The next day. Ashley and Cynthia are sitting in a cafe holding hands with the incubator in Ashley's bag. They are waiting for the others when Cynthia asks " so what Pokemon you planing to use?"

Ashley answers" for the appeal round I am going to use Squirtle and for the performance round Pidgeotto."

Cynthia replys "good choices, like what you have done with your hair" she smiles at Ashley

Ashley didn't do anything different to her hair then usual and was now blushing "but..i havne't...haven't done anything with"

Before she could even finish what she was saying Cynthia grabs her and kisses her deeply, Ashley being caught off gaurd blushes and eventualy kisses Cynthia back.

Then the others enter the cafe and May asks" its bad enough you guys do that in a quiet room together...and how come you didn't wait for us?"

Ashley looks sheepishly and looks away while saying" sorry I forgot."

James says" wait what about you Cynthia."

Cynthia says" couldn't be bothered to wait for you, and a chance to get Ashley alone away from you guys and all to myself for a while" she smiles at Ashley and Ashley blushes deeply

James says" should of seen that coming."

May roles her eyes asks" so you ready for the contest?"

Ashley sits there quietly too embaressed to talk

Cynthia speaks up and says excitedly" yes she is, and she is going to win!"

May smirks and replies" you have to get past me first."

Ashley quietly says" well we have 2 hours before the contest starts so what you going to get."

May says" just some breakfast."

Ashley says "well I be right back going to swap out some Pokemon."

Cynthia says" hurry back then." with a wink

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A little while later Ashley walks into the Pokemon center and towards the pc and calls home. After a few seconds the phone answers and she sees Delia siting on the chair in front of the screen and Delia says " Hello, do need something dear?"

Ashley answers still blushing and timid "can you send Pidgeotto over and I will send Lairon, i need him for a contest"

Delia says" so Aron evolved then, good for him now wait here while I get Pidgeotto."

Ashley says" thanks mum."

Delia nods and walks of the screen and returns 10 minutes later and puts Pidgeotto's poke ball in a machine and Ashley does the same for Lairon's. A bright light engulfs poke balls and they swap loctions and Ashley says" thanks again."

Delia asks with a grin on her face "is everything ok dear?"

Ashley quickly nods "yes...yep umm everything is fine...i...i just have alot on my mind. I'v got to go bye mum thanks"

Delia says still smiling " no worries, if that's everything bye and say hi to Cynthia and your friends for me."

Ashley says blushing again "yeah bye."

The phone call then ends and Ashley goes to return to the others.

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2 hours later. Ashley and May are in a waiting room waiting for the start of the contest. May then asks" so what Pokemon you going to use?"

Ashley answers with a wink" that will ruin the surprise."

May responds "it was a surprise you getting with Cynthia"

Ashley blushes again "it was for me too, i was just caught up in the moment...and what dose it matter to you? are you jealous?

May goes to respond but an announcer says" can Ashley please come to the stage."

Ashley then pulls out a poke ball and walks onto the stage.

Once she reaches the stage she throws the poke ball and says" go Squirtle." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing Squirtle doing a barrel roll surrounded by stars. Squirtle then lands on its feet and Ashley says" Squirtle use dragon pulse." A skeletal dragon then comes out of Squirtles mouth and flys around him in a circle then around the arena and Ashley says" enough now spin and use bubble beam."The dragon then turns into dust as it falls down onto the arena and around Squirtle as he spins around sending out bubbles from his mouth and after a while they burst and is covered in purple and blue dust. Ashley and Squirtle bow and walk of the stage.

Ashley then walks down back to the waiting area and sees May waiting for her and May shyly asks" when did Squirtle master dragon pulse?"

Ashley answers" I had him practice it last night along with Charmander."

May says" awesome, so you using Squirtle for the next round."

Ashley shakes her head and says" Squirtle is only for appeal round."

May says still shy" alright."

Ashley asks "is everything ok?"

May replies "i'll get over it"

Ashley asks "is this about earlier?"

May quietly says " its just that...its just that im not jealous...Ashley...i like you alot more then a friend should"

Then an announcer says" can May please come to the stage."

Ashley blushes and says "M...May why did you keep it quiet all this time?"

May sheepishly turns back to Ashley and replies " I... i just never knew how to tell you, or when to...and you have been so happy with Cynthia

May then walks out onto the stage with a poke ball and throws it saying" Butterfree spotlight." A blue light comes out of the poke ball and a pink Butterfree comes out surrounded by hearts. May then says" use poison powder." Purple powder starts to fall out of Butterfree's wings and going. Then May says" stop and use stun spore." Purple dust stops coming and gets replaced with yellow. After a while May says" stop and use sleep powder." Yellow dust stops coming and is replaced with blue.

After a few minutes May says" use gust." Butterfree moves its wings and a gust of wind appears and picks up all the dust and moves it around Butterfree covering it and May bows and returns Butterfree and walks of the stage.

May then walks towards Ashley and says" so how did I do?"

Ashley responds" it was good."

May says" I wonder if we both made it through."

Ashley responds" I hope so."

May says "im sorry if i'v mad you feel uncomfortable"

Ashley smiles and says "its ok, and you haven't"

They smile and hug and after a while the TV screens glow and 8 frames that are blacked out appear and start to brighten, after the first 5 pics show the people moving on Ashley and Mays appear and Ashley says" I knew we would make it."

The announcer then says" now lets see who goes first." The pics start moving around till everyone is paired up and Ashley's pic is lined up with a women with purple hair in a blue sleeveless dress. The announcer says" can the Ashley and Susan please come to the stage."
Ashley then says" wish me luck."

May says" good luck."

Ashley then walks up to the stage and sees her opponent come out at the same time and they see the screen have 5 minutes on it and a circle underneath and the announcer says" please release your Pokemon."

Ashley throws the poke ball saying" Pidgeotto take to the sky." A blue light comes out revealing a Pidgeotto surrounded by stars. Susan then throws her poke ball saying "Cacturne your up." A blue light comes out of the poke ball revealing a green scarecrow Pokemon with black spikes sticking out of him surrounded by stars and the announcer says" you can begin."

Susan says" Cacturne use pin missile." Cacturne's spikes start to glow white and shot out towards Pidgeotto as the missiles get near Pidgeotto, Ashley says" Pidgeotto us quick attack to dodge."Pidgeotto as speeds around the air as the missiles follow him Susan starts to lose points. As Pidgeotto starts doing cartwheels as the missiles go over him, Susan starts to lose even more points . Susan says" stop and use dark pulse."

The pins stop and Cacturne puts its arms together near its chest and a purple orb forms in between. Cacturne then extends its arms and the orb turns into a wave and and extends towards Pidgeotto who couldn't move fast enough to dodge and starts to fall out of the sky losing Ashley a quarter of her points. Ashley says" come on Pidgeotto you can do it use aerial ace."

Pidgeotto then puts its wings by its body and gets cover in a blue aura instead of the white light and Ashley scans the move with her pokedex and it shows on the screen this move is called brave bird.

Ashley says" Pidgeotto use brave bird."

Pidgeotto whole body is then covered in a blue aura and flys towards Cacturne slamming into its stomach, causing him some pain. Cacturne is then sent flying through the air. Susan says" use dark pulse." Cacturne then puts its arm together by its chest and a purple orb forms and Cacturne then extends its arms sending a purple wave towards Pidgeotto says" intercept it with twister." Pidgeotto puts his two wings together and a twister forms and flys towards the dark pulse, costing both points. The two attacks collide and cause an explosion. Ashley says" use aerial ace." Pidgeotto starts to speed towards Cacturne covered in a white light as the dust clears. Susan says" use needle arm."

Cacturne right arm starts to glow and Cacturne starts to swing around clockwise. Pidgeotto then slams into Cacturne's stomach as its right arm hits into Pidgeotto's back knocking it into the ground. causing both to lose a lot of points.

The timer goes and both Ashley and Susan look to the screen and shes Ashley's picture get bigger and the announcer says" Ashley is the winner please leave the stage for the next contestants.

Ashley then walks towards Pidgeotto and says" good job."

Pidgeotto responds" thanks, I want to fight that Cacturne again."

Ashley says" I will see what I can do." Ashley then pulls out the poke ball and presses the button sucking Pidgeotto in," return."

Ashley then walks towards Susan and she asks" you competing in more contests or was this a one of."

Susan says" don't worry I will be in more."

Ashley says" good, my Pidgeotto would want a rematch next time we meet."

Susan says" of course Cacturne would love that two goodbye."
Ashley says" bye."

Both walk of the stage and May walks up to Ashley hugs her and says" that was a good battle."

Ashley asks with a smirk" what just good?"

May says with a wink "yeah, cant have you getting too confident now can I."

Ashley says" well I wonder who your opponent will be."

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after 2 battles May and her opponent who is a mid 20's man in a green suit, white shirt and red tie who is called Ray are called to the stage.

As May walks to the stage she sees Ray doing the same. The announcer then says" trainers please choose your Pokemon."

May presses her poke ball and says" go Squirtle." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball and reveals Squirtle surrounded by hearts.

Ray throws his poke ball and says" go Absol." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball and reveals a Absol with lighting crackling around it.

Ray then says" use psycho cut."

Absol then moves its head to his right and its horn glows purple. Absol then swings its head left and a purple line formed in a crescent moon shape and flys towards Squirtle.

May says" Squirtle use water gun."

Squirtle then shoots a beam of water out of its mouth and it collides with the psycho cut causing an explosion. Ray then says" Absol use quick attack."

As the smoke clears Absol appears in front of Squirtle and May says" use skull bash."

As Absol gets closer Squirtle tucks its head in and launches itself at Absol. The two collide with each other sending both back. Absol is sent back a bit while Squirtle is sent flying further back while spinning through the air. May then says" use water gun." As Squirtle spins through the air it stops and sends a beam of water into Absol's face. Absol then shakes its head and May says" Squirtle use skull bash." Squirtle hits the wall with its legs and bounces of the wall with its head in its shell. Squirtle then slams into Absol sending it through the air. Squirtle then lands on its feet and May says" now use water gun."

Squirtle then fires a shot of water at Absol. Ray then says" Absol use quick attack."

Absol then lands and scarps backwards then runs to its right as the water hits the floor where Absol was. Ray then goes to say something when the timer goes and Ray picture on the screen disappears and Mays grows larger.

The referee then says" The winner is May."

May and Ray both walk of the stage and walks by Ashley who says" good match."

May stops walking and responds with a grin and a wink" i told you it would be better then yours, i'm just better then most people at most things."

Ashley blushes and says" just not me and not battling anything else your on about i wouldn't know."

Then the announcer says" can Ashley and Alice come to the stage ."

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As Ashley walks to the stage she spots Alice who has long brown hair down to her shoulders and is wearing a pink dress that ends at her knees and elbows.

Ashley pulls out her poke ball and Alice does the same.

The referee then says" trainers please release your Pokemon."

Alice throws her poke ball saying" go Flareon." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing a red dog with long ears and reddish orange fur around its neck, on its head and on its tail and it is surrounded by flames, the flames then subside.

Ashley says throwing her poke ball" go Pidgeotto." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball letting out Pidgeotto surrounded by stars.

The referee says" Alice can have the first move."

Alice says" Flareon use flamethrower." A pillar of fire shoots out of Flareon's mouth towards Pidgeotto and Ashley says" quickly dodge and use aerial ace."

Pidgeotto then moves to his left and then dives towards Flareon with white light surrounding him. Alice then says" Flareon jump onto Pidgeotto's back and use fire spin."

Flareon then jumps and turns as Pidgeotto flys under it and lands on Pidgeotto's back. Ashley says" get it of your back quickly."

Pidgeotto then flys straight up and Flareon then falls of. Flareon then opens its mouth and a spiraling red -orange flame shoots out and hits Pidgeotto on his legs.

Pidgeotto cries out in pain and yells" I will get you for that."
Ashley says" Pidgeotto use aerial ace again."

As Flareon falls down to the ground Pidgeotto dives towards it with white light surrounding it. Pidgeotto then slams into Flareon's back sending it through the air. As Flareon is spinning through the air and slams into one of the walls landing on its stomach. Alice then says" get up Flareon and use flamethrower."

Flareon then slowly gets up and shoots a pillar of fire at Pidgeotto hitting him in the center of his back as he flew past. Pidgeotto then falls out of the sky slamming into the ground with both its wings out. Alice says" Flareon use fire fang."

Ashley pleads " get up Pidgeotto." Pidgeotto then slowly gets up using its two wings to push itself up. As Flareon gets closer, Ashley says" use twister."

Pidgeotto then starts moving side to side as he puts his wings together and a twister forms flying towards Flareon hitting Flareon in the neck, sending it backwards.

The timer then goes of and Alices picture shrinks and Ashley's grows bigger and the referee says" Ashley is the winner."

Ashley then walks over to Pidgeotto picking him up and walking of the stage with him.

As Ashley walks of the stage May walks past her and Ashley says" you can do it May, me and Pidgeotto are looking forward to facing you and Squirtle."

May says" I wont lose, now I hope Pidgeotto will actually be ready to fight."

Ashley responds" I will be ready since we have been working extra hard to train, that and i have a potion"

May nods and walks of to the stage and Ashley walks over to the bench and pulls out the potion from her bag and sprays it on Pidgeotto and she asks" how you doing?"

Pidgeotto answers" better and rearing for the next match."

Ashley says" now lets see the match to see who we will be facing next."

Pidgeotto nods and flaps his wings and lands on Ashley's shoulder and the two walk over to a tv.

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May walks down the stage and sees her opponent Hunter walking towards her. Hunter has short brown hair and is wearing a black suit, a red tie and white shirt. They both stand on their sides of the stage and he referee then says" trainers please release your Pokemon."

Hunter throws his poke ball saying " go Nidoqueen." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing a blue Pokemon. Her lower jaw, chest plates and lower torso are cream-colored. She has a horn on its forehead, narrow black eyes, and large, spiny ears. There are toxic spikes running down the length of her back.

May throws her poke ball saying" go Squirtle." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing Squirtle with bubbles going around it like a whirlpool.

The referee then says" May will have the first move."

May says" Squirtle use water gun." Squirtle opens its mouth and a beam of water shoots out of its mouth towards Nidoqueen.

Hunter says" dodge it and use focus punch."

Nidoqueen then moves her right shoulder so the water shoots past her. Nidoqueen right hand then glows white and she charges at Squirtle.

As Nidoqueen reaches Squirtle, May says" Squirtle jump to your left and use water gun." As Nidoqueen goes to punch Squirtle in the chest Squirtle jumps to left and Nidoqueen's fist connects with the floor cracking it. Squirtle then opens its mouth again firing another beam of water which connects with Nidoqueen's face making her move backwards in a circle till she stops after doing a 360 circle. Hunter then says" use shadow claw."

Black aura with a purple outline forms in a claw shape around Nidoqueen's right hand. Nidoqueen then runs at Squirtle and May say" use ice beam on Nidoqueen's legs."

Squirtle opens its mouth and a beam of ice shoots out freezing Nidoqueen's legs just before she hits Squirtle and Hunter says" use super power."

Nidoqueen then flexes her muscles and the ice around her legs break and she moves her right arm and grabs Squirtle and throws it into the wall causing a crater. Squirtle then falls of the wall and lands on its stomach, covered in scratches and bruises. May then says" get up and use water gun."

Squirtle then slowly gets up and as Squirtle gets up it glows blue and its eyes glow dark blue. Hunter then yells" use iron tail." Nidoqueen then charges at Squirtle with her tail glowing white. Squirtle then starts to wobble and turns to face Nidoqueen who is getting nearer. Squirtle then opens its mouth and shoots a bigger shot of water and as Nidoqueen turns to strike with the tail her back is hit with the water and sent flying back.

Nidoqueen is then sent into a wall causing a big crater. Nidoqueen then gets of the wall and is covered in bruises and glares at Squirtle and The alarm goes and Hunters image shrinks and May's grows larger. The referee then says" May is the winner of the match, we will have a 15 minute break so the trainers can rest and heal their Pokemon."

May then walks over to Squirtle and picks it up and walks of the stage.

As she walks to the back stage area she spots Ashley and Pidgeotto sitting on one of the benches and Ashley asks" you need a potion?"

May answers " yes." and Ashley digs down her bag and pulls out the potion and turns to face May and throws it at her. May catches it in her right hand and then sprays Squirtle with it, she then puts Squirtle down and turns to Ashley and say" thank you."

Ashley nods.

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The two sit and chat and laugh,15 minutes later. Ashley and May are standing on opposite sides of the field and the referee says" trainers release your Pokemon."

Ashley says while throwing the poke ball" Pidgeotto I choose you." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing Pidgeotto surrounded by stars.

May says while throwing her poke ball" Squirtle take to the stage." A blue light bursts out of the poke ball revealing Squirtle with bubbles going in a whirlpool state.

The referee then says" Ashley may have the first move."

Ashley says" use quick attack."

Pidgeotto then speeds towards Squirtle and May says" jump to your right Squirtle and use ice beam."

Squirtle jumps to its right as Pidgeotto flys past and a beam of ice shoots from Squirtle's mouth towards Pidgeotto. As the ice beam gets closer to Pidgeotto Ashley says" use double team."

Several Pidgeotto's appear over the field and the ice beam go through one of the fakes and May says" use water gun on all of them."

Squirtle then stops the ice beam and fires a beam of water at all the fakes, as Ashley says" use aerial ace."

As Squirtle keeps firing at the fakes Pidgeotto flys towards its back surrounded by white light. Pidgeotto then slams into Squirtle's back sending it flying through the air. Squirtle then scraps across the fall and lands on its stomach and then pushes itself up landing on its legs as Pidgeotto flys back into the sky.

May says" use bubble."

Squirtle opens its mouth and several bubbles at Pidgeotto and Ashley says" use gust to blow the bubbles away."

Pidgeotto then starts to move its wings back and forth and a gust of wind forms and pushes the bubbles back and towards the floor making them colliding with the floor.

May then says" use ice beam."

Squirtle then opens its mouth and a beam of ice shoots towards Pidgeotto and Ashley says" use aerial ace."

Pidgeotto then dives as the ice goes over his body and a white light engulfs Pidgeotto as he flys towards Squirtle and slams into its chest sending it through the air scrapping across the fall landing on its feet and starting to glow blue and its eyes glow blue as well. May then says" Squirtle use water gun."

Squirtle then shoots a larger beam of water at Pidgeotto and Ashley says" counter with twister."

Pidgeotto then puts its wings together and a twister forms flying towards the beam of water. The two attacks collide but the twister cuts through the beam of water and May shouts" stop and use withdraw." Squirtle then stops the beam of water and hides in its shell as the attack collides with it. Squirtle is then slammed into the ground causing a crater and Squirtle jumps back out of its shell and starts wobbling around. Ashley says" use quick attack."

As Squirtle wobbles around Pidgeotto flys towards it covered in a white light and slams into him. As Squirtle flys through the air the timer goes and May's picture shrinks as Ashley's grows larger and the referee says" Ashley is the winner of the contest." He then goes into his pocket and pulls out a ribbon and says" please come and claim your prize."

Ashley then walks over to the referee and the referee gives her the ribbon and she takes it. She then pulls out Pidgeotto's poke ball pressing the button sucking him in while saying" good job Pidgeotto." She then turns to May and says" good match now we should go meet the others."

May nods and both walk of stage and back to the others.