gratitude

[the_very_best]

Bella flies away. She visits her parents, hits up the guild for matches and wins enough to pay her guild dues, and tools around random wilderness beating up on the wildlife.

She doesn't really expect to hear from Sherlock and Tony again.

Comments

[bitofafiction]

"I honestly believe that the other way would only have taken longer," says Sherlock.

[the_very_best]

Bella laughs. She tosses Branch's Pokéball and swings herself onto the Sawsbuck's back. "Shall we?"

[bitofafiction]

Sherlock produces Watson, who glances at the other two quadrupeds and inquires over his shoulder, "Strik?"

"Indeed we are," says Sherlock, mounting up. "Once around the lake, first one past the tower?" Watson positions himself appropriately.

[toblameforit]

Tony reaches out a hand to Fireflower, slowly to make sure she has time to decide not to burn him, and when he has verified her cooperation he climbs on her back.

[the_very_best]

"Raaapidash," says Fireflower haughtily. She doesn't burn Tony.

"Saw," says Branch. Bella nudges him into a fair starting position.

"I'm all set," Bella says. "What should our starting signal be?"

[bitofafiction]

"Countdown," says Sherlock, "start on the beat after 'one'?"

[the_very_best]

"Sure. Five... four... three... two... one!"

And Bella squeezes Branch with her knees and a pat to the side of his neck, the other hand hanging on to one of his antlers. He lopes forward with long leaping strides that have grace, if not exactly blinding speed.

Fireflower starts all by herself. She may be letting Tony sit on her but doesn't appear to care all that much if he stays that way.

[toblameforit]

Tony is fully capable of hanging on all by himself.

[bitofafiction]

Watson starts at precisely the appropriate moment.

He - well - bolts forward, easily overtaking Branch.

[the_very_best]

"Ayep," mutters Bella. "Keep up, honey, go on." Branch goes on leaping.

Fireflower sprints. She's up to top speed in ten strides, and top speed is staggering.

[bitofafiction]

Watson's top speed keeps pace pretty well, and he manages to put himself between the Rapidash and the lake.

[the_very_best]

Fireflower runs like she's got something to prove. She quite ignores Tony.

Meanwhile, Branch makes up some ground, when he's able to jump over a few tall rocks that the other two have to route around, but Bella falls far behind overall.

[toblameforit]

Well, okay then.

[bitofafiction]

As they reach the opposite side of the lake, Watson begins to pull ahead. He is better able to navigate the contours of the shoreline and turn sharply around obstacles without losing speed.

[the_very_best]

Fireflower runs like a madmon on the straightaway portions, and occasionally temporarily overtakes the Zebstrika, but ultimately she - or Tony, depending on how one counts these things - comes in second.

Branch lopes in some thirty seconds later.

[bitofafiction]

"Good show," says Sherlock, disembarking from Watson and hugging him around the neck.

"Zeb," says Watson, nodding.

[toblameforit]

Tony climbs off of Fireflower and sits down on the ground.

"Good game, everybody!"

[the_very_best]

"Raaaapidash," complains Fireflower, snorting at Watson.

"Nicely done," says Bella, sliding off Branch and returning him.

[bitofafiction]

"Zebstrika," says Watson, unconcernedly.

"Our mounts desire a rematch," says Sherlock.

[the_very_best]

"Do they now. I'd be up for another lap."

[bitofafiction]

"As would I."

[toblameforit]

"Count me out," says Tony.

[the_very_best]

"That's all right, I can ride Fireflower." Since Tony's already vacated her, Bella vaults up. "I bet you can do it, pretty one," she coos. "Yes you can."

[bitofafiction]

Sherlock remounts Watson and guides him to the starting line.

"Shall we, my dear fellow?"

"Striiika."

[the_very_best]

Fireflower's a bit more attentive to Bella than she was to Tony. And she's smarter than Branch. She trots up beside Watson at a click of Bella's tongue and shoots the Zebstrika a challenging look. "Dash."