Chapter 3: The Decisive Battle, The Grand Festival Finale!
As the Grand Festival was nearing its end the Top 8 were given a small break to plan their final strategies and get their Pokemon looked out.
Using this time, we see Ash and Snorunt by the water.
"Alright Kingler come on out!" Ash said calling out his old friend.
"Kookie!"
"Snorunt, this is Kingler. He'll be teaching you how to perfect Ice Beam."
"Sno Snorunt." Snorunt greeted.
"Kookie." Using his big claw, Kingler patted Snorunt on the head assuringly.
"OK Snorunt, watch Kingler and then you try to copy how he does it." Ash said.
"Kookie." Aiming his claw, Kingler fires Ice Beam from it freezing a good chunk of water.
"Sno." Snorunt said in awe.
"Kookie Kook Kookie." Kingler said giving Snorunt some tips.
Instead of his mouth, why not try Snorunt using his palms?
"Sno?" Snorunt said unsure.
Gently nudging him Kingler gestures for him to try.
With newfound strive in him, Snorunt held out his palms and activated the ice blast. "Sno!!" He cried out releasing it across the water.
"You're doing it Snorunt!" Ash cheered.
"Kookie!" Kingler said telling him to bring it home.
"Sno...SNO!" Snorunt yells as the attack went all the way and freezes the water along the way.
The little coat Pokémon pants softly before smiling widely. "Snorunt! Snorunt!"
"You did it Snorunt!" Ash smiles.
"Pika!/ Kookie!" Pikachu and Kingler cheered.
Nearby from behind a tree, Wallace was watching this.
"Not bad Ash, you finally figured it out." Wallace smiles softly.
"Snorunt, Snorunt!" As Snorunt was cheering, suddenly he froze up.
"Snorunt, what's wrong?" Ash asked, wondering why it stopped. The answer was Snorunt's entire body being engulfed in a whitish-blue glowing light.
Expanding in size, Snorunt lost his arms and legs and became a large floating head with spikes on the side of his head.
"Glalie!" He roars.
"Woah..Snorunt did you just evolved?" Ash said surprised at the event. He quickly took his PokéDex out.
"Glalie, the Face Pokémon. The evolved form of Snorunt. Glalie's icy body is actually rock that is not particularly hard. It does not melt, and it can control ice by instantly freezing moisture in the air into any desirable shape."
"Glalie." Glalie smiles flying down.
"Kookie." Kingler smiles happy for him.
"Congratulations Glalie! You're gonna make a killing at the Hoenn League!" Ash smiles widely. "And you too, Kingler."
"Well I think my work here is done." Wallace said walking away. "Good luck Ash, maybe the next time we meet you'll be good enough to battle me."
Soon enough..it was time for the moment we all have been waiting for. The last day of the Grand Festival.
"Alright trainers, this is it! The first match of the Top 8 of the Grand Festival! We've come a long way since we started and before the day is over a winner will be decided!" Vivian declares.
In the walkway, May was taking a deep breath before exhaling all of her stress out of her body. "Well..this is it. It's do or die."
She remembered how her first contest battle with Drew ended up, lost because of inexperience.
Every time she ran into him again there was something that prevented them from battling again, but not this time.
She was gonna come at him with everything she had.
"Now coming on stage is from Petalburg City and has made it impressively far in her first Grand Festival, it's May from Petalburg City!" Vivian announced as May walked onto her part of the arena.
"Go May!" Max cheers.
"You can do it!" Ash cheers.
"And from LaRousse City, it's Drew!" Vivian announced as Drew came out from his side.
From the stands, Lisia was making sure she didn't miss a single minute of the battle. "Go get'im May."
"With 5 minutes on the clock! Let the battle begin!" Vivian said.
"Combusken, Skitty take the stage!" May said calling out her Pokemon.
"Roselia, Flygon! Let's go!" Drew said calling out his trademark grass type and a new one.
Flygon was a light green dragon that has a pair of large rhombus-shaped wings with red trim, toeless hind legs, and skinny arms with three-clawed hands.
"A Flygon?" May said in disbelief. She quickly took her PokéDex out.
"Flygon, the Mystic Pokémon. The evolved form of Vibrava. Its wings make a "singing" sound when they are flapped, earning Flygon the name "The Desert Spirit". It uses this unique ability to attract prey, stranding them before it attacks."
"I raised this Flygon specifically for the final rounds of the Grand Festival. You get to witness its debut." Drew declares.
"Well now that I know what I'm in for, let's make this match memorable than," May grins.
"These two are ready to go, let the battle begin!" Vivian announced the timer to start.
"Roselia Petal Dance!" Drew said as Roselia released a storm of petals. "Flygon Fly in!"
Flying through the petals Flygon raced towards them.
"Skitty Assit!" May said as Skitty copied Munchlax's Solarbeam and blasts away the petals.
"Solar Beam?" Brock asks.
"Well that's a handy move to have." Caroline said.
"Handy enough to obliterate and Petal Dance that's for sure." Ash smirks.
Flygon flew up at the last second, avoiding the solar blow.
"Combusken, Sky Uppercut!"
"Dodge it!" As Combuksen leaped up Flygon flew high narrowly avoiding it. With no way to regain balance, Combusken fell onto Skitty.
"Come on guys get up!" May said.
"Drew knew exactly how to counter that one." Brock said.
"He's good. And I got a feeling he's not the type to go easy when someone is down." Caroline said.
"Now Flygon, Flamethrower! And Roselia, Solar Beam!" Both of Drew's Pokémon blasted out their elemental attacks towards May's Pokémon.
"Dodge it May!" Ash and Max yelled out.
"There's no time.." May cringed, before getting an idea. "Combusken, Fire Spin and push those blasts back!!
"Busken!" Releasing the attack Combusken manages to stop both attacks before impact.
"What the?" Drew gasps.
"Now Skitty, Blizzard on Roselia!" Using this opening Skitty hurls a freezing snowstorm at Roselia canceling out the Solarbeam and dealing super effective damage.
This caused Drew to lose about 30% of his points.
And with one less attack Combusken was able to push back the Flamethrower.
"Sorry Drew, but we're not going down that easy." May said.
For a split second, an impressed smile appeared on Drew's face. "Not bad."
"Combusken Fire Spin again!"
"Flygon, Sandstorm!" Creating a sandstorm the two attacks clash and cancel each other out.
"Skitty, use Blizzard on Roselia again!" May said as Skitty hurls out an icy blast of wind from its mouth.
"Dodge that and climb on Flygon!" Drew said as Roselia jumps on top of Flygon to fly away and dodge it.
"I gotta separate them. Skitty use Assit!" May said.
"Relying on Assit is risky." Max said.
"Come on May." Ash said hoping she gets a winner.
From Assit a String Shot was fired grabbing Roselia by the rose.
"Gotcha!" May said as Skitty yanks Roselia down to them and far away from Flygon.
"What?!" Drew's eyes widen in shock. "How did you?"
"Your Roselia is tough in a one on one and even a team battle, but let's see how good it is when it's 2 on 1. Combusken Peck!" Leaping in Combusken nails Roselia in the chest.
Drew's point meter went down 10% because of that. "And would look at this! May has Drew's Roselia fighting by its lonesome!"
"Flygon get in there and help Roselia!" Drew said as Flygon dove in.
"Combusken, Fire Spin straight up!" May points.
Releasing the wild stream of flames it pushed Flygon back making it unable to interfere.
"Combusken is keeping Flygon away from the battle! Drew is going to have to suffer abit more of his points because of that." Vivian said.
"Well look at that. May actually managed to trip Drew up." Max said amazed.
"Both Drew's Pokemon are crazy good as a team, so she picks one target ie Roselia and adapts a new strategy to take them out one at a time," Brock said impressed.
"If she moves fast enough she might have a shot at winning this." Ash smiles.
"Alright, I won't let this get in my way," Drew said. "Roselia, Stun Spore!"
"Skitty dodge and use Double Slap!" Running to the side Skitty avoids Stun Spore and charges in.
"Magical Leaf!" Firing glowing leaves Roselia blasts Skitty away.
"Now Petal Dance!" Drew kept on the attack as Roselia blasts multiple flower petals out of its roses.
"Combusken, Fire Spin!" Burning away the petals Combusken gave Skitty a clear path.
"Now Skitty, one full powered Blizzard!" May said.
"Nya!" Releasing everything it had into this attack Skitty blasts Roselia knocking it to the ground with swirly eyes.
"Roselia!" Drew gasps.
"Oh no! Drew has lost one of his Pokemon! That's huge point loss right there folks!" Vivian said as Drew's points went down to 35%.
"She actually beat Roselia!" Max cheered. For the first time ever!
"But she isn't out of the woods yet. One down, one to go," Brock said pointing to Flygon.
"Flygon, Steel Wing!" Diving down at full speed Flygon strikes both of May's Pokemon with metal wings.
"Even though he's lost a partner, Drew is still eager to win!" Vivian said as May lost 20% of herpoints.
"Not bad May but that last Blizzard attack of yours used up all of Skitty's energy." Drew said.
Looking at it, May saw Skitty was panting heavily showing he was right.
"Flygon, use Flamethrower!"
"Combusken, Counter with Fire Spin!" As both flame attacks flew at each other the two seemed to be in a lock but Flamethrower had the edge in power allowing it to push through.
"Combusken!" Flamethrower engulfed Combusken.
"Skitty Assit!" May said as Skitty released a Silver Wind at Flygon.
"Dodge and use Dragonbreath!" Flying horizontally, Flygon breathes a powerful breath attack blasting Skitty sending it flying into Combusken.
"Skitty, Combusken!" May gasped.
"Dragonbreath, one more time!" With both Pokemon pinned down Flygon attacks sent both falling to the ground.
Before May could delcare her counter attack the timer went off.
"That's it folks! Time is up!" Vivian said as everyone looked to the screen to see the winner.
On Drew's side he had 25% while May had 20%.
"In a close nail-biter of a match Drew moves onto the Top 4!" Vivian declares.
It..it was over. May..lost.
A sad frown was written on her face, but..that was quickly replaced with a smile. May looked down to her saddened Pokémon as she bent down and consoles them. "Hey, you guys were great. We almost had them."
Suddenly, she heard the sounds of applause.
Turning around May saw her friends and mom applauding her.
"That was amazing May; you almost had him!" Ash said
"Next time you'll win for sure!" Max cheers.
Smiling Lisia joined in the clapping.
Soon the entire stadium was clapping for her May, even chanting her name. "MAY! MAY! MAY!"
"What the heck is this?! She lost but everyone is acting like she won the whole thing?!" Harley said enranged. "I swear, there is no justice in the world!" He turned to exit the stadium all together.
Harley would never understand just why they were applauding her. The reason why was because May never gave up. She showed everyone an amazing performance. How could they not cheer for her?
May, Combusken and Skitty were honored as they bowed in thanks.
For the next battle, it was Robert's Claydol and Milotic and against another coordinator's Raichu and Nidoqueen.
"Milotic, Water Pulse and Claydol, Charge Beam!"
As Milotic soaks both Pokémon to the bone it amplified the electric attack zapping them both dealing tons of damage.
"A beautiful and dangerous combination of water and electricity! Robert is pulling out all the stops!" Vivian said.
The buzzer rang, meaning time was up.
Robert had 60% of his points while his opponent only had 5. "And look at that! We have our first finalist! Robert moves onto the final round!"
In the break room, May was watching the rest of the competition while Combusken and Skitty were sent to the Pokémon Center.
That's when a hand was placed onto her shoulder, getting her attention. Turning around, May saw it was Lisia.
"Hey, you OK?" She asked.
"A little," May admits.
"Hey, making the Top 8 is nothing to be ashamed about. You did awesome." Lisia said cheering her up.
"Thanks, but it looks I still have alot to learn if I wanna be a Top Coordinator." May said, starting to get over her loss. It stung to taste defeat, but at least she got a taste at what a big competition like this is like.
"You'll do fine next time, that's what the life of being a coordinator is like. You win, you lose, and you grow into something beautiful," Lisia said with a smile, telling her not to give up. "I say, this is the start of a new beginning for you May. I call it, "I Won't Give Up! The Start of Something New!"
"The Start of Something..New," May stood there, thinking about this new information.
Then the screen showed that the next round is about to begin. "Well think about what I said, it's time for me to get out there." Lisia got up.
"It looks like you'll be facing Drew next." May said. "You think you could beat him?"
"I think I can take him." Lisia winked, telling that she's ready.
In the next battle, Drew and Lisia faced off both of them were eager to face Robert in the final round.
For this battle, Drew had Masquerain and Flygon. While Lisia had on her Ali of course, and a new Pokémon, Gardevior.
"Flygon Sandstorm! Masquerain Bubble!" Drew said as both his Pokémon attacked.
"Luna, grab Ali and Teleport!" Lisia said as both Pokémon teleported out of the way dodging the attacks.
"Lisia's Gardevior makes a sneaky escape by avoided Drew's beginning assault!" Vivian said as Drew's points were down by 10%.
"Now Ali, Dragon Pulse!" Appearing above them Ali released a powerful attack down on Drew's Pokemon creating a powerful explosion.
When the smoke cleared both of Drew's Pokémon were on the ground struggling to get up.
"Masquerain..Flygon.." Drew was struggling..very badly.
"And now a little something for May, Icy Wind!" Lisia grins. Gardevior closes its eyes before unleashing a cold wind, as ice encased both Flygon and Masquerain harshly, making them unable to move from the super effective move.
And that made the rest of Drew's points deplate. "And that's it! Drew is out of points! Meaning our 2nd finalist who will battle Robert, is Lisia!" Vivian announced.
Eyes widening in disbelief, Drew could only sigh.
"Wow Lisia's really good." May said.
"Yeah between her and Robert I don't know who's going to win?" Ash said.
"Wallace before the final match begins do you have anything you'd like to say to our finalists?" Vivian asks.
"I wish Lisia and Robert the best of luck. You two managed to make it this far and I hope you both will give us a show worthy of the final contest battle." Wallace said.
Lisia nodded to her uncle's words before gazing at the screen for her final opponent. "I won't let you down."
"Let's give these people a battle to remember." Robert smiles.
Releasing their Pokémon, of course Robert had Milotic and Claydol.
"Go now, Sage! Aurora!" Lisia said throwing out 2 Pokéballs.
Sage, was a Meganium. "Mega!"
While Aurora was a Milotic..but in an alternative color!
"I don't believe it folks! Lisia has a Milotic too, but this one is a Shiny Milotic!" Vivian gasps.
"Aurora is my big finale! I'm leaving everything I got on this stage tonight!" Lisia said.
"Well my dear, I accept your challenge!" Robert said.
"Begin!" Vivian said as the clock went down.
As the two clashed move after move, neither one wanted to give the other an inch.
"Milotic Twister!" Robert said as Milotic released a fierce tornado.
"Sage Light Screen!" Lisia said as Sage created a barrier to block most of the attack when from the eye of the storm Claydol flew through and rammed into Sage.
"Claydol, Extrasensory!" Robert said. All of the eyes on Claydol glow gold and it releases a rainbow-colored beam towards Aurora.
"Aurora, Protect and then Dragon Tail!" Lisia yells.
Creating a green barrier Aurora blocks the attack before leaping up with a glowing tail.
"Iron Tail!" With its own glowing tail Robert's Milotic leaped up and met Aurora head-on.
"Wow, this battle just keeps getting better an better! Who will win this striking clash of individuals?! The original or the shiny?!" Vivian said excitingly.
As both beautiful Pokemon clashed, Sage and Claydol exchanged their own attacks.
"We're in the final 30 seconds!"
"Sage Solar Beam!"
"Claydol Hyper Beam!"
Charging up, both Pokemon fired their attacks meeting in the middle just as the timer went off blinding everyone's view of the score.
"I can't see!"
"Who won?!"
"Did the timer went off?!"
As the smoke cleared everyone was on the edge of their seats.
Lisa had 10% and Robert had 15.
"And the winner is...Robert!" Vivian declares. "There it is folks! This match was so close, but Robert wins the Grand Festival!"
As the crowd went nuts, Lisia frowned softly when she sees Wallace looking at her with a look of pride on his face.
'That's my niece,'
Soon that frown was replaced with a smile as Lisia hugged her Pokémon. "I love you guys," she said. They happily embraced her, showing they weren't that upset either.
"Wow, even Lisia lost." Ash said. "But it was an awesome battle.
"Sure was, right May?" Max asks.
May looks to Lisia, and thought about her inspirational words for her earlier. "Yeah..yeah it was." She smiled softly.
After Robert was awarded the Grand Festival Trophy it had officially come to an end.
That night, Caroline was giving her kids one last hug.
"I better get back to your father. I'm sure he's as proud of you as I am." Caroline said.
"Thanks Mom." May said.
"It was great seeing you again." Max said.
"And Ash, we wish you the best of luck at the Hoenn League." Caroline said turning to him.
"Thanks Caroline, we'll do our best," Ash smiles, with a thumbs up.
"PikaPika." Pikachu grinned with anticipation.
"Well I'll certainly be rooting for you." Lisia said walking over.
"You leaving already?" May asks.
"Yeah Uncle Wallace has to get to his champion duties, but he wanted me to tell you both he had fun meeting you and hopes that we meet again." Lisia said.
"Hey tell your uncle thanks for the help and the advice for me." Ash said.
"Will do Ash. Hey May maybe next time you and I will face off against each other." Lisia said.
"I hope so." May smiles at the thought.
Lisia smiled, "Then I'll see you at the next Grand Festival," she said before holding her hand out to her.
May did as well, shaking it.
As Lisia walks away May notices Drew on the opposite side of the street.
"Hey Drew next time we battle I'm going to win!" May calls out.
"We'll see May. We'll see." Drew smirks without turning to her before walking off.
May watched her two rivals walk away from her sights. She looked at her now expired ribbons. "This is the end of something old..and the beginning of the something new for me." She declared, promising she wasn't gonna give up in her dream.
Despite finishing in the top 8. May's contests are far from over as they now can focus on Ash competing at the Hoenn League.
Next Time: Let the Training Commence, The Meowth in Boots!
