March 25, 199 of the Alliance dar: The Horse Rag Festival Begins

  The day of the horse rag petition had finally arrived. Early in the m, Naoki arrived at the venue apanied by several of his Pokémon and Alder.

  Despite the early hours, the grassy field was already bustling with activity. Trainers from all over, including wandering adventurers resembling Ash, students donning the uniforms of Paldea Academy, and townsfolk eager to spectate, filled the area.

  The field was decorated festively, with lights strung up and a vibrant energy in the air. A rge ribbon at the entrance proudly dispyed the words: "Kosaji Town Spring Horse Rag Festival." Nearby, a ticket booth offered passes for the races, and behind it were various prizes and props that could be exged for tickets.

  Alder let out a whistle of admiration. "Wow! This is quite the event!"

  Naoki nodded, smiling. "The Kosaji Town horse rag petition is famous. It draws trainers and spectators from far and wide every year around this time."

  The festive atmosphere was remi of the Bug-Catg tests held in other small towns.

  Alder looked wistfully at the partits preparing their Pokémon. "What a shame! If I had brought a horse Pokémon with me, I would've signed up in a heartbeat!"

  Naoki chuckled, recalling Alder's Pokémon roster: Accelgor, Bouffant, Druddigon, Vanilluxe, Escavalier, and Vola. Sadly, none of them fit the bill for this type of petition. Naoki joked silently to himself that if there were ever a bull rag petition, Alder's Bouffant would domihe field.

  Nearby, Ogerpon clutched its mask tightly and shuffled nervously. "Pon…" it murmured, gng around at the crowd.

  Naoki gently patted its head, his voice calm and reassuring. "Don't worry, Ogerpon. No one here will think badly of you."

  As if to prove his point, a group of young trainers spotted Koraidon and Ogerpon, their eyes lighting up with curiosity.

  "Whoa! I've never seen Pokémon like these before!"

  Orainer pulled out their Pokédex, sing the pair eagerly. But the device returned an error message: No data avaible.

  Arainer held up their Pokédex and sed the red caped Pawmot, who was h slightly above the ground. The Pokédex beeped before providing ary:

  Pawmo, the Mouse Pokémoric/Fighting type.

  Pawmo's fur stores static electricity, which it releases to energize its powerful puhough small, it possesses remarkable agility and strength, making it a formidable oppo in battle. It is known for its electric charge, which it uses to paralyze foes before delivering finishing blows.

  "Pawmot?!" the trainer excimed, wide-eyed.

  They stared at the Pokémon in disbelief, their gaze fixed on the red-caped Pawmot with pink fur. It floated effortlessly, its demeanor calm yet imposing.

  "This... this is Pawmot?" the traiammered, struggling to recile the entry in the Pokédex with the anding presence of the Pokémon before them.

  More surprisingly, Pawmot suddenly leaped into a. With a cheerful cry of "Pawmot!" it ched its tiny fists and rocketed skyward, its cape billowing behind it like a superhero's.

  "Amazing!" the trainers gasped, their excitement bubbling over. They had never seen anything like it before.

  One of the young traiuro Naoki with wide, admiring eyes. "Excuse me, sir, are these Pokémon yours?"

  Naoki nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. This one is Koraidon," he said, gesturing to the tall, muscur, crimson-scaled Pokémon standing nearby. "And this little one here is Ogerpon, a Grass-type Pokémon."

  "K-Koraidon?" the traiammered, his voice tinged with awe.

  The other trainer hesitated, muttering, "And Ogerpon?"

  Their gazes shifted to Koraidon, whose imposing stature and fierce expression radiated raw power. The creature's strong, sinewy form seemed to exude the aura of a primordial beast.

  Sensing their stares, Koraidon turs sharp eyes toward them, its feral preseninating the air.

  The trainers froze, wide-eyed. "What... what an intimidating Pokémon!" one whispered, his voice trembling.

  Naoki was momentarily puzzled as he turo look at Koraidon. He reached out his hand toward it.

  Koraidon immediately lowered its head like an eager puppy, letting out a soft, rumbling sound.

  "Raao~"

  Naoki smiled. "It's not scary at all."

  The two boys swallowed nervously, remembering the intimidating aura Koraidon had projected just moments ago. To them, it had felt nothing like the gentle demeanor it was showing now.

  Alder, standing nearby, couldn't tain himself and burst out ughing.

  "Hahahaha! This Koraidon of yours is something else!"

  The boys, still uneasy around Koraidon, shifted their attention to Ogerpon, who stood shyly behind Naoki.

  Notig their gaze, Ogerpon quickly hid itself further behind Naoki, peeking out hesitantly.

  Naoki gnced down at the boys. "Do you think this Pokémon is scary?"

  Both teenagers shook their heads vigorously. "Not scary at all!"

  Naoki asked again, "You're not afraid of it, are you?"

  The boys exged fused looks, unsure why he seemed so ed. Finally, one of them hesitated before asking, "Why would we be afraid?"

  Naoki's smile softened. "It's nothing." He then turo Ogerpon and said gently, "See? They're not afraid of you. No one here hates you either."

  "Pon…" Ogerpon's masked face brightened, and its glowing eyes darted around at the lively crowd. A wave of warmth spread through its small body. Feeling reassured, it jumped twi excitement.

  "Pon!"

  The boys, growing bolder, lit up with enthusiasm. "Sir, we have a Pokémon battle with you?"

  Naoki g the registration desk. The petition wouldn't begin for a while, and he figured there was time to indulge them. "Alright," he agreed with a small nod. "Whion would you like to battle against?"

  Both boys pointed eagerly at Koraidon.

  "That o looks really strong!"

  Naoki chuckled softly. "Alright then." He gestured for Koraidon to step forward. The Legendary Pokémo out a low, amused growl, stepping into the makeshift battlefield.

  The boys each released their Pokémon: a Crocalor and a Flato, both clearly evolved from their starter Pokémoe their fidenaoki could tell these trainers had only been on their journey for a short time.

  Koraidon was in a pyful mood, and Naoki decided not to overwhelm them. The battle unfolded more like a friendly sparring session. Instead of pushing for a quick victory, he allowed the match to follow a slower, turn-based pace, giving the trainers a ce tize and enjoy the experience.

  The boys gave it their all, but Koraidon's strength was undeniable. By the time their Pokémon were exhausted, they were grinnio ear, delighted to have battled such a powerful oppo.

  After the matded, Naoki offered a friendly farewell. "Thank you for the battle. Train hard, and maybe ime you'll st even longer."

  The boys waved enthusiastically. "We will! Thank you, sir!"

  Naoki then turo Alder. "I'm heading tister now. I t on you to watch over the others?"

  "Don't worry about a thing! I'll keep Pawmot and the rest in line."

  Naoki smiled and nodded before making his way to the registration desk.

  On the way, he spotted Ivan weaving through the crowd, searg for him.

  "There you are!" Ivan called out breathlessly, hurrying over. "Have you signed up yet?"

  "Not yet. I'm on my way now," Naoki replied.

  Ivan cpped him on the shoulder with a grin. "Good! I'm ting on you."

  Naoki: "…How many horse rag tickets did you buy?"

  Ivan chuckled sheepishly. "Not too much, just a huhousand Poke Dolrs worth."

  Naoki's expression froze. "Aren't you afraid of losing everything?"

  Ivan straightened up, suddenly serious. "That's because I believe in you!"

  Then, with an exaggeratedly pitiful look, he added, "You wouldn't let me down, right?"

  Naoki sighed, exasperated. He pushed Ivan's face away. "Stop it already!"

  Ivan stepped back, ughing. "Alright, alright. Good luck!"

  With that, Ivan bounded off, leaving Naoki to shake his head in exasperation.

  This guy…

  Naoki sighed, then turned aered the registration office.

  The white-bearded official behind the ter looked up.

  "Name?"

  "Naoki."

  "The Pokémon you'll be rag with?"

  "Spectrier."

  The old man paused mid-note, raising an eyebrow. "Spectrier. Never heard of it. What kind of Pokémon is that?"

  Naoki hesitated for a moment, then replied, "It's a Ghost-type horse Pokémon from the Gar region."

  Reition flickered across the man's face. "Ah, from anion! I have a look at it?"

  "Of course." Naoki nodded, pulling out Spectrier's Poké Ball. A fsh of white light ter, and the sleek, spectral form of Spectrier stood before them. Its obsidian-bck body gleamed, ated by its ethereal, flowing blue mane and the ghostly mist swirling around its legs.

  The old man's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped closer, marveling at the sight. "Such a majestic build! Such a striking coat! And those glowing eyes… This is no ordinary horse Pokémon. I've been around horses my entire life, but I've never seen one as extraordinary as this!"

  Naoki chuckled inwardly. Of course, Spectrier was no ordinary Pokémon—it had once been the royal steed of Calyrex, the ruler of the Tundra. It was a being of immense power and grace, leagues beyond the average horse Pokémon.

  "It's called Spectrier," Naoki crified.

  The old man nodded, clearly memorizing the name. "I see. Spectrier… I won't fet it. There's still about an hour before the race begins. Go on and prepare. I hope you'll ride it to victory and show us all something unfettable!"

  He gestured to the back of the building. "The waiting area for testants is straight ahead. Pick up your uniform and traumber there."

  "Thank you," Naoki said politely. With Spectrier following close behind, he headed toward the testant area.

  As they passed through the tiered seating of the spectator stands, Naoki caught glimpses of the bustling preparations. Vendors sold snacks and memorabilia, and a festive energy filled the air. A rge banner reading "Spring Horse Rag Festival - Kosaji Town" fluttered proudly at the entrance, framing the vibrant se.

  Eventually, Naoki emerged onto an expansive grassnd, where several other testants and their Pokémon had already gathered. The area buzzed with activity as trainers brushed their Pokémon's coats, fed them treats, and whispered words of encement.

  Naoki approached the desk to pick up his uniform and number. Both items were beled with "Track 6," indig his assigned ne in the race. He thahe staff and led Spectrier to a quieter er of the field, allowing them both to observe the petition.

  From his vantage point, Naoki surveyed the other partits. Including himself, there were eight testants. Their Pokémon were as varied as their trainers.

  One testant handled a proud Rapidash, its fiery mane bzing like a tor the sunlight. Another had a Zebstrika, its bd-white stripes crag faintly with static electricity. Further down the line, a Mudsdale. Beside it powdon, its earthy tones blending into the ground as it exhaled clouds of dust.

  What surprised Naoki even more was the sight of a slightly immature Ponyta among the petitors.

  Its trainer, a young boy, stood proudly beside it. pared to the t and powerful horse Pokémon around them, Ponyta seemed out of pce. Its small frame and youthful energy made it stand out against the more seasoned petitors.

  But then again, pared to an actual Hippowdon, Ponyta at least still looked like a proper horse Pokémon.

  Still, the scarcity of horse-like Pokémon in the Pokémon world meant that trainers sometimes had to make unventional choices. It was already a relief that no one had shown up riding a Horsea or Seadra!

  As the miicked by, the energy in the arena tio grow. The oy seats in the grandstands were now packed with spectators, and the sound of fireworks exploding overhead sighe start of the event. Cheers swept across the venue like a tidal wave, filling the air with excitement.

  Naoki couldn't help but feel a little surprised. The popurity of this year's horse rag festival was far greater than st year's. He distinctly remembered empty ses in the audience back then, but this time, every seat was occupied.

  'Kosaji Town really is being more prosperous,' he thought, marveling at the ge.

  Many spectators were likely drawn by the legend of the Calyrex, whose stories had spread far and wide. Just as Kitakami Township had successfully turs ghostly folklore into a tourism draw, Kosaji Town seemed to be being from its association with the regal Pokémon.

  Spectrier, standing nearby, seemed to sehe rising energy in the crowd. Normally calm and posed, its eyes now glinted with excitement as it surveyed the bustling se. The mist surrounding its hooves thied slightly, responding to its heightened spirit.

  'So many humans… so many Pokémon…' Spectrier thought. Soon, it would seize the opportunity to prove itself the king of horses before them all.

  Naoki adjusted his protective gear and turoward Spectrier. "Are you ready?" he asked.

  Spectrier neighed in aowledgment.

  "The's go!" Naoki said, mounting Spectrier. Together, they ehe arena alongside the other testants.

  "Wele, everyoo Kosaji Town for this year's horse rag petition!" boomed the voice of the announcer. "I'm Ren, your entator for today's event!"

  "Now, let's dive into this thrilling petition!" Renping excimed. "Our testants are making their way to their starting positions. First up is testant number one!"

  "testant number one is riding a Rapidash! Just look at its fiery mane and graceful form! The fmes seem to burn as brightly as the crowd's enthusiasm!"

  Once testant number oook their position, testant wo followed.

  ", we have testant wo," Ren tinued. "This one's an iing choice—a Mudsdale! It might be a slower-moving Pokémon, but Mudsdale's power and stamina are unmatched. Let's see how they perform!"

  A ripple of ughter ran through the crowd. It was clear they weren't expeg much from the slow and steady Mudsdale.

  After that, testant hree, number four, and number five ehe arena, each riding a unique horse Pokémon.

  Finally, it was Naoki's turn. Riding Spectrier, he approached the starting area.

  "And now, we have testant number six," Ren announced, before pausing. "Wait a sed… what kind of Pokémon is that?"

  The audience leaned forward, their attention fixated on the mysterious Pokémon emerging from the passage.

  A sleek bck horse strode fidently into the arena, its mane glowing a luminous blue and a faint mist swirling around its legs. Most striking of all were its closed eyes, which gave it an enigmatic, otherworldly aura. Despite not opening its eyes, the horse moved with precision and purpose, as if it could sense everything around it.

  Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.

  "What kind of Pokémon is that?" someone whispered.

  "Is it blind?" another voice wondered aloud. "How does it know where it's going?"

  "It's so cool!" someone else excimed. "That mist around its legs makes it look like it's floating!"

  Ren scrambled to check the testant information. After a moment, he found Naoki's registratioails.

  "This is truly incredible!" the entator decred. "testant number six is riding a Pokémon we've never seen before!"

  "A newly discovered?!" the crowd buzzed with excitement, their curiosity growing by the sed.

  "That's right!" Ren firmed. "Acc to the information provided by testant number six, this Pokémon is called Spectrier, a Ghost-type Pokemon!