“They’re about to catch up, Palmer! Time to show them what we’ve got!” Justin cried. Behind him, Whitney and her ostentatious Ride were peeking out from the corner of his eyes and the hot blooded teen was starting to really feel the pressure.

  “DaAaAaAsh!!!” With an energetic neigh, Palmer’s spotted visage blurred from the use of Agility and broke out into a Flame Charge of his own.

  Nina sighed at the sight. The dumbass had just fallen into Whitney’s trap.

  And sure enough, the Galarian Rapidash soon pulled back and comfortably settled behind the slipstream formed by the flaming vortex, just leisurely galloping along.

  “Welp, no point looking a gift horse in the mouth. Let’s join in on the free ride, Ricey.”

  “Brrrr…!” With a forceful huff, compressed blue flames erupted from Rice’s hooves, exploding onto the ground and allowing the resourceful Ponyta to pull ahead via the inner track and cut into fourth. Just far enough to feel the warm vortex of Palmer’s Flame Charge and the subsequent relief in wind resistance.

  Compared to her seniors, Rice Shower had a limited reserve of Type Energy and an even more limited pool of moves to pull from. So part of their preparations going into this match was finding ways to more creatively and efficiently make use of what she had.

  Simple manipulation of Fire Type Energy like Rice just displayed did not count against her move quota and allowed her to surprise her opponents when the occasion called for it since there was no tell.

  “Incredible maneuver from Rice Shower, stealing fourth place from Kaze no Windy! Midway through the third straight, will Windy retaliate? Or save his strength for the final spurt?”

  “RaAaAaAa!”

  Nina chuckled. “It seems we pissed them off, Ricey. Get ready to fight back.”

  A circular hoop of Fire materialized in front of the tailing Rapidash which Nina recognized to be the beginning of a horizontal Flame Wheel. It seemed that Kaze no Windy was not holding back. No doubt, thanks to the amateur celebrity Rider holding his reins.

  And just when Windy was about to step into the hoop, Nina cried; “Now, Ricey!”

  Ominous black and blue flames erupted from the pitch black Ponyta and formed a terrifying visage facing her rear. Mean Look — another one of the secret weapons that Nina prepared in collaboration with her team. In particular, Azzy and Brucey.

  Mean Look was traditionally not a move that a Ponyta could learn — their faces were too cute for that. IF Rice had tried to use it the conventional way of course…

  Rice Shower’s blue flames had always reminded Nina of Azzy’s, not in terms of feel but appearance. And Nina’s beloved Haunter had always been a bit of an outlier among her species.

  In particular, the Haunter was simply too kind and good natured for the more heinous moves within her repertoire and was never able to learn Mean Look the proper way. The solution, after a quick consultation with Hattori, was to make use of her ghostly flames. By moulding the ominous grey flames to look like the face of a sinister demon, Azzy was able to use that as a medium for Mean Look.

  It also helped that the move was Normal Type to begin with. So Rice Shower could easily harness the required Energy. All that was left then was to learn the finer mechanics of how Azzy executed the move. A simple affair that was further expedited using Espy’s empathic abilities.

  Nina called for the move at the pivotal moment when Kaze no Windy was about to step into his Flame Wheel for a boost, causing him to falter in the very last second as a feeling of dread overcame the Rapidash.

  The result was a misstep that caused their opponent to stumble and veer towards the side, crashing into the rim of the Fire hoop as opposed to the center. And the best part, failed moves counted towards their quota as well, so Windy could no longer use Flame Wheel for the remainder of the race.

  “D-Dammit!” The rider on top of Windy stammered — some B-list Pokegram influencer whose name Nina never bothered to learn. “Don’t let that t-twerp get away w-with it, Windy! F-Flame Charge!” He called, but to no avail. Similar to his Rider, the Rapidash was still in the throes of terror, inflicted by the dainty little Ponyta ahead of him.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Nina let out a chilling smirk. “Ricey hasn’t dispelled her Mean Look just yet, dumbass…” And indeed, the move only counted against her once it was dispelled. As it was, her partner’s execution of Mean Look relied on pure Fire manipulation, malicious intent and Normal Type Energy — a fairly reasonable expenditure, given current circumstances.

  Not that they could hold Mean Look indefinitely of course. But given that the move functioned on sight. The three or so seconds that it was active was enough to force the majority of their rear to cower and fall further behind.

  All except Kerry and her Ikuno Dictus. That mare was cold as ice and stoic as a rock. Although, Nina did notice from her periphery that Kerry’s shoulders were trembling. So evidently, the girl was affected at least.

  “Incredible! An unexpected move from the one and only Aquarium Girl! Is that Ponyta part Ghost Type perhaps?!”

  “Haha. Not at all.” Professor Oak chimed. “Mean Look is actually a Normal Type Move, contrary to the associated stigma. No doubt Nina found a way to teach the move to lovely Rice Shower — the girl’s very good at that sort of thing.”

  “Magnificent! As expected of the one who took down the fearsome Giovanni! With that upset, the board has shuffled once more. The rear is now in complete chaos with SD Card and Blaze being the only ones who managed to break free. At the front, we still have Mejiro Palmer — who ain’t looking so hot anymore, folks!

  “Still right up his rear is Whitney and the indomitable McQueen. But it’s looking like they’re about to make a move soon. Third is Tot Musica, ridden by the masked songstress, Ado. Fourth is our dear Aquarium Girl and Rice Shower with Kerry-Anne Joy and Ikuno Dictus trailing close behind, also looking like they’re about to make their move soon! Hold onto your seats! Because things are really heating up right before the final corner!”

  “Get ready, Ricey. Remember, mind over body… An unyielding mind can help the body transcend.”

  “TaAaAa...”

  To the side, Nina could feel the shift in air pressure — Kerry and Ikuno were about to make their move. With a jerk of the reins, Rice Shower veered wide going into the final curve, using her whole body to block the advance of Ikuno Dictus.

  The Rapidash faltered, or more specifically, Kerry hesitated in her call. The young nurse was obviously still feeling some residual terror, clouding her judgement for fear that Nina might pull something unexpected out of her Ponyta again.

  That hesitation cost her as the jet black Ponyta surged forth, going head to head with third place, Tot Musica.

  Then, the track exploded.

  Fire and fury reigned as every racer in contention bought out their trump cards. To her side, Tot Musica broke out into a Flame Charge in preparation for a Flare Blitz.

  In front, a fragrant Fairy Wind blew around the corner to ensure frictionless passing while a Psychic corridor formed in the upcoming final straight. A Trick Room by McQueen, but used like a travelator for an added boost. At the same time, the unicorn Pokemon’s hooves also crackled with Electric Energy as the Stored Power held by the Galarian Rapidash until this point exploded into a Wild Charge.

  Justin and Palmer though, quickly fell behind. The impatient boy and his rambunctious Rapidash no longer had enough in the tank to maintain their lead. Despite all of Justin’s desperate pleas.

  As for Nina? Nina yelled.

  “TIME TO TRANSCEND YOUR LIMITS, RICEEEEY!!!”

  “TAAAAA!!!”

  Rice Shower ran. She ran and she ran, faster than the Ponyta had ever ran before, pushing past her limits and exceeding Tot Musica even without the use of moves. Her delicate hooves exploded at every step, blue flames trailing her wake.

  And in that moment, when she finally caught up to McQueen’s tail, a blinding white Light of Evolution spilled from the Ponta’s jet black coat. Her radiant blue flames twisting to form a rose bud that cocooned her and propelled her even further. And from that bud of azure Fire bloomed a Rapidash — dark, majestic and beautiful.

  “Quick Attack! Flame Charge! Flame Wheel! Giga Impact! Combine everything and give it all you’ve got, Ricey!!!!”

  “““WOOOO!!!”””

  “Unbelievable! Rice Shower! Rice Showeerr!!! A mid-race Evolution! The first in Johto history! Will this be enough to overcome the reigning champion?! Mejiro McQueen charges forth, lightning crackling in her wake. Mejiro McQueen enters the final straight! Rice Shower is gaining! Rice Shower is now neck and neck!”

  Terry the shoutcaster slammed his palm onto his desk and stood up in a frenzy, dropping his chair and startling his fellow hosts at the same time. But he did not care. This banal exhibition race had just turned into the highlight of this year’s derby.

  “Mejiro McQueen has just entered his Trick Room, gaining an extra burst of speed! But Rice Shower isn’t done just yet! Rice Shower explodes! What is that move?! Flame Charge?! Flare Blitz?! Never in all my career have I ever seen such a meteoric surge! That’s right! A meteor! An unstoppable azure meteor is now blazing into the final spurt!

  “Rice Shower! Rice Showeeerr!!! They’re neck and neck! Rice Shower is neck and neck with Mejiro McQueen, the reigning champion of Johto! From a plucky dark Ponyta to becoming the most upset contender of this season, going head to head with THE Mejiro McQueen in the final spurt!

  “Rice Shower takes the lead! Mejiro McQueen wrenches it back! Rice Shower! Mejiro McQueen! Rice! McQueen! Three lengths! Two lengths! One… and GOAL!!! A picture finish! Rice Shower and Mejiro McQueen — literally head to head across the finish! Who won?! Who lost?! We’ll have to wait to find out!”

  “““WOOOOO!!!””” The crowd went insane, hooting and hollering like Mankeys, stomping their feet and throwing popcorn all over the stand.

  Even among the higher level circuits, this ranked among the most exciting race they had witnessed in a very long time. A sentiment that Terry was in full agreement with as the out of breath shoutcaster continued to talk with a raspy voice.

  “Ahem. Phew… I dunno about you good folks. But I haven’t been that worked up since the first time I saw Red battle Lance for the Champion's mantle back when I was a kid. But, on to the results. I’m sure you’re all— But wait!” The panic in Terry’s voice returned.

  “Rice Shower is still going! Rice Shower won’t stop! Rice Shower CAN’T stop! This isn’t a victory lap, folks! Someone get in there and save that poor girl!”

  But before anyone could intervene, the newly evolved Rapidash buckled, legs giving away in a spectacular crash. Meanwhile, a screaming Nina went flying, her delicate frame heading face first towards the hard, unforgiving ground.