CHAPTER 41 – FLIGHT COMPETITION

In the previous chapter we see how our heroes decide to help Toby and Cindy to look for the supposed golden Magikarp, which turned out to be Team Rocket, which took advantage of the fact that everyone was asleep to steal the Pokémon of both trainers, luckily, our heroes realized and avoided what could have been a tragedy, now our heroes continue their way to Fuchsia City.

With Ash.

Our continuous journey without any incident like that of Team Rocket, in addition, the journey through the forest seemed to be over and finally we found a path free of trees and completely flat, we were also very close to Fuchsia City so we would soon reach our destination.

We continued along the road until we found what appeared to be a huge house made entirely of wood, it looked like a rural house, the fact is that there were numerous people who were queuing at the entrance.

"What's going on there?" - asked Verity.

"No idea, do you want us to come and see what happens?" – I suggested.

"Sounds good to me, now I'm curious to know what's going on" - Nancy nodded.

"Me too, maybe it's some event" - Koharu added.

Having said that, we approached the line and got behind the last one, curiously the one in front of us had a dress that I would swear I had seen before, but I do not remember where...

Either way we better ask.

"Excuse me, could you tell us what's going on here?" – I asked politely.

The person turned and to our surprise it was the coach in orange clothes who was also on New Moon Island back then, and whose name I don't even know.

"Oh, what a coincidence, if it's you, I was already starting to wonder how to contact you, what luck!" – said the boy.

"You're the guy who was on New Moon Island if i remember well" - Nancy said.

"That's right and I didn't even show up back then, my name is Jake, nice to meet you" - Jake introduced himself.

"Delighted, my name is Ash and this is my best friend Pikachu" – I introduced myself.

"Pika pi" – and that was Pikachu raising his arm.

"My name is Nancy, delighted" – that was Nancy.

"Verity, a pleasure" - said Verity.

"My name is Koharu, nice to meet you" – and finally Koharu.

"Good, very good, and now that we've introduced ourselves, let's move on to other things, I think you've asked me what was going on here, right?" - said Jake.

"That's right, as we saw so many people we were curious" – I nodded.

"Then let me explain, let me introduce you to the 35th Fuchsia City flying competition" - Jake explained.

"Flying competition?" - asked Nancy.

"That's right, the 35th concretely" – he nodded.

"So...what exactly needs to be done, is it an obstacle test or something?" – I asked.

"No, it's just a speed test, you see, the road is marked with red signs and it's about going around at full speed with a Pokémon that can take you, the first one to cross the finish line, wins, it's simple, isn't it?" – he explained.

"Is there any kind of prize or something?" asked Verity.

"Wow, you really don't know anything, which is quite funny because Fuchsia City flying competitions are very famous in Kanto" - Jake said in surprise.

"Well... Nancy and Verity come from another region and I... Well, I don't like those things very much" - I explained.

"As for me, I don't watch TV, maybe that's why I never heard of this competition" - Koharu added.

"Oh, I see, then I'll tell you, as for the prize... I have no idea, every year they deliver a new prize and they do not say it to create curiosity to the participants and viewers, a marketing strategy I suppose, I can only say that in each and every one of the editions, they were very generous prizes, last year without going any further they gave a pass to enter the Safari Zone for 10 years free of expenses, With that I tell you everything" - he explained.

We were quite impressed by such a prize, it should be said that, for normal people, entering the Safari Zone costs about 300 Pokedollars per person, which is quite a lot, while trainers are reduced up to 50 per person, but still even if you are a trainer you can enter the Safari Zone for free for 10 years, it means that you save thousands of Pokedollars, they can think of it as an amusement park, although such a park gives away a free entrance for life to a single person, the amount of money you lose is as small as a grain of sand in the desert, it is basically the same concept with the Safari Zone.

"I see you're impressed, so do you want to try your luck? I'm going to participate" - Jake asked.

"Unfortunately I don't have any flying-type Pokémon that can take me" - Verity denied.

"Me neither" - Koharu said.

"I have a flying Pokémon, but it's too small to carry me" - Nancy added.

"And you, how about it, sign up?" – he asked me.

I thought about it for a while, it's not that I really want the truth, the only thing I want now is to get to Fuchsia and rest, I'm exhausted after walking so much.

Seeing me hesitating, Jake insisted.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" – he said.

"... Okay, I'll participate" – I nodded.

"Perfect, now we only have to save the queue to register" – he smiled.

Then we continued talking for a while until finally it was our turn.

We entered the cabin, although inside it looked more like a hotel than anything else, we quickly approached the counter that was in front of the entrance, there was a beautiful woman who had a computer next to her.

"Good morning, I guess you are coming to register for the contest, please tell me your name and the Pokémon with which you will participate" – said the receptionist.

"My name is Jake and I will participate with my Pidgeot," Jake said.

"Jake, and Pidgeot, from what I can see in the database you are a participant of the Indigo League so you are exempt from the registration fee, do any of you show up too?" – asked the receptionist looking at us.

"Just me" – I pointed at myself.

"Perfect, tell me your name and your Pokémon if you don't mind" - said the receptionist.

"My name is Ash and my partner will be Charizard" - I said.

"Ash and Charizard, perfect, I have also been able to verify that he is an aspirant so he will not have to pay for the registration either, do any of you want to sign up too? Signing up is free for challengers" – added the receptionist.

The girls denied mainly because they didn't have Pokémon that could carry them, and Shaymin doubted he could carry Nancy.

"It's a shame, anyway, go through the back door, there are some arrows in case you get confused door, there you will find the rest of the people who will participate and the judge, the tournament will start in an hour, do you have any questions?" – explained the receptionist.

"No" – we said.

"Perfect... by the way before I forget, it is forbidden Mega Evolve your Pokémon, I almost forgot to say it" – said the receptionist.

"Perfect" – I nodded.

Then we headed towards the back door, it was well signposted so there was no loss.

When we left, we could see a lot of people some talking to each other and others alone, if you looked straight ahead, you could see a line, surely it indicated the start of the race and you could even see a small red flag protruding from one of the rock walls, surely it was to indicate the way.

"Well, there are people," Nancy said.

"I already told you, it's a very famous competition in Kanto, many people come just for the show, look until there is a screen where you can see the race" – he said pointing to a huge screen placed right next to the starting line.

"I don't understand, how are they going to record them if they're constantly on the move?" – Koharu asked confused.

"Easy, there are several camera-shaped Rotom placed along the route, so you can see everything that happens in real time," Jake explained.

After this we continued chatting for the remaining hour, until, at last, a person stood in front of the starting line, I will not describe it much, it was simply the typical middle-aged man with white hair and a brown suit, nothing to highlight.

"Please pay attention, I will proceed to explain the rules, if you can be silent this will be fast!" – said the man.

Hearing it, everyone was silent and looked at the man curiously.

"Perfect, now I will proceed to explain the rules, but first of all I will introduce myself, my name is Jeremy and I will be the judge of the 35th flight competition, the rules are simple, as you can see here is a starting line, this is where you will all be put, when from the signal, you will all be able to start, as many of you are new and do not know the route, it is easy to identify, as there will be numerous flags that are held by Rotom cameras, this will also indicate the route, I will be looking at each of you with the screen next to you, so do not bother cheating, the Rotom have a very good memory and will warn me if any of you skip even if it is only a flag, even if it is a mistake, whoever skips a single one, will be disqualified even if they arrive in the first place, if they do not have any questions, they can proceed to take out their Pokémon and place themselves on the starting line!" – Jeremy explained.

Each participant took their Pokémon out of their respective Pokéball and placed them at the starting line which was also the finish line, by the way.

"Good luck!" - said Nancy.

"We'll be supporting you from here!" - said Verity.

"You will win for sure!" - said Koharu.

"Thank you girls!" – I said with a smile.

"Well, get on your Pokémon!" – Jeremy said

Then, everyone climbed into their flying Pokémon.

"Ready? You can start!" shouted Jeremy.

Immediately all the participants took flight and began to fly at full speed.

I, for my part, placed myself among the last on purpose because the tumult of people there was too much at first.

The race started normally, but little by little, the people who were less good were left behind, as for me, I was basically advancing positions little by little too, by the way, I could not see Jake, so I was among the first, which were still quite far from my position.

I must say that the signs were perfectly visible and it was very difficult to skip any, the fact is that I did not know the distance of the route so I had to urge Charizard to go faster, otherwise they could beat us, if they have not won I mean.

"Charizard I'm sorry to ask you for this, but we have to go a little faster" - I said.

"Char!" - exclaimed Charizard.

He didn't seem to complain, but increased his speed to almost double the current one.

In a short time we reached the first and finally I saw Jake, he was indeed in first place while I was in 4th, behind a Skarmory and an Unfezant.

I soon managed to leave both behind by positioning myself in 2nd place, very close to the first.

"I knew I'd see you eventually!" - exclaimed Jake.

"I can't let you win after all!" – I said with a smile.

"That's just what I want, come on Pidgeot, show all your speed!" – Jake said.

"Pidgeot!" - exclaimed Pidgeot.

And he began to distance himself from Charizard.

"Charizard, we can too, let's prove it" - I said.

"CHARRR!" - exclaimed Charizard.

And his speed increased again by placing himself next to Jake's Pidgeot.

"In front is the goal, I won't lose!" – said Jake.

I looked straight ahead and sure enough, the goal was ahead.

"A little more effort Charizard!" - I said.

Charizard nodded and we flew to the goal at full speed, just as we were about to reach the goal, I stretched out my hand with the intention of piercing it earlier, but it seems that Jake had the same idea.

I could not see it well, but I think it ended in a draw, luckily, we were able to stop in time, plus the crowd was far enough away not to be affected by those who entered through the goal.