Chapter 32: Ponyta Evolves!

It's been 4 months since May received her Galarian Ponyta. They would train a lot in those 4 months. Sometimes, Ponyta would train on her own or with May's other Pokémon in the greenhouse if May was busy at the time.

It's nighttime and they decide to train. Ponyta has a lot of energy, so she asked May if they can battle one of May's Pokémon. May agreed and now they're on a battlefield that's in the backyard of the castle.

"Okay Ponyta, who do you want to battle?" May asked.

They're looking at all of May's Pokémon. Ponyta is thinking of who could be a big challenge for her. She wants a tough opponent, so she can really relieve herself of her great amount of energy.

"Nine~!" A voice said from the shadows.

They all look towards the voice. A Kantonian Ninetales joins them in the middle of the battlefield.

"You're back!" May said happily.

"Nine~!" Ninetales said happily as he walked next to May's Ninetales.

"Hey, do you mind helping me out with something?" May asked.

"Nine~?" Ninetales questioned.

"How do you feel about battling Ponyta here?" May asked. "I'm sure Drew will be happy to know that we even did some training during your visit."

"Nine~!" Drew's Ninetales agreed.

"What do you say, Ponyta?"

Ponyta neighed in agreement.

"Okay then. Let's go!" May said.

May and Ponyta ran to one side of the battlefield. Drew's Ninetales ran to the other. The rest of May's Pokémon got off of the battlefield and are standing on the side to view the battle.

"Show us what you can do Ninetales!" May said.

"Nine~!" Ninetales said. He opened his mouth and released a stream of fire at Ponyta.

"He's using Flamethrower! Dodge!" May ordered.

Ponyta jumped to the right before the Flamethrower hit.

"Now, use Psybeam!" May commanded.

A ball of light formed above Ponyta's horn. Ponyta released a multicolored beam at Ninetales. Ninetales dodged the Psybeam with a Quick Attack.

"Whoa. That was fast." May said.

Ninetales continued using Quick Attack and kept running towards Ponyta. Ninetales was so fast that Ponyta couldn't dodge in time. She got hit and slid backwards on her hooves.

"Wow…" May breathed. "He's fast."

Ninetales jumped up and launched a Fire Blast at Ponyta.

"Use Confusion!" May ordered.

Ponyta's eyes glowed light blue and the Fire Blast stopped in its tracks, outlined in blue.

"Now, send it right back!" May ordered.

Ponyta used Confusion to turn the Fire Blast against Ninetales. The fire came back around and hit Ninetales. Ninetales winced slightly.

Ninetales launched a Flamethrower at Ponyta.

"Fairy Wind!" May ordered.

Ponyta unleashed a gust of pink, sparkling wind around her. The Flamethrower got blocked by the Fairy Wind. Ninetales immediately jumped into using Fire Spin. Ponyta got surrounded by a spiral of fire. She kept getting hurt by the flames. She neighed in pain.

"Ponyta!" May called worriedly.

Ponyta neighed in pain from the flames.

"Do you think you can use Fairy Wind?" May called.

Ponyta continued to get hurt in the flames. She seemed completely immobilized in the Fire Spin.

"Ponyta…" May muttered. "There's gotta be some way that you can escape…"

Ninetales decided to launch a Flamethrower at Ponyta. Since Ponyta couldn't dodge or counter, the Flamethrower surrounded Ponyta in the Fire Spin. Ponyta cried in pain.

May gasped. "Ponyta!"

May clenched her hands. "Of course Drew's Ninetales would be this strong…" she muttered. "I gotta hand it to him, he's really an amazing trainer."

Ponyta neighed loudly in pain. She's getting burned in the flames and taking a lot of damage.

"Ponyta, I know you can get out of those flames." May said. "You've gotten really strong, right?"

Ponyta neighed confidently.

"Then blow the flames away!" May ordered.

Ponyta stood her ground in the flames. She started becoming outlined in pink to use Fairy Wind, but the flames were too much. The outline disappeared when she felt the pain from the fire.

"Come on Ponyta." May said. "You can do it."

Ponyta neighed, angrily looking at Ninetales. She winced in the flames, closing her eyes.

"Don't give up!" May called.

Ponyta immediately opened her eyes and neighed loudly to the sky. Ponyta's entire body then started glowing white while still in the flames.

May gasped. May and all of the Pokémon around stare at the glowing Ponyta. They all watch in awe as Ponyta grows in size and changes its appearance.

The light and flames disappeared to reveal the Unique Horn Pokémon. She has white fur, pale blue eyes, and a long, curly mane and tail colored in streaks of pastel cyan and pink. It's horn got longer and is deep violet in color with a spiraling white line running its length. Its fetlocks are adorned with long pink fur that stores psychic energy, which gives it a swift, airy gait, and it has deep violet hooves.

"You...evolved." May breathed. Her eyes filled with happiness. "You're now a Rapidash!" She said excitedly, running to her newly evolved Pokémon.

She wrapped her arms around Rapidash's neck and hugged it. "You've gotten so big." May said. Rapidash neighed happily.

All of the Pokémon walked to May and Rapidash. May released Rapidash and faced Drew's Ninetales.

"I'm sorry for ending the battle." May said. "I'm just super happy that Ponyta evolved!"

Drew's Ninetales said his name happily in understanding. He then laid down on the ground exhausted.

"You must be tired. How about you rest here tonight?" May asked. "I'm sure Drew wouldn't mind. He'll see that you didn't return over the night and he'll come here tomorrow."

"Nine~!" Ninetales agreed.

"Okay then." May said. She faced Rapidash. "You've gotten so big and strong."

Rapidash neighed happily.

"I can't wait to show you to the gang."

"Ninetales?" Drew called. "He didn't return last night." He muttered. "Looks like I'll be going to Petalburg City today."

And so he did. He went to Petalburg City and started walking towards the castle. All of a sudden, he heard a loud neigh that sounded like it came from a horse and he heard the sound a horse makes when it gallops on cement. Everyone around heard it too. They all looked around for where the sound came from.

They suddenly saw a Galarian Rapidash turn a corner and run towards Drew. Not only that, but Princess May was riding it! And Drew's Ninetales was running next to it. Drew stopped walking and Rapidash stopped on the side of the sidewalk. Ninetales ran to Drew.

Drew pet Ninetales on his head. "I knew you'd be here." He looked at May on her Rapidash.

"Okay Rapidash, I might need help getting down." May said.

Rapidash bent her foot back, so it can act as a stepping stool. May placed a foot on the bottom of Rapidash's hoof and proceeded to step off. She miscalculated the step to the ground and she started falling forward, losing her balance and she closed her eyes, ready to take the impact of the ground.

Like lightning, Drew rushed to her and caught her in his arms, so she didn't hit the ground. She opened her eyes and stood her ground. Everyone around was looking at them and they all gasped once they saw the Princess in that boy's arms. May blushed and backed away from Drew.

"Are you hurt?" Drew asked.

"N-no. I'm fine. Thank you." May said.

"No problem." Drew said. "Did Ninetales stay over at the castle last night?"

"Yes. And I knew you'd come today, so I came to meet you." May said. "Ninetales was a big help last night."

"How so?"

"See for yourself." May said as she turned to face Rapidash.

Drew follows May's gaze to her Rapidash. "Did your Ponyta evolve?"

May faced Drew. "She sure did. And I have your Ninetales to thank for that."

Drew cocked his head in confusion.

"Your Ninetales agreed to have a battle with Ponyta last night." May said. "During the battle, Ponyta evolved!" She said excitedly. They both looked back at Rapidash. "And as you saw, I'm trying to learn how to ride her."

"Well, maybe it will help with a saddle first." Drew said.

May laughed nervously. "Yeah...maybe."

They faced each other again.

"Well, I just came to personally return your Ninetales to you." May said. "I'll get going now."

"Okay. Thanks for taking care of Ninetales." Drew said.

"No problem." With that said, May turned around and walked to Rapidash. Rapidash bent her hoof again and May stepped on it and climbed onto Rapidash. She faced Drew. "I'll see you two another time."

May gently tapped the side of Rapidash with her foot, signaling Rapidash to go. Rapidash started galloping away towards the castle. Drew and Ninetales watched them leave.

Drew sighed. "I caught her again. Talk about déjà vu."

"She's so pretty." Dawn said as she pet Rapidash's back.

The gang is in front of the school before school starts. May brought her Rapidash to show her friends.

"She must be really strong too." Ash said.

"She is." May/Daisy said. "And she just evolved 2 days ago."

Drew gasped on the inside. ("Wait. 2 days ago?") He thought. ("That's when I saw...Princess May's.") He shook away his thoughts. ("Just...a coincidence.")

"You've trained her really well." Gary said.

"Thank you." May said.

"And there's a Pokémon checkup in Breeding class next week, remember?" Misty said. "Ms. Suzie will check on the Pokémon that hatched from the eggs she gave us."

"Yeah." May said. She pet Rapidash. "She'll be impressed by you."

Rapidash neighed happily.