Pokémon Marathon

Dazzling sunlight shone on Xiao Yan's young face.

"Let's give it our all today, too."

"Yeah!!!!"

After yesterday's battle, almost everyone looked up to Xiao Yan.

"Children, have you all recovered?" Professor Oak asked, standing at the front.

"Yes!!!" Xiao Yan joined in with the other children as usual.

"First, let me explain the rules of today's Pokémon marathon. You'll take your Pokémon along with your teammates and pass through a series of checkpoints to reach the finish line. You can use any means of transportation along the way. There are three SUVs here, and if you know how to drive, I certainly won't stop you. The finish line is in Viridian City, and you must pass through Viridian Forest. Of course, safety comes first. Also, be careful: there's a Beedrill nest somewhere in that forest. The race begins in ten minutes, so please get your teams ready."

"Xiao Yan, can you drive?" His teammates surrounded him, staring at him with big, glistening eyes.

"I'll give it a try..."

"Everyone, get in! Xiao Yan's going to drive us!"

"Wow! Xiao Yan, you're amazing!"

After hearing all that praise, Xiao Yan couldn't back out now.

"It looks like our Charmander Team has decided to drive, while the other teams will go on foot. Let the race begin." Apparently, Xiao Yan's performance yesterday had left the professor unsurprised.

"I should start the engine first, then shift into gear. Hold on tight, everyone. We're off." Xiao Yan had watched how the butler shifted gears while driving before. Going by memory, he shifted into gear, gripped the steering wheel, and gently pressed the accelerator. The SUV slowly rolled forward.

If Officer Jenny stops me along the way, I'll definitely say, "Professor Oak said it was allowed," Xiao Yan thought.

They entered Viridian Forest without any trouble along the way...

"Xiao Yan, stop the car. It can't get through here. There are too many trees. Let's get out and walk," one of his teammates finally spoke up.

Then all the children, including Xiao Yan, got out of the SUV and headed into Viridian Forest on foot.

"Charmander, come on out!" Xiao Yan released Charmander. Seeing this, a boy beside him released his own Pokémon as well.

"From here on, I, your super captain, will lead the way! If any enemies show up, I'll beat them flat." The boy on Xiao Yan's team deliberately walked ahead of him with his Pokémon. Xiao Yan and Charmander watched the boy showing off with a hint of resignation.

The five of them headed through Viridian Forest toward the finish line, with Charmander following closely behind Xiao Yan. Of course, there was still one unopened Poké Ball at Xiao Yan's waist.

Just then, a rustling came from the bushes beside them.

"Everyone, be careful!" Xiao Yan and the other children quickly backed away from the bushes, but the boy who had just been walking in front of Xiao Yan approached them with his Pokémon.

"Come back!" Ignoring everyone's warnings, the boy walked right up to the bushes.

Rustle, rustle. Something leaped out of the bushes and lunged at the boy standing in front.

A Pokémon sank its fangs into the boy's calf, and blood kept streaming down his leg.

Is that an Ekans?!

"Charmander, quick! Use Ember on Ekans!" A ball of fire struck Ekans. The snake writhed, and a transparent membrane peeled off its body, taking the flames with it. That was right! The snake had shed its skin. Ekans still refused to let go. The others called out their Pokémon to attack Ekans as well, but none of their attacks had any effect.

In that case, let's use a move that deals fixed damage!

"Charmander, use Dragon Rage." Dragon Rage struck Ekans. Its expression changed, and wounds appeared on its body.

Charmander kept attacking, landing another Ember on Ekans. This time, it couldn't shed its skin. It released its bite in pain, then slipped into the nearby bushes.

"Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi's been poisoned!"

Xiao Yi sat on the ground. A faint purple glow appeared in the wound on his leg as Poison-type energy spread from it, eating away at his whole body.

"I'll give you a poison-curing Berry meant for Pokémon first." Xiao Yan took a Berry from his backpack and handed it to Xiao Yi. Before long, Xiao Yi's wound began to heal, and the bleeding stopped.

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome." When we get back, I'll report this to Professor Oak. Humans can use Berries meant for Pokémon, too. This will definitely be a groundbreaking report.

Although the poison was gone, the wound remained, as did the pain. Xiao Yi couldn't walk on his own for now. His teammates helped him up and supported him as they walked.

A little over ten minutes later, they finally emerged from the forest. Because they had driven part of the way, they were the first team to reach the finish line.

"Congratulations to the Charmander Team for taking first place in the marathon! Let's give them a round of applause." Professor Oak led all the children in applauding Xiao Yan and his teammates.

"That kid's incredible. He can drive at such a young age, and he's pretty talented, too!" In the sky not far away floated a Meowth-shaped hot-air balloon, with three figures inside eyeing Xiao Yan hungrily.