After leaving Fuchsia City, Ash and his friends didn't head straight for the Safari Zone. Instead, they traveled through a vast, lush prairie filled with the vibrant breath of nature.
There, they encountered the Laramie Clan, a people famous for breeding Pokémon and running alongside them.
Initially, the clan mistook them for poachers coming to capture Pokémon. However, after Ash and the others explained themselves, the woman in charge, Lara, didn't make things difficult. Instead, she warmly invited them to stay as guests.
The moment Ash laid eyes on Lara, he was momentarily stunned.
Lara was truly the most brilliant jewel of the prairie. She had healthy, wheat-colored skin and a lithe, well-proportioned figure. Her long legs were powerful, and her physique well-developed from years of riding showed off graceful curves beneath her traditional ethnic clothing. Every inch of her radiated the sun and the essence of the grasslands.
When they found her, she was meticulously caring for her close partner a Ponyta with a glossy coat and a proud demeanor.
"You've come at the perfect time!" Lara introduced them enthusiastically. "Our village is about to hold its annual Pokémon Grand Prix! Ponyta and I are going to take the championship this year!"
A Pokémon race? Ash rubbed his chin.
If he remembered correctly, the Team Rocket trio would try to cause trouble during this event. He couldn't just say it out loud, though, or it would definitely arouse suspicion.
Sure enough, during the pre-race preparations, an accident occurred.
While Lara was training alone, the Team Rocket trio secretly hired by her rival, Dario set a tripwire. Ponyta was spooked, and Lara was thrown from its back, suffering a severe sprain to her arm.
"How could this happen..." Lara looked at her bandaged arm, her eyes filled with loss and frustration. "I won't be able to participate in the race..."
She turned her gaze toward Ash. This sincere and reliable-looking youth gave her a glimmer of hope.
"Ash, please! I beg you! Please take my place and race with Ponyta to win the championship! If you can do it..." A slight blush crept onto Lara's face, and her voice dropped to a low but firm whisper, "I'll agree to... any request you have."
Ash looked at the sorrow in Lara's eyes over her crushed dream, then at the Ponyta pacing anxiously beside her. He made his decision.
As a kind-hearted Trainer, he naturally had to help this Pokémon-loving girl and her partner realize their wish.
He swore to himself that it absolutely wasn't because of the tempting wager or her beauty.
"Alright, I promise! Ponyta and I will definitely take that championship!"
With a little time left before the race, Ash began trying to build a rapport with Ponyta.
At first, Ponyta was somewhat resistant to this strange Trainer. But Ash wasn't impatient. Recalling some horse-taming knowledge from his past life, he approached with a peaceful mindset.
He used the sugar cubes Lara had prepared to slowly gain its trust, gently grooming its mane and using his Aura Power to project thoughts of friendship and cooperation. He learned to match Ponyta's rhythm and communicate through body language.
Relying on his patience, his Aura affinity, and his extraordinary learning ability, he soon mastered the techniques of running in sync with Ponyta. Preliminary trust was established between man and horse.
The Pokémon Grand Prix began as scheduled. The track wound through prairies, streams, and hillsides. Trainers and their Pokémon partners displayed all sorts of incredible skills.
Misty came up with a creative approach, standing atop her Starmie and using its spin to glide across the water. Meanwhile, Pikachu sat on Squirtle's back, gripping the shell tightly. These two "alternative" entries became an interesting highlight of the race.
Team Rocket, of course, did not miss the occasion. They set up various ridiculous obstacles along the way to stop Ash, ranging from sudden pop-up dummies to slippery fruit scattered on the ground. However, Ash, whose coordination with Ponyta grew more seamless by the second, neutralized them all one by one.
During the final sprint, facing Dario and his Dodrio, Ponyta felt the Trainer's burning fighting spirit and trust as they ran together as one. Suddenly, Ponyta's entire body erupted in the dazzling light of evolution!
As the light faded, a majestic and divine Rapidash appeared!
The evolved Rapidash's speed exploded. Its mane and tail resembled a raging inferno. With a long neigh, it carried Ash forward, crossing the finish line like a true fiery whirlwind! The champion!
"Great! We won!" Ash excitedly hugged Rapidash around its neck.
Dario tried to push forward anyway, only to be kicked flying by Rapidash's hind legs. Afterward, Ash produced a video of Dario's secret dealings with the Team Rocket trio, proving his malicious intentions.
Regardless, after this incident, Dario's reputation was thoroughly dragged through the mud.
[Ding! The Host and Rapidash have won the Pokémon Grand Prix championship, gaining Lara Laramie's deep favor. Reward: 600 World Origin Points.]
[Current World Origin Points: 15,100.]
[Intimacy with Rapidash (evolved from Ponyta) has significantly increased.]
That evening, a celebratory bonfire party was held on the prairie.
Lara came to Ash's side, her face carrying the frankness of a child of the prairie mixed with a hint of shyness. "Ash, thank you. You and Rapidash did what Ponyta and I always dreamed of. I... I will fulfill my promise."
Under the moonlight, the bonfire reflected off the girl's healthy and beautiful face. She took Ash's hand and led him toward the depths of the prairie to fulfill that promise as fleeting as the wind.
[Ding! Host has established a deep bond with the Laramie Clan girl, Lara Laramie.]
(System Prompt: Interpersonal relationship network further expanded.)
As evening fell, Brock asked Misty, "Hey, where did Ash go?"
Misty pouted and jerked her chin toward the distance. "A certain someone isn't coming back tonight. I'm afraid he's having some... 'in-depth' communication!"
Looking at Misty's slightly disgruntled expression, a certain realization dawned on Brock.
The next day, it was time for Ash's group to leave.
"Lara, when we meet again, let's have another good discussion about 'riding skills,' okay?" Ash didn't forget to tease her, whispering in her ear before he left.
Lara's face turned bright red, but she still nodded.
Carrying the honor of the race, the newly evolved Rapidash, and another unforgettable memory, Ash and his friends finally turned their sights toward the unknown and opportunity-filled Safari Zone of Fuchsia City.
It was time to go hunting in the Safari Zone...
I only arranged this plot to add a bit of fun, don't overthink it, everyone!
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