

TOTAL MP: 775

Post (50)
reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way. (50)
showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully. (50)
showcase your own character's strength(s) meaningfully. (50)
have your character directly or indirectly spotlight another writer's character's strengths. (50)
have your character attempt to or successfully take revenge in some way. (50)
for getting your Pokemon knocked out in your skirmish thread. (50)
for knocking out another Pokemon in your skirmish thread. (25)
have your character make a regrettable decision or make a sacrifice. (50)
have your pokemon be inflicted with a status condition by an opposing pokemon. (25)
for "losing" or having a "negative" outcome for your character and their Skirmish thread. (150)
for having Rocket and League characters and faction-based conflict in the thread (no NPCs). (150)
for completing your Skirmish thread. (25)


NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Bersk
Saber         Manectric      Good
Braver        Arcanine       KO
Craggro       H!Arcanine     KO
Aleph         Type: Null     KO
Eriette       Spectrier      KO

(October 2024) Oliver Shrakes

Josh gasped as soon as he saw the Sinistea; he remembered how much work they had put into making the Pokémon what it was. And now, Robin invoked the massively powerful STELLAR TERA TYPE: a feat only Josh's Gogoat could match. He knew of its strengths, both defensively and offensively. Any attack that Sinistea used would be devastating. Even so, he felt compelled to stand his own ground.

"I do not fail to uphold ideals, Robin," Josh answered, electricity in his eyes. "It is you that do not truly represent the League's mantra. This is why I tried to stop you from trying to bond with a shadow Pokémon by warning you of the dangers. You have not heeded my warning. You cannot control your Pokémon. Why? Because Shadow Pokémon cannot be controlled." Except by the Harbinger and his mighty Patron. "You make Cillian Quinn sound like a saint, Robin."

Josh listened to Aqua Kennedy , too. Their voice of reason reminded him of many Rockets that rose to prominence in the League through the Amnesty program. "I know," he answered. "I know Swift's not the true Raikou. And I know the real Raikou would almost certainly never let me ride him." If kyle lopez 's Entei and Isaac Merlo 's Suicune were any indication, it was only in a dire emergency that any of the Beasts would permit a human to grace their backs. "But he's my Raikou. My Raikou, how I want him to be." Swift purred like a Raikou, flew on storm clouds like a Raikou, sprinted like a Raikou, and fired the fastest ELECTRO BALLS in the world just like a Raikou. "Raikou has meant so much to me since I was six. For him to ally with me, even in this form, is the most fulfilling thing in the world to me. Say what you will, but Swift is not inferior. He may even be... superior to the original!"

Josh shouted as robin coello 's Toxtricity slammed its fists into Aqua Kennedy even after she had surrendered. He and his Raikou were both livid, an indicator of his hostility toward the psychotic Ranger being completely genuine. "I knew it! You're being controlled by your bloodthirsty Shadow Pokémon, Robin!" he pointed, electricity still dancing about the rivets of his Beast's black crown. "I tried to bring the real Robin out. She's down there somewhere, and if I can't bring her out by reason, I will by force. Swift, ELECTRO BALL!"

With a thunderous roar, the monochrome legendary Beast dashed circles around Robin, an electric twister forming around her. While he built up speed, the Champion whistled for his Type: Null to come to the unconscious Aqua's aid. "Aleph! Get them to John Sullivan 's tent!" he pointed to the unconscious, barely-breathing Rocket. As the synthetic Pokémon hooked Robin by their clothes and flipped them onto his back without hesitation, Josh began filling the suddenly-obedient creature's saddlebags with their Poké Balls.

Josh was now alone with Robin, his only Pokémon his Raikou. The electric whirlwind growing to its peak speed, Swift at last released the ELECTRO BALL barrage, the charged projectiles flying toward her and her Pokémon from all directions at the speed of a high-caliber firearm's bullets. Toxtricity may have been an electric-type, but even electric-types could suffer from a voltage overload!

---

robin coello Aqua Kennedy

TOTAL MP: 645
Post (70)
use a legendary, mythical, ultra beast, paradox pokemon in a way that reflects your character or highlights another character. (50)
have an antagonistic exchange of dialogue between your character and another writer's character or NPC. (50)
include a motif or recurring symbol of some kind in your thread. (50)
have your character learn something from the other character. (50)
have your pokemon be inflicted with a status condition by an opposing pokemon. (25)
have your character recall a past thread or event that they have participated in or not (link the thread). (50)
reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way. (50)
have your character learn to respect another character in some way. (50)
have your character self-doubt or cast doubt on another's confidence/allegiances/beliefs, etc. (50)
have your character reflect on why they're fighting/reflect on their loyalties. (50)
have your character attempt to or successfully take revenge in some way. (50)
have your character's Pokemon symbolize or represent in some way, the condition of your character. (50)

{PC: 7}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Entei         Gouging Fire   Poor
Swift         Raikou         Good
Aleph         Type: Null     Good

Josh's Gym was technically a small employer, though it teetered on the edge of that classification with all the caretakers he hired last Spring. The fire in Miyako's eyes kept the Leader's heart warm from the cold that had surrounded them so high up. "Very well. Drop by the Gym anytime during business hours. Someone will be there to help you."

The Champion bowed at Miyako's positive remarks toward the Mega Stones. "Thank you. Mega Stones are really rare. So rare that you can't really buy them. Every Mega Stone I own I've had to recover from Hoennian ruins or some other dangerous place. These two were from within Mount Chimney's crater before it collapsed," he recounted, remembering the perilous adventures in the inhospitable environment... and the vicious fire Pokémon that inhabited it. "What's special about Charizard is they can Mega Evolve in several different ways." He waved toward Miyako, the Charizard crouching to give them a better look at his saddle. "The black stone's energy makes him a dragon-type and gives him immense strength. The orange stone doesn't change his type, but it makes him much, much faster."

---

Miyako Noguchi

{PC: 17}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Suicune       Walking Wake   Fair
Yosei         Salamence      Good
Ao            Roaring Moon   Good
Verte         Flygon         Good
Reverb        Noivern        Good
Ares          Charizard**    Good

It was a common allergy, yes, but not to the extent the Gym Leader suffered from it; it could easily be weaponized against him for those in the know. When he noticed Nikita did not put out the cigarette despite Josh indirectly telling him to do so, he rolled his eyes and continued to maintain his distance from the detective.

Seeing the Alakazam TELEPORT the detective across the acidic soil and inside the large opening made Josh appreciate the capability more. As fun as riding legendary-adjacent Pokémon was, the utility his teleporting Arcanine provided made Braver equally valuable. He wished he had brought the hulking dog with him instead of Saber.

"Suicune, HYDRO STEAM!" Josh ordered, calling the move by its true name rather than Tailwind, now that he understood more of the nature of Walking Wake as a species. With a steam-fueled running leap, Suicune began to swim through the buoyant air, crossing the large span and floating around Nikita to take the lead again.

Josh's skin tingled; the cave mouth before them reminded him of mining Dynite Ore from within those accursed caves. Afraid of losing his mind, the Champion grew increasingly paranoid, his eyes shifting from side to side farther than they did before. He couldn't feel the pulsating, whirring core nearby, though he could feel some kind of eldritch presence. Or so he thought; was this his paranoia setting in?

---

Nikita Sokolov

08 the deeper one ventures into the realm, the more you become paranoid.

{PC: 4}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Raikou        Raging Bolt    Good
Entei         Gouging Fire   Good
Suicune       Walking Wake   Good
Swift         Raikou         Good
Aleph         Type: Null     Good
Saber         Manectric      Good

As Josh led Xuying deeper and deeper into Area Zero, thoughts of a DRK Triad ambush, or running into another one of those legendary-like Pokémon, caused him to become increasingly more on edge. "I can't state enough how dangerous the wild Pokémon at the bottom of Area Zero are," the Champion reiterated as Suicune tromped downward. "Especially the ones that look like robotic clones of other Pokémon. They even give Gym Leader's trouble. If we spot one, we have to leave."

Further caution would come to the forefront of Josh's mind as a panicked-looking Blitzle galloped past Suicune from further down the trail, their closing speed frightening. "And I get the feeling there might already be one around." Would it be from Hoenn's distant past? Or the distant future? Or was it merely a powerful ordinary Pokémon?

---

Xuying Zhou

skipping!

{PC: 8}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Aleph         Type: Null     Good
Raikou        Raging Bolt    Good
Entei         Gouging Fire   Good
Suicune       Walking Wake   Good
Swift         Raikou         Good

Before Josh could even start with his history, the old man yelled at his Horsea, chasing the small Pokémon away from them and into the bay. "Shame on you, Nereus," the Champion chided the older man like a fatherly figure who had caught their child running away from home. "You've been raising Pokémon long enough to know that you can't treat them like that. Let's saddle up and track down Mera."

Provided Nereus didn't have a ride Pokémon of his own, Josh would click open Keiga's Poké Ball, the Kingdra ready to seat Nereus... or if he was feeling brave, behind the Champion on his Walking Wake.

---

Nereus Onassis

{PC: 3}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Suicune       Walking Wake   Good
Keiga         Kingdra        Good
Ghido         Whiscash       Good
Sparrow       Empoleon       Good
Acro          Bruxiah        Good
Staccato      Primarina      Good

The GRASS KNOT tripped the colored Raikou, causing his fangs to fall short of the slippery psychic-type. As great as as the legendary Pokémon's trap was, Josh's doppelganger's blessing not only made him speedy, but impossible to ensnare in such a way.

Clone!Josh's Pokémon cannot be TRAPPED, and the SPEED of his Pokémon cannot be lowered, including by the PARALYSIS condition.

The tripping attack did slow him down enough for Yuina to help Josh get back to his feet. He embraced the Ranger's grasp, able to independently move once more. "Are you... an Avatar, Yuina?" he asked as the sprite fluttered about. For every bit of raw speed the Raikou had, the grass-type had equal agility. The two seemed like they could dodge one another all day.

"Time may be everlasting," the doppel taunted Yuina and Josh, "but yours isn't. And it will be up faster than you think. Yah!" With his electric sword pointed upward and his steed zooming around the Distortion in circles, a whirlwind of THUNDER began to form around its center, expanding by the moment. The strength and fortitude needed to withstand a rush so fast was frightening, even by the Champion's standards. This was the potential Josh dreamed of prior to the Great One cleansing him and turning him into what he was today.

Fighting them was a Josh that realized exactly what the real one's past self wanted to be... and the power had gone to his head.

---

Yuina Higashi

{PC: 6}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Fair

Minerva wasn't wrong. Not about either point. Josh had been searching for his true calling in Hoenn since his induction into the Minor League. Once, he fought on the front lines. Once, he was a lone wolf completing sensitive objectives and tasks that an undercover agent would. At last, he had found a niche that reflected his need for speed and allowed him to use his unique set of talents the best he could.

The mention of a divine gift being a curse and a blessing both resonated with him. "For the longest time, I wanted to be Raikou's Avatar. And now that I have ascertained how dangerous a divine blessing is, I no longer want to be one." There were many Patrons that were symbiotes with their Avatars; Kyle was one. He was a good friend with several others, too: Navy and Zacian seemed to be at least as in sync with one another, if not more so, than Josh and Swift. Those that weren't blew up in his mind and cautioned him.

"Don't get me wrong; I can only imagine what kinds of divine powers Raikou would bestow upon an Avatar." Superhuman reflexes, the ability to see his surroundings in slow motion, supreme speed... the list went on. "It's because I like Swift the way he is. I don't want him to change." For a genuine legendary Pokémon may not be of one mind as Josh and Swift were in their present state...

---

minerva valentine

{PC: 5}

NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Swift         Raikou         Good