GammaTron: And...there we go. *puts the last of the TNT of a massive pile filling up half the stage in place* And all my TNT is together. Now no one shall blow it up!
KamenRiderZER0: *blurs in at super speed behind GT* Meep-meep!
GT: BWAH! *jumps and turns around* Z0?! DON'T do THAT!
Z0: Hahahaha! *slaps knee* Ah...I have to have some fun around here. *eyes TNT causing my eyes to dilate and sparkle along with the rest of my golden armor*
GT: ...I've dunked them in water so the explosive powder doesn't go off.
SZ: *walks in*hey guys, wh-*sees the TNT*...*walks out*nope. Not today.
Z0: Don't you guys have a story to get back to?
GT: Oh right. It's a race this chapter.
SZ: *offscreen*Start the chapter before GT blows stuff up, or I will cast Waterza on you both!
Makoto: *pokes head in*He's been playing KH 3 a lot since it came out.
GT: I only play it when I have time. I work the night shift, dang it. Anyways, we don't own Pokemon or BlazBlue. We only own OCs. Oh…*pushes a red button*...and I lied about it being drenched already.
*KRA-KA-BOOOOOOM~!*
Entry 038: Tsubaki Yayoi reporting for another entry in our journal on this world we're in. We were resting and helping Ash's Eevee learn more about the moves exclusive to his kind, and I decided to have a practice battle with Sorin and Ash's Charmander. Things were going good...until Cross showed up with his Incineroar…and aside from insulting us once again, he...he had his Pokemon one shot Sorin and Charmander, nearly damaging their voice boxes! I'm thankful Takuma stepped in before La and Makoto did something...regretful to him. We got to a Pokemon Center to heal them and while we were waiting on them to recover...we learned La had a similar experience with someone much like Cross...poor La. I think that Alakai hinted that her Croconaw wasn't the last Pokemon she lost either.
I was startled when, while Ash and I were waiting before the ER for news on Sorin and Charmander, that Ash nearly said something Cross would say. I was just thankful Kajun arrived and helped Luca and I shake Ash out of his strange state...and then Luca drops a proverbial bomb on us by noticing something that wasn't Gengar in his shadow. We got Gengar to check and, well...Ash has a Marshadow, a Mythical Legendary Pokemon, hiding inside of his shadow...I pray Team Rocket doesn't learn about it….then again, given how it was easy for it ot knock Gengar out of Ash's shadow, I doubt they would stand a chance in trying to capture it.
After having Makoto distract Ash, Kajun and I spoke with La about Marshadow. Apparently, it's keeping an eye on Ash and the status of the Rainbow Wing for Ho-Oh. At least, that's what the Rainbow Hero Legend says about it… Needless to say, we can't let Team Rocket NOR Cross find out about the Rainbow Wing at any cost. Ahem. After a night in the Pokemon Center, we were about to leave..before Ash asked both La and Takuma to train him in how to fight against a Incineroar, of which they accepted of course. I think he regrets it now after the week he's gone through so far...all his Pokemon even more so.
"(Mercy! I beg of ye, mercy!)" Pikachu pleaded from his spot of facing down on the grassland.
"Oh? Did he say 'another round?'" Takuma asked.
"He's asking for mercy and he gets none," La replied, "In fact, should we triple it for all of Ash's Pokemon?"
"(Ack!)" Pikachu froze as Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Primeape, Gengar, and Eevee all glared at him from their scattered spots.
"(If Ash doesn't rotate me for one of the others at the ranch...don't. fall. asleep…)" Squirtle warned, his glare evident even behind his sunglasses.
"(I came back for training...not torture!)" Primeape fumed.
"(Hey, just be glad I'm no Infernape or Emboar)," Manny noted, "(Especially the Emboar. Seriously, you never call them a pig if ya know what's good for yer health. Had to spend three months in a cast after that last challenger for the title she had after I called one a pig and not Mr. Pig...Alakai, did we ever sue the guy?)"
=We did not because both signed a waiver as usual=
"(Curses!)" Manny growled, "(Foiled by bureaucracy once more!)"
"(Alright, enough napping! Back to training these brats to handle us)," Dark snorted.
"(...Every Ghost for himself!)" Gengar freaked as he dove into the shadows...before slowly backing out as Izayoi followed him out, blade pointed at him.
"Okay, so we had the map sideways," Brock noted as the humans chose to try to not look at the tor-er-training and sat at a foldout table, "We'll have to go down this route to get back on the right path for the Raizen Mountain Range."
"If we don't run into any distractions," Ken added.
"...Oh, you did not just say that!" Makoto groaned.
"Does it matter?" Mai sighed, "We've been doing that a lot lately…"
"...Okay, you got me there," Makoto admitted, "Heck, on the side, La's been helping Ash's Eevee learn his other species exclusive moves."
"Despite the names you've given them…" Kajun sighed.
"...Okay seriously. What's wrong with the names I've given them?"
"...Bouncy Bubble, Buzzy Buzz, Sizzly Slide, Glitzy Glow, Baddy Bad, Sappy Seed, Freezy Frost, and Sparkly Swirl…" Kajun listed off, "While I do enjoy the alliterative appeal you've given them, the names are rather...something I'd expect your little siblings to give."
"Hey, he's one of the adorable little cinnamon buns we have, so why not give his new attacks adorable names?"
"...I suppose that's true…"
"(I'm not adorable! I'm co-AH!)" Ash's Eevee yelped when he dodged another Flamethrower.
"(Did we say you could stop!?)" Dark snapped.
"Oh my…" Noel whispered in worry, holding Yuki and Nymph close as she watched.
"(Guess we need to make it harder, eh?)" Manny asked.
"(No, please!)" the six begged before the ground began to rumble.
"...Do any of your Pokemon know Magnitude or Earthquake?" Misty asked.
"Something's heading our way!" Brock exclaimed as he pointed at a dust cloud.
=Hmm...let me zoom in and...Oh! It's a herd of Tauros!= Alakai noted.
"Ack! Tauros?!" Ash gawked.
"(Those five at the ranch are well enough for us!)" Primeape shouted.
"Primeape says to not catch anymore," La noted.
"So what are the Tauros saying?" Makoto asked.
"'Run, run, run, moo, run, run, run, charge, run, run, run,'" La replied, "Oh, and there's a faint 'Come on, get along ya big palookas' from the right side of the herd."
"Who's saying th-" Takuma began.
"Growl~!" a voice howled.
=Oh! That sounds like a Growlithe! They're known as the Puppy Pokemon and are very loyal to their Trainers. There's tale of a man who lived near a train station that passed away and his Growlithe who always greeted him at the station remained at the station until he passed away as well, waiting for his late master to return home= Alakai noted as his screen displayed an orange and cream-colored dog with black tiger stripes on its back and legs.
"..." Takuma sniffled at the story as he looked away from the others, "That story gets me everytime…" he muttered as Dark handed him a tissue.
"Everyone come back!" Ash called, returning everyone but Pikachu as Manny picked up the electric mouse and brought him over in time to avoided the herd charging where they had been training, a Growlithe barking at them alongside the charging herd.
"Oh! C-Cute…" Noel awed, looking at the tiny dog running alongside the bulls.
=I should mention that Growlithe are Fire-Type Pokemon= Alakai noted as the dog proved it with a blast of fire that made a Tauros get back in line.
"...I want one," Noel said, a determined look in her eyes.
"Well, don't try it with this one. He has a Trainer," La noted as she pointed at a woman with her blue hair pulled into a short ponytail in a green shirt, blue jeans, and an orange bandana over her forehead riding upon a cream-colored horse with its tail and mane made of pure fire.
"...Are you related to her?" Ash asked.
"Are you asking because we both have blue hair? If so, why haven't you asked about me being related to Mai?" La asked.
"Wait, what?" Mai blinked twice.
"Whoa there, Ponyta!" the woman called as she stopped the horse alongside the group, "Well, howdy there. Y'all ain't here t' try ta catch any Pokemon, are y'all? This here's a ranch and nature reserve, just ta warn y'all."
"...reserve?" the group repeated.
"...We ended up stopping in one," Ken facepalmed, "It's the Safari Zone again…"
"No, that's several miles that way," the woman replied, "At a reserve, no one's allow ta try ta catch any Pokemon on this here land. This here's the Big P Pokemon Ranch run by th' Laramie Family. I'm Lara Laramie and this here noble steed o' mine is Ponyta."
"...I swear we came here on accident," Tsubaki quickly apologized as she bowed...before grabbing Brock's ear, "Also Brock, no."
"But…"
"No."
=Ponyta, the Fire Horse hooves of a Ponyta are harder than diamonds. They have extraordinary jumping abilities and are capable of leaping over structures as tall as Lumiose Tower in a single jump. However, newborn Ponyta are weak runners and are barely able to stand at first, growing stronger and faster by chasing their parents= Dexter informed as everyone was now in a ranch with the Tauros herd being tended to by another worker.
"Okay, I'll bite. How the heck can you ride Ponyta when its tail and mane are made of fire?" Makoto asked.
"Oh don't worry. Ponyta will never ever burn anybody she really trust," Lara assured.
"Cool," Ash nodded as he reached out to Ponyta, "Nice Ponyt-YEOW!"
"Ash...trust takes more than a few minutes of getting to know someone to earn." Takuma muttered, embarrassed for him.
"You could've warned me…" Ash muttered, his hand currently being sprayed by Squirtle's Water Gun.
"Heh heh. It took a while fer Ponyta t' trust me too," Lara giggled, petting Ponyta as she got off the horse.
"Just training a whole team of Pokemon is a difficult job, but an entire ranch must be quite difficult," Kajun noted as she looked around, seeing a flock of Mareep nearby being brushed by some farm hands and then at a pond where some Water-Types were annoying another ranch hand via Water Gun and then fleeing from him.
"People love Pokemon that were raised at the Laramie Ranch, because they were raised in the wild and are a little stronger than other Pokemon," Brock explained, "You're lucky if you get a Big P Pokemon."
'Don't laugh, Makoto...don't laugh…' Makoto thought, a hand covering her mouth.
"Yup. We're real proud of th' way we raise Pokemon here," Lara smiled, "Oh hey! We're havin' a big party tonight..why don't y'all come as mah guest?"
"A party?! That sounds great!" Ash cheered
"Well I guess Ash and his team has earned a break night from their training." Takuma smiled.
"Oh and if y'all stay at th' ranch tonight, y'all can catch th' big Pokemon Race tomorrow!" Lara added.
"Pokemon Race?"
"I've heard of this," Brock noted, "It's a big race the Laramie Clan hosts every year. If you win, you become an honorary member of the Laramie Clan, right?"
"Eeyup!" Lara beamed before the ground rumbled.
"...Did someone spook the Tauros' leader?" Ash asked, looking to see they were all snoozing, "...Whew."
"...No that sound can only be…" Lara began as she saw a herd of three-headed brown ostrich-like Pokemon rushing in at high speed, "...oh fer…!"
"What are those?!" Makoto gawked.
=Dodrio, the Triple Bird Pokemon and the evolved form of Doduo. When a Doduo evolves, one of its two heads splits into a third head, each head representing joy, sorrow, and anger. When they work together, they can make complex plans and while two heads sleep, the third remains awake to look for danger. A normal Dodrio is capable of reaching 40 mph when running= Dexter informed.
'They look like ostriches from those books about Australia when the areas outside of the mountains was inhabitable, but with three heads...' Tsubaki compared.
"Those are some fast Dodrio...and I've seen some fast ones before," Ken noted.
"Howdy, Lara," a new voice spoke.
"...Dario…" Lara spoke, trying to not look at a smug-looking man with his black hair pulled back into a short ponytail and wearing a navy-blue shirt, a red sash/belt combo, and cream jeans that rode up on a Dodrio.
"We're gonna win th' Pokemon race t'morrow," Dario said in a heavy cocky-tone, "Mah Dodrio is th' fastest in th' entire ranch, much more than yer slow-as-Mudsdale Ponyta."
"...It takes more than just speed t' win th' race," Lara argued.
"And who says that a Mudsdale is slow?" La added under her breath, "Seriously, Hapu's was so fast that he nearly took down Ms. Stake before she could let out a single move in the Grand Trial…"
"Just be ready t' lose, Lara," Dario smirked before riding off on his Dodrio, kicking up some dirt on the group in the process," Yeehee!"
=Ack! I've been soiled!= Alakai panicked before Squirtle blasted him with Water Gun =Gyah! Ugh! ...Thanks…=
"Ugh...who was that guy?" Misty gowled a bit, shaking some of the dust and dirt off her body.
"He's Dario, a Dodrio Trainer," Lara explained, "Every year, he's failed t' beat me in th' Big P. Race."
"...Be careful then," Ken advised, "Given his attitude and what you just said...he might do something underhanded."
"Oh don't worry. Growlithe has his scent, so he won't try anythin' funny," Lara assured as said Puppy Pokemon ran up to her.
"...Just be careful just in case."
"I just love festivals," James noted, dressed up as a merchant alongside Jessie as the duo worked on cooking and selling fried rice and noodles.
"Indeed. A chance to make money, and enjoy the atmosphere," Jessie agreed.
"Just keep working," Aoiro advised, running register with a pair of glasses over her eyes and her hair pulled into a bun with chopsticks while she wore a white and silver yukata that was pleasing to the eye, "When we're out of product, then you can enjoy the atmosphere. Evergreen, too much spin and not enough pauses for people to read the sign."
"Scept…" Evergreen apologized, pausing in the intricate sign spinning...which was just Meowth tied up in the shape of a sign with a picture of their product over his face.
"Why am I da sign?!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Because we ran out of wood for the stand because you made the error of not ordering enough planks of wood," Aoiro bluntly replied.
"Oh…"
"Oh! I think I see a customer!" James shouted, "Greetings, sir, how may…"
"Can it," Dario stated while looking around a bit, "Listin…' Ah need you and two of yer fellow employees fer a special...project."
"...Project?"
"One that requires th' special space touch," Dario noted.
"...Serenade will discuss our services and the prices with you," Aoiro informed, the Meowstic appearing beside her Trainer.
"Please step this way and I'll set up an audio field to prevent spies," Serenade informed with a bow.
"Sweet."
"Mmm~! So good~!" Makoto purred in delight, her tail swaying a bit from the fried dough she was eating.
"Chipa~" Berry, in an orange kimono, agreed, her cheeks puffed out from her own fried dough with Cherry agreeing in the same state as Berry as they sat on her shoulders.
"Enjoying your donuts, Honey?"
"Bun~!" said Buneary gave a thumbs up, walking beside Makoto with one of her ears carrying a bakers dozen box full.
"Flare!" Booster cheered behind her mouthful of fried dough on Makoto's opposite side.
"Glad you like it, Booster," Makoto giggled.
"Can't say I blame them," Takuma spoke, a tray full of food in his hands, everyone blinking at how much he was able to carry at once...and then in terror at how much he could scarf down in a matter of seconds, "These people know how t' cook some good ol' home cooked food."
"We make sure all our guest feel nice and welcomed," Lara assured.
"Hey, Lara! Good luck at th' race t'morrow!" a stand vendor cheered on.
"Thanks!"
"Seems everyone's rooting for Lara," Brock noted as more gave cheers to her and Ponyta.
"I kinda want to enter with one of the Tauros," Ash noted, carrying a big fried dough shaped like a life-sized Magikarp.
"It would give you some time to bond with one of the ones you caught," Tsubaki pointed out.
"Well, outside of yesterday's practice," La recalled before cringing, "Boy, the leader of them knows a lot of swears…And I'm not sure Manny's family even goes back that far in terms of Litten generations..."
"And boy did Koko give him a talking to," Mai added before noticing the look of suspicion on Ken's face, "...What's up?"
"...That Dario...I swear he has s-" Ken began.
"Hey, Lara!"
"...speak of the devil…" Ken frowned as Dario ran up to the group.
"All yer Tauros are goin' crazy back at th' ranch!"
"...Kajun, can I…?" Ash began before five of his balls on his belt were replaced by Safari Balls, "Thanks."
"Esp," Koko replied as Lara whistled and Ponyta ran up to her while Ash let out the five.
"Think you guys can carry us after Lara and Ponyta?" Ash asked.
"The boss of them says they're good to charge," La replied after the scarred Tauros replied.
"...um…" Noel nervously began.
"You can ride with me, Noellie," Makoto answered.
La pulled out her Ride Pager and tossed the ball into the air, letting out a clydesdale-like Pokemon with mud-brown skin and clay-like armor over its hooves and its clumped up hair while it had a harness on its back. Her outfit glowed before becoming a Western riding outfit complete with sheriff's hat.
"Let's go, Muddy! After that Ponyta!" La ordered, getting on the Pokemon's back.
"Mudsdale!" the horse cried out before following Lara and Ponyta.
"I always wanted to say this…" Makoto whispered in a giddy-tone as Noel held onto her tight, the two on top of one of Ash's Tauros, "Giddyup!"
"(Charge!)" Chief Tauros declared, Ash on his back, before the five charged after the two horses...the group unaware of Dario giving off an evil smirk.
"Woah, girl!" Lara called as Ponyta stopped to a halt, "What the…?!" she gasped when she saw the Tauros fighting among one another, clashing their horns, "How in tarnation…? Growlithe, get in there and settle 'em down!"
"Growl!" Growlithe replied as he jumped over the fence and began to run around the herd, barking sharply at them as the others arrived.
"La, anything from them?" Brock asked.
"Apparently, one of them poked another and the accused said the poked kicked him and so on and so on and then they all started fighting," La whispered as Chief Tauros huffed, "Well, their chief's here now, isn't she?"
"...Well they stopped now," Makoto noted as the Tauros stopped fighting.
"...What could h-" Lara began before something blurred past Ponyta, scaring her and knocking Lara off, making her fall on her arm, "Ahh!"
"Lara!" Misty gasped as they got off the five bulls and one Mudsdale.
"Are you okay?" Ken asked in concern.
"...Ah think s-ahh!" Lara cried out as she held her arm.
"Don't move it," La ordered as she looked at it, "Takuma, can I get a second opinion from you on this? I think it's a clean break."
"Hmm...It hasn't swollen yet, so I can't tell...but I can see the bruising so it's really bad regardless," Takuma spoke with a sigh, "We need to get it checked fast. We'll move carefully so as to not make it worse."
"Whoa, Ponyta!" everyone looked to see Ash trying to get Ponyta to settle down, "Easy now! Settle down! Tauros, don't try attacking Ponyta! We need to settle her down!"
"(Sorry, Chief Thunderhead,)" the lead Tauros apologized before having the other four move back and wait, "(Easy, young Fire Runner, settle yourself. Your rider is injured and you need to calm for her sake.)"
Ponyta continued to neigh in fright before she began to calm don, lowering her front hooves back onto the ground as she calmed herself. All the while, Lara watched Ash's actions.
"...Phew...she's calmed down," Ash sighed.
"Pika…" Pikachu agreed.
"...I wonder what happened to spook all the Pokemon?" Noel pondered, currently helping Ken with a medkit.
'Not sure, but I have a good feeling a certain cocky trainer might be behind it,' Ken thought with a frown as Kage and Hanzo looked at the corralled Tauros with narrowed eyes.
Nearby and out of sight, Hitmonlee walked up to James and nodded before putting down Arbok who dropped the sharpened stick in his mouth.
"Hee hee. Pretty nice woik," Meowth smirked.
"Even better than planned!" Jessie giggled.
"I have a good feeling about this plan," James whispered in a giddy tone.
"Phase one is complete," Aoiro noted before turning to Dario as he walked up, "The grunts specifically selected for phase two will be here in the morning."
"Heh. Wouldn't expect anythin' less than from Team Rocket," Dario smirked.
"As agreed upon the terms, with your winning of the race you will give Team Rocket access to the Laramie Clan assets and connections," Aoiro noted, "Team Rocket also thanks you for paying in full for this part of the operation."
"Of course. If Ah get what Ah want, y'all get what you want," Dario stated.
"Ya got dat right, partner!" Meowth laughed before Jessie and James covered his mouth, "?!"
"Shh! Quiet," the two hushed.
"...Mmm…" Lara mummered, looking at her arm, which was now in a cast and sling as the group was inside, "With mah arm like this, Ah can't grab Ponyta's reigns, meaning Ah can't participate in th' race…"
"Meaning there's a chance Dario will win," La noted.
"Too bad for the Laramie Clan," Ash sighed.
"Now hold on. Ash, y'all could ride Ponyta for me," Lara noted.
"Huh? What?!" Ash asked in surprise as his five Tauros gawked, "But...Ponyta will burn anyone except you!"
"True, but when Ah saw you try t' calm Ponyta down, Ah could tell you have a strong love fer Pokemon in ya, whether they're owned by ya or not," Lara stated, "Please give it a try."
"Yeah, but…" Ash looked over at his five bulls.
"..." the chief Tauros mooed.
"He says he won't mind you riding the 'Fire Runner,'" La whispered, "But he adds that he and his boys won't make it easy for you to win."
"Huh?"
"They're going to give the others a chance to ride them for the race," La explained, "Apparently, Makoto's a good rider."
"Besides think of it like this, Ash: this can help you to better communicate with Pokemon," Takuma spoke, "You more or less grasp what your regulars intend to tell you due to having them around so often. With this, you can hone this skill, it'll be helpful for new Pokemon you catch in the future and promote better teamwork with the ones you already have."
"I…" Ash tried to say before looking over at Ponyta as she looked back at Ash.
"We'll help you in every way we can, Ashton," Kajun assured.
"...Well…" Ash thought for a moment before nodding, slowly approaching Ponyta, "Guess we'll be partners Ponyt-YEOW!"
"Oh! Y-Yuki, Powder Snow please," Noel quickly spoke.
"(Chief Thunderhead has a long way to go, doesn't he, Chief Thunderhooves?)" one of the Tauros asked.
"(That he does, Runs-With-The-Wind, that he does...)" the chief agreed as all five sweatdropped as Ash now had his hand in a block of ice via Yuki.
"Pika…" Pikachu sighed with that.
"Ponyta!" Lara shouted in a scolding tone, earning Ponyta's attention, "Ponyta, if you win th' race with a new rider, it'll prove how great you really are. Everyone will know yer the best of all, and that'll be the best gift for me...won't y'all let Ash ride ya?"
"..." Ponyta gave a whinny before nodding.
"...Thank you."
"One word of Advice, Ash. Don't get too excited when you get on or else…" Ken began.
"AHH!-!-!-!" Ash screamed as he was dragged along by Ponyta's tail.
"...That. That will happen," Ken sweatdropped.
"...How…?" Mai began.
"My grandparents owned a ranch, and I fell off Grandma's Rapidash so many times," Ken answered, "The key is to be calm and be in tune with the Pokemon you're riding with, otherwise…"
"Ahh!" Ash screamed as Ponyta ran by.
"...that. That will happen..." Ken added before drooling a bit, "And on the bright side...I always got grandma's homemade Miltank ice cream…"
'Miltank must be this world's equivalent of cows...or goats…' Makoto thought.
=Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this year's Pokemon running challenge, hosted by the Laramie Clan!= an announcer shouted as Ash and a few of the other stood amongst a large crowd of people and Pokemon.
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Makoto beamed, sitting on Chief Thunderhooves, "I used to see old videos back home on races like this and always wanted to be in one!"
"Remember, Mai...it's to help Ash…" Mai whispered to herself, riding on one of Ash's Tauros.
"Mooo…" the Tauros she was on spoke.
"Oh, why isn't La here to translate?" Mai muttered as she looked around, seeing no sign of the Professor outside of her RotomDex that was taking pictures of all the racers' Pokemon.
"She, Kajun, and Noel wanted to watch from the stands," Ken answered before looking to see Kajun and Noel, but no La, "...Huh...Guess she went to get snacks."
"Okay...this should be simple enough…" Tsubaki whispered, riding on top of another of Ash's Tauros, "...Wish I had Luca with me, but...have to be fair and apply by the rules."
"True," Luca agreed...riding on Keibi the Shiny Lycanroc.
"Luca?!" Tsubaki gawked.
"You need an extra set of eyes just in case a certain trio is around," Luca pointed out, "That and...well...the rulebook didn't say anything about Pokemon not entering as riders. Case in point?" he pointed to between them to see Pikachu riding on top of Bulbasaur's back.
"(I wanted Squirtle, but Berry beat me to the punch,)" Pikachu muttered.
"(So glad Kajun went with Hikari to talk with Professor Oak for this!)" Squirtle beamed.
"(We're gonna win!)" Berry cheered, dressed up as a cowgirl.
"You ready, Ash?" Misty asked, riding on Starmie while Brock rode on Onix.
"Yup! Me and Ponyta are fired up!" Ash beamed.
"Quite literally," Takuma added, riding on his Garchomp.
"No way anyone c-"
"Hey Ashy-boy! I was wondering if that was you!"
"Gh?! G-Gary?!" Ash yeped, looking to see Gary approach, riding upon a lion-sized orange and cream dog with a wild mane and tiger stripes.
=Oh! It's an Arcanine! They evolve from Growlithe with a Fire Stone!= Alakai noted.
"So...You wanted to race and see if you're fast, huh? Heh...nothing's as fast as Arcanine!" Gary grinned in a cocky manner, "So you have no chance t-OW!"
"Blue, what have I told you about mocking Yellow like that?!"
"Leaf?!" Ash gawked.
"Do I have to fine you?" Leaf warned Gary as she rode on an even bigger-looking Ivysaur with the pink bulb replaced by a palm tree.
=That's a Venusaur, the fully evolved form of Bulbasaur!= Alakai noted.
"Erk! N-No! No fining! It's all good here!" Gary panicked.
"I thought so…"
"...Is Red here, too?" Ash couldn't help but ask.
"He's over there," Leaf replied, pointing at the stands where Red was sitting down beside Kajun and Noel and waved a four-colored flag, "He doesn't have a Pokemon big enough to ride on aside from Char, but Charizard have been banned for five years now from this race."
"Oh...regardless, I'm ready to…!" Ash began.
"Lose?"
"...And the 'man of the hour' has arrived," Ken frowned as Dario rode in on his Dodrio.
"Dodrio...ponytail...country accent…" Leaf noted, "Well, I guess this is Dario."
"..." Ash discreetly handed her his allowance.
"Guy's been accused of cheating in the race for years, but no one's been able to prove a thing," Leaf explained, "AB Blood type, mother's from Kalos and was a Rhyhorn Rider, father's from this area, favorite food's chili with extra jalapenos."
=Racers, get ready!=
"Ready to get going, Ponyta?" Ash asked, earning a flaring up of Ponyta's flames.
"Whoa! Easy now!" Leaf yelped.
"They're all fired up!" Makoto exclaimed before flinching, "..." she looked around to see Tsubaki was too far away to whack her with the folding fan, "Whew."
=Ready…=
"?!" Luca looked behind them, "A powerful aura is coming."
=Set…=
"Luca?" Tsubaki pondered before noticing a faint glow in Ash's jacket, "?!"
=GO! And they're off on this exciting Pokemon challenge race! What will be seeing this ye...= a blue blur shot over the line and towards the racers =?! Was that…?=
The blur weaved through the racers and slowed enough when it was beside Ash. The eyes of many widened significantly. A figure cloaked in a blue bodysuit with a white cape and a masked helmet rode upon Suicune, a clear bell connected to a collar on the rider's neck that glowed like the Rainbow Wing.
=OOOH~! IT...IT IS! THE LEGENDARY SUICUNE!= the announcer shouted in utter shock =But...who's that riding upon it?=
"Should one of you beat Lady Suicune with this handicap, she will award you," the rider informed, their voice distorted, "Hope you can do so…" with that, Suicune charged ahead and showed that weights had been attached to Suicune's legs with the saddle also a weight.
"...In that case, Dodrio go!" Dario shouted as Dodrio charged ahead of the racers.
=And Dodrio runs ahead of the pack at high speed! Guess Dario wants to not only win the prize for the race, but from Suicune as well!= the announcer called as Magnezone carrying cameras began to fly into the air =As the racers leave the starting area, we'll be losing regular sight, so we're deploying out eyes in the sky, using the Magnezone Cameras developed by Silph Co! A..uh oh! Looks like something has happened to one Trainer's Nidorino! G-OW! Looks like it got in a tussle with a Nidorina! It's a battle of the genders folks! Seems these two are out of the race as far as we can tell!=
Hiding in the grass, Ariados would have smirked if it could as it lowered the web and limb-made slingshot he had made.
Fifi gawked at the screen in their hotel room. Beside her, Dulse's eye twitched as her hot tea dripped off his face.
"Suicune?! Mon dieu!" Fifi gasped.
"I take it that this is...bad?" Tager guessed.
"Bad? Non! Suicune is a Legendary Pokemon!" Fifi explained, "Zey are ze very elements of ze world personified!"
"Elements of the world personified?" Tager repeated.
"Yeah. Arceus created the universe, Palkia created and controls Space, Giratina Anti-Matter, and Dialga Time…" Zossie began to list.
"Wait, what was that last one? There's a Pokemon that made Time itself?" 'Hoo boy...Something that might give the Master Unit problems…'
=Next up is the 45 degree hill climb, and Dario and the Blue rider still hold the lead!= the announcer called =Wow! Even with the weights and the weight of the rider, Suicune is easily going up without even slowing down! That's a Legendary for you, folks! Unparallel endurance and stamina!=
"Come on, Ponyta! We can't let them beat us!" Ash shouted.
Meanwhile...at the bottom of the hill was a very tired Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Venusaur.
"(Come on, turtle boy! Just a bit more!)" Berry shouted as she pushed Squirtle.
"(Too...steep...need….water…)" Squirtle panted heavily.
"(Wait...water...That's it!)" Berry exclaimed, "(Get in your shell, spin around, and fire Water Gun!)"
"(Huh? Wh….OH!)" Squirtle gasped in realization before getting into his shell.
"(...What are they…?)" Pikachu began before Berry hopped on just as water burst from Squirtle's shell, letting her rocket up the slope, "(Aw come on~!)"
"That's one resourceful Squirtle. ...That's Yellow's Squirtle, right?" Leaf asked.
"Pika," Pikachu nodded.
"...I am so fining him for a crafty Squirtle," Leaf pouted, "And if he and Blue lose to Suicune, I'm fining them both!"
Far up ahead, Ash and Gary shuddered.
=And now our racers are racing downhill! Let's see if anyone c-WOAH WHAT IS THAt?!= th announcer gasped as a trainer on a larger inverted colored version of Voltorb rolled past the other racers, even Suicune and Ario's Dodrio.
"What the?!" Ash gasped.
"He's fast!" Dario growled.
=That's Electrode and his trainer, using its round body to blast through the other racers, even passing those in the lead!= the announcer shouted before the electrode and hsi trainer fell into a pitfall =Oh nevermind! Electrode has fallen, and both Dodrio and Suicune have retaken the lead!=
"Mud Sport, please," Suicune's racer whispered.
"Cuun…" Suicune replied before firing a burst of water that hit the ground, making a blast of mud that went into the hole, causing Electrode's glowing body to stop glowing.
=And Suicune prevents Electrode from using Self Destruct with a Mud Sport, protecting the other racers!=
"Grr! Darn it!" Jessie hissed from her, James, and Meowth's hiding spot, some shovels in their hands.
"Ulp...Suicune spotted us," Meowth gulped.
"Huh?" James looked at Meowth.
"She didn't say anythin' about complyin' wit' dat rider; she said 'You three stop messing with dis race. I am testin' someone,'" Meowth informed.
"...testing?" Jessie and James repeated as they looked at each other, "Testing who?"
=Now one of the most difficult section of the course! The Pokemon will have to use these stepping stones to jump across the river...which appears to be rather muddy today= the announcer noted before Suicune took the lead by bypassing the stones and simply running across it, her steps letting out ripples that cleared the water to the point it was transparent =And if that doesn't prove to the naysayers that that racer's riding the Suicune and not a Ditto transformed into it...I don't know what will=
"Go! Go Dodrio!" Dario ordered, Dodrio hoping on the rocks in the water to get across.
"Iwark…" Onix growled as he, Musashi, a few of the Tauros, and a Rhyhorn stopped before the water.
Rhyhorn stepped onto a rock and smiled when he didn't sink...until the rock sunk, taking him and his Rider with it.
"Wark?!" Onix freaked.
"Well...That happened," Makoto cringed, "Had a sinking feeling that'd happen."
"..." Brock gave her a look.
=Well...I had a sinking feeling that'd happen= the announcer noted =and unless those Tauros knows Surf, they and Onix are out of here=
"(...Okay, Run-On-River. Go for it)," Chief Thunderhoof ordered the one Tsubaki was riding.
"Moo~!"
=...And unless it rains money, we are out of here= the announcer informed as Tsubaki's Tauros was running across the water =...Yeah, it worth a shot…=
"...It's okay big guy. We tried," Makoto patted the head of the Chief Tauros she was riding on.
"No shame in stopping now," Brock agreed as Ash, Gary, and Luca's rides jumped across the rocks followed by Squirtle skipping along the water still firing Water Gun.
"(Ack! I need a sailor suit for this!)" Berry yelped, "(Mmmm~!)"
"...Like we're backing out now," Takuma smirked, "Let's go!"
"Gar!" Musashi roared as he ran across the rocks on the water, jumping off them before they sank just a moment after he got off them.
"...We're okay!" Takuma gave a thumbs up.
=...We're going to need to add a new rule on weight restrictions next year…= the announcer noted =As of now, we're down to just several racers: Suicune in first, Dodrio in second, Shiny Lycanroc in third, fourth is Arcanine, fifth is Ponyta, sixth is Squirtle and Starmie, and coming up last is Garchomp and Tauros! Now we reach the rest stop for our contestants' Pokémon to eat and drink!=
"Okay. Now t-" Dario began before yelping when Dodrio's other two heads tried to reach for more bowls, "Calm down! Y'all will get yer fair share!" The heads began to fight one another, "Stop that, ya idjits!"
"(Not as good as Brock's)," Berry noted, chewing on some food with Squirtle in a smaller bowl nearby.
"(True. He just makes it so nice and good)" Squirtle agreed.
"It's quite an eventful race," Luca noted.
"(True, but I have to complain and say that they need more berries in these bowls)" Keibi noted.
"Okay, Ponyta, time for some fast food," Ash said as Ponyta began to eat from another bowl.
"...grr.." Dario began to growl as Suicune finished before simply sitting and waiting, "Okay, you guys! Time t' earn yer keep!"
"Keep?" Tsubaki repeated before tensing, "...It's a trap!"
Smoke filled the area, obscuring the cameras of the Magnezones with cameras on them.
=Hold on, folks! We're experiencing issues at the moment= the announcer noted =Smoke is filling the air and we can't see through it. Flying Types are being dispatched with the move Defog at this minute=
"What the heck's going on?!" Gary exclaimed as Arcanine growled while looking around.
"Prepare for trouble."
"Make it double."
"...Not them again," Misty facepalmed.
"Sui."
"Not my idea! Dey didn't want ta listen, yer graceousness of da North Wind!" Meowth panicked, hiding behind Serenade.
"Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light!" Jessie declared as the smoke died down a bit to show her and James.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight," James added.
"Meowth, let's not fight and pray for our lives if Suicune chooses ta attack!" Meowth whimpered.
"Oh great...it's the three stooges again," Takuma muttered.
"What?! How dare you compare us to..!" Jessie began before regaining her composure, "I mean why don't you come closer?"
"And bring the Ponyta with you," James added.
"Den when can mess ya up aga-" Meowth began before covering his mouth, "?!"
"...I am very unamused," Takuma said simply, "Guys...go on ahead…" he sighed, cracking his knuckles loudly.
"Oh we're so scared of your Garchomp," Jessie smirked before whistling as multiple Pokeballs were heard going off, revealing several dozen massive blue turtle-like Pokemon with cannons poking out of their shells now on the cliffs, aiming said cannons at them, "But how many Hydro Cannons can it handle?"
"..." Takuma smirked as his belt opened to reveal his Keystone, "Oh...we can handle more than you think."
"Thank you," the Suicune rider thanked before Suicune shot off.
"Stop that Su…"
"CUN!" Suicune roared, releasing a pulse of wind that dispersed the smoke in her path and several Blastoise returned to their balls, shivering in fright from the Roar.
"Oh no y'all don't!" Dario snapped as Dodrio chased after Suicune.
"Guys, you keep going!" Takuma smirked, bashing his fists together, "Mega Evolution time, Musashi!"
"GAR!" he roared in agreement as the light shone around them. His body began to change as rows of spikes formed along his torso, his extended and formed sharper fins at the end, its claws and arm fins merged together to form massive red edged bladed hooks. The pokemons jaw grew larger and more defined implying a massive increase in its jaw strength.
"...Oh no," the Rocket Trio meeped in fright.
Musashi roared, about to charge when he jumped back as the outcropping he was on was slammed with a spiraling green drill that exploded on impact.
"Shall we have another round?" Aoiro asked, wearing her White Truth disguise as she stood next to her Mega Evolved Sceptile with its regrown tail.
"Heh...Okay...but I can't confirm the spectators will be able to survive us going all out," Takuma smirked.
"All of you, focus on the other racers and stay out of our way," Aoiro ordered, "Evergreen, Frenzy Plant!"
"Scept," Evergreen complied before stabbing her tail into the ground, causing a series of thorns and vines as thick as massive redwoods to burst out of the ground and shoot towards Musashi.
"Dragon Claw!" Takuma ordered.
"Gar!" Musashi raised his weaponised arms as they began glowing with a green aura, causing them to project larger images of the arms unique shape. He then swung as he slashed through each and every vine that came at him. After slicing through the last one, he grunted as he was struck in the gut by Evergreen's tail, his tough skin preventing the tip of the tail from piercing his body.
"Leaf Storm!" Aoiro ordered as Evergreen's tail shot off like a rocket, carrying Musashi to slam into the cliff wall on the opposite side, shattering it and causing several boulders to fall towards the racers.
"(I am not dressed as Indiana Jones!)" Berry screamed as she hopped onto Squirtle as he went into his shell and shot off via Water Gun Propulsion.
"Tsk...Musashi stop those boulders with Stone Edge!" Takuma shouted.
Musashi roared as he erupted from the rocks that had covered him. He landed and stabbed both of his arms into the ground and caused giant spiked stones to erupt from the ground, forming a pseudo-cage which stopped the boulders from continuing after the other racers.
"Dis is intense…" Meowth gulped as he watched Evergreen and Musashi brawl.
"That's what happens with Mega Evolution," Serenade noted, "It's said that Mega Evolution battles can reshape entire regions if left unchecked."
"WHY!?" Meowth shouted in panic at that.
"Musashi, Dragon Rush!"
"GARCHOMP!" Musashi roared as he jumped and dive bombed at Evergreen while blue-ish green energy formed around him and into the shape of a western dragon as it flew forward with its jaw wide open.
Evergreen jumped in an attempt to evade, only for Musashi to suddenly veer upwards and slam right into the Mega Evolved Sceptile. A powerful explosion shook the area as those not prepared for the force were blown off their feet.
"That's insane!" Misty yelped.
"Tsubaki!" Luca called, catching the falling redhead, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Tsubaki replied, petting his head, "How are Tauros and Keibi?"
"(Yankee doodle had a farm…)"
"(Unga bunga…)"
"They're out," Luca replied with a cringe, seeing the large bumps on the heads of the two.
"I think we're too close to the others for this level of a battle…" Takuma muttered as Musashi landed next to him, "New plan buddy, we're taking this fight elsewhere...Use Iron Head and Dig combo."
"Gar!" Musashi nodded as he jumped up, the star on his nose flashed before he was covered in a grey aura of energy before rushing forward and slamming into Evergreen. Upon hitting the ground, Musashi began spinning, causing the two to crash through the ground and deeper and deeper below.
After a few moments, the two exploded out of the ground further away from the track. Musashi shook his head a few times to shake off some lose dirt as he let Evergreen flip and land on his feet as the two stared off once again. The two raised their arms as they activated Leaf Blade and Dragon Claw. Both skipped forward and clashed. Musashi blocked a swing before slashing downward with his hook-like claw, only for Evergreen to swing his arm backwards. Both attacks stopped and hooked one another, the tips of their attacks just mere inches from striking one another.
"(...Not bad. Not everyday I encounter someone who can push me to my limits like this…)" Evergreen noted.
"(Ah...It's always enjoyable when I battle someone that gets my blood roaring!)" Musashi agreed.
"(So it would seem. However…" Evergreen began as they jumped back, "(Do not think I won't back down in front of my mistress.)"
"(I'm not backing down either...it would look bad on my trainer, who spent so long training me to this point...so...I'd appreciate you not hold back!)" Musashi growled, grinding his claws against one another.
"(...funny…)" Evergreen began as the Mega Evolved Sceptile assumed a fighting stance, "(I could say the same to you…)"
"...just hope Ash is doing okay…" Misty whispered.
=And it seems we're down to our four remaining racers= the announcer shouted as Suicune, Dodrio, Arcanine, and Ponyta were a few miles away from the finish line.
"Hope your ready to lose, Ash!" Gary shouted, Arcanine running alongside Ponyta and Dodrio.
"In your dreams, Gary!" Ash argued.
"...Do it," Dario whispered before Dodrio's two heads pecked both Arcanine and Ponyta in the face, making them flinch before the former tripped and crashed while the latter staggered back.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Ash snapped at Dario.
"What he said!" Gary agreed, his head poking out from underneath Arcanine.
"Sorry! Can't help what mah Dodrio does!" Dario countered with a smirk as he ran further ahead, nearing Suicune before it began to run along it, "...do it."
Suicune's eye glanced at Dodrio, looking right at all three heads in the single glance. The trio of heads froze for a moment before shaking rapidly at Dario, sweating heavily.
"Hey! Whatcha scared fer?! It's just another Pokemon like you!" Dario snapped..before Dodrio began to run back a bit "Hey! HEY! Don't y'all run back!"
"(I'm quite flattered someone doesn't see me as something special. A shame it's from someone without honor)," Suicune noted before glancing behind at where Ponyta was starting to catch up, "(Show me it, Rainbow Hero. The potential Father sees within.)"
"Come on, Ponyta. We can't lose now," Ash whispered to Ponyta, "No way we can let Dario win...Laura's counting us...the others are counting on us. If we fail now...who knows what Dario will do the the ranch. So Ponyta...give it everything you got! Tap into that inner fire in you...and let's win!"
As if on cue, a fiery aura began to burst from Ponyta, her flames growing as she began to glow.
"...wait...is Ponyta…" Laura began with a gasp, Brock and the others-minus Takuma- now in the stands with her, Kajun, and Noel.
"She is…" Ken spoke, a soft smile beginning to form on his face, "I've seen it before with one of the older colts at my grandparents ranch when it was defending its siblings from an Ursaring...she's evolving."
Ponyta gave a loud neigh as her fiery aura rose high into the air, glowing brightly as she began to change. Her body swelled up, reaching the size of a fully grown stallion, as a horn grew from her forehead. She neighed strongly as the flames making her mane and tail erupted far stronger than ever before as she rocketed off down towards Dodrio and Suicune.
"Wait..did Ash…" Gary began with wide yes.
"Ponyta just…!" Ash began.
"Evolved into a Rapidash?!" Dario gawked before quickly shaking his head, "N-nevermind! It changes nothing! Dodrio, go!"
=This is incredible! Ponyta has evolved into Rapidash, one of the fastest sprinters in the world of Pokemon!= the announcer declared =And Rapidash is closing in on Dodrio and Suicune, clocking in at 100 miles an hour!=
"Excellent, young Rapidash, young Trainer," Suicune's rider noted, "Come with all that you have!"
"You got it! Let's go, Rapidash!" Ash shouted as Rapidash ran faster, now running alongside Suicune and Dodrio.
=They're now neck and neck! It's only a matter of chance now! Who will win and prove who is the fastest Pokemon here?!= the announcer exclaimed as the three were nearing the finish line.
"Come on, Dodrio!" Dario shouted.
"RAPIDASH!"
=It's down to the wire! And…= the announcer paused, holding their breath as as all three Pokemon reached the finish line...with rapidash barely coming in first by her horn =AND RAPIDASH WINS! RAPIDASH WINS THE BIG P POKEMON RACE!=
"YES!" Ash beamed as Rapidash came to a halt, "Way to go, Rapidash."
"Grr...you cheater!" Dario snapped, making Ash look back at him, "You interfered with me!"
"Ch-hey! You were the one who attacked me and Gary!" Ash snapped.
"That was all my Dodrio, so y'all don't have proof Ah cheated! If anything, you cheated fer evolving Ponyta!" Dario snapped.
"Suicune…" everyone tensed, feeling as if a storm approached, as Suicune moved to beside Rapidash, eyes looking directly at Dario.
"You are one without honor, without morals," Suicune's rider informed, "Your accusation insults all Pokemon that evolve through gaining experience through life, especially to ones who evolved at the time the young Rapidash did."
"Ha! Easy fer you t' say! Y'all are riding a Legendary Pokemon!" Dario argued, "You have nothin' on me, so Ah…"
"Actually…" he looked over to see Ken approach, "We do have proof. Kage? Hanzo?"
The Greninja leaped down to stand at Ken's sides, Kage holding a camera with Hanzo holding up a bound and tied up Team Rocket Cell 1337.
"I had a feeling a certain trio would show up, so just as the race began, I had these two trail them and wait for the right chance to grab them," Ken explained, "I suppose I have Takuma to thank for it...who seems to still be busy with their superior right now."
"(I suggest you admit,)" Hanzo advised.
"Meowth?"
"He says we need t' spill da beans," Meowth whispered.
"No way are we…" Jessie began.
"Sui…" the air rippled.
"...He paid us t' break that Laura girl's arm and sabotage da race so he'd win!" Meowth freaked, "In return, he'd give us access to the ranch and its assets!"
"?!" Dario tensed at that, "...you idjits...Dodrio, get them!"
Dodrio squaked as it prepared to ram its beaks into the trio...only for Kage and Hanzo to grab all three necks.
"(Dodrio…)" the bird tensed before all three heads looked at the North Wind incarnate, "(Leave and never return to this man. Inform your kin that no Flying Types or Water Types will ever stay with him willfully. He is enemy to both.)"
"(...RUN!)" Dodrio freaked as it ran off at high speed.
"What the…?! Hey! Get back here!" Dario shouted at the fleeing Dodrio.
"They will not. Lady Suicune has declared you enemy to all those of the skies and the waters," Suicune's rider informed, getting off Suicune as they removed the weights on the Legendary and saddle, "Should you approach any, they will attack without regret."
"You….!" Dario began with a growl before Ken grabbed him by the shoulder, "?"
"You know...normally I don't like to deliver physical violence unless it's deserved...but with you…" Ken began as he turned him around..before decking ghm hard in the face, "And guess what? You have some more coming to you...but not from me."
"...da heck a…" Dario began as he looked up...to see the glaring face of Laura looking down at him, "...Uh…..howdy?"
"You no-good, low down varmint," Laura growled, "Y'all tried t' cheat yer way inta th' Laramie Clan and would be usin' it fer working with a horrible group like Team Rocket!"
"Uh…" Dario gulped nervously as he tried to get up..only to be stopped by Takuma.
"Don't move…" Takuma frowned before looking at the others, "Also sorry guys. Got..too wild in my battle."
"N-n-now hold on! Y'all aren't thinkin…?!" Dario began.
"As a member of the Laramie Clan, Ah'm declarin' a Feud with y'all and yer kind both old and future," Laura informed, making Dario pale, "Anythin' y'all have been using that's been loaned from our clan is to be returned immediately and y'all are hereby banned from th' Big P race and anythin' the Laramie Clan hosts or supports." she then looked over at Takuma, "If y'all will do th' honors?"
"With pleasure…" Takuma said, cracking his knuckles.
"Gh?!" Dario tensed, crawling away from him...before bumping into Makoto, "...Ah'm boned, aren't I?"
"Let's just say that my current record for a punch hits the lower stratosphere when I put everything into it," 'Though it does leave my arm kinda useless for a few days…' Makoto replied, "As for Takuma….well…"
"..." Takuma lifted up Gary's Arcanine over his shoulders to carry it over for a check up after its trip, carrying the large Pokemon as if it was light as a feather.
"...That," Makoto grinned,looking at the paling face of Dario, "So if I were you...I'd either run, or accept your punishment."
"I wouldn't...I have stamina too." Takuma smirked, "And I'm pretty fast on my feet."
"...Meep…"
=Let's give a big hand to this year's Big P winner! Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Rapidash!= the announcer declared =Big congratulations for Rapidash and her trainer, Laura Laramie, and its rider Ash Ketchum!=
"Eh-heh…" Ash chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head, "Rapidash did all the hard work running and it was Laura who trained her. All I did was ride."
"But y'all inspired her t' win, and she evolved thanks t' you," Laura smiled.
"Ms. Laramie is correct on this, young Trainer," the two turned to see Suicune's Rider approach beside Suicune, "And as Lady Suicune declare, you've earned a reward for beating her in this race."
"Lucky…" Gary muttered before Leaf elbowed him on his side, "Gh!" Red followed via Pika slapping the back of his head with her tail, "Gah!"
Suicune walked up to Ash. Ash gulped as he looked up at Suicune, the Legendary looking at him directly. Slowly, Suicune reached into her mane and pulled out a bell. It seemed to be made of a crystal and as purely clear without a trace of imperfection. She offered it to Ash, who gently took it.
"This is the Clear Bell, created that very day she came to life through Lord Ho-Oh's power," the rider informed, "Ashton Satoshi Ketchum, child of the Town of Pallet, Lady Suicune gives to you this bell and declares this: each time the bell rings, she will appear before you...and battle you."
"?!"
"Should you win, she declares fealty to you and will become one of your own," the rider continued as Suicune nodded, "Should you fail, she will leave and the next ring of the bell will be another chance."
"...what?" Ash whispered with wide eyes.
"WHAT?!" Gary and Leaf exclaimed.
"What!?" Misty, Brock, Ken, Takuma, and the girls gasped while Kajun dropped her journal and pen to the ground.
Red raised a brow before smiling a little at Ash.
"(Finally! We finally got back!)" Pikachu exclaimed as he and Bulbasaur stumbled to the place, covered in dirt, mud, and soaked.
"(We just had to indirectly make fun of Koko…)" Bulbasaur grumbled before looking at the expressions everyone had, "(What in the name of Xerneas and Shaymin did we miss?)"
"(Suicune just gave Ash a magic bell that, when it rings, means Suicune's gonna come and challenge him to a battle and give him a chance to catch her)," Cherry informed.
"(Oh…)" both nodded before screaming, "(WHAT?!)"
"Upon either your catching her or when your time comes, the Clear Bell will return to Suicune," the rider continued, "May the Legends be ever smiling upon you, young Trainer."
"CUNE!" Suicune roared, releasing a massive vortex of wind that made everyone shield themselves before it dissipated, revealing Suicune and her rider were gone.
"...Jealous. Ash...I...am extremely jealous of you right now…" Misty spoke, "Not even Noel and the Mystic Water she got from Suicune is comparable."
"FINING!"
"Gyah!" Ash panicked as Leaf chased him around in a circle.
"Yellow, you get back here and start paying!" Leaf barked.
"Hey, wait! He owes me a bike first!" Misty added as she joined.
"Red, Blue, help!" Ash panicked.
"I'm staying out of this," Gary informed as Red held his hands up and hid behind Char with Gary, "This is when you and I went to Alola and forgot to give those two the extra tickets." Red shrugged, "...Yeah, that was way worse."
"What a one of a kind experience," Takuma chuckled, "You really are a one in a million kid Ash."
"Hey, where's La?" Makoto pondered.
"(I thank you for this. I must admit that I have not had this much enjoyment in centuries,)" Suicune thanked.
"It was of no trouble, Lady Suicune," her rider replied as they reached up and took off their helmet...revealing La, "It is always an honor to help a Legendary without a Trainer."
"(The boy has much potential. I will be awaiting him with my brothers at where Father enjoys to watch the sunrise,)" Suicune informed, "(Perhaps, one day, my brothers and I may fight you when you choose to go all out...child from beyond the Ultra Wormhole.)"
La nodded before Suicune ran off. On her belt, a pair of purple Pokeballs sporting a white 'M' on the top halves momentarily turned transparent, showing the two within.
"...You three failed miserably…" Aoiro frowned at Team Rocket, Evergreen covered in some bandages.
"Don't blame them fully. When a Legendary tells a Pokemon to do something, you do it," Serenade replied before holding up a bag filled with Rocket Balls, "Still, at least we thought ahead and caught all his Dodrio and Doduo when we learned Suicune was in the race."
"...Of course!" Jessie exclaimed, getting up only to hiss at the pain that went through her from the small rope burns on her, "The Twerp!"
"What of Ash Ketchum?"
"Meowth said that Suicune was there to test someone! It must have been the Twerp since he won!" Jessie explained.
"...I see," Aoiro noted before Lancelot appeared, "Lancelot, report."
"Lade."
"Suicune gave Ash Ketchum the Clear Bell?!" Serenade exclaimed, her ears folding out completely in shock...causing the tree nearby to explode into splinters, "...oops…"
"...James, communicator. Now," Aorio ordered before catching the communicator, "Serenade, block out all sounds around me. I need to speak to our leader."
"Yes, mistress," Serenade replied, quickly doing so once she got her ears back under control.
"Good…" Aoiro nodded before turning the communicator on, "Father, are you there?"
=Aoiro, what's wrong?= the boss asked in concern upon seeing her face was paler than normal.
"Ash Ketchum has encountered the Legendary North Wind Suicune...and has obtained the Clear Bell."
=?!= the boss tensed =He's been given a chance to capture one of the Legendary Beasts...along with the Rainbow Wing, he could gain the aid of two Legendary Pokemon. Has there been signs of him awakening Aura?=
"No, but this is concerning. Given the current route he is walking, and the recent encounter...he is nearing the Raizen Mountains."
=The Raizen Mountains...Could the Rainbow Wing be leading him there?= the boss pondered.
"Most likely….which is why I need the assistance of my sisters," Aoiro stated.
=Fortunately, Karai has returned from checking on the Sevii Islands. You are to return with Rocket Cell 1337 immediately for preparations and temporary reassignment respectively= the boss ordered.
"Of course, father," Aoiro nodded.
=And one more thing. Silver brought you a souvenir= the boss informed =See to your little brother first and then report to me=
"Understood. Aoiro out," Aoiro said as the communicator went off, "Serenade, dispel the wall."
"Yes, mistress," Serenade replied.
"You three, we are returning to HQ immediately. We are dealing with a new situation developing and, as such, you three are being reassigned from pursuing Ash Ketchum and his group for the foreseeable future. Your new orders will be given in person by the boss," Aoiro informed.
"WHAT?!" Team Rocket exclaimed.
"...Is there a problem?" Aoiro frowned, Lancelot's blades glowing as he stood behind her.
"N-no, it's just that, well...why now of all times?" James asked, "Why not after the Alpha Dragonite? Or when he did the thing with the Greninja?"
"...Wait. Is this because of the twerp being tested by Suicune?!" Jessie demanded.
"He's become something above your paygrade… Is this so surprising? You lot aren't really our first picks for going after high profile targets after all." Serenade informed.
"But...we've been after da Twerp and his Pikachu since Viridian City!" Meowth argued, "Heck! Followin' da Twoip's gotten us a ton of new Pokemon fer da cause and even dat big sample of Moon Stone and a field test fer da Rocket Ball!"
"And yet quite a few times, you've caused some natural disasters, like what happened with the Gyarados that was formerly owned by James, mutating a Tentacruel that resulted in flooding and destroying an entire city, and nearly releasing the Black Fog," Aoiro listed with a frown
"Also your idiocy, naivety, and pride has caused you all to fail when you had such an easy task to accomplish." Serenade added.
"But...but….but…!" Team Rocket sputtered.
"Besides, you idiots saw what happened today. You clearly stand no chance against the adult members of their little party. That one muscle head one would wipe the floor with you in one move...and the other two are so smart you wouldn't even make a move if they didn't want you to make that move. Those three alone should be proof you're outmatched." Serenade reminded, "Do you think any of you could have stopped that Mega Garchomp if it used a powerful move like Giga Impact or Draco Meteor...or Outrage?"
"..."
"And there are those five girls that are with them," Aoiro added, "One of which has a Lucario, one being able to withstand eating food only Poison-types can stand, one with physical strength strong enough to scare off even an Ursaring, one with multiple tactics and ideas, and...need I remind you the shy one-when pushed too far-can summon guns that can fire energy bullets that could pierce even Protect?"
"You're just realizing it, aren't you...you're literally lucky to even be alive right now?" Serenade noted the looks developing on their faces, "Cassidy and Butch would be smart enough to back away from them, and yet you three continue to pursue them despite knowing this…It's both idiotic, prideful, and kinda impressive. No wonder you did that big stadium. You needed it as an equalizer of all things."
"...e-exactly!" Jessie exclaimed, "Those Twerps and their Pokemon are so dangerous, we need to make machines just to get their Pokemon!"
"Especially that Pikachu!" James added.
"That Pikachu is pretty powerful. I mean, it could absorb an Alpha Dragonite's Thunder," Serenade agreed, "But still, no more arguing! The boss ordered me to bring all of you back at once. Or do you want the punishment?"
"...no. We'll go…" the three gulped.
"Think of it like this, after all you have done...somewhat right, you should get a sizeable promotion in rank. But...don't be greedy or stupid with it." Aoiro pointed out.
"Yes ma'am…"
"This is t' help people recognize y'all as members of the Laramie Clan," Laura informed as she offered the group a set of badges resembling a horseshoe with a gold 'LC' in the horseshoe, "Y'all need t' ask fer somethin', then th' clan will do its best t' help y'all."
"Huh? But only Ash won," Makoto noted.
"True, but th' race ain't th' only way t' become a member," Laura replied, "Helpin' th' clan with something huge like exposin' someone tryin' t' join t' help a criminal organization fer one or a big ol' donation fer another."
Red, Gary, and Ash all gave a happy Leaf deadpan looks, the sole girl of the Colors of Pallet already polishing her new membership badge.
"Well, we were happy to help," Ken smiled a bit, "After seeing Dario the first time, I could tell he was that type of person, so I had to wait for the right chance to expose him for what he was."
La sighed, "It sucks I missed it all. I should have known those three had made a stand that would give food with all those laxatives in it…I missed seeing Suicune of all three..."
"Ah it's okay, La. You can join on the insane wacky adventures next time." Takuma laughed, "Besides, I bet we'll have more random and amazing encounters with legends." he laughed, hooking his arm around Ash, "I get the feeling we have a high chance with this little dude."
"I'm really sorry about the cash becoming so tight…" Ash apologized.
"Yeah...we're tripling the Anti-Incineroar Training regimine," Takuma informed, still laughing jovially like he wasn't even annoyed.
"...Why Green, why…?" Ash whimpered, waterfall tears going down his cheeks as Pikachu fell off his shoulder, pale and shivering.
"(No...no...not again…)" Pikachu whimpered.
"Oh come on...it's for your own good!" Takuma laughed, "You're gonna meet a lot of Trainers who contradict your view...so you need to learn what to expect from them. But also how to accept them." he explained earning his attention, "This world has many faces...you can reject them and stagnate...or you can accept them...and grow from it."
Red smiled at what Takuma said. They were words to live by.
"Hey, Ash!" Gary shouted, making Ash look over at him, "You may have gotten lucky….REAL Lucky today, but no way am I gonna let you one-up me! If any, I'll one up you and prove I'm the better Trainer!"
"...oh yeah? Well do you have all three starters and an Eevee with moves only an EEVEE knows?!" Ash argued with a cocky grin.
"YOU HAVE ALL Th-" Gary began with a gawk before blinking, "...What are you an idiot? Eevee doesn't have any exclusive moves."
"Oh buddy you are gonna rage so hard…" Takuma shook his head, "Ash is like an encounter booster from a RPG game. Just hanging around him boosts your chance of a one of a kind encounter or adventure. I mean look at all the rare pokemon his friends have."
"Hello," Luca deadpanned, "Fine Lady Tsubaki and I will hurt you."
"Luca!"
"What? I was joking."
"(Okay, I am keeping a backpack on me with all my outfits!)" Berry declared, poking out of Makoto's tail in a plaid sweatervest, brown shorts, and a green backpack.
"(Why the sweatervest?)" Cherry asked, poking out.
"(Because it looks so fly. Plus, it came with an accordion,)" Berry replied, pulling said musical instrument out of her pack.
Manny shuddered when he looked at Berry's outfit, 'So much chaos...all because of a phenomenon…' "(I'm getting flashbacks to that town…)"
"There, there, Manny," La whispered, gently patting his paw, "I found you a new Alolan shirt with a cowboy motif to it."
"(And flashback of chaos is gone!)" Manny cheered.
"What a 180…" most of them muttered, noticing the changes in his expressions.
"So..where are y'all headin' next?" Laura asked.
"Oh, to get to the town past the Raizen Mountains," Ash replied, "We're taking a boat to Cinnabar Island."
Red facepalmed, "..."
"Was the Gym that bad?" Ash asked.
"..."
"He riddles?" Ash asked, "Oh, I feel headaches coming to me already…"
"...Ash. Run...now," Makoto warned.
"Huh?"
"If riddles are involved….Tsubaki and Kajun are gonna make you study study study."
"...I don't f-" Ash began.
"You're gonna be put through 'school,'" Ken deadpanned.
"NOOOOO!" Ash screamed, riding away on his chief Tauros in fright.
"Is it my turn to bring him back?" Takuma asked.
"Wow...Red, Blue, and I always had to take turns getting him back when he did this," Leaf noted as Takuma ran after Ash and his bull as they fled the area, "Mainly when we had to remind him break was over and we'd have to go back to school."
"With any luck, Takuma will bring him back by morning...but they'll look like they've been through a cheesy action movie." Brock stated.
"More like a comedy movie," Mai noted.
"(Ash, wait! You left me!)" Pikachu freaked before Luca caught him.
"I have one half of the students for riddles," Luca joked.
"(Traitor!)" Pikachu panicked trying to escape.
"...th-they're not gonna really make us study...right?" Noel cautiously asked.
"Nah...I mean I'm sure they…" Makoto began as she looked at Tsubaki and Kajun...some books and papers in hand, "...RUN!"
"RUNNING!" Mai panicked, following the Beastkin after Takuma and Ash.
"Some fellers just can't stand learnin' riddles, can they?" Laura noted before they heard a crash.
"Our pistachios!"
"My cabbages!"
"...Huh, so you have a guy who sells cabbages here, too," Leaf noted as Red and Gary facepalmed with inaudible and audible sighs respectively.
"We keep tellin' him t' move it somewhere where it won't get broken," Laura explained, "Though I do feel sorry fer them pistachio sellers. This here was their first day at th' Big P race, too."
"Oh…"
"I DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO SCHOOL!" Ash screamed.
"ASH, YOU GET BACK HERE OR SO HELP ME I'M GONNA TRAIN YOU ALONG WITH YOUR POKEMON!" Takuma ordered.
"ACK! FASTER TAUROS!"
"(I AM GIVING IT ALL HE'S GOT, CHIEF THUNDERHAT! These pistachios are delicious, though...)"
"Come back here!" Kajun and Tsubaki shouted.
"We don't wanna die at a desk!" Mai and Makoto pleaded.
"You need to keep up with your studies!"
"NO~!"
SZ: Ahh school...the enemy to all kids 10 years of age…
GT: The enemy to all those who have to go to one. Even the teachers.
SZ: Yeah...and let's not forget the type that gives you homework...for the weekend...AND Summer School.
Z0: NO! Never again...Never...ever...again…*huttles in the corner* No more text note assignments...evil….evviiilllll History AP Teacher...Evil!
GT: I think we just traumatized Z0...
SZ: Hey. Least your teacher never had it out for you...one of my old teachers gave me F's on papers that had RIGHT answers, I had no breaks, AND she hit me with a JC Penny Christmas catalog..which I always read after i'm done with my schoolwork.
GT: I don't know the feeling of that, but I had to carry a piece of paper with a scale of '1' to '5' for teachers to mark for my behavior, write down what my homework is that night and the reason why I didn't get a '5,' and then my parents had to sign it saying they looked at it. If I didn't have all 5's? No TV or games or anything fun that night.
Z0: School is evil...enough said.
SZ: Very true….ahem, anyway...I believe we are done here...unless you guys have something you want to bring up? Like new stories or the like?
GT: I'm fine. Though be on the lookout for a Nuzlocke story on my page or DA.
SZ: Cool. And you Z0?
Z0: *holds up Keyblade* Oh...we got ideas...you best believe that. But oho...that's for later. Now onto next chapter where we have a special surprise for everyone!
SZ: Indeed! Until next time, we are Team X-Over! Read and Review!