Since his Champion Assessment, Josh had changed. A lot. He still had that aura of intensity about him, but he had become much more down to earth. He had turned from vitriolic toward Team Rocket to much more moderate, his hatred only directed at the syndicate's decision makers. He would prove so in his next Gym challenge... if the League would allow it.

While Swift held the fort down, the ashen speedster flinched with every harsh hit against the dome of electricity keeping Josh, Aleph, and anyone beneath the dome safe. "Ready a TRI ATTACK, Aleph!" the Gym Leader ordered the Type: Null, small red, yellow, and blue beams forming from the three forward-facing spikes on his retainer. The moment the barrier fell, Swift wincing from the BRUTAL SWING's might, the Normal-type let fly with the three-pronged energy attack.

"Exactly!" Josh cheered for the recording. "And Swift here has a hidden weapon that might seem unfair when you see it in action! Let's go -- QUICK ATTACK!" A thunderous purr preceded the electric feline vanishing from sight, clawing back and forth across Okidogi like a medieval jouster. The Thousand-Cut Joust, his Gym's hidden art when he was a Minor Leaguer and before he had mastered Z-Power, came to mind.

The purpose of the weak attack was twofold. First, to confuse Okidogi with the rapid strikes. Second, to build up speed for the most destructive attack the ashen Raikou could manifest in his current form. An attack that capitalized on Josh's love of speed in its purest form.

The deadpan tone brought MATIAS SILPH 's words to mind. Did he really come off as intense? Perhaps the Avatar was right. "I'm sorry!" he quickly apologized. "Still trying to get used to Swift." While it was half-true, a lot of what made the Beast stand out so much was the intensity with himself. Despite his apology, the monochrome legendary Pokémon's stare looked like it could sear a soul with electrical burns. In order to fully control the ash Raikou, he would have to fully control himself... a Herculean task, and perhaps even an inhuman one.

"Seven badges?" Josh remarked, whistling at how quickly Aaron rose through the ranks. "Impressive. I do want to warn you, though, getting eight Badges is the easiest part of the road to the rank of Champion. Speaking from personal experience." Each one of the Elite Four had a different lesson to teach Josh about the way he handled himself -- lessons that had shaped the racer into the exemplary Champion he was. With CIAN MAHER stepping away from the circuit to focus on taking care of Rustboro City more directly, Josh was now the only Champion Ranked trainer in Hoenn that did not work with AQUA -- or a legendary Patron.

And he preferred to keep it that way.

Josh's challenge, too, was physically taxing. To the uneducated, riding a Pokémon may not have seemed strenuous. That notion couldn't have been farther from the truth; at speed, a Pokémon mount exercised the thighs, hips, and even upper body. Keeping one's balance on a Pokémon with a spine as flexible as a Raikou's required great strength, dexterity, and stamina. "I'm here to work with Swift. After the attempts to retake Petalburg failed, it's clear I need to redouble my training and efforts in making us the best partners we can be. And with the Silph Cup's season finale taking place early next month, I had to come out here instead. Because today...I'm pushing him to full gallop. No Quick Attacks or anything like that yet. Just as fast as he can run without tiring." It was a tall order, too; even a race car with its gas pedal to the floor could not keep up with the speed god's ashen vestige.

Josh's life had been a whirlwind since the two had met in the desert to handle some unruly rock Pokémon making travel between Mauville and Lavaridge difficult. "Too much," he replied, flinching as the RAINBOW FEATHER's quill poked his skin. He set the dull, multicolored artifact on the edge of the table as he placed his order for three grilled chicken subs: one for himself, and two for Tiamat. The milkshake looked good too, prompting Josh to order a strawberry one.

"Where do I even start?" he asked Oliver, bewildered. "I'm sure you've heard by now that I'm a Hoenn League Champion... and about Kyle... and about... him, too," the Leader's eyes shifted toward the feather whose quill sparked with a mild jolt of electricity. "He was Kyle's last gift to me before he..." Josh trailed off, sniffing as the Emergent's ultimate sacrifice came to the forefront of his mind.

Going fast was the name of the game at Mauville City's Gym, butthe Leader prioritized the safety of both rider and Pokémon. While there were, of course, standard battles, the races attracted far more attention. With the loss of Fortree Gym's aerial courses thanks to Alexei Ivanov 's resignation, Mauville Gym would be busier than ever next year.

Josh was glad to have such a reliable-sounding and athletic person on his team; Dirk's history as a volleyball player was one of the selling points the Gym Leader didn't voice, but swung the needle well past the line to offer him a position. "Looking forward to having you aboard." He leaned forward to update Dirk's application status before turning his monitor off. "Drop by in about a week's time with your new Pokémon, and we'll get you oriented and ready to take challengers on. Looking forward to seeing you in the next class. And remember one last thing: with great speed comes great responsibility."

With that, Josh led Raju out of the office, turning around to face the plush Raikou for a few seconds before guiding him to the elevator and the first-floor lobby. "If you're available this Sunday, we could even go hunting for Pokémon together, if you'd like."

Illumina Pokémon were what first came to Josh's mind, too. He possessed many Illumina Pokémon in the past, and owned two Pyroar now. She was right; they had no Infinity Ennergy signature. But how could she pick up on that so quickly in the heat of battle? Without wearing his Sygna Suit, Josh wasn't sensitive to Infinity Energy. It brought up another question, but one he would wait to ask until Yuina was done speaking. "So all territorial, but no pattern to their appearance," Josh nodded. "And they leave no trail when they vanish..." The Champion was too busy fleeing them to notice. "Was this the first time you've seen them anywhere? You're out in the field a lot more than I am, Yuina. Especially since my Gym keeps me from going too much Ranger work when the weather's really nice."

The question burned brightly in his mind. Why could Yuina detect Infinity Energy so easily? Josh needed to be wearing his Sygna Suit to be sensitive to it; with his Raikou being composed of SACRED ASH, there wasn't even an Infinity Energy signature from Swift. "Do you routinely wear a Sygna Suit, Yuina?" Josh asked. Come to think of it, he hadn't worn his in a while, had he?

Though he was not familiar with the particular hospital nicholas steele was at in Slateport City, Josh was more than familiar with the sterile environments contained within. No fewer than three times, he had spent long weeks confined to a bad while his battered body recovered. Pokémon healing was miraculous, greatly decreasing recovery time, but the wounds of Pokémon-based war were such that the healing time was offset by the injuries themselves being more severe.

Josh had heard of the Ranger's injuries; he had suffered a very similar one at the Prismatic Penitentiary. He had only days ago finished his final rehab session, and even then, his arm still cried in dull pain when he rode at full speed on some of his fastest, meanest Pokémon. The stresses of a Raikou Quick Attack on his body were immense. Much like any of his other fast Pokémon, it was less that he was training them and more than they were training him.

Taking the main elevator to Nick's room, Josh knocked on the Ranger's door, the dull RAINBOW FEATHER pinned to casual wear with a piece of art he had commissioned before he came to Hoenn. One of a black-haired young man standing next to a Raikou. Standing next to the young man was a white-furred Zeraora just a little shorter than he was: one of the very few bipedal Pokémon the Gym Leader recruited onto his team.

"It's Josh. Can I come in?"

Caladbolg's dance-like gallop felt exactly like Virizion's. Though he did not hoot and holler from the Iron Leaves' back, he still looked like he was having a lot of fun. The mental link he and his metallic steed had meant no reins were needed; the paradox Pokémon could simply channel into the Leader's mind to know where and when to turn.

As the cosplayer flew from above to greet Josh and his three Sacred Swords, Josh mentally ordered Caladbolg to a gentle stop. The others followed, but he could hear Tyrfing's thrusters sputtering. Either there was something wrong with them, or more likely, he just wanted to use them. "Doing okay," the Leader responded, the trio's LED eyes shifting toward Andrea and Mecha-Chomper. "Just growing a bit concerned about Swift. The Rainbow Feather's gone inert since the skirmishes at Petalburg. I know he took a really heavy blow, but I'm just worried something's wrong."

Josh heard Aqua Kennedy 's voice and immediately recognized them. He and his Iron Leaved turned to face them. Thankfully for the Rocket, he was wholly unaware of the jailbreak. "Glad to see you made it out of Petalburg okay. These three are Caladbolg, Tyrfing, and Sigmund," he introduced his chrome Sacred Swords to them both, though Andrea was familiar with Tyrfing already. "What have you been up to?"

Clawitzer was a Pokémon Josh hadn't even considered strapping a saddle to. Like Dirk said, they could zip through even the tightest of turns. What Josh would discover is just how much speed they could put on expelling water through the backs of their claws. That the young man brought a new idea to Mauville Gym, and a feasible one at that, impressed the Leader. "Well, Dirk, that's all the questions I have today."

He slid off the giant plush Raikou, neatly hanging up its felt reins. Returning to his desk, more keyboard tapping followed, then the hum of a printer working. Walking toward the device, he retrieved the piece of paper and presented it to Dirk. Were he to examine it, he would find it to be an offer letter. The wages were competitive, and the hours would be only slightly different than what was in Dirk's request. "If you need time to think on it, take it home and bring it back to me within seven calendar days. Otherwise, sign and initial in the circled spots." Were he to accept the job offer, the Gym Leader would continue on.

"I'll get an email sent off with a training schedule for you. It'll be a mix of self-paced modules and hands-on training. Afterward, I'll get you on our roster." He would extend his right hand. "Welcome to Mauville Racing Grounds, Dirk."

"Far as I know, it's man-made," Josh answered. "Modern-day evidence of how advanced Draconid technology was. You'd be better off asking freya morningstar about these sorts of things. She's our region's resident dragon expert." Josh may have seemed like a dragon expert, what with how much he flaunted his dragon Pokémon. Compared to people like her and Navy , he was far from it. From what he knew of them both, he expected that neither would approve of his treatment of dragon-types. He could feel it from the last time he had sparred with Vortigern. To those two masters of battle, dragons were not mounts or beasts of burden.

All of a sudden, Josh saw an emerald streak from the corner of his eyes. "What's the Skylord doing here?!" he shouted. Vespa would be able to see no sign of freya morningstar 's Patron anywhere close by. The sound of mischief coming from a Mismagius' voice clued him in that there was such a Pokémon in the ethereal nearby, instilling hallucinations that Rayquaza was nearby. The Gym Leader shook his head. "Sidewinder, can you take care of it for me, please?" With a nod, the Dragapult disappeared into the ghostly realm. It would not take long before he would reappear, along with the trail of an unconscious Mismagius wrapped around the ghost-type's wing blade.

Josh and Matias had two vastly different views on what Pokémon should be. To the Volatile, they were naught but means to an end. To Josh, they were companions. Partners. Friends. Diametrically opposed stances that would have made them political rivals were they competing for a seat within the League's upper echelons. In his eyes, Matias was not respectful of the fact that Pokémon were living and intelligent beings. Some, like Resheph and Tiamat, displayed human-like intelligence. Sure, not all of Josh's Pokémon were keen on wearing reins, but they did so out of respect for him. All except Swift.

For he knew that trust was the only bridle a legendary Pokémon would accept.

From the look in the military leader's eyes, Josh knew his account was no exaggeration. "This is a Buneary hole we've gone down many times before. It's clear that you and I don't look toward Pokémon in the same way. But Matias, you know what I would give to protect Mauville. To protect Hoenn. You saw it before your own eyes that day. But why should that disqualify me from running for Melody's seat?" He did not yell at Matias, like his past self would have. He showed every sign that he was in control of his emotions. Every sign that he wanted to debate the issue as a mature adult.

"...Or is because the Commissioner and Council feel I'm too valuable in my current seat?"

It wasn't just Josh's own leadership that tied his team together. It was his community; he treated everyone who worked at his Gym like extended family, many of his coworkers becoming good friends outside the workplace. "Thanks," Josh humbly expressed his gratitude. "We're just one giant family that does what we can to help one another. And that includes the rank and file at my Gym responsible for taking care of my Pokémon."

As simple as it was, the Pidgey capture from nicholas steele prompted Josh to reminisce upon his Johto days. "Takes me back to before I moved to Hoenn, seeing you make that catch. The first Pokémon I ever caught on my own was a Pidgey," he added, wishing he had brought the bird with him as he reined Yosei into a U-turn. They were getting a bit too close to Slateport City's skyline, and air traffic control had grown more strict over the Hoennian capital since the war escalated. "His name's Pazuzu. Still have him at my Gym today." Of course, he was a Pidgeot capable of Mega Evolution now. Being with a Gym Leader so long, it may have been hard to fathom how the Pokémon wouldn't have advanced to its final form by now.

PURCHASING/REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

5X Salac Berry (5@50 PD ea)

HARVESTING

be sure to visit the pretty petal flower shop near rustboro!

4X Salac Berry (to PC)

TOTAL

do come again!

250 PD

Josh knew of the species' tendencies; he had raised one before. He thought the species was adorable, as well, but it just wasn't in the cards for him to raise one. With his life revolving his Gym, he simply could not afford to raise a Pokémon unless it could wear a saddle or helped out with a very specific aspect of Gym maintenance. That was why his Shaymin was now being raised by Evette Moreau . "Fair," Josh conceded. "Better to have too much than not enough." Even so, they could survive in the wilds for a while on rations as numerous as they had.

Josh had quite a few stories to tell about his goings-on after Littleroot, and not all of them were happy. "The Gym's in good hands; it's part of why I have over 40 employees there now," the black-haired young man answered. "That way, the place can run for a little while without me being there." It was a lesson he learned the hard way in his first few months. Gym Leader were also Leaders. Part of leadership was delegating responsibility; trying to micro-manage the Gym on his own nearly led to him burning out early in his career. Now, Mauville Racing Grounds was a well-oiled machine that could run without his supervision for a time if need be.