Chapter 104

"Come on, Leaf!" Misty clenched her fists and determinedly stared at the giant screen, which showed all the participants of the Tauros Race on their marks at the starting line.

The orange-haired girl had not shown any sadness at coming third in yesterday's race, but everyone knew that she only showed her calmness because she did not want Rapidash to feel bad about it.

Her Fire Horse was upset with himself, but she consoled it and then took him out on an evening training session, preparing for the Free-For-All that was two days later.

And right before Leaf left for the starting position an hour ago, she had made the hazel-eyed girl promise that she would not lose to Ash in this race.

It was unnecessary since the girl from Pallet Town was only planning on winning the competition. Also, Ash was going to use his own Pokémon in this race, and knowing him, he had not put much effort into training for today's race.

The boy had been beyond himself after winning yesterday's race. Lara had let him keep the prize money, which he was ecstatic about, and then she had thrown a sumptuous dinner in celebration.

Misty could not be present at the dinner as she was out training with her Rapidash, but everyone else, including Sabrina, attended it.

"Floee..."

"Pichuuu..."

"Bulba..."

Aizen smiled when Leaf's Pokémon prayed for her win. And when he looked at her Charmander, who was seriously looking at the screen, he felt happy for Leaf that she was so much admired by this little Fire Lizard.

"Yes!!!" Everyone broke out in cheers when the race started and Leaf shot into the lead with her Tauros.

The speed of her Tauros had surprised those around her and the audience, but her friends were expecting it. After all, Aizen had helped her and Misty pick the finest Tauros from all the ones that they had caught in the Safari Zone. It was a true beast.

Misty smirked when the commentators commented on how Ash Ketchum was not even in the top 10 despite winning yesterday. And one of them even questioned where the boy had got lucky because he rode Laramie Family's Ponyta.

Ash looked really flustered as he was not expecting such an outcome. But he kept talking to his Tauros to go faster and faster. His confidence in his Pokémon did work a little, as he managed to get into the 10th spot after they passed the halfway mark of the race course, but it was not going to be enough to win or even make it into the top 5.

Leaf had fallen into the third spot when they emerged out of the last hurdle, which was a snake-way track with sharp curves. But in the last straight stretch, which was 1.5 kilometres long, she managed to retake her 1st position. But the result was a very close call as she managed to win by a margin of only a foot.

"Yes, yes, yes!!!" Anira and Misty excitedly jumped up on their feet and grabbed each other's hands before excitedly hopping on their feet.

Charmander let out a cute roar and a plume of fire from its mouth on his Master's win. And all of Leaf's Pokémon were excitedly cheering for her.

"Congrats, guys!" Brock, who had just arrived in the stands after coming second in the Dodrio Race, sincerely said.

"Thank you!" Aizen smiled at him. "You did well too, and you still have a chance at the Free-For-All." He said.

"You think so?" The dark-skinned boy smiled and expectantly asked.

"Yes." He honestly nodded his head. "You came second after only training for a couple of days. Two more days, and you could even lift the trophy."

"Thanks, Aizen. I guess I needed that encouragement." He brightly smiled and then sighed when he caught Ash looking depressed after the race. "I will go talk to him"

Anira, Misty, and all of Leaf's Pokémon were already surrounding her, happily congratulating her and Tauros on the win.

"Ladies and Gentle, we present you the winner of the Annual Fuschia Tauros Race, Leaf Green! Mayor Johnson will now present her with the golden trophy, and the winner's check!" The Master of Ceremony announced and the crowd enthusiastically clapped for Leaf.

Aizen and Sabrina too clapped for her as she accepted a golden trophy with a Tauros on its head, and a check for 50,000 dollars. The check was only for the show since the money had already been transferred to her account, not that she really cared about it.

Staying with Aizen and Anira, Leaf had stopped fretting over money since she already had a lot in her account after receiving a weekly deposit of a handsome sum of her sponsorship money.

"Aizen!" The Hazel-eyed girl happily ran up to him and hugged him. "Thank you!!!"

"Congratulations!" He chuckled and hugged her back before giving her the loveable pats that she had come to enjoy a lot. "You did great!"

She blushed a little at the praise and nodded her head.

"I will win the Free-For-All too!" She determinedly promised him.

"Why not?" He shrugged and smiled before Misty chided in.

"I won't make it easy for you!" The orange-haired girl promised her. "And I don't plan on losing another race."

"But I plan on winning another one." Leaf competitively looked back at her in the eyes, and both the girls smirked at each other.

On their way back to their cottage, Leaf was approached by a group of people, mostly Tauros enthusiasts and also Lara Laramie. One rich man even offered her half a million dollars for her Tauros, but Leaf adamantly refused to sell her Pokémon.

She was not comfortable with the idea of selling her Pokémon, any of them, but more than that, the Tauros was a gift from Aizen since he had helped her pick it. How could she give it away?

The man was not disappointed at her refusal and promised to make a better offer to her after the Free-For-All, but Leaf honestly told him that she could not sell her Tauros as it was given to her by her family.

Her excuse seemed to work and all the people who intended to make offers to her stepped back.

"You have a wonderful Tauros, Leaf!" Lara enviably said. "I was going to offer you a million on behalf of my family, but I guess would never part with it."

"Never!" Leaf brightly smiled at her and said.

Lara did not seem disappointed about not getting the Tauros for her family, and she invited them to her family restaurant, where she had thrown them dinner last night. And everyone happily accepted her invitation.

"So, Misty, do you plan on using your Tauros in the Free-For-All?" Anira curiously asked as they had their lunch.

"No!" The orange-haired girl shook her head. "Rapidash and I will win the race." She confidently said and she happily chewed on her steak.

"You would have a better chance of winning the race with your Tauros. Your Rapidash evolved ahead of time, and it will take a few months for it to unleash its full potential." Sabrina indifferently said, which made Misty pause.

Of course, she knew this too. Her Rapidash had evolved ahead of time in its desire to mate with its favourite mare, and as a result, it was not strong enough yet.

"I know. But I won't participate in the race without Rapidash." She calmly smiled and met Aizen's eyes, who nodded to her, appreciating her decision.

She was prioritising the bond between her and her Pokémon over a competition that was not of much importance to her.

"Well, Rapidash is a tough fellow and gave its all in yesterday's race. And fortune favours the bold." Anira sweetly said, which delighted Misty.

"We will win!" She announced and happily enjoyed her steak.

"Floee!!" Leaf's starter supported her as well, enjoying her PokePuffs.

After a delightful lunch, they thanked Lara for her hospitality and then left for their cottage.

Leaf and Misty planned on going out to train after a quick nap, but Aizen and Sabrina were taking their day off. They joined Anira and then the three of them went out to explore the Laramie Estate.