"I refuse to believe that's true." Brendan argued.

"I'm telling you my Bayleef beat an Arcanine in a race." Ash said. "That's how I got the Pokémon egg that became my Phanpy."

"Nope, I call shenanigans." Brendan said. "There is no way a Bayleef could reach that kind of speed."

"Oh because you have such fast Pokemon?" Ash questioned.

"I'm not saying mine are fast, it's that it's statistically improbable that a Bayleef trained for competitive battling could reach a speed to match let alone outdo an Arcanine." Brendan said, laying out the facts.

"Are you two really still debating this?" Wally asked, setting down his lunch.

"Yes, he won't admit he's wrong!" Ash and Brendan said in unison.

"Then prove it!" Wally said angrily. "We're at a Pokemon Center. Ash go ask for Bayleef, and Brendan this is Saffron City, someone has to have an Arcanine around here."

"Actually that's a pretty good idea." Brendan admitted.

"Meet back here in twenty?" Ash asked.

"Make it thirty, its a big city." Brendan said.

An hour later

"Should we be worried about Brendan, he's been gone for a while." Ash said.

"No, if he ran into trouble he has Rhydon and Lairon with him, besides he's just looking for a trainer with an Arcanine, how hard can that be?" Wally asked.

Outside the city, thirty minutes ago

"I was told you're out here, now I'm going to catch you and prove you're faster." Brendan said. "Rhydon be ready."

"Rhy!" Rhydon said.

"Groah!" A roar was heard as an orange blur zoomed by.

"Rhydon use Rock Blast!" Brendan called out.

Rhydon slammed his hands on the ground, shooting a series of rocks out of his mouth, each just barely missing the wild Pokémon.

"Come on we can do this, get an Aqua Tail ready!" Brendan said.

Water formed around Rhydon's tail, and as the blur raced by again, it was knocked into the air, losing a lot of its momentum.

"There you are." Brendan said, seeing the Arcanine state him down. "Uh oh!"

Brendan ducked behind Rhydon as Arcanine fired a Fire Blast at the two from the air.

"Fast and Powerful, now I definitely want you, and more than just to prove a point. Rhydon use Crush Claw!"

Rhydon stood back up on his legs, slashing his claws together as Arcanine was grazed by them.

Arcanine landed, spinning around quickly before digging a hole underground.

"You're not getting away that easily! Rhydon after him!" Brendan called out.

Rhydon dove into the hole after Arcanine, taking the battle underground. A few moments later, Arcanine was thrown back out of the hole.

"Alright, now Pokeball go!" Brendan called out.

'Ding ding ding.'

"Alright, there's no way Ash can say his Bayleef is faster than you are." Brendan said gleefully.

Back at the Pokemon Center

"Okay, now we should start being worried." Ash said. It had been well over an hour and Brendan still hadn't returned.

"I'VE GOT IT!" Brendan shouted rushing in.

"Got what, and where have you been?" Ash asked.

"Arcanine, wild, just outside city, really fast." Brendan said between breaths, holding a Pokeball proudly above his head.

"Okay, are you ready to be proven wrong?" Ash asked.

"Let me heal up Arcanine first." Brendan admitted.

"I can't believe he caught an Arcanine." Wally said.

"I know, I thought he'd have given up before going to that extent." Ash admitted.

A bit later

"I thought you said we were racing?!" Brendan said as he looked at the harness and skateboard.

"We are." Ash said, attaching Bayleef to her harness. "The rules are simple, first to Lavender and back wins. You have to stay on the skateboard at all times and no using moves."

"That's a lot of rules." Brendan admitted.

"You could forfeit." Ash offered.

"Not happening." Brendan said. "Now let's go!"

At the sound of that, Arcanine took off at full speed, leaving Brendan behind.

"Should've held on, I'll get him." Ash said. "Bayleef let's go!"

Ash held onto his end of the harness as Bayleef took off after Arcanine. While they were gaining ground, it was slow and Arcanin would likely reach Lavender before they caught up.

"Bayleef I need you to run full speed and then suddenly stop, don't give me a warning though." Ash said.

"Bay." Bayleef said in concern.

"I'll be fine, just do it." Ash said, loosening his grip on the harness ever so slightly.

Bayleef picked up an incredible amount of speed as Ash struggled to hold on, and then she stopped, sending Ash flying forward and onto Arcanine.

"Okay now how do I stop him?" Ash asked, as Arcanine barely noticed his presence.

'ALLOW ME.' The Primal Force said, activating Ash's aura.

Aura tendrils shot from Ash's body, stopping Arcanine peacefully in its tracks.

"Ow, Ow, Ow!" Ash said, as the aura dissipated.

'SORRY, NEXT TIME I WILL BE QUICKER.' The primal force said.

"No, it was the aura use, it hurt." Ash said.

'OH STOP WHINING YOU'RE FINE.'

"Remember if I die, you do too." Ash said, as he began leading Arcanine back.

'BUT CURING YOU WILL ALSO KILL ME.' The Primal force argued.

"Then find a way for me to use my powers without any drawbacks." Ash said calmly.

A while later back in Saffron

"I can't believe it, you really caught up to Arcanine." Brendan said in disbelief.

"Did Professor Oak say if Bayleef was alright?" Wally asked.

"She's exhausted but otherwise just fine." Ash said. "Now next time I recall one of my adventures what do we say?"

"Prove it because it's way cooler in person." Brendan said.

"Don't let Brendan go on a hunt alone anymore?" Wally asked.

"Yeah those work for me." Ash said smugly. "Still got it."

Brendan's Current Team and their moves

Marshtomp: Ice Beam - Rollout - Muddy Water - Mud Shot

Shiftry: Razor Wind - Faint Attack - Leaf Storm - Extrasensory

Lairon: Headbutt - Iron Defense - Rock Tomb - Metal Claw

Rhydon: Mega Horn - Crush Claw - Aqua Tail - Rock Blast

Arcanine: Extremespeed - Fire Blast - Dig