League Calendar Year 198, March 25th, sunny, Wednesday.
Today is the day of the Spring Horse Race. After finishing his work on the ranch, Naoki specially brought several Pokemon to join in the fun.
By the way, to get familiar with the competition rules in advance, preparing for his future participation.
The Spring Horse Race is held at a vast grassland outside the town.
By the time Naoki arrived, a lot of people had already gathered here.
Passing Trainers, traveling couples, boys coming with their fathers to watch, elderly people rearing horses, and more.
The grassland was beautifully decorated, and the entrance was draped with a banner reading "Porto Marinada Town Spring Horse Festival". Not far away were stalls selling race tickets, behind which were various small prizes and tools that could be exchanged with race tickets.
At this moment, many participants had already arrived at the racecourse.
Naoki stood not far away, looking over there with envy.
There, he saw a Rapidash with its entire body ablaze with red flames, well-cared for, looking majestic and striking among all the horses.
Besides the Normal form of Rapidash, there was also the Galarian form of Rapidash.
Its entire body was snow-white, and the mane on its head and tail resembled colorful clouds, ethereal and dreamy.
Besides Rapidash, there were also Zebstrika surrounded by sparks, the powerful and robust Mudsdale, and a slightly chubby, light-brown Hippowdon.
Hmm?
Seems like something strange has mixed in.
Isn't Hippowdon a Hippopotas Pokemon? Why can it participate in the horse race too!
At this time, Naoki heard the voice of Allen, the mail carrier, behind him.
He turned around and saw Allen running towards him, "Hey! Naoki, you came too?"
Naoki nodded, "Yeah! Finished the work at the ranch, so I came to have a look."
Allen pulled Naoki to the edge of the racecourse, smiling broadly, "Come on, pick the contestant you plan to support later! Who do you intend to support?"
Honestly, Naoki hadn't decided yet.
But he had a question he wanted to ask.
Looking at the sand-spewing Hippowdon, Naoki asked, "Can that kind of Pokemon also participate in the horse race?"
Allen chuckled and explained, "It's because there are too few horse-type Pokemon! So the town rules allow any Pokemon with 'horse' in its name to participate!"
Naoki: "..."
Allen continued, "It's much better now. Last year, someone even brought a Horsea to participate!"
Sorry, he couldn't imagine that scene.
After all, Horsea is so small, it can't possibly carry a human many times its size.
"Who are you planning to support?" Allen asked.
Naoki's eyes scanned the group of horse-type Pokemon, finally settling on a sleek Rapidash.
"Well, that Rapidash seems to have the potential to win the championship."
Compared to Rapidash, Zebstrika seemed a bit too bulky, and Mudsdale's body shape didn't appear to be built for speed.
As for the Galarian Rapidash…it was also very agile.
Naoki's gaze shifted between the two horses, momentarily unsure.
Allen looked at the scene excitedly and said, "I'm planning to support that Mudsdale! Oh heavens, it looks so strong!"
"Shouldn't such a bulky one run slowly?" Naoki was a bit puzzled.
Allen, seeing Naoki's expression, seemed to understand his thoughts, and explained, "No, no, no, this is not quite like traditional horse racing!"
Naoki slightly raised an eyebrow.
Allen pointed to the Mudsdale, his eyes sparkling as he continued,
"During the race, Pokemon moves are allowed. Take that Mudsdale for instance, if it uses Earthquake while running, then other contestants will—boom!—lose balance and fall behind!"
Naoki: "???"
"Wait, do Trainers ride on the horses during the race?"
"Of course!" Allen explained, "But Trainers will wear appropriate protective gear to shield themselves from the Pokemon moves' effects. Even if they get hit, it won't cause much harm."
Naoki: "..."
Indeed, in this world, everyone has the superhuman physique of a protagonist, huh?
If that's the case, he needs to reconsider his choice of whom to support.
Earthquake could help Mudsdale narrow the speed gap with other horse-type Pokemon.
Hippopotas could kick up sand to obstruct other contestants' vision.
Zebstrika also had a lot of disruptive moves.
Thinking it over, it seemed even harder to choose.
But as the race was about to begin, Allen dragged Naoki to buy race tickets.
The stall owner was a bald man with glasses, looking very shrewd. A placard on the table in front of him stated that each person could purchase up to 200 race tickets, at a price of 50 league coins each.
In the cabinet behind him were various tools.
The most basic were the special Poke Balls, like the Dive Ball and Nest Ball, both costing 50 race tickets.
More expensive items were those for Pokemons to hold, such as the Light Ball to boost Pikachu's attack and special attack, the Hard Stone to increase the power of Rock-type moves, and the Black Glasses to enhance the power of Dark-type moves.
These required 250 race tickets.
In addition, there were the Evolution Stones that Naoki desired most.
He glanced around; except for the Sun Stone and Moon Stone, there were Ice, Fire, Water, Leaf, and Thunder Stones available.
And their exchange price was 300 race tickets.
"A race ticket is 50, 200 is just 10,000, let's buy it!"
Naoki grandly bought two hundred from the owner.
Allen also purchased two hundred tickets.
At this moment, a horn sounded, announcing the start of the first round.
The owner behind them reminded, "Would you two like to place a bet?"
As he spoke, he produced a chart that recorded the odds for each contestant.
The highest was Hippopotas, reaching an astonishing ratio of 1/57.
Rapidash, Galarian Rapidash, and Zebstrika were roughly equal, all at 1/1.5.
Mudsdale hovered around 1/3.
"Looks like most people, like me, chose to bet on Rapidash!" Naoki thought.
Allen straightforwardly placed all his race tickets on Mudsdale.
Naoki hesitated for a moment before ultimately trusting his judgment and bet on that splendid Rapidash.
After betting, Naoki took Koraidon and followed Allen to the spectator's stand.
Allen's Pokemon was a petite Tatsugiri, which he placed on his head to watch the race together.
Spectators gradually gathered.
All the participants in the racecourse had donned protective gear and mounted their horses.
With the sound of a whistle, all the horse-type Pokemon on the track began to run simultaneously.
Watching them gallop below, Naoki was immensely envious.
At that moment, he made a decision in his heart: One day, he would own a horse!
Just like Calyrex's Spectrier and Glastrier!
Speaking of Spectrier and Glastrier, Naoki suddenly thought he might visit the Galar Region.
Because Calyrex wasn't in a good situation, not only forgotten by the world, but both its horses had run away.
The storyline of The Crown Tundra flashed in his mind; maybe he could trick Calyrex and its horses into coming back.
Then borrow a horse from Calyrex to participate in the race.
But…
Right now, the ranch needed him during its development stage; if he left, the Pokemon would go hungry.
Plus, even if he reached The Crown Tundra, he might not find Calyrex.
But then, Naoki suddenly thought of something: according to the legend of Calyrex, it is said to see everything from the past, present, and future.
So here comes the question: If he did something beneficial for Calyrex in the Paldea Region, would it be able to see?
For instance, building a shrine might raise Calyrex's favor, and when he later goes to the Galar Region, Calyrex might actively come to meet him.
Thinking of this, Naoki decided to build a shrine for Calyrex back on the ranch.
Regardless of whether Calyrex could truly sense it, believing didn't cost anything anyway.