Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center!
I probably shouldn't have had Haunter use Dream Eater last night. Everything is nearly orange and my vision is a little shaky. I'm not sure I'm even thinking straight.
Perfect for racing, don't you think?
For the moment, I'm riding on Fluttershy, and wow, is she just that. She flutters about like a bird and she's as shy as can be... unless Dratini is around, then she is as eager as the rest of the Ponytas and other Pokémon (apart from Pinkie Pink). I rode her for a little to get used to her (I've never ridden a Pokémon but Applejack assures that I am a natural - is it normal to bounce on the saddle every time Fluttershy moves a hoof? It started to hurt after a bit).
I decided to keep Dratini with me for the Pokémon-athon race so that Fluttershy would ride well. According to Applejack, there was a prize for winning. Twenty thousand Pokémon dollars in fact! Oh and some trophy. Money is very good! If I won, I would be in the money! Rolling about in it!
Applejack was going to ride in the Pokémon-athon too. She sat on upon a Rapidash called Rarity alongside me. Rather than fire coloured fire, the Rapidash bore a mane of purple flames and smoke. The Pokémon looked well groomed and had a set of three diamonds on its hind leg. It was both elegant and pretty, for a Pokémon. I'm not Andrew after all.
Earlier in the morning, Applejack had been complaining about some Ekans in her boot. How did an Ekans slither into someone's boot while they were wearing it?!
Anyways, all was well now. (It was kind of orange and slightly double but not to worry.)
While I rode, I spotted a familiar face. It took a few moments for me to remember exactly who he was, and when I did, I felt pity. Cool Trainer Andrew ♂ looked... dead. The young man (older than me but he's young still) plodded along the grass slowly. What in Kanto had Andrew done to himself? Last I'd heard, he'd lost his Lickitung due to some relationship trouble. The idea of a human-Pokémon relationship sickened me. Still, Andrew was a friend (?) or at least an associate of Purple's. I had to do something for him.
The Ponyta walked towards him (and Andrew walked into Fluttershy - was he drunk) and I said "Hello" to Andrew but he didn't respond. I urged Fluttershy closer and spoke louder. Again, Andrew didn't say anything. Instead, he merely stared off in the distance. This time I shouted and he finally looked up at me. He smiled and put his hands on my head, moving them around my hair as he started to grin and weep, trying to climb on me. He said he needed to find her. Whoever "her" was. He added he wanted to win the Pokémon-athon to fix his problems, to better himself once and for all. It was such a tear-jerking story that one could almost cry.
I punched him off me and saw him crash to the ground. What else was a girl supposed to do?
Bump!
Just now, Fluttershy had gotten scared by a passing Beedrill and I fell off. I hurt my leg when I landed and it was a struggle to get back on the saddle. Even more to fit my feet into the stirrups (due to the leg hurting thing). Applejack made sure I was okay and then led me to the starting area. She said we could have a few practice attempts before the main race started. Obviously, I needed practice. Fluttershy did too. While all this happened, Dratini hung round Ponyta's head, barely able to balance herself. Poor thing.
Around the area, people were starting to gather in the stands, line up at the ticket office and buy food at the stalls. It was getting busy, and men, women and children alike were growing excited for the great event.
Other competitors included a girl atop a Starmie, a man sat upon a Dodrio, a child sat on a Weezing, a Meowth sat on another Meowth (was this even allowed), a Hitmonlee sat in a chariot with three Weepinbells leading it, a Kangaskhan (I'm guessing the baby in its pouch counted as the rider?), a very large man riding a Horsea (bad idea in my opinion) and last but not least, a little girl upon a tailless Slowpoke. Oh and Andrew on a bluish Pinsir. Andrew still looked like he was about to die. The niceness in my head worried about his safety but the brain in my head wanted to thump him once more.
Applejack trotted Rarity beside me and smiled and wished me luck. I did the same but I was crossing my fingers. That twenty thousand was mine!
After people were ready in the stands and the participants were all lined up, a man stood forth with a gun to start the race. The man pointed the gun up and...
three...
two...
one...
BANG!
The racers took off!
As I dashed away on Fluttershy, I heard someone scream and collapse. It seemed that the man had accidentally shot the large man riding the Horsea. The Horsea didn't seem too worried about the whole incident.
Dratini could barely hold on as the Ponyta stormed across the track with speed and efficiency, taking the lead immediately by passing the Meowth on Meowth. As Fluttershy galloped, I bounced on the saddle like a jackhammer. Ohhh... my bloody legs. My poor legs indeed.
For a little while, we kept the lead until the child upon the Weezing came close to challenge our place, using Smokescreen to block our view. For a while it worked until we passed the smoke and Fluttershy used flamethrower. The Weezing fainted and the kid crawled away with third degree burns. Poor kid.
Some time later, the little girl riding the tailless Slowpoke appeared and raced ahead. How could a Slowpoke move so quickly? Did its tail really slow it down?
Annoyed that we were now in second place, I kicked Fluttershy to go faster but it made her slower and soon it was Applejack who took over. Now third place, I did my best to apologise to the Ponyta for kicking her (did Pokémon speak Kantlish?) and soon we were back in form, catching up to those ahead.
After a long time, I saw Andrew on his Pinsir dash off the racetrack, earning a disqualification upon doing so. Well there was one less challenger to worry about. While I looked at Andrew, I felt Fluttershy jump really high, landing a short distance ahead. As she galloped, I looked back to see the tailless Slowpoke on the floor upside down along with the little girl. Even further back, I spotted the rest of the participants and they were catching up.
Screams and whistles sounded in the air as the final piece of the track came into view. Applejack was within range that I could hear her Rapidash's hooves beat the ground with great strength and agility. Fluttershy saw them and moved quicker. Things were going well. I could catch up and win that money. This was going to be the best day ever, I was going to be rich! I could buy a house, buy a street! I could run up to Professor Oak and buy his lab then kick him out of it! Everything was going to be perfect!
Fluttershy stopped so sharply, I flew off and hit the ground hard. Dratini came with me, crashing with a groan.
I didn't understand. How could this happen to me? I was going to catch up and beat even Applejack! It was going to be the best day in history! I was going to be rich!
I got up and looked to Fluttershy who was cowering at the side of the racetrack. Dratini slithered my way, worried that she might get trampled by the now passing racers. There was no way I could win now.
I examined Fluttershy to see what had caused her to stop.
...
...
A single leaf was on her hind leg. One leaf.
We hope to see you again soon!
Nurse Pink Joy