Kalos Quest Chapter 3-A Race for Home! The Wild Skiddo Race!
As the heroes make their way to Coumarine City, they encounter a ranch containing a ton of Skiddo.
"Wow, who there was a ranch out here," Ash commented.
"It says it's the Baa de Mer Ranch," Serena told the group, looking at her pad.
"Look over there! There's Gogoat, Mareep, Dodrio, Doduo," Bonnie said pointing to the Pokémon.
"Also, it says this ranch has all sorts of Pokémon and is famous for its cheese and ice cream made from Skiddo Milk."
"Ooh, I want some!"
"I do too!"
"So why don't we go check it out?"
"Hooray!" Pinkie and Bonnie shouted as they ran ahead then Pokémon.
"Excuse me, may I have two of your finest ice cream cone?" Pinkie asked then one of the ice cream parlors gave her one and Jaden did as well. "Thanks. Wow, it is so delicious!"
"Yeah, it's so good!" Jaden exclaimed.
After Bonnie got ice cream the group headed to another part of the ranch and saw a few kids learning to ride Skiddo.
"Wow, they let you ride Skiddo? Oh boy!" Bonnie exclaimed.
"I wonder if this could be..." Serena started.
"It is. The first step of becoming a Rhyhorn Racer."
"Mom?"
"Talk about a strange coincidence," Clemont commented.
"It's been a while, Serena how are you?"
"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"
"I was invited here to be a special coach for the Rhyhorn Racer Training Camp. Isn't that wonderful?" Grace explained as she pulled her into a hug then both of them parted. "It's so good to see all of you. Serena looks so happy. Thanks so much, you've taken good care of her."
"She's been taking care of us," Rainbow Dash told her.
"And you are?"
"I'm Hilda, I'm from Unova."
"So, the campers get to ride on Rhyhorn?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yep, but today is for beginners, so we're starting our training with Skiddo."
"Why's that?" Zane asked.
"Rhyhorn is a bit too long big and strong for beginners, that's why we start with Skiddo. When you hold their horns while riding them they can sense your feelings. Even kids can ride them."
"Wow, I had no idea. You know I started out riding Rhyhorn right off the bat didn't I?" Ash asked himself.
"You did," Rainbow reminded him.
"That's because you said you just had to be a part of the Rhyhorn race, remember," Serena told him.
"Yeah, and because you're an awesome teacher I learned how to ride."
"Well, it's really because you worked so hard at it."
"In that case, since you've ridden Rhyhorn already, there's no need to start with a Skiddo."
"But wait, I've never ridden a Skiddo before. I try it!"
"I wanna ride too!" Bonnie said excitedly.
"Count me in!" Pinkie added.
"Yes, why don't you all do it together."
"So, how about it?" Bonnie asked Clemont and Fluttershy.
"Why not, it could be fun," Fluttershy said.
"You mean me?" Clemont asked.
"It'll be more if we all ride together," Fluttershy told him.
Once they got started, Zane and Rainbow Dash had no problem getting on. Bonnie, Ash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy have success as well but Clemont was having a hard time.
"Hey, Clemont, are you okay?" Applejack asked him.
"Yeah, I guess so," Clemont answered.
"You're probably nervous and that made Skiddo nervous as well," Applejack said. "But you'll get the hang of it."
"Whee! This is fun!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Okay. It's break time. We'll all have some lunch and pick it up in the afternoon." '
Much later...
"Mmm, I love the smell of my mom's soup," Serena as Grace prepared lunch.
"Wow, Yeah, it smells so good," Bonnie added.
"She makes the best soup in the world."
"Can't wait to try it."
"Honestly, Serena's never been much of a cook. Is that a bother?" Grace asked Jaden, Sunset, and Twilight.
"Not at all, she's a big help," Twilight answered. "Serena's always giving Clemont and me a hand with the cooking."
"And she makes the best desserts all the time," Jaden added.
"She also makes the Poké Puffs for the Pokémon and they them," Sunset stated.
"She did all that?" She asked and all three of them nodded. "I guess that means my little girl has grown up a bit."
"Alright. Everyone, come out!" Ash said as everyone calls their Pokémon out.
"Pika Pika!"
"Esp!"
"Looks awesome," Ash said as they begin to eat. Shortly afterward Pancham and Chespin got into another fight.
"Now, what are those two fighting about?" Zane asked.
"Now quit it both of you," Applejack said as Grovyle got in between them.
"Now, time to start afternoon training," Grace said.
"Do I have to?" Clemont asked as Bonnie pushed him along.
"Of course, you do, big brother," Bonnie answered then everyone but Serena and Rarity headed out.
"Great they're gone, shall we begin practice?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah,"
"Pancham, forward roll then jump," Serena said.
Pancham did so but he accidentally bumped into Pokémon.
"Is everyone okay?" Rarity asked then the Pokémon replied.
"I wonder why nothing seems to be right?" Serena asked herself. "I guess we're not ready. I can't tell my mom I want to be a Pokémon performer if I'm this awful."
"Fenne."
"Not with that attitude, you won't get anywhere," The girls turned to see Applejack with her Pokémon by her side.
"How did you..."
"I had a feeling you would get some practice in, you haven't told your mom haven't you?" Applejack asked.
"No, I didn't."
"You going to tell her at some point on what you want to do," Applejack advised.
"I know, but I don't know how she'll take it," Serena admitted then something pop out of the forest.
"What Pokémon is that?" Rarity asked before scanning it.
Larvitar. The Rock Skin Pokémon. It feeds on the soil. After it has eaten a large mountain, it falls asleep so it can grow.
"What's it doing here?" Serena asked as Larvitar nudged Applejack.
"I don't know, but I'm guessing you want to be friends?" Applejack asked then it nodded. "Well, looks he in."
Applejack lowered herself then she pulled out a Pokéball that allow Lavevitar to touch it, and the Poké Ball captures it, The Poké Ball then shakes a couple of times, before it stops completely.
"Alright," Applejack exclaimed. "Come on out, Laravtiar!"
"Larva!"
Then all of them heard a commotion then ran to it.
"What happened?" Applejack asked the workers.
"Someone's stolen a bunch of cheese and put it on the truck!"
"Cheese thieves?" Ash asked as the truck left. "Skiddo after them!"
The Skiddo that Ash was on ran after the truck with Clemont and the others right behind them.
"Wait, AJ," Serena stop her from getting on Skiddo. "Rhyhorn are faster."
"Rhyhorn we need your help, your power, and your speed too."
Both girls climbed on the Rhyhorn and the Rhyhorn followed past Ash and the others and side by side with the truck
"What do we do now?" Applejack asked.
"This. Rhyhorn, I want you to use Tackle on the side of that truck," Serena ordered.
Rhyhorn used its body and slammed the truck causing it to lose control.
"Alright, you stinkin' varmints give it up!" Applejack demanded. The doors opened and Team Rocket stepped out.
"Team Rocket," Serena said.
"Not you guys again! Give back all that stuff!" Ash demanded as he and Rainbow Dash caught up.
"It's not stuff! And also, no!" Duke exclaimed.
"Here I go! Inkay, let it flow!" James said.
"And you two Pumpkaboo!"
"Misdreavous, out!"
"Skunktunk. go!"
"Okay, Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Swellow, Aerial Ace!"
The moves hit Pumpkaboo and Inkay, sending them back."
"Misdreavous, Shadow Ball!"
"Skuntank, Sludge Bomb!"
Both Pikachu and Swellow avoided the attack before getting hit by Inkay's Psybeam.
"Go Fennekin!"
"Larvitar!"
"Flamethrower quick!"
"Stone Edge!"
Fennekin fired Flamethrower at Pumpkaboo and Larvitar did Stone Edge to Skunktank and both of them hit the truck's glass.
"Misdreavous. Shadow Ball, rapid fire!"
Misdrevous fired multiple Shadow Balls at them before one of them hit Fennekin.
"Swellow, you okay!"
"Swell."
"Good. draw their fire!"
"Inkay, Psybeam!"
"Pumpkaboo, Dark Pulse."
"Misdreavous, Shadow Ball!"
All four of Team Rocket's Pokémon fired their attacks at Swellow who flew from the attacks with little effort.
"Larvatiar, Rock Slide!"
Larvatiar created large boulders and all the opposing Pokémon got hit.
"Hey, Ash, Rainbow! Take it from here!"
"You got it, Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Swellow, Hyper Beam!"
The two moves collided with Team Rocket and sent them into a blastoff.
"LOOKS LIKE WE'VE BIT MORE THAN WE CHEW AND WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket shouted as the rest showed up.
"Wow, you got back the cheese!" Pinkie said excitedly.
"I gotta, you were really moving on that Rhyhorn," Rainbow said to Serena.
"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess so," Serena laughed a bit.
"Serena, I see now you really do have what it takes. I mean to be a professional Rhyhorn racer."
"Mom..."
"I want to you come back home and start training again."
Rarity wanted to say something but Applejack motion her to stay out of it and let her handle it.
"You see, mom. I've decided that I want to be a Pokémon performer. Which means, I'm not going home."
"Are you serious? Dear, as soon as you think it's getting too harsh, you'll simply give up."
"I know how we'll settle this. We'll have a Rhyhorn race. If you win, I'll come home but If I win, then you have to respect my dreams."
"Serena, you don't have to do this," Hilda protested.
"Not to mention it's crazy, your mom is a professional racer," Zane added.
"He's right. In that case, we'll have our race on Skiddo!"
"I agree, let's go."
Much later both Serena and her mother got on their Skiddo with her friends on the outside and Jaden holding the checkered flag.
"Serena can't win, can't she?" Bonnie asked.
"Well, I'm sure she would lose in a Rhyhorn race, but racing with Skiddo, she might a have chance," Clemont stated.
"Right, since Skiddo does better with a light rider," Rainbow said.
On the track.
"Okay. It's one lap around the track and the first one to cross the goal wins. And both of you agree to the terms? Correct?" Jaden gave the rules to Serena and Grace with both of them nodded.
"Fenne!"
"Get'em, Serena!" Ash cheered.
"You got this," Applejack said confidently.
"On my signal! 3... 2... 1... Go!" Jaden shouted as he wave the flag and two riders took off.
Her mother took an early lead but Serena kept willing Skiddo to move faster to close the gap and she took the lead. Suddenly, Serena's Skiddo fell from under her and Serena fell to the ground.
"Serena!" Rarity shouted.
Serena looked up and her mom take back the lead and remembered all the times she fell off Rhyhorn. Serena got herself back up and onto Skiddo. I won't give up until it's over. Serena thoughted as her Skiddo took off. As she caught to her mother, she remembered everything from making friends with Rarity and Applejack to meeting the others, and her journey changed her for the better. She felt Skiddo run faster as she more determined to win. Serena and her mother approached the finish line and she managed to get the lead and that was what she needed.
"Finish!" Jaden shouted and Serena and her friends cheered as Pinkie toss Confetti in the air.
Once she came to a stop she got off of Skiddo and saw her mom come up to her.
"Serena looks like you won."
"But mom... You see... It's just..."
"Right. I understand how you feel. You know you needn't be so surprised sweetie. After all, I'm your mother. I saw that secret performing practice of yours."
"You saw it?"
"And racing while covered in mud, you didn't give up. You've really grown on your journey."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Skiddo can sense feelings. That's the reason we raced with them to sense your feelings. The Skiddo picked up on your dream. They could sense how strong it is. So I decided that's good enough for me. Follow your dream."
"Thank you... Mom!" Serena hugged her.
"That's awesome, Serena," Ash commented. "Let's both follow our dream together!"
"So where are you off to?" Grace asked.
"Courmarine City. I'm going to challenge the gym there to get my fourth badge," Ash answered.
"You know, I heard there's going to be a Pokémon Showcase in Courmarine City. Why don't you be a part of it?"
"Really?"
"Take on every challenge, and rise above them all."
Serena was finally able to share her real dreams with her mother and how much she's grown.
And not only is Courmarine City the site of Ash's next Gym battle, but a Pokémon Showcase also awaits Serena and Rarity there as the journey continues.