Today was the big day for the festival competition. Thanks to Blue's new Hidden Machine; he was able to have his Raticate use the move Cut to open up a path for us on Route nine. The bike racing contest was today and we needed every ample preparation available to navigate the vast canyon before us. This road was steep and there were many sharp and jagged obstacles in our path ahead that would pose risk of injury. The journey was about sixty miles South East toward our next landmark, Rock Tunnel

Luckily for us; we weren't the first contestants to be participating in this bike racing contest. Misty the gym leader was on a bright, red Bicycle parked beside Brock who was on a grey, sleek Mountain ride.

What a surprise to see the Gym Leaders here participating in this event. I thought with intrigue.

My childhood friends, Blue and Red were on their respective Bicycles. Red, to my astonishment had decided on a different ride when we left the shop. It was the tall, sacramento, green Bike.

I wasn't sure if he just took the other color under peer pressure, but he didn't need to take the Bike just because of Blue's opinion's against his favorite color.

Sometimes I just feel sorry for Red; he genuinely appreciates Blue and values his kinship, but he's not a very good friend to him in the slightest.

Blue on the other hand, had obtained the yellow colored Bicycle that we all observed on the shelf. As for Yellow; he had Red's original colored bike in his possession that was a bit sportier than the other two models my other friends had. Yellow seemed to be in good spirits about having the very Bike that Red liked. This one had the lightning bolt decal on the main frame.

We inched our bikes carefully toward the two Gym Leaders in front of us. Eyeing them with genuine interest. It was nice to be able to meet acquaintances that we had battled along our journey through the region, especially those two.

For some reason, they didn't seem as intimidating on our initial approach.

I guess we got used to their battle strategies and how they operated. We've grown significantly above their respective levels that they don't seem as threatening. Or maybe we just got comfortable with their presence?

"Hey guys!" I shouted to the two Gym Leaders in front as I skidded my blue bike to a stop.

"Leaf!" Yelped Misty. "What a cute Bike!" She squealed.

She was so kind with that compliment that I couldn't help but grin back at her.

"Well, I thought I'd never see familiar faces on this particular Route?" Raised Brock with a smile.

"You both look like you have become very experienced Trainers." Grinned Misty.

"Same to you guys, I am sure! We didn't get the third Gym badge yet, but we'll try and get to him eventually."

"I hope you find him, you can't qualify for the league without it." Said Brock.

"Are you both participating in this contest?" Inquired Blue as he inched his way toward my right and carefully braked to a stop.

"We sure are; we couldn't pass this opportunity up without registering ourselves." Giggled Misty.

I was observing the starting line before me. There was one banner on two massive fifteen-foot steel poles draping a large, white, apparent banner with grand advertisement.

Welcome To The Fifteenth Annual Pokémon Bike Racing Contest. This is the starting line alright.

Of course, the people that were going to be our opponents in this race were also people that we battled in their respective Gyms.

"Where is that jerk face Jack that used his Curse on you Leaf? I'm gonna kill him!" Decried Blue with little respect for manner.

"Pipe down Blue, we don't want to cause a scene." I hushed in his general direction.

There was no way of being able to find him in this crowd, there seemed to be about thirty different riders. All riding their own unique Mountain bikes on the gravel. There was also no way of being able to spot him with him being a small kid.

Unless he spotted us; we'd be too confrontational.

To the left of that banner there were bleachers that had spectators against a small mountainous hill. All holding up signs of their favorite contestants. Mainly the Gym Leaders of the upper part of the region. Their camaraderie was energetic and there seemed to be a ton of excitement and whistling happening in that direction.

"This is such a huge crowd; I didn't expect it to be this intense." I shirked with anxiousness.

"They came to cheer for us mostly, there are people from Cerulean, Pewter and Vermillion all here to watch us compete." Nodded Misty from my anxious observation.

"Keeps the excitement going for the new Trainers as well." Said Brock as he swiveled his handlebars back and forth.

After watching the crowd scream with exuberance. I noticed the Starter in charge of officiating the race. Make his way towards the center of the starting line.

When he landed precisely at his location. All eyes were on him. The man was wearing an official race like outfit that designated his profession. He had on a white baseball cap with several sponsorship's from many companies such as Silph from the biggest city, known to our region as, Saffron.

His white shirt also had the logos of many companies patched along his vest. All while carrying a firing pistol along the strap of his belt line.

"I'd like to welcome all riders to the fifteenth annual Pokémon Bike Racing Contest. Each of you has been designated for this race to reach the final stretch known as Rock Tunnel. The rules are simple; you each can use only one Pokémon to defend your vehicle from enemy combatants, use any more than one Pokémon at a time and you will be disqualified."

"There will be many who will try to take advantage and pass you. Use your Pokémon to defend while you make your way toward the finish line. Number two, you must remain within the line of cones that traces the path towards the end of the stretch of road. If you pass over those lines or if someone knocks your Bike off the path; you will also be disqualified."

There are that many rules? Jeez, look at how confined the road is anyways! I thought in desperation as I watched the stretch of road get tinier into the canyons miles ahead.

"If you use items to revive your Pokémon you may use one Potion. We don't recommend you use any other item to revive your fainted Pokémon. Once your Pokémon is knocked out. You are on your own. Now, do we have everyone on the roster?"

"Not everyone." Smirked a young rider on his sleek, black, low riding trike up the pointed slope in front of us. This Trike had large bulging tires on its rear axle. A big looped front bike tire and low handlebars as the boy clasped hold of them like a street biker.

"Who are you?" Inquired the Starter.

"Jack, I'm here for the competition." Grinned the devilish boy as his Gastly laughed with wicked satisfaction.

There he is. I furrowed.

"Since when does this kid actually use a Trike for a Bicycle competition? Is that within regulations Mr. Starter?" Questioned Blue while sending Jack a death glare towards his direction.

"It's a Tricycle, it fits within the competitions rules." Affirmed the Starter.

"I don't think I've seen that in the rules." Muttered Blue to himself.

The boy had approached my Bicycle to my right. Smirking back to me with that annoying grin of his. This competition was about to get heated, fast.

All I could ever do was try to hold back my disdain toward him. This boy had shown me a terrible future. A destiny, that could deconstruct my own reality.

"You ready to accept your foreseeable fate, Leaf?" Inquired Jack with those big, black holes for eyes of his.

"I make my own future, Jack." I insisted with furrowed eyes.

He didn't seem to take my insult of his prophecy too kindly. The race was about to confirm whether or not my fate would defy the choice of time. This was not a pattern of fate he was expecting, even from my own attitude.

"You can't run from your own fate. You only have slim chances of winning this competition at best. If I were you, I'd accept the future that's right in front of you and stay behind." Furrowed the boy with a slight change from his grin.

"All contestants at the ready." Raised the Starter on our marks.

All thirty of us trainers inched our way single file toward the starting line. Each creating three uniform lines before the Starter as we prepared three feet before the mark. It was time to begin the race.

I could feel my heart thump out of my chest as everyone, including the spectators, hushed at the ready. Each of us mentally preparing ourselves for the robust rally that was about to take place. My hands sweat within my gloves as they each tried their best to grip the handle bars.

The man stood outside the line and raised his pistol up from out of his holster. Equipping all contestants to ready themselves.

"On my mark."

Clipping my helmet underneath my chin; my left foot reached the highest pedal as I breathed in with focus.

"Three."

In and out as my breath had exhaled to point toward my fortune.

"Two."

There was no turning back from fate. My left hand shifted my lever into first gear.

"One."

There was only one way to beat fate, it was by my intentions. No...

It was through my ambitions. That I'd be able to prove to Jack that my dark future means nothing.