Chapter 9

On the way to Battle Dome, we encounter a farm raising Pokemon Eggs. the owners Christopher and Jeannie, along with their daughter Nicolette noticed us as the winners of the Saffron and Cerulean Contests, so they offered us into the farm and even showed us around.

May wants to have a training battle with Nicolette, and they do, but Nicolette loses to Munchlax. She tries to brush off the defeat, but she is amazed at May's skill. May celebrates her win with her surprisingly powerful Munchlax.

Then we are going to check out the eggs, inside one of the storage rooms, Eggs line the shelves and astound us. Some of the Eggs belong to other Trainers while others belong to the family.

"There happens to be an egg that is going to hatch soon." When Christopher says to us, we are all excited to see an egg hatching.

After nighttime comes, Nicolette begins to open up to May about wanting to become a Coordinator. She's scared that she will not succeed, but May admits that she started as a beginner not even liking Pokémon and built up. Despite that, Nicolette is still reluctant to leave home to pursue her dreams.

Just then, Team Rocket appears and then they try to steal all the eggs with a mecha. But thanks to Pikachu using Volt Tackle, a new move that he manages to learn, and sends them flying.

"Quick! Catch those eggs!" We all manage to catch the eggs except for the one who is about to hatch. May has Munchlax uses its belly to grab the egg until it lands on Jeannie's hands. And the next day, the egg hatches into a Vulpix, much to our delight.

Nicolette also makes her decision to go outside on her journey, and then we are happy for them. As we prepare to depart, Christopher gives May an Egg as a gift for helping Nicolette. May accepts the Egg, with Jeannie assuring her that it will be a wonderful surprise. We wave goodbye to the ranching family and resume our journey toward the Battle Dome.

As we arrive at Lavender Town, I'm going to have my second contest this time. May sits this one out because there is another one holding in Silver Town after a week.

And when we're about to register for the Contest, both Reisa and I can't believe who we're seeing. A red-haired girl who is also registering for the contest.

"No way..." I gasp as the girl turns around. "Ash? Ash Ketchum?"

"Ariel! It really is you!" I say, and Reisa adds, "It has been a while."

"And Reisa too?" Then we greet each other, and that only causes others to be confused.

"It has been a while since the Johto Grand Festival, don't tell me you're here for the Kanto Grand Festival as well." Ariel says.

"Ash is, I'm sitting this one out because I already got the Sinnoh Ribbon Cup and I want to relax." Reisa says.

"Congratulations, Reisa." Ariel says.

"How's Silver doing?" I ask, and she says, "He's starting to open up a little now that we're living with Mom again in Saffron."

"Um..guys, who is she?" May asks.

"Oh, this is Ariel, and let's say that she's our rival during our journey in Johto." I say.

"So they're your new travel partners? You really do change after going on another journey..." Ariel says and I sweatdrop.

"So how many ribbons do you have there, Ariel?" I ask.

"I already have 1, I assume you're the same?" Ariel asks.

"Of course, May and I both have one." I reply.

"So you're also challenging contests too, just so you know I'm not holding back on you." Ariel says to May.

"Yeah, but Ash is challenging this one, I want to challenge the Silver Town one..." May says.

At the appealing round, I use Wigglytuff and let her sing and dance in front of the crowd, since she isn't singing the lullaby, she gets a lot of applause.

"Wow, I can't believe that Wigglytuff can sing other songs than Lullaby." Max says.

"I taught her that because we don't want everyone to be put to sleep." Serena says.

Then Ariel uses Meowth, unlike Team Rocket's Meowth, she shows a lot of good moves and even makes a good performance. And why am I not surprised that Jessie of Team Rocket is also here? She obviously tries to have Meowth do the same tricks, but Meowth is distracted and it causes him to fail the performance in the end. In the end, the guards come to the stage and trying to get her to leave, much to her anger.

Ariel and I all advance to the battle rounds, we fight some opponents and win the finals where we face each other.

"I am not going to lose, you know." Ariel says.

"Me, too." I say. I'm also curious to see how Ariel has grown since the Johto Grand Festival.

I decide to go with Absol while Ariel sends out Arcanine. Arcanine uses Fire Fang and Flame Charge, making a Fire dog, but Absol senses it and uses Night Slash with a coat of Psychic energy to break it. Both of them lose some points, then Ariel uses Extreme Speed with an Ice Fang to make some blue shadow and hit Absol, causing me to lose some points, but I manage to take back using Dark Pulse and Psycho Cut to split into two. After some showoff, May says, "Wow, I think I can't compare to them…"

Reisa says, "I used to think the same as well, but don't worry, you can also get to their level, just like I did."

"Yeah." Max says.

Then the time is up, I am 5 points higher than Ariel. I thank Absol and shake hands with Ariel before getting the second ribbon.

"Man… I thought I would win you after a year of hard training." Ariel says.

"Well, I am also training, too." I say after we're in front of the Contest Hall. Ariel turns to May and says, "And May, isn't it? I hope to battle you next time."

"Me, too." May says.

Then Team Rocket appears again trying to steal Pikachu, Absol, and Meowsie, but they are quickly sent flying thanks to Ariel.

"Don't tell me those goons from my Father are still following you." Ariel says.

"Father?" Max asks, "What do you mean?"

"Ariel's father is the boss of Team Rocket." I say, and this causes the others to gasp in surprise. "But trust us, she doesn't want any relationship with her father because of that."

Reisa says, "She also helps us stop a lot of Team Rocket operations in Johto, so it's okay."

"It is really thankful for you to say good things about me." Ariel says. "Now I must get going, see you."

Then we bid farewell as May is going to the next Contest hold in Silver Town.

In Silver Town, we find Squirtle by the flower garden and I ask, "Hey, Squirtle, why aren't you with May?"

Squirtle is distracted by the flowers, so we decide to bring her back to May, who is in the Contest Hall looking for it.

"Wow, you really took what I said seriously. Don't worry, when it comes to cuteness you'll always win with first prize." Squirtle says.

As the contest begins, an assistant man runs up to Lilian and whispers something in her ear. Lilian nods and then says, "Well, a late-breaking news for you. One of our coordinator contestants hasn't shown up yet!"

Then the Coordinator in question, wearing a suit and carrying a heavy bag, bursts through the door and tells her to stop, worried that he's been disqualified for being late.

"Are you Jeremy?" Lilian asks, and then he says that he is.

He apologizes over and over for being late, and Lilian says that it's okay, and directs him to line up with the other Coordinators. However, he trips causing the audience to laugh. May smiles, knowing the embarrassment of doing something like that.

Now the Appeal Rounds start, and then May starts things off by sending out Squirtle. As soon as Squirtle comes out of its Poké Ball, it starts to use Ice Beam while spinning around rapidly. This creates a beautiful rain of sparkles which rain down on Squirtle as it lands and bows. May then orders Squirtle to use Bubble, and Squirtle does so, creating lots of beautiful bubbles surrounded by a large bubble. May calls for an Ice Beam. At this, Squirtle leaps onto the large bubble, bursting all of the smaller ones with an Ice Beam for a sparkling display before using the Ice Beam on the huge bubble to create a large ice sculpture and finishing up by smiling and posing atop one of the ice pillars. The crowd claps loudly, and the judges are greatly impressed with the performance May delivered.

Lilian then asks for Jeremy to enter, and the crowd laughs, remembering his antics from before. The laughing stops, however, when the lights go dim and rock music starts to play as Jeremy walks in wearing heavy metal gear with a pair of shades. Jeremy calls out his Butterfree and orders it to use Stun Spore and Poison Powder, creating a huge wave of orange and purple pollen. The whole Hall is then lit up by a beautiful green light as Butterfree uses Safeguard. Jeremy's performance is abruptly interrupted by his wife and son.

"Stop acting like a little kid! What would our friends think if they saw you like this?" Mandy says as Nicholas agrees.

"Don't you see, my being in this contest is really important!" Jeremy says.

"And so is the way you look! You look ridiculous in that outfit." Nicholas says.

"I won't go until I finished!" Jeremy says as he prepares to take his family backstage to discuss further when May steps forward to support Jeremy. Mandy reiterates her negative sentiments, leading Jeremy to pipe up again, clarifying the effort needed to create a great performance and become a great Coordinator. Jeremy bows to the audience and asks them if they will forgive him and accept his appeal. One of the men in the crowd begins to clap, and the rest of the audience follows, all touched by his emotional speech.

Now the next stage has begun and then May and Jeremy advance to the finals. May uses Blaziken while Jeremy sends out Venusaur. Jeremy doesn't waste any time, though, and orders Venusaur to use Razor Leaf. May has Blaziken counter with Fire Spin, which burns Venusaur's leaves to ashes. Before the attack can get to Venusaur, Jeremy tells Venusaur to use Vine Whip. Venusaur fires its vines straight into the attack and rips the flames apart. This attack lowers May's point's bar, much to her distress. Jeremy decides to get serious and has Venusaur summon a Frenzy Plant. A thorny vine forest takes over the battlefield, striking Blaziken down and withering May's points to a quarter.

May is taken aback but regains her focus as I instruct her to look at Venusaur. After such a strong attack, it must recharge leaving it open to be attacked itself. Without a moment to spare, May orders Quick Attack, and then Peck. Blaziken charges at Venusaur and then stabs away at its health. Jeremy grits his teeth as he remembers the drawback of using Frenzy Plant. Jeremy risks it all with another Frenzy Plant. May tries to attack Venusaur with Blaziken's Fire Spin, but the Frenzy Plant blocks the attack and rips through the air again toward Blaziken. May orders Blaziken to rush towards its opponent with a Quick Attack. Blaziken fails to clear the thorny obstacles and is struck, reducing May's points to a dismal level. Even so, May orders Blaziken to attack with Sky Uppercut. Blaziken jumps onto one of the vines and runs straight at Venusaur. Reaching its target, Blaziken uses Sky Uppercut on Venusaur and sends it crashing to the ground. With three seconds remaining, Venusaur is declared unable to battle and the crowd cheers.

May gets her second ribbon in the end, and she celebrates it with Squirtle and Blaziken. Jeremy also gets along now with his wife and son, as they all bid farewell so we can go to his next Battle Facility.

Here is a new chapter, and this chapter marks the end of the second ribbon for both of them. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the Battle Dome.