I eyed Koga warily. Three of his pokemon had been defeated, now all that was left was to take down his muk to win the badge. Unfortunately my pokemon were exhausted, and none of my pokemon seemed to be doing any damage to the poison pokemon.
"Pooka, dodge!" I shouted as Muk threw a sludge bomb at the mouse. Pooka barely darted out of the way only to be caught by the muk's pound attack. Pooka slid hard against the floor, knocked out cold. I sighed and returned him. It looked like I was down to my last pokemon. Charren would have to win this for me, despite already being tired from her earlier battle against one of Koga's weezings.
The grimer again moved in to pound on my pokemon.
"Take it, Charren," I muttered. Use Rage, I thought at Charren. I repeated the thought over and over, trying to get it through to her. If Charren managed to catch the grimer off guard with a rage attack we might be able to pull this off, and win the match. The grimer seemed content attacking Charren. Just when I thought it hadn't worked Charren's tail flared. Rage coursed through her and she suddenly struck tearing through the grimy pokemon. With a final blast of flame the pokemon was knocked out.
"Yes!" I grabbed Charren and pulled her in for a hug. The charmeleon grumbled good naturedly nuzzling into my shoulder.
"Congratulations," Koga said. Beaming I accepted the badge. Ben had just gone before me, having a much easier time using his haunter and nidorino. With the badge earned by both of us we were ready to leave Fuschia City behind.
We'd been traveling for a few days towards the next city when we came across a small town in the middle of nowhere. It was a perfect stop for restocking on supplies. I let Polaris and Pooka out to walk with me, the young filly enjoying the chance to get out and run around. Pooka rode on my shoulder, more content to simply take in the fresh air.
It wasn't until we left the store that I realized a little girl was following us. It wasn't anything overt, just peeking at us and clearly dragging a few feet behind us. I nudged Ben.
"Hey, does that girl seem to be following us?" Ben looked behind us. The girl squeaked and clutched her dress, darting behind a tree. Ben frowned.
"It does look like it."
"Wonder what she wants?" Deciding to confront her I turned around.
"Hey kid!" The kid looked around from her tree and pointed to herself. I nodded.
"Yeah, you. Why are you following us?" The girl edged forward. I crouched down so I wouldn't seem as frightening.
"You have pokemon…" she said hesitantly. I smiled softly.
"Yeah. You want to meet them?" I held out my arm. Pooka eagerly bounded down and sniffed at the girl. Giggling a little she crouched down and petted Pooka. In her hand I could see she was holding a pokeball.
"Do you have a pokemon as well?" I asked. She shook her head.
"No...I want to catch one though." I nodded thinking.
"Do you know how to catch one?" She shook her head. I smiled.
"Why don't we help you?" Her eyes as big as her face she nodded eagerly. I glanced to Ben.
"Do you know what we can catch for her?" Ben scratched his head.
"There are some oddishes in the area that she might like," Ben offered. The girl nodded quickly.
"I'm Cara, and this is my friend Ben. What's your name?" I asked.
"Mary."
"Come on Mary, let's go find an oddish." I held out my hand to the little girl. Shyly Mary slipped her hand into my grass and we headed out to a field just outside of town. I looked at Polaris and Pooka.
"Okay, can you round up an oddish for us?" I asked them. Pooka cheerfully darted into the field Polaris following at a trot. We waited for a short time before we heard a squeal. Not long after Polaris trotted out looking rather pleased with herself as she carried an oddish back in her mouth, the poor pokemon knocked out. Mary squealed and clapped her hands in delight.
"It's perfect! Thank you!" Polaris dropped the pokemon and trotted over to me, nuzzling for a treat. I fed her a carrot and smiled at Mary.
"No problem. Go ahead and catch it." Mary nodded and threw her pokeball. It shook for a moment before falling still. Mary ran up and grabbed it looking like she could hardly believed it had happened. Ben smiled.
"Good job Mary," he said. I nodded. Mary beamed at us.
"Thanks! Your ponyta is really fast. I bet you could win the race." I tilted my head.
"What race?"
"The Laramy Big P Ranch is having a race. I bet you could win," Mary explained. I blinked in surprise. The Laramy Big P Ranch was famous for the quality of the pokemon that it raised. It held a big open race for all comers twice a year for just a $20 fee. The winner would get either a big cash prize or a pokemon from the ranch itself and would be inducted as an honorary member of the clan. I'd been hoping to stop by the ranch, but what were the chances that the race would be open around when we reached there?
I'd never ridden Polaris before. She was just a baby after all. It was a shame she wasn't older, or I could enter the race on her. As it was we'd have to stick to the audience. Still it should be a good show. I thanked Mary for telling us and we hurried towards the ranch Pooka and Polaris following behind.
We were in view of the ranch when a girl riding a rapidash came down into view. Polaris squealed in surprise and danced back. I was startled and quickly put a hand on her to calm her down. Looking at Polaris I realized this was the first time she would have seen her own kind since I'd gotten her. Polaris quickly calmed down under my touch and watched with some curiosity as the rapidash and rider came close.
"Howdy. Y'all here for the big race?" Ben and I nodded.
"Polaris is too young for it this year, but we'd love to watch," I said. The girl smiled and glanced at my ponyta-only to do a double take. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.
"Where'd ya git that ponyta?" she demanded. I looked at Polaris in confusion.
"I found her, a few months ago. Some boys were hurting her and I captured her to save her. Why?" The girl frowned.
"That's some story ya have. Wouldn't have been around six or so months ago now would it?" I nodded, not sure I liked her tone. The girl suddenly grabbed a rope from her saddle and tossed it around Polaris' head. Polaris squealed in fear kicking up her hooves.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Ben shouted.
"That there ponyta is stolen property of Laramy Big P Ranch. Buying stolen pokemon is illegal. I'll hafta report y'all," the rider said grimly. I bit my lip.
"Polaris isn't stolen! I captured her fair and square!" I shouted. The girl laughed.
"Right. Just like ya c'n capture any of the ranch's pokemon. You see the ponyta's coat? That white color?" I nodded. It was a distinct part of her, the reason why I'd named her Polaris. I'd never seen a ponyta with such a pale coat before her.
"That's from special breeding at this here ranch. Makes them pretty recognizable. One of our foals got stolen round six months back, and looks like you've brought 'er right back to us." I glared at her.
"I. Am. Not. A. Thief. Polaris is mine," I gritted out. The girl arched a brow.
"We'll see 'bout that," she said. Polaris pulled restlessly at the rope as she was tugged away. I pulled out her pokeball to return her to safety but Ben stopped me.
"Don't," he murmured. I dropped my hand. He had a point. If I returned Polaris I'd only look more guilty, stealing her again from her rightful owners. I still bit my lip.
"I can't just let them take her away," I said, "she's my first pokemon." Ben looked at me sympathetically.
"I know. But we'll have to be smart about this. We have to prove that she's yours. Maybe we can call up the nurse Joy that took care of Polaris, and Professor Oak. They might be able to help." I nodded and shakily pulled out my phone.
A few hours later I entered the ranch's main office papers clutched in my hand. I placed the papers on the desk.
"I'm here for my ponyta," I declared, "these papers show I am the real owner." Startled the secretary looked up.
"I beg your pardon?"
"She means she's here fer the ponyta she stole," a familiar voice said. I glared as the girl from earlier came forward.
"What's this ya have?" She took the papers and thumbed through it. The girl bit her lip.
"This does look legitimate...but she was still stolen in the first place, and belongs t' us. I'm not sure I'd feel right giving her back," she drawled. I clenched my fists.
"I've been taking care of her since I found her months ago. She trusts me, and I've never abused her. She's my first pokemon!" The girl still didn't look entirely swayed.
"Doesn't make her theft right," she said.
"Then how can I prove that she belongs with me?" The girl leaned back a thoughtful look on her face.
"Lessee...how about if ya beat me in a race?" the girl suggested, "The normal prize is a pokemon from this ranch anyhow." My face fell.
"I don't have any pokemon I can race with," I told her. The girl waved her hand.
"Then ya can borrow one. Won't matter in the end. A poor trainer can't win the race with one of our pokemon," she said dismissively. I would have punched her if Ben hadn't grabbed my fist.
"Deal," I ground out. Ben looked at me worriedly.
"You sure you know what you're doing?" Ben muttered.
"Do I have a choice?" I shot back. Ben shook his head. Legally there was nothing I could do to get Polaris back. I might have captured her properly but not all pokemon were captured and kept with pokeballs. She belonged to the ranch, and unless they relented Polaris was lost to me permanently.
We walked down to the stables where the racing pokemon were kept. Ben helped me check over the pokemon, analyzing each one with his pokedex and scanning their traits. Eventually we settled on a young tauros. He was a fiery pokemon, would be a bit difficult to control, but he had the best speed of the lot. As long as I could hold on and steer him I could win the race.
I hardly slept that night. What if I didn't win? What if the tauros refused to listen to me? What if I did win, but Polaris didn't want to leave the ranch? It was where she had come from after all. Ben woke me from an uneasy sleep around seven the next morning. I could hardly keep my eyes open. As unhealthy as it was I drank a large cup of coffee, grimacing against the bitter taste.
"You gonna be alright out there?" Ben asked worriedly, "You look half dead." I snorted.
"I'm not giving up on Polaris Ben. If this is the only way to get her back I'm going to win." Ben nodded a little skeptically.
"If you're sure."
I was practically vibrating when we arrived at the ranch. The sun was burning down through everything, irritating me even further. Not only was I hyped up I was grouchy from my lack of sleep and the sun's touch only made things worse, squirming for a way to get comfortable. The girl that had taken Polaris from me rode over on her rapidash.
"Ya'll ready?" she asked. I nodded grimly. She glanced at me, a sliver of concern in her eyes.
"Ya don't look so hot. P'rhaps we should race later." I shook my head.
"No. We'll race for Polaris now."
"If ya say so." I grabbed the tauros I'd picked out yesterday and somehow managed to get on it's back. Ben watched me his face full of worry.
"Be careful. Polaris isn't worth getting trampled for," he told me. I glared at him.
"Says you! She's worth more than that," I snapped. Sharply I turned the tauros and we headed to the race line, the tauros snorting and stomping its hooves restlessly as we lined up. I could feel it quivering beneath me, just as jittery. Hopefully that jitteriness meant it was ready for a good run. I didn't really know much about racing pokemon beyond holding on and hoping I don't fall off. I could only pray this went well.
A gun went off in the air startling the pokemon. My tauros leaped forward practically bucking me off right at the start. I held on with everything I had determined to not go flying. It was terrifying how out of control this was. There was no way I was going to be able to steer this tauros. I was lucky just to be holding on and not going flying.
Hitting a steep incline I bit my lip. Falling off here would be extremely painful. Again only my determination to get Polaris back allowed me to keep holding on. Several of the pokemon fell back, tired out by the long slope. The tauros was heaving heavily once we reached the top but we were still good to go. Only five more pokemon in front of us. I couldn't believe this half wild pokemon was doing so well.
The dodrio was passed. Four more. A skirmish around a corner and we passed the other tauros. Three to go. I practically slammed into the rhyhorn, amazed it was managing to be this fast. My tauros mount was faster. Two left. I came up to a ponyta. My insides ached thinking of Polaris. The tauros hummed in reassurance at me and we passed. One.
Ahead the girl raced on her rapidash, one of the fastest pokemon someone could own. It was pure poetry in motion watching them move together. I wouldn't mind losing most of the time. I would even expect it. But the stakes were too high here. I forced the tauros to go even faster. Inch by inch we overtook the rapidash until finally, we passed into the lead.
"Yes! Yes!" The finish line was in sight. I could hardly hear the sound of my own breathing over the sound of the roar of the crowd. I leaned forward, almost touching it-
The world shattered. At least, that's what it felt like. I flipped head over heels as the tauros stumbled sending me flying. I crashed hard against the dirt unable to focus. There was something I had to do. I had to keep going. But to where? A low moan had me sitting up, trying to ignore the throbbing that threatened to cause me to black out. I stumbled forward into the soft coat of a tauros. My mount. I was in a race, wasn't I? I looked over just in time to see the girl on her rapidash cross the finish line.
"No," I moaned, "this can't have happened." I began to cry, unable to stop the tears as they trailed down my cheek. The girl looked at me uncomfortably as I sobbed my heart out. Ben rushed over and pulled me into his arms checking me over. He sighed in relief.
"It'll be alright Cara," he promised, "You're going to be fine."
"But I-I lost," I hiccupped, "I'll n-never see P-Polaris again!" Ben hugged me tightly glaring at the girl that had made me cry.
"You're lucky she wasn't badly hurt," Ben growled. She sighed, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Look, it doesn't have to be that bad," she tried. Ben's glare intensified. She raised her hands.
"I'm just saying. She did amazingly well in the race, especially on a half trained tauros. If he'd been a little better trained she would have won." We both gaped at her. The tauros had been difficult to ride. I had struggled right from the start controlling the tauros. If I had realized it was so poorly trained I wouldn't have picked it. I was going to be covered in bruises for the next few days.
"Either way, you did quite well. And your love for your ponyta is obvious. You really did raise her well. So...just this once I think it's okay if we bend the rules and you can do some work to pay off for your ponyta." Startled I stared at her, blinking rapidly through my tears.
"Are you serious?" Ben asked. She nodded.
"You can take Polaris back." I beamed wiping away my tears the best I could.
"Th-thank you," I whispered. She grinned.
"Come on. I'll show you where she is." Smiling a little I followed after her to a paddock where a herd of ponytas and rapidashes grazed. She whistled and the herd perked up coming towards the fence. Trailing at the back was a familiar ponyta.
"Polaris!" I shouted. The ponyta lifted her head and nickered in excitement I leaped the fence as she galloped up to me. I hugged her around the neck.
"You're okay, you can come home with me," I babbled, "everything's fine now." Polaris nuzzled against me. I looked to the girl that had caused me so much trouble.
"Thank you so much for letting me have Polaris back," I gushed. The girl smiled.
"Glad she's with such a loving trainer." The girl mounted her rapidash. "I'd best get back. Ask for me when you're ready to start working. Name's Lara."
"I'm Cara." She nodded and turned back to the ranch, galloping away. I smiled at Ben.
"At least this wasn't a complete disaster."
"I'll be happy to see the last of this place," Ben mumbled.
