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"Charge, Wartortle!"
"Wartortle!!"
"We can't fall behind! Go, Lapras!"
"Wuuu~!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, the race has officially begun! The contestants are bursting with energy right from the start! Several competitors have already entered the first turn in the lead!!"
The watercourse used for the Tour de Alto Mare was none other than the everyday waterways of Alto Mare. The interconnected canals wove throughout the entire city, and all the contestants sped across the shimmering blue surface, sending splashes flying in every direction!
"Haha! So fast! Amazing, Lapras! Keep this up and we'll take the championship!!"
"Wuuu!"
As one of the frontrunners, Delia couldn't help shouting excitedly, her face glowing with enthusiasm. Lapras responded with a triumphant cry, beating its four fins even harder and widening the distance between them and the others.
"Huh? Delia! There's still a lot of course left! Don't burn all your stamina at once!"
Liam, following behind, shouted toward her. But Delia and Lapras were already rounding into the next canal at high speed and didn't hear him at all.
"Alright, Wartortle—let's catch up!"
"War!"
Liam could only smile wryly as Delia disappeared from view. Tightening his grip on the reins, he urged Wartortle to accelerate!
"Ladies and gentlemen! The race is still heating up! Miss Delia, riding Lapras, is currently in first place! She's left all other competitors far behind—what an incredible performance! Oh? Wait! What's that!? Another contestant! Liam, riding Wartortle, is rapidly closing in! Hahaha! Rumor has it these two contestants are very close in real life—what a spectacular lovers' rivalry! Who will claim victory in today's race?!"
There were no large screens broadcasting the race, so everyone relied on the speakers along the shore. Though it was only audio, the excitement was palpable.
"Haha~ Liam! You actually caught up! But I won't let you pass me that easily! Lapras! Accelerate again!"
While zooming forward, Delia heard the broadcast. Turning her head, she spotted Liam gaining on her. She grinned and immediately ordered Lapras to pick up speed again.
"Wuuu~!"
Already fast, Lapras narrowed its eyes and surged forward even faster.
Seeing Delia accelerate again just as he caught up, Liam frowned and yelled toward her:
"Delia! Careful! You're going too fast! Watch your stamina!"
The race had only reached the halfway point. If Delia continued like this, she wouldn't make it to the finish line.
This time, Delia heard him. She glanced back, just about to respond, but Lapras suddenly cried out in pain!
They had reached another sharp turn. Lapras tried to use its fins to control the water flow and pivot, but its current speed was far too high. Lapras lost control and capsized with a splash!
"Kyaa!"
With Lapras overturning, Delia was instantly thrown into the water.
"DELIA!"
Liam's eyes widened in horror. Without hesitation, he dove straight into the water and swam toward her with all his strength.
"Wuuuu~~"
Just as Liam reached her, Lapras burst out of the water with Delia on its back, crying apologetically.
"Cough—cough—hehe, don't be sad, Lapras. It's fine. I wasn't being careful."
Still coughing a little, Delia smiled and comforted Lapras.
"Delia! Are you hurt?!"
Liam climbed up onto Lapras, pulling himself close to her as he inspected her anxiously.
"Honestly! I told you to slow down but you wouldn't listen. Now look— you got yourself soaked!"
Seeing that she wasn't injured, Liam finally let out a breath of relief—but immediately scolded her with a puffed-up expression.
"Hehehe~ I know, I know~ It's my first time doing this, okay? I got excited! Don't stay mad. Let's keep racing!"
Delia pleaded sweetly, reaching for the drifting reins as she prepared to continue.
"Hmph… seriously? Still thinking about the race? Look behind you."
Liam flicked her forehead lightly, signaling her to turn around.
Delia turned… And saw—
"Go!! We can still win!!"
"Victory will be mine!!"
"Ora ora ora!!"
"Muda muda!!"
A wave of more than ten competitors—only slightly behind them earlier—shot past like a stampede, spraying water everywhere.
"Bleh!! What—!? Ugh!!"
Spitting out seawater, Delia watched them vanish into the distance, her mood sinking instantly.
"Hehe, now you understand how reckless you were. But it's fine—this is all about having fun. You can try again next time~"
"Wartortle"
"Wuuu~!"
Liam soothed her gently. Wartortle and Lapras chimed in as well.
Just then—
Two faint, translucent figures suddenly appeared around them, letting out crisp, melodic cries.
"Oooh~"
"Yaa~"
"War!!"
"Wuuu!!"
Wartortle and Lapras instantly grew alert, growling defensively.
"Huh!? Latios! Latias! What are you two doing here?!"
Despite being nearly invisible, Liam recognized the silhouettes and voices—it was the same Latios and Latias who had helped him just days ago.
"Oooh~"
"Yaa~"
At his greeting, Latios and Latias flickered briefly into visibility, then vanished again. They swooped toward Liam and Delia, gently biting onto their clothing and lifting them onto their backs.
"Hmm? You two want to take us somewhere?"
"Oooh~"
"I see… Delia, return Wartortle and Lapras for now."
"Alright! Return, Wartortle! Return, Lapras!"
"Wartortle!!"
"Wuuu~"
"Okay, Latios, Latias—where are you taking us?"
As Delia recalled her Pokémon, Liam addressed the Eon twins.
Then—
"Oooh~"
"Yaa~"
A mysterious force wrapped around Liam and Delia, turning them invisible. The two Eon Pokémon then soared through the winding streets of Alto Mare, weaving through turn after turn.
After countless twists, they passed through a luminous, vine-covered barrier—
—and arrived in a mystical flower garden filled with an aura of secrets.