Finding Truth Amongst The Lies

Chapter 35: Multiple POV's

Serena's POV

Is that... As I raced past the figure that had popped out of the forest I saw familiar spikey hair and a ball of yellow fur perched on his shoulder.

"Satoshi!" I gasped out. He wasn't looking at me though. Instead, he seemed to be concentrating on something behind me. A sense of profound relief washed over me and I turned my focus once again on the path in front of me.

I don't know where you came from, Satoshi... But thank you, I thought to him as I yipped loudly, spurring Delta ever faster.

Bethany had gone over the course in detail with me on the nights that I had been training at her home, and after spending hours upon hours training with Delta I was well aware of his insane stamina. So I knew that even if I pushed him hard from the very beginning, he would still make it to the finish line with energy to spare. That is, as long as I could keep far enough ahead of Kaeo to avoid getting Delta hurt.

"I'm going to melt you, Snorunt!" I heard from somewhere behind me. Swallowing past my nerves, I resolutely stayed looking forward just like Bree had instructed me last night.

Bree will handle Kaeo. I just have to trust in Delta and keep moving forward, I thought to myself sternly. I heard a grunt of surprise coming from behind me, followed by a muted explosion, but I refused to turn around.

The path was becoming narrower and a lot rockier in this stretch of the race. If I didn't have Kaeo breathing down my neck I would have slowed Delta to spare the possibility of getting a sharp rock lodged in his hoof. But even as I slackened the reins instinctively, Delta tossed his head and charged forward with fervor. Chuckling to myself I let the prideful pokemon go and leaned forward slightly, encouraging him to go as hard as he wished.

"You can do this, Delta," I called out so that he could hear me. He swished one ear back to acknowledge me then continued running through the rocky terrain with reckless abandon.

Bree's POV

I didn't know who the random trainer was that protected Serena, but I wasn't about to look a gift Rapidash in the mouth. After I saw his Pikachu aim two Electro Balls at Mila and Kaeo I knew instantly that this was NOT your average Pikachu. But I still felt bad leaving him to deal with the younger Stoak siblings alone, so I left Avalugg with him to provide some backup. Then I urged Queen to follow after Kaeo, who had narrowly avoided the rando trainer's attack.

Kaeo didn't seem concerned by the fact that his siblings weren't there to back him up as he spurred his Tauros on, trying to close the distance between himself and Serena. Honestly though, it took my breath away watching her and Delta streak across the ground so fast. It wouldn't have surprised me if they were actually flying. I pulled my thoughts back to the task at hand though when I saw Kaeo reaching for another pokeball.

What's your next move, you uber jerk? I thought to myself, wishing that I could send my thoughts like attacks at his back and knock him off the Tauros. That thought sparked an idea though and I flicked my finger over another of my pokeballs braided into the reins. A red light shot past my ear and I felt small hands clutch desperately at my shoulder as Whimscott tried not to get tossed away from me the speed that Queen had us going at.

"Whimsicott, aim an Energy Ball right at the jerk's back!!" I called out, feeling more and more annoyed by the second. Both at Kaeo and my own inability to spur Queen to a speed that matched Delta's.

I felt Whimsicott's little hands hold onto my bodysuit with a death grip as he pulled himself up and eventually held onto my head. The poor puffball was battling against the wind fiercely, ignoring his instincts to just float along gently in the chaotic current. Eventually, he made it to the top of my head, holding on with his stubby legs and one arm as he raised his other arm up into the air.