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"wait, really?" miyako's eyes widened in excitement at the prospect of riding her cyclizar on the highway. she's been imagining that scenario ever since she laid eyes on one, and having the experience confirmed by a professional just makes it all the more thrilling.[break][break]

as they continue to walk, miyako listens to josh's story about his friend alexei, her interest piqued by the mention of a best bud who was also a gym leader. she wonders if she'll ever have a friend like that, someone who shares her passions and challenges her to be better.[break][break]

the idea of a mauville racing grounds membership is certainly tempting, especially if it means she can race her cyclizar as much as she wants. but money is tight, and she knows she'll have to think carefully before making a decision like that. "i'll definitely consider it," she says, trying to keep her tone casual even as her mind races with possibilities. "what kind of perks come with a membership?"

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miyako nods along with shalin's explanation of her connection to cian maher, her curiosity only growing with each word. "huh, i didn't know gym leaders and ranger captains worked so closely together," she muses, tucking the information away for future reference. "sounds like you've got a pretty interesting history with him, though. i'd love to hear more about it sometime."[break][break]

she watches as starr approaches her, eyeing the espeon with a mix of wariness and excitement. she's never ridden a psychic-type pokemon before, let alone one that can teleport, and the prospect is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. "wait, psychic-fueled bucking?" she repeats, her eyebrows shooting up in alarm. "just how wild of a ride are we talking about here?"[break][break]

despite her reservations, the temptation is too strong to resist. miyako takes a deep breath and swings her leg over starr's back, settling into the saddle with a grunt. "alright, girl," she says, patting the espeon's neck nervously. "take it easy on me, okay? i'm still a little sore from my last ride."

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24 hours in a day, nine-to-five work schedule, five minutes left on her lunch break, and two goddamn cities between her and the gym. miyako has never despised her haphazard time management skills as much as she does now, racing against the clock with fancy-pants, her togekiss, fluttering around her shoulders like a malfunctioning hovercraft.[break][break]

as miyako nears the entrance to the illustrious gymnasium, glinting with the most obnoxious concoction of gold, silver, and shiny fuckin' colors, she almost gags at the scent of success wafting through the oversized doors. ugh, how she despises engaging in exercises that require... well, actual exercise. but, also, she gets to ride her togekiss as fast as she possibly can, so that more than makes up for it.[break][break]

"woah, where's the fire?" some asshole yells as miyako nearly bulldozes past him in her mad dash towards her gym-based destiny.[break][break]

"oh fuck off, man. keep your eyes on your own goddamn journey," miyako snaps back, adjusting her gym bag as she kicks the double doors open in the most dramatic fashion possible.[break][break]

once she's actually inside the gym, miyako grimaces as her eyes meet the impressive stadium erected specifically for flying-types and their many mid-air shenanigans. honestly, the sheer extravagance of the racing gym seems excessive to her. and, also, super fuckin' dope.[break][break]

so, here she is, entering into this domain with her ego clutched in one hand and a single, measly hope in the other. just gotta put one foot in front of the other, miyako reminds herself, plastering on the most confident smirk she can muster as she strides towards the front desk. she's gotta a meeting with the man himself, josh devlin!

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miyako listens to josh talk about his relationship with rayquaza's previous avatar with rapt attention, trying to wrap her head around the idea of being friends with a legendary pokemon. it seems so far removed from her own experiences, but she can't deny the spark of envy that flickers in her chest.[break][break]

as they descend, miyako can't help but be a little disappointed that she didn't get to experience verte's full power. but the view from the top of the sky pillar more than makes up for it, and she can't help but grin as she takes in the sights below.[break][break]

and when she spots the cyclizar, she knows she has to have it. she's never seen a pokemon quite like it before, and the way it rolls off is just too cool to pass up. she doesn't even hesitate before chasing after it, her heart pounding with excitement.[break][break]

the chase is short but intense, and when she finally catches the cyclizar, miyako can't help but let out a whoop of victory. "hell yeah!" she crows, grinning from ear to ear. "this thing is sick!"[break][break]

josh's comment about the cyclizar being a good pokemon to challenge the gym with makes miyako's grin widen even further. "you think i could challenge it, like, five or six times?," she says, imagining more than a few pokemon she would be eager to race on. "now i've got so many fast things i could ride!"

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miyako's eyes light up at the prospect of getting to experience the simulation for herself, even if it means jumping through a few hoops to get there. "well, if anyone can make it happen, i'm sure it's you," she says with a confident grin. "just let me know what i need to do, and i'll be there with bells on."[break][break]

the mention of cian maher catches her attention, and she raises an eyebrow in surprise. "wait, you worked with cian maher? as in, the vct champion cian maher? damn, girl, you've got some pretty high-profile connections," she whistles appreciatively. "i guess that's just another perk of being a ranger captain, huh?"[break][break]

she turns her attention back to starr, her mind reeling at the thought of a pokemon that can be controlled by thought alone. "wait, so you're telling me that i could ride starr just by thinking about what i want her to do? and she'd keep me from falling off with her psychic powers? that's so dope," she breathes, already buzzing with the need to mount the damn thing. "i mean, don't get me wrong, i'm still a little wary after what happened with jiwari, but... damn, that sounds pretty tempting."[break][break]

miyako bats her eyelashes at shalin, as if to say pleeeeeeease?

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"rayquaza? you've gotta be shittin' me," miyako snorts, shaking her head in disbelief. she's never seen a rayquaza in person before, let alone ridden one. the thought of it is both exhilarating and terrifying.[break][break]

but as they soar higher and higher, miyako's excitement builds, her grip on verte's reins tightening with anticipation. she knows they're nowhere near the speed of a rayquaza, but the prospect of seeing what a flygon is capable of is enough to make her heart race.[break][break]

when josh mentions earplugs, miyako realizes with a jolt that she doesn't have any on her. she shakes her head, feeling a pang of disappointment as they start to descend. "i didn't bring any," she admits sheepishly, making a mental note to buy some as soon as possible.[break][break]

as they get closer to the ground, miyako's excitement starts to turn into a more nervous kind of energy. she's never challenged a gym leader before, and the thought of going up against josh—one of the fastest riders in the region, if not the fastest—is both thrilling and daunting.[break][break]

but when verte lands, miyako slides off his back with a grin, feeling more alive than she ever has before. "i'm definitely signing up for your gym challenge," she tells josh with a grin, patting verte's side in thanks. "and i'll make sure my togekiss and i are as prepared as we can be. you better watch out, devlin."[break][break]

then, she spots a cyclizar nearby, which immediately begins rolling off when it spots her. ah, shit. she can never resist a motorcycle. miyako is quick in running after the thing. "oh, dope!"

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miyako's eyes widen at the prospect of full sensory immersion, her mind already racing with the possibilities. "wait, seriously? like, everything would feel real? pain, pleasure, all of it?" she shakes her head in disbelief, a grin spreading across her face. "holy shit, sign me up."[break][break]

the idea of taking on a gym challenge, even a simulated one, is both daunting and exhilarating. "i've never really thought about becoming a gym leader myself, but i gotta admit, the idea of testing out all that crazy energy stuff sounds pretty fucking awesome," she chuckles. "and hey, if it means i get to learn from the best, even better."[break][break]

as the rainbow of eeveelutions appears before her, miyako can't help but stare in awe. she's seen shiny pokemon before, but never so many at once, and certainly not all decked out in riding gear. "arceus, these are some good-looking 'mons," she whistles appreciatively. "you've got quite the collection here, shalin."[break][break]

her eyes linger on the green espeon, noting the lack of reins and the single saddle on its back. "what's the story with that one? looks like it's got a different setup from the others."

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miyako grins at josh's praise, feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest. she's never been one for collecting gym badges—she found pokemon battles to be a bore—but the prospect of a racing challenge sounds much more interesting.[break][break]

she reaches down to pick up the quick ball, cradling it in her hands like a precious gem. "i can't wait to get to know you better," she murmurs to the togekiss inside, already feeling a sense of connection with the fairy-type. "we'll be the fastest things in the sky."[break][break]

when josh asks if she wants more, miyako hesitates for a moment, torn between her desire to keep riding and her need to get to know her new pokemon. but the prospect of more speed is too tempting to pass up. "let's keep going!" she exclaims, climbing back onto verte's back with a grin.[break][break]

as they take off again, miyako leans forward, the wind whipping through her hair and the tingling sensation running up her spine once more. she feels like she's on top of the world, her heart pounding with adrenaline.[break][break]

"hey josh," she shouts over the sound of vert's wings, an idea forming in her head. "do you think i could take on your gym? i bet we could give each other a run for our money!"

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miyako raises an eyebrow at the mention of the rks simulation, a term she's heard thrown around in passing but never really looked into herself. "i've heard of it, but i can't say i know much about it," she admits with a shrug. "some kind of virtual reality thing, right?"[break][break]

she watches as jiwari approaches, returning the tyranitar's wave with a nod of her own, even if she's still a little gun-shy from her last ride on the beast. "is it supposed to be pretty realistic? like, indistinguishable from the real world kind of realistic?"[break][break]

she tilts her head slightly, considering the implications of shalin's suggestion. "wait, are you saying we could use the simulation to try out some of this crazy shit without actually risking life and limb?" she asks, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and disbelief. "because if so, i am totally down for that."

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miyako squeezes her legs around vert's sides, barely managing to contain her excitement as they take off. she's never felt anything like this before; it's like she's flying on the back of a jet engine, the wind whipping through her hair and the tingling sensation running up her spine.[break][break]

when vert puts on an extra burst of speed, miyako lets out a whoop of joy, feeling like she's on the back of a motorcycle. this is the most alive she's ever felt![break][break]

she watches with bated breath as josh baits the togekiss over the sky pillar, leaning forward in her seat to try and keep up with vert's movements. when the bug buzz hits, miyako's whole body feels like it's vibrating, her teeth chattering and her hair standing on end.[break][break]

but she doesn't care. she's having the time of her life.[break][break]

as they get closer to the togekiss, miyako raises the quick ball, ready to throw it. "come on," she mutters under her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "just a little closer..."[break][break]

when they're finally within range, miyako throws the quick ball with all her might, watching with bated breath as it arcs through the air towards the fairy-type. "please, please, please," she prays aloud, her hands clenched into fists.[break][break]

the quick ball hits the togekiss and absorbs it instantly, dropping to the ground with the weight of a feather. miyako lets out a cheer, pumping her fists in the air as they start to descend. "holy shit!" she exclaims, grinning from ear to ear. "did you see that?!"

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miyako theatrically sighs as she kicks her feet up onto the chief's desk, leaning back into her chair. "so let me get this straight—"[break][break]

the chief cuts her off with a huff, then slams a fist onto the table. "i already told you everything you need to know, noguchi! people've been coming back from meteor falls spouting nonsense about some scary crap happening over there, and we need someone to investigate to say we did our job and make them stop reporting this shit."[break][break]

his eyes drag over to miyako's coworkers, who are currently battling it out over who gets to use the coffee machine first. "but apparently the rest of my fucking department is too chickenshit to do anything about it, and you're the only one with enough brain cells to handle the job."[break][break]

miyako blinks slowly. "wow." she says. "so what you're saying is, i'm the best person for this job?"[break][break]

the chief fixes her with a hard stare. "what i'm saying is that if you don't get your ass out of that chair in the next five seconds, you're fired."[break][break]

a pause. then miyako flies out of her seat faster than a rapidash on roller skates, winking at the chief as she saunters past him. "just needed to hear you say it, boss."[break][break]

---

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miyako parks her bike just shy of meteor falls, the steep cliffs looming like jagged teeth against the twilight sky. lighting a cigarette, she kicks at the loose gravel underfoot, already feeling the oppressive atmosphere settling over her like a second skin. the air is thick, humming with something old. something dangerous.[break][break]

the path ahead twists through gnarled trees and patches of overgrown grass, leading her to the ruins that supposedly belonged to the draconids. what remains is little more than weathered stone, carved into arches and columns that stretch like skeletal hands toward the heavens.[break][break]

it’s eerie, sure. but ghostly dragons? miyako takes a long drag of her cigarette and exhales slowly, unimpressed. "right. ghosts. i’ll believe it when i see it."[break][break]

her boots crunch over the broken remains of what might have been ceremonial tiles, worn down by centuries of weather and the occasional heavy-footed Pokémon. the ruins don’t feel abandoned, though. something’s been here—recently.[break][break]

she won't find out by just standing around. time to investigate!

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miyako's eyes are wide with excitement as she approaches vert, barely containing her glee at the prospect of riding such a powerful and majestic creature. she'd be lying if she said she wasn't intimidated, but the good kind of intimidated - the kind that makes her feel alive.[break][break]

she nods at josh's warning, not even bothering to try and hide her grin. she doesn't even mind that he'll be holding the reins; she's just happy to be here.[break][break]

as she settles onto vert's back, miyako feels a strange tingling sensation run up her spine, like pins and needles but not entirely unpleasant. "whoa," she says, barely a whisper, as she tries to adjust to the feeling. is that caused by... the speed of its wings?[break][break]

once josh is settled behind her, miyako leans forward, ready for takeoff. "let's go!" she exclaims, eyes scanning the sky for any interesting pokemon.[break][break]

as if on cue, she spots a togekiss hovering overhead, its wings a blur as it darts through the clouds. she points it out to josh, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement. "look! a togekiss!" she exclaims, not even trying to hide her glee. "that's a sign of good luck, right?"[break][break]

she could really use that kind of luck in her day-to-day. miyako is convinced that she's the unluckiest girl in the world—what fucked up god did she piss off enough to become karma's enemy?[break][break]

maybe nabbing the togekiss could abate some of the sorrow of her life. with an exhilarated grin, miyako pops an empty quick ball off of her belt and throws it towards the togekiss.

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