1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 33: Lightspeed and Booster

The next morning inside the Pokéathlon Dome felt different. The Root, Milky, and Horseshoe Badges were safe in my case, but two bright course symbols still waited for us. Pikachu stared at the Speed Course sign from my shoulder while one Eevee padded beside Lillie and Togepi rode in her arms.

Eevee glanced at Pikachu and flicked one ear. "He has been staring at that sign since breakfast. I think it already lost."

Pikachu looked down at Eevee with a grin. "It has not lost until I run the course. Then it can admit defeat."

Aipom hung upside down from a nearby railing and watched the Power Course sign.

Reisa looked from one glowing symbol to the other. Marill stood beside her shoes. "So what is the next course?"

"I'll go with Speed," I said.

Pikachu's ears snapped up at once. He jumped from my shoulder to the floor and crouched like the race had already started. "At last. I have been waiting for this one."

Lillie laughed softly because she heard him too. "Pikachu has been waiting for that one."

Yellow stepped closer with a more serious look than before. "If you're going to enter the Speed Course, then you're going to have to face Jet, the Pokéathlon's top Pokéathlete."

"Jet?" East asked, looking toward the arena gates with sudden interest.

"He has the top-class score in every event and every course," Ethan said, sounding impressed despite himself. "People here talk about him like he is the Champion of the Dome."

I glanced toward the arena gates. A tall Trainer in a sharp red uniform stood among cheering fans and reporters, his Pokémon moving with practiced confidence.

"I'm not going to lose to someone like him," I said, smiling.

Togepi wriggled suddenly in Lillie's arms. She bent quickly when he pushed both tiny hands against her sleeve. "Togepi?"

He hopped down before she could stop him, hurried across the floor, and stopped in front of me with both arms raised.

I crouched. "Togepi, you want to enter this?"

Togepi bounced in place, eyes shining. "I want to try too."

Lillie's expression softened at once. "Well, I guess Togepi really wants to do it."

I looked at the Speed Course board, then back at him. "It is hard, and Jet is strong. You might fall behind."

Togepi puffed up his little body and planted his feet. "Then I will keep running until I reach everyone again."

Pikachu stepped beside him and flicked his tail against Togepi's shell. "Stay near my lane when you can. If you fall, stand up and keep moving."

Golbat emerged from his Poké Ball when I chose the third place and stretched his wings wide.

Golbat looked down at Togepi, then toward the arena gate. "I'll watch from above. The little one will not be alone."

Eevee touched noses with Togepi before backing away. "Bring back something shiny. Everyone keeps bringing back shiny things from those courses."

"Then I'll go with Pikachu, Togepi, and Golbat," I said.

Yellow smiled. "That is a good team."

East studied the event screen. "Hurdle Dash, Pennant Capture, Relay Run. Pikachu handles acceleration. Golbat can read the course from above. Togepi is difficult to predict."

"Togepi is my wild card," I said.

Ethan grinned. "That sounds dangerous."

"It usually is," Kris said dryly.