"Hello everyone! And Welcome to the Pewter City Pokemon Contest!" Lilian announced. "Now before we begin, how about we meet our judges!"

"It's interesting being back here." Brock said, sitting with Brendan, Wally, and Flannery. "Thanks again for getting our gym back, by the way."

"No problem." Wally said with a smile.

"He meant me." Flannery said.

"I helped." Wally countered.

"You two are worse than Ash and Misty." Brock sighed.

"Our first judge is Mr. Contessa of the Pokemon Fan Club!"

"It's a pleasure to be here." Mr Contessa said.

"Next up is our towns very own Nurse Joy!"

"I wish everyone the very best of luck." Nurse Joy said.

"And finally, previous Ribbon Cup winner, and matriarch of our towns gym, Lola!" Lillian said.

"I'm os happy to be here." Lola said.

"Hopefully your mom doesn't hold a grudge against Ash for bringing those who kicked her out of the gym here." Brendan said to Brock.

"I wouldn't know." Brock admitted.

In the back waiting area

"Okay, third times the charm, I need to ace this appeal." Ash said, psyching himself up.

"Careful, pep talks like that usually make me sick." May joked.

"May! You're here too?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, it's a small world, huh." May said. "Are you okay, you look sick."

"I'll be fine, it's just nerves I guess." Ash said.

"Well relax, it's not the end of the world if you don't win." May joked.

"No that was last week." Ash said, still not calming down.

"Okay, you really get into weird adventures when we're not around." May said.

"Ash Ketchum, you're up." A worker said.

"Okay, wish me luck." Ash said.

"Break a leg." May wished.

"Pikachu take the stage!" Ash said, lifting his hand into the air, as Pikachu ran up his arm and leapt into the air.

"Pikachu use Shock Wave, straight down.

Pikachu spun in the air, sending a pulse of electricity from his tail, sending it down on the ground as he bounced to land safely.

"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt, and combine it with the leftover shockwave!" Ash said.

Pikachu sent out a bolt of electricity, wrapping it around himself, creating a ball of electricity that Pikachu was still inside.

"Now Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu ran around the battlefield with the electricity surrounding him before it dispersed shortly after he stopped. Ash knew it was a risky appeal with Pikachu being out of sight, but the act itself was impressive, he and Brendan had been working on it for both of their uses, having dubbed the maneuver the Counter Shield.

"Remarkable!" Mr Contessa said.

"Outstanding." Nurse Joy said.

"Truly magnificent." Lola said.

The three judges' scores combined, giving Ash a total of 28.6.

"Great work Ash." May reassured.

"Thanks, my stomach feels a lot better now." Ash said.

"Good to hear, but just know that you'll still have to beat me if you want to win that ribbon." May laughed.

Ash watched as the remaining coordinators competed, even as May alongside her Skitty got a fellow high score for the next round.

Battle Round 1

"Sneasel I choose you!" Ash said.

"Come on out Pidgeotto!" Ash's opponent said.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Pidgeotto use Gust!"

Even with the strong winds opposing it, Sneasle's attack shot through the air, striking Pidgeotto, causing the bird's flight to falter slightly.

"Sneasel use Agility!"

"Pidgeotto use Whirlwind!"

Pidgeotto flapped it's wings trying to knock Sneasel off of its feet, only for the ice type to get increasingly faster, eventually getting behind the flying type.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Pidgeotto use Fly to get out of there!"

Without an open air arena, Pidgeotto wasn't able to get out of the way fast enough before it was shot down and knocked out.

"Sneasel and Ash are the winners of the round 1 match." Lillian declared.

Round 2

"Sneasel take the stage!" Ash said.

"Let's go Chansey!" Ash's opponent said.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Chansey use Egg Bomb!"

Sneasel launched a few icicles from his claw at Chansey, the normal type taking minimal damage as a result as an explosion went off, launching Sneasel into the air.

"Sneasel use Agility!"

"Chansey use Drain Punch!"

Chansey waited for Sneasel to get close before striking the ice type and greatly diminishing its energy.

"Sneasel use Agility again!"

"Chansey use Egg Bomb!"

Sneasel was launched into the air, with Ash's points lowering fast.

"Ash isn't doing great." Brock said. "I hope he can turn this around."

"He will, he has too. Sneasel needs this win as much as Ash does." Wally said.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard, rapid fire!" Ash said.

"Sneasel use Egg Bomb!"

Sneasel rushed around the arena firing shards of ice at Chansey, dealing damage in quick succession while also keeping his distance until all of Chansey's points had diminished.

"Alright Sneasel!" Ash cheered.

Round 3

"Best of luck May." Ash commented.

"You too Ash." May said as the two walked onto the arena.

"Sneasel take the stage!"

"Froslass come out!"

"Sneasel use Thief!"

"Froslass use Shadow Ball!"

Sneasel launched himself at Froslass, his claw slicing through the ghost type before he was batted away by Shadow Ball.

"Sneasel use Metal Claw!"

"Frosslass use Captivate!"

Froslass let out a cry that while she did get the audience's attention and adoration, did nothing to stop Sneasel as he struck the ghost type once more.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Froslass use Ice Beam!"

The two ice attacks collided, resulting in a large block of ice slamming into Froslass as Sneasel used the block to get above and behind the ghost type.

"Now Sneasel use Metal Claw!"

Sneasel hardened his claw, striking Froslass from behind, depleting the remainder of May's points.

"Froslass is unable to continue, the winner of todays contest is Ash and his Sneasel!" Lillian announced.

"Alright Ash!" Wally cheered.

"Congratulations Ash, I guess that makes five for you." May said.

"Yeah, I'll see you at the Grand Festival." Ash said.

"Yeah, I hope so." May said.

Author's Notes

Five Ribbons and Sixx Symbols we're in the home stretch! If you have any questions get them in now, before its too late.