Chapter 7: A Lesson in a Rhyhorn Race!

"So hey! Yuki! Serena! Where are you two headed off to?" Ash asked. Serena stopped thinking about it. "I was thinking whether I should go to Cyllage City alone, or together..." Yuki explained. He nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Uh... Me? Uh... Well, I... Uh..." Serena stammered.

"Why don't you two just come along with us?" Ash asked. "Pika!" Pikachu agreed. Bonnie immediately went with the idea, running to both trainers. "Yeah! That'd be fun! Come with us! We'll have a great time!" Bonnie recommended. She held both Yuki's and Serena's hand to pull the two over.

"Yeah! Sounds like an excellent idea to me!" Clemont agreed. Ash nodded in agreement. "Thanks to the both of you, I came up with the Santalune Gym strategy! And if you two could help me from here on out... Uh... It would be great." Ash explained. Yuki and Hawlucha took a look at each for a moment.

The two nodded as they both smiled at Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie. "Sure thing! It'd be great to have companions along." Yuki replied. "Lucha!" Hawlucha agreed while folding his arms. "Sure! How could I say no to all that?" Serena asked. She winked at Ash, as the Pallet Town trainer grinned.

"Alright!" Ash exclaimed. "Yeah! That's the spirit!" Clemont replied with a smile. Bonnie cheered for two new companions as she dragged the two to the two boys. "Come on!" Bonnie said impatiently. "Ash! Yuki! The two of you are planning to head to the Cyllage Gym next, aren't you?" Serena asked.

"Yeah!" Ash replied with a nod. "That's where we're going, alright." Yuki agreed. "Well, I can show you both how to get there!" Serena assured. She pulled out a pink device for, her bag. "Ta-da! Here's where we are now! Santalune City!" Serena called.

Yuki, Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie walked over to look closer at Serena's device. "But look here! Lumiose City is between us and Cyllage City! So, we have to travel back to Lumiose City, before we get there!" Serena explained. She closed her device as Ash smiled. "I guess you're right!" Ash smirked.

"Great! There's a boutique in Lumiose City, cutest clothes, and an awesome bakery that has the best pastries you ever tasted!" Serena explained. She squealed, thinking of the sight that Lumiose City might be. Bonnie's mouth began to water as she thought of the delicious pastries.

"What are we waiting for!? Let's go!" Serena giggled. She ran ahead, with Bonnie following behind. "Yippee!" Bonne cheered as she followed closely to Serena. "Clemont! Step on it!" Ash yelled. Yuki ran as well, but managed to pass everyone, much to their surprise.

"Whoa! Slow down, Yuki!" Serena gasped as she tried to catch up. Hawlucha and Yuki smirked as they pretended to not hear her. "Huff huff... I'm doing my best..." Clemont panted, feeling tired already for running.

Later, the group was walking in a woods, heading to the route for Lumiose City. "As long as we're going Lumiose City, I'd really like to take a shot at the Lumiose Gym battle..." Ash explained. Clemont flinched when Ash said it. Yuki glanced back at Ash with a shook of his head.

"That won't be possible until you earn four Gym Badges, Ash." Yuki reminded. Ash widened his eyes of Yuki saying those words. "Did you try to challenge it?" Ash asked. "No. I didn't start my journey right then. But, I heard that the Gym Leader was making conditions to challenge the Gym." Yuki answered.

"Haw." Hawlucha nodded in agreement. Clemont laughed nervously as he tried to change the subject. "Well, it's probably a good idea to keep in mind that you haven't been in the Kalos region for long, Ash... And Yuki, you're a bit, well... Inexperienced for just battling with Hawlucha." Clemont reminded.

A tick mark appeared in both Yuki and Hawlucha's back of their head. They both glanced, glaring at Clemont. "I've been training with Hawlucha for two years, Clemont..." Yuki sneered. "Lucha..." Hawlucha growled, glaring at the inventor. Clemont sweat dropped as he waved his hands in an apology.

"And also, we defeated Viola with ease, and never lost a battle before. How can you possibly say that me and Hawlucha are inexperienced?" Yuki added harshly. Clemont gulped as he changed the subject. "W-Well! I've got an idea! Why don't you utilize this time to catch another Kalos Pokémon?" Clemont asked.

Yuki scoffed as he turned away, with Hawlucha doing the same. For Ash, he instantly agreed to that idea. "Yeah! That's a good point! Now... Where is my next Pokémon hanging out?" Ash asked, looking around. Pikachu also looked around to find some new Pokémon as well.

Both Yuki and Hawlucha sighed as they kept on walking, not noticing that the others stopped following. As a few mintues passed, the duo suddenly stopped. "Hawlucha. Do you feel that?" Yuki asked. "Cha." Hawlucha replied with a nod. The two ran off the path, each hiding behind a tree.

The sounds got closer. Just then, the sounds became rumbling. Yuki and Hawlucha looked close to see that a group of Rhyhorns were charging, running onto the path. As they were gone, Yuki and Hawlucha got back onto the path, as they looked back. "Is this... A Rhyhorn race?" Yuki asked.

"That's right!" A voice called. The duo turned to see Officer Jenny coming by with her police motorbike. "This is one of the Rhyhorn racecourses! By the way... What are you doing out here anyway?" Officer Jenny asked. She grew suspicious of the two. Yuki rubbed the back of his neck and explained.

"Sorry. We didn't expect this path to be a course of the race." Yuki explained. "Lucha." Hawlucha agreed with a nod. Officer Jenny smiled with a nod. "Alright then. I'll let this one off. But, next time, be careful, alright?" Officer Jenny warned. The two nodded as the officer drove away.

"Oh! Officer Jenny! There are more trainers that could be on the path!" Yuki called. Officer Jenny glanced back, nodding as she drove off. She was out of sight as the two fighters looked at each other. "I guess we must've left them behind... Didn't we?" Yuki asked.

The Hawlucha Boy laughed nervously. "Haw..." Hawlucha sighed, disappointed with the others trailing behind. Yuki then looked up, remembering the days when he and Hawlucha watched a Rhyhorn race.

Flashback

A group of Rhyhorn racers were running by, with the woman taking the lead. Her Rhyhorn and herself made it to the finish line, winning the race. The crowd cheered for the woman and her Rhyhorn. Among the crowd, was nine year old Yuki, with his Hawlucha.

The two had been invited to watch the tough Rhyhorn race, after putting up a good battle against elite trainers. Yuki watched in amaze as the race was over. "Wow! Hawlucha! Did you see that?" Yuki asked, pointing to the racers. "Lucha! Haw!" Hawlucha cried out, grinning.

Yuki watched back, seeing the woman take off her helmet. Yuki ran down to meet the woman, with Hawlucha running after him. Just as the woman was about to leave, the duo managed to catch up to her. "Miss! That was awesome!" Yuki exclaimed. The woman looked down, smiling at young Yuki.

"Did you see it, kid?" The woman asked. Yuki nodded happily, with Hawluca grinning. The woman chuckled as she took her Rhyhorn off the track. "And Grace wins it again! Her winning streak in Rhyhorn races can't be beat!" The announcer announced. Yuki perked his head up to hear the name.

So... This woman's name was Grace. Grace looked back at the two, smiling. "Do you enjoy Rhyhorn races?" Grace asked. Yuki fidgeted with his fingers before nodding slowly. "I enjoy it, but... I'd prefer becoming the top Trainer in Kalos!" Yuki explained. Grace smiled as she ruffled Yuki's hair.

"I see... Well, I have a daughter of mine that has a dream of becoming a racer! I'm sure one day, you'll see her race soon someday, like me!" Grace promised, smiling at the energetic boy. "I will, Mrs. Grace!" Yuki replied, with a swift nod. "Hawlucha!" Hawlucha agreed.

Flashback End

Yuki snapped out of his daydreaming before heading onto the next town. Hawlucha followed behind, looking at the Hawlucha Boy curiously. "Cha?" Hawlucha asked. Yuki widened his eyes, looking at his partner. "Sorry, Hawlucha. I was just remembering the last time we saw a race." Yuki apologized.

Hawlucha accepted it, by nodding. So, with that, the two kept on walking until they reached the village. "This must be Odyssey Village..." Yuki whispered, looking around. As he and Hawlucha were walking by, one kid let out a yell. "Look! It's that Hawlucha Boy!" One boy called out.

Soon, few other people grew amazed and surprised to see Yuki in person. Yuki blushed as he and his Wrestling Pokémon kept on walking. Hawlucha jumped onto the fence, where he saw the starting line. "Lucha..." Hawlucha replied. "Amazed, partner? It's been a while, hasn't it?" Yuki asked.

Hawlucha nodded, before jumping back down, next to Yuki. "Hey! Yuki!" Ash called. Both Yuki and Hawlucha turned to see Ash, Clemont, Serena, and Bonnie running towards him. "You didn't have to run off like that!" Ash panted, catching his breath. Yuki twitched, glaring at Ash.

"Hawlucha and I didn't run off. You four were going too slow, if you haven't noticed." Yuki muttered. The other four all laughed nervously, before watching the race besides Yuki and the Wrestling Pokémon. They all watched on the plasma screen, which showed on how the race was going on in progress.

"Things are heating up on day two, on this exciting Rhyhorn race! In the lead, is number five, Ian!" The MC announced. Ash grinned brightly of seeing the race. "Wow! A Rhyhorn race! Never seen one before!" Ash exclaimed. "Rhyhorn races are really popular in the Kalos region." Clemont explained.

"This is so awesome to watch!" Ash exclaimed. "Pika!" Pikachu agreed. "Rhyhorn are so cute, too!" Bonnie exclaimed. Yuki sweat dropped at that. "Rhyhorn? Cute?..." Yuki thought, sighing in disappointment. "You know, they even have special Rhyhorn races in bigger cities! This course is kinda actually easy!" Serena stated.

Ash turned to Serena in amazement. "Really? You sure know a lot!" Ash exclaimed. "Well, I guess so..." Serena replied, unsure about it. While Serena explained about the race, Yuki made some thoughts to himself. "I wonder... What... My family was... We're they trainers, breeders, doctors, or racers?" Yuki thought.

Yuki looked up at the sky, thinking of his passed away parents. "Mom... Dad... What were your goals?" Yuki thought, trying to make out their faces. As his thought was gone, Officer Jenny explained of the incoming race. "There's a special Rhyhorn race anyone can participate in tomorrow." Officer Jenny stated.

She turned to both Yuki and Ash. "Ash? Yuki? If you two are interested, you might want to give that race a try!" Officer Jenny suggested. Ash grew pumped up, after hearing that. "You mean it?... Great! I'm in!" Ash exclaimed. "Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed with a smile.

Yuki smiled lightly, as he nodded. "Alright. I'd like to give it a try." Yuki replied. So, with that, Officer Jenny led the group to where a group of Rhyhorns were. "Choose your Rhyhorn for the race from these right here!" The keeper stated. "Cool!" Ash exclaimed. "Pika!" Pikachu said in amazement.

"Go ahead, you two. Pick any Rhyhorn that interests you." The keeper called. "Could we really choose our own Rhyhorn?" Yuki asked, looking at the keeper. The keeper smiled with a nod. Ash then made a thought, deciding on who to choose. "Well, I need to get back to work! Have a great race, Ash! Yuki!" Officer Jenny called.

She waved to the group, walking back to her post. "We will! Thanks for everything, Officer Jenny!" Ash thanked. As the officer left, everyone looked back at the Rhyhorn. "Wonder which one I should choose?" Ash asked himself. He got into the Rhyhorn pen, looking at every Rhyhorn.

Bonnie squealed out loud. "Each one of them is so cute!" Bonnie exclaimed. Yuki turned to Bonnie with a bored look. "When you say cute, you mean tough, right?" Yuki asked. "Lucha?" Hawlucha asked as well. "Nope! I say they're cute!" Bonnie argued, sticking out her tongue.

Both fighters sweat dropped, shaking their heads. "Whatever..." Yuki mumbled. Just then, Ash walked around a Rhyhorn, approaching it from behind. Serena quickly stopped the Kanto trainer with that. "Ash! Don't do that!" Serena shrieked. Ash grew startled, before stopping.

"If you approach a Rhyhorn from behind, it might begin to panic, and then run! Do this." Serena explained. She carefully began to walk over, demonstrating it to Ash. "Come in from the front, and move very slowly!" Serena called. As she gently moved to the Rhyhorn, the Rock Type had calmed down.

It let Serena rub its horn with a relaxed look. "There, there! It's okay!" Serena assured. Yuki blinked in amazement, as Ash grew surprised. "See?" Serena asked, looking at Ash. "Amazing..." Ash replied, with wide eyes. "Pika..." Pikachu agreed.

Yuki walked over, getting near a Rhyhorn that was next to the one Serena's near at. The Rock Type glanced at Yuki, as Yuki gently placed his hand on Rhyhorn's horn. The Rhyhorn growled happily, with a smile. "Cautious, are you?" Yuki asked gently. Hawlucha watched from Yuki's shoulder.

The others saw Yuki with his Rhyhorn. "Cool, Yuki! You're getting the hang of it!" Ash exclaimed. "Pikachu!" Pikachu replied in amazement. Yuki blinked in surprise, before seeing Ash behind him. "I learned from a certain someone." Yuki explained, continuing to rub Rhyhorn's horn.

Ash nodded in acceptance before petting the Rhyhorn he chose. "Nice to meet your Rhyhorn!" Ash called. "Rhy!" Rhyhorn growled with a nod. Clemont grew amazed with the Vaniville girl. "Wow! Serena! You're so good at handling Rhyhorn!" Clemont complimented. Serena blushed with that.

"Thank you. See, the truth is, my mother is a Rhyhorn racer, and she made sure I knew how to handle them from the time I was a little girl!" Serena giggled. This gave Yuki a familiar feeling. "Serena's mother? A Rhyhorn racer? Could it be...?" Yuki thought, remembering Grace's words.

"I see... Well, I have a daughter of mine that has a dream of becoming a racer! I'm sure one day, you'll see her race soon someday, like me!" Grace's words echoed in his mind. The thought made Yuki wonder. Could Serena be the daughter that Grace was talking about last year?

"Whoa! Does that mean you want to be a Rhyhorn racer too, Serena?" Ash asked. Serena grew startled with the question and made some thoughts. "Well... Rhyhorn racing is fine, but I wonder... There maybe something I might like to do even more! So, I haven't made any decision just yet!" Serena explained.

"If you ask me, I'd say it sounds like you want to find your own path!" Clemont guessed. Serena turned and smiled, while nodding. Ash then had an idea. "Hey, Serena? Since you know so much about Rhyhorn racing, do you think you could teach me some of the basics like the rules and how to ride?" Ash asked.

Serena blinked several times, before trying to see what Ash wanted. "You mean... me?" Serena asked. Ash smiled and nodded. "Yeah! Please?" Ash requested. Serena grew unsure about this and made some thoughts. That's when Clemont came into the conversation.

"You have so much experience, it would really be a great help. We don't know anything at all!" Clemont explained. "Please, Serena? You're the expert!" Bonnie pleaded. Serena thought again, before turning to the Hawlucha Boy. Yuki blinked and shrugged his shoulders, with a smile.

"Well... I guess so..." Serena stammered, with a sad smile. "Alright!" Ash exclaimed, feeling excited about this.

Later...

Serena ran out of the dressing room, ready for the lesson. "Okay! I'm all set!" Serena called. She wore a pink suit, with two hearts on her right leg. Clemont and Bonnie grew amazed. "You look great!" Bonnie exclaimed. "Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed. Serena giggled, turning to show the siblings.

"It suits you!" Clemont chuckled. "Aw, thank you! I sewed these patches suit just for fun!" Serena explained. "Wow! They're so cute!" Bonnie squealed. Just then, Yuki came out of his suit, which was black, with a fist patch on his left leg. "Hey! How do I look?" Yuki asked.

The three smiled with glee. "You look perfect in it!" Clemont complimented. "Lucha! Haw!" Hawlucha replied with a bright grin. "Thanks. I sewed this fist patch myself, just like with Serena's heart patches." Yuki explained. Serena grew surprised of hearing that. "Do you sew?" Serena asked.

Yuki blinked, before turning away. "So, what if I do?" Yuki asked, mumbling to himself. Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena smirked with an apology look. "Ash! Look!" Serena called. But, to her dismay, Ash wasn't paying attention to her, as he wore his blue suit. "Awesome! Looking good!" Ash exclaimed.

Serena then put her hands on her hips with a small smile. "They call it Rhyhorn race fashion!" Serena explained. Ash laughed, feeling happy about his blue Rhyhorn racing suit. He looked all over on the suit, before looking to the others. "How do I look?" Ash asked. "Perfect!" Bonnie exclaimed.

That was when Ash's lesson for the Rhyhorn race began. "First, you approach the Rhyhorn slowly, so you won't startle it!" Serena explained. "Okay..." Ash nodded as he tiptoed up to the Spike Pokémon. When he got close enough, Serena continued. "Next, you put your foot on here, and boost yourself up!" Serena continued.

"Like this?" Ash asked. He boosted himself up, but too much. It caused him to fall next to Rhyhorn. Ash let out a yelp, before falling on his back. Serena face palmed, as Yuki have a deep sigh. He went over to the Rhyhorn he chose and carefully boosted himself up. Carefully, he now rode on the Rhyhorn.

"Are you okay?" Clemont asked. The Hawlucha Boy turned to see Ash grunting as he got up. "Agh... Even getting on one of these is even tougher than I thought!" Ash grunted. Yuki tapped his feet onto the Rhyhorn, giving it the signal to move. Rhyhorn moved slowly, next to Ash's Rhyhorn.

"That can be, when you don't have any experience in riding on one." Yuki stated. Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie looked at Yuki in amazement. "Oh wow! You did it so fast!" Bonnie exclaimed. Yuki blinked several times, before cocking his head. "Actually, I did it on my first try." Yuki muttered.

"Lucha!" Hawlucha replied in agreement. The others laughed nervously, before apologizing for not noticing. The Hawlucha Boy then turned to Ash. "It takes a lot of practice in order for you to get better." Yuki explained. Ash then got into a soldier position, and nodded.

"Right! Practice!" Ash agreed.

Later, Ash tried again several times, before falling several times. "Oh no..." Bonnie muttered. "Pika Pika..." Pikachu sighed. Yuki, still riding on his Rhyhorn came over. "This is getting hopeless... Are you even trying? Or are you just messing around?" Yuki asked. "Hawlucha!" Hawlucha scolded Ash.

Ash laughed nervously, before getting up.

Serena and Yuki both made a decision of joining Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie on their journey. But, when they came over to where a Rhyhorn race is about to start tomorrow, what will the possibilities that either Ash or Yuki will win the race? Stay tuned for some more!

To be continued...

Yuki's Team:

Hawlucha: (M): (Flying Press, Karate Chop, Aerial Ace, Double Team)

Heracross: (M): (Protect, Swords Dance, Megahorn, Brick Break)

Litleo: (F): (Ember, Headbutt, Take Down, Tackle)