After walking through a forest, Takuya arrived to a lot of fields, fences and a bunch of the same Pokémon within them.

"Countryside?" Yami said looking at all the field.

Koyuki shook her head, "Don't know."

"Evui?" Jala titled her head from her spot on Takuya's head.

"Let's see who or what lives here," Takuya said as she is looking around, "we maybe near a farm or ranch."

Just then they felt the grounded shaking.

"Do you feel that?" Takuya asked.

"Evuii?" (Earthquake) Jala asked.

"No, it's those Pokémon over there." Yami said pointing to a heard of Pokémon that is like a quadruped, bovine Pokémon. It is covered in light brown fur with a thick, darker brown mane around the neck. It has a rounded muzzle with a dark brown nose, and three gray bumps running vertically down its forehead. A pair of curved, gray horns grows from atop its head. Each of its three black tails has a tuft of fur on the end, and there is a single gray hoof on each foot.

There were herds of them stampeding in a field as they run.

Takuya looked up the heard of Pokémon on her Pokédex:
🔹Tauros, the Wild Bull Pokémon.
Once it takes aim at its foe, it makes a headlong charge. It is famous for its violent nature.

"Violent nature, reminds me of Mystic, Trition and Poseidon. People say that they have a violent nature or dangerous." Takuya said amused, "I'd like to have a Tauros, I wonder where their owner is?"

Just then a quadruped, canine Pokémon. It has orange fur with black stripes along its back and legs. The fur on its muzzle, chest, belly and tail is cream-colored, as well as an additional tuft of fur on top of its head. It's coat is noticeably longer on its chest and tail. It has gray eyes, a black nose and large, round ears. Its forepaws have two visible claws, while its hind paws have three toes each. Each paw has a brown pad, came up from behind them.

"Growl!" It growled at Takuya.

"Hey, a Growlithe." Takuya said, remembering Aedus back at Professor Oak laboratory training and she looked up the Pokémon.

🔹Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon.
While loyal to its master, the Growlithe will drive away enemies by barking and biting.

"Hey Growlithe, where's your trainer?" Takuya asked putting her Pokédex away.

"I'm right here." A female voice replied.

The voice belonged to a blue haired girl in a low ponytail with blue eyes, riding on what looked like an equine Pokémon with yellow and reddish-orange flames forming its mane and tail. Its body is mainly cream and has four long legs, each ending in a single, gray hoof.

"Ponyta?" Yami said.

Takuya quickly looked up Ponyta on her Pokédex:
🔹Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokémon.
As a newborn, it can barely stand. However, through galloping, its legs are made tougher and faster. Its mane is made of intense flames.

"Excuse me, but can you tell us where we are please?" Takuya asked politely.

"You are at the Pokémon Ranch, we preserve and raise wild Pokémon here." The girl answered.

"So, those Tauros are yours then?"

"That is correct, I'm Lara Laramie and my family runs this ranch." The girl introduced herself to Takuya and her Pokémon.

"Nice to meet you Lara, I'm Takuya and this is Yami, Koyuki and Jala." She pointed to each other them on her shoulder and head.

Lara nodded, "Nice to meet you all."

----•••---

Lara showed Takuya the fields of the ranch, which held different Pokémon.

One field had Sandslash, another Nidorina, another Nidorino and other fields held different Pokémon.

Lara got down off her firey horse to stretch.

"That reminds me of... Brisa come on out." Takuya released her fire horse Pokémon.

Brisa came out with a happily neigh and she nuzzle Takuya instantly.

"Aunt Risa!" Koyuki said happily jumping onto her back.

"Eevuii!" Jala said happily.

Lara was amazed by Takuya's Rapidash, "Wow," she said, "your Rapidash looks magnificent. When did you get it?"

"I got Brisa as a gift when I was 10 year old from Flint who is an older brother like." Takuya explained, "You know about the Pokémon Official changes about the age right?"

Lara nodded, "Yeah I heard about them, it was a disappointment to those who were 10 at that time." She said.

"Well yeah my brother thought it was unfair how I was ready and all so they caught me a Pokémon as a present gift."

"Thats nice of him." Lara smiled, "It also seems to be that your a rider as well," eyeing the reins on Brisa, "by the look of the reins on Rapidash."

"Yeah I am." Takuya smiled, "I ride Brisa whenever I can."

Brisa nickered Takuya's neck making her giggle and laugh.

Ponyta watched the bond between Takuya and Rapidash with wonder in its eyes.

Just then they felt the ground shake a bit.

"Tauros again?" Takuya asked.

"No it's not Tauros," Lara replied, "that might be Dario."

A flock of what looked like a large, wingless, three-headed avian Pokémon. Each head has a long, sharp beak and a black feathered, V-shaped crest. It has bristly brown feathers covering its heads and upper body, while its lower half has a smooth layer of black feathers. Its wingless body rests on two long and slender, but powerful legs with anisodactyl feet and sharp claws on each toe. They run straight pass the gang at fast speed.

Takuya took out her Pokédex, "Woah they move fast." She said in surprise unable to scan them.

But one of them ran up beside them, with a purpled haired boy on its back.

"Howdy Lara." The boy greeted.

"Dario." Lara said back casually.

Takuya pointed her Pokédex to the three headed Pokémon:
🔹Dodrio, the Triple Bird Pokémon.
It can run faster than it can fly. Its three heads represent joy, sorrow and anger.

Dario smirked at Lara, "I thought I'd let you know that Dodrio and I are going to win the race tomorrow," he said, "I hope you're ready to lose." Then he left on his Dodrio.

"Who was that guy?" Koyuki asked, she didn't like his attitude.

"He reminds me of that jerk Gary." Yami commented.

Brisa nodded agreeing.

"That's Dario," said Lara, "a Dodrio trainer. He loves to show off his Pokémon's speed."

"Hey Lara, what race was he talking about?" Takuya asked curiously.

"Well tonight we re having a festival and Takuya you can come as my guests. Tomorrow we are having the Pokémon race. It's a race when people, riding on their Pokémon, compete against each other and the winner becomes a member of the Laramie clan." Lara answered.

"Ummm..." Takuya nodded.

"Eevuii? Eevui, evuii." (Race? Sounds intersting.) Jala said.

"Yeah." Koyuki and Yami nodded.

----•••----

That evening Lara brought Takuya to the festival.

Takuya was eating a giant chocolate Magikarp biscuit, she gave half to Koyuki, Yami and Jala.

"Hey, Lara good luck in the race tomorrow." A person said.

"Thanks." Lara smiled thanking the person.

"Good luck!" "You and your Ponyta will do great!"

"Thank you!" Lara said to all the people that wished her luck.

"Lara sure is popular." Yami said eating.

"Yeah both her and her Ponyta have got fans." Koyuki added eating.

"Evui." Jala nodded eating.

"I have a feeling that tomorrows race will be great." Takuya said muching down on a chocolate magikarp still.

----•••---

"LARA!" A voice called out.

Takuya blinked, "Um?" She turned around with Lara.

They saw Dario showed up, "Lara!" He called out in panic voice, "Your Tauros are going crazy at the ranch." He told Lara.

Lara whistle to called her Ponyta over, who appeared and she hopped on riding Ponyta to where the Tauros herd was.

"I have a bad feeling." Takuya said, "Hang on!" She release Brisa and quickly jumped on her, riding her to where Lara is headed.

"Woah that fast!" A person exclaimed in shock seeing how fast the fire horse Pokémon ran.

----•••----

When they got to the ranch, Lara's Tauros were tackling each other like mad.

It was like they were having a real fight with each other.

"This is bad." Takuya said.

"Growlithe calm them down." Lara said to her puppy Pokémon.

"Growlithe!" Growlithe nodded and ran around the Tauros, barking to gain their attention.

Least in 30 seconds the Tauros calmed down completely.

Lara was just about to inspect them when suddenly something thin, straight, bright and fast flew past Ponyta, frightening it.

Ponyta was so spooked that Lara fell off Ponyta and hurt her left arm.

"Argh!" Lara said in pain.

"Lara!" Takuya exclaimed in shock of what she witness.

"Aura, Ponyta!" Yami exclamied seeing the small fire horse Pokémon out of control.

"Ah! Sera, Kai I need you help!" Takuya called out her fox and intertwining Pokémon out.

"Where on it!" Seraphina said and immediately went to help Lara out with Kaisa following behind.

"Woah, easy there Ponyta!" Takuya said pulling the reins on Lara's Ponyta, "Calm down!" She kept pulling and then Ponyta calm down.

----•••----

What had happened was really Team Rocket's doing and Dario was behind it too.

Apparently Dario intended to win the race, even if it meant cheating, so he had made a deal with Team Rocket.

The deal was if Team Rocket helped him win the race, they would be rewared with a lot of money.

----•••----

At Lara's house, Lara was resting her arm in a sling, she seemed down that she couldn't participate in the race tomorrow.

"Too bad for the Laramie clan." Takuya said.

"Yeah." Yami said sadly.

Ponyta was also sadly seeing how its is his fault that his trainer got injured.

Lara gasps, "I know!" She turned to Takuya who jumped a bit, "Takuya you can ride Ponyta for me."

"Huh?" Koyuki and Yami said.

"Oh." Seraphina and Kaisa smiled.

"Evui." Jala titled her head.

"What? But I can't do that," Takuya gasped, "I mean Ponyta will only listen to you."

"You can do it Takuya," Lara said in encouragement, "after seeing you to calming down Ponyta and beside you know how to ride. Everything will be okay."

After seeing Lara's pleading look Takuya gave up and agreed to enter for Lara's sake.

----•••---

Takuya stepped outside with Lara and Ponyta, she and Ponyta stared at each other.

Ponyta wasn't sure if he could trust Takuya, Takuya who could see that Ponyta didn't trust her, so she felt hesitated to go near Ponyta.

Lara petted her Ponyta and explained to it that Takuya is a trust worthy human.

Ponyta remembered the bond that Takuya and her Rapidash has, then he smiled agreeing to let Takuya ride him.

"Come on Aura, its safe now." Yami smiled.

"Kit is right kit." Seraphina smiled.

"Go on." Kaisa said.

Takuya nodded and slowly, carefully walked up to Ponyta and petted him gently, her hands didn't get burned at all.

Then Takuya climbed on Ponyta's back, "Well we have a race to win tomorrow." She smiled, "You ready!"

Ponyta neigh loudly saying he is ready.

----•••---

The next day it was time for the race to begin, fireworks and loud cheers were heard.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this years Pokémon challenge sponsor by the Laramie Clan!" The announcer said though the microphone, "Our course takes our challenger through hard rocks and water to test our speed and ability! Whoever clears all the obstacles and the finishing line is our winner! Will all the trainers and Pokémon come to the starting line now!!"

All those that were competing in the race were getting ready at the finish line.

"Good luck Takuya." Lara cheered waving her injured arm.

"Best of luck out their." Kaisa said, she was sitting next to Lara's Growlithe. "You too Seraphina."

"Go beat them all!" Koyuki pumped her fist. "You two as well Aunt Sera!"

"Yeah!" Yami chirped in. "Mum beat them!"

"Yep! Ready to race Ponyta?" Takuya asked as both she and Ponyta, were both excited that Ponyta flames on his mane were separating.

Serephina was racing as well, she thought it would be fun so she had Trixty with her.

The count down began.

"... READY?!..."

Everyone got ready to take off or run off.

"... GO!.."

The racers took off immediately.

Dario took off in first place on his Dodrio.

----•••----

The first portion of the race was a simple running across the field.

Everything began running smoothly, but Team Rocket started doing their tricks, they shot two sling shots, which hit a Tauros and its trainer.

It spooked Tauros so much that it ended up tackling a Nidorina and her trainer. Nidorina was so cross, that she picked a fight with Tauros.

The poor trainers of Tauros and Nidorina got caught up with it, so they were out of the race.

Tean Rocket was hiding in the long grass, finding it very funny.

Takuya thought it was getting weird along with Seraphina.

----•••---

The second portion of the race was going up a steep hill.

"This maybe tricky," Takuya said to Ponyta, "but try to run as fast as you can."

Going uphill was not easy for the racers, but when downhill it was easier.

An Electrode and its trainer found it really easy, they flew by the racers at great speed.

The bad news was Team Rocket had dug a hole, and Electrode and his trainer fell into it. Another bad news was this caused Electrode to explode, hitting other trainers as well.

Team Rocket was pleased with themselves; but same time bad news since Takuya and Ponyta was nowhere near the explosion making them safe.

----•••----

Lara, who had seen everything on the screen, was relieved that they got up again.

'Something is not right here.' Kaisa thought narrowing her eyes at the screen.

"That was close." Lara sighs.

----•••----

The third portion of the race was across the river on the stepping stones.

Dodrio easily crossed the stepping stones with ease.

But it was bad for the ground or rock type Pokémon, Rhyhorn stepped on a stepping stone to see if it was all right, but the stepping stone sank, with Rhyhorn still on it.

"Since rock Pokémon can't stand water! Rhyhorn is out of here!"

But Takuya and Ponyta along with Seraphina and Trixty has now trouble jumping or running across the stones.

----•••----

The fourth portion of the race was that the Pokémon had to eat a tray of food, before heading towards the finish line.

Of course Dario and Dodrio got to the tray of food first, but as Dodrio had three heads, they were fighting about who should eat first, this gave a chance for Seraphina and Ponyta to catch up and get to their portion of food.

Dario was getting frustrated, "Alright Team Rocket it's time to get to work!" He yelled out.

Seraphina ears perched on it and growled.

A thick cloud of smoke appeared, "We got a manger problem here folks! Back smoke is covering the whole screen! I hope that our racers are alright!"

Then Takuya and her Pokémon heard a familiar motto starting.

"Its Team Rocket!" Takuya shouted.

"You again!" Seraphina snarled, "What do you three want?"

"Let's just say that we want to mess you up again." Meowth grinned.

Takuya blinked, "Mess you up again?" She was confused, what they meant, "So it was you three who broke Lara's arm and it was also you who caused the accidents in the race."

Seraphina growled, Trixty got her electric attacks ready.

"Dario go! Now your chance!" Jessie shouted at the Dadrio trainer.

Dario nodded and rode on ahead.

"Team Rocket's working for Dario." Takuya said, who always thought Dario was a no good person to begin with.

"Kit! Go and catch up with that brat, Trixty and I can handle them!" Seraphina said, "Kaisa is hear as well." And on cue her fairy type Eeveelution appeared next to her.

Takuya jumped, "How?" She asked confused.

"Avis gave me a ride." Kaisa replied.

"Fearow!" Avis cried out ready to fight Team Rocket.

"GO!" Seraphina and Kaisa shouted.

Takuya agreed and set off with Ponyta, leaving her Pokémon to deal with Team Rocket.

"Okay Team Rocket your ready annoying bunch!" Kaisa said.

"Weezing go!" "Arbok!" James and Jessie called out their Pokémon.

"Take care of these pest!" Jessie said.

"Trixty your with Meowth, Kaisa and I well handle the two poison type." Seraphina said.

"Chipa!" Trixty nodded.

Arbok when to tackle Seraphina who dodge it and tackled the poison cobra Pokémon with an fire fang.

Weeping released a smog attack, Kaisa used fairy wind to blow back the smog.

Mewoth wasn't having any much better than the two poison type, Trixty was cheerful Pokémon but dangerously firing an electric attack Meowth who go shock a couple of times.

Team Rocket Pokémon got hit and was sent flying back into James and Jessie who both groaned in pain as the Pokémon landed on them.

"Lets finished this!" Kaisa shouted and gathered a pink orb, releasing it from her mouth.

Seraphina fired a fire spin, Trixty with a thunder shock and Avis use air cutter, the attacks sent Team Rocket flying away.

"Now lets head to kit and the others." Seraphina said and begun to ran towards the end of the race with Kaisa, Avis who was was flying with Trixty on his back.

----•••----

"Yes! Now that we have our picture back and... Dario is still in the lead!" The screen changed, "Now lets take a look at the other Pokémon and I can't see anyth-... WAIT! Whose that?!" The camera zoomed in, "It's a giant burning FLAME!"

"Faster Ponyta were way behind." Takuya said.

"It's Ponyta! I don't know how it happens but it seems it has become a two Pokémon race between Dadrio and Pontya! With nothing left expect a flat out finishing line! With Dadrio still in the lead!"

Dario was heading towards the finish line. "I'm gonna win this one." He laughed.

"Hold it right there Dario!" A voice shouted from behind him.

Dario turned around behind him, he saw Takuya catching up with Ponyta, "No way! How did she get so close!" He shouted not believing this.

Ponyta and Dodrio became neck and neck towards the finishing line.

Dario made one of his Dodrio heads peck Ponyta.

Ponyta winced at the pain and started to slow down a bit.

"That was a cheap shot!" Takuya shouted angrily.

"I'll do what I can do to win." Dario smirked taking off again.

Now Ponyta really got angry at Dario and he started to glow.

Takuya, Lara and the audience watched in amazement, as Ponyta evolved into Rapidash.

Rapidash galloped fast and caught up with Dodrio.

It was neck and neck towards the finish line, but with one more effort Rapidash managed to cross the finish line first.

Takuya and Rapidash were the winners.

"Alright mother won!" Koyuki cheered.

"Way to go!" Yami cheered, "You put that jerk in his place!"

Takuya's Pokémon arrived seeing how their trainer won they were happy.

Dario was angry with that, "Cheater," he said, "you interfered with me."

"Hah, you're the one who attacked me first." Takuya said.

Dario was just about to have Dodrio attack Takuya and Rapidash, but Rapidash used its stomp attack and sent Dario and Dodrio flying.

----•••----

"Congratulations Ponyt- ah I mean Rapidash you are this year Pokémon challenge Champion! Let's give a big hand for the winning trainer Lara Laramine but for the winning rider Takuya Sky!"

Everyone cheered.

"Thanks to you Takuya," Lara said greatly for her help, "not only did you win for me, but now Rapidash and I are members of the Laramie clan."

"No worries." Takuya smiled.

Rapidash nickered and licked Takuya on the cheek to say thank you.

"It was nothing. I had fun." Takuya laughed.

----•••----

Lara took the group to the end of the Pokémon ranch, "If you want to catch Pokémon," she said, "there's a Safari Zone ahead."

"Really thanks." Takuya said, "Can't wait."

"Thanks once again Takuya." Lara smiled.

Takuya smiled back and bid farewell to Lara and Rapidash, heading towards the Safari Zone.

----••---

But unknown to Takuya that Steven was also at the Pokémon race watching, "Looks like we meet again Takuya, but not yet huh." He smiled watching Takuya talking to her Pokémons happily without a care in the world, "I'll see you again quite soon." He finished and head in his own way.

TO BE CONTINUED...

===================================

Ah~ Steven was watching the race, don't worry they'll meet soon.

Takuya's Pokémon ~ 55
• Ninetales = F = Seraphina (Sera)
• Zorua = M = Yami
• Aqua Blue Gyarados = F = Mystic
• Red Gyarados = M = Triton
• Delcatty = F = Tsuki
• White Milotic = F = Pluvia
• Rapidash = F= Brisa (Risa)
• Luxray = M = Rai
• Salamance = M = Hunter
• Empoleon = F = Sarila (Rila)
• Infernape = F = Niran (Ran)
• Torterra = F = Daliah (Dal)
• Sylveon = F = Kaisa (Kai)
• Pidgeot = M = Ciro
• Pikachu = M = Tyrell (Ty)
• Beautifly = F = Kimama (Kim)
• Scyther = M = Kardos
• Butterfree = F = Nova
• Sandslash = M = Tarrin
• Clefable = F = Pari
• Nidorina = F = Rin
• Nidorino = M = Len
• White Riolu = F = Koyuki (Yuki)
• Bulbasaur = M = Denver (Den)
• Oddish = F = Flora
• Charmander = M = Agnider (Agni)
• Shiny Vulpix = F = Serefina (Sere)
• Shiny Seal = F = Mesi
• Raichu = M = Raidyn
• Growlithe = M = Aedus
• Fearow = M = Avis
• Shiny Lapras = F = Ephyra
• Squirtle = M = Arnav (Nav)
• Mini Krabby = M = Saddam
• Eevee = F = Jala
• Shiny Gabile = M = Ryuu
• Gyarados = M = Poseidon
• Shaymin = F = Thana
• Pachirisu = F = Trixy (Trix)
• Espeon = F = Kara
• Flareon = F = Enya
• Vaporeon = F = Aqua
• Shiny Umbreon = F = Kyra
• Horsea = F = Hydra
• Tentacool = M = Visha (Vis)
• Gastly = M = Gardi
• Haunter = M = Phantom
• White Genger = F = Achlys
• Dratini = F = Ryoko
• Cubone = M = Adnet (Net)
• Primeape = M = Clovis
• Psyduck = M = Soilat (Lat)
• Latios = M = Nari (Ari / Ri)
• Magnemite = Genderless = None
• Klefki = M = Kole