Normal POV
Adam and the others arrived in Crossgate Town. Adam and Megan started to tell Jason of the PokeRinger competition that their parents had competed in during their journey together that had been held in that very town.
"In the end, my dad ended up winning, thanks to his Taillow evolving into Swellow." said Adam.
"I'm not surprised that both of your parents entered the PokeRinger competition. It seems like it would be a fun opportunity and it's a different way to test and train your Pokemon. I'm shocked at how Ash and Swellow managed to win." said Jason.
"Speaking of the competition, this is the stadium where it was held." Megan said.
They were passing by an outdoor stadium, which currently had a large crowd outside of it and two familiar faces: Amber and Skye.
"What's going on?" Adam asked as the three of them stopped by the two girls.
"It's the annual PokeRinger competition. It's being held today." said Skye.
"And the last chance to sign up is now." Amber added.
"The winner becomes an official citizen of Crossgate Town. Not a big prize, but this could be a good chance to get some aerial training for our Flying Pokemon for contests or gym battles. Besides, the next gym leader is Skye's mom and her specialty is Flying Pokemon." Adam realized.
"You're right. This would be a good chance." Megan agreed.
"Then we should hurry and sign up." Jason said.
So the five friends ran to the registration booth to get entered before the deadline passed.
"Hello, would you like to sign up?" the lady running the booth asked.
"Yes!" the kids all exclaimed.
"Okay, I just need your names, what Pokemon you would like to use, and your choice of hot air balloons for the entrances."
Adam was going with a Pikachu balloon and was going to use Pidgeot. Jason chose a Charizard balloon and would use Swellow. Amber picked a Ponyta balloon and would use Pidgeot. Skye chose an Electrike balloon and would be using her Taillow. Megan picked an Eevee balloon and was going to use her newest Pokemon, Swablu, so that they could get some more training in.
"Good afternoon, everyone!" the announcer declared. "Welcome to our annual PokeRinger competition! We have sixteen trainers competing today and each trainer will be randomly placed into four groups of four. Each group will compete against one another to determine one winner. The goal is to get the ring in the center to the goal post and the first trainer and Pokemon to do so will be the winner of the group! The winners of groups one and two will then face off one-on-one in the semifinals, as will as the winners of groups three and four! Then the winners of the semifinals will face off against one another in the finals! Let's get this competition started!"
The groups were then divided up. Adam was in group one, Jason was in group two, Megan and Amber were in the third group, and Skye would be in the final group.
... ...
"Release the Ring Balloon!"
A golden balloon rose with a pink ring hanging from below it on a rope.
Then the first group rose in their hot air balloons.
"Let's show 'em Pidgeot!" Adam cried.
A girl threw out Butterfree, the other girl threw out Skarmory, and the other boy in the group was using Volbeat.
"Skarmory, use Agility! Go for the ring!"
"Use Supersonic on everyone, Butterfree!"
Butterfree used Supersonic and the high-pitched waves headed towards the opponents. Skarmory was stopped in its tracks as the waves hit it.
"Use Wing Attack, Pidgeot! Fight through it!" Adam commanded. With determination, Pidgeot shot forward and hit Butterfree, who was heading for the ring. Butterfree faltered in the sky from the hit. Pidgeot grabbed the ring.
"Stop them with Slash, Skarmory!"
"Pidgeot, use Agility, quick!"
Pidgeot managed to avoid the attack with the extra boost of speed.
"Use Double Team, Volbeat! Stop Pidgeot!" Volbeat and its copies surrounded Pidgeot.
"String Shot!" Butterfree's trainer cried. The copies started to vanish as the string hit them and the real Volbeat was wrapped.
"Now use Confusion!"
"Drop the ring, Pidgeot!"
"Catch the ring, Butterfree! Direct Confusion to the ring!"
The ring was caught by the attack and now floated in the air.
Before anyone could make a command, a strong gust of wind swept through the stadium and caused Butterfree to lose focus and get blown off to the side. Volbeat did the same. Skarmory and Pidgeot managed to steady themselves quicker and both swooped down towards the falling ring.
"Get ready to use Slash!"
"Pidgeot, grab it and use Agility to get out of there!"
Pidgeot flew faster and swept the ring up before shooting off towards the goal, avoiding Skarmory's attack. Pidgeot tossed the ring onto the goal.
"Adam and Pidgeot win!"
... ...
The golden balloon with the ring attached to it was released.
"Go, Swellow!" Jason cried.
One girl was using Beautifly, another girl was using Farfetch'd, and the other boy was using Natu.
"Use Silver Wind at the others, Beautifly!"
"Teleport, Natu!"
"Fly up high, Swellow!"
"Go through it with Aerial Ace! Hit Beautifly!" Farfetch'd's trainer commanded.
Natu vanished and reappeared closer to the ring. Swellow dodged the Silver Wind by flying high like Jason had commanded. Farfetch'd took the Silver Wind head-on and slammed into Beautifly directly, landing a critical hit.
"Use Absorb! We have to recover!"
But Farfetch'd was coming again with another attack. This trainer was eliminating the competition so that nobody would be left to challenge her.
"Beautifly has been eliminated."
So now there were only three left to fight for the ring.
"Natu, use Teleport!" Natu appeared right beside the ring and grabbed it.
"Swellow, use Agility!" Jason's strategy was to wait and see what would happen. He would have Swellow have the extra speed ready in case Farfetch'd's trainer acted in a way that would give Swellow and opening. He would let the others do the work just for this round.
"Use Agility and then use Peck!" Farfetch'd shot forward and Natu dodged the attack.
"So much for that plan. Swellow, use Quick Attack!"
"Teleport!"
But Natu wasn't quick enough, thanks to Swellow's speed, and was hit, causing it to drop the ring, which Farfetch'd grabbed quickly.
"Swellow, go after Farfetch'd! Use Aerial Ace!"
"Go up, Farfetch'd!"
"Follow, Swellow!"
With a cry, Swellow landed the hit and Farfetch'd dropped the ring. Swellow grabbed it and shot straight towards the goal and tossed it onto the post.
"Jason and Swellow win!"
... ...
The golden Ring Balloon was released.
"Spotlight, Pidgeot!" Amber cried.
"Swablu, spotlight!" Megan cried.
The two boys who were in their group were using Golbat and Spearow.
"Pidgeot, use Agility!" Amber commanded. "Go for the ring!"
"Stop it with Supersonic!" Golbat's trainer commanded.
"Fly higher, Pidgeot!"
Pidgeot managed to avoid the attack.
"Spearow, get in there! Go for the ring!"
"Swablu, follow after them and get ready!"
All four Pokemon were heading towards the ring.
"Pidgeot, go up high! Then use Gust to blow them away!" Pidgeot stopped above the other Pokemon and as a strong wind came through, Pidgeot used Gust, sending the three smaller Pokemon slamming into one another.
"Recover, Swablu! Use Sing!" Sing hit Spearow and Golbat. So it was down to Amber and Megan facing one another, since the other two trainers had to return their sleeping Pokemon to keep them from plummeting into the ground.
"Use Disarming Voice, Swablu!"
"Dodge it!"
Pidgeot avoided the attack by sweeping lower into the sky.
"Use Aerial Ace right towards the ring!"
"Follow, Swablu!"
Pidgeot grabbed the ring.
"Use Fury Attack!" Swablu shot forward and slammed into Pidgeot with fast blows. The ring fell.
"Get the ring, Swablu!" Swablu dove down, but Pidgeot was in close pursuit.
"Pull up!" Amber cried, sensing that a strong breeze was coming.
A strong gust of wind blew through and knocked Swablu out of the path of the ring.
"Use Agility, Pidgeot!" Pidgeot shot down and grabbed the ring and was quick to score.
"Amber and Pidgeot win!"
... ...
The golden Ring Balloon was released.
"Let's go, Taillow!" Skye cried.
Her opponents were using Aerodactyl, Pidgeotto, and Noctowl.
"Use Ancient Power, Aerodactyl!" Rocks flew towards the other three Pokemon and they knew that Rock attacks were powerful against Flying Pokemon.
"Dodge it, Taillow!"
"Use Confusion to stop it, Noctowl!"
"Dodge, Pidgeotto!"
All three Pokemon avoided the flying rocks.
"Use Agility, Taillow!" Taillow shot forward towards the ring, with the other Pokemon close behind.
"Hyper Beam, Aerodactyl!" Noctowl, Pidgeotto, and Taillow were all hit directly by the attack, with no time for any of the trainers to command their Pokemon to dodge.
"Noctowl has fainted!"
Taillow was still falling.
"Shake it off, Taillow! You can do this!" Skye pleaded.
Hearing Skye's cries, Taillow began to glow and grow in size!
"Folks, it looks like Skye's Taillow is evolving!"
Taillow was no more. A new Swellow was flying where Taillow had been.
"Use Aerial Ace!" Skye cried. Swellow flew quickly towards Aerodactyl and landed a hit, causing it to drop the ring.
"Get the ring!" Swellow grabbed the ring.
"Use Wing Attack, Pidgeotto!"
"Dodge it, Swellow! Get to the goal with Agility!"
Swellow tossed the ring at the goal.
"Skye and Swellow win!"
So, for the semifinals, it would be Adam vs Jason for the first round. Then Amber vs Skye in the second round.
... ...
The golden Ring Balloon was released.
"Let's show 'em, Pidgeot!" Adam cried.
"Go, Swellow!" Jason cried.
Both friends looked at one another with determination in their eyes. Neither wanted to lose, but one would have to.
"Agility!" Adam commanded.
"Swellow, get ready!"
This wouldn't be easy, since they knew one another's battling styles so well.
"Use Aerial Ace!"
"Meet it with your own Aerial Ace!"
Both Pokemon shot forward and collided with one another, fighting for dominance. Neither Pokemon was giving an inch and the attacks ended up canceling one another out.
"Go for it, Pidgeot!" Pidgeot shot up towards the ring balloon.
"Use Double Team!" Swellow and his copies surrounded Pidgeot.
"Wing Attack!"
"Dive down!"
Pidgeot dropped below the copies of Swellow, but the original was following closely behind to land the hit.
"Spin and use Air Slash!" Adam cried. Pidgeot spun and stopped the Wing Attack with Air Slash.
"Now use Wing Attack!" Adam commanded.
"No!"
Swellow took the hit and Pidgeot flew up towards the ring once more while Swellow recovered.
"Use Agility to catch up!" Jason cried.
Pidgeot flew towards the ring after landing the hit, and grabbed the ring.
"Use Agility! Let's get to the goal!"
Both Pokemon dove towards the goal, with Swellow trying to catch Pidgeot, but Pidgeot was just too fast and landed the ring.
"Adam and Pidgeot win!"
... ...
The golden Ring Balloon was released.
"Spotlight, Pidgeot!" Amber cried.
"Let's go, Swellow!" Skye cried.
It was another Pidgeot versus another Swellow, just like with Adam and Jason's battle.
"Use Agility, Swellow!"
"Pidgeot, you use Agility as well!"
Both Pokemon had their speed amplified with Agility. They then dived for the ring. The ring was grabbed by Pidgeot. Neither Amber nor Skye were letting up in this battle.
"Swellow, use Double Team! Then use Aerial Ace!" Pidgeot was now surrounded.
"Brace yourself, Pidgeot! Get ready to use your own Aerial Ace!"
Both moves collided with one another.
"Wing Attack!" Skye cried.
"No!"
While still in flight with the Aerial Ace, Swellow managed to break it and swoop down to avoid Pidgeot's attack, and land a direct hit from below. The ring fell from Pidgeot's beak. Megan and the others all wondered where Skye had learned those moves for her Pokemon.
"Get to the goal!"
Swellow caught the ring and flew towards the goal and tossed the ring, scoring.
"Skye and Swellow win!"
... ...
The finals would be Adam vs Skye. A coordinator vs a trainer. Who would be the victor?
The golden Ring Balloon was released.
"Let's show 'em, Pidgeot!" Adam cried.
"Spotlight, Swellow!" Skye cried.
"Use Agility, Pidgeot! Go for it!"
"Swellow, use Agility and stop Pidgeot with Wing Attack!"
Swellow was quick to catch up with Pidgeot.
"Meet it with Quick Attack!" Adam cried.
It was clear that this final battle would be one to remember!
... ...
Swellow and Skye were giving Adam and Pidgeot a run for their money and keeping him on his toes! Skye was quick to counter or block any attacks that he was commanding. She was also doing a good job at keeping him from getting close to the ring. She was currently having Swellow basically guarding it. It seemed that the only way to win was to knock Swellow out.
How could a relatively new trainer like Skye be holding her own against an experienced trainer like me? I've had Pidgeot for years, compared to how long she's had Swellow! Adam thought to himself in disbelief.
"Pidgeot, use Twister!"
"Blow it back!"
Swellow managed to send the Twister back towards Pidgeot.
"Dive down!" Adam yelled, making Pidgeot avoid the Twister.
"Now Swellow, grab it and use Aerial Ace!" Skye screamed, taking advantage of Pidgeot's distraction. Swellow grabbed the ring and shot down towards Pidgeot, gaining speed and momentum and charging the attack.
"Dodge it!"
"Follow Pidgeot, Swellow! Land that hit!"
With a cry, Swellow landed the hit and continued on towards the goal. Swellow tossed the ring and it spun around and landed on the post.
"Skye and Swellow have won the competition! Skye and Swellow are the new PokeRinger Champions!"
Now that the competition was over, the five friends were all gathered in the Pokemon Center in the room of Adam, Jason, and Megan, talking about their day.
"I'm surprised, Skye. You really kept me on my toes during our battle. But what really surprised me was how well you and Swellow worked together, since Taillow had only just evolved." Adam commented.
"Well, growing up, my mom taught me a lot about Flying Pokemon. So that's how Swellow and I were able to be such a perfect team and fight together so well." Skye replied.
"Well, it just proved to me that if you were able to beat me, I'm gonna have to do a lot more training in order to defeat your mom at the Fortree City gym. After all, she taught you everything that you know about Flying Pokemon!"
"Speaking of Fortree City, have you heard that they've recently had a contest hall built there? So for the first time ever, Fortree City will host a Pokemon contest!"
"Oh, wow!" Megan cried.
"That means we'll be making history! One of us could win the very first contest ribbon ever awarded in that city!" Amber said excitedly.
"It would mean everything to me if I could pull off a win in front of my hometown fans." said Skye.
"It looks like we'll have both gym battles and a contest happening when we get there." Jason said.
"Sounds like we all have some training to do." Adam said, excited and determined.
Author's Note: Adam, Megan, and the others compete in the same competition in the same town that Ash and May competed in, many years ago.
Skye ends up as the winner, thanks to her knowledge of Flying Pokemon battle techniques, which she learned from her mom.
Next stop: Fortree City, where the girls will compete in their next contest and Adam and Jason will battle the next gym leader...who also happens to be Skye's mom!