@Scytherwolf @Soups

Episode 95: Extreme Pokemon!

"I can't believe it--we've seen the three Beasts and heard Ho'oh sing the Swanna Song all in the same day!" Ash smiled as the group walked down the road to Mahogany Town. "It'll be hard for our next visit to Ecruteak to top both our visits!"

"I can hardly wait to see what will happen the next time we come." Misty agreed. "Or what's waiting for us in Mahogany Town..."

She was about to say more when an Arcanine with Gary aboard it dashed before the group. "Well, look who's poking along back here!"

Ash tried oh-so-hard not to lash out at his self proclaimed rival, who was now wearing a green Pokethlon jersey. "Where's your band of cheerleaders?" Brock asked--he remembered Gary having an entourage of cheerleaders with him every time the group met in Kanto.

"Doing a little shopping while I'm scouting the way ahead." Gary smirked. "I heard that there's a Pokethlon that's going to be taking place tomorrow at the dome not far from here--this explains the athletic duds.

"Well, I'm taking the Pokethlon challenge myself, and I plan to defend Ash's honor from all those times you thought he wouldn't amount to much!" Misty shot back. "He has accomplished more than you think!"

"If ya wanna test that theory, head on over to the dome and sign up--smell ya later, until tomorrow!" Gary grinned before dashing off down the road.

"Just when I thought we'd get one trip without running into Gary..." Ash sighed. "But you really think that you can beat his Arcanine with your water types?"

"Sure--water does beat fire, so if we were having an actual battle, I'd be more than happy to wipe the smirk off his face for you." Misty replied. "And I meant every word when I said I'd defend your honor--you are much more than he thinks you are!"

"Yeah, we've got your back!" Brock agreed.

Ash noticed Tintri was offering his bansi to him. "Oh, you want me to motivate Misty a little with a fight song?"

With that, he started a festive march-like melody dotted with high trills, which rang down the road as the group continued on their way...

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"Okay--this one is another Speed-type Pokethlon." Misty mused when she emerged from the dressing room in the Pokethlon dome the next day. "So it is Sango's time to debut, with Michelle and Pearl as the backups.

She went on "Since competitors on all three tracks are competing together this time, water competitors and air competitors will still compete in their element against those competing on land."

"Not sure how exactly that works, but okay." Brock replied as he consulted the Pokemon stat guide. "If Sango struggles, Pearl might be able to go toe to toe against Gary's Arcanine."

"It may be Sango's first time in the arena, but I'm sure we can win." Misty assured Brock as she started towards the competitor's entrance.

"Good luck!" Ash called before following Brock to the stands to get a seat overlooking the track, which was cut into different lanes for land, water, and air competitors.

"First up today is the Relay Run--Gary and his Arcanine are obviously the favorites, but let's see who Misty chooses." Brock mused as he looked over the list of competitors and their Pokemon in the Pokethlon program.

He balked when Misty emerged in a water lane aboard Sango some moments later. "She's using Sango? When Sango has never been used in a Pokethlon before?"

"I'm not so sure a Corsola can outrun an Arcanine, even in the water..." Ash swallowed hard as Gary and the other Pokethletes made their way on the track.

Misty flashed him a thumbs up as she and Sango paddled into position, as if to say "Just trust me, okay?"

"Ready?" the announcer called. As soon as the starting gun went off, Gary and his Arcanine raced out into the lead, but Misty and Sango were not far behind him.

"Maybe picking Sango was a good choice after all." Ash noted as the Corsola in the waterway inched closer and closer to the Arcanine on the ground.

As the clock reached thirty seconds to go, Ash noticed the Arcanine on the track and the Corsola in the waterway were neck and neck. "Come on, Misty!" he cheered. "You can do it!" Brock whistled in agreement as the Arcanine and the Corsola raced each other down the track for one last lap.

"Okay...third place managed 12 laps...." Brock reported as the results for the event appeared on the scoreboard. "Gary's in second with 15 laps..."

He smiled when he saw a 7 in the first place spot. "...and Misty edged him to take gold with 16 laps."

"She wasn't kidding when she said she'd defend my honor..." Ash mused as the track was cleared off, and hurdles were added in preparation for the Hurdle Dash.

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"Whoa!" Ash gasped as Gary's Arcanine sprinted out into a commanding lead, leaving Misty and the other Pokelethletes to jockey for the remaining spots, since first was a foregone conclusion. "Misty had no chance against Gary!"

"To be fair, Sango was also somewhat tired for competing in a racing event just before this..." Brock cautioned as he watched Misty break away from a Pokethlete riding a Pidgeot to make a distant third place, despite trying to catch up to the Lucario rider in second.

"Even with jumps involved, an Arcanine would easily overtake any other Pokemon, especially in a straight sprint." Ash mused as the rest of the field began crossing the finish line.

Brock watched as Misty crossed the line in third. "Even though Misty lost the Hurdle Dash, eventually Gary's Arcanine is going to tire, and assuming he doesn't have any backup Pokemon, Misty could rally to win the final event." he cautioned. "So don't count Misty out just yet!"

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"Okay...our final event is Capture the Flag." Brock reported has he and Ash found seats overlooking the Capture the Flag field. "This time, competitors on all three tracks will work together on the same field to find all seven flags first."

"Looks like Misty's going to use Michelle for this event..." Ash mused as he watched Misty and her faithful Golduck emerge onto the field and jog towards the START line.

"Great choice--she can run on land as well as swim in water." Brock grinned.

On the field, Michelle noticed that Gary's Arcanine was wheezing hard as he took his place at the line. [What's wrong with the Arcanine? Does Gary not have any other Pokemon for the competition?]

"Maybe he was just that confident in his Arcanine, he didn't feel like he needed a backup." Misty mused, waving to the boys in the stands. "Let's show him how having a backup or two can make all the difference!"

No sooner had the whistle blown to start the event, had Misty and Michelle taken an early lead, beating the Pidgeot to the red flag in a hollow tree, and snatching the orange flag from a pool. Gary tried to beat Misty to the yellow flag in a bush, but he got caught up in traffic, allowing Misty and Michelle to power ahead.

Ash noticed that Gary's Arcanine was tiring quickly. "Hey, Brock...sing 'Glory in Our Story' to cheer Misty and Michelle on?" he asked as Misty grabbed a green flag dangling in a ring, just as the song began to play over the speakers to pump up the crowd and motivate the Pokehletes.

"Sure..." Brock replied before leading the song. We all have a dream inside our hearts that we will follow to the end...
When you make a wish upon a star, the power flows, inside of you!

Everybody listen to this song and sadness will just disappear! Ash sang as he watched Michelle grab the blue flag sticking up from the ground.
My wishes, dreams and hopes go forth into the world...

Come along and take my hand, come with me for the ride, Brock sang as Michelle grabbed the indigo flag from a sand pit.
Together we will step through the door
And see the light shining from our own heavenly land!

As Michelle grabbed a purple flag from some vines, both boys sang Come with me and we will see the wonders of the world!
All of the glory, is in our story!

As we make our way to heaven, take it step by step
And get the glory, upon the great stage!

We can go anywhere, so long as we're together
I truly believe it with all of my heart... they sang to urge Michelle and Misty towards the finish line, with Gary not far behind.
The cards here in my hand,
Show you the way...

Ash watched as Misty and Michelle were the first pair to cross the line as the song ended. "They did it!" he cried as the scoreboard displayed that Misty had edged Gary by half a second.

"A well earned win, no matter how narrow." Brock agreed as Misty waved to the crowd...

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"Nicely done." Ash smiled as the group departed the medal ceremony later that evening. "You really did defend my honor. Now you only need two more medals before the Grand Pokethlon!"

"I wanted to prove to Gray you are hardly the wimp he sees you as." Misty explained. "As I promised, this silver medal was earned defending your honor, and showing him you are no weakling."

Just then, Gary approached the group. "Hey...I admit I was too confident in Arcanine, but all the same, I had a blast trying out the Pokehlon, even though I lost."

"Oh, I've had practice on her Pokethlon journey, but I've got my eyes on the Grand Pokethlon!" Misty smiled. "Just as Brock has his sights on the Grand Lore Stage, and both you and Ash have your sights on the League."

"Point well taken...at any rate, I look forward to meeting you in the League, Ash." Gary grinned before departing.

Ash was stunned at how cordial Gary had been to him. "Wow...that's the first time Gary's been nice to me since before we left on our Pokemon adventures."

"Maybe he's starting to see that Pokemon is not all power and glory--and you're teaching him that with every encounter you have." Brock explained. "So whenever you two meet in the Johto League, I know it will be a match for the ages!"

To Be Continued...