Wai! Another chapter!
Disclaimer: Will they really check every chapter of every fanfic in existence? Don’t think so in my opinion, but anyways, don’t steal my fic!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 10
Lance and his Gyarados arrived at the surfing contest. There were only a few other contestants: a man on a Dewgong, another man on a Lapras, a girl on a Psyduck, and another little girl on a Slowbro.
This ought to be interesting…
“Welcome to the tenth annual Vermillion surfing contest!” The announcer shouted. “The winner shall receive this prime Dragonair! A chance of a lifetime!”
… One?
“I thought you had two Dragonair.” Lance murmured.
The announcer smiled. “Yes, that was a misprint error… the other Dragonair is a reward for our fifth annual bike race in a week.
“Ah. Thank you.”
This ought to be interesting…. Although he wasn’t sure his cycling skill was that good. Perhaps Ash wouldn’t mind competing….
Shrugging, he waited for the whistle to blow, signaling the start of the race. Soon enough, a shrill blast split the air, and the five trainers rushed forwards through the waves.
The man riding the Dewgong was quite skilled, despite his advanced age… Lance made a mental connection. Aha, Pryce, the gym leader of Mahogany… although why he wanted a Dragonair was up for grabs.
Still, he wouldn’t lose so easily.
< Gyarados, faster! We’re almost there… >
The dragon shot forwards, striking past the finish line and crashing into the sand, but no matter…. They had won.
Lance was presented with a poke ball containing Dragonair, and that was enough. One down…
“You’re sending me on a mission, aniki?”
Lance nodded as Ash studied his brand new bright red bicycle. “Yes. You are to obtain a Dragonair from Vermillion’s fifth annual bike race. If you win first prize, so be it. If you have to steal it…”
Ash nodded. “I understand.” The bridge must be crossed sometime…
It did not matter. He would simply win the bike race and all would be well. After all, he had won Celadon’s cycling contest last year…
He would simply do it again…
“Welcome, welcome, to the fifth annual Vermillion Bike Race!” The man shouted eagerly. “This race will take you across all four islands of Vermillion’s port! The first winner to reach the last island and obtain the blue flag will receive this Dragonair as a reward!”
Ash brushed a hand across the six poke balls on his belt. He wasn’t sure he would need to use them, but just in case, well~!
In these bike races, you were allowed to use your pokemon, as long as you did not attack the other trainers – or so he assumed. If not, he’d adapt.
“On your marks, get set, go!” The announcer shouted, before blasting an ear-splitting note on a shrill whistle. About thirty or forty bikers took off at this signal, legs pumping furiously.
Ash was quite glad to see that he was still in physical shape as his legs furiously pumped the pedals. The bike was a good one, not like the cheap bike he had used from the Pokemon Fan Club last time…
There was a long stretch of sandy beach to bike down, and then a rickety one-bike bridge to the next island…
Well, no problem! He laughed at the line of trainers who were all stuck in a crowd behind the bridge, arguing who was going first. This would be easy…
“Gyarados, let’s Surf!”
The water serpent proudly raced through the waters, his master on his back. Ash blew a kiss to the stunned trainers behind him.
Didn’t anyone have water pokemon?
On the second island, he found that there were traps set in the sand. He fell into one and landed in a pit ten feet down. Luckily…
“Venus, I choose you!” Ash shouted, throwing the poke ball up and out of the pit. The plant pokemon obligingly extended her vines and fished her master and his bike out. Now feeling a bit wary, Ash released Vee, his Espeon, to scan for any other traps. Three were found and all avoided.
The next island – after another gyarados crossing – involved biking over a jagged rock beach. Ash frowned. If he rode his bike over those, the tires would be gone in no time flat. Hmm…
If only he had something to protect his bike with!
Would a light screen defense work? No, that probably would not work… Ash checked his backpack. All it had were three bottles of water and his Swiss Army Pokéknife… that was no good…
Hmm…
Last time, he’d had to surf and make his way through a forest, but this was different… he smiled as a solution presented itself.
“Poli, use Ice Beam!”
A layer of slippery ice covered all the rocks. Ash then released Aeroy and had him scrape up the ice some to increase friction. Then, he pedaled over and down the icy mound and made it to the next island.
Hmm… this was the last one then?
He frowned. There were no visible traps, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any… Vee was once again called out, but he reported nothing….
All right then!
He pedaled across the beach quickly and found the announcer waiting with a broad grin.
“So you won!”
“Er… yes?”
“What number are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Excellent!” The announcer quickly faxed the information off to the Kanto League and grinned. “Well, here you go!”
Ash took the poke ball, thanked the man, and then had Vee teleport them back to HQ. “Mission accomplished, aniki!”
“Excellent.” Lance smiled. “The rest of the day is your own then.”
“All right!”
End Chapter
Completed 5/15/05