"I don't know the game well. But my kid wanted to see it, so here I am" Josh remarked with a shrug. He hadn't actually told Devlin before that he had kids, did he? Well, it didn't seem like Devlin had even noticed, he was more absorbed in everything going on. Fair enough. But that cry from Raikou... It sounded like a Luxray, didn't it? Josh blinked a few times as he stared it down... He supposed a VR game wouldn't know what a Raikou sounded like, but its body language looked like that of a Luxray too.

Devlin talked about how he used to beta test for this game. Sounded about right for a kid his age. He would have been the target demographic for a VR game. Others joined them, though Josh didn't recognize them. Par for the course in these circumstances, he supposed. Meanwhile, Josh listened as the kid would explain what they were doing. Which was good. Because he had no idea.

God, he was getting old, wasn't he?

Then they were transported to somewhere else, an experience Josh was still getting used to. With a breath, he would send out a dragon of his own in the form of Fawkes. The Charizard had a saddle that seemed to match the theme of Josh's outfit, making it quite the sight. Josh had also done some work on its functions, using his own tech know-how. He had no idea if that was even legal in the game, but he supposed he would just have to find out.

And it seemed he had brought the perfect mount for the situation, as well. Josh would mount Fawkes and hit a button on the saddle, with an opening being put in place for the sword on his back. Sliding the giant sword neatly inside, he would motion for Fawkes to take off.

Josh Devlin

-Notes-

With Murkrow safely sent back to the ranch, Josh would figure it was probably best he wrapped up and started to head home. He watched the kid hone his racing skills, or well, fool around really, a little while longer. While he didn't understand all this racing business, the kid was in tune with his Pokemon. There was room for improvement, but he was getting the gist of it. And quickly, at that.

"Hey kid! I think I'm going to head back. I need to report in at HQ and then get back to my family" Josh called to Devlin as he started packing. "You take care of yourself, alright? Don't get into too much trouble. And don't race too recklessly! You only get one life, and Pokemon can be unpredictable if you aren't careful!"

Though he would begin to see something bubbling under the surface, and headed straight forwards Devlin and his Pokemon...

"Hey! Watch out!"

Josh Devlin

Passing. Devlin can do the closer.

"It just takes time. They're not "anger prone" so much as they are not the most trusting. They require a strong Trainer with a great deal of patience to tame" Josh advised the younger Trainer, who seemed to have gotten Charizards all wrong. "They are prideful creatures. Many of them seek to be the best, and if you cannot provide them that ability, then they will not listen. You have to show them that you are worthy."

While for Devlin it was a harrowing tale, for Josh it was just a memory. It was a scary time, but you know what's even scarier? Being married to a firebrand with a terrible temper. "Lugia's nothing compared to my wife, if you want to talk terrifying" he joked in turn. The kid then started talking about how Raikou was apparently trying to commune with him, training him. Personally, Josh figured the kid just had a hyperactive imagination.

Then again, he'd spoken to Articuno once in hopes of becoming its Avatar. Instead, he'd been told to f-off because he hadn't "done enough".

Quite something to think that after a decade of doing this, he'd done nothing in the eyes of Articuno. Definitely a harsh critic, that one. Either way, it didn't really bother him. Josh was happy doing what he was doing, and he didn't need the help of some oversized frozen chicken to protect Hoenn.

He listened as other Josh would talk about his Gym Lite, basically making it a race against him. "Perhaps I'll take you up on it sometime. I could use the training" Josh mused aloud, at least giving the kid something to look forward to. But it seemed that even the kid knew he'd have to quit one or the other if it came to it.

It didn't take long after they split up for Devlin's communicator to ring.

"Ranger Devlin. I've found them. I'm going to signal for you, but it's going to attract their attention. Make it quick."

Josh didn't mince words, it was a quick and practical message to get the job done quickly before he hung up. No time for pleasantries in an emergency. Devlin would soon see a Thunderbolt fired into the air, and following it would bring him to the sight of a group of survivors climbing a group of rocks trying to avoid a group of Floatzel. It seemed they had disrupted the nest.

Realizing that it wouldn't be wise to damage the nests, Josh put his Mega Gauntlet aside as Fawkes dove in. The signal had taken the attention of the Floatzel, who had begun shooting Hydro Pump up at Fawkes. Josh would have Fawkes deft, weave and dive to avoid them until his backup could arrive.

Josh Devlin

-Notes-

It was time to head home. He was tired, the kids were tired. It had been a very, very long splashfest and he was ready for a nap. And therapy.

He really did need therapy.

So one more dive, and then he was off.

@tag

RStva9u8

The kids had fallen asleep, all things considered. The screaming over that Bruxish aside, this had been fairly relaxing. But it was time to pack up and go home. As Josh began packing things, he would send out his lure one more time. He had to consider what he'd keep too...

Perhaps the Gyarados, then?

Izumi Yamamura

0vI4hhTU

Extra Small Goldeen
Large Lanturn
Average Sharpedo
Large Gorebyss
Average Barrakewda
Extra Small Barraskewda
Small Whishcash
Average Gyarados (Keeping)
Average Whishcash
Average Octillery
Small Sharpedo
Extra Small Lumineon
Small Magikarp
Average Bruxish
Large Gorebyss
Large Whishcash

This was it. His last chance. One final opportunity to hit the Magikarp Splash. Josh had pretty much thrown the entire competition in pursuit of this. One way or the other, he would be free. Perhaps after this, he'd take some actual Mantine Surfing lessons so this never happened again.

Oh who was he kidding: Of course it would. His luck was terrible.

Izumi Yamamura

YXxNHyu4

He had already sent Leonidas Stone right back to Sparta with the last time he had thrown a ball at him, so for one last go of it, might as well see if he can get another. His last time on the platform had been knocked over by what looked like a Clefairy or something as soon as he'd climbed on, and this was his last chance to make it count.

_X|_0rbq

A... Berry?

This was getting berry, berry weird.

Izumi Yamamura

P3t1sU_9

Being too tired at this point to throw, and too dead inside, Josh let the Raichu throw.

Of course, said Raichu decided to whack the ball full speed ahead with its tail. That wasn't going to be good.

@tag

MwrJqh7T

SPLOOSH!

Why was he doing this?

Why was he doing this to himself?

He had two more chances. Two more tricks left. Only time for that many before the competition was over. At this point, he knew that he was just going to have to shoot for that Magikarp Splash and hope for the best. Not because it had any benefit.

But because it was now or never.

@tag

So3|1ec2

"What the FUCK is THAT?!" Josh cried out as he would throw the Bruxish back into the water before it could scare the kids too much.

"Oh, you can't cook Magikarp either, honey. They're all bone" Josh corrected Izumi with a bittersweet smile, knowing it would likely infuriate the fiery brunette even more. (She was a brunette, right? One minute she was a brunette, the next she had black hair).

But one thing was right: They weren't catching much more here. They were almost out of time. Then again, fishing was always a crapchute like this. Perhaps her temper is why Josh didn't take Izumi out fishing before?

Izumi Yamamura

KzSMoXED

Extra Small Goldeen
Large Lanturn
Average Sharpedo
Large Gorebyss
Average Barrakewda
Extra Small Barraskewda
Small Whishcash
Average Gyarados
Average Whishcash
Average Octillery
Small Sharpedo
Extra Small Lumineon
Small Magikarp
Average Bruxish
Large Gorebyss

Only a few shots left, and he was presented with another chance to knock Elaine Highland down into the depths. How many times was this? And how many times had he mistaken Elinor and Elaine and Elaine for Elinor?

Elaine Highland

_3BzXFle

Time was running out, he knew that. He just had to make the most of it, he would like to think, but it seemed like he was just getting junk now.

Was all the good stuff already taken?

@tag

xHDezwYk