The crowd in the bustling Pokémon arena was buzzing with excitement as May and Drew stepped onto the grand stage. The cheers and roars of the spectators reverberated through the air, adding to the tension of the moment. Both trainers had a determined look in their eyes, ready to showcase their skills. May raised her voice above the crowd's cheers as she made the first move.

"Venusaur, Wartortle! Take the stage!" With a flourish, she tossed her pokéballs, which opened with a burst of flower petals and bubbles, revealing her two trusted partners. Venusaur landed gracefully on the stage, her colossal form imposing and powerful. Meanwhile, Wartortle executed a somersault with elegance, landing beside Venusaur. The crowd erupted in cheers at the impressive entrance. Drew, not one to be outdone, responded by tossing his own Poké Balls, each accompanied by dramatic smoke effects.

"Absol! Masquerain! Let's do it!" In a puff of smoke, Absol materialized on the stage, landing gracefully on his paws. Masquerain, on the other hand, hovered above the stage, his presence ethereal and mysterious. The battle had officially begun, and the trainers wasted no time.

"Wartortle Rapid Spin! Venusaur Vine Whip!" May shouted out her commands. The audience watched in awe as Wartortle curled into her shell, spinning with incredible speed. Venusaur's vines shot out from underneath her flower, grabbing Wartortle and flinging her toward the opposing team.

"Block with Silver Wind, Masquerain!" Drew reacted swiftly. Masquerain responded by launching a powerful Silver Wind attack from his small wings, creating a shimmering wall of energy that intercepted Wartortle's Rapid Spin. The collision sent Wartortle tumbling to the stage, but May wasn't giving up.

"Ice Beam!" Wartortle got back onto her feet and retaliated with a powerful Ice Beam, shooting into the air and aiming for her opponents.

"Bug Buzz now, Masquerain!" Drew countered. Masquerain rubbed his wings together, unleashing a devastating shrill noise that resonated across the battlefield, causing both Venusaur and Wartortle to wince. Wartortle couldn't aim her Ice Beam properly amid all the noise and ended up missing both opponents.

"Water Gun and Razor Leaf! Don't let them shut us down!" May called to her Pokemon. Venusaur fired a barrage of sharp leaves while Wartortle unleashed a powerful stream of Water Gun, creating a combination attack aimed at Masquerain to stop the noise before Drew could capitalize on it. Drew remained composed, however.

"Absol! Night Slash and then Iron Tail go! And Masquerain, dodge!" Masquerain, with his graceful agility, evaded the combination attack with ease. Absol, on the other hand, charged ahead with a glowing blade for Night Slash. He leaped over the water and grass combination attack with ease, thanks to Bug Buzz messing up the aim. Then, with perfect precision, he landed Night Slash on Wartortle and then turned to Venusaur and used Iron Tail, striking critical points on both of them for massive damage. The impact sent both Pokémon stumbling back, and May gasped in shock.

"No...!"

"Amazing! Absol managed to get a Critical Hit on both of May's Pokemon with his Super Luck ability!" Marian announced as the crowd cheered both of them excitedly.

"Hang in there May!" Dawn yelled from the stands. Wartortle struggled to her feet, determined to continue the fight and Venusaur shook off the hit and regained her composure as well.

"Are you two ok?!" May asked the two of them.

"Yeah!" Wartortle nodded.

"Just fine!" Venusaur agreed.

"We have to get some momentum back…ok! Venusaur, Petal Dance! And Wartortle, Rapid Ice Beam!" May called out. In response, Venusaur unleashed a barrage of flower petals in a mesmerizing spiral dance, while Wartortle curled into her shell and then fired Ice Beam in all directions. Masquerain squeaked in pain as he was struck by the Petal Dance and knocked back. Absol was hit hard with Petal Dance as well and skidded backward but dug his claws into the ground and managed to maintain his composure.

"Hang tough, you two!" Drew cautioned them. However before he could respond to Venusaur's Petal Dance, Wartortle, with her relentless determination, zoomed into the frey and struck Absol with her Ice Beam and Rapid Spin combo, causing him to grunt in pain. She then ricocheted her shell back around and hit Masquierain as well. Both of Drew's Pokemon reeled back in pain as she returned safely to May's side of the field.

"Way to go Wartortle!" May cheered.

"Use Bubble, Masquerain!" Drew commanded. Masquerain, though still recovering from the earlier hit, still sprang back into action and launched a volley of shimmering bubbles across the stage and quickly surrounded May's Pokemon. Not knowing what Drew had up his sleeve, May knew she had to act fast.

"Venusaur, use Petal Dance again!" Venusaur responded immediately, hurling her petals toward the bubbles. In a spectacular display of coordination, the petals popped the bubbles in a flurry of colors. But that was exactly what Drew wanted her to do and had another trick up his sleeve.

"Aerial Ace Maquerain! Absol use Night Slash again!" he suddenly called. In response, Masquerain zipped through the sparkles left behind by the bubbles and slammed into Venusaur while her attention was focused on the bubble-popping, causing her to hiss in pain. Absol ran through the sparkling lights as well and nailed Wartortle with a powerful Night Slash. Both of her Pokemon reeled back in pain and May growled in frustration, feeling the pressure mounting. She knew she had to regain control of the battle fast or she'd lose.

"No...! I can't let him cut us off..." Drew, sensing an opportunity, continued his assault,

"Absol, use Water Pulse! Masquerain, use Silver Wind!" Absol launched a wave of water across the field, and Masquerain used Silver Wind to give the water a dazzling power boost and send it crashing toward May's Pokémon with extra power. May knew if that attack hit it could very well mean the end of the battle. But at that moment, she was struck with an idea. It wasn't a great one, but it was the only one she had for now and she acted on it as fast as she could.

"Wartortle block with Rapid Spin hurry!" she called. Trusting her trainer, Wartorle ducked back inside her shell and launched herself into the attack, spinning so fast and with such ferocity that for the moment anyway, she was able to hold the attack back.

"Incredible! May's Wartortle is holding back Drew's combination! But how long can she keep it up?!" Marian wondered aloud. Almost as if on cue, Wartortle's attack started to falter as the combination attack began to overwhelm her.

"Wartortle don't give up! You can do this!" May cheered as loudly as she could. Hearing May's words, Wartortle suddenly felt a surge of strength well up inside her. Her shell began to spin faster than it ever had before while a brilliant white glow enveloped her as well. The sight caused May and the rest of the spectators to gasp in shock. "Wartortle…?"

"No way!" Dawn gasped.

"Is Wartorle…?!" Kenny wondered.

"Unbelievable! Wartortle is starting to evolve right before our eyes!" Marian confirmed. Wartortle's shell grew to a massive side and cannons started to protrude from the shell as well. The Rapid Spin picked up so much power and speed that it actually completely broke apart Drew's attack, allowing her to land and come back out of her shell, now sporting a completely new look.

"Blastoise!" she announced herself to the roar of the crowd.

"Blastoise…" May whispered, still standing there in complete shock. Up in the stands, Dawn pulled out her Pokedex and scanned the new Pokemon on the field. After a moment, the little machine began to speak.

"Blastoise, the Shellfish Pokémon. And the evolved form of Wartortle. Its shell is like armor and attacks from the hydro cannon on its back are virtually unstoppable." the device explained. The crowd roared out in approval as May seemed to finally snap out of her daze with a wide smile.

"This is awesome! Way to go Blastoise!" she cheered.

"Wow!" Venusaur agreed. Blastoise turned back to them and gave them both a nod, ready to keep going. Across the field, Drew was unfazed by Blastoise's resilience and called his next move.

"Masquerain, use Silver Wind! Absol, Night Slash!" Absol charged forward with his blade glowing, and Masquerain launched a Silver Wind attack directly into Absol's blade, making the blade even more formidable. May, however, thanks to Blastiose's evolution, realized she did indeed have one more trick hidden up her sleeve.

"...Blastoise! Ice Beam Counter Shield!" Blastoise responded with great agility, jumping into her shell and spinning around while using Ice Beam to create a protective barrier around herself and Venusaur. The crowd gasped at the breathtaking display of teamwork and strategy as Absol was unable to stop himself in time and collided with the attack. He yelped in pain as he was knocked back, and Masquerain screeched in agony when he too was caught up in the Ice Beam Counter Shield.

"What the?!" Drew gasped, clearly not anticipating this move. May smirked to herself, knowing she had turned the tables with the creative defensive strategy, and it was now clear to everyone that she was now in control of the match.

"Thank you, Ash and Dawn..." Dawn couldn't contain her excitement and cheered even louder.

"Awesome! Way to go May!"

"Well done." Drew smiled a little, even impressed himself. The judges seemed to be equally impressed.

"An impressive display of when defense becomes the best offense." Contesta nodded.

"Remarkable!" Sukizo added.

"Simply amazing! And beautiful as well!" Nurse Joy agreed.

"And in a stunning turn of events, May uses a spinning Ice Beam to create a beautiful protective barrier around her Pokémon!" Marian announced the sudden turn of events. The audience erupted in cheers, impressed by May's quick thinking and adaptability. With a satisfied smile, Drew acknowledged her skill as well.

"New May indeed." he chuckled to himself. "Alright. Masquerain, use Silver Wind! Absol, Night Slash!" Responding to the commands, Absol charged forward once more, his blade glowing with dark energy, while Masquerain launched Silver Wind into the blade, making it even more powerful. The combined attack cut through the Ice Beam shield, disrupting it and Drew seized the moment. "Bubble now!"

"Mas mas!" Masquerain cried as he launched a barrage of bubbles through the opening Absol had created. But May and her team were quick to respond.

"Razor Leaf go!" May called to Venusaur. The Grass-type shot leaves directly at the bubbles, countering them before they could surround their team. "Blastoise, Aqua Tail!"

"On it!" Blastoise ran ahead, her tail glowing a brilliant blue and swirling with water. Drew, equally determined, commanded his Pokemon as well.

"Iron Tail, Absol!" Absol charged in and swung his tail at Blastoise, matching his tail with her's. The collision of the two Pokémon's tails created a dazzling display of sparks and power. Both of their points began to drain at an equal pace, but May's advantage from the earlier moves put Drew's points at zero first, signaling the end of the match. The audience erupted in cheers and applause as May gasped in shock. As the cheers of the audience filled the Pokémon arena, the results of the battle were announced by Marian.

"That's it! Moving on to the final round is...May!" Dawn couldn't contain her excitement and cheered as loudly as she could.

"Alright!" Taking a deep breath to come to terms with what just happened, May slowly smiled and stepped forward onto the field, her heart racing with the thrill of victory. The battle had been one of her toughest yet, but she had still come out on top. Overcome with emotion, she ran to her Pokémon, hugging both Venusaur and Blastoise tightly. Blastoise hugged her back, and Venusaur couldn't help but nuzzle her affectionately.

"Thank you so much! I'm so proud of you both!" she cried out happily. Drew sighed to himself and then smiled, accepting his loss. He knew that he and his Pokemon had battled well, but May had definitely outplayed him today. He walked onto the field and stroked both his Pokemon affectionately.

"Masquerain, Absol, thank you for your hard work." Absol and Masquerain nodded in acknowledgment, their exhaustion tempered by the sense of a well-fought battle. Drew recalled them both to their pokeballs and then walked over to May, his expression filled with a mix of emotions. "May?"

"Huh?" May turned her gaze toward him, surprised that he had approached her so casually. It was rare for the more reserved Coordinator.

"Congratulations. You did really well." he informed her. May's face lit up with a smile and her response was filled with genuine appreciation.

"Thanks, Drew. You did really well too." In a surprising gesture, Drew offered May a hand to help her to her feet, displaying a level of chivalry that caught her off guard. Curiously, May accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Before he let go of her hand, however, Drew kissed the back of her hand, causing her to blush a bright shade of red. It was an unexpected move that left her momentarily stunned, and the audience applauded them both, seemingly oblivious to the surprise on May's face. Drew turned to leave the stage, stopping only to give May a small smile before leaving. May, still in shock from the encounter, muttered to her Pokémon. "Oh, man..."

"What's wrong?" Blastoise asked. May hesitated, trying to process the unexpected gesture.

"Did...he really just..?"

"Yup." Venusaur chimed in. May shuddered at the thought, her mind racing with uncertainty.

"I can't tell if I'm flattered or appalled..."

"Sounds like a job for Dawn." Venusaur advised her. Despite how much she really didn't want to do that, May nodded in agreement. She knew she needed to talk to someone about her conflicting emotions before the finals. Otherwise, she'd be going into the battle without a clear head and she couldn't have that happen. Not after she'd come this far. Taking a deep breath, She recalled both Venusaur and Blastoise to their pokeballs and then walked off the stage for a well-deserved break.


As the arena continued to buzz with excitement, Dawn couldn't contain her joy at May's victory. She rushed over and embraced May in a tight hug.

"You used a Counter Shield!" May chuckled nervously, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention.

"Ah! Thanks, Dawn...I didn't come up with that move after all."

"No need to worry about who came up with it! After all, we both know that it's all about how it's used!" Dawn reassured her. May smiled at Dawn's words, appreciating her encouragement.

"Sure is." she agreed.

"And now you're in the finals!" Dawn gasped in realization.

"This is gonna be one heck of a finale..." May nodded, her excitement mixed with a touch of nervousness.

"You can do it! I can't wait to see you win!" Dawn assured her as she wrapped the brunette in a big hug. May squeezed Dawn a little tighter, giggling with a blend of excitement and trepidation.

"I'm excited and terrified at the same time!"

"Isn't it the best?!" May smiled at her friend, appreciating her unwavering support.

"Okay, okay, you've got me!" Dawn laughed, and May's smile grew wider.

"Thank you for having my back, Dawn." it was then that May remembered something else they needed to talk about. "Anyway..."

"Anyway, what?" Dawn wondered.

"That ending…?" May hinted, but Dawn tilted her head in confusion.

"What do you mean? I bolted from the stands as soon as you were declared the winner. I know how little time you have in between rounds." May sighed, clearly conflicted about what had happened and wasn't keen on having to explain it. "What happened?"

"Drew...kissed my hand in front of everyone…" she said quietly. Dawn went wide-eyed and gasped in shock.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" she screamed. May winced at Dawn's volume but still nodded to confirm her story.

"Yeah..."

"Oh my gosh! I thought all those magazines about you two were just gossip!"May blushed even deeper, trying to clarify the situation.

"THEY ARE!"

"Obviously not for him..." Dawn pointed out the obvious.

"I've known he has a crush on me since Kanto but...but I never thought he'd actually…" May tried to explain further.

"Well, it sounds like he's ready to take a shot." Dawn commented.

"I'd say he shot it..." May agreed.

"I mean...do you have any interest?" Dawn pressed further.

"W-Well...at one point I mean I..." May shyly admitted, remembering the fleeting feeling she had long ago. Dawn nodded in understanding and finished the thought for her.

"Early crush?"

"Yeah…" May confirmed her assessment with a nod, "But after I realized I loved Ash...those feelings just kinda…faded."

"Well, all I can say is I've been your best friend for over a year now, and I've never seen you be as happy when talking about Drew as you are when you're talking about Ash. Would that be a fair assessment?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah..." May nodded in agreement, appreciating Dawn's understanding.

"Well then, after the Contest sounds like you and Drew need to have a chat." Dawn offered.

"Right...oh man that's not going to be fun…" May sighed. Sensing the need to lighten the mood, Dawn couldn't resist teasing her a little,

"Quite the popular girl, aren't you?"

"Daaaawn..." May complained. Dawn couldn't help but laugh, knowing she had succeeded. "Look I don't even know if Ash feels the same...just because I love him doesn't mean he loves me…"

"It's Ash. Even he wouldn't know. That's why you gotta make the first move." Dawn provided her perspective, drawing from her own experiences with their raven-haired friend. "But remember, I spent a lot of time with him too. And I think you've got a real shot."

"Heh...a girl can hope." May chuckled, appreciating Dawn's support and candor.

"Which is a big reason why you gotta give it your all out there! You've come this far!" Dawn reminded her. May took a deep breath and shook off her remaining fears and doubts, putting her attention only on the final challenge ahead of her.

"I will!" she responded with determination.

"That's the Princess of Hoenn I know!"

"This Princess is a winner..." May embraced the positive energy, her confidence growing.

"Yeah, she is!" Dawn agreed with a smile. May's resolve was now clear again, and she voiced her determination.

"I'm gonna go out there, and I'm gonna prove it...!"

"Woo hoo!" Dawn's cheer echoed throughout the arena. With a confident smile and familiar mannerisms reminiscent of Ash, May couldn't help but feel energized and cheered as well. Dawn noticed and giggled, amused by the change in May's demeanor. May gave Dawn one final look, filled with determination.

"Wish me luck." Dawn, ready to support her friend in any way she could, gave May one last hug and May reciprocated the gesture.

"You'll do great!" Dawn assured her before running off back to her seat. May watched Dawn go, a sense of confidence filling her heart. She was ready to face the final round of the Contest, and everything that would happen afterwards.


As the final round of the Grand Festival approached, May found herself in the company of her friend Marina in the waiting room, the only other remaining Coordinator in the competition. Their excitement was palpable, and they exchanged final words of encouragement.

"We both really made it!" Marina exclaimed. May couldn't help but smile, the thrill of reaching the finals filling her with anticipation.

"Sure did!" The two friends shared a warm hug, reveling in the joy of the moment. Marina's excitement was infectious as always.

"I'm so excited! We get to have a battle in the finals again!"

"Don't expect things to go the same way! I'm going to win this time!" May assured her.

"I'll be doing my best, you better believe!" Marina promised, her determination evident.

"As will I!" May echoed her sentiments, ready to give it her all.

"Then it'll be the best battle ever!"

"That you can expect!" With that said, their time for the brief exchange, the two trainers parted ways and prepared to face each other in the final round of the competition. Marina ran off to make her entrance, and May followed suit from the other side of the stage, pausing briefly only to change the seals on her pokéballs. Marian stepped out to center stage and began her final monologue to the crowd.

"200 Coordinators came to this competition and gave it all they had. And after a lot of hard work, difficult battles, and amazing techniques, we have our final two!" The spotlight shone on the grand stage as the announcer introduced the formidable opponents. "On one side, we have a two-time Grand Festival winner! Looking to be the first Coordinator in Contest history to win three Grand Festivals, give it up for Johto's top idol, Marina!"

"Hi everyone!" Marina waved as she entered the stage, receiving cheers from her fans in the audience. She ran to her trainer's box, exuding confidence and grace.

"And her opponent is the Coordinator who has made a big name for herself in her own right! Looking to add her name to the Top Coordinator legends, it's the Princess of Hoenn herself, May!" Marian continued.

"Here we go…!" May whispered to herself. She made her entrance with equal enthusiasm, running to her trainer's box. She felt the support of her friends and fans in the stands, adding to her determination to give her best performance. Dawn, watching from the sidelines, couldn't contain her excitement any longer.

"Woo! Go May, go!"

"This is it! For the Ribbon Cup, the Grand Festival, and the title of Top Coordinator...we've got 5 minutes on the clock! Begin!"

To be Continued...