"Would all the riders in the next race please report to the starting gate. Repeating, would all the riders in the horse pokemon race please report to the starting gate. Boarding starts in two minutes." The voice of the announcer boomed and then continued. "Welcome students to this year's race between Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Unova teams. Each school has sent four horse pokemon and their rider's in this year's race. We are all sad to see that Sinnoh didn't make it this year…" The voice faded as I payed more attention to the pokemon in front of me.
One of my friends had taken it upon themslves for this season to take care of dressing up the Rapidash stallion. She already had the green, red and fuschia saddle blanket on, the saddle was mostly on, just waiting to be tightened and the bridle was on. The dark leather of the tack contrasted to the Rapidash's pale coat. The leather was a chocolate brown, while on the bridle the single ear ring was wrapped with a lighter material.
I walked down the side of the horse Pokemon, trailing my fingers along its side, knowing it wouldn't burn me. I finished the tightening of the saddle, and then boosted myself into one of the stirrups, pushing down with that foot to test the fit. When I grew satisfied with it, I jumped up, getting my leg on the other side while the muscles quivered beneath me, ready to listen. I nodded to my friend, telling her to lead him out towards the gate.
She pulled with a small amount of tension and my mount was prancing. I put my helmet on, throwing my other pokeballs to the side and tying a small rag to my pants, knowing it would be useful later. I rubbed my hand down the Rapdash's neck.
"Epsilon, chill bud. It's not quite time yet." I gently chided my stallion, feeling him pull his snout higher and his tail flickering differently, as if trying to tell me' whatever'. He knew I was joking.
"He's ready, huh Fallan? Yeah, you're so ready aren't you Epi? You're going to win, of course." My best friend as well as roommate said as she walked Epsilon to the starting gate. His mane got fuller with the flame as we got nearer the crowd. It was his way of showing off.
"Alright, this year the people to watch are Fallan Lancaster, who is on her Rapidash stallion, Epsilon and Rita Araya on the Zebstrika Tio. There seems to be a rivalry between these two. Remember students that betting and gambling is currently illegal at schools and is a bad thing to do. Alright the first rider is now entering." The announcer's voice crackled over the out-dated sound system.
I felt Epsilon spook at the voice and Bree forced him to wheel around. I felt his muscles bunch just before he reared, catching me off guard. "Bree, pull down slightly, would you?" I asked my best friend who was still trying to lead the horse pokemon. After him returning to all four legs, Bree quickly snapped off the lead rope and did a check-over. I trusted that she did it right the first time, but not wanting to offend her, I sat quietly, letting her check everything.
After the okay, I turned Epsilon towards the main ground just before the starting gates. Another rider came right up next to me, the horse pokemon sending small electric shocks off its body.
"You want to know something, Lancaster? If you ever trained that pathetic mount to actually behave, maybe it actually do better than those fluke wins. How it can even run already amazes me." As the rider said this, I chewed slightly on my tongue, trying to tune it out. I asked Epsilon to start trotting, trying to have him get stretched so he wouldn't get a leg injury.
I watched as the Araya rider rode off, making sure she was gone. The other Kanto rider came up next to me, her small Ponyta stretching its neck to try to groom Epsilon's shoulder. "Fallan, just beat her, maybe then she'll shut up. Please just beat her. Raja, leave Epsilon alone."
"It's fine Calla. He offending me and Epi, of course we'll beat her. Its fine if Raja there wants to groom Epsilon, I don't mind. She's a sweetheart." I said to Calla as I reached out a hand to stroke the muzzle of the Ponyta.
"Riders we need to start the race soon, please start getting loaded into starting gates. Just a reminder that the other two riders from each region will start an hour after the start of this race. All the horse pokemon look great this beautiful afternoon." A different voice this time came over the loudspeaker. "Alright, it looks as if all the riders are now in the starting gate. Just remember that this is a long race, even longer than most think."
A bell tolled and the gates jumped open, several pokemon running the second as it happened. I had Epsilon stay near the middle of the pack, knowing that two miles was a pretty long distance compared to the simple single miles from the season. The jump tables came up quickly and I slowed Epi, wanting to see how others' were doing.
The Zebstrika that was closest to the jumps started to rear and buck, its ill temper coming out as it refused to get onto the first jump. It was in a pot where it would be hard for other riders to pass it. As an added challenge, it was annoyed enough to where small bolts of electricity were shooting off its body, keeping other trainers away. I made sure to keep Epsilon away from the Zebstrika, as I wheeled around to look for a possible way to get onto the table.
"Should we try this Ep? I think if we do this just right, we could get onto the table. Do you trust me enough Ep?" I quietly asked my stallion, not wanting others to figure it out. If I would take the jump at the angle that was possible there was a chance that over-jumping the table could happen. And I would get dangerously close to the rearing Zebsrika. I felt a small bob of his head, then a more reassured one. "Alright." With that I tapped the Rapidash to a gallop further away from the group, checking to make sure no-one would get in the way.
Shocks from Epsilon running close to the Zebstrika hit us as he jumped onto the table. Epsilon collapsed as we landed, throwing me into the lake. I hit something hard before I hit the water. After a second or two from the shock, I swam back to the table, climbing out of the water to get back on the Rapidash that was now standing on the table with a small, hurt expression.
I attempted to get back on but my right arm was on fire anytime something stresses it. After many failed attempts, I used my left arm, falling slightly as I got back in the saddle. I took off my helmet and threw it to the side. Looking back I saw that we were almost at the back again as I asked for a quicker canter to catch up. I stroked his neck as he flew over the tables, catching up quickly. Not being able to use my right arm I guided him just using my legs.
Soon we passed the riders from Johto and Hoenn, catching up to the lead again. It was Rita, Calla, then me in the top three positions. As the rockier terrain came up, I relaxed more, letting Ep relax into a trot, closing in to Calla. We started talking as Epsilon trotted right up to the Ponyta, letting out a low whicker.
"Fallan, should you really be riding after that fall? It looked horrible from where we were. Did you know that you hit up against a concrete table before your swim in the lake?" Calla said with a worried tone inflicted.
"That must be why my right arm doesn't want to work right. I think I might have broken my arm. We're stronger than we're given credit for. We needed to be." I said, thinking back to when my life got flipped upside down.
As our discussion progressed, the closer we got to Rita, noticing that her Zebstrika was getting tired. The race was almost done, but a lot still could happen. It was maybe a quarter mile left. As we were side by side with Rita and the Zebstrika, I waited for the moment when I could use the speed that Rapidash were known for. As the finish line came into view, I pressed harder, letting Epsilon know what he should do.
As he got into that speed, it felt as if I was flying. I was crouched low over the saddle, and stretched as though I was going to stand as he ran, feeling the gust of wind, knowing that the Zebstrika couldn't possibly catch up.
"And the winner is Fallan Lancaster, What a great race that was, her coming from the way back to win it. And in second we have Calla and third belongs to Rita. This just goes to show the strength of these pokemon…"
My whole world turned to black as the announcer rambled on.