Chapter 5
The group made their way through Hoenn's forests. Shining brightly overhead, the sun filtered through the leaves of the forest casting shadows over the small group. Ash, Pikachu, and company were heading back towards Petalburg City, where the next challenge on Ash's quest was to take place.
However, the group would be pausing for a couple of days. They stepped out of the forest and looked out onto a town hidden by the trees, Verdanturf Town. While in Lavaridge Town, Max looked up the Contest schedule and pointed this event out to May. When she found out about the opportunity for her second Ribbon, May got the group to follow her.
The group paused on the outskirts of town. May looked to Ash. "Do you think we could practice a bit before we head into town?" She asked.
Ash nodded. "Sure. Hey Brock, we are going to do some last minute training."
Since leaving Lavaridge Town, May had been a bit quieter. There was not exactly a tension between her and Ash, but more May was thinking hard about a couple of things Ash had said. Mostly her thoughts were about finding what she wanted to do. And there was some anxiety over the Contest.
Ash was a Pokémon Trainer. As long as something related to training, he was willing to give it a try. From working out with his Pokémon to reading dense books on theories about Pokémon, Ash would do anything.
May could see this as he started getting ready for the impromptu training session. She shook her head. Was she a Coordinator like Ash was a Trainer? Could she dedicate herself to learning and practicing everything related to Contests? She sighed as she tossed her three Pokéballs into the air, releasing Beautifly, Skitty, and Torchic.
Ash smiled at May. "Alright, what do you want to work on?"
Glancing at her Pokémon, May took a breath before responding. "I want to work on making an appeal. I don't know if I am a good enough battler yet, but it won't matter if I cannot reach the knockout rounds."
"Then we will work on making an appeal." Ash said. "Now, remember, I am not a Coordinator. You will have to do most of the work."
"I know." May replied.
"Good. Now, what is an appeal?" Ash asked as Max sat down nearby to watch.
May frowned at the question. "Haven't you seen appeals before?"
"I have." Ash admitted. "Act as if I don't know anything about Contests."
Shrugging slightly, May explained. "An appeal is the first stage of a contest, where the Coordinator works with their Pokémon to create a stunning visual."
Ash nodded, but did not speak up for a moment. When May didn't continue, Ash sighed. "So is the important thing the visual or is there something else?"
May blinked at him confused by his question. Noticing her hesitation, Ash tried to ask the question again. "When you and your Pokémon are making the image, are you trying to create emotion, story, or just a picture?"
"I, I don't really know." May said. She looked at her Pokémon again, before looking to Brock who was playing with Mudkip. "What do you think Brock?"
The taller teen picked Mudkip up and walked over to stand next to Max. "I think if you have a purpose to the appeal, it will stand out more."
He paused before continuing. "I would think it also depends on your Pokémon and the format of the appeal."
May nodded slowly. "I think I have an idea. Torchic are you interested?"
"Chic!"
/
The boys sat down in the Contest Hall, watching the empty stage. Pikachu sat on Ash's lap as they waited for the Contest to begin.
Ash rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease a sore spot as they waited.
"I hope May does well." Max murmured as the Judges started to make their ways to their seats on the stage.
Brock nodded. "Me too. I think her idea is interesting, we will just have to see if she can pull it off."
Between them, Ash remained quiet, his mind somewhere else. He couldn't focus on the Contest about to unfold in front of him. Instead, Ash's thoughts were on his own Pokémon and his own Journey.
Brock seemed to notice Ash's distraction. "You okay there Ash?"
"What?" Ash said, dazed, before pulling himself to the present. "Yeah, I am fine. Just, I am thinking about things."
"Really? What are you thinking about?" Max asked, stopping Brock from asking the same.
"My Pokémon and the book you loaned to me by Professor Rowan on Evolution." Ash said to the younger boy.
He paused before continuing. "Evolution seems to be one way to get more power, but I don't know if I want to make my Pokémon evolve."
"Like Pikachu?" Brock said.
Ash nodded, as did Pikachu. "Yeah. I mean, some of my Pokémon don't want to evolve. Professor Rowan seems to indicate there is power in each new stage of evolution though."
"I would do what feels right for you Ash." Brock said. "I think Professor Rowan is right, when Pokémon evolve they can be more powerful. That doesn't mean evolution is the right choice."
"I know. I want my Pokémon to be happy." Ash murmured. "I don't want them to feel pressured to evolve for me."
Max frowned. "Isn't it the job of a trainer to get the most out of their Pokémon as they can?"
Ash shrugged while Brock sighed. "That is a hard question to answer. What do you mean by 'the most'?"
"I don't know, strength, power, skill, or something like that." Max replied.
"Tell me Max, what does it mean to be powerful? What does it mean to be strong?" Brock asked.
The younger boy blinked at him before taking a breath to explain. Ash interrupted. "Those are silly questions."
"What?" Max exhaled, prevented from giving a long answer to Brock's questions, as he was confused by Ash's response.
Brock on the other hand smiled. "I think you have your answer. Let your Pokémon who want to evolve do so. For the others, let's get some everstones."
"Sorry, what?" Max repeated.
"Thanks Brock." Ash said before he looked at the younger boy. "Max, what is the most important thing about any attack?"
"The power." Max replied confidently and was surprised as Ash shook his head.
"Power is nice. What happens when a powerful attack doesn't hit?"
"Nothing?" Max asked hesitantly.
"Most of the time you are right. The a powerful attack didn't hurt the opponent. But remember the Pokémon using the attack used some of its energy." Ash said.
Ash smiled and rubbed Pikachu's head as the lights dimmed and a woman made her way towards the center of the stage. "Pokémon Trainers bring the most out of their Pokémon, as you said. Most doesn't have to be power though, it can be anything."
/
May took deep breath as she stood behind a curtain leading to the main part of the stage. She could not see the crowd, but she was able to watch the end of the appeal before her. As the performer finished and headed towards the other side of the stage with a Kadabra, the speakers clicked on.
"Next, from Petalburg City, please welcome May!" The announcer called.
May stepped forward to the polite applause and walked to the middle of the stage.
The spotlights burned into her eyes, casting a pair of shadows behind her. Her heart was racing. Blood pumping in her ears. The crowd in front of her was still. She seemed to move in slow motion, as her arm and hand extended up. With a flick of the wrist, she threw the Pokéball into the air.
A burst of white light solidified into her Torchic, who landed deftly right in front of her.
"Fire spin." May murmured.
"Tor tor Chic." The fire type chirped. Torchic took a breath and released a stream of fire. The fire type bird used controlled the fire to create a pillar of flame.
Both Torchic and May were hidden in the flame pillar. May looked towards the ceiling, watching as the flame reached ever higher. "That is high enough." May said quietly so the crowd couldn't hear her.
Torchic flapped a wing, concentrating on keeping the flame controlled.
"Now, Peck."
The little fire type closed its beak, cutting off the flame. With a flip, Torchic jumped onto May's shoulder before leaping into the air again. This time the jump smashed into the pillar of fire, the flying type attack shattered the fire. Around the two, sparks and embers fell.
As Torchic landed, the image presented was one of a fire type starring defiantly into the crowd, with its Trainer behind it. May bowed to the crowd as the sparkling embers fell around her.
The crowd roared its approval.
/
After the contest ended, the group slept at the Verdanturf Pokémon Center. The next morning, May lead the way towards Petalburg City. She smiled as she held up the ribbon she won the day before.
"Thanks for helping me Ash." She said as they walked.
Ash nodded, knowing she couldn't see it. "Any time."
May turned so she was walking backwards, hands clasped behind her back. "I mean it. I really appreciate you taking the time from your training to help me so much."
Max interrupted before Ash responded. "Hey Ash, how are you doing on the other books I loaned you?"
"Like I told you before the Contest, I finished Professor Oak's book and am making my way through Professor Rowan's book." Ash said. "I will start on Professor Sequoia's book next."
Nodding, Max pushed his glasses up. "When we get home, I have a couple of other books you might want to read."
Ash smiled in thanks as Brock spoke. "Why don't we skip training this afternoon? I think we should be able to make it to Petalburg City by tonight."
/
Brock had been right, a fast pace meant the group arrived at May and Max's home in Petalburg City as the sun set.
Caroline opened the door as they approached. "Oh, I am so glad you are home." She said, kneeling down and giving her two kids a big hug.
"Hey Mom." May said with a smile.
"I missed you." Max murmured quietly into her neck.
Pikachu patted Ash on the head. "Pi pika pi pikachu."
"You're right." Ash replied. "I will call Mom tonight."
Brock smiled, while Caroline stood up. "Norman is still at the gym, but he will be back in a few minutes. Why don't you all come inside?"
"I will be right back." Max said, darting inside and heading towards the stairs.
Caroline watched him go before glancing at her daughter. "What was that about?"
May shrugged and Ash answered. "I think he is getting a couple of books to show me."
Nodding, Caroline turned and lead them into the living room just inside.
"May, I am so proud of you. I was able to watch the Verdanturf Contest last night. You did so well." Caroline said.
"Ash has been helping me a lot." May said, blushing at the praise.
Brock nodded. "He has, but your effort made the difference. You put time into learning and applied yourself. It shows in your performance."
Caroline looked to the older two teenagers. "Thank you both for looking after my kids. They have grown so much traveling with you. I can tell just by looking at them."
"Thank you ma'am." Brock said, while Ash just nodded.
The young teen looked around. "Is there a phone I could use?"
"Sure, it is just in the kitchen over there." Caroline said, pointing.
Ash stood up smiling. "Thanks."
/
Ash made his way over to the phone and dialed a phone number. A moment later, his mom's face appeared. "Hey Mom."
"Ash! Baby, how are you?" Delia asked.
Ash reached up and scratched Pikachu behind the ears. "I just wanted to call. Pikachu reminded me I haven't called for a couple of weeks."
"I know traveling can make it hard to keep in touch. Now, tell me how things are going." His Mom said.
"I have four of the badges I need for the Conference and I am in the same City as the next one." Ash said proudly.
"That is great." Delia smiled her answer.
"I know. I just." He paused.
His mother lost her smile as a look of concern crossed her face. "What is it, baby?"
"I am thinking about trading most of my Tauros." Ash admitted.
"Why?" Came the quiet question.
"Because I cannot train thirty of the same Pokémon and it is not fair to the ones I am not spending enough time with." Ash said.
Delia's smile came back. "Then you are doing this for the right reasons. I am proud of you Ash."
Ash, his gazing having fallen, raised his eyes to meet his mother's smiling face. She continued. "If you were just looking for a quick edge, that would be one thing. But you are doing this for your Pokémon and their happiness. That is a good reason."
"Thanks Mom. I will call you later?" Ash asked.
"Of course. And I love you Ash."
The screen went dark. The young teen took a deep breath before typing in another phone number.
This time, the person on the other end was a teen boy about the same age as Ash. "What's up Ashy boy?"
Ash plucked a Pokéball from his belt and held it up. "You know how I have thirty Tauros?"
"Yeah, and?" Gary asked, impatience crossing his face.
"Want to trade for one?" Ash asked.
Gary blinked and took a deep breath to center himself. "You sure about that Ashy boy?"
"No. But I can't train them all." Ash said quietly.
"Alright. Sure. Look, let Gramps know we talked. A couple of my Pokémon had an egg recently at the ranch. Trade me a Tauros for the Egg."
"You sure, Pokémon Eggs are full of potential." Ash turned Gary's question against him.
"I am happy with my team and I am too busy working to appropriately treat an Egg. I trust you will take great care of it." Gary replied. "Just let me know what hatches."
"Sure thing Gary. And thanks."
"Smell you later."
Ash leaned back as he prepared to dial the last number. As his hand reached out, he heard a thump behind him. Turning, Ash saw Max and Norman.
"Hey, Ash." Max said, bending down to pick up the book he dropped and placing it on the stack in his other arm. Like the last time they had talked books, Max was holding three.
Norman smiled at the young teen. "Sorry, we came in during your discussion with Gary. Do you really have Thirty Tauros?"
"Twenty Nine now." Ash admitted.
"That is impressive. Tauros are extremely rare, at least here in Hoenn." Norman mused. "Anyway, I understand you want to challenge my Gym?"
"Yeah, I am going to win the Ever Grande Conference." Ash said.
"Will tomorrow work for you?" Norman asked. Ash nodded excitedly. "Good, I will make sure we have a referee."
Max butted in. "Ash, I wanted to give you a couple more books."
Ash blinked. "Okay." He stood up. "I will go grab Professor Oak's book for you."
"Don't worry about it." Max said. "Just return it when you pick up a copy for yourself."
Ash sat down at Max's reassurance. The younger boy smiled. "You seem to want to know everything about Pokémon, so here are books from two other Regional Professors."
The first book handed over was from Professor Elm, titled "Eggs and Inheritance." The other was by Professor Birch called "Earth, Air, and Sea: Pokémon Habitats."
Before Ash could speak up, Max handed him the final book, titled "The Rules of Battle" by Professor Serena. "This one may be extremely helpful. It is written by one of the Professors at the Pokémon Battle Judge Training Institute on Bomba Island."
Ash opened the book to the table of contents before looking Max in the eyes. "This is great. Thank you."
Max smiled shyly. "You have been doing so much for me and May. This is the least I can do."
"Do you mind if I make my last call? It is to Professor Oak." Ash asked.
Norman shrugged. "Not a problem. If you are going to talk about your Tauros' I would like to stick around though."
Ash nodded and dialed the phone one more time. The back of Professor Oak's head appeared on the screen. Ash rubbed his forehead. "The other camera, Professor." Ash said with a grin.
Professor Oak turned around. "I never get that right." The Professor muttered. Raising his voice to a more normal conversation level, the Professor spoke. "Ash, have you decided about your Tauros?"
Ash nodded, sullenly. "Yeah. I did. Were you able to talk to them?"
"I was. Gary's Alakazam was quite helpful. Your Tauros love you and you were right, they are looking for more action." Samuel Oak explained.
"What about the Laramie Ranch?" Ash asked.
"Lara Laramie said they could take fifteen. She just needs to know the price." The Professor said.
"No price. Transfer the Tauros to the Laramie's as soon as you can." Ash said.
"Are you sure?" Professor asked.
"No. But it is what is best for my Tauros." Ash said quietly.
"I will see to it they head out. If they can handle some more do you want me to send them?" Professor Oak asked.
"You can send almost all of them if Lara is interested. One should be transferred to Gary in exchange for his Pokémon Egg." Ash said.
"I was wondering what he was going to do with the Egg. Alright. That leaves you with one Tauros for you and probably still fourteen others."
"I know." Ash said leaning back with a sigh.
"If I might make a suggestion." Norman said.
Ash looked up at him. "Sure."
"I will trade a Pokémon Egg for a Tauros. You could probably do the same with Whitney in Goldenrod City."
Ash nodded slowly, knowing the Tauros were going to gym leaders was something of a relief. "Could you set it up Professor?"
"Of course, Ash. I will follow up with you tomorrow evening. I should be able let you know the situation and the number of Tauros you have left." The Professor said.
"Thanks Professor." Ash said as he let Norman take his place to discuss the details.
/
The next morning, Ash followed Norman into the gym's arena. Behind them, Brock, Caroline, May, and Max trailed quietly. A referee waited as the four spectators moved into the stands and the two competitors took their positions on opposite ends of the battlefield.
"Ash, I am not going to take it easy on you because of our trade. You will earn this badge." Norman said, his voice easily carrying across the arena.
Ash nodded. "Pikachu, why don't you go sit with Brock?"
Pikachu looked up at him. "Pika?"
"Trust me." Ash said. "I have a plan."
Pikachu nodded and ran over to the stands to watch.
The Referee raised his arms and the flags. "This is a battle for the Balance Badge. It will be a one on one, sudden death contest. The Gym Leader Norman will send out his Pokémon first."
"I thought this gym was three on three?" Brock muttered.
Max sighed. "It is.I guess Dad thinks a full battle isn't needed."
May frowned. "That doesn't seem fair."
"Why not?" Caroline asked. "Ash has taught you many techniques and shown he knows how to raise Pokémon. He also has shown the ability to adapt and his love of his Pokémon. That is more than many other trainers."
"Alright Ash, here is my choice." Norman announced, throwing a Pokéball.
Lounging on the battlefield lay the large Slaking. The lazy Pokémon did not look like it wanted to fight, but was willing to do what was necessary to win.
Ash sighed. "I was ready for three on three. Well, lets see here. He threw out a Pokéball, sending out a large Pokémon of his own.
"MUUUK."
Brock blinked. "That is a surprise choice. I thought he would go with Primeape or Heracross if he wanted type advantage. Grovyle or Pikachu if he wanted speed."
Norman laughed. "You are quite adaptable. Show me what you can do."
Ash nodded. "Muk, Disorient."
The large purple sludge Pokémon responded by exhaling a cloud of gas. The Poison Gas rolled over Slaking, with only a sneeze.
"You made a mistake there." Norman announced, seeing a purple tint come to his Pokémon's eyes. "Facade."
The lumbering Pokémon moved with impressive speed to slam a punch into Muk. Slaking's fist changed the sludge Pokémon's shape and Muk winced before reaching out with a hand to lightly tap on Slaking's forehead.
Ash shook his head. "No, we didn't."
Suddenly, Muk's other hand glowed white and was slammed into Slaking's side, dislodging him. Brock raised an eyebrow. "Was that a Brick Break?" He asked quietly, talking to himself.
"Slaking, use Facade again."
This time, the large Pokémon just winced and did not attack. Norman blinked in surprise as Muk moved closer to his Pokémon and used Body Slam.
Slaking was able to lift Muk off and used a Mega Punch. However, the sludge Pokémon attacked with a Sludge Bomb, knocking Slaking out.
Norman shook his head as he returned Slaking. "Ash, you are an amazing trainer."
Ash walked forward and rubbed Muk on the head. Muk gave him a big smile and engulfed him in a hug. "Good job Muk."
"Muuk."
Norman, and the small crowd, gathered around Ash and his Pokémon. "I take it Muk used Disable?"
"Yeah, it was his second attack." Ash said with a smile.
Norman shook his head. "You made me overconfident and punished me for it. Congratulations. Here is the Balance Badge. You earned it."
"Thanks, Norman." Ash replied.
"You are full of potential." Norman said. "I expect you to go quite far in the Ever Grande Conference. Good luck."
/