Chapter 121: Laramie Ranch Sports Festival

The group followed Brock forward.

Soon, they saw Lara riding a Ponyta ahead, with two saddled Tauros behind her.

"Sorry, everyone. The only Pokémon at home strong enough to carry people are these two Tauros," Lara apologized with a nod.

"Misty and Giselle with Lara, Ash and Brock on one Tauros, Natsume and Giselle on the other," Misty said, winking at Giselle.

"Wait!" Lara called out, but it was too late.

"Ah!" Misty's hand got burned slightly.

"Sorry, only those recognized can touch Ponyta's flames without being affected," Lara explained.

She jumped off, skillfully taking a box of milky-white ointment from her waist pouch and applied it to Misty's burned finger.

"All right, then Ash, Brock, and I'll squeeze onto one Tauros," Misty said, stepping onto a nearby Tauros.

"Miss Lara, let me clear the way for you!" Brock approached, taking hold of Ponyta's reins instead of mounting a Tauros.

Arf! Arf! Arf! Growlithe barked at Brock, on high alert.

"Ha ha, one Growlithe is enough," Lara said lightly, not refusing his help.

"Uh, Mr. Natsume, shall we get on too?" Giselle tugged at his coat.

Her other hand tightly pressed down on his Pokéball.

"Don't always worry about efficiency. Look at this vast grassland and these Tauros—it could be quite an experience," she said.

"Sounds reasonable," Natsume nodded, abandoning the idea of using Gengar to fly the group.

The two Tauros were strong and solid. When Natsume sat, he felt the muscles ripple under him as they ran.

With the saddles, though, it felt more like sitting on a bouncy water bed—a unique sensation.

"Ah~ Mr. Natsume," Giselle whispered, blushing, her arms wrapping around his waist.

She pressed her face to his back, refusing to let go despite any words he said.

Natsume felt utterly uncomfortable, as if there were a small furnace on his back.

As the sun began to set, the Tauros gradually slowed their pace.

Ahead of the group appeared a marketplace.

Various goods were on sale—mostly dairy products and carved wooden totems shaped like bone flutes.

The group dismounted, and Giselle discreetly observed Natsume, noticing his unease.

"Mr. Natsume?" she said, smiling brightly, as if discovering a new world.

"Are you feeling warm?" Natsume checked her forehead.

Giselle's body heat was unusually high; being pressed by him made her sweat, sticky and uncomfortable.

"This is where the Laramie Ranch usually gathers," Lara clapped her hands to draw attention.

"Miss Lara, most of these people don't look like Laramie," Misty noted, seeing the attire differences between the vendors and Lara.

"That's because tomorrow is the Laramie annual running competition. Many spectators have come to watch," Lara explained, mounting her Ponyta again.

"I'm also competing, so I need to go prepare," she said.

"Miss Lara, wait for me!" Brock called out.

Arf arf arf! Growlithe barked, refusing to be left behind.

"Running competition? What's that?" Misty tilted her head.

"I don't know, but the milk here is delicious—gulp—hic!" Ash walked over, holding a cup of milk. Ponyta and Pikachu each had a mini cup.

Pika~, Pikachu nodded in agreement.

Slurp~ A yellow head suddenly popped up and downed the rest of Pikachu's milk in one gulp.

Pikachu! Pikachu glared angrily at Ash.

"Quiet, quiet! I still have plenty here," Ash said, taking out another cup of milk.

"Mr. Natsume, what's the running competition?"

Seeing Natsume about to follow Brock, Giselle quickly grabbed him.

"Running competition?"

"Well, it's like this!" Natsume struck a running pose and instantly broke free from Giselle's hold.

"Come back here!"

Misty reached out and pulled Natsume back.

"All right, I'll explain," Natsume said, eager to get to Lara's house for a bath.

"This is a race held by the Laramie Ranch to divide grazing areas. The higher your placement, the better the pasture you can choose."

He paused for a moment.

"This area is on the outskirts of the Kanto Safari Zone. Thanks to League researchers, the ecosystem here is much improved, and differences between pastures aren't significant."

"But the competition is still preserved as a symbolic cultural sport of the Laramie Ranch."

"Cultural sport? Can I join?" Ash's eyes lit up.

Natsume didn't answer and instantly teleported away.

"Of course, Ash! Outsiders are welcome to join our cultural sports," came a familiar announcer's voice.

Everyone turned in surprise.

"It's you! The host!" Ash exclaimed.

It was the same host who had commentated at the P1 Grand Prix.

"Haha! You can call me Nash. What a coincidence to see you here!"

Nash jumped down from a Magneton, shaking Ash's hand.

"If you join, my commentary will be even more fun!"

He handed several entry tickets to Ash with a smile.

"All right, see you at tonight's bonfire festival!"

"Wow, a bonfire festival too!" Misty peeked out, eyes full of excitement.

"Let's quickly take a bath, then join the festival!" Ash was the first to react, following Natsume out of the marketplace.

Lara's house wasn't far from the market and they arrived shortly.

Just as they arrived, Natsume emerged, wiping his head.

"Ash, I'm entrusting you with an important task."

As Ash stepped inside, Natsume stopped him.

"What?"

The group noticed a strange atmosphere inside.

Lara sat inside, one leg exposed, covering her face and crying, while Brock sat nearby, looking guilty.

Growlithe barked at Brock.

"Brock, what did you do to Miss Lara?" Misty stepped forward, grabbing his ear.

"Wait, wait!" Brock cried in pain, quickly explaining.

"It's like this: while practicing with Ponyta, Miss Lara fell into a pit and injured her leg. She probably can't compete tomorrow," Brock said regretfully, waving his hand.

"A pit? Could it be that missing Diglett?" Giselle suddenly asked.

"No, that hole was man-made," Natsume said, dismissing the idea. He had checked immediately, and it was clearly dug with a shovel.

"Man-made? That's so cruel!" Misty fumed.

"All right, all right!" Natsume clapped his hands.

You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https://ravenarchives.com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.