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miyako pushes herself upright, wind whipping through her hair as she watches the landscape tilt crazily to the side. her heart pounds in her ears, adrenaline thrumming through her veins like lightning. she grits her teeth, determined to push through the fear and uncertainty that threatens to overwhelm her.[break][break]

everything hinges on this moment—the speed they've built up, the momentum they've gained from their extreme speed. all of it is crucial as they approach the second loop.[break][break]

it's not lost on miyako that this is unlike anything she's ever faced before—not on land nor in the air. fancy-pants might be trained for this sort of thing, but miyako certainly isn't. yet here they are, hurtling towards a horizontal loop at breakneck speeds, the very laws of physics seeming to bend around them.[break][break]

tensing her legs, miyako grips the reins tighter, knuckles white with exertion. she can feel fancy-pants responding beneath her, muscles shifting and changing as they approach the loop. trust, miyako tells herself fiercely. trust in fancy-pants, trust in yourself.[break][break]

as the world tilts sideways, miyako closes her eyes for just a moment, gathering her courage before committing wholly to the dizzying spin. her stomach drops away, the ground suddenly above her head instead of beneath her feet. gravity presses down on her, making it hard to breathe or think or do anything but hold on for dear life.[break][break]

FeazzJup

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miyako's interest is piqued by the mention of the amnesty program. it's something she's heard of in passing, but never really looked into. "huh," she murmurs thoughtfully, filing the information away for later. if aiko's even still out there, it might be a good option. "maybe i'll look into that."[break][break]

she nods along as shalin explains about the ultra wilds and the halls of origin, her eyes widening at the thought of uncharted territories and undiscovered pokemon. "damn, that sounds like something straight outta a movie," she breathes, shaking her head in disbelief. "i ain't ever been anywhere near a place like that."[break][break]

miyako grimaces slightly at the mention of needing a sygna suit to ride pheromosa, feeling a twinge of envy. "figures," she chuckles dryly, running a hand through her hair. "the cool shit's always just outta reach, huh?"[break][break]

she watches as nymris twirls about, a thoughtful expression on her face. "sooo," she drawls, turning back to shalin with a mischievous grin. "can anyone wear a sygna suit like yours?"

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these statues seem important. probably a big deal.[break][break]

miyako, trying to shake off the last few images of the weird mirror-statue thing she saw during her descent, splits from shalin to look closer at the statues lining the room. her fingers itch to maybe run a light brush over them, but she knows better than to touch potentially priceless artifacts. besides, she doesn't need to add 'got cursed by statue' to her already colorful list of experiences.[break][break]

she peers closely at the statues, scrutinizing every angle and detail. miyako muses to herself, wondering who these figures were meant to represent. royalty? priests? advisors?

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it's always a surprise. her parents were surprised, too.[break][break]

"yeah, well," miyako rubs at the back of her neck, trying desperately to cease the wave of sadness that threatens to crash down atop her. "she got involved with rocket, so being an officer sounded like the right choice."[break][break]

when she says it aloud, though, it sounds stupid. joining the force, full of bastards she hates, just to have a better chance at finding her sister? why didn't she just join rocket itself at that point? why didn't she get on a damn plane and never look back?[break][break]

ugh. at least shalin offers an incredible reprieve from the bullshittery of her daily life. hanging out with the ranger in the romping grounds is enough to make miyako forget entirely about her current predicament most days. maybe that's why she's always on the hunt for something harder, faster, stronger—when the adrenaline is pumping in her ears and the wind is blowing past her face, the sorry state of her existence manages to become background noise, a nominal improvement from the usual cacophany.[break][break]

plus, shalin has some damn cool stories. the officer finds herself glancing between shalin and the ultra beasts that cavort alongside them, her jaw dropped.[break][break]

"damn!" she chirps, nodding. "that's cool as hell! how does that work? i didn't even know they hatched from eggs."

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well, alright then. guess my legs are walkin' me to those doors.[break][break]

keeping her eyes locked on the doors ahead of her, and trusting the information given to her by the bizarre scenario - as well as her gut - miyako takes a tentative step forward onto the invisible bridge. she's fully prepared to do a cool backflip thing if she ends up plummeting downwards instead.[break][break]

but to her surprise, she is standing on solid… something. and so she continues, crossing to the other side without looking down for fear of freaking herself out. she ain't scared of heights but she's kinda scared of invisible bridges. what can she say? she contains multitudes.[break][break]

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ah, there it is — the overwhelming sense of smug superiority mixed with self-deprecation that radiates off him, like sun rays at noon-time. miyako rolls her eyes, already tipsily annoyed with his overly familiar attitude, though she secretly cringes knowing she'd probably be the same way if she were half as famous as him. there's an indignant flare in her chest, making sure she doesn't go all fan-girl on him despite recognizing him now from multiple tabloids and television interviews.[break][break]

"well, aren't you just a king-sized bed of confidence?" she quips instead, trying for aloof and disinterested but achieving snarky amusement, "as if a guy like you even needs introductions."[break][break]

but then, remembering he asked her to introduce herself (and realizing he probably wants to confirm if her personality matches her file photo), she begrudgingly follows suit, her heart thrashing in her ribcage from nerves, too-strong drinks, and sheer disbelief that she's now talking to a guy she once saw plastered on billboards and bus-stop advertisements.[break][break]

"miyako noguchi," she states bluntly, leaning back into her stool and grabbing a cigarette from her pocket, tapping it impatiently on the bar counter while the lighter flickers in her other palm. "police officer. dog-lover. crime-novel enthusiast. photographer. current masochist. you?"[break][break]

she sucks in a drag, exhales smoothly, and narrows her eyes, the pink ember glowing warm in her peripheral vision. oh, she already hates herself for finding this fucking guy attractive. ugh.

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the rush of wind past her ears dulls to a whisper as miyako and fancy-pants emerge victorious from the last loop, her heart hammering in her chest. ahead of them stretches the final straightaway, and for a moment, miyako considers taking the opportunity to recoup some strength.[break][break]

but then she hears the announcement echoing over the loudspeakers—[break][break]

"YOU GOT BOOST POWER!"[break][break]

—and all bets are off.[break][break]

grinning fiercely behind her helmet, miyako leans forward, urging fancy-pants onward with a squeeze of her knees. she can feel the togekiss' muscles bunch beneath her as they surge forward, boosting off the starting line with newfound vigor. the wind whips past them once again, roaring in miyako's ears as they leave the other racers eating their dust.[break][break]

they've got this in the bag.[break][break]

even better, miyako knows how fast her steed can go. with a deep, steadying breath, miyako presses down on fancy-pants harder and harder, until a burst of EXTREME SPEED has her careening down the straightaway.[break][break]

1HLpMtYa

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miyako leans heavily against the tree, her heart rate slowly returning to normal as she catches her breath. she smiles gratefully at shalin's compliment, ducking her head with a small blush. "thanks," she mumbles, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "i don't know about talented, but it's a pretty cool thing. something about the thrill of it, y'know?"[break][break]

she hesitates for a moment, weighing her options. she could lie, make up some excuse about wanting to uphold justice or serve the community. but there's something about shalin that makes miyako want to open up, to confide in her.[break][break]

"silly reason, really," she admits with a self-deprecating laugh. "my sister went missing when i was younger. thought joining the force might help me find her."[break][break]

she sighs, shaking her head as she stares off into the distance. "been searching for her ever since. joined up hoping it'd give me access to resources to find her. so far, nada."[break][break]

she turns back to shalin, offering a small smile. "what about you? What made you want to be a ranger captain?"

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hey. uh. look at its shadow?[break][break]

miyako is baffled by the disappearing act the words pulled, but perhaps all hope isn't lost yet. she points towards the shadows cast from the sign, hoping it gives shalin and herself a clue.

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miyako's eyes widen in shock as savanna slams on the brakes, her body lurching forward in the saddle from the sudden stop. she can feel the heat of the burned grass beneath them, the air thick with the smell of smoke and ozone. her heart pounds in her chest, adrenaline still surging through her veins as she struggles to catch her breath.[break][break]

shalin's worried face swims into view as the ranger captain approaches, miyako feeling a rush of relief wash over her at the sight of her friend. "i'm okay," she manages to gasp out, her voice rough from the wind. "just... didn't expect her to be that fast."[break][break]

she takes a shaky breath, running a trembling hand through her windswept hair. "holy shit, that was... that was something else," she says, her voice still tinged with disbelief. "i've never gone that fast in my life."[break][break]

she turns to savanna, reaching out a hand to stroke the zeraora's side. "thanks for the ride, girl," she murmurs, her voice sincere. "that was... definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience."[break][break]

she swings her leg over savanna's back, sliding off with shaky legs. "i think i need to sit down for a minute," she admits with a weak laugh, leaning against the zeraora's side for support.

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miyako grits her teeth, knuckles turning white around the reins as savanna's speed continues to increase. the electric type's gait becomes more jarring with each stride, jostling miyako in the saddle like a rag doll. she can feel the burn in her muscles as she struggles to maintain control, to steer the thunderbolt of a pokemon beneath her.[break][break]

it's all miyako can do to stay on, her body wracked with the strain of the effort. "s-steady, girl," she pants, her voice lost in the howling wind. "easy...!"[break][break]

she chances a glance behind her, seeing shalin and volt slowing to a stop, no longer even attempting to keep up. miyako feels a momentary pang of guilt, knowing that she's left her friend in the dust, but it's quickly overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.[break][break]

the landscape blurs around her as savanna continues to accelerate, trees and grass whipping by in a dizzying green streak. miyako's heart pounds in her chest, the thrill of the speed, the power, the sheer exhilaration of it all leaving her breathless.[break][break]

but as the zeraora pushes faster and faster, miyako realizes with a growing sense of dread that she's lost control. savanna is no longer responding to her reins, her body surging forward with a will of its own. miyako's eyes widen in fear as she realizes they're hurtling towards a patch of trees, the electric type showing no signs of slowing down.[break][break]

"oh shit," miyako breathes, her heart leaping into her throat as she pulls back on the reins. "savanna, stop! stop!!"

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oi! shalin! what does that sign say?![break][break]

miyako is aware she's chasing a moving skuntank, but she can go pretty fast herself. fast enough to catch up to the sign and see what the fuck is written on it. she'd rather not get fried by some ancient booby trap or trick door before she even steps inside. oh, and also she doesn't want shalin to become magma toast. that would suck.

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miyako's hands tighten around the reins as savanna starts off at a slow pace, the wind still whipping through her hair even at this reduced speed. she can feel the power and potential thrumming beneath her, just waiting to be unleashed, and it sends a thrill down her spine.[break][break]

shalin's whistle cuts through the air, and miyako turns her head to see volt dashing alongside them, the shiny jolteon's electric blue fur a stark contrast to savanna's golden yellow. for a moment, they keep pace with one another, the two electric-types running side by side in a display of incredible speed.[break][break]

but miyako can't help herself. the desire to see just what savanna is capable of, to feel that raw, untamed power beneath her, is too strong to resist. she takes a deep breath, then gives savanna the signal to go faster.[break][break]

almost instantly, the world around them blurs, the trees and grass whipping by in a green streak. the air roars in miyako's ears, snatching away any attempt at a scream of excitement, leaving her with only a breathless laugh that is quickly carried away by the wind.[break][break]

she can see shalin and volt falling behind, unable to keep up with the incredible speed of the zeraora. but miyako is too caught up in the moment to care, her body surging with adrenaline as they race across the plateau.[break][break]

"arceus above," she breathes, her heart pounding in her chest. "this is... this is insane!"

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