Misty In Europe

By Globie

Seven

Lillehammer, Norway...

Misty looked out the window. The sky was pouring down

buckets, Ash was in the shower, Brock was in the hotel's gym

downstairs (probably ogling women again...), and Pikachu and

Togepi were asleep.

It's been a long few days since the trio had arrived

in Norway. The race had been rained out yesterday, so it was

rescheduled for today. But, by the looks of things, it's going

to be delayed yet an another day.

In the days that they have spent here, Misty had finally

forgotten about Scott. Ash was her one and only now. She knew

Scott would never even love her, more or less like here. They're

friends, and that was that.

Last night, for once, Ash was actually willing to pay

for dinner. She tried to stop him, but to no avail. Ash was

finally a mature gentleman, and not the rude, crude and

overconfident Pokemon Master that he was.

For once in Misty's life, she believed that Ash could

actually win the European Championship. She's doubted him when

he tried to win the Indigo Island title, then the North American

title, but this time, Misty truly thinks he can do it.

"Hey, Misty, whatcha looking at?" Ash shouted.

"Oh, nothing." Misty replied.

"I sense a lie."

"All right, so I'm thinking about you. Happy?"

"Oh, Misty, I never knew you'd care."

"Hmph."

International Pokemon Racing Centre...

Scott looked around. His teammate Clara (A Winnipeg girl,

they met at the Canadian Finals last year) was tending to her

Sandslash, while he and Dragonair (Quoted as "The Indispensable

Team" by international media) were just hanging around.

In the next tent, was Maxine (The Los Angeles gym leader

from MGTA) and Scott, the American duo. They've tried many times

to best Scott in this competition, but so far, their luck would

desert them at the end.

Nearby, there are some notable racers, included are: Sir

Julian (the NYC gym leader from MGTA), who was racing for his

native country, Great Britain, and this year's "dark horse" from

New Zealand, Matt.

The PA system crackled to life, and the voice of the

presiding official from the IPRF (International Pokemon Racing

Federation) came on, and signaled that the race was about to

begin. Clara put away the tape, and headed out to the starting

line.

(Note: For this part of the story, It will be told in TV

Commentary Mode. It makes it more easy on me to describe the action

without going to the nitty-gritty details. Now, back to the fan fic.)

(TV Commentary Mode ON)

(Choose Station =3D CBC)

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Steve: Good Evening, Canadian Pokemon racing enthusiasts,

you're watching CBC's live coverage of the 23rd World

Championship Pokemon Race from here in Lillehammer, Norway.

Jenny: I'm Jenny Oak, and with my partner Steve Chan, we'll

be bringing you mile-by-mile commentary.

Steve: Thanks, Jenny. As we can see here in the starting grid,

the three-time World Champion, Canadian Scott McGwire will start

in 4th position, while Clara Harris of Winnipeg will start at

11th position.

Jenny: And we have the American duo in 7th and 8th, Great Britain

in 16th, New Zealand 1 in 17th, Australia in 3rd, and Indigo Island's

Dario, last year's silver medallist. will start in the pole position

for the first time.

Steve: There's the green light, and they're OFF!

Jenny: It's Dario and his Dodrio in the lead as the racers leave

the grandstand area, followed by Great Britain, Canada 1, Canada

2, and the USA 1.

Steve: Now, Scott is making his move as the track rounds the bend

and goes into the deep forest.

Jenny: From the Goodyear blimp above, we can see that Dario is

having a bit of trouble with his Dodrio...The three heads can't

seem to stop fighting!

Steve: Meanwhile, Canada 1 and USA 1 are now neck and neck for the

lead, with Great Britain, France 1 and Canada 2 are behind by half

a length from the leader.

Jenny: As the racers now exit the forest, the trail is now straight.

This is where racers can either make their move, or gain some ground

on their opponents.

Steve: At the end of the straightaway, there is the first river

crossing. Racers will have to traverse it by either swimming or

going over the rocks.

Jenny: And it looks like France 1 is there first, with Canada 1

and 2 not far behind. USA 1 and New Zealand are a bit farther

behind them.

Steve: While at the back, Great Britain and Indigo Island seem

to be having a bit of trouble.

Jenny: With the first river crossing complete, the track will now

lead the racers into the mountains, where steep climbs and descents

await.

Steve: With that in mind, France 1, who is piloting a Voltorb,

is having trouble while all the others leave it in the dust.

Jenny: Great Britain wins the race to the top, and it's now

anybody's race as the lead pack consists of Great Britain,

Canada, USA, France, New Zealand, Australia and Indigo Island.

Steve: As the chase pack continue to fall behind, the lead pack

is now winding down the narrow mountain path that will take them

to the next challenge, the river rafting.

Jenny: That's right, Steve. Inflatable rafts will be set up for

some of the racers for this leg of the journey as it will take

them down the river 2 km and back onto the path.

Steve: Canada 1 is now in the water, as Dragonair doesn't need

to be on a raft. Great Britain is the first raft in the water,

with the Seaking of USA 2 not far behind.

Jenny: And here comes USA 1 and Indigo Island, neck and neck.

Both rafts are in the water, and are now 20 seconds behind the

leader, Canada 1.

Steve: Great Britain and Indigo Island are now making a serious

challenge toward Canada 1's lead, as they are now only three

lengths behind, down from the comfortable 131/2-lengths lead

only three minutes before.

Jenny: Now, as the racers cruise the river, we'll go to commercials.

<< Commercials >>

Steve: We're back. The racers are now back on the trail, and

heading toward the "Temple Of Doom"

Jenny: The racers will enter a straight tunnel where they must

avoid all the booby traps, such as flying maces, hidden pits,

falling rocks, and hidden Pokemon that will attack at random.

Steve: With that in mind, we will switch to the Tunnel-Cam, which

will follow the racers through the dark tunnel.

Jenny: France 1 enters the tunnel first, with Great Britain, Indigo

Island, Canada 1, Canada 2, USA 1 and USA 2 following in that order.

Steve: Looks like France 1 has just been attacked by a Jigglypuff.

It has stopped dead in the water!

Jenny: Great Britain seems to have trouble getting out of the pit,

and both USA racers seems to be in a small jam with attacking

Golbats!

Steve: It looks like Canada 1 and Canada 2 will make it out

first, followed by USA 1, France 1, New Zealand and Great

Britain!

Jenny: Now back out into the sunshine, it seems like Canada 1 is

having trouble steering...Scott seems to be without sunglasses.

Steve: And it looks like a lot of the other pilots without

sunglasses are also having trouble...Now, Maxine is in the

lead with her Ponyta, with the fairly confused Australian

following behind.

Jenny: It looks like a red-haired woman tossing a pair of

sunglasses to Scott...and Canada 1 is now back in the lead,

neck and neck with USA 1.

Steve: Now, the racers will face their second climb, followed by

a sharp descent into the valley.

Jenny: Australia wins the race up to the top, but the Tauros seems

to be in trouble with its footing!

Steve: The rest of the lead pack has caught up, and all are now

safely going down the hill, with USA 1 and Canada 1 still leading

the charge toward the finish.

Jenny: With that, we'll go to commercials again.

<< Commercials >>

Steve: We're back. In a huge move, Dario of Indigo Island is now

in the lead with the lead pack now coming up to the obstacle course.

Jenny: Racers will be required to jump over a series of concrete

barriers, then traverse a deep chasm, and then, ford the river

rapids, and then onto the straightaway.

Steve: USA 1 is now in the lead, with Canada 1 and 2 not far

behind...And looks like tough luck for New Zealand...Sandslash

has just been injured on the landing on barrier 3.

Jenny: As the paramedics deal with that, USA 1 and Canada 1 are

now dueling it out in the front, with Canada 2, Great Britain,

Australia, USA 2 and France 1 not far behind.

Steve: And looks like New Zealand is back in the race, and is

rejoining the lead pack with Indigo Island, who has also dropped

behind slightly.

Jenny: The lead pack has crossed the river rapids, and now,

Indigo Island is making its move on the straightaway! The

Dodrio is going at super-fast speed, and taking the lead from

USA 1 and Canada 1!

Steve: With less the 3 km to go, there's only one more

straightaway sections to go before the racers enter the

stadium. Now, the racers are heading toward the pastures,

where stampedes can happen anytime.

Jenny: Looks like a group of angry Tauros are heading toward

the road...It's now up to the racers to either outrun the

stampede, or to fight it.

Steve: And here comes the pack of Nidokings...Oh, my...France

1 and Indigo Island is having trouble with a Nidoking, and it

running backwards!

Jenny: And there's the Scyther on the road...Canada 1 is clearing

the road with a loud roar, which sends the Scyther fleeing.

Steve: With the pastures complete, it's an another straightaway

sections...Now, the battle is between Canada 1 and USA 1 for the

gold medal as the racers head for the gates.

Jenny: Racers will have to dismount, deliver the baton to the

official at their gate. They will then fill a bowl of Pokemon

food into the bowl, and the Pokemon will dig in.

Steve: When the judge declares the dish empty, the gates open,

and the racer can head for the home stretch.

Jenny: Canada 1 and USA 1 enter their gates, and are handing over

the baton...And it looks like Canada 1 will head for the home

stretch first.

Steve: Wait a minute...How did Indigo Island bypass the gates?

It's making its move, and are now parallel to Canada 1, with USA

1 and Great Britain not far behind!

Jenny: There's only 250 m to go, and it's Canada 1 in the lead by

a nose...USA 1 is now making its move, but it's unable to get past

Indigo Island.

Steve: The stadium crowd is going wild as the racers enter the last

30 m of track...and it looks like...it's going to be a photo finish.

Jenny: We will now wait for the official times to appear on the

screen before displaying them to you.

Steve: And the judges have declared Indigo Island disqualified,

and they took the by-pass passageway instead of going through

its specified gate.

Jenny: So, the unofficial results would show that Scott McGwire

has successfully defended his title, with USA 1 with Maxine Wells,

for the second year in a row, getting the silver, and the bronze

will go to Sir Julian Newell of Great Britain.

Steve: Here is the official results...And as Jenny said, Scott

McGwire will keep the title, with USA 1 getting silver and Great

Britain and New Zealand's Matt Lee locked in a dead heat.

Jenny: And it also looks like a world-record winning time of

45:25:34.

Steve: USA 1 will come in at 45:27:02, and Great Britain and New

Zealand will both clock in at 45:28:11.

Jenny: In a moment, we'll have the interview with Scott McGwire,

and the medal ceremony, right after these messages.

<< Commercials >>

Steve: We're back...We didn't have enough time to get to

conversation with the winner, and with network commitments

in mind, we will take you to the medals ceremony.

(Screen switches to the stage)

PA: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the International Pokemon

Racing Federation and European Pokemon League President, Dr. G.

Livingston!

<< Applause >>

Livingston: Thank you. I am honored to present the bronze medals

to Sir Julian Newell of Great Britain and Matt Lee of New Zealand.

(Sir Julian and Matt both step onto the right step of the podium,

both holding onto their nation's respective flags.)

(Livingston places the medals around their necks, and a woman hands

them a small bunch of flowers.)

Livingston: And now, I will present the silver medal (for the third

year in a row) to Maxine Wells of the USA. Maxine, C'mon up!

(Maxine steps up to the left step of the podium, waving the Stars

and Stripes to loud cheers from some of the American fans.)

(Livingston places the silver medal around Maxine's neck, and gives

her a kiss on the cheek, followed by the small bunch of flowers.)

Livingston: And now, for the gold medal, to Canada, the pride of

Vancouver (or was it Calgary?), Scott McGwire!

(Scott steps up to the top of the podium, holding up the Maple

Leaf, to cheers from the Canadian crowd, as well as Ash, Misty

and Brock.)

(Livingston puts the medal around Scott's neck, followed by the

lady with the bunch of flowers.)

(Explosion is heard on the stadium's roof, and a black Team Rocket

helicopter appeared from the skies, with familiar voices blaring

out on the PA.)

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(TV Commentary Mode OFF)

(Jesse) "Prepare for trouble..."

(James) "Make it quadruple!"

(Cassidy) "To protect the world from devastation..."

(Gary) "To unite all peoples within our nation..."

(Jesse) "To denounce the evils of truth and love..."

(James) "To extend our reach to the stars above..."

"Jesse..."

"James..."

"Cassidy..."

"Gary..."

(Cassidy) "Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light..."

(Gary) "Surrender now, or prepare to FIGHT!"

(Meowth) "Meeeeeeeeowth! That's right!"

But then, a whole armada of helicopters appeared, as

police choppers from all around the world appeared, and surrounded

them. They hastily made a break for it, while the armada continued

to chase them until they were all out of sight.

With that over, the medals ceremony continued, and after

that, cameras mobbed the winner, and Ash, Misty and Brock could

only stare as Scott was swamped by questions from all over the

world, in a multitude of languages.

Two days later, Oslo airport...

After earning the badge from the EPA gym leader in Oslo,

it was time for our friends to move on to the next destination.

With all their large backpacks checked in, they were now free to

explore until boarding time.

Misty was unusually quiet this morning. She had just

finished her glass of milk, and was quietly reading a copy of

the fitness magazine with photos from the Berlin Reichstag photo

shoot*. The loudest noise from her, was a soft giggle.

(* - See MIE, Part 5, for details.)

"So, Ash, what now?" Brock asked, taking a sip of his

coffee.

"I've got the badge from the Oslo leader, so it's off to

London." Ash replied. "Then, I guess it's off to Iceland for the

EPA championship, I guess."

Then, Scott appeared, with his small backpack with him.

"Hey, guys." He mumbled. "I see you were at Lillehammer watching

the race."

"Yeah. Nice job there." Misty commented.

"How did Dario get disqualified?" Brock asked.

"So, are you hungry?" Ash asked.

"Please, I've already had three dozen reporters asking

me questions already for the last three days." Scott replied.

"Oh...I guess we should be going." Brock blurted. "The

flights' leaving soon."

"Come on with us, Scott." Misty invited.

"Sure, whatever." Scott replied. "Anything to get away

from all those reporters."

"Well, let's go." Ash declared.

The four walked out of the caf=E9, and Brock saw Scott pull

out a copy of the same magazine that Misty had as they walked

toward the gate. He flipped through it, and put it away. Brock

sighed. Maybe this will finally bring me the girl of my dreams...

Misty looked up from her magazine, and saw Brock's face.

Oh, no, Brock's daydreaming that some girl will find him sexy...

She sighed, gave Brock a funny look, but was stared down with a

dirty look.

Our friends boarded the plane, and soon, it took off for

London. And, if we look out the window, we can see the black TR

chopper still being chased by the international armada of police

choppers...

"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" They shouted, as the

chopper, and its pursuers, disappeared into the wild blue yonder.

To be continued...