Ash and Pikachu wandered along the sunny road to Solaceon Town. Dawn was following close behind, chatting to her Piplup and getting it ready for the competition they were about to enter.
"Ash!" Dawn called. Ash turned around and faced his friend.
"What?" he asked. Pikachu, balenced on his shoulder, made a little mewing sound and jumped to the floor.
"Are you ready for this competition?" Dawn said, grinning all over her face. "I mean, it's not battling; is it?"
"No, but I'm ready!" Ash cried, jumping up and down with excitement.
"Alright, then, let's go!" Dawn cried. She scooped up Piplup and raced along ahead of Ash, to the small cowboy-type town they were almost reaching. The town was busier than ever - streamers and balloons all over the place. Dawn looked around, mesmerised, as Ash came thundering along beside her, Pikachu balancing on his hat.
"Let's go get registered!" Ash cried out as he slid on an empty packet of some kind of sweet and went flying. He stumbled to his feet and laughed sheepishly. He turned to look at Dawn - she was doubled up, laughing her head off.
"Alright, then," Dawn said, "Let's go register!" They found the registering office, and put their names down.
"So, Pokemon Derby..." Ash said. "What do we do, exactly?"
"Well," Dawn began. Her father had taught her all about the Pokemon Derby, and she was keen to impart some of the knowlage onto Ash. "One of your Pokemon sits in the little cart with you, and the other one pulls it. You go along a track in a cave, or a forest, and the fastest time wins. The Pokemon inside the cart balances it."
"I see," Ash said. "It's all about teamwork! Just like a battle."
The competiton started and they raced to enter it. Ash scurried along to Cart Number 3, clutching his Swellow's Pokeball and Pikachu under one arm.
Dawn made it to Cart Number 9 and released her newly-caught, especially for the Derby, Scyther, and Piplup.
"Come on, guys!" Dawn cried, as Scyther was harnessed up to the cart and Piplup wedged in beside her. The same was happening to Ash - he was going pink with excitement.
BANG!
The starting pistol fired and the Pokemon pulling the carts began to run along their track. In Cart Number 9, Dawn was getting Piplup to fire Bubblebeam over the back of the cart to make it easier for Scyther to pull. Ash was getting Swellow to fly, close to the ground. He overtook Dawn and three other carts, until another boy with a backwards baseball hat overtook him, using a Tauros and a Espeon.
"See you later, suckers!" the boy said, laughing as they disappeared into a dark tunnel.
Dawn was speeding along just behind Ash now, she could almost reach out and snatch Pikachu from the cart. Scyther was tirelessly racing along, and Piplup's Bubblebeam seemed to be helping.
"Come on, Ash, admit it!" Dawn shouted, "You'll never win!"
Ash laughed at her. "Come on, Pikachu," he said, meanly. "Shock them a little bit, just enough to get 'em off our trail.
"Pika...chuuuu!" Pikachu cried, letting out a massive wave of thunder.
"No fair!" Dawn shrieked, hastily spraying Potion on both her Pokemon. She had a sudden idea; Ash was flying, and her Scyther had wings too!
"Ah, man!" Ash cried, as Dawn and a now flying Scyther overtook them. She even beat the boy with the Tauros. Piplup was waving out the back of the cart, and sticking its little tounge out at everyone behind them.
Dawn was advancing upon the finishing line quickly, and as she crossed it, she saw a boy she almost recognised. She was sure she'd heard Ash talk about him. Tracey, his name was, and he had a Venonat and a Marill. Sure enough, the boy sketching the scene before him had those Pokemon.
"Yeah!" Dawn shouted as she crossed the finishing line. "I beat you, Ash!"
Ash came trailing along in third place, looking gloomy. The Tauros boy had beaten him, but he still got a ribbon. Dawn was presented with a massive gold trophy. It turned out that every time she entered, she won!
"Ash!" Ash turned round.
"Tracey!" he cried. He gave Tracey a hug. "Come and meet my friend, Dawn."
"Hey, Dawn," Tracey said. "Well done, you were excellent."
Dawn was staring behind Tracey.
"Look out," she said, "I spy trouble."