Chapter 119: The Wallace Cup Returns

"It's that time once again, folks! The Wallace Cup is just a week away!"

Chloe sat in the common room of the lab, watching the TV as the announcement came on.

"Hey Chloe, Whatcha' watchin'?" Ash asked as he, Goh, and Lillie entered the room.

"Just a promotion for The Wallace Cup. It's happening in Hoenn in a week."

"Hey, I remember that!" Ash said. "I competed in the one in Sinnoh a few years ago."

"Really?" Goh said. "I never thought you'd be interested in Contests."

Ash shrugged, nonchalantly.

"Not really, but I've done a few. I mostly entered on a suggestion from Wallace."

Goh snorted.

"Yeah, right! There's no way you actually met the Contest Master himself."

"Is it really that surprising?" Lillie asked. "He's met Cynthia, so why not Wallace?"

Goh just shrugged.

"Anyway," he said, "Why are you interested in The Wallace Cup? Did you decide to become a Coordinator?"

"Not quite, but maybe someday. Check this out!"

Chloe pulled up a poster for it on her own, depicting May and her Glaceon striking poses.

"The Princess of Hoenn, May Maple, is going to be co-hosting the event. She has a Glaceon, and I was hoping I could meet her!"

"Hey, I know her!" Ash said excitedly. "I traveled with her through Hoenn. I'm glad she's doing well."

"But that's not all!" The TV spoke up again. "To celebrate the competition being held in Hoenn again, the Pokemon Activities Commission will hold a special event in between the Appeal and Battle Rounds! In coordination with the World Coronation Series, a special Ultra Class Battle with the Contest Master himself will occur! And his lucky opponent will be…"

After a drumroll, Ash's picture appeared on screen.

"Ash Ketchum! Congratulations! We'll see you in a week!"

With that, the broadcast ended, and Chloe shut the TV off.

"Well, I guess we were going to Hoenn anyway," Goh said with a chuckle.

"I hope I get to meet May and her Glaceon!" Chloe said.

"Evoi!" Her Eevee chirped, and the two ran off, leaving Ash and Lillie alone.

"Isn't Hoenn where…"

"Yeah," Ash said somberly. "I'd say it's a good bet she'll be there."

"You haven't talked to her since then, have you?"

Ash shook his head.

"Just a letter from her congratulating me on winning Alola. I know we patched things up, but I still wish we could've talked things out sooner. I hate that I broke her heart like that."

Lillie nodded in understanding.

"And I never got a chance to talk to her either."

Ash and Lillie got the feeling that they were in for a long week.

A week later, the quartet were in Hoenn for the event. The Wallace Cup was being held in Slateport City, in the same venue where they held The Grand Festival. Even though the event didn't start until tomorrow, the area was still super crowded with people trying to register.

"Man, it sure is packed," Ash said.

"You can say that again," Chloe nodded.

"Guys, over here!"

Everyone turned to see Dawn and Zoey running up to them.

"Dawn, Zoey, been a while!" Ash said as he and Dawn did their high five.

"Are you here to compete, or host?"

Dawn laughed.

"Neither," she replied. "May asked me if I'd be in the opening act with her. Something about giving the crowd a rematch or something like that. We just got done working it out.

"I'm not competing," Zoey admitted. "I'm just here to be a supportive girlfriend."

Dawn giggled, and kissed her cheek.

"And I love you for it."

"Yeah, yeah, I love you too," Zoey said, jokingly brushing her off. "Now come on, we still need to check into the hotel."

"Oh shoot you're right!" Dawn said. "We'll talk to you guys later!"

With that, the two Coordinators ran off, waving goodbye until they had disappeared into the crowd.

"Ash? Is that you?"

The next person to approach was Serena, along with a boy he hadn't seen before.

"Serena? Wow, uh…you look great."

Serena blushed.

"Thanks."

Before they could continue the awkward conversation, Serena's companion stepped in.

"So, you're Ash I assume?"

Even though they were the same height, Ash could feel the intense hatred coming from him.

"Yeah?"

Serena sighed, and pushed them apart.

"Calem, it's okay, I'm fine."

Calem huffed, and walked away. Serena sighed, and turned to him.

"I'm sorry about him. That's Calem, my boyfriend. Ever since I told him about…that, he's been overprotective of me."

"I see. Where are you guys traveling now?"

"Nowhere, really. We've just been enjoying a vacation in Hoenn, traveling to towns we've missed. Once The Wallace Cup is over, he wants to head over to Unova, since they've started holding Contests there."

Serena smiled.

"Speaking of which, we watched your match against Iris the other week. You were amazing."

Ash chuckled.

"Thanks, but my Pokemon did all the work!"

Serena then checked her watch.

"Oh, I still need to register! Talk to you guys later!"

With that, her and Calem disappeared.

"Well, that went well," Ash said. "Which reminds me, we need to check into the hotel. Come on!"

The quartet left to do so, but Lillie remained silent. Ash's encounter with Serena may have gone well, but she still wasn't sure what to say to the woman herself.

The next morning, The Wallace Cup began for real. The people crowded into the stands as things got underway. Ash, Chloe, Lillie, Goh, Zoey, Serena, and Calem all sat together as the lights dimmed and May rose up onto the stage, a huge spotlight shining on her as the crowd cheered wildly.

"Welcome, everyone!" She giggled. "I'm honored to be hosting this year's Wallace Cup! I hope we can all put on a show worthy of your applause!"

This made the crowd cheer even wilder.

"Now, before the festivities get underway, I thought we'd give you a demonstration to get you all pumped! So please help me welcome Dawn Berlitz to the stage!"

Dawn rose up onto the arena from below, waving to the crowd in her dazzling dress, to much applause. After they shook their hands, they made their way to opposite ends of the arena.

"But of course, we can't have a Contest Battle without a judge, so let's give a big round of applause for the Contest Master himself, Wallace!"

Wallace stepped out, waving to the cheering crowd before shaking both of their hands.

"Thanks for doing this, Wallace."

"Of course, darling. Five minutes on the clock, please!"

Once the clock was set up, he turned back to the two.

"Coordinators, please send out your Pokemon!"

"Go, Glaceon!"

"Piplup, I choose you!"

As soon as the two Pokemon were ready, their scores were set.

"Battle begin!"

"Bubble Beam, Piplup!"

"Shadow Ball!"

Piplup got to work letting out a flurry of Bubble Beams, which were met by Glaceon's Shadow Ball, creating a dazzling series of sparkles in the middle, though Glaceon did take a few Bubbles directly, costing May some points.

"Ice Beam, Piplup!"

"You too, Glaceon!"

The two Pokemon clashed with their Ice Beams, struggling for control as they met in the middle. Eventually, they began to move their beams all over the arena, turning it into an icy stadium.

"Catch us if you can, May!"

Just like that, Piplup began skating away from Glaceon, but May wasn't deterred.

"Oh, we will! After her, and use Ice Shard!"

"Dodge it!"

Glaceon took off after Piplup, firing off icicle after icicle. Piplup managed to gracefully jump over most of them, but some of them did hit, though he was quick to recover. His points, on the other hand, were not.

"Alright Piplup, use Peck!"

Piplup skated up a ramp in the path, gliding gracefully for a minute before coming down, ready to strike Glaceon.

"Wait until he's right above you, then use Shadow Ball!"

Just as Piplup was about to land a hit, Glaceon fired off a Shadow Ball, creating a beautiful display just as the timer hit zero.

"It's a tie!" Wallace declared. "And what a magnificent start to The Wallace Cup! Great job, you two."

May and Dawn shook hands, as did Piplup and Glaceon with their flipper and paw.

"I thought I had you there, Dawn! But I'll get you next time!"

"I'll take you on anytime!"

With the pleasantries done, the two turned and bowed to the audience, who clapped wildly, ready for more.