p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Steel (Poke)Ball Run/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 11 – VS THE HILLS/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" /p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;":/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Through swaying, yellow-green grass came innumerable, thundering hooves. But only one swiftly coursed downhill. The rest were emerging from the forest, by now or had overtaken those who had played dice with the woods./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Only the Devil's Downhill remains before them! With four thousand metres between them and sweet victory, this will be the stage for the final battle between the top competitors! Still on top is Gyro Zeppeli!' Maria the commentator yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Alongside the almost empty countryside, a wooden fence snaked through. A Tauros skull hung off one of the anchors. Zeppeli kept somewhat close to it. The fence made for a good guide through this area. At the bottom of the hills, a cosy, little house could be seen. A few tame Pokemon grazed; fattening themselves up on the decent grass growing here./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" As Zeppeli continued down the hills, uneven and considerably steep, Pocoloco continued to gain on him. Further down, the sound of hooves became all the more prominent. The main crowd had finally caught up, somewhat, to the speed Zeppeli was setting./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'There's two thousand metres between them and the farm! This downhill area can be as high as fifty metres with thirty-degree slopes! The Trainers must keep that in mind; they must ride slower! Even as people overtake! Accelerating here is too risky! The legs of your mount are almost certain to wear out here, folks! Endure it everyone; hold a steady pace even if you're boxed in or scattered! There are no exceptions! The same way a well will dry up, the previous eleven thousand metres worth of energy will be wasted!' Maria announced./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Easy, steady, don't let the other Pokemon distract you.' Johnny murmured to his Zebstrika./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The farm seemed to draw ever closer with each passing second. The incline of the hills seemed to lessen. The wind was cooler here; more relaxing after the hot sunshine further up the hill./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'They're almost at there! But it would be tawdry to accelerate now - keep your pace, fellas! From here on out, keep enduring: I'm cheering for you!' Maria excitedly informed the masses./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Of course, the farm seemed closest to those at the front. Zeppeli held onto his Mudsdale's reins tightly as it fastidiously kept to a safe but swift pace. He was a tad nervous. He glanced over his shoulder. He couldn't make heads or tails from that expression, smug and confident, smeared on Pocoloco's face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli didn't feel as though he had made any mistakes in the forest. However, that didn't account for how Pocoloco had behaved in there. He was erratic and eccentric. His manoeuvres were damn near impossible to pull off. It was nigh impossible for him to have caught up during the forest and yet here he was: closing the distance as best he could in these dangerously hilly conditions./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli stroked the patch of hair and skin behind his Mudsdale's ear./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't you worry about your back. Build up your strength slowly… But stay in the lead. And once we pass that farm,' Zeppeli murmured as he cracked an excited smile, 'then, I'll let you explode into action!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Mudsdale whinnied with an eagerly victorious tint to its voice./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh, dear; someone can't take the slow pace! He's flying right up in there, near Zeppeli and Number 777!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco turned over his shoulder. He watched as someone foolishly began to charge forward. He cackled madly; over-confident and impatient. Pocoloco gritted his teeth. He wasn't in the position to anything that wouldn't endanger himself if mistakes were made. The best he could do would be to soothe his Tauros' growing rage over the controlled running. He ruffled its thick fur along its shoulder blade./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't worry; we have one in a hundred and fifty million luck! Once we pass this farm… you can do anything! Once we charge our energy… we can do anything!' he declared./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Tauros pawed at the ground and restrained itself from anything damaging. It seemed to burst with newfound energy. He turned his head and he passed the Tauros skull mounted on a pike. Something about it, something sparkly, caught his eye./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Bright lights, red, green and yellow, twinkled around in circular patterns. A mystical sort of noise was made. A creature emerged from playful hiding with bright eyes. It clambered curiously around the planks of the fence./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Despite clearly being some kind of Pokemon, it was capable of human speech. Pocoloco couldn't believe his eyes or ears but it seemed true. It reached out to him; pawed at him. It spoke to him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Master Pocoloco! Pocoloco!' the voice, cheeky and cheery, 'there's the Bouffalant, remember the Bouffalant!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco turned his head again. The creature, whatever it was, had disappeared from where it had wound itself around the fence. He felt dizzy. His eyes widened. The sun beat hard on his back and he was as wet as a riverbank with sweat. He licked his lips. They were dry. So was his mouth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, hey! Don't get distracted! Or else you might fall off your mount, and you're not supposed to fall off yet.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The surprise of hearing that imp-like voice shocked Pocoloco to his core. He couldn't work out where it was coming from but it sounded so close. Then, he looked down his leg. Creeping out from beneath the belly of his Tauros, a Pokemon emerged. Up close, Pocoloco could see it better. He'd never seen a Pokemon like it before. There's no way such a creature could exist in right./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Before his eyes, it disappeared again. He rubbed at his eyes; shook himself free from whatever was happening. Or, at the very least, what he was fooled into thinking was happening thanks to the heat or something. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Huh? Maybe it's 'cause I feel off my mount back there in the forest… I'm seein' things; hallucinating.' he grumbled to himself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A cold touch seeped through his sleeves on his shoulders. A cold but gentle touch, that is. The creature had teleported to his back. It clambered over him and gave him something akin to a hug. Then, it continued speaking to him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You're going to do it, right? I mean, your the man with one in fifty million luck, go! You've got this! Don't you worry, I've got this - we've got this! Go for it, it'll all work out fine; leave it to me, even. I liked the look of you so we're partners from now on. You've got a friend in me, pal.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco realised something extremely important. This creature - no, this Pokemon - was the one he had accidentally caught in the forest. That's why his PokeBall had fallen out and filled up mysteriously by itself. Somehow, he had caught the attention of a very rare and extremely mysterious Pokemon. It talked, for crying out loud!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He really did have supreme fortune./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Then, if we're pals, I'm gonna call you ATLiens.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I like that name a lot!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco smiled weakly but that smile turned to an expression of unrightfully earned confidence. He relaxed. His muscles loosened and so did his inhibitions. He would trust this Pokemon's wisdom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He pointed to Zeppeli and called out to him in challenge: 'Yo! You! Guy in front: is that all you can do? I proclaim that once I pass you, you will never take the lead back from me, the great and mighty Pocoloco!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli frowned. It was mostly out of confusion but then he shed that cynicism and took the proclamation in jest; what it had to have been intended as. He turned his head and grinned toothily. His golden grill shone in the sunshine. His eyes narrowed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Did you say something? You were talking to my ass and I can't hear with my ass.' he replied, full of cheek./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco sneered. 'You better move; fall behind, freak!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" There was a moment of silence between them wherein they could only hear the wind. Then, Pocoloco yanked on the chocolate brown reins attached to his Tauros. His Tauros leapt forward. Zeppeli's heart was shot as he watched, uselessly, as Pocoloco charged forward./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Tauros, boldly, recklessly, overtook Zeppeli's Mudsdale./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Jaws dropped all around him. Johnny lifted himself partially from his lowered stance. Even he couldn't believe it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco and his Tauros continued to surge forward. They foolishly leapt through the hill. His Tauros sailed through the air gorgeously; in perfect form. It was a delicate manoeuvre but it was stomping through all precautions and common sense./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Amazing, Number 777 flew out in front!' Maria yelled in disbelief./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" There was a moment, wherein she received information from on high. Then, she continued with the details for those at home; on the train./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'His name is Pocoloco from Nuvema Town! Twenty-one years old and he has no ace Pokemon registered! He rides a Tauros known as "Hey Ya" - he will be one to watch!' Maria yelled. 'And - And he's passed Gyro Zeppeli!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco ran out in front of Zeppeli. His Tauros kicked up grass with each, scrambling gallop. Zeppeli flinched as he reared back; making safe decisions but ones that would potentially cost him the lead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Gyro Zeppeli is holding back!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Steady, steady.' Johnny whispered to his Zebstrika./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He approached from the outside. He watched the events unfold and made his own judgements; under his breath. He couldn't allow himself to be pulled into the orbit of the leading mounts. This was where things would get dangerous and recklessness was nowhere near a virtue. Superficial choices and short-term decisions would lead to fatal mistakes. There was no doubt about it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Others were not so imbued with foresight. Drawn in by temptation, other mounts began to accelerate at the rash command of their Trainers./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Other riders in the rear have joined the fray! They're also accelerating! And Zeppeli is catching up on Pocoloco - about fifteen lengths!' Maria commentated. 'But this is foolishness; it's not a challenge… it's recklessness! This is a poor tactic on these slopes! The sound of these hooves are a requiem for what is to come!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli growled under his breath; frowning: 'Damn… but? If?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His words cut on his tongue. He refused to give into the temptation that had seduced the other Trainers. He recalled how Pocoloco had behaved in the forest. His tactics there had been unprecedented but they had worked. After all, he had let his Tauros drag him through the forest at parts so it could fit easily in vague paths. So maybe he was flying forward like this with some sort of unconventional plan in mind./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco continued forth. His eyes were narrowed. He appeared cool, calm and collected. Even with the riders racing behind him. He was utterly unfazed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli glared at the horizon. The cosy little farmhouse was slowly becoming bigger amid the hills and plains. If Pocoloco managed to hit the flatlands by the farm, there was no telling what sort of freedom he would have access to. The distance he would create would be catastrophic for Zeppeli./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli huffed. Change of plans. He refused to acknowledge Pocoloco. His eyes settled on the farm. If he could ignore Pocoloco and focus on what had to be done now to preserve himself and his current speed then everything would work out fine. All Zeppeli and his Mudsdale had to do was endure./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli calmly handled his Mudsdale's reins. His ears pricked up. Behind him, utter entropy manifested. It was likely punishment for acceleration on these unforgiving, deceivingly placid-looking hills./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A gruesome pile-up occurred. Mounts buckled beneath their weight. Trainers were thrown from their saddles. Creatures writhed and wriggled against each other. There was a chilling crunch and no doubt, someone - perhaps many - had been injured - perhaps even killed - in the accident. It was a fitting punishment, though, for their hubris. Despite constant warning from Maria, these fools had still decided to test nature and exhaustion on these hills./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Two Trainers have fallen off! If you don't take these hills seriously, you may wind up dead!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny was sick to his stomach. There was nothing worse than seeing someone crushed beneath their mount but his safety came first. He was right in the direction of the pile-up and he refused to become a part of it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Zebstrika elegantly sailed over part of the pile up. He was stony faced; grim. He would give these hills, these dangers, the respect they deserved. Similarly, Zeppeli continued to surge forward. He was of same thinking to Johnny. He didn't want to be caught up in that mess either./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco shuddered. He realised now, in utter horror, what dangers these seemingly serene hills presented. His fear channeled into his Tauros. His Tauros felt that terror and that weakened its resolved. Its legs quivered and it tripped./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" At first, it was a small falter. Nothing Pocoloco thought he ought to be concerned by. His voice rang out in foolishly triumphant tones./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'It's fine! We're lucky!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He smiled in premature victory but that small falter rippled through his Tauros' whole body. It went head-over-hooves. His things were flung off their hooks on the saddle. Pocoloco, much like his belongings, was also thrown off his saddle; his hands gripped tightly onto his reins despite his abject surprise. His Tauros whinnied as it accepted disastrous injury./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But something fortunate and miraculous occurred first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His new Pokemon, ATliens, popped out again. The raised, jewel-like orbs on its club-like limbs flashed and scattered multi-coloured lights. It frowned and a great, magenta light encased Pocoloco and itself. But, in the midst of a large cloud of dust, this light went unseen./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Pocoloco was impudent and now he's paying for it! He's fallen down!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Thank you very much.' Zeppeli muttered, he clicked his tongue./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He continued to race forward. He couldn't see much through the dust but he didn't want to count Pocoloco out just yet. Nevertheless, he did easily take over from Pocoloco at the safe and sane speed he was going./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Gyro Zeppeli resumes the mantle of being first! And now, right on schedule, Zeppeli is almost close to passing the farm and reaching the flatlands at the bottom of these hills!' Maria commentated./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli lifted his head and his eyes widened. He was certain he saw that yellow helmet belonging to Pocoloco pop up from a rivet in the hills. Soon, Pocoloco revealed himself. He was moving fast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What the hell? What's goin' on?' Zeppeli murmured, in disbelief./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'W-W-Wait? Pocoloco isn't down! If anything, he's moving at a greater speed than before! He's safe! He's safe! But what's he riding?' Maria shrieked. 'Only one mount was to be registered per Trainer; he could be disqualified for switching out!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco revealed himself. He was still riding on the back of his Tauros. However, his Tauros was kneeling on the rotted body of a Bouffalant. Its mane, curly and fuzzed, was knotted. Its regular hair, however, was almost completely fallen out. Its body was thin and its bones poked through the green-brown flesh. It stank unbelievably. Nevertheless, Pocoloco continued to ride it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'This fucking… what the hell?' Zeppeli was astounded./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He had no choice but to come to a sole, if a little insane, conclusion about Pocoloco: it was all calculation. This guy's actions weren't piled up coincidences or plain stupidity, it was calculation. He knew all these things or else he wouldn't have been able to pull off such absurd strategies. Zeppeli further concluded that his number one enemy in this race was Pocoloco./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli glanced at the sky. But that Bouffalant corpse had been so out of the way, that must mean that Pocoloco was getting help from something or someone. He must have some sort of flyer on his team and it had to be relaying information back to him somehow./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" According to the commentator lady, he hadn't registered as having an "ace" Pokemon. Wait, Zeppeli scared to himself with this thought: was it possible that Pocoloco had raised such a terrifyingly strong team that he had no way to discern who his best was?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli tried not to think too hard on that one. But, strangely enough, he looked forward to one day being challenged to a proper battle by Pocoloco. That would be the only way to quell the competition between them and elect who was stronger. Pocoloco would prove to be a fearsome enemy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Little did he realise, of course, that he had already thought too much on the subject altogether./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'It's a… It's a dead body! Pocoloco is sliding down on the hill on a dead body! Somehow, a dead Bouffalant was hidden in the long grass!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wonderful! Yeeehaaaw!' Pocoloco sang out. 'This is no hallucination: this is all my good luck! But damn was I surprised!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Shit! This is terrible! His Tauros isn't even running; it's resting! Once we reach the farm, it'll be fully rested!' Zeppeli yelled, agitated./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He smirked though. He turned his frustrations to something a little more productive. He unlatched a PokeBall from one of the straps on him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I don't know the exact rules off the top of my head but I'll bet that your mount has to be running and alive to count in this race…' he murmured to himself. 'Go, go, Mean Streak!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He tossed out his PokeBall. The spin that accompanied it noticeable once more; to those who knew to look for it, of course. Out of it, emerged a somewhat large creature lumbered forward. A Krookodile lumbered forward. It snapped and closed its mouth rapidly and scratched at the air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Use Rock Smash on those mountain outcrops!' Zeppeli instructed; he pointed at the spot/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With a mighty roar, his Krookodile set to work. Despite being large, it was quick on its feet. It struck the base of the outcrop with its clawed fist. The outcrop rumbled and shook. First, only dust broke free and skittered over the crown of Krookodile's head but then, pebbles followed. Finally, entire rocks burst free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Return, Mean Streak!' Zeppeli yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Krookodile was snatched by the spin of its PokeBall and dissipated into nothing. The dust crumbled and pebbles tumbled. A large rock came loose. Its coarse underside grated against the coarse topside of the outcrop it had once been a part of. A foot, a human foot, stepped onto the rock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" And with that rock, the person came tumbling down too. His footing threatened to falter but he remained sturdy despite conditions. His arms and braids swung as he fell through the air; feet firmly planted atop that large piece of rock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What?' Zeppeli was taken aback by the turn of events. He hadn't meant for that./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But then, things became strange./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With complete faith, a herd of assorted Pokemon followed in tow of the man, Sandman. Sandman hopped down from that rock and swung himself around so he followed the last trails of the mountainous outcrop as it faded into the ground. His Pokemon, those that could not fly anyway, skilfully followed in his precise movements. Those movements were superhuman./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wh-Who's that? Why is somebody on the track?' Zeppeli questioned his own eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Sandman overtook Pocoloco who was ever increasing in speed. He wasn't concerned in the slightest, judging by his grim and focused expression, about the Pokemon in tow. He kept surging forward. He had an efficient running style. As did his non-flying Pokemon. It was a spectacular and unbelievable sight./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'He broke into the top spot faster than I can speak! Who is he? Who is this person? He's running downhill with his own legs! Which route did he take? Where did he come from?' Maria shrieked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He kept running forward. He was so focused, it was as though he had tuned the world out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wait, I just got confirmation: he's Sandman! His name is Sandman, according to the registration! This race is impossible to predict as we enter the final stretch!' Maria yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 11 – VS THE HILLS/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" /p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;":/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Through swaying, yellow-green grass came innumerable, thundering hooves. But only one swiftly coursed downhill. The rest were emerging from the forest, by now or had overtaken those who had played dice with the woods./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Only the Devil's Downhill remains before them! With four thousand metres between them and sweet victory, this will be the stage for the final battle between the top competitors! Still on top is Gyro Zeppeli!' Maria the commentator yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Alongside the almost empty countryside, a wooden fence snaked through. A Tauros skull hung off one of the anchors. Zeppeli kept somewhat close to it. The fence made for a good guide through this area. At the bottom of the hills, a cosy, little house could be seen. A few tame Pokemon grazed; fattening themselves up on the decent grass growing here./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" As Zeppeli continued down the hills, uneven and considerably steep, Pocoloco continued to gain on him. Further down, the sound of hooves became all the more prominent. The main crowd had finally caught up, somewhat, to the speed Zeppeli was setting./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'There's two thousand metres between them and the farm! This downhill area can be as high as fifty metres with thirty-degree slopes! The Trainers must keep that in mind; they must ride slower! Even as people overtake! Accelerating here is too risky! The legs of your mount are almost certain to wear out here, folks! Endure it everyone; hold a steady pace even if you're boxed in or scattered! There are no exceptions! The same way a well will dry up, the previous eleven thousand metres worth of energy will be wasted!' Maria announced./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Easy, steady, don't let the other Pokemon distract you.' Johnny murmured to his Zebstrika./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The farm seemed to draw ever closer with each passing second. The incline of the hills seemed to lessen. The wind was cooler here; more relaxing after the hot sunshine further up the hill./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'They're almost at there! But it would be tawdry to accelerate now - keep your pace, fellas! From here on out, keep enduring: I'm cheering for you!' Maria excitedly informed the masses./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Of course, the farm seemed closest to those at the front. Zeppeli held onto his Mudsdale's reins tightly as it fastidiously kept to a safe but swift pace. He was a tad nervous. He glanced over his shoulder. He couldn't make heads or tails from that expression, smug and confident, smeared on Pocoloco's face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli didn't feel as though he had made any mistakes in the forest. However, that didn't account for how Pocoloco had behaved in there. He was erratic and eccentric. His manoeuvres were damn near impossible to pull off. It was nigh impossible for him to have caught up during the forest and yet here he was: closing the distance as best he could in these dangerously hilly conditions./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli stroked the patch of hair and skin behind his Mudsdale's ear./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't you worry about your back. Build up your strength slowly… But stay in the lead. And once we pass that farm,' Zeppeli murmured as he cracked an excited smile, 'then, I'll let you explode into action!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Mudsdale whinnied with an eagerly victorious tint to its voice./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh, dear; someone can't take the slow pace! He's flying right up in there, near Zeppeli and Number 777!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco turned over his shoulder. He watched as someone foolishly began to charge forward. He cackled madly; over-confident and impatient. Pocoloco gritted his teeth. He wasn't in the position to anything that wouldn't endanger himself if mistakes were made. The best he could do would be to soothe his Tauros' growing rage over the controlled running. He ruffled its thick fur along its shoulder blade./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't worry; we have one in a hundred and fifty million luck! Once we pass this farm… you can do anything! Once we charge our energy… we can do anything!' he declared./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Tauros pawed at the ground and restrained itself from anything damaging. It seemed to burst with newfound energy. He turned his head and he passed the Tauros skull mounted on a pike. Something about it, something sparkly, caught his eye./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Bright lights, red, green and yellow, twinkled around in circular patterns. A mystical sort of noise was made. A creature emerged from playful hiding with bright eyes. It clambered curiously around the planks of the fence./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Despite clearly being some kind of Pokemon, it was capable of human speech. Pocoloco couldn't believe his eyes or ears but it seemed true. It reached out to him; pawed at him. It spoke to him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Master Pocoloco! Pocoloco!' the voice, cheeky and cheery, 'there's the Bouffalant, remember the Bouffalant!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco turned his head again. The creature, whatever it was, had disappeared from where it had wound itself around the fence. He felt dizzy. His eyes widened. The sun beat hard on his back and he was as wet as a riverbank with sweat. He licked his lips. They were dry. So was his mouth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, hey! Don't get distracted! Or else you might fall off your mount, and you're not supposed to fall off yet.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The surprise of hearing that imp-like voice shocked Pocoloco to his core. He couldn't work out where it was coming from but it sounded so close. Then, he looked down his leg. Creeping out from beneath the belly of his Tauros, a Pokemon emerged. Up close, Pocoloco could see it better. He'd never seen a Pokemon like it before. There's no way such a creature could exist in right./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Before his eyes, it disappeared again. He rubbed at his eyes; shook himself free from whatever was happening. Or, at the very least, what he was fooled into thinking was happening thanks to the heat or something. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Huh? Maybe it's 'cause I feel off my mount back there in the forest… I'm seein' things; hallucinating.' he grumbled to himself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A cold touch seeped through his sleeves on his shoulders. A cold but gentle touch, that is. The creature had teleported to his back. It clambered over him and gave him something akin to a hug. Then, it continued speaking to him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You're going to do it, right? I mean, your the man with one in fifty million luck, go! You've got this! Don't you worry, I've got this - we've got this! Go for it, it'll all work out fine; leave it to me, even. I liked the look of you so we're partners from now on. You've got a friend in me, pal.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco realised something extremely important. This creature - no, this Pokemon - was the one he had accidentally caught in the forest. That's why his PokeBall had fallen out and filled up mysteriously by itself. Somehow, he had caught the attention of a very rare and extremely mysterious Pokemon. It talked, for crying out loud!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He really did have supreme fortune./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Then, if we're pals, I'm gonna call you ATLiens.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I like that name a lot!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco smiled weakly but that smile turned to an expression of unrightfully earned confidence. He relaxed. His muscles loosened and so did his inhibitions. He would trust this Pokemon's wisdom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He pointed to Zeppeli and called out to him in challenge: 'Yo! You! Guy in front: is that all you can do? I proclaim that once I pass you, you will never take the lead back from me, the great and mighty Pocoloco!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli frowned. It was mostly out of confusion but then he shed that cynicism and took the proclamation in jest; what it had to have been intended as. He turned his head and grinned toothily. His golden grill shone in the sunshine. His eyes narrowed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Did you say something? You were talking to my ass and I can't hear with my ass.' he replied, full of cheek./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco sneered. 'You better move; fall behind, freak!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" There was a moment of silence between them wherein they could only hear the wind. Then, Pocoloco yanked on the chocolate brown reins attached to his Tauros. His Tauros leapt forward. Zeppeli's heart was shot as he watched, uselessly, as Pocoloco charged forward./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Tauros, boldly, recklessly, overtook Zeppeli's Mudsdale./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Jaws dropped all around him. Johnny lifted himself partially from his lowered stance. Even he couldn't believe it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco and his Tauros continued to surge forward. They foolishly leapt through the hill. His Tauros sailed through the air gorgeously; in perfect form. It was a delicate manoeuvre but it was stomping through all precautions and common sense./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Amazing, Number 777 flew out in front!' Maria yelled in disbelief./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" There was a moment, wherein she received information from on high. Then, she continued with the details for those at home; on the train./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'His name is Pocoloco from Nuvema Town! Twenty-one years old and he has no ace Pokemon registered! He rides a Tauros known as "Hey Ya" - he will be one to watch!' Maria yelled. 'And - And he's passed Gyro Zeppeli!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco ran out in front of Zeppeli. His Tauros kicked up grass with each, scrambling gallop. Zeppeli flinched as he reared back; making safe decisions but ones that would potentially cost him the lead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Gyro Zeppeli is holding back!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Steady, steady.' Johnny whispered to his Zebstrika./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He approached from the outside. He watched the events unfold and made his own judgements; under his breath. He couldn't allow himself to be pulled into the orbit of the leading mounts. This was where things would get dangerous and recklessness was nowhere near a virtue. Superficial choices and short-term decisions would lead to fatal mistakes. There was no doubt about it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Others were not so imbued with foresight. Drawn in by temptation, other mounts began to accelerate at the rash command of their Trainers./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Other riders in the rear have joined the fray! They're also accelerating! And Zeppeli is catching up on Pocoloco - about fifteen lengths!' Maria commentated. 'But this is foolishness; it's not a challenge… it's recklessness! This is a poor tactic on these slopes! The sound of these hooves are a requiem for what is to come!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli growled under his breath; frowning: 'Damn… but? If?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His words cut on his tongue. He refused to give into the temptation that had seduced the other Trainers. He recalled how Pocoloco had behaved in the forest. His tactics there had been unprecedented but they had worked. After all, he had let his Tauros drag him through the forest at parts so it could fit easily in vague paths. So maybe he was flying forward like this with some sort of unconventional plan in mind./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco continued forth. His eyes were narrowed. He appeared cool, calm and collected. Even with the riders racing behind him. He was utterly unfazed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli glared at the horizon. The cosy little farmhouse was slowly becoming bigger amid the hills and plains. If Pocoloco managed to hit the flatlands by the farm, there was no telling what sort of freedom he would have access to. The distance he would create would be catastrophic for Zeppeli./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli huffed. Change of plans. He refused to acknowledge Pocoloco. His eyes settled on the farm. If he could ignore Pocoloco and focus on what had to be done now to preserve himself and his current speed then everything would work out fine. All Zeppeli and his Mudsdale had to do was endure./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli calmly handled his Mudsdale's reins. His ears pricked up. Behind him, utter entropy manifested. It was likely punishment for acceleration on these unforgiving, deceivingly placid-looking hills./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A gruesome pile-up occurred. Mounts buckled beneath their weight. Trainers were thrown from their saddles. Creatures writhed and wriggled against each other. There was a chilling crunch and no doubt, someone - perhaps many - had been injured - perhaps even killed - in the accident. It was a fitting punishment, though, for their hubris. Despite constant warning from Maria, these fools had still decided to test nature and exhaustion on these hills./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Two Trainers have fallen off! If you don't take these hills seriously, you may wind up dead!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny was sick to his stomach. There was nothing worse than seeing someone crushed beneath their mount but his safety came first. He was right in the direction of the pile-up and he refused to become a part of it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Zebstrika elegantly sailed over part of the pile up. He was stony faced; grim. He would give these hills, these dangers, the respect they deserved. Similarly, Zeppeli continued to surge forward. He was of same thinking to Johnny. He didn't want to be caught up in that mess either./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco shuddered. He realised now, in utter horror, what dangers these seemingly serene hills presented. His fear channeled into his Tauros. His Tauros felt that terror and that weakened its resolved. Its legs quivered and it tripped./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" At first, it was a small falter. Nothing Pocoloco thought he ought to be concerned by. His voice rang out in foolishly triumphant tones./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'It's fine! We're lucky!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He smiled in premature victory but that small falter rippled through his Tauros' whole body. It went head-over-hooves. His things were flung off their hooks on the saddle. Pocoloco, much like his belongings, was also thrown off his saddle; his hands gripped tightly onto his reins despite his abject surprise. His Tauros whinnied as it accepted disastrous injury./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But something fortunate and miraculous occurred first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His new Pokemon, ATliens, popped out again. The raised, jewel-like orbs on its club-like limbs flashed and scattered multi-coloured lights. It frowned and a great, magenta light encased Pocoloco and itself. But, in the midst of a large cloud of dust, this light went unseen./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Pocoloco was impudent and now he's paying for it! He's fallen down!' Maria yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Thank you very much.' Zeppeli muttered, he clicked his tongue./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He continued to race forward. He couldn't see much through the dust but he didn't want to count Pocoloco out just yet. Nevertheless, he did easily take over from Pocoloco at the safe and sane speed he was going./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Gyro Zeppeli resumes the mantle of being first! And now, right on schedule, Zeppeli is almost close to passing the farm and reaching the flatlands at the bottom of these hills!' Maria commentated./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli lifted his head and his eyes widened. He was certain he saw that yellow helmet belonging to Pocoloco pop up from a rivet in the hills. Soon, Pocoloco revealed himself. He was moving fast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What the hell? What's goin' on?' Zeppeli murmured, in disbelief./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'W-W-Wait? Pocoloco isn't down! If anything, he's moving at a greater speed than before! He's safe! He's safe! But what's he riding?' Maria shrieked. 'Only one mount was to be registered per Trainer; he could be disqualified for switching out!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Pocoloco revealed himself. He was still riding on the back of his Tauros. However, his Tauros was kneeling on the rotted body of a Bouffalant. Its mane, curly and fuzzed, was knotted. Its regular hair, however, was almost completely fallen out. Its body was thin and its bones poked through the green-brown flesh. It stank unbelievably. Nevertheless, Pocoloco continued to ride it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'This fucking… what the hell?' Zeppeli was astounded./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He had no choice but to come to a sole, if a little insane, conclusion about Pocoloco: it was all calculation. This guy's actions weren't piled up coincidences or plain stupidity, it was calculation. He knew all these things or else he wouldn't have been able to pull off such absurd strategies. Zeppeli further concluded that his number one enemy in this race was Pocoloco./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli glanced at the sky. But that Bouffalant corpse had been so out of the way, that must mean that Pocoloco was getting help from something or someone. He must have some sort of flyer on his team and it had to be relaying information back to him somehow./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" According to the commentator lady, he hadn't registered as having an "ace" Pokemon. Wait, Zeppeli scared to himself with this thought: was it possible that Pocoloco had raised such a terrifyingly strong team that he had no way to discern who his best was?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Zeppeli tried not to think too hard on that one. But, strangely enough, he looked forward to one day being challenged to a proper battle by Pocoloco. That would be the only way to quell the competition between them and elect who was stronger. Pocoloco would prove to be a fearsome enemy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Little did he realise, of course, that he had already thought too much on the subject altogether./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'It's a… It's a dead body! Pocoloco is sliding down on the hill on a dead body! Somehow, a dead Bouffalant was hidden in the long grass!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wonderful! Yeeehaaaw!' Pocoloco sang out. 'This is no hallucination: this is all my good luck! But damn was I surprised!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Shit! This is terrible! His Tauros isn't even running; it's resting! Once we reach the farm, it'll be fully rested!' Zeppeli yelled, agitated./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He smirked though. He turned his frustrations to something a little more productive. He unlatched a PokeBall from one of the straps on him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I don't know the exact rules off the top of my head but I'll bet that your mount has to be running and alive to count in this race…' he murmured to himself. 'Go, go, Mean Streak!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He tossed out his PokeBall. The spin that accompanied it noticeable once more; to those who knew to look for it, of course. Out of it, emerged a somewhat large creature lumbered forward. A Krookodile lumbered forward. It snapped and closed its mouth rapidly and scratched at the air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Use Rock Smash on those mountain outcrops!' Zeppeli instructed; he pointed at the spot/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With a mighty roar, his Krookodile set to work. Despite being large, it was quick on its feet. It struck the base of the outcrop with its clawed fist. The outcrop rumbled and shook. First, only dust broke free and skittered over the crown of Krookodile's head but then, pebbles followed. Finally, entire rocks burst free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Return, Mean Streak!' Zeppeli yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Krookodile was snatched by the spin of its PokeBall and dissipated into nothing. The dust crumbled and pebbles tumbled. A large rock came loose. Its coarse underside grated against the coarse topside of the outcrop it had once been a part of. A foot, a human foot, stepped onto the rock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" And with that rock, the person came tumbling down too. His footing threatened to falter but he remained sturdy despite conditions. His arms and braids swung as he fell through the air; feet firmly planted atop that large piece of rock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What?' Zeppeli was taken aback by the turn of events. He hadn't meant for that./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But then, things became strange./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With complete faith, a herd of assorted Pokemon followed in tow of the man, Sandman. Sandman hopped down from that rock and swung himself around so he followed the last trails of the mountainous outcrop as it faded into the ground. His Pokemon, those that could not fly anyway, skilfully followed in his precise movements. Those movements were superhuman./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wh-Who's that? Why is somebody on the track?' Zeppeli questioned his own eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Sandman overtook Pocoloco who was ever increasing in speed. He wasn't concerned in the slightest, judging by his grim and focused expression, about the Pokemon in tow. He kept surging forward. He had an efficient running style. As did his non-flying Pokemon. It was a spectacular and unbelievable sight./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'He broke into the top spot faster than I can speak! Who is he? Who is this person? He's running downhill with his own legs! Which route did he take? Where did he come from?' Maria shrieked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He kept running forward. He was so focused, it was as though he had tuned the world out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Wait, I just got confirmation: he's Sandman! His name is Sandman, according to the registration! This race is impossible to predict as we enter the final stretch!' Maria yelled./p