Cycling Grand Prix, Chapter 15

After passing through the west gate of Saffron, and showing off my latest badge to the friendly guard, I crossed Route 7 again and ended up back in Celadon City. My next destination was Fuchsia City in the far south, and there were two routes leading there. Either go east from Vermillion City, taking Route 11 to 12, and crossing a few other routes along the way, or take the more direct Cycling Road, also known as Route 17. Well, seeing as how I was already back in Celadon, the choice was pretty clear: Cycling Road.

Before I set out on my way, though, I needed to restock on supplies, so I pulled up to the department store. As usual, the first floor was empty, but I was certain at least two floors would be packed to brim. Rather than leave it for last, I pushed the button for the second floor first. After another gleeful ride up, the elevator doors slowly opened, and the madness on the floor flooded my ears. I told Vulpix to stay by the elevator, and pushed my way into the crowd.

I couldn't imagine how anyone got any shopping done like that, being sandwiched between half a dozen strangers as you collect your items, but if the floor was always this way, who was I to complain? I was pushed along with the flow of the crowd, swooping up the items I was going to buy along the way. Figured it was much easier than actually trying to move anyone to get where I was going, seeing as how I was probably the smallest person there. Eventually, the river of people washed me up at the checkout counter.

The cashier rang up every item in ten seconds flat, pointing to the display on the register with the grand total. I reached into my wallet for the money, put it out on the counter, and was just as quickly pushed aside with my items in my hands as the next customer took my spot. Whether or not I paid in full was anyone's guess at this point. The crowd started pushing me away from the elevator, so I hugged my bag of items, got down on my hands and knees, and crawled my way through to the elevator. I scared the people in the process as I brushed by their legs, but what mattered was that I made it to the elevator faster.

Once inside, I rejoined Vulpix and pressed the button for the rooftop. I wanted to pick up some bottled water for the trip down Cycling Road tomorrow, especially since it was getting late. I didn't want to end up sleeping along the way to Fuchsia. On the rooftop, I ran into someone I didn't expect to see for a while.

"Deneb!" He turned to see me as I got off the elevator. He was enjoying a can of lemonade from the vending machines.

"Star! What a surprise to see you here!" He offered me a seat next to him, which I gladly went to take. Vulpix beat me to it, though, so I ended up sitting across from him on a different bench.

"How have you been? We haven't seen each other since Cerulean City." I said, craving some lemonade of my own as I saw him take another sip.

"Oh you know, the usual. After Cerulean I had to crawl through the Rock Tunnel to get to Lavender Town, and from there I went south to Vermillion City. How about you?"

"I just came from Saffron!" I said, reaching for my trainer card, eager to show off my accomplishments. I handed him the card, which he quickly flipped over to see the five badges I had on it.

"Congratulations, Star. Don't know how you did it, but you beat me to it." He gave me back my card.

"So you haven't been to Saffron yet?"

"No, I just came up here to rest after my battle with Erika. Quite a pain to get into her gym, let me tell you." He took another sip, pushing me to the point of getting up to buy a can for myself.

"What do you mean? She was very nice to me."

"Well, you're a girl! I had to pass some test of perfume or something to be allowed in, almost thought I'd have to dress up like a girl to be allowed a chance to battle her. Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Saffron, now that the city's been opened up again. You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"

"Well, as a matter of fact-" I started, but Deneb cut me off after taking another drink from his can.

"Nah, what am I saying? You probably just lucked out and got in right after Team Rocket scattered. Tell me, how did you make it to Vermillion City so fast?"

"Well, I went to visit Bill, up on Route 25. I helped him out with a little problem he was having, and he let me have a couple train tickets."

"So you took the line from Cerulean to Vermillion, and then Lavender to Celadon, is that it?" I nodded, and Deneb took another drink from his lemonade.

"Talk about lucky. I go crawling through caves and fighting off hordes of Zubat and you take a nice train ride."

"It doesn't mean I had it any easier! The gym battles have been quite a challenge," I said, remembering my most recent one. "Sabrina of Saffron was extra hard!"

"I've heard from people who've fought her," Deneb said, reaching for a Pokeball on his belt. He held it out to me. "Which is why I'm going prepared."

"What kind of Pokemon is that?"

"A ghost Pokemon from Lavender's Pokemon Tower. It's the best way to counter psychic Pokemon. You probably had a hard time because you went in unprepared."

Deneb scratched behind Vulpix's ear. Vulpix knew Deneb well, so she didn't mind, but his attitude was starting to get on my nerves. I was about to call Vulpix to my side when he continued.

"I bet you probably went in with Vulpix, expecting to win on luck alone, right?" He smiled at me, but I couldn't help myself anymore.

"Deneb, why are you being so mean?"

"What?" The question surprised him. Vulpix understood what I was asking, and she ran to my side instead.

"You keep acting like I've been taking the easy road, like I've won my badges with luck instead of hard work. Are you mad I have more badges than you?"

"No, that's not it, Star-"

"Then what is!?" My outburst caused him to turn away. He probably realized what he was saying all this time.

"You've changed, Deneb. You're not the same boy I knew in Pallet Town." My fists were clenched around the hem of my dress.

"What are you talking about? I haven't changed."

"Yeah, you have. When we met, out on Route 22, you were still so nice then. You helped me get Vulpix to the Pokemon Center, and you even tried to get me to go back home. Maybe you did that because you were worried about me- I hope that was the reason." This time, I looked away, knowing that if I faced him directly, I'd probably start crying. I was never good at hiding my feelings from people I knew.

"Of course it was, Star. I knew this adventure would be too much for you, I just didn't want to see you get hurt."

"Really, Deneb? Or is it that you didn't want to hang around me?" Again, he reeled back from the question.

"When we met again in Cerulean, I asked you to let me come along, and you said no. Back then, I thought the Pokemon journey was supposed to be done alone, but now, I don't know anymore." By this point, I was angry enough to have stood up.

"Star, are you okay?"

"I'm not, Deneb. Sabrina made me realize something. Everyone I run into is so helpful, but at the same time, they don't want to be around me for long. Sabrina said I was afraid, that people didn't want to stay because I'd be another problem for them, a kid they'd have to take care of. Is that what you thought of me, Deneb?"

The entire time I spoke, her words echoed in my mind. But at the same time, my eyes were focused on Deneb's face. I wanted to see every reaction possible.

"No, Star, not at all!"

"I don't believe you," I said, turning away again. I walked over to the vending machine, hoping that the distance would help clear my mind.

"So Sabrina says all these things, and you just believe her? She's a psychic, Star! They say all sorts of messed up things, just to confuse you! It's how they fight!"

I pushed in a few coins into the machine. Maybe Deneb was right, and I was letting Sabrina's words get to me. But at the same time, I couldn't be sure. I mean, it was all too prefect; everything seemed to fit. Or maybe I was just confused. The bottle of water fell out of the machine, I picked it up, and put it in my bag.

"I'm sorry, Deneb," I said, as I turned to see him one last time. "I probably shouldn't have said any of that."

"Let me ask you, Star: is that what you think I feel?" I turned away, not sure how to answer.

"Well, let me tell you: it's not how I feel." Deneb walked over to me, giving me a hug from the side.

"Really?" I asked, feeling tears start to form in my eyes.

"Really. I asked to go on this adventure alone, Star, because I wanted it to be that way. But remember: I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it."

I felt a tear fall down my cheek. I couldn't look at Deneb now, he'd only make fun of me for crying. I nodded, and he let go of me. Still looking away, I said one final thing to him.

"You promised," I said, wiping away the tear, "You promised that we'd go through Victory Road together. After we meet in Viridian City again."

"Yeah, and I mean it still. The last gym is there, so we'll have to show up there eventually."

"Then, I guess I'll see you there. Bye, Deneb."

I made for the elevator, walking as fast as I could without actually running. Vulpix followed after me, and fortunately I didn't have to wait for the door to open after pressing the button. Once I was inside, I pressed the button for the first floor. As the doors closed in front of me, I looked up.

Deneb was watching me as they closed shut. And maybe it was just me, but he looked hurt by everything that had happened.

~o~

I spent the night at the Pokemon Center, as was usual. Difference was, I hadn't stayed at the Celadon center before, so it turned out to be a new experience for the most part. I liked the hotel room better, obviously. But there was no way I'd ever be able to stay at a place like that again if it meant I had to pay for it.

Meeting Deneb at the department store yesterday helped me a lot more than I realized at the time. He was right, after all: I had been letting what Sabrina told me confuse me. Though he had changed a bit since Cerulean City, one thing about Deneb hadn't changed; he still looked out for me, and not for the reasons Sabrina said.

With all that behind me, I took to my bike and left Celadon the next morning, heading west to Route 16. It was a short road, but today it was far more crowded than I ever expected it to be. As was my luck, I had run right into another event: this time, it was a Cycling Championship race. And fortunately for me, I was riding a bike.

At the moment Cycling Road was closed off for the event, so I couldn't just be on my merry way. As was expected, it's either participate in the race to get across Route 17, or wait until the race was over. Win or lose, I'd make it across to the other side, so I pulled up to the registration tent set up by the starting line. Leaving Vulpix in charge of my bike, I poked my head inside.

"You signing up for the race?" One of the few people taking applications pointed at me, so I walked over to the table.

"Yes, I'd like to join."

"Name?"

"Star."

"What type of bicycle do you intend to enter with?" My mind drew a blank here. Mine was custom made by the Vermillion City shop guy, and I don't think he ever had a name for it, other than...

"Foldable," I said, which made the guy signing me up look away from his paper and to me.

"'Foldable'? What is that?"

"Um, I don't really know. My bike is special."

"Everyone's bike is special, dear. Bring it into the tent, I'll see what the model is myself."

I ran back outside, and dragged the bike inside the tent. There wasn't much room with the other people signing up, but I managed to squeeze it in along the edges of the tent. The guy leaned over the table, trying to find a tag or marking on the bike. I could've just explained to him that it was hand made, but I decided to just let him figure that out for himself. After a few moments of scouring every inch of the bike, he crashed back into his chair.

"I have a bike here with no make or model, what do I do?" He asked the guy sitting next to him.

"Take it up with Erika. She's promoting this whole thing, so it's her call."

The guy signing me up sighed, and asked me to leave the bike inside the tent and come around the back. I followed his orders, and we went out the back of the tent. There were quite a few other people out here, all underneath the shade a few parasols. One of them was Erika, the gym leader!

"Miss Erika, we have a girl here with a custom bike. Can't determine make or model. Do we let her in?"

"Hmm? Is that you, Star?" Erika walked past the guy to greet me personally.

"How are you, Erika?" I said with a smile.

"Fine, just organizing another event for the city. Between this and my gym duties, I keep pretty busy."

"Miss Erika, the race is scheduled to begin soon." The guy whispered in her ear, but still loud enough that I could hear him.

"Oh, right. So, Star, you're trying to get in with a special bike?"

"Yes, it was hand-made by someone that worked in a bicycle shop in Vermillion City. He never had a name for it, just called it the foldable bike."

"Oh? Foldable? Does it truly fold into something smaller?" The guy behind Erika buried his face in his hands, realizing she'd be interested in seeing the bike herself. I nodded, and led Erika back into the tent to show her the bike.

It was still pretty crowded in there, but I was able to fold the bike back into its compact form, and squeeze it into its box right inside the tent. Everyone inside was impressed, some even giving me a round of applause. Erika asked me to follow her back to the area behind the tent.

"Quite a bicycle you have there. A shop in Vermillion City, you said?"

"Yeah, the guy was desperate to sell, but he let me have mine, so that I could show it off to other trainers." Which I probably just did without realizing it. He'd be so proud of me, I guessed.

"Miss Erika," the guy said again, this time even tapping the imaginary watch on his wrist.

"Allow Star to enter the race, for the bicycle information, put down 'Vermillion City Shop, Foldable'. I'll clear it with the mayor later."

The guy was finally happy, scribbling the information into the pad. He ran back inside the tent, and quickly returned with an ID card attached to a lanyard. He gave it to me, and returned to the tent.

"Well, it was nice to see you again, Star, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to go back to the starting line. Unless you're an official, you're not exactly allowed back here."

"It's okay, Erika. Nice seeing you again!"

I told Vulpix to follow me back into the tent when it happened. She brushed up by my leg, and caused me to trip. I reached for the first thing I could, and it ended up being one of the rods holding up the sign-up tent. As you'd expect, the entire thing fell apart. In all the commotion, I managed to sneak out from underneath the tarp and take a spot on the starting line. I think the guy that signed me up was looking specifically for me, but he never found me in the crowd.

After unfolding my bike again, I waited somewhere in the middle of all the racers. Most were older than me, all riding various kinds of bikes that looked designed for racing. Actually, from where I was standing, I think I may have been the only kid participating in the race. Not that it mattered to me, I wasn't in it to win. With Vulpix in the front basket as usual, I only waited for the starting sound off. In that moment, I saw another familiar face in the line up. Moving from my spot to one a few towards the left, I squeezed in my bike between a mean looking character and David!

"Well, well, if it isn't Star. Fancy meeting you here."

"Same! You're here to try and win the prize?" Unlike my little toy bike, David was riding a more traditional model.

"Not exactly. After we last met on the train to Vermillion, I got right to work on my latest project: a shortcut from Vermillion to Pewter City."

"Really? How did you manage that?"

"An underground cave, dug by a massive herd of Diglett and Dugtrio. It would've made front page news, but sadly, at that same time, something big happened in Saffron's Silph building, so there went my spotlight." Of course, I instantly knew what he was talking about. Rather than tell him I was involved in all that somehow, I decided to keep quiet.

"It's okay, it's still quite an accomplishment! So, why is it you're in the race?"

"Just needed a faster route to Fuchsia. I'm meeting up with my parents there for a little family vacation. Saffron isn't exactly very welcoming these days."

"I know, I was there a few days ago, collecting a gym badge."

"Then I take it you're in this race for the same reasons as I?" I nodded.

"Then how about a little friendly competition, just between you and I? Whichever makes it to the finish line first wins?"

"What's the prize?" If it was just David, I was pretty sure victory was a possibility.

"My father told me he had a rare Pokemon waiting for me in Fuchsia. Winner takes the Pokeball?"

"A Pokemon? Isn't that a little too much for just a friendly race?" Not that I wouldn't mind another potential friend in my group, but it still felt like David was betting too much on this race.

"Nonsense. I'm no Pokemon trainer like you. If I were to keep the Pokemon, chances are it wouldn't see the light of day often. I have a feeling it'll be in better hands with you. So, at least try to win?"

"You know," I said, hopping on my bike and getting ready to take off, "I think I'm feeling much more motivated to win this race!"

~o~

Despite being ready, the race didn't start for another hour almost, so I ended up getting off the bike, back on, and off again a few times. I even had to return to Celadon City for a little while to use the bathroom! Well, after all was said and done, Erika finally came out of the tent to announce that the race would finally begin. She stood on the edge of the slope of Cycling Road, holding a large checkered flag in her hands. She raised it into the air, but didn't lower it quite yet.

"Good luck to everyone participating in the race!"

And the flag went down.

Instantly, every bike on that slope shot forward, everyone trying to keep a fair distance from each other. The slope wasn't very steep, but still enough that bike speeds would be pretty dangerous. A single topple would send you crashing. Of course, about a dozen bikes zoomed past everyone else, and most of the other racers fell behind me. We were split into three groups, but what mattered was that I had a clear view of David to my right.

This race wasn't a matter of Pokemon battling, so it almost felt a bit strange to be participating in it myself. Still, one look at Vulpix as she enjoyed the breeze in her face made it all worthwhile. A Pokemon journey couldn't be all about battling and badges. This entire time, I was just letting my bike go at the speed of the slope, not exactly trying too hard to go any faster. Though, that changed when I saw David gaining plenty of speed and distance ahead of me. I caught onto the pedals with my feet, and started spinning them as fast as I could. David stayed ahead, but I was slowly gaining on him.

Vulpix noticed, and started cheering me on as we got closer and closer to David. We reached a level part of the road, the midway point of Route 17, with a large pond in the center. Luckily, I was pretty far to the right end of the road, so I didn't end up like a couple of the bikers that were in the lead, crashing right into the pond. Between them and David just in front of us, Vulpix didn't know what to cheer about anymore. She was having more fun than me!

When the slope returned, I managed to get up along David's side. Unlike me, he was just enjoying the ride, while I was there sweating like crazy just trying to play catch-up. He gave me a smile, a smug one, but he always had that expression on if he wasn't busy reading. Suddenly energized by the hope of beating him, I pedaled harder than ever before. Vulpix stood on her hind legs, raising her front legs up like she was in a roller coaster ride or something. I, on the other hand, didn't dare look back. The finish line was just a little while ahead, I'd know then if I beat David or not.

The tape at the finish line had long since been cut by someone else, but I was certain I had beaten David to the end. I stopped the pedals on the bike, causing the wheels to screech a little, even make the bike wobble enough to throw me off and into a patch of tall grass at the end. After I was helped out by a few of the other racers, I saw David pull in nice and slow. He hadn't even tried to win.

"Congratulations, Star, you won." He said with that same smug smile.

"Did you even try to win?" I continued to pull leaves and blades of grass from my hair.

"Of course, I was giving it all I had. I think I even broke a sweat!" David's trademark grin. Never understood him, really.

"So, shall we go to Fuchsia together from here?" I said as I tried to fix my hair up a bit. I wasn't one for looking my best at all times, but it was a matter of preventing knots in my long, brown hair.

"I think that would be lovely. If you don't mind, could we perhaps walk there? I have to return the bicycle I was using, I only borrowed it for the race."

"That's okay, I think I've had enough cycling for one day."