While heading toward Rustboro City, Ash and the others stopped at the Contest Hall outside the city.
They saw many Trainers and Pokémon practicing.
“What are they all doing?
It doesn’t look like battle training,” May wondered.
“A Pokémon Contest is about to be held here.
They’re probably preparing for it,” Ash explained.
“Huh?
A Contest is going to be held here?”
May had only recently learned about Pokémon Contests from Ash, and now they had encountered one that was about to begin.
“How about we watch the Contest before leaving?” May asked.
She wanted to see what a Contest was really like.
“I’m fine with that!” Ash immediately agreed.
He knew this Contest was the beginning of May’s journey toward becoming Hoenn’s Contest Idol.
“Agreed!”
Brock and Max had no objections.
“Yay!
Let’s go!” ٩(*´`)۶
At that moment, a beautiful butterfly Pokémon suddenly landed on May’s face.
“Ah!
What is this?!” May screamed.
“May, it’s a Beautifly!”
Beautifly’s Trainer and her boyfriend soon rushed over.
Meanwhile, Ash headed to the Contest registration area with Pikachu.
“Hello.
I’d like to enter the Pokémon Contest.”
“Certainly.
Please show us your Contest Pass.”
“This is my first time entering, so I don’t have one.
Please issue me a Contest Pass.”
“Of course.
Please place your Pokédex in the slot below.”
Ash did so.
The registration was quickly completed, and the staff member handed him a Contest Pass.
“You’re registered.
Here is your Contest Pass.”
“Ash!
So you were here!”
Encouraged by Janet, May had decided to register as well and found Ash at the counter.
Brock and Max were behind her, along with a young woman and a young man.
After introductions, Ash learned that the woman was Janet and the man was Chaz.
“Hello.
I’d like to enter the Pokémon Contest,” May told the staff.
“I’m sorry.
We just received notification from the entrance.
The number of contestants has been finalized, so we can no longer accept your registration.”
“What?
No way!
Registration already closed?
I finally made up my mind!
If I’d known, I would have come with Ash!” (｡•́︿•̀｡)
“It’s okay, May.
You only just decided to enter, and you haven’t practiced.
Even if you entered, winning would be difficult.
You can watch and learn first.”
Brock then looked at Ash.
“I never expected you to enter a Contest!”
“Yeah.
It can broaden my style of battling.
Hoenn Champion Wallace is also a Contest Master, which proves Pokémon Contests have plenty worth learning from.”
‘And I can earn some points’, Ash silently added.
“I see!”
They entered the Contest venue.
May decided to assist Janet so she could experience a Contest firsthand.
She had originally wanted to assist Ash, but Ash said his performance did not require an assistant, so she reluctantly joined Janet instead.
The Contest soon began.
“Thank you for waiting…”
“Please welcome our first contestant!”
A Jynx was released and merely spun through the air several times, yet May was already completely captivated.
“The entrance is where contestants put the most thought into their performance.
The first impression is extremely important in the preliminary round.
The judges consider the beauty of the moves, how perfectly they are performed, the Pokémon’s development, and the coordination between Pokémon and Trainer.
The scores determine the result.”
Janet explained patiently.
———————— Contest in Progress ————————
Chaz performed with Venomoth, using it to control props and earning a high score of 29.5.
Janet made her entrance using Flash.
May threw a flying disc, which Beautifly shattered with String Shot before finishing with Hidden Power.
The sparkling fragments beautifully highlighted Beautifly’s elegance, earning a perfect score of 30.
Jessie, using an alias, entered later, but her random commands caused her to be eliminated.
“Now, please welcome our final contestant—Ash!”
“Go, Eevee!”
“Eevee~”
Eevee emerged, performed a somersault, and landed gracefully.
“Eevee, fire five Shadow Balls!”
Five Shadow Balls shot into the sky at different angles.
“Use Agility, then have Swift spiral around the Shadow Balls!”
Soon, countless stars circled the five Shadow Balls.
“Eevee, time to finish!
Jump into the center and use Tera Blast!”
Eevee leaped between the five Shadow Balls and fired Tera Blast.
The five Shadow Balls exploded one after another, creating dark-purple and golden light.
Eevee landed gracefully within the glow.
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
“Wow!”
The audience was stunned.
As expected, Ash received a perfect score.
“Did Ash really not practice?”
May stared in disbelief.
“We’ve been traveling with him the whole time.
When have you ever seen him practice, sis?” Max replied.
“It seems he only gave Eevee some instructions before starting.
I never expected Ash to be so talented at Pokémon Contests—or to have such incredible coordination with his Pokémon!”
Brock sighed.
Since arriving in Hoenn, Ash had changed.
He had become more mature and continued growing stronger and stronger.
Janet and Chaz watched Ash intently.
They both knew he would become a powerful opponent.
“Ash, you’re amazing!” (✧▽✧)
May stared at him with admiration.
“It was nothing.
I just came up with it on the spot.
Eevee deserves most of the credit.”
“Eevee~”
Eevee raised its head proudly.
Naturally, it was all the great Eevee’s achievement.
Among the eight contestants who advanced to the second round, Ash, Janet, and Chaz held the top three positions.
In the next round, all three faced ordinary contestants and advanced without much difficulty.
“Great!
We all advanced!
But Ash has to battle Chaz.”
May first spoke happily, then suddenly sounded sad.
“There’s only one Ribbon.
We were bound to meet eventually.
Let’s decide the winner, Chaz.”
“Right!”
Their battle began.
“Go, Eevee!”
“Venomoth, use Stun Spore!”
[Venomoth]
[Strength: Early Elite Tier]
A cloud of powder rushed forward.
“Eevee, Dig to evade.”
However, Ash still lost a point.
“Venomoth, watch your surroundings.
Prepare Psybeam!”
“Eevee, Tera Blast!”
Eevee suddenly appeared directly beneath Venomoth and gathered Terastal energy.
“What?!
Oh no, move!”
‘You sneaky bastard!
Why aren’t you following the usual rules?
Normally, you appear behind the opponent!
Who attacks from directly below?’
Venomoth was too slow and was struck by Tera Blast.
Most of Chaz’s points vanished.
“Eevee, Quick Attack, then Double Kick!”
Bang!
Venomoth was knocked out, and Chaz’s elimination mark appeared.
“Venomoth is unable to battle!
Eevee wins!
The winner is contestant Ash!”
“Congratulations, Ash!”
Chaz approached him.
“Thank you.”
The final came down to Ash and Janet.
“The Rustboro Contest is now reaching its climax!
The two contestants who won their semifinal matches, Janet and Ash, will now battle!
The time limit is five minutes.
The final begins!”
“Ash, you’re strong, but I won’t lose!
Go, Beautifly!”
“I choose you, Eevee!”
[Beautifly]
[Strength: Mid-Elite Tier]
“Beautifly, use Hidden Power!”
The white rings were beautiful and dangerous.
Before the attack even reached Eevee, Ash had already lost a point.
“Eevee, Tera Blast!”
“Eevee~”
Tera Blast was equally gorgeous, especially as crystal-like energy scattered upon impact.
Janet lost a point as well.
The two moves collided, creating beautiful points of light.
“Beautifly, Gust!”
“Eevee, Dig!”
“Watch out!”
“Eevee, Iron Tail!”
After days of training, Eevee had finally learned Iron Tail!
Iron Tail knocked Beautifly down.
“Eevee, finish it with Swift!”
“The battle is over!
The winner is Ash!”
“Return, Beautifly.
You worked hard.”
Janet recalled it and approached Ash.
“Congratulations, Ash.
You’re really incredible.”
“Thank you.”
“Please welcome the winner of this Contest, Ash, to receive the Rustboro Ribbon!”
“Congratulations.
Since this is your first Contest, we’ll also give you this Ribbon Case.”
“Thank you!
All right!
I got the Rustboro Ribbon!”
“Eevee~”
[Ding~ Obtained the Rustboro Ribbon.
Reward: 1000 points.]
“I’m so jealous!
Okay, I’m going to enter Pokémon Contests too someday!”
May looked at Ash’s Ribbon with envy and determination.
To be continued…
….