"Okay contest number two." Ash said, taking a deep breath.
"Talking to your Pokeballs?" Roxxy asked, sneaking up behind him.
"Roxxy, you're here!" Ash said in shock, turning around to see her. Her hair in drill twin tails, a white blouse with a lavender jacket and a matching lavender skirt that hooped out down to her knees. Black tights going down her legs with lavender pumps. "Whoa, that's a new look."
"Too much?" Roxxy asked, looking down at her outfit.
"No, I've seen coordinators in crazier outfits." Ash said.
"And where's Flannery, I saw Brendan and Wally." Roxxy said.
"We ended things." Ash said. "They were never great between us. Last I heard she was heading back home for more training."
"I'm so sorry, I feel like it was my fault." Roxxy said.
"No, there were multiple things, and the two of us never really had any alone time with always being with Brendan and Wally." Ash said. "So have you gotten any ribbons yet?"
"Not yet, I've been busy practicing." Roxxy sighed. "How about you, I mean you came in second place last time, you're probably half way there already."
"Half way to five?" Ash asked jokingly. "No, I had a rough first contest, but this time will be better." Ash said. "Oh, looks like I'm up next, wish me luck."
"Good luck." Roxxy said, almost tripping forward as Ash caught her. "I told you to stop doing that." Roxxy whispered down at her feet.
On stage
"Alright, come on out Cyndaquil!" Ash called out.
Cyndaquil appeared on stage with the flames on his back shooting out,
"Alright Cyndaquil, just like we practiced, use Flamewheel!" Ash called out.
"Come on Ash." Wally said, watching from the stands.
"I really hope they have sprinklers in here." Brendan said,
"Now use Flamethrower!" Ash called out, pulling out his Pokeblock launcher, and firing a Pokeblock.
Cyndaquil rocketed into the air, the flames dispersing as he caught a Pokeblock in his mouth, then shooting off another flamethrower to keep him in the air towards another Pokeblock.
"I've heard of flying Grumpig, but never flying Cyndaquil." Lillian called out.
"Now big finish use Flame Wheel and Swift!" Ash called out.
"Has he practiced that?" Brendan asked.
"Nope." Wally said. "At least I don't think so."
Cyndaquil spun higher and higher into the air, but Ash's eyes weren't on that, there was a flash of red at the top of the stands that caught his eye. A shower of flame sparks and stars obscured his view as the appeal finished. Ash barely heard the comments as he was given a 28.4 as his score.
"Great work out there Ash, is everything alright?" Roxxy asked.
"Yeah, look I need to run real quick, best of luck in your appeal, I'll be back." Ash said.
Outside the contest hall
"I thought you left." Ash said, finally catching up.
"You know I couldn't keep journeying with you." Flannery said, not turning around.
"Then why show up at all?" Ash asked. "Why are you here?"
"To make sure I made the right choice." Flannery said. "I can't keep journeying with you guys and working on my dream at the same time."
"Yes you can." Ash argued. "Come inside, join us. We're your friends."
"No you're not!" Flannery exclaimed. "I joined because you wanted me, and I wanted to be with you. I have nothing in common with Wally and Brendan has surpassed me in power by a large margin."
"And what about me." Ash asked.
"You were my boyfriend, but we never had time for us. You were always working on an appeal, or helping train Brendan. And I was too hot headed to try and step in at the right times, only the wrong ones." Flannery said angrily. "What we had was fun, but it wasn't working."
"So where will you go now?" Ash asked. "You clearly didn't go back to Hoenn."
"I did for a bit, but I found a master, I've been training with them to become more in tune with my fire types." Flannery said. "Just know, I'm still rooting for both of you. What you did today with Cyndaquil, I wish I had that confidence." Flannery said. "Goodbye Ash."
Back inside the contest hall
"Ash, there you are, where did you run off to?" Roxxy asked.
"I thought I saw someone and wanted to say hi." Ash lied. "But it was nothing. How did your appeal go?"
"We nailed it! Your advice really helped." Roxxy said.
"I was just paying the favor forward." Ash said. "I had help figuring out my first appeal from another friend and coordinator too."
"Well just so you know, I don't plan on going easy on you just because you taught me the tricks." Roxxy taunted.
"Yeah, I think I said something along those lines as well." Ash joked.
Battle Round 1
"Alright, Pikachu I choose you!" Ash said.
"Come on out Ditto!" Ash's opponent said.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Ditto use Transform!"
Ditto changed it's shape becoming mostly identical to a Pikachu with the sole exception that its eyes were just dots.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Ditto use your Iron Tail!"
The lookalikes struck their tails against one another, both bouncing back from the recoil.
In the stands
"No good." Wally groaned. "Ditto has all of Pikachu's moves."
"But not all of his abilities." Brendan remarked. "It's still a Ditto under all that, and Pikachu should be able to overpower it."
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Ditto use Quick Attack!"
Dittochu rushed forward, or at least to the best of it's ability before being launched into the air by the bolt of electricity.
"This isn't our first Ditto we've fought. Now Pikachu use Shock Wave!"
Pikachu spun his tail rapidly before jumping into the air and launching the ring of electricity right at the Dittochu knocking it out.
"Ditto is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu!" Lilian called out.
"Great work buddy." Ash said.
Battle round 2
Ash had been respectful and not watched Roxxy's battle match. He wanted to be truly surprised about his opponents for this time. Pikachu was by far one of his best fighters, it was only fair.
"Good luck Ash, you'll need it." Roxxy called from the other side of the arena.
"Alright Pikachu let's do this." Ash said.
"Misdreavus, it's play time." Roxxy said, as her shadow shot forwards before rising from the ground and taking shape as a Misdreavus.
"That's a new one." Ash admitted.
"Oh, we're full of tricks." Roxxy said. "Misdreavus use Shadow Ball!"
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Pikachu leapt out of the way as the attack forcefully hit where he was just moments prior.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Misdreavus use Will-o-Wisp!"
Blue flames spun around Misdreavus before launching at Pikachu, causing a series of burns. Pikachu fought through the pain, sending a bolt of electricity out, striking the ghost type.
"Misdreavus use Psychic!"
"Pikachu use Shock Wave!"
Pikachu launched a ring of electricity as he was hoisted into the air with ease.
"Misdreavus finish him with Shadow Ball!"
"Pikachu full power Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu launched a Thunderbolt straight through the shadow ball, blasting on impact with Misdreavus as Pikachu was dropped to the ground.
"Misdreavus is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu and Ash!" Lillian declared.
"Great work Ash." Roxxy said.
"You too." Ash replied. "I hope this doesn't mean you're giving up though."
"Nope, just all the more reason to train, because when it comes time, I'm taking home that cup." Roxxy said.