Usual Disclaimers:
Why do I even bother? Oh, well. I do not own Formula One. The FIA is the sole owner of the series. I do not own all 11 teams. Their respective owners do and I do not boss the 22 drivers around. I do not own Pokémon as well. Nintendo and Game Freak own the rights to it. I do own Keith Terrell, Riley Jenius, Francois Deletraz, Ronin Vertigo and Celia Jenius because I created them.
Notes From Mario Alvarado:
Yea!!! One year on FF.Net!!! One year later and I am still pumping out the chapters of this Pokémon/F1 fanfic that has become my masterpiece!!! Expect some new fanfics from me during my second year on FF.Net. In this chapter, Ash Ketchum finally tells all about his early training days with Ferrari!! Also, Bernie Ecclestone decides what to do with Olivier Panis after his fight with Nick Heidfeld after the Belgium GP. Can anybody save Olivier from being kicked out of F1? Read on!!
Ash Ketchum: Formula One Driver
Chapter 22: The Real Story Of Ash's Training Days
When Ash was back in Pallet, I wanted to drill him about everything he's been through in Formula One. But I never got the chance to ask him. That was my one mistake. I really should be like Misty and the others, pissed off at Ash for just up and leaving and the fact that he's a F1 driver. Those guys almost took out the Pokémon League, just because Team Rocket killed three of those drivers. Actually, if Team Rocket did that to my Dad or my brothers and sisters, or Suzie, I would do the same thing as they did. I was pissed off for a time, but I knew that Ash would return to explain why he left. Now I know why and I'm a bit jealous of him because he's friends with Michael Schumacher, the God of Formula One. After he won Belgium, a lot of people are jealous of me because I'm Ash's best friend. Well, as the old saying goes, what goes around, comes around. I can't wait to see him again.
An entry in Brock Slate's personal journal, made the day after Ash's Belgium GP victory.
Ash Ketchum has been a busy young man after his win in the final Belgium Grand Prix in history. Ash, Pikachu and Meowth were at personal appearances, TV interviews and all sorts of media functions. Winning a Formula One race is big news and everybody wants every minute detail about his version of the race. He has been doing this for 3 days straight after his win. He left Spa on Sunday and arrived in Paris, France late at night to get some sleep. He spent all Monday in Paris, jetting to Berlin, Germany on Tuesday and today, he's in London, England doing plenty of TV appearances and talking to a lot of racing magazine people. He was even mobbed by a ton of female F1 fans that want to be his girlfriend. Right now, he was in a London Hotel taking a well-deserved rest. He just finished a 6-hour long interview with a former F1 world champion that is being worked on right now for a major Formula One magazine. They plan on shipping it out all over the world in Friday and will be on newsstands on Saturday of that week. Ash was just glad that the magazine interview was the last obligation he needed to fulfill. He was tuckered out.
"Tomorrow, guys. We head back to Cologne for some rest. Man, I don't want to see another TV guy in my life." Ash said as he rested on his bed. Pikachu was tuckered out and was sleeping next to him while Meowth was having a catnap at the foot of Ash's bed. So, Eevee was keeping Ash company.
[Maybe I should reconsider hanging out with you. Is this what you Formula One drivers do when you win?] Eevee asked. Since Meowth jumped on Ash's bandwagon, the cat Pokémon has been teaching Ash how understand the Pokémon language and he's pretty good at understanding all of the Pokémon he meets.
"Heh. Just be glad that we get to go home back to Germany tomorrow. You'll just love it there. I live in a nice house next to my teammate, Allan. You'll like him a lot." Ash said as he laid down on the bed,
[From the way you talk about him, I bet he's a nice guy.] Eevee said and Ash just gave the Pokémon a quick smile before dozing off. The next day, Ash and his Pokémon posse made the jet trip back to the Toyota HQ in Cologne, Germany. Once again, a huge mob of photographers and reporters cornered Ash for a picture or a comment. Lucky for him, Meowth let loose tons of Fury Swipes to back them away. Ash started to wonder if anybody was going to read this interview back home in Pallet. The days passed and it was Saturday, half a world away in Kanto. Brock Slate decided to take a walk around Celadon City before he went to see his girlfriend, Suzie. Since that night before Ash and Keith left for Belgium, the two breeders have started their relationship off slowly, but Suzie has noticed that Brock is more comfortable with her now and she has taken the opportunity to make out with him many times and to make her best friend Zane, jealous while she's at it. He passed a newsstand where the guys were taking out the new F1 magazines with the Ketchum interview that were shipped out yesterday hot off the presses. Brock stopped to see who was on the cover and recognized Ash right off the bat.
"Hey, they got an interview with Ash about his latest win and how he got started in F1. 'Ash Ketchum tells all about his days learning to drive an F1 car.' Oh, this I got to read." Brock said as he asked for a copy, paid $5 for it and headed to the small breeder shop, which Suzie and Zane reopened together a few months ago. So, he's been helping out at the shop for a week now and business has been booming. It was still closed and he sat down and started to read the interview in page 12. The interview was conducted by 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill.
Damon Hill: Well, Ash. You must be over the moon after your win at the last Belgium Grand Prix ever.
Ash Ketchum: Actually, Damon. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be competitive in the race because I started 10th with a new engine. Lucky for me, it rained on race day and all that rain testing I did with the team in June worked out real well. As for becoming the last winner of the Belgian GP, it's an honor just to be in the record book as the last winner at Spa.
DH: With 3 races left in the 2005 season, you're having the best season of your young career. How were you able to get in points finishing rhythm with Toyota so fast? You have already eclipsed your point total from last year with your win.
AK: I still don't know, even to this day. The team was still reeling after what happened to Mika Salo in 2003 and they just lost a ton of focus all throughout 2004. I think Ove Andersson, the team boss decided that the team needed some young blood injected into the team. I was the perfect candidate, racing with Renault and McLaren in 2004 with 2 wins. I think my youthful and excited personality is what got the team to get out of their depression slump. And add the fact that my head mechanic is my aunt, I've been very comfortable with Toyota.
DH: Your head mechanic's name is Sylvie McCallister. Is she from your mother's side?
AK: She's from Mom's side, Damon.
DH: Next, if the FIA does pass the age limit rule, what are your plans for 2006 and beyond? You're 17 years old as of right now and you have already proved your talent behind the wheel. A lot of teams will be offering a lot of cash to have you drive for them.
AK: I have been looking at different teams from all kinds of racing series around the world. As for my career plans, I will make my announcement of my decision at the Japanese Grand Prix. There, I will tell all about my plans for 2006 and beyond as I wait to reach 20 years old.
DH: This is a shocker!! Deciding to tell us all at the last race of the year?
AK: That's the plan. I just want to get back to racing these last 3 events of the season.
DH: Okay Ash, back to business. Monza, Indianapolis and Suzuka have not been very nice to you since you arrived. Except your 3rd place finish with Ferrari in 2003. The next two races, you crashed. Then, with McLaren in 2004, your engine blows up in all 3 races.
AK: Please don't remind me, Damon. I got an earful from Ron after those incidents. Pikachu had to shock him a lot to keep him away from me.
DH: Sorry. Anyway, are you looking forward to returning to Monza and being mobbed by the Tifosi? They still consider you a hero even though you only ran 5 races with them in 2003.
AK: I just hope Pikachu doesn't go off the deep end and shocks all of them. She's very protective of me. Other than that, I'm pretty excited about going to Monza. I think the new Toyota engine will give Allan and I an advantage.
DH: Now for the second part of the interview. We all know that Michael Schumacher found you on a lone road in Johto in 2001 and took you to Milan for an extensive driver development program. He said that he had this giant hunch that you would make a great F1 driver.
AK: Want to hear a funny story? I'll tell you what REALLY happened during those tests. It cost Ferrari a lot in broken cars.
DH: This I got to hear.
[Flashback]
Michael Schumacher's private jet landed at Ferrari's private airport. All throughout the trip, Ash, Pikachu and Meowth were just in awe at the way F1 drivers travel to races. The entire plane was luxurious. Michael must have paid a ton of money on this. As for the 4-time Champion, he was trying to figure out something to say to Ross Brawn and Jean Todt about bringing a 13-year-old boy from Japan to Ferrari.
What am I going to say to them? "Oh, hi Ross. Hi, Jean. I would like you to meet this young man I met in Johto. I think he would make a great F1 driver if we start training him to race right now." That will never work, Michael. If this doesn't work, that entire Johto place will be hunting for me on accounts of kidnapping. I'll be labeled a kidnapper and my career with Ferrari will be finished. Michael thought to himself as the jet came to a stop. The two disembarked and Ash got hid first ever look at the Ferrari HQ. He has heard many stories about this place, but he never dreamed that he would step on this hallowed ground. Michael took Ash, Pikachu and Meowth into the HQ where the team was hard at work building the F2002 for Michael and Rubens Barrichello. Then, Michael spotted Ross Brawn and Jean Todt and left Ash by one of his cars to talk to them. Ash looked away from Michael and just stared at the Italian F1 car. This was the first time Ash has ever seen a real race car, let alone a real Formula One car.
"Look at that, Pikachu. A real Formula One car." Ash said in amazement as he just stared at the legendary car in front of him. It was Michael's F2001 from the '01 season.
[That's a Formula One car? I've never seen one in my life.] Pikachu said as Meowth just stood silent next to Ash as he gazed at the car. A few minutes later, Michael returned with Rubens Barrichello, Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and test driver Luca Badoer.
"Gentlemen. I want you to meet the young man whom I think will become a great Formula One World Champion." Michael said as he introduced the group to Ash. They all just stared at him for a minute before Luca Badoer started to crack up laughing. Ross and Jean just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders while Rubens thought Michael was heading for the looney bin.
"You're kidding. Aren't you, Michael? In fact, have you lost your mind? The kid is around 13 years old and you think he could be a F1 champion?" Rubens asked, still not sure about Ash.
"And what kind of creature is on his head, anyway? I've never seen anything like it before." Ross Brawn said as he took a good look at Pikachu. He then looked at Ash for a second and moved back with Todt.
"It's something called a Pokémon. All of Japan is infested with these little buggers. And this young man here is a Pokémon trainer." Michael answered,
"Pokémon? Never heard of it. Maybe when that Takuma Sato guy arrives at Jordan, I'll drill him about this... Pokémon or whatever you call it." Rubens said as Badoer finally stopped laughing and began to look serious.
"Michael. I don't say much around you because I'm a test driver, but... the kid is around 13 years old. Are you planning on putting him through many hours of racing simulators and then let him see if he can drive an F1 car?" Luca Badoer asked,
"You're right, Luca. That is my plan. I'm sure Mr. di Montezemolo will approve of my plan." Michael said, still confident in his plan to make Ash an F1 driver. Meowth just watched and he now had something to say and shock everybody around him.
"If I may butt in, this will never work. I've battled the twerp many times to know him good enough. He may like the F1 sims, but he'll crash the car the first time out." Meowth said. The guys looked around to see who talked.
"Who said that?" Rubens asked,
"Down here." Meowth answered as the 4 guys kneeled down and got their first good look at Meowth, the former Team Rocket lackey who has the ability of talking in the human language while understanding Pokémon speech clearly. The 4 guys couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing.
"You can talk?!!" They all asked in surprise. Only Ash, Pikachu and Michael knew of Meowth's talking ability.
"That's right!" Meowth said cheerfully. The 4 got back to their feet and looked at Michael.
"Michael. Do what you want with him and his animal friends. I doubt this plan of yours will work. I really doubt it." Ross Brawn said and the others agreed with him. Later, Michael told Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo about his plan and introduced him to Ash and his Pokémon. The boss was a bit skeptical about the 4-time World Champion's plan of putting Ash through many hours of simulators before letting him take a few laps in an older Ferrari. The one thing that did amaze him was Meowth's ability to talk human. He and Meowth had a real long conversation and decided to let Michael proceed with his plan of making Ash a Formula One driver.
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For the first 5 races of the 2002 season, Ash and his Pokémon were Ferrari V.I.P. as Ash got his first real look at a Formula One race and saw all of the cars that competed for the championship. Michael's plan was to bring Ash to all the races, meet the drivers, talk to some of the other teams to get a better understanding about how drivers prepare to race in Formula One. Ash, Pikachu and Meowth took full advantage of this and at Australia, he talked with every driver on the F1 circuit about driving an F1 car. All of them were shocked to hear that the great Michael Schumacher has taken Ash in and is training him to become a Formula One World Champion. As the races went on, the drivers started to like Ash and wanted to see if all of Michael's training will pay off. When not at the races, Ash was on the simulators 8 hours a day, learning how to control a F1 car with a beast of a V10 engine behind him. Results have shown that Ash is capable of controlling a car like he's been racing for years, but his dense side gets in his way sometimes. After the Monte Carlo GP, the Ferrari guys decided that Ash was ready to take his very first run in a real F1 car. The test took place at Ferrari's test track next to the HQ. The guys are letting Ash drive Michael's F2000 car, the same car that Michael drove to victory in the 2000 Japanese Grand Prix, where he clinched his 3rd Driver's Title and 1st with Ferrari.
"Why my 2000 car, Ross? You know how much that car means to me!!" Michael said as he watched the Ferrari team make final preparations to the cockpit of the car. Ash is a bit smaller than Michael, so the team had to move the foot pedals up to where Ash can reach them.
"Michael, we know that. Mr. di Montezemolo wanted Ash to drive one of the older cars we have. The F2000 was perfect." Ross Brawn answered,
"But... I love that car!!!" Michael said, which sounded more like whining in the ears of Ross. Minutes later, Ash arrived with Meowth and Pikachu. He was wearing a racing suit tailored to fit his size and carried a helmet, a fire mask and a pair of racing gloves. He stopped at the car and looked over it.
"Everything all set?" Ash asked, sounding confident about taking his first real ride in a F1 car.
"We're all set. Whenever you're ready, get in." Jean Todt answered and Ash put on the fire mask and helmet. He stepped into the car and slid himself down into the cockpit. It was easy for him because of his small size and he felt the foot pedals as he was fully inside it. The team buckled him in the seat as he put on his helmet and tightened it. Ash attached the steering wheel and gave the Ferrari team the nod to start the engine. Moments later, the V10 engine roared to life. Ash gave the gas a slight tap to rev the engine up a bit and he was given the go ahead to leave the small paddock. Michael was almost biting his nails in nervousness as Ash drove off slowly, trying to get adjusted to the feel of being inside a Formula One car. He made one lap at slow speed and when he was approaching the start/finish line for another lap, he decided to start his first flying lap. He gently floored the gas and the car sped up. He whizzed by the team as he approached turn one of the test track. He slowed down enough to make the first turn and had a near perfect exit. He slowed down a bit for turn 2 and turn 3 before mashing the gas and approaching turn 4. Most of the team held their breath as Ash approached the 4th turn. He saw the braking points and slowed down to make the turn, but he locked up the brakes and spun into the gravel trap. For some odd reason, the car didn't get stuck. Instead, the car flipped in the air as it hit the gravel and crash landed in the grass banking, wrecking the car. The team groaned as they found out what happened. There was too much brake bias in the front wheels. Michael on the other hand, just saw Ash total his prized car. The car he won his first title with Ferrari in 2000. And he didn't like seeing it in pieces on a grass banking.
"You destroyed her!!! You destroyed my car!! I'll kill you!!!" Michael yelled out fiercely as he ran right for Ash with intent to kill. Ash broke away from the medic's grasp as he ran for dear life with a psychotic Michael Schumacher in hot pursuit.
"Pikachu!!! Meowth!! Help me!!!" Ash panicked as he just kept running.
[End Flashback]
Both Damon and Ash laughed like madmen for minutes. Damon couldn't believe that Michael would go overboard just because Ash totaled his 2000 car, the one he won the Driver's title with in 2000. And he crashed it on his first try.
DH: Oh, dear. That is funny. Totaling a Ferrari when the brakes locked up and you went into the air and crashed into a banking.
AK: I think Michael hasn't forgiven me for that.
DH: Now, let's get to a serious subject. The first Team Rocket attack in 2003, where Mika Salo, Enrique Bernoldi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were killed. Did you even talk to these men when you started to come to F1 races with the Ferrari team?
AK: Not really, Damon. I just stayed with Michael and Rubens most of the time.
DH: During your training... where did you stay at? Did you sleep outside because you were used to it during your Pokémon training?
AK: Mr. di Montezemolo didn't want me to sleep outside. Sometimes, it got cold at the Ferrari place, so I slept in. As long as I did my best in trying to be an F1 driver.
DH: When you went to Renault, how did the team treat you? Like, where did you stay at during the off weeks?
AK: Like I was the team's little brother. They would always look down on me a lot. Jarno on the other hand, helped me out a bit when the team wasn't looking to help me get adjusted to the car. It was different than a Ferrari. As for where I stayed, Michael wanted my Pokémon and I to stay with his family. I didn't want to, but. I think Corinna took a long time to get used to the fact that a mouse and a cat were not trying to kill each other.
DH: The crash at Austria. When you ran away from the track on that giant flying Pokémon, where did you go? And, how did you manage to stay hidden for over 6 weeks?
AK: I just went straight for a wooded area near Holland. Pikachu, Meowth and I camped out for a week. I was so scared that everybody was going to kill me, so I kept telling myself, it's just a dream. I didn't want to return to F1 after the crash. And I didn't want to return to Michael's place after the crash. Actually, Damon... I haven't been to Michael's home since.
DH: So, you were traumatized after you ended Michael career and what Ralf said about killing you.
AK: I was beyond traumatized. I just wanted to go home to Pallet and be with my Mother. But, then I remembered that the F1 guys attacked the Pokémon League in retaliation for the Team Rocket murders. So, I threw that idea away. But, back to the last question. I spent one week in the forests of Holland after Austria. Then, Pikachu ran into Jos Verstappen one day. He was driving for Arrows in 2004 before Walkinshaw fired him and Kept Ronin for 2005. He followed her to my campsite. I was still in my Renault outfit, starving and cold. Jos wanted me to come to his place and crash there until I was ready to come back to F1. In return, he promised to me in blood not to tell the others where I was.
DH: How did you get along with Jos?
AK: He gave me the space I needed. Pikachu automatically trusted him the first day I stayed at his place. His family was real nice to me.
DH: After the crash, Renault sacked you and put in former IRL driver Tomas Scheckter. That looked like the end of your short F1 career until Kimi Raikkonen was injured at Canada. Were you shocked to hear that Ron Dennis wanted you to drive for one of the best teams in F1?
AK: Yes, I was. Jos told me this after he got back from Canada. So, he wanted me to get in that car. So, I agreed to go with him to Britain when he had to head back to the Arrows shop. I then flew on Charizard to get to the McLaren base. I met with Ron that day and I was hired to be David Coulthard's #2 driver for the rest of 2004. The team was planning on getting rid of Kimi after the '04 season. So, that is how I joined McLaren Mercedes.
DH: Now... you signed up with McLaren and returned to F1 at Silverstone, where you won and you didn't get to celebrate your win because Ralf was on the attack. Did he almost get to you?
AK: David knew that Ralf wanted to kill me. When I was heading for the press conference room, Ralf was there waiting for me with a metal pipe. Then, D.C. arrived to hold him back while he yelled at me to run for my life. Which I did. I hopped on Charizard and just left the track for the safety of the McLaren shop.
DH: Man, I feel bad for you. Okay... Michael made his return to Ferrari as a team advisor to Rubens and the new American driver, Keith Terrell. Did you do everything in your power to avoid him?
AK: Sure did. I didn't want to talk to Michael with Ralf near him all the time. I was afraid that the two were planning on beating me up if I was alone with them.
DH: Okay. I can understand why you didn't want to talk to Michael after you went to McLaren. How did David treat you?
AK: He just left me alone, only checking up on me once in a while. Pikachu was ready to shock anybody that got near me, but she warmed up to D.C. over time. David... comforted me a lot during that time. Even now, we're close friends. I'm closer with David than I am with Michael.
DH: And is Michael jealous of David because of your friendship you two made during your stay at McLaren?
AK: Sure is. Michael still loathes David for snagging the Driver's Title away from Rubens last year. But Rubens, the rest of the Ferrari team and I were kind of happy that David finally has a World Championship to himself. And I was kind of happy that I helped him get it and the Constructor's Title for McLaren.
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There was a break in the interview and the next pages of the magazine showed pictures of Ash's past races with Ferrari, Renault, McLaren and Toyota. They also had some pictures of the other drivers in F1, including one with Suicune body slamming Keith to the ground at Hungary. Brock was so into reading the magazine that he didn't hear the door open and didn't stop reading until he felt a pair of arms lovingly wrap around his neck. Instantly, he knew who it was.
"Well, Brock. Looks like you were too busy reading that magazine to notice me." A female voice said from behind. Brock stood up and turned to see Suzie just looking at him,
"I didn't mean it. I was too involved in reading this new F1 magazine I got. It has Ash being interviewed this old F1 driver about everything Ash has experienced in F1. Including his early days of learning to drive and winning that race last week." Brock answered as he blushed somewhat while Suzie continued to flirt with him,
"That's nice. So, why don't we play a little game?" Suzie asked as she wrapped her arms around Brock's neck. Brock didn't have a chance to ask her what she meant by that because Suzie started to kiss him passionately. He opened his mouth to try to protest, but Suzie stuck her tongue into his mouth for some tonsil hockey. It wasn't long before Brock just gave up and started to kiss her back. All of a sudden, a person entered the shop and coughed loudly.
"I knew you were going to make out with him as soon as you made it here, Suzie. You've been doing that to him for the past week." Zane said as he and Ninetales stood by the door. Brock started to blush about being caught by Zane once again.
"You're just jealous that you don't have a girlfriend that would do that with you." Suzie said playfully, trying to make her friend jealous like she always did.
"Come on, I'm trying to find a nice girl, but I'm preoccupied with this business. Don't chew me out on that subject!! You know how much I get riled up about that." Zane said as he tried to conceal his blushing face. Suzie just giggled as she let go of Brock. It was quiet for a minute or two until Zane saw Brock holding an F1 magazine in his hands. "Speaking about girls, everybody is still talking about Ketchum's win last week. I've kept hearing this rumor from a few friends of mine that some girls have started this giant Ash Ketchum fan club." Zane said,
"Me too. I was actually asked to join the club yesterday. I told them I would think about it." Suzie said as she remembered her encounter with an Ash fan yesterday,
"I've heard the same rumor as well. Sounds like Ash is the newest ladies' man with the girls." Brock added,
"Can you blame them? He's young, he's got the looks, he's got money and he's in Formula One and winning. Well, if you two have finished with your make out session, let's get this shop opened. I spotted a ton of trainers headed here." Zane said as he recalled Ninetales into its Poké Ball,
"Sure thing. I'll finish that interview later." Brock said as the three opened the shop.
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Later that day in the FIA's London office where Bernie Ecclestone conducts his business, he was reading some reports from the FIA stewards about the Panis/Heidfeld travesty. They indeed did not see Heidfeld block Panis on many occasions during the race. After reviewing the replays, Heidfeld was not even told once to pull over by the officials. But since everybody was supporting Heidfeld, he was left with no choice but to kick Olivier Panis out of F1. Suddenly, a ray of hope shined on Panis in the form of his young Canadian teammate.
"Excuse me, sir. Mr. Riley Jenius of the British American Racing team is here on his teammate's behalf." Bernie's secretary said through the intercom,
"Riley? That's odd. Whenever he has a problem, he always comes to me on the race weekends. Please show him in." Bernie said. Moments later, a very serious looking Riley Jenius entered the office. Two things gave the F1 Supremo quite a shock. Number one, he was looking very serious. Most of the time, Riley is so laid back. He doesn't let anything get to him. Number two, he was wearing a suit and tie combo which made him look even more serious.
"Mr. Ecclestone. I am here in behalf of my teammate, Olivier Panis. The same man who was shafted by the FIA stewards at Belgium." Riley said. His tone of voice was very businesslike and serious.
"This is quite a surprise to see you here, Mr. Jenius. Now, why don't you give me your reasons for keeping Olivier in F1." Bernie said, wondering who well Riley prepared his defense of his teammate.
"Mr. Ecclestone... Olivier was punished for something he didn't want to do, but had no choice in the situation. Nick Heidfeld's arrogance overshadowed his better judgment. He knew he was a lap down, but thought he was still racing in the points. That is why Olivier punted him out of the way in plain view of the FIA stewards. Those guys didn't even see Heidfeld block my teammate all those times and placed the blame squarely on him!! If I was in Olivier's position, I would have taken out Nick too, just to teach him a lesson." Riley said,
"Mr. Jenius. Everybody in Formula One knows that you'll do that to anybody who wrongs you. Hell, even I know you'll stop your car, get out, drag Heidfeld onto the pavement and start bashing his head against it." Bernie said,
"Mr. Ecclestone. All of us have a lot of respect for you. More than you will ever know. But, if you let the FIA place blame on someone who didn't have another course of action, I will do everything in my power, as will the other drivers, to have you REMOVED from your position as the boss of Formula One if this incident were to be repeated at... the United States Grand Prix at Indy, sir?" Riley asked coldly as he looked right into Bernie's eyes. He was literally scaring the older man. "What would happen if Heidfeld or any slower driver decided to block the leader of the race, oh... let's say a man named Keith Terrell, 30 times and he had no choice but to punt the driver out of his way? And the FIA would disqualify him for that, while not giving the driver a 10 second penalty?" Riley asked, his voice sounded with more coldness than before. He turned his back and started to exit the room, but stopped. "Don't be surprised if every American starts a giant riot at the speedway and destroys millions of dollars worth of equipment. Don't be surprised if Tony George exiles Formula One from America. Don't be surprised if Ferrari pulls out of Formula One and takes Keith Terrell with them. Don't be surprised if Formula One's reputation is tarnished beyond all hope and this causes you to lose your job, only to be replaced by Michael Schumacher. Good day, sir!!" Riley said as he left the office, leaving a speechless Bernie Ecclestone to digest what the Canadian has done. Riley gave him something really good to think about. He walked by his secretary and went to the waiting room to pick up his daughter, who was just sitting by herself waiting for Riley to come get her.
"Are you ok, Daddy?" Celia asked as she looked into Riley's saddened face and jumped off the chair to the floor,
"I'm fine, honey. I just had to give Mr. Ecclestone a piece of my mind, that's all." Riley answered as he took his daughter's hand and headed for the elevator,
"That man is very bad!" Celia said,
"Now, now Celia. Bernie Ecclestone is a lot of things, but he is never bad. Bernie Ecclestone is a fair man who will listen to all sides of conflict before making a decision. He's just trying to get the facts together before he makes a decision, honey." Riley said as they exited the elevator at the lobby,
"Are we ever going to see Uncle Olivier again, Daddy?" Celia asked,
"Uncle Olivier is still not a happy man, Celia. But, he will be back to his old self in a few days. Probably by the time we head to Italy, he'll be happy to see you again. So, why don't we get some ice cream before heading back to the BAR base?" Riley asked, already knowing the answer.
"YEAH!! Can we, can we?!! Please?!!" Celia asked cheerfully,
"Sure. Let's get going." Riley said and the two left the FIA building. Minutes passed by as Bernie Ecclestone digested what Riley had to say about the situation, which his teammate was blamed for something that he had no control of.
"It's hard to believe that Riley Jenius could change from that crazy Canadian that we all know to a compassionate father with a 6-year old daughter and have a lot of concern for his teammate." Bernie said as he thought about what Riley had said to him. Then, Bernie picked up the phone on his desk. "Please get the director of the World Motorsport Council as soon as possible. He's not going to believe what I just heard." Bernie said as the WM director came on line a minute later and was told of the very convincing testimony of one Riley Jenius. Would it be enough to set Olivier free?
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"Man, that was one busy day. I've never given that many lectures about which moves are right for their Pokémon in one day." Zane said as he sat down to take a break. He, along with Brock and Suzie, were swamped with Pokémon trainers trying to get their Pokémon battle ready or learning new methods of Pokémon breeding.
"Other than that, it has been a good day. A lot of people wanted to find out ways to bring out a Pokémon inner strength or to buy Brock's Pokémon food." Suzie added,
"Now where is that magazine? I want to finish Ash's interview." Brock said as he searched for the magazine. It was sitting in another pile of Pokémon magazines and Zane picked it up before Brock found it.
"Let me see that mag for a second, Brock. Holy crap!! That guy was a Suicune?!!! What a lucky bastard!!! He nabbed one of the Legendary Dogs!!" Zane said surprised as he looked at the picture of Suicune, who pushed Keith on the ground and was licking his face and showing a lot of affection.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot. I still have to ask Ash about how Keith caught Suicune." Brock said as he and Suzie watched Zane look over every page of the magazine. He stopped at the last part of the Ash Ketchum interview.
"Hey, here's the rest of Ash's interview." Zane said as the two looked over Zane's shoulder to read the last of Ash's interview with Damon Hill.
DH: All right, Ash. You may have heard that you have passed Keith Terrell for 3rd place in the Driver's Championship Standings. Does that mean anything to you, being in 3rd place and having a realistic shot of challenging for the lead?
AK: That doesn't come into my mind whatsoever. I'm more focused on the next race in Italy. But... it would be nice if I had the chance to duke it out with Rubens and Juan for the Driver's Championship. Who knows... I could be the youngest Formula One World Champion in history and my record will never be broken.
DH: That is a possibility. Last question. If the law is passed and F1 and the Pokémon League bury the hatchet, will you ever consider trying to achieve your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master?
AK: Becoming a Pokémon Master has been my dream since I was a kid. It's taken a backseat to Formula One, but if the League and F1 do forgive each other for what happened... I will be back!! My Pokémon are more powerful than before and I will kick Gary Oak's ass when we meet!!! What are you going to do, Gary?!! When Ash Ketchum runs wild over you!!!
DH: That will be a fight for the ages. Well, thank you Ash for taking the time to speak with us.
AK: My pleasure, Damon. And I'll punch Michael in the face for what he did to you in Adelaide 1994.
DH: No need. I kicked his ass back in Japan 1999 when I retired.
To Be Continued...
I hope that answers some of your questions about Ash's early days of becoming a Formula One driver. There is a lot more to Ash's training days, which will be answered in later chapters. Also, if you want to know how Keith Terrell actually caught Suicune? I'll tell that story when the Formula One gang heads to Italy coming soon.
Have a question? Got some constructive critism? Want to flame me? Send anything you want to Hornet19us@Yahoo.com. In the next chapter, Ash Ketchum decides to take his Toyota teammate, Allan McNish on a little Pokémon journey. How will the Scotsman deal with roughing it? Look for Chapter 23 soon.
Mario Alvarado
2/20/2003