Our heroes are continuing on with their journey. They are on their way to Nyxer City so that Davis can have his seventh gym battle. As they are on their way, they are going to encounter another fun pokemon event.

"Hey. Check this out." Terra said as she spotted a sign for what might be another fun event. "It looks like there's going to be a race going on. Pokemon and their trainers compete together in a race, and it looks like the winner gets a rare called an adamantine orb."

"I've heard of them, but I've never seen one before." Cletus said. "It's a rare piece of ore. When a pokemon has something like that, their defensive power goes way up."

"A race, and you get a cool prize? Sounds like my competition." Davis said as he was already looking forward to the competion.

"Watch it! Coming through!" All of them looked to see a trainer with his pokemon. The pokemon was a feline-like pokemon running on all fours. It's fur was an orange/red with the top of it's head designed like a flame. They didn't know that pokemon, but they certainly knew the trainer.

"It's Erik!" Davis said as he was surprised to see him. "Hey! Erik, over here!" He called out and got his attention.

"Davis!" Erik called as he was glad to see him again.

Through the water, forest, and up in the sky

In the fire, thunder, and right in your heart

There are so many, many, many to find

And I know I can do it

(I can do it)

I know I can catch them all-all-all

(Gotta catch'em all)

So let's go

(Come on)

Oh

Watch me, here I go

Pokemon, here I come

It's destiny calling

I'll give it my all

It's all I can do

(Davis' voice): Three by Three-way

"Davis!" Erik said as the two of them shook hands. "It's great to see you again."

"It's great to see you again, too." Davis said. "I don't think we've seen each since the tournament in Bacu City. Your uncle told us that you went on your own journey."

"It seems that you've been doing well." Cletus said.

"Of course." Erik said as he was being his usual boastful self. "I've been going around and challenging the gyms. I thought I was awesome before, but I feel even better about myself since this journey. I've already managed to get myself five badges."

"Five? I managed to get six and was on my way to get my seventh." Davis said in an attempt to bruise Erik's ego, but he tried not to show it.

"Well, I've decided to take part in this race." Erik said. "I thought it would be a good way to show my new Flion." He said as he gestured to the pokemon he's been running with.

"Flion."

"Flion? I think that's the evolve form of Fleo." Terra said. She took out her pokedex to be sure.

"Flion, the Flame Lion Pokemon. A fire-type, and the evolve form of Fleo. It is theorized that Flion switched from walking on two legs to four to conserve some of it's fire power for when it evolves again."

"This race sounds like it could be a lot of fun." Davis said. "I was thinking of entering myself. In fact, this might be a great way to bond with this guy." He claimed as he pulled out a pokeball and called out Tazzvil.

"Rowr!"

"Wow! You got yourself a Tazzvil, Davis, and you're thinking of competing with it now?" Erik said. "How come you don't go with a big guy like Imperialdramon or someone else?"

"I think it would be a great way for Tazzvil and I to connect and grow even stronger." Davis said as he petted Tazzvil.

"So, it seems like the two of you are doing rather well." They all looked around for whoever said that. They all soon spotted that it was Ringo with Icerrock.

"Ringo! I didn't know you were here." Davis said.

"Looks like you've done a pretty good job of taking care of that Tazzvil." Ringo said. "So, you're planning on entering this race now? I wouldn't get my hopes on winning. A race like this is going to require a good connection between pokemon and trainer. I'm not sure you two have been together long enough to pull it off. Unlike me and Icerrock."

"Oh yeah? Just you wait when you see Tazzvil and I crossing that finish line." Davis said.

"Don't count me out. I'm not going to just let you beat me. I'm in it to win it." Erik said, then turned to Ringo. "I don't know who you are, but you're going down too." It looks like a three-way rivalry is forming for this race. They're being called out and neither seems to be backing down.

"This race already seems to be getting up." Cletus said.

"Just as long as we don't get burned. We're just innocent bystanders." Terra said.

...

The Race

"Welcome, one and all to our town's annual pokemon race." The M.C. announced. "Every year, we hold this fun little event for trainers and their pokemon to partake in. This year, the winner of our race will get a rare and quite useful item known as an adamantine orb." The orb was shown to be a shiny silver sphere. Davis, Ringo, and Erik were down at the starting line with a bunch of other trainers and their pokemon ready to start the race. "Let me explain the rules of the race. Our racers will stay along the predetermined path. It consists of one lap around the forest, which consists of three miles. Both trainers and pokemon run together, and they both must cross the finish line together. What's more is that the trainer is not allowed ride on the pokemon. They must run the whole track together."

"That's a rule? I guess it's a good thing Davis didn't go with Cheebolt or Imperialdramon." Terra said. "Cheebolt would have been too fast, and Imperialdramon can just easily carry Davis and fly."

"Hey! I can play fair!" Imperialdramon said as he felt a bit offended she implied that.

"Racers are also prohibited from attacking each other. That said, you should keep your guard up. Some of the wild pokemon that live in this forest will act as obstacles and try to slow you down."

"That's all there is to it?" Davis said. "That isn't much of a problem. We can do this. Isn't that right, Tazzvil?" Tazzvil was in full agreement with what Davis was saying.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. You'll still have to deal with me and Flion." Erik said.

"I think you're both a little too full of yourselves." Ringo said. "The race hasn't even started yet, and yet you two already think you're going to win. Overconfidence has brought the downfall of many."

"Zip it. You sound like a know-it-all, and no one likes those." Davis said as he was getting annoyed with how smug Ringo is.

"Racers! Get yourselves ready!" All of them gathered at the starting line with all of them getting ready to run for it.

"Good luck, Davis!" Imperialdramon called.

"Leave these guys in the dust!" Terra called.

"Those three are sure confident they can win. Let's see how well they do outside of a battle." Cletus said.

"On your mark... Get set... Go!" A horn went off and all of the trainers and their pokemon started running. This race was now on.

...

The Race

"Yeah! Let's go, Tazzvil! Full speed!" Davis called as he and Tazzvil tried to pull out an early lead and pushed it.

"No way you're beating us!" Erik said as he and Flion tried to keep up with Davis and Tazzvil. The two of them were pulling out a lead and were doing rather good, but the race was just beginning and they have three miles to cover. They'll burn themselves out quickly. That's what Ringo is thinking as he and Icerrock kept a nice and steady pace.

"Those morons." Ringo said. "They don't have to act like it's do or die. They're going to wear themselves out when they should really pace themselves." Despite that, Davis and Erik kept going. The two of them had a lead with their pokemon right with them. They might have the lead right now, but they soon saw something strange on the trail.

"What's that up ahead?" Davis questioned.

"I'm not sure. They look like..." Erik tried to get a good look and they all looked like giant flowers...that were moving.

"Vileplume!"

"They're Vileplume!" Erik said as he and Davis had to suddenly stop. Once they were close enough, the Vile Plume were all releasing Stun Spore in the air. "Stun Spore! They must be serving as the obstacles just like we were told about. If we try to go through there, we could fall under Stun Spore's effects."

"We better think of something fast. The other racers are coming." Davis said. They both tried to think of how they can get around this. That was until Davis saw a way. "Tazzvil, keep your head down." Davis charged right in with Tazzvil following. They were carefully moving through the Vileplume and keeping his head down to where the Stun Spore wasn't reaching.

"I get it! Slipping between the space where the Vileplume can't reach you. Let's go, Flion!" Erik said as he followed Davis' lead. Those two managed to slip their way right through the Vileplume while some of the other racers were having a difficult time. No one wanted to get hit by that. Once Davis and Erik got around, they went back to running.

"I'm winning this!" Davis said.

"Not if I can help it!" Erik called as the two of them tried to keep up with the other. Ringo was able to make his way around the Vileplume as well, but he kept calm and relaxed. He wasn't too worried about those two being in the lead because he knows those two are going to crash eventually.

...

Davis and Erik

Davis and Erik seemed to have left the other racers in the dust thanks to those Vileplume slowing them down. They still had ways to go, but it looks like the race was going to be between just them at the moment.

"I've got to say that I'm a little impressed with the change of attitude, Erik." Davis said. "When we first, you didn't seem to really care that much about competing. You were so full of yourself that you didn't really try because you thought you were just that good."

"Yeah. I guess after I lost to you in our last battle, I got a slap of reality." Erik said. "I too have a competitive spirit and a strong passion for battling, but I tried to conceal it."

"So, what you're saying is, I was a positive influence on you." Davis said as his ego was starting to show. Erik was going to argue about that, but he noticed something else that would help.

"Later, Davis." Erik said as he and Flion pulled back.

"What are you pulling back for?" Davis questioned, but he soon got his answer when a thread shot at him and wrapped around his ankle with him tripping over. "What the heck?" He looked up and saw that a Woolbug shot that used String Shot at him. "Hey! Not cool!" Davis complained as he tried to get free.

"I'll see you at the finish line." Erik said as he a Flion went on ahead.

"Hey! You get back here!" Davis called. He tried to break the thread, but it was strong. "Tazzvil, help me break this thread before they get too far ahead of us!" Tazzvil used its powerful jaws and was able to break the thread that held Davis down. "Nice work. Let's go!" He and Tazzvil took off after that. Erik and Flion got a huge lead after that, but Davis is confident he'll be able to catch him. The two of them ran as best as they could. After getting fooled like that, Davis isn't going to allow himself to lose to Erik. They just kept on running, but didn't even see Erik or Flion anymore. "Man. Just how far did those two get?" The two of them kept on running until they heard a strange sound coming from just up ahead. "What was that?!" Davis and Tazzvil kept on running until they saw something going on up ahead. They spotted Erik and Flion, but they were held up by a Nidoking.

"Calm down! I said I was sorry!" Erik claimed. "Oh man. I would smooth things over a lot better if you were a Nidoqueen." Whatever was going on, Nidoking seemed really unhappy. It tried smashing its fist against the two of them, but they both moved out of the way. "I don't have a choice. Flion, Fire Fang!"

"Fli!" Flion had its own teeth ignite in flames and tried to attack, but Nidoking fought back as it smashed its fist against Flion as hard as it could. That caused Flion to smash right into Erik and the two of them got knocked off the trail and started tumbling downhill.

"Erik!" Davis called. That didn't look good at all. Davis didn't waste a second as he hurried off the trail to make sure they were both okay. When Davis and Tazzvil got down there, poor Erik looked badly hurt. "Erik! Are you okay?!"

"Does it look like I'm okay?" Erik complained. "That fall hurt my leg. I don't think I can get up."

"What happened? Why was pokemon attacking you?" Davis questioned.

"You mean Nidoking?" Erik questioned. "I wasn't really paying attention to the trail. Flion and I were rounding a corner, but I think that Nidoking was sleeping behind some plants. I think I accidentally stepped on it's tail. Next thing I knew, it was chasing after us. It was pretty mad, but I didn't have a choice except to battle back."

"Rargh!" They all looked up and saw Nidoking was coming after them again.

"I think it's still mad." Davis said. "You asked for it. Tazzvil, Shadow Ball! Aim right for the legs!" Tazzvil fought back as it fired Shadow Ball right where Davis said. The blast hit and caused Nidoking to trip and tumble down the hill. Davis grabbed Erik and got him out of the way as Nidoking went down. "Sorry about that, Nidoking."

"Davis, look." Erik said. Davis looked and could see a few other racers passing them. "No way I can run with my leg hurting like this. I think it's over for me, but maybe you can still make it."

"No way. It's just a race. We might not finish in first but let's finish it." Davis said. "Right now, you need some help. Let's get moving." Davis decided to forget the race and focus on getting Erik up there. Davis tried to hold Erik up, but it was tough to carry him up the hill. Their pokemon wish they could help, but there isn't really much they could do. Davis kept trying to get Erik back up the hill, but he did managed to get some help as he felt someone grab him. Both of them looked to see that it was Ringo. "Ringo! What are you still doing here?!"

"Helping you, of course." Ringo said. Icerrock helped out as well as it grabbed the other side of Erik and helped him up with Ringo pulling him up. "I'm surprised. I knew one of you would crash for being so confident, but I'm glad to see the other decided to forgo the race to help."

"Duh. Of course I would. It's just simply the right thing to do." Davis said.

"My mistake. I just thought you like winning." Ringo said. "Come on. Let's cross the finish line and get Erik some help." He grabbed a hold of Erik and helped them through the race.

...

The Finish Line

Davis and Ringo helped make sure that Erik cross the finish line. Even though it meant they came in last, they made the right decision. Eventually, the finish line was in sight and they all crossed it together.

"Davis! Ringo! Erik!" Terra called as she and the others hurried over to them as soon as they crossed in a three-way tie for last. "We were wondering what happened to you when you guys didn't cross the finish line!"

"Erik, are you okay? What happened?" Cletus questioned.

"I ran into some trouble, but these two helped me out and get here." Erik said.

"Hang on. Here comes some people." Imperialdramon said. A couple aids came over and took Erik to help him with his leg.

"I'll be okay thanks to these guys." Erik said.

"Thanks for the help, Ringo." Davis said. "You didn't have to stay back to help, but I'm glad you did."

"Don't mention it." Ringo said. "I also saw how you handled Nidoking. Not bad. I can see you've been good to Tazzvil. I'm starting to wonder how much of a better battler you are. Have you really reached the potential inside Tazzvil?"

"You want to have a battle to find out?" Davis offered. "Since neither of us won the race, it would be a great way to blow off some steam."

"No thanks. We'll see how far you'll get when the Grecko League comes." Ringo said.

"Hey! Don't forget me! You two won't be so lucky!" Erik claimed. "When the Grecko League comes, you two won't take the easy way out." It would seem these three still got their three-way rivalry going on. Despite the race, Davis did do the right thing to help Erik. As for Ringo, he got a good look as to what his rivals have. Something he'll keep in mind for next time.

Despite the competitive competition, it's nice to see our young hero willing to put it aside to help someone in need of assistance. Still, he won't let this stop him from winning against them. Don't miss what will happen the next time they cross paths. Stay tuned.