The moment Josh saw Granbull's knuckles light up, he knew the Raikou was in trouble. "Swift, get away!" Josh shouted over the winter weather that seemed to be dying down. The Raikou's drowsiness reduced his reaction time, taking two direct hits to his face, ash splashing all around the combatants. The FIRE PUNCHES did not burn. Swift's nature may have left him without a personality, but the ashen body was not without benefits; it seemed to make the construct immune to, or at least heavily resistant, to burns. It was only after the attacks that the electric Beast would be able to get away, ramming and trampling toward the fairy-type with another speedy QUICK ATTACK that helped him wean off the drowsiness.

"That would have worked on a real Raikou," Josh taunted Kee. "But you can't burn a creature made of ash." Though he didn't realize that benefit until now, he acted like it was something he had known since the Great One blessed him.

The adventurers were off after a long, eventful, yet restful night. The wind was much more calm, allowing Josh's lions to roam without getting too much sand in their fur. Descending into the ruins, they seemed wide open enough for the Gym Leader to remain in the saddle. He withdrew them all except for Nala and Kovu, who served as excellent light sources due to the Illumina phenomenon. When he saw Keenan sinking, Josh reined Kovu toward him, coming to his aid and helping pull him out of the patch of quicksand.

"Phew!" he exhaled, the Champion's quick reflexes helping save the Badge holder. "Anyone have a pole or some other long object? We should be able to figure out if there's another level beneath the sand that way." A ground-type Pokémon would work well, too...

Both Kyle and the younger student seemed to have a good grasp of how to control the leonine fire-types. Josh was particularly impressed with how well the child handled the trot to canter transition. Pyroar, unlike equines, were predators; their backs flexed harshly to get up to speed and maintain it. That he could keep his balance on the regal Pokémon after just one run meant the child was a natural. "You're really talented," Josh gestured toward him. "What are your names?" he asked both of the guests at the Gym.

Regardless of whether Josh got the father and son's names, he would let them know they were both ready. Whispering into the child's ear, he tried to get him hyped up for the competition he was a passenger for. "You've got a big edge against him; Kovu's one of the fastest Pyroar I've got." It wouldn't be one-on-one, though. All the rest of Josh's pride would gather around the course's starting line. Counting Kyle's Pyroar, there would be twelve in total. "All yours, buddy! Wait for those red lights to turn green, then you'll be good to go! Don't worry about me - just have fun out there!"

"If Badges mean nothing, then why does the League hold them in such high accord? Why, when heroes are needed in Hoenn, do we gravitate toward those who have a high Badge count first?"

Badge count was not the only barometer of strength, but it was a very useful one. One that could not be dismissed in times of need such as these. If Badge count didn't matter, then what was the point of becoming a Champion?

"Rocket will not take Mauville. annalise henderson and I will hold it down. Together. For there is not just one Raikou defending it. There are two." The Captain's legendary partner could Transform into a second Raikou. The tiger was an apex predator, devouring whatever it wanted. Even Pokémon larger than itself. In Josh's hands, though, the Beast had one prey he preferred.

Rocket higher-ups.

PARADOX, PLANEWALK SIGN-UP

they slither wildly as they slip away across the universe

CHARACTER: Josh Devlin[break]
PKMN TEAM (6 MAX): See image below. Note that Swift the Sacred Ash Raikou's two locked moves are Extreme Speed and Thunder in the event that one of them becomes unlocked during an appropriate moment.[break]
WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER'S FAVORITE GENRE?: Medieval High Fantasy (sword and sorcery, magic is commonplace, etc)

It is raid prep time!

Level Tutor:
01: Duplicitous Masquerade - Raikou the Raging Bolt learns Electric Terrain

TM/TR:
01: A Deadly Job (Jul '24) - Illumina the Illumina Lanturn learns Dazzling Gleam (over Spark)
Quick Attack (Gym challenge reward) - Etali the Kilowattrel learns Quick Attack (over Uproar)


Egg Tutor:
01: II Endeavors - Illumina the Illumina Lanturn learns Soak (over Bubble Beam)
01: Prismatic Penitentiary - Etali the Kilowattrel learns Feather Dance (over Pluck)

Kasib Berry
01: Grown - 4 remaining in inventory - Giving Raikou the Raging Bolt an extra move slot

Passho Berry
01: Grown - 4 remaining in inventory - Etali the Kilowattrel gets Z-Move access (not creating a custom Z-Move)

All from PC!

Josh had tensed both his legs in anticipation of crossing the line. The moment he did, he thrust both his heels into Mastema's sides. A year ago, such an abrupt maneuver would have resulted in the Togekiss hurling Josh off. It was a sign of the trust they had in one another, the stern and competitive fairy-type chasing after Miyako in his own burst of EXTREME SPEED.

The duo's surroundings turned into a sea of color, Josh shaking as he did his best to maintain the ideal posture to prevent the forces put on his body from twisting him at uncomfortable angles. Midway through the stretch, the Champion eased his hold on Mastema after his body started screaming at him. Though his body had almost fully healed, he was still not used to flying around at such high speeds. Even a small turn during the burst made him feel like he was being flung about in a centrifuge.

Another training regiment would surely be needed come the turn of the new year.

Miyako Noguchi and her TOGEKISS are the first to cross the line, a dust corona forming in front of them from their EXTREME SPEED. All becomes silent around them -- even the hum of DRAGONITE wings and the buzzing of BEEDRILL's, ERON IUNIS and ACE SHEEKE trying to keep up with EXTREME SPEED and a TAILWIND of their own. Even with ear pieces, the shockwaves flying outward from the swift Pokémon cause several new fans in the gallery to flinch, with even more pushed back in their seats from the microburst-like rushes of air. How intense must it have been for the competitors!

As Josh Devlin and his own TOGEKISS complete the first lap, he, too, commands EXTREME SPEED from the fairy-type. Catching too much lift, the two catapult up to the course's height limit, recouping some speed while shedding altitude as ARAVAN ESCHER passes him on his DRAGAPULT. The aquatic specialist did not put on his own burst of speed; he simply passed the Gym Leader with excellent fundamentals and his ghostly dragon's naturally high top speed. Top speed that might prove to be a problem maintaining when the long curves came...

Prompt: After the long, spiraling curve, the second half of the course's titular obstacle loomed ahead. This one was a loop much like the first, but rather than a vertical one, it was a horizontal one, the course's bounds tilting teams such that their right sides would be facing the ground! The straightaway beforehand had given them plenty of speed to build the needed momentum for the loop. While it would give riders and Pokémon an amazing view of the gallery below, that might serve as a distraction; a distraction that threatened to break the concentration needed to maintain sideways momentum!

Target Number: 140 (Reaction)

Special: Boost use does NOT impose disadvantage on this Obstacle.

Josh glanced at the scoreboard as Braver crossed the checkered line with ACE SHEEKE and Craggro a speck in front of them. Genevieve was still holding a big lead. It was her against the course, Eron's portrait blinking slowly and Aravan's quickly. Craggro appeared to have plenty left in the tank, but he was also quite far behind.

"I'm so proud of you, Genny," Josh said to himself as he guided Braver along the outside of the narrow stretch, preparing for the sharp turn that was the calm before the storm. He could feel the Arcanine's muscles twitching in the rain and thunder, the fire-type uncomfortable. The clouds were beginning to break up; was this a natural weather phenomenon, or was it his water-type and electric-type Pokémon that had summoned the thunderstorm?

THUNDER ROAD was one of the Gym Leader's most grueling courses, even under fair weather. With rain pelting the field and flashes of close lightning threatening to obscure vision at any moment, it was a test that Josh Devlin only subject Hoenn's strongest trainers to... and Genevieve Cromwell was passing with flying colors. She continued to extend her lead, her ARCANINE pushing onward despite the added fatigue from running full tilt in the rain.

Rain also pelted the other racers, making it challenging for ARAVAN ESCHER and his LINOONE to turn. The course grew progressively more slick in the inclement weather, reducing the friction that the normal-type relied upon for making its whip-like, right angle turns. They drifted toward the outside of the curve before the long, tan Pokémon could correct itself in the nick of time. The other two ARCANINE started slowing down earlier than they did on previous laps, both also sliding around the curve's outside.

Not ARAVAN ESCHER and his SALAZZLE. The water mixed with the corrosive acid beneath the unusual mount's legs violently, miniature explosions propelling the duo forward at great speed. Were Genevieve Cromwell to glance back, she would see the poisonous fire-type's body shaking rapidly from how fast her strides were. She was closing the gap at an alarming rate!

Prompt: In the waning seconds of the race, the course's final true challenge was before the competition. After one last chance to pit seconds earlier, the course takes a sharp, flat left that almost certainly requires braking to navigate successfully. Immediately after that is a section of wavy road. Unlike the pit area, these waves are uneven, higher on one side than the other. Even the course itself is tilted at an angle, making it easy to slip and fall into the rail!

Target Number: 170 (Reaction)

Special: Pokémon also apply half their Ranks in Endurance (no rounding) to this Obstacle. TP gained on this Obstacle is increased by 40%, rounded up, per racer that is in front of them.

Mini-Min's AROMATHERAPY brought back memories of Josh's dinner with Evette Moreau . He needed to do something with the Silther Wing she traded him, but he had an almost overwhelming number of rare Pokémon that needed attention now. In Hoenn, it was seemingly one attention-grabbing thing after another, even beyond his Gym that demanded a giant roster. "Thanks for the save, Locke," Josh shakily replied. "If that's a taste of what being Raikou's Avatar would be like, I don't know if I could handle it. The way Swift is... is perfect." Clearly, his body was not quite ready for a ride on lightning itself.

One day, being a passenger on a lightning strike would become second nature to the Gym Leader.

His motion restored and concentration restored thanks to the grass-type, Josh slid off the Raikou's back but kept the ashen creature outside the RAINBOW FEATHER. He wouldn't be on foot for long; instead, he called upon Seizan for the task. Before he could get in the poison-type's saddle, the Skuntank SCREECHED loudly, pointing her tail menacingly toward a layer of wiring that was subtly moving. "I think she's found something - look out!" Josh directed his companions' attention toward the anomaly, Swift's thundercloud glowing and his gaze piercing.

Josh was a little surprised Blossom didn't make the connection; before he became a Gym Leader, the young man was tearing up the Silph Cup circuit's Ultra League. Those races typically weren't broadcast on local channels. Only the Master Class ones were; Ultra Class races were typically broadcast on cable or even premium channels. Even so, his name was a favorite among hardcore fans, both before and after his ascension to Gym Leader.

With a shrill whistle, Josh called forth a Pokémon that he felt was sure to jostle Blossom's memory of the Silph Cup. After an electric howl, she might see a big, yellow and cyan wolf galloping toward the two, the Manectric's back adorned with a saddle wrought in the image of a Raikou's thundercloud. "If so, then Saber here might look familiar," he gestured toward the Manectric, who slid to a stop in a hurry.

"Let's go, Suicune!" Josh cried, clicking open his fourth and final Poké Ball. Concluding his display of Acrobatics, Zaborg landed on the back of Walking Wake, the raptor-Beast sounding a loud, majestic roar. Entei was not so fortunate; while the horned paradox possessed high speed, he lacked the agility needed to get his heavy body to safety. Beau's horns smashed into the Gouging Fire's scaly body, Entei falling at an angle and getting his horn stuck in the ground. Breathing deeply, the Gym Leader withdrew his prized fire-type.

Josh knew the stance of a BURNING BULWARK well; it was a wonderful tactic to buy time for the two to make a combination attack. "Suicune won't let him use those horns!" the Leader taunted, HYDRO STEAM forming behind Suicune not to attack with, but to propel himself much like the real Suicune's Tailwind. That was only half the combination attack; with a powerful yank of the reins, Zaborg ordered Suicune to swerve hard. Hard enough to enhance the strength of his PLASMA FISTS, one of which looked like it was going to sock Beau in a ride-by attack!

There was too much unknown about the Sacred Ash Raikou. Josh had spent a substantial amount of time with Swift when he was under Kyle's control. Under the Mauville Leader's control, the Beast acted quite a bit different, and his capabilities seemed different, too. It was as though the memory itself was changing, adapting to Josh's desires... as though Raikou was not just a memory of the Beast that Josh saw alongside Eva Morales when they met at his Gym.

It was Raikou as Josh desired him to be.

With Melody being ready to go, Josh held Swift's outer tufts of cloud firmly before crying, "Hyah!" With a light tap of his knees and legs, the Raikou eased Melody into his speed, accelerating much like one of the Leader's Pyroar she had no doubt ridden during their Ranger work together. Every stride felt powerful, as though the ashen creature's body had rippling muscles that bounced the two up and down in a far more pronounced manner than any horse Pokémon. Though it felt like the two were riding a feline predator chasing down elusive prey, the Raikou was holding a lot back. If Melody knew the species well from spending time with Kyle, she would have known it, too.

"You have no idea how much this means to me," Josh exhaled as Petalburg Woods came on the distant horizon. "Ready for him to step on it?!" the excited Champion cried over the wind, sensing Melody's desire to see the Beast at full tilt.