"This is really interesting," observes Bella dryly. "All right, I guess I'm on Branch, although I consider it misleading that you didn't tell me Tony would be wooing my Fireflower with translation help."
"I honestly believe that the other way would only have taken longer," says Sherlock.
Bella laughs. She tosses Branch's Pokéball and swings herself onto the Sawsbuck's back. "Shall we?"
"Indeed we are," says Sherlock, mounting up. "Once around the lake, first one past the tower?" Watson positions himself appropriately.
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.
"Saw," says Branch. Bella nudges him into a fair starting position.
"I'm all set," Bella says. "What should our starting signal be?"
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.
He - well - bolts forward, easily overtaking Branch.
Fireflower sprints. She's up to top speed in ten strides, and top speed is staggering.
Watson's top speed keeps pace pretty well, and he manages to put himself between the Rapidash and the lake.
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.
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.
Branch lopes in some thirty seconds later.
"Zeb," says Watson, nodding.
"Good game, everybody!"
"Nicely done," says Bella, sliding off Branch and returning him.
"Our mounts desire a rematch," says Sherlock.
"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."
"Shall we, my dear fellow?"
"Striiika."