A Girl of the Future

by Vanessa Krowd

  "What?" Shaylene asked.

  "Caution: Yield Ahead." CJ said.

  "As soon as I saw that there was a Yield, my heart sank." CJ said (After-Leg). "We were practically in last, and I knew we have a target on our back. Anyone who knew they

  were ahead of us could've Yielded us."

  Athena & Janey: Engaged (Clay Tunnel)

  "Athena, I found another one!" Janey said, holding up a Dusk Stone. "Any luck?"

  "Yeah. I got one. That's five." Athena said, finding a Dawn Stone. "Let's see if we've got it."

  Stacey / MetaKnight (PWT – Inside)

  "Dusknoir, Shadow Sneak!" Stacey called out. In front of her was a pudgy gray ghost with yellow markings on its stomach that looked like a face.

  "Tentacruel, dodge it and use Thief!" Koga said, commanding a blue squid-like creature.

  "Cyndaquil, Eruption!" MetaKnight said, commanding a small hedgehog-like creature.

  "Dodge it!" Lenora said. Before her creature, a buck whose antlers were covered with cherry blossoms, could react, fire rained down on it, knocking it out.

  "Dusknoir is unable to battle! The match goes to Koga!" One judge called out.

  "Sawsbuck is unable to battle!" Another judge said.

  "One Pokemon left for each of us." Lenora said.

  "Head outside. The attending nurse will heal your Pokemon." Koga said. "Then we can battle again."

  "I was confident going into the Roadblock that I'd do good. I've got decent knowledge of Pokemon battling." Stacey said (After-Leg). "Of course, it was totally random, and

  luck wasn't exactly on my side. I lost count of how many times I had to battle Koga. Not that anyone else was having a much easier time."

  Yoshi / DK (PWT – Inside)

  In front of Yoshi was a vulture-like creature and across from him, in front of Liza, was a large round black creature with white markings on its body, and eyes circling around its

  head. In front of DK was a purple blob with black diamond markings on its body, two small red eyes, big lips and what looked like a long mustache. Standing in front of Whitney

  was a large blown bear with a yellow ring marking on its stomach.

  "Mandibuzz, use Dark Pulse!" Yoshi said.

  "Claydol, dodge it and use Stone Edge!" Liza said.

  "Mandibuzz, fly into the air!" Yoshi said.

  "Swalot, use Toxic!" DK said.

  "Ursaring, use Earthquake!" Whitney said.

  CJ & Shaylene: Dating (PWT – Outside)

  The dating Sages approached the Yield mat.

  "I knew it." CJ said. "Stacey? Are you f—king kidding me? She needs to get over whatever the Hell it is she doesn't like about you."

  "Was I upset at Stacey for Yielding us? Of course I was." CJ said (After-Leg). "She's had some kind of petty hatred or jealousy or something toward Shaylene. But, it's a

  competition, and we have been strong competitors, so it might not have been entirely fueled by emotion."

  Athena & Janey: Engaged (Driftveil Market)

  "Please tell me these are right." Janey said, handing over the stones.

  "Correct." The vendor said, handing a clue to the Pandorans.

  Athena & Janey: Engaged – Currently in Last Place

  "Proceed to the Pokemon World Tournament. Caution: Yield Ahead." Janey read. "Let's roll."

  Stacey

  Stacey stepped up to the battlefield with Koga.

  "Ready to try again?" Koga asked.

  "Yes." Stacey said.

  "Then, let's fight." Koga said. "Go, Crobat!"

  "Froslass, let's try it again!" Stacey said.

  MetaKnight / Yoshi / DK (PWT – Inside)

  "Audino, use Recover!" Lenora said.

  "Cyndaquil, get in with a Quick Attack, then follow up with Eruption!" MetaKnight said.

  "Grumpig, use Power Gem!" Liza was now commanding a purple and black pig.

  "Mandibuzz, dodge it and use Dark Pulse!"

  "Swalot, use Gunk Shot!" DK said.

  "Jigglypuff, dodge it and use Rollout!" Whitney said, commanding a small pink puffball.

  Athena & Janey: Engaged (PWT – Outside)

  The Pandorans ran toward the Pokemon World Tournament building, quickly noticing the dating Sages on the Yield mat, and the clue beyond them.

  "Roadblock… Who wants to be the very best?" Athena read.

  "I'll do it." Janey said. The dating Sages watched them grab their clue and run inside.

  CJ & Shaylene: Dating (PWT – Outside – Yielded)

  "Great. Now we're last." CJ said.

  "Come on, sand… Drop." Shaylene prayed.

  Janey (PWT – Inside)

  Janey walked in and was approached by a blue-haired woman in a blue, scale-like bodysuit and purple cape.

  "Greetings. I am Clair, leader of Johto's Blackthorn City Gym. I specialize in Dragon types, the most powerful Pokemon type." The woman said. "I hope you're ready for a

  challenge."

  "I hope so too." Janey said.

  MetaKnight / Stacey / Yoshi / DK (PWT – Inside)

  "Audino is unable to battle!" The judge called out. "The match goes to MetaKnight!"

  "Crobat is unable to battle! Froslass is the winner!" Another judge said.

  "Grumpig is unable to battle!" A third judge said.

  "Jigglypuff is unable to battle!"

  "Congratulations." Lenora said. "You fought hard." She handed a clue to MetaKnight.

  Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – Currently in 1st

  "Make your way on foot to the Pit Stop: The Plasma House. Warning: the last team to arrive may be eliminated." MetaKnight read.

  "Upon completing the Roadblock, teams must make their way on foot to The Plasma House. This house, home to former leader of the disbanded organization Team Plasma,

  N, is the Pit Stop for this leg of the race. The last team to check in here may be eliminated." Toadsworth said.

  "(Let's go!)" Kirby said. The Star Warriors rushed out of the World Tournament building, running past the dating Sages.

  CJ & Shaylene: Dating (PWT – Outside)

  "Great. There goes one." CJ said.

  "We could be going home." Shaylene said. The last bit of sand dropped to the bottom of the hourglass.

  "There it is! Let's go!" CJ said. He quickly grabbed the clue. "Roadblock… Who wants to be the very best?"

  "It's a battling challenge, I'm sure of it." Shaylene said. "I want to do it." CJ kissed her on the forehead.

  "You've got it, baby-girl." CJ said. "Go for it."

  Shaylene rushed into the World Tournament building, where she was greeted by the final trainer. It was a young woman with long bluish-black hair wearing a pink spaghetti

  strap top and white slacks.

  "Welcome. I am Sabrina. I am the leader of the Saffron City Gym, and a master of psychic power. I will be your opponent." Shaylene picked up three random Poke Balls and

  followed Sabrina into the battlefield.

  "Once I got into the battlefield and saw other racers there, I was relieved. CJ and I were sure we were going home. We were sure we were going home once we got Yielded,

  especially after Athena and Janey passed us." Shaylene said (After-Leg).

  Stacey / Yoshi / DK / Janey

  "Froslass, use Thunderbolt!" Stacey called out.

  "Tentacruel, get in close and use Thief!" Koga said.

  "Mandibuzz, Dark Pulse!" Yoshi said. In front of Liza was her final Pokemon: a crescent moon shaped stone creature.

  "Lunatone, dodge it and hit it with a Stone Egde!" Liza called out.

  "Swalot, Gunk Shot!" DK said. In front of Whitney was a large pink cow creature.

  "Miltank, Rollout! Power through it!"

  In front of Janey was a small tan shrew like creature with brown quills on its back. In front of Clair was a large blue bipedal shark like dragon.

  "Sandslash, use Earthquake!" Janey said.

  "Garchomp, use Earthquke as well!" Clair said.

  "Man
dibuzz is unable to battle!" A judge called out.

  "Miltank is unable to battle! The match goes to DK!" Another judge said.

  "Tentacruel is unable to battle!" A third judge said.

  "Good job." Whitney said. "You've got some good battling abilities."

  DK & Diddy: Best Friends – Currently in 2nd

  "Proceed on foot to the Pit Stop: Plasma House. Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated." DK read. "Let's roll!"

  CJ

  "So far that's two teams that have taken off, and Shaylene's battle basically just started." CJ said (During Leg). "There's still four of us here, but everyone else had a lead on

  us. I'm worried that if she didn't get the right Pokemon, we could be going home."

  Stacey / Yoshi / Janey / Shaylene

  In front of Koga now was a large purple cobra. Yoshi now had a small green monkey in front of him that had what looked like a piece of broccoli on its head. In front of

  Shaylene was an orange ghost rising out of a brown pumpkin, and in front of Sabrina was a strange pink humanoid creature with blue hair. In front of Janey was a small

  quadrupedal green dinosaur with a plant bulb on its back, and in front of Clair was a blue dragon with a red head and spiky, scaly skin.

  "Froslass, use Destiny Bond!" Stacey said.

  "Arbok, get in and use Crunch before it can finish!"

  "Pansage, use Seed Bomb!" Yoshi said.

  "Lunatone, Psychic!" Liza said.

  "Gourgeist, Shadow Ball!"

  "Mr Mime, take the hit and strike back with Revenge!" Sabrina said.

  "Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder!" Janey said.

  "Druddigon, use Flamethrower!" Clair said.

  "Froslass is unable to battle!"

  "Lunatone is unable to battle! The match goes to Yoshi!"

  "Mr Mime is unable to battle!"

  "Good battle, Yoshi." Liza said, holding out a clue.

  Yoshi & Yoshi Jr: Father/Son – Currently in 3rd

  "Proceed on foot to the Pit Stop: Plasma House. Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated." Yoshi read.

  "Come on, we've gotta move!" Yoshi Jr said.

  CJ / Tiny Tina / Athena

  "And then there were three." CJ said.

  "How did you guys end up so far back?" Athena asked. "You left the Pit Stop ahead of all of us."

  "We took a gamble on a flight and it ended up getting delayed." CJ said.

  ? (Plasma House)

  Toadsworth stood on the mat outside a house in the northern part of Driftveil, not far from the gym. Next to him was a dark-skinned young girl with purple hair that reached

  down to her knees. She wore a white shirt and pants, as well as a pink skirt, and her hair was tied in a ponytail as well as two small pigtails on the sides of her head. They

  watched as a team rushed up to the mat.

  "Welcome to Unova." The girl, Iris, said.

  "Thank you."

  "Kirby and MetaKnight… You're the first team to arrive…" Toadsworth said.

  "(Awesome!)" Kirby said.

  "However…"

  "That's not good." MetaKnight said.

  "The Detour clue specifically said to take a bike to your destination." Toadsworth said. "And you were supposed to take that bike to the World Tournament building as well. You

  took your cab to both, and for that, you have incurred two 30-minute penalties, for a total of one hour, and you must wait that out before I can check you in."

  Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – Penalty Time Remaining = 1:00

  "All because of a misread clue." MetaKnight said. "There's no excuse. I'm sorry Kirby."

  "(Don't apologize. We're not out yet.)" Kirby said.

  Stacey / Janey / Shaylene (PWT – Inside)

  "Rhyperior, use Earthquake!" Stacey commanded.

  "Arbok, spring up into the air and strike down with Aqua Tail!" Koga said.

  "Altaria, Moonblast!" Clair said. She was now commanding a blue bird-like creature with fluffy wings that looked like clouds. In front of Janey was a large crab with antennaelike

  things on its head that resembled a crown.

  "Kingler, hit it with Blizzard!" Janey said.

  "Jynx, Ice Beam!" Sabrina said.

  "Don't give it a chance!" Shaylene said. "Shadow Sneak!"

  "Come on, baby-girl! You can do it!" CJ cheered.

  "Rhyperior is unable to battle!"

  "Altaria is unable to battle! The match goes to Janey!"

  Athena & Janey: Engaged – Currently in 4th

  "Proceed on foot to the Pit Stop: Plasma House." Athena read. "Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated."

  ? (Plasma House)

  Another team ran toward the Plasma House, where Toadsworth and Iris waited.

  "Welcome to Unova." Iris said.

  "Thank you."

  "Yoshi and Yoshi Jr." Toadsworth said. "You guys are the second team to arrive."

  "Not bad." Yoshi said.

  "However…" Toadsworth said.

  "Uh oh…"

  "Kirby and MetaKnight are waiting out a one-hour penalty, which means that you guys are officially team number one." Toadsworth said.

  Yoshi & Yoshi Jr: Father/Son – 1st Place / 1:43 AM

  Kirby & MetaKnight – Penalty Time Remaining / 0:30

  "Awesome!"

  "I have more good news. As winners of this leg of the race, you've won a 15-day cruise on the S.S. Anne." Toadsworth said. "You'll board the ship in Vermillion City, travelling

  to the Sevii Islands, Slateport and Lilycove City in Hoenn, and Olivine City in Johto, before returning to port in Vermillion. And you can enjoy that after the race."

  ? (Plasma House)

  Not long after the Yoshis checked in, another team came rushing to the Pit Stop.

  "Welcome to Unova." Iris said.

  "Thanks."

  "DK and Diddy… You're the second team to arrive. However, because Kirby and MetaKnight are waiting out a penalty, you guys are officially team number two."

  DK & Diddy: Best Friends – 2nd Place / 1:48 AM

  Kirby & MetaKnight – Penalty Time Remaining / 0:25

  "Not bad." DK said. "I'll take it."

  "Yeah."

  ? (Plasma House)

  Another team soon came running up to the mat.

  "Welcome to Unova." Iris said.

  "Athena and Janey… You're team number three." Toadsworth said.

  Athena & Janey: Engaged – 3rd Place / 1:55 AM

  Kirby & MetaKnight – Penalty Time Remaining / 0:18

  "Middle of the pack." Janey said. "Could be worse."

  Stacey / Shaylene (PWT)

  In front of Sabrina was a purple fox-like creature with a tail split into two at its end. In front of Shaylene was a gray bunny with large, hand-like ears that were brown at the

  tips. In front of Stacey was Dusknoir and in front of Koga was Arbok.

  "Arbok, use Crunch!"

  "Dusknoir, hit it with Psychic!"

  "Espeon, Psybeam!"

  "Bunnelby, wait for it to strike, and then use Payback!" Shaylene said. Arbok dove toward Dusknoir, mouth open. As it neared, Dusknoir unleashed a powerful blast of energy. Meanwhile, Espeon fired a blast of energy at Bunnelby. Bunnelby rushed forward, dodging the blast, its body glowing purple, and tackled Espeon.

  "Arbok is unable to battle! The winner is Dusknoir and the match goes to Stacey!"

  "Espeon is unable to battle! The winner is Bunnelby and the match goes to Shaylene!"

  Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends – Currently in 5th

  CJ & Shaylene: Dating – Currently in Last Place

  "Proceed on foot to the Pit Stop… the Plasma House." Stacey read.

  "Warning: the last team to arrive may be eliminated." Shaylene said.

  "Come on, we have to beat them!" CJ said.

  Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors (Plasma House)

  "Boys, I can check you in now." Toadsworth said to the Star Warriors. Kirby an
d MetaKnight hurried over to the mat. "Kirby and MetaKnight… You are now officially team

  number four."

  Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – 4th Place / 2:13 AM

  "1st to 4th… All because we didn't read our clue properly." MetaKnight said.

  "(At least we're still in it.)" Kirby said.

  Stacey & Tiny Tina / CJ & Shaylene (Plasma House)

  "Come on, we're almost there!"

  "Drop your bags and climb on my back. We have to beat them."

  Toadsworth and Iris watched as the two teams rushed down the streets of Driftveil near the Plasma House. CJ rushed up the nearby hill, Shaylene riding piggyback. Shortly

  behind them were Stacey and Tina. CJ rushed onto the mat and put Shaylene down.

  "Welcome to Unova." Iris said.

  "Why don't we let this other team in? Come on over, girls." Toadsworth said, as Stacey and Tina reached the top of the hill.

  "So close…" Stacey said.

  "CJ and Shaylene… You're team number five." Toadsworth said. "Stacey and Tina… I'm sorry to tell you that you're the last team to arrive."

  CJ & Shaylene: Dating – 5th Place / 2:53 AM

  Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends – Last Place / 2:53 AM

  "I'm pleased to tell you, however, that this is a non-elimination leg and you are still in the Amazing Race." Toadsworth said.

  "They got out of the car and took their bags out from the back of the car. They stayed silent whilst walking into the building, trying to take in all of its immenseness. Darcy

  gazed up at the ceiling high above her it was so tall it made you feel miniscule. The lobby was quiet; the only sound was that of heels tapping along the floor.

  Darcy looked back down and saw the smiling face of Miss Pepper Potts. Darcy's eyes widened in shock. Miss Potts was one of the most serene people Darcy had ever seen.

  "Agent Barton did your mission go well?" She asked kindly looking at agent Barton.

  "Yes ma'am." Barton smirked.

  "Nice to see you again Thor." She smiled.

  "Aye it is a pleasure to see you again Lady Potts." Thor beamed whilst enveloping her in a hug, Pepper awkwardly patted his shoulder.

  "It's wonderful to see you in person Dr Foster." Miss Potts beamed sticking her hand out to Jane once Thor released her. Jane was still in shock so Darcy elbowed her in the

  ribs; she stumbled forward and took Pepper's hand. "It's great to meet you too Miss Potts. Thank you for offering us a place to stay" Jane smiled.

  "It's our pleasure; honestly it will be nice to have two more girls to even out the numbers." Pepper laughed releasing Jane's hand and turning to Darcy. "And you must be Dr