At Dario's shout, thick smoke instantly filled the mountain valley.
"Hmph! Team Rocket!"
"Since you—" Jessie was about to deliver her usual lines when she suddenly realized it didn't quite fit the situation.
"Hey, Jessie, that kid already recognized us! Should we still say our lines?" James didn't follow up with the script.
"Huh? They figured us out already? But I feel weird if I don't say my lines!"
"Then say them!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"Meowth, that's right! Enough of that—let's get to work, ha!"
Team Rocket detonated the bombs they had planted near Kazuki, blasting him and Ponyta into a deep pit. Large boulders tumbled down, seemingly trapping them.
"Ha! Success! We finally pulled off a plan!"
Jessie and James were so moved they nearly cried.
"Wait, that's weird. How did that brat end up standing exactly where James planted the bombs?"
"Ha! I calculated it perfectly! I knew he'd stop here to resupply!" James boasted proudly.
"You three actually came through! Once I win, I'll make sure you get your cut! Just deal with that brat!" Dario, seeing Kazuki and Ponyta pinned under the rocks, relaxed.
"Dario, they're the infamous Team Rocket. If you win by colluding with them, aren't you afraid the chief will hold you accountable?" Kazuki, still in the pit, didn't seem panicked at all. Instead, he questioned Dario.
"Hahaha! Accountable?" Dario smirked. "This mountain path is full of falling rocks and pits! And there's no footage of this section!"
"You're just an outsider. Who do you think the chief will believe—me or you?"
"Kazuki! We had no beef before!"
"But that bitch Lara—I had Team Rocket break her arm so she couldn't compete!"
"And then you two lovebirds somehow tamed Ponyta anyway!"
"That old fool of a chief is senile! I'm the best at raising Pokémon!"
"Lara's just a useless hack who only got by because of that rare, high-potential Ponyta!"
"But the chief kept praising her, secretly using this race to decide the next chief candidate!"
"Don't blame me, Kazuki! Blame how important this race is!"
"That bitch Lara's Ponyta was too much of a threat to my candidacy!"
Kazuki finally understood why Dario would risk working with Team Rocket over a simple race.
So the race was tied to the Laramie Village's leadership succession.
No wonder the judges were all those old men with white beards.
"But Lara didn't know this race was about the chief candidate!"
"She just wanted everyone to see how well she raised Ponyta!"
"Of course she didn't know! The old men discussed it in secret!" Dario grew more agitated.
"They just wanted an excuse to make Lara the candidate!"
"Luckily, I overheard them! Otherwise, that thief Lara would've gotten the position!"
Kazuki chuckled and shook his head. "You knew the stakes but didn't train harder. Instead, you resorted to dirty tricks—because deep down, you already knew you were inferior to Lara."
"You're not just incompetent—you're a terrible person!"
"So what?! I'm winning this race! The chief position is mine!" Dario popped open an imaginary champagne bottle.
"Boss, go win that race! Don't forget our cut once you're chief! We'll handle this brat!" Team Rocket gloated, thinking they had Kazuki cornered.
Dario gave one last glance to confirm Kazuki was immobilized before sprinting downhill.
"If someone like him becomes chief, the Laramie Village is doomed!" Kazuki patted Ponyta's side.
"We don't care about them! Kid, hand over your Pokémon, and maybe we'll pull you out!"
"You three are like cockroaches—always showing up where you're not wanted!"
With a burst of psychic energy, Kazuki had Ponyta kick the boulder away, sending Team Rocket flying.
Kazuki had sensed their trap with his Aura Power the moment he entered the supply zone.
He deliberately stepped into it to lure Dario into confessing his scheme—all while Pidgeot broadcasted everything from above.
The moment the explosion happened, Kazuki used his psychic abilities to levitate the boulders, only pretending to be trapped.
"Impossible! How is that brat not crushed?!"
"Ponyta's a Fire-type! Since when do they have that kind of strength?!"
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaaain!"
Before they could finish their signature exit, a shadow loomed over them.
"Huh? Why'd it get dark all of a sudden?"
"N-No! Jessie, it's that brat's Pidgeot!"
"Pidgeot, Gust!"
With a single flap of its wings, Pidgeot sent Team Rocket soaring into the clouds.
Kazuki and Ponyta leaped out of the pit.
Dario's confession, broadcasted live, left the chief and elders grim-faced. The audience of thousands buzzed with outrage—how could the Laramie Village's race be so corrupt?
Lara was wracked with guilt for putting Kazuki in danger.
Misty and Suzie were furious, ready to unleash their Pokémon and demand justice from the chief.
But then Kazuki and Ponyta burst back onto the screen, leaping out of the pit.
The chief's hope reignited. "Young man, go! If Dario wins, the Laramie Village's reputation will be ruined!"
Misty and the others jumped to their seats in excitement.
On the mountain path, Kazuki stroked Ponyta's mane.
"Ponyta! Did you hear how Dario insulted your trainer?"
"He denied all the effort Lara put into raising you!"
"Let's show him who the real failure is!"
Kazuki knew Ponyta was on the verge of evolution. Channeling its rage, a brilliant white light engulfed it.
Ponyta's body grew larger, a sharp horn sprouting from its forehead as it evolved into Rapidash!
Kazuki tugged the reins. Rapidash reared up with a fierce cry, its eyes burning with fury toward Dario.
Then, like a tiger descending a mountain, Kazuki and Rapidash charged after Dario with unstoppable momentum.
---
Dario, riding Dodrio, smugly entered the final stretch, certain of his victory.
But then Kazuki and Rapidash appeared behind him.
Dario glanced back and nearly fell off.
"W-What?! He caught up?!"
"And Ponyta evolved into Rapidash?!"
"Those useless Team Rocket idiots couldn't even handle one guy!"
"Damn it! Why won't he just stay down?!"
"Where did Lara find this freak?!"
"Faster, Dodrio! The finish line's right there!"
Kazuki and Dodrio entered the final sprint.
"Kazuki!" Misty, as always, was the first to shout his name.
"Kazuki, you can do it! You'll always be the champion in my heart!"
"Kazuki, go!" Suzie and Lara joined in.
"Kazuki! Kazuki!" Soon, the entire stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
Dario, still slightly ahead, couldn't understand why even his own tribe was rooting for Kazuki.
"Fine! None of you believe in me?!"
"Then I'll take this championship and prove I'm the strongest!"
Dario roared as the finish line came into view.
But his triumph was short-lived.
The sky darkened as Kazuki and Rapidash soared over Dodrio, shattering the finish line ribbon first.
The chief, who had half-risen from his seat in anticipation, finally exhaled and sat back down.
Dario, seeing Rapidash cross the line before him, froze in shock—then faceplanted into the dirt.
This time, it wasn't Kazuki's doing. Dario had been so stunned he lost control of Dodrio entirely.
"YEAH! KAZUKI! CHAMPION!" Misty nearly leaped off the stands, but Suzie held her back.
"Kazuki! You were amazing! I knew you'd win!" Misty jumped into Kazuki's arms, cheering.
"This was all thanks to Lara's training. Without such a high-potential Rapidash, no amount of skill would've won this race."
Kazuki stroked Rapidash's mane. He couldn't see its stats, but after this race, he knew—this Rapidash had Elite Four-level potential, maybe even higher.
"Speaking of, where's Lara? Her Rapidash just won! Shouldn't she be celebrating?" Misty looked around.
Lara was standing with her head lowered, slowly making her way toward Kazuki.
"Lara, Kazuki and your Rapidash won! Why aren't you happy?" Suzie asked.
Lara looked up, tears streaming down her face, and burst into sobs the moment she saw Kazuki.
"Waaaaah—! I'm so sorry, Kazuki! I didn't know the race would be this dangerous!"
"I—I never meant for you to take such risks, to—to get crushed by boulders for me!"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Her tear-streaked face was heartbreaking.
Kazuki wiped her tears with a tissue. "It's not your fault. I wanted to experience this race too."
"And look—I came back perfectly fine, didn't I?"
His gentle touch shattered Lara's last defenses. Her affection for Kazuki skyrocketed like a rocket.
"Hahaha, this is the first time I've ever seen Lara cry!" The chief approached, holding the gold medal and the Laramie Village's sacred emblem.
Lara, seeing the elders, hastily wiped her eyes.
"Chief, Kazuki, I—" Overwhelmed, she couldn't find the words.
The chief smiled kindly. "I understand. It's only in front of those we trust most that we show our vulnerability."
"Lara, you have good taste in men. Kazuki is worthy of this gold medal."
He personally placed the medal around Kazuki's neck.
"M-Men?! Chief, I—we haven't—it's not like that!" Lara's guilt instantly flipped into flustered embarrassment.
"Such shyness doesn't suit a future chief."
"F-Future chief?!" Lara's emotions whiplashed again.
The chief handed her the tribal emblem. "Dario was right—this race was about selecting the next chief candidate."
"But he misunderstood. It wasn't decided by this race alone."
"The candidate was chosen through long observation."
"Today's race was just the final test."
"Lara, your Rapidash is exceptionally well-trained."
"And!" He glanced at Kazuki. "I believe the Laramie Village will gain strong, new blood in the future."
"Kazuki, would you do the honor of presenting Lara with the chief's emblem?"
Lara wanted to protest, but the chief's clever move left her speechless.
Kazuki, never one to refuse benefits, took the emblem without hesitation and stepped toward Lara.
Lara, completely defenseless against him, lifted her head.
"Th-Thank you, Kazuki!"
As he fastened the emblem, their proximity made her heart race.
So close! My favorite man is so close!
I want to kiss him! Hug him! Have his babies!
No, no! Too many people! Misty and Suzie are here! The chief is watching!
And Dario hasn't been punished yet!
Once the emblem was secured, Lara immediately turned to the chief, her anger reignited.
"Chief! Dario clearly cheated! He endangered Kazuki! He has to be punished!"
Her protective fury was unmistakable—she was ready to fight for her man.
----
Join my Patreon for early access to chapters and to support my work: Patreon.com/rivyura