Chapter Ten

"This is where we'll make our final push," Ash informed Blaze, "Any sooner than this and you will be too tired to make an attempted break out if Drew is ahead of us alright?"

He, Blaze and Pikachu stood on the trail that would be their course in the next twenty minutes. It was the evening of the race the young Guardian had issued the night before, and now they were making their final preparations for the race.

Blaze whined softly in acknowledgement, he was more than ready to face off against the prince. He and Ash would make the green haired oaf pay for his words all those years ago.

Ash shielded his eyes from the sun; his hat was not present as he wore a simple white shirt and breeches instead of his regular attire. He gazed over the lake which glimmered brightly under the rays of the setting sun. A lone rowboat drifted silently as two men fished for their dinner.

His gaze trailed a kilometer down the track where a small crowd had gathered for the upcoming event. Word had mysteriously spread of the challenge issued by the Guardian, and now people from around the village, and even the King and Max waited anxiously for the race to begin.

His eyes locked onto a single person in the crowd, who wore a red dress and had brown hair. He and the princess had gone for an early morning picnic for breakfast in the hills behind the castle, before going on a ride together through the trails around the castle and forest.

He smiled warmly at the thought of the princess, they had yet to actually talk about what was going to happen between them since last night, but he knew that it would be complicated between them at first, but they would somehow be alright.

"Well are you ready Blaze?" He asked as he climbed up on to the saddle and took the reins.

The rules they were using for the race was that they would complete two laps of the lake, which was four kilometers per lap, there would also be no interfering with each other's mounts during the race. Any cheating would result in immediate disqualification, and Ash was determined to not let that happen.

Blaze shook his head in response, "Great let's head back and wait for LaRousse to show up," The trio started back towards the small crowd and over to the princess who waved for him to come over.

"Are you two already for the race?" She asked happily a grin present on her face.

He nodded, "Yup, Blaze and I have everything sorted out and now all we need to do is wait for LaRousse"

"Well there he is over there," A deep voice from behind Ash stated.

The Guardian turned around and saw the King and Max looking up to him. "Your Majesty," He greeted bowing slightly in the saddle, before turning to follow their gaze as to where the prince was making his way over.

"Are you nervous at all son?" Norman asked curiously.

Ash shook his head, "Not at all my lord, Blaze here will have no problem holding his own against and that Rapidash,"

The king nodded thoughtfully, "That's good that you have confidence, Drew is a notoriously famed rider in the Johto region. So I wish you the best of luck,"

"Thank you your Majesty,"

"So Ketchum are you ready to get this over with?" The prince asked looking down to Ash from the saddle of Blazes evolved form.

"As soon as you're ready we can get started,"

"Good then let's get this started," Drew tugged on the Rapidash's reins and lead it over to the make shift starting line.

"Pikachu you stay with the princess okay?" Ash asked looking up to his shoulder where the electric mouse was perched.

"Chu!" Pikachu leapt off of the Guardian and into Mays arms.

The small crowd followed behind the Guardian as he made his way beside the prince. Behind him the on lookers passed money around betting on the outcome of the race. Drew was a famed and skilled rider in the Johto Region, and he was a prince. While Ash however was a well-known local around the village and castle, and an Aura Guardian. The choice was tough.

Ash relaxed his muscles from the anticipation he was feeling, he wasn't nervous, however his blood was pumping with adrenaline which could cause him to think irrationally.

The two rode up alongside one another, about a meters length separating them from each other. Ash saw his friend Brock, who he had asked to start off the race step forward ahead of the racers.

Brock raised a hand above his head, his other currently holding a golden trumpet loosely. The small crowd hushed and he spoke, "Are both riders ready!?" He called out, his voice echoing across the silent lake.

Drew merely nodded uncaringly, "Ready doctor…" He stated boredly.

Ash hid a scowl and gave Brock a confident smile, "All set Brock," He answered cheerfully.

"Move to the line, but remember if you cross it before I sound the start, you'll have to double back and cross it again before you can carry on," Both riders nodded in understanding, bringing their mounts to a stop two feet behind the dirt starting line.

Ash stroked Blaze calmingly, he could feel the tension in the horse's muscles, and he needed to sooth him before they made a premature start, "Calm down Blaze," He whispered, the fire pony's ears perking up at the sound of his masters voice, "We've got this."

Drew smirked and looked down from the saddle, seemingly overhearing the Guardians words, "I wouldn't count on it, that dog your riding will be lucky to make a lap before we finish,"

Ash shrugged the insult away, "We'll see who's a mutt when this is all over…" He took his focus off of the Prince and to Brock, as he one again raised his hand to bring the riders attention to himself.

"You may start as soon as you hear the signal," Time seemed to slow down as Brock brought the trumpet up to his lips. Ash watched the slow intake of breath, the doctor's chest expanding with each millisecond.

He knew that Drew was watching like a hawk as well, he could sense that the Prince wa- He dug the toe of his boot into Blazes side in an instant, shooting off like an arrow from his own bow as the baritone sound echoed through the lake.

He was already off as he heard a shocked Drew yell to his mount to start, obviously shocked at the speed of the small Ponyta, putting an early hundred meter lead before the crowd knew what had happened.

Blazes hooves thundered against the earth as he kicked up speed, Ash glanced over his shoulder and saw Drew gaining quickly. If there was one factor that was going to come into play that would decide the victor, it would be determined by the mount.

Blaze, the younger, smaller, less speedy horse, but with better endurance and stamina over longer distances. Or the Rapidash, the evolved faster and stronger horse over short distances.

Ash gritted his teeth and hunched low over Blazes neck, as Drew rode up alongside them. Their eyes met for a brief second before the Johto native urged his mount to go faster. They began inching ahead, a meter at first before that changed to five, ten, and then finally twenty meters, as they rounded into the forest.

The guardian felt Blaze start to accelerate, so he pulled lightly back on the reins to halt that progress. Their time would come to overtake the Rapidash, but it wasn't yet. They'd have to keep a short distance between them before they showed their true speed.

The forest rushed by until it seemingly disappeared, the crystal clear lake, and small crowd coming into view. Drew had moved up another twenty meters, and was going just faster than a full gallop. 'He'll tire it out before we reach he halfway mark of the forest,' Ash thought, nudging Blaze with his toe.

The small pony tensed before seemingly closing the distance between the two riders with ease. Drew looked over his shoulder with a scowl, hunching lower and nudging his mount with his heel to pick up more speed.

The two thundered past the cheering crowd and back out into the distance in a cloud of dust. Ash pulled left on the reins so that they'd be on the inside for the final leg of the race. Blaze began to accelerate, chest heaving, driving his hooves into the ground to keep level with its evolved form.

The pair was neck and neck as they entered the dimly lit forest. Drew glanced left to Ash and kicked out with his leg, catching Ash by surprise and hitting him in the shoulder, knocking him half way off of the saddle.

Blaze felt his master tumble to his side and slowed so he could remount, but by the time that had happened Drew had already reached the forests edge. Ash growled and dug his heel into Blaze, "Drive that mutt and his horse into the ground Blaze!" Blaze whined in response, going from a canter to a full on sprint in less then a second.

The wind rushed through his hair as they gained on the Prince. Blazes legs were a blur as they closed the distance, meter by meter until they were five meters behind their opponent and five hundred meters away from the finish.

Ash heard Drew shout for his horse to go faster, "Come on Blaze!" He yelled hunching as close as possible to his horse as possible.

In their final reserves of strength, both horses were neck and neck, straining to keep pace with each other. Blaze slowly inched ahead of Larousse, and then before Ash knew it, the race was over.

Blaze faltered. It was just a midstride, momentary hesitation which gave Drew that extra edge and final push to the finish line. They watched in defeat as the Prince thundered over the finish line towards the cheering crowd.

Ash sighed and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, wiping away the sweat that had begun to form, "Slow down boy, we did our best," He said softly to the trembling horse, which slowed down to a canter as they neared the group.

There was a low whine from Blaze as he shook his fiery mane in response, "I know, but to say that they'd think we're poor sports. We would have won otherwise, that's all that matters."

They came to a stop a few meters behind where everyone was congratulating the Prince, all except for one person who ran over and took him into a tight hug as he dismounted.

"I'm sorry you lost Ash, it sure looked like you and Blaze were going to pull it off," May mumbled looking up into the Guardians caring auburn eyes.

He reciprocated the hug, relishing in the warmth he felt before responding, "We did our best, that's all that really matters."

He gave her a small smile before looking up to see the Prince walking over to them, as he approached the two separated and Ash held out a forced hand, "Good race," He stated calmly.

Drew stared at the hand before taking it in a hard grip, "The better man won today, anything about the race you want to say?" Their eyes met and an unspoken message was sent.

"No, I don't believe so. You?" Ash asked his voice getting edgy. May was able to sense that there was a hidden message being sent between the two, she decided that she would ask what it was later.

"Actually I do," Drew stated with a smirk before turning to May and flashing her a slightly nervous smile. He took her hand gently and produced a rose from the inside of his tunic, handing it to her, "May," He said softly.

In a slightly louder voice, which drew the attention of everyone around him, he continued, "I was hoping to ask you this last night at the festival; however I had been unable to find you until just before you left. But there is truly no better time, than on the eve of a victory to ask you," He got down on one knee and produced a solid gold ring from his pocket, "Will you be my Queen?"

In an instant, May felt all the color drain from her face as she stared disbelievingly at gold ring, the sunlight dancing across its surface. This could not be happening. No. No no no no no! She couldn't say yes! She… She looked away from the ring to Ash who remained stoic throughout the exchange, she met his eyes asking, no pleading him to get her out of this.

She saw him take in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. Then in an almost unnoticeable movement he nodded his head slightly. Before his eyes returned to the Prince, an ice cold glare driving through his back.

She swallowed the massive lump in her throat, her father watched on intently, his eyes never leaving her, waiting for the answer that she must give. "D-Drew… I… I don't…" She paused to bite her lip, she couldn't do this… She and Ash were just… And… Oh God why her! "Drew I… I…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Drew… I a-accept…" She finished in just above a whisper.

The small crowd roared their approval, while Drew slipped the ring onto her finger. Norman came forward and placed a hand on both his daughter and to be son-in-law's shoulders. "What a perfect way to start a day!" He exclaimed ecstatically! "On a beautiful morning such as today, we have an excellent race and now my daughter is to be married!"

The assembled crowd excluding Ash roared their approval, he looked down to the two beside him, "Come you two, preparations must begin imminently, and I must contact your father as soon as possible!"

May turned to Ash helpless, and quickly ran over to him, "Come with me please!" She whispered frantically, "I-I-"

"May what are you doing?" Her father asked as he mounted his Rapidash.

"A-Ash is going to come along, he's my friend and I want him there to help!" She replied hastily turning back to the Guardian.

"Please Ash," She whispered her eyes were petrified, she couldn't do this, she was going to break down. She couldn't get married; she couldn't marry someone she despised!

She needed her Guardian.

Ash nodded slightly before looking past her and to the King, "With your permission of course you're Majesty."

The King nodded offhandedly, before saying something to Drew and riding away. "Go ahead without me," He whispered, "I'll be right behind you, I've got to wait for Alyssa to return… She may be able to help with this…"

May nodded nervously before she was approached by her… God help her, fiancé. He offered his hand to her, now that he was atop his Rapidash once again, to help her to sit behind him.

Reluctantly she took his hand and climbed up behind him. They started off towards the castle, while Ash mounted Blaze, with Pikachu on his shoulder and road off towards the forest.

He scowled to himself; this was definitely not the way he had planned for the day to begin.

It's not a very long chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it.

I wanna thank you all for being patient with the lack of updates, its been nice to not have to write constantly each week. I'm not sure when next chapter will be coming out, I've got an idea as to how I'd like it to go so maybe next Sunday. But with school starting on Wednesday, we'll see.

Please review, it would really mean a lot to me. Your reviews make my day, and make me want to keep on writing.

Thanks for reading everyone, and I'll see you next time!