On the way to Snowpoint City, Ash, Lillie, and Dawn were passing over a treacherous snowy mountain… in the middle of a blizzard. As such, Lillie and Dawn are cold. Really cold.

To make matters worse, they seem to be lost, and can't find the path toward the next town.

So yeah. The situation seems bad.

Lillie pulled out a guide book, and looked at it. "Without a landmark, this guide book is worthless." She said.

"There is nothing but snow and trees here," Dawn said. "How are we going to get away from here?"

"Let's find shelter to get away from the blizzard," Ash said. "They, I can make use of the Rotom Pokedex, and we can find a way out of here."

"Why didn't you do that earlier?" Lillie asked.

"I don't know," Ash shrugged. "Why do you keep looking at the guide book? Why does everyone who has ever traveled with me really on guide books and maps, when I have a Pokedex which can show us where to go."

"Now's not the time for that, Ash," Lillie said. "Let's find a shelter, and get away from here."

Ash sighed, then nodded.

XXX

Few minutes later, by some miracle they were able to find a hole in the tree, so they entered and set there. This has protected them from the blizzard and the winds, but not the cold.

Ash seems fine. He's got endurance, and his powers to keep him warm. Lillie and Dawn on the other hand are freezing their asses in the tree. The fact that they are both in skirts, makes things even worse for them.

As they were seating there, a Pokémon appeared from out of nowhere in front of them.

"What's that?" Dawn asked.

"That's a Froslass," Lillie said. "It's the evolved form of female Snorunt."

Froslass started to motion to the gang to follow her. At the same time, a blizzard stopped, and even a cabin appeared behind Froslass.

Lillie, and Dawn were both up for it. Ash on the other hand, was just looking at Froslass with narrowed eyes.

Ash, Lillie, and Dawn followed Froslass, and they ended up in an ice cave. Unfortunately, only Ash knew this, while Lillie and Dawn were hallucinating, and are thinking that they are in a warm cabin, eating a hot bowl of soup, when in fact it's a shaved ice on the leaf.

"Ok, that's enough." Ash suddenly said, before he sent a small pulse of aura around himself. The cabin was suddenly gone, so was the soup, and hot water. All that was left was a cold cave.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked, as she started to shiver. Lillie followed right after her.

"You were hallucinating," Ash said to the two girls. "Never trust a Ghost Type. They are tricky. Remember that."

"You must have known from the start, so why didn't you say anything before?" Lillie asked.

"I wanted to see what Froslass is intending to do." Ash said. "Then I figured… I'll just ask. So… Froslass… what's this all about?" Ash asked the Ice/Ghost Type Pokémon, which was looking at him strangely, and with slight apprehension. "Keep in mind that I can understand what you are saying."

"I lost someone, and I need him back," Froslass said. Only Ash understood. "I searched everywhere, but I can't find him. So, I need you to search for him."

"Who are you looking for?" Ash asked.

"What's Froslass saying?" Lillie asked.

"She is searching for someone, but can't find him," Ash said. "She needs our help to do it."

"She could have just asked from the start," Dawn said.

"She could have," Ash agreed. "But she probably didn't trust us. Anyway; who are you searching for?"

"I'm searching for my friend, Snorunt." Froslass said.

"She's searching for a Snorunt." Ash said.

Lillie walked toward Froslass and said. "You could have just asked. We would have helped you if you did. No need for all of this."

Froslass was surprised by Lillie's words. She looked at the three for a few moments, before she shook her head. "I trusted a human to help me once, and he turned around, and tried to take Snorunt." She said. "I don't trust you humans."

Ash raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"What did she say?" Dawn asked.

"A human said he would help her, but then tried to catch Snorunt," Ash said. "Now, she doesn't trust us… or any other human."

"Then how does she want us to help?" Lillie asked.

"I assume she brought us here, and planned to take one of our Pokémon as a hostage," Ash said. "Then, she would send us to find Snorunt, and if we don't get him back, well…"

The girls were surprised by this, but Froslass was surprised even more. She was surprised that Ash saw right through her.

Lillie came up with something, so she decided to try it out. She took one of her Poke Balls, and released the Pokémon from inside.

When Froslass saw a Snorunt, she was shocked. Not because it was her friend, it wasn't; but because these humans have a Snorunt already.

Lillie kneeled next to her Snorunt, and patted her on the head. Snorunt leaned into the touch. She enjoyed it a lot. "You see, Froslass," Lillie spoke. "I already have a Snorunt. I've had her since she was an egg. Ash over here, has a Glalie, and Dawn isn't really interested in Ice Types that much. So if you are afraid that we will try to capture your friend, then don't be. We just want to help you find your friend."

Froslass looked at them all, before her eyes went to Snorunt, who has approached her, and was looking at her.

Froslass saw a Snorunt, and was reminded of her friend. She wanted him back, but she can't find him all by herself. So… she decided to trust these humans. She just hoped that they won't trick her.

XXX

About 10 minutes later, Ash, Lillie and Dawn were walking over the mountain, searching for any sign of Snorunt.

Ash has released his Staravia, and is having her fly around, and search from above, while he, the girls, his Chimchar, and Dawn's Piplup, are searching from the ground.

"Why don't you try and sense for Snorunt, Ash." Lillie suggested. "You should be able to. Right?"

"I can't sense a specific life force unless I know it," Ash said. "Basically, I can stretch my senses around, but I will sense all the Pokémon who are in the radius of my senses. I won't be able to tell which one of them is Snorunt."

"Well, then this might take a while." Lillie said.

"At least the Blizzard is gone," Dawn said. "It makes searching easier, and it's not as cold."

"Yeah. At least we have that." Lillie agreed.

XXX

Not long later, Staravia returned and told Ash, and the girls to follow her, as she has found Snorunt.

A few minutes of running later, Lillie and Dawn intercepted a Snorunt.

The small Ice type turned around, and tried to escape, but Ash was standing on the other side. Snorunt was surrounded, and he knew that he might be in trouble now.

"Calm down, Snorunt," Ash said. "Your friend Froslass is very worried about you, and she asked us in a… nice way, to find you and bring you back to her."

Snorunt looked around, wondering what to do, and if he should trust them. Before he could come to a decision, a Hyper Beam came out of nowhere, and hit the ground, sending Snorunt, and the girls flying away, while Ash stood his ground, and only covered his eyes.

"What was that?" Dawn asked from where she fell on the snow. Lillie was next to her, as well as Ash's Chimchar, and Dawn's Piplup.

Ash was standing where he was before, and was looking as the smoke cleared, only to reveal a Glalie in front of Snorunt.

"Why did that Glalie attack us?" Lillie asked.

"Maybe it's Snorunt's friend, and thought that we are going to hurt him." Dawn offered her opinion.

Glalie used Hyper Beam once again, and fired it at the girls, but they managed to evade it.

Then, Glalie's eyes glowed red, as he looked at Snorunt. Snorunt freaked out, and fell back.

"That was Leer, right?" Dawn asked Lillie.

"Yeah," Lillie said. "I guess that means that they are not friends."

Glalie picked up Snorunt, and was about to leave, but was hit by Chimchar's Scratch. This caused Snorunt to fall on the ground from the top of Glalie's head, while Glalie shouted in pain.

"Where do you think you are going?" Ash asked as he glared at Glalie. His Chimchar was standing in front of him, also glaring at the Ice Type.

A man showed up driving a snowmobile, from behind Glalie, and saw what's going on. "What are you doing to my Glalie?" He asked.

"Better question is, why is your Glalie trying to kidnap Snorunt?" Ash asked while glaring at the man.

"I told him to." The man said.

"Why?" Lillie asked, as she, and Dawn approached from behind Ash. Dawn has released her Buneary in the meantime, in case there was a battle, and she needed to help Piplup.

The man pulled out some paper note, showed it to the gang. "Snorunt can always fetch top dollar on the Pokémon Black Market." He said with a smile.

"You are a poacher." Lillie said.

"Guilty as charged," the poacher said. "Legend has it that having a Snorunt, will make you rich. So, plenty of people want them." He looked at the Snorunt, who was lying on the ground, and picked it up. "I managed to catch one just the other day, but it run off on my way home."

He opened the cage which was at the back of his snowmobile, and placed the struggling Snorunt inside. "You don't think I'd let a gold mine like this get away again, do you?" He questioned.

"Stop it right now," Lillie yelled!

"Let that Snorunt go right now!" Dawn yelled right after.

Dawn, and Lillie seem very angry at the poacher, Lillie much more then Dawn, as she adored Ice Types, and even has a Snorunt of her own. Seeing another Snorunt suffer like this, and about to be taken by the poacher, and sold, makes her really mad.

"Finders, keepers," the poacher said. "Stay out of my way."

"It was you that Froslass told us that took Snorunt, wasn't it?" Dawn asked.

"Your Pokémon poaching days are over," Lillie said, as she walked forward toward the poacher. "Give that Snorunt back right now, or else!"

"Or else, what?" The poacher asked, before he ordered his Glalie to use Hyper Beam.

Ash told Chimchar to counter it with Flamethrower.

The two attacks clashed, and exploded, creating a smoke cloud. Glalie appeared right in front of Chimchar through the smoke, and was about to use Leer, but out of nowhere, a Snorunt jumped right in between Chimchar, and Glalie, and used Astonish.

Glalie freaked out and flinched, before he was hit by a Headbutt by the same Snorunt.

"Where did that Snorunt come from?" The poacher yelled, before he looked at the cage, only to see that the Snorunt he captured, was still there. Snorunt himself was very surprised to see another Snorunt, and this one even landed two attacks on Glalie.

"That, is my Snorunt." Lillie said, as she glared at the poacher.

"Is that so," the poacher asked, as he looked at Lillie, and her Snorunt. "Well, I guess this is my lucky day. I'll get my hand on two Snorunt's."

"We'll see about that." Lillie said with a glare.

"Glalie, use Hyper Beam." The poacher said.

"Dodge, and use Headbutt." Lillie said. Her Snorunt jumped away from Glalie's attack, and then used the chance that Glalie can't move after he fired Hyper Beam, to slam into him with another Headbutt, sending the larger Ice Type, flying.

"Damn you," the poacher yelled! "Glalie, Gyro Ball!"

"Double Team!" Lillie said, just as Glalie started to spin around very fast, and came at her Snorunt.

Snorunt glowed white for a moment, before she created multiple copies of herself. Few of the copies were hit by Glalie's Gyro Ball, but the real one wasn't.

"Snorunt, use Crunch!" Lillie shouted.

The copies of Snorunt disappeared, as the real one appeared behind Glalie, and with glowing teeth, she bit down the top of Glalie's head, making the poachers Pokémon scream in pain.

Of to the two different sides; a Snorunt in a cage, and Froslass behind the tree, were watching in surprise as Lillie, and her Snorunt were gaining on Glalie.

While Lillie and her Snorunt were doing great, Ash wasn't sure that Snorunt will be able to win in the end. She simply doesn't have attack power, or the necessary moves to defeat another Ice Type Pokémon.

Still, Ash stood to the side, along with Dawn, his Chimchar, and Dawn's Buneary, and Piplup; and watched as Lillie and her Snorunt landed hit after hit on Glalie, while evading his own attacks. They were both able to see that was going nowhere, though, and that Snorunt will tire out, before she could take Glalie out.

Just as Ash knew that it will happen, it happened. Lillie's Snorunt grew tired, and was hit by a Hyper Beam from Glalie, before she could escape.

She wasn't defeated, though, and stood in front of Glalie, ready to battle, and save one of her kind, who was trapped in the cage.

Suddenly, a Froslass appeared, and hit Glalie. Then, she stood next to Lillie's Snorunt.

"Do you want to help, Froslass?" Lillie asked, and Froslass nodded.

Lillie nodded, and then told her Snorunt to use Double Team, followed by Headbutt.

Glalie used Protect to stop the Headbutt, but just as it dropped the barrier, Glalie was hit by a Shadow Ball from Froslass. Then, to add even more damage, it was bit by Snorunt using Crunch.

Glalie fired Hyper Beam on Snorunt, but Snorunt escaped with Double Team. Then, Froslass used Shadow Ball once again, and hit Glalie, sending him flying back into his trainer, before they were both sent flying until they hit the cage where Snorunt was locked in.

The cage opened up, and Snorunt came out, before he started to run toward Froslass, who also floated toward him. Snorunt jumped into Froslass' arms, as they hugged, happy to be reunited.

"I'm glad that Snorunt is safe now." Dawn commented from where she was standing with Ash.

Lillie patted her own Snorunt, and thanked her for the great battle. Snorunt smiled happily, before she turned around, and much to Lillie's surprise, she run toward Froslass and the other Snorunt before she started to speak with them.

The two Snorunt seemed happy to meet each other, while Froslass floated next to them, and watched them with a happy face.

Of to the side, Ash, Lillie and Dawn stood and watched this, while Lillie commented how she hopes that Froslass will learn that not all humans are the same, and just because one tricked her, doesn't mean that they are all the same.

Ash looked at the three Pokémon, before an idea came to his mind. He walked away from Lillie and Dawn, before he approached to Froslass.

Froslass looked at him, while the two Snorunt didn't pay him any attention, and happily conversed with each other.

"Are you happy," Ash asked Froslass, who nodded, with a smile on her face. "Good," Ash nodded. "I have an offer for you." Froslass looked at Ash with a confused look on her face.

"Would you, and Snorunt like to come with me and my friends?" Ash asked Froslass, who was immediately shocked by the offer. Even the two Snorunt's stopped talking, and looked at Ash in surprise. Then they looked at each other, before they both ganged up on Froslass.

It seems that they do want to stay together, and can be good friends.

"You see, I have a Glalie, and he's usually staying back home with my other Pokémon," Ash spoke to Froslass. "He's too powerful for me to use him in regular battles, and just like my other Pokémon, he tends to be bored. I'm sure that having someone of his own kind, or at least close to his kind, will help him. I'm sure it will also help you be with more Pokémon, instead of living here alone with just a Snorunt.

"As for Snorunt, he's getting along well with Lillie's Snorunt, so they can stay together. Lillie loves Ice Type Pokémon, so she will train him to get strong, just like her Snorunt has become. Also, since Lillie and I are traveling together, and she's my girlfriend, you and Snorunt will be able to stay together for a while.

"So, what do you say?"

XXX

While Ash was talking with Froslass, Dawn, and Lillie have shoved the poacher and his Glalie in the same cage where he has locked Snorunt earlier. With that over, they stood, and watch as Ash was saying something to Froslass.

"What do you think they are talking about?" Dawn asked Lillie.

"I'm not sure," Lillie said. "It could be that Ash is offering Froslass to come with us. It seems that my Snorunt and the other Snorunt are getting along well, and I'm sure that Ash would want a Froslass, as he already has a Glalie."

"Do you really think so?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah," Lillie said. "That's what's most likely going on."

XXX

"What do you want?" Froslass asked her friend. "Do you want to go with them?"

Snorunt thought of it for a few moments, before he said. "Only if you want to. I won't go if you don't."

Froslass was surprised to hear this, as she looked at her friend. She looked at the other Snorunt, and saw that they both want her to accept.

She then looked at Ash, who shrugged with his shoulders. "It's up to you." He said. "I won't force you, but it seems that they want to be friends, and stay together. On the other hand, your friend also wants to stay with you. There is only one way for both things to happen, and you know it."

Froslass looked at Ash for a few moments, before she looked back at the two Snorunt, only to see expectant looks. She sighed. "Fine," she said. "I accept."

Ash smiled, while the two Snorunt jumped around in happiness.

Jessie was going up to rocky path toward the top of some mountain.

She has heard about this off-colored Metagross living on this Mountain, which was actually dubbed, Metagross Mountain.

On top of being off-colored, this Metagross is also particularly vicious, and is known to attack its challengers, some of which have even disappeared on the mountain, and never seen again.

Jessie knew that going after this Metagross is not such a good idea, but after she failed to catch a Cresselia, a Legendary Pokémon; a Pseudo-Legendary like Metagross is a nice second option.

Jessie doesn't have a very large number of Pokémon, and of the ones she does have, none are particularly strong.

The Pokémon she currently has are: Arbok (which she had since before she went to jail), then after she got out, she caught a Lickitung (which has since evolved into a Lickilicky), then she caught a Wobbuffet, a Shellder (which is now a Cloyster), Slowking, a Dustox, a Seviper, and finally a Yanma, which has since she caught her, evolved into a Yanmega.

All of her Pokémon have been trained by her personally, unlike James's, who are trained by the Organization. As such, they aren't as strong as James', but they have their own skills. Her Arbok, Slowking, and Lickilicky, are her strongest Pokémon, so it will have to be one of them she will use against Metagross.

Arbok is a Poison Type, so she would be useless against Metagross. The other type moves she knows, wouldn't be of much use, so Arbok is out.

Slowking is strong, but Psychic Type moves will be useless against Metagross, and his other moves, while could be of use, won't do as much damage as necessary to defeat a Metagross.

As such, Jessie has decided to use her Lickilicky. It's a Normal Type Pokémon, so it doesn't have weakness against Steel and Psychic Type Pokémon, like Metagross. Also, Lickilicky is arguably Jessie's strongest Pokémon, as she has actually taught him several moves of different types, instead of just normal, and some of those moves will be very useful against Metagross.

Once she arrived near the top of the Metagross Mountain, Jessie spent about 10 minutes searching for Metagross.

Finally, after a while of searching, it was Metagross who found her, instead of the other way around.

Metagross immediately used Magnet Rise, as it rose off the ground with the yellow glow around itself.

Jessie knew that the battle has already started, so she quickly released her Lickilicky, which stood in front of Metagross, ready to battle.

Metagross used Psychic, on some rock, and rose them of the ground.

Jessie immediately told her Lickilicky to use Rollout. It was a rock type attack, and it wasn't really useful to deal damage against a Steel Type like Metagross, but it was able to knock it out of using Psychic, to attack Lickilicky, and sent it crushing into the hill. That's how high the power of Lickilicky's Rollout was.

Before Metagross could even get back up, Lickilicky used, Lick, as he extended his tongue, and started to lick Metagross all over its steel body.

As a Ghost Type move, Lick was quite effective against Metagross, as it confused it.

Jessie attacked again, as her Lickilicky used Hyper Beam. One of the most powerful Normal Type attacks hit Metagross dead-on, and caused an explosion which destroyed a part of the hill, and buried Metagross under a pile of rocks.

Jessie was happy with how the battle is going, and wondered if Metagross was actually defeated. She quickly found out that no, Metagross wasn't defeated just yet, as all the rocks which Metagross was under, started to rise up in the air, with a blue glow around them.

Metagross rose along with the rocks, but it was glowing yellow, which means that it was using Magnet Rise, and Psychic at the same time.

Metagross looked steaming mad, as it hurled several tons of rocks at Lickilicky, and Jessie.

Jessie told Lickilicky to use Rollout to break through the rocks, while she run away from the rocks which were going after her.

Lickilicky used Rollout, broke through a pile of rocks, and again hit Metagross, sending it flying, and once again breaking its control over the rocks, thus saving Jessie.

Metagross got up quickly, and used Gyro Ball on Lickilicky, who was sent flying quite far from the very powerful attack. Then, Metagross fired a Hyper Beam on Lickilicky, and hit him, breaking another part of the hill, and this time, burring Lickilicky under a pile of rocks.

Metagross turned around, and looked at Jessie, who backed away in fear. She was immediately snatched by Metagross's Psychic, and lifted of the ground. She tried to move, but couldn't do anything, except yell for Lickilicky.

Lickilicky heard Jessie scream for help, and managed to get out from under the rocks. Then, he used Fire Blast. It was a Fire type move which Jessie wanted to teach her Lickilicky, as she though it would be useful. It turned out that it was very useful, as it hit Metagross, and not only released Jessie from its hold, but also gave it huge burns from a very powerful fire type attack, which were big weaknesses of Steel Type Pokémon.

Metagross shouted as it was enveloped in flames, which burned it quite heavily, and brought it to the ground.

Eventually, the flames disappeared, and Metagross was left burned, but not defeated.

Metagross managed to get back up in the air, and used Psychic on rocks, which it then sent at Lickilicky. Instead of waiting to see what will happened, Metagross followed the rocks by using Gyro Ball.

Jessie told Lickilicky to use Giga Impact, to counted Metagross's attacks.

Lickilicky's body become surrounded in an invisible energy. A bright flash of yellow light appeared in front of his face as he faced the incoming rocks, and Metagross. He then shoot himself at the rocks and Metagross, as an orb of light purple energy with spiraling light yellow streaks around it appeared around Lickilicky's body.

Lickilicky broke through the rock as if they weren't there, and then clashed with Metagross, who was using Gyro Ball.

The explosion was huge. It destroyed everything around it, and Jessie was sent flying far away, due to the shockwave from the clash and the explosion.

The hill broke apart from the explosion, and both Metagross, and Lickilicky fell into the ravine deep below the hill.

Few days after the happenings on the snowy mountain, and after Ash got himself a Froslass, and Lillie got another Snorunt, this time a male one; Ash, Lillie, and Dawn were walking through a canyon, on their way toward the Snowpoint City.

Eventually, they arrived at the hills overlooking a small town. "What town is that?" Ash asked Lillie, who was looking at the guide book.

"It says here that it's a Squallville." Lillie said, just before a strong gust of wind blew over them, and almost made Dawn lose Piplup from her arms.

"I was just about to say that it says in the guide book to be careful of sudden wind gusts when you are in Squallville." Lillie said.

They heard some noise, and saw a Wingull, and Swablu flying toward a ring which was attached to a balloon.

Seeing this, Ash immediately knew what's going on. "It's a PokéRinger." Ash said. "I didn't know that there are PokéRinger Competition here in Squallville, or even Sinnoh Region."

"What's a PokéRinger?" Dawn asked, just before Lillie was about to ask.

"It's a type of sport where a trainer and a Pokémon compete together as a team," Ash said, as the three walked over the hill. "Just look down there."

Dawn and Lillie watched as a Wingull, and Swablu raced through the air, to get to the ring.

"The object of the match is to get the ring, while simultaneously trying to take your opponent down," Ash continued to explain. "Whoever places the ring on one of the three hooks, is declared the winner. Just like that Swablu did."

"That sounds interesting." Dawn said.

"I never knew that there are such competitions." Lillie said. "You never mentioned them before. Where did you even see this before?"

"I've seen it first when I was in Hoenn Region," Ash said. "I didn't know that there are competitions at other locations, besides Hoenn. I never mentioned it because I didn't think it was necessary."

"Did you compete while in Hoenn?" Lillie asked.

"No," Ash said. "Serena, May, and Amber did. Amber won. She defeated Serena in the final round, while May lost earlier."

"Hm, I wonder when it's being held," Lillie said. "If it's today, or tomorrow, we might be able to enter."

"I guess we can go to the town, and see." Ash said.

Lillie and Dawn agreed to that.

XXX

As luck would have it, once Ash, and the girls arrived in Squallville, they found out that the PokéRinger is being held that same day. As such, they can enter today, and continue with their journey later in the afternoon, or at the latest, tomorrow morning.

Eventually, the time for the completion has arrived, as a large crowd has gathered at the stadium in Squallville Town. The fireworks are being shot over the stadium, while the trainers who will compete, have all gathered at some places around the battlefield.

"This is quite a large competition," Dawn said. "I'm surprised."

"It's because when you win a PokéRinger, the hosting town makes you an honorary citizen," Ash said. "There are some other prizes as well. Like a year supply of Pokémon food."

The announcer of the competition was Rhonda, from Sinnoh Now. Once she finished with the announcement, the large screen at one side of the stadium showed the first two competitors. Surprisingly, Ash (who has decided to enter, even though he had no real reason), was right in that first match against a trainer named, Taylor.

Ash went with his Staravia, which wasn't really a surprise, as it was the only Flying Type he has caught since he came to the Sinnoh Region.

His opponent chose Skarmory, and so, the match was on.

XXX

Ash won the first round, and went into the second round.

The second match reveals the four-time defending champion Provo. His opponent surprises Ash, Lillie and Dawn, as it was none other than Paul.

Paul surprised everyone in the crowd when he managed to defeat the four-time champion, and his Dragonite, by using his Honchkrow.

As Ash, and Lillie have decided to enter the competition, Dawn was left to sit alone on the bleachers among the crowd, with her Piplup in her arms. "Damn." Dawn cussed when she saw that Paul Honchkrow has defeated Dragonite with just one hit.

"It seems that Paul has some skills in this." Ash said to himself, while seating on the chair with the other competitors. He smiled. "I guess there will be some good opponents for me in this besides Lillie. Let's see how this ends."

Several other competitors had their matches, before it was finally Lillie's time.

She thought hard on which Pokémon to use, and was planning to use her Aerodactyl. She changed her mind though, and decided to go all out, so, she went with her Pidgeot.

Her opponent was using a Fearow, and while he was pretty good, and might have had a chance against someone else, Lillie and her Pidgeot destroyed their opponent with one powerful Steel Wing. From there, Pidgeot easily flew to the goal, and attached the ring on it, winning Lillie the first round.

XXX

Eventually, Lillie would get to the final round, and now she had to wait and see who will be her opponent, as in the second semifinal match, Ash was going up against Paul.

Both trainers were inside the hot air balloons, and have released their Pokémon. As soon as they released them, the two Pokémon raced upward toward the balloon which was holding the ring.

Staravia got to the ring first, and started to fly down toward the goal. Paul told his Honchkrow to use Sky Attack on Staravia, but Ash countered with Brave Bird.

The two Pokémon clashed mid-air, causing a small explosion. From the explosion, both flying types flew backwards, both somewhat hurt from the clash.

Honchkrow attacked with Night Slash, but Staravia dodged with Quick Attack, and then went toward the goal.

Honchkrow attacked again, this time using Dark Pulse, but Staravia dodge once again, and continued going toward the goal post. Unfortunately, a sudden wind gust blew below Staravia, and send her upwards, and away from the goal.

Honchkrow rode the wind, and went after Staravia using Aerial Ace. Staravia barely dodge, but was still having trouble to head toward the goal, due to the strong wind.

Somehow, Staravia focused somewhat, and went closer to the goal, but Honchkrow used Aerial Ace several times. Honchkrow used the higher physical strength it has over Staravia, and was able to break through the strong winds, and even used them to enhance its speed.

Finally, after several tries, and misses, Honchkrow hit Staravia, with Aerial Ace.

Staravia dropped the ring, and Honchkrow got it, before Paul told it to head for the goal, so they can end the match.

Staravia used Aerial Ace, but Honchkrow dodged. Then, Staravia went with Quick Attack, and grabbed the ring right from Honchkrow beak, much to its shock.

Honchkrow went after Staravia, and managed to hit her with Aerial Ace. She didn't drop the ring, though. Honchkrow tried to attack again with Night Slash, but Ash had Staravia counter it with Steel Wing.

Two attacks of near equal power clashed mid-air, and caused another explosion, from which both Pokémon came out relatively unharmed.

Staravia used Quick Attack, but this time, Honchkrow was able to dodge, and then hit Staravia with a Night Slash.

Staravia fell on the ground, though the ring was still in her beak. She wasn't letting it go, but now she was hurt, and has trouble getting up.

"Come on, Staravia," Ash spoke to his Pokémon. "I know you can do it. Get up, and show them who the real boss is."

Paul scoffed at Ash's words. He thought that it was pathetic that encouragement will be able to help Staravia. Paul told his Pokémon to end it with Sky Attack.

Honchkrow flew down toward Staravia, fast, and was about to hit her, but then suddenly, Staravia flew back up into the air, and dodged Honchkrow's Sky Attack.

Then, while going upwards, Staravia started to glow, and right in front of everyone's eyes, she evolved into a Staraptor.

Paul growled when he saw Staravia evolve, but then told his Honchkrow to use Night Slash.

Ash pulled a surprising move, when he told his Staraptor to use Heat Wave.

In order to use this move, Staraptor started to flap her wings, releasing a fiery wind, which hit the surprised Honchkrow, and caused it some burns. Then, Staraptor flew toward Honchkrow, and started to kick it, and hit it with her legs, and wings.

Ash saw this, and smiled, as it seems that his Staraptor has learned Close Combat.

Staraptor continuously hit Honchkrow for almost half-a-minute, and caused it great damage, on top of the one dealt by the Heat Wave, as well from the whole battle so far.

Honchkrow wasn't defeated just yet, though. Paul told it to use Night Slash, but Staraptor dodge it, before Ash told her to use Brave Bird.

Paul countered with Sky Attack.

The two Pokémon clashed against each other again, but unlike at the start of the battle, this time, Staraptor was stronger, and less damaged, so she was able to send Honchkrow crashing into the ground. This allowed Staraptor to fly with the ring in her beak, all the way down to the goal post, and end the match in Ash's favor.

XXX

Half-an-hour after Ash defeated Paul, he was once again in the hot-air balloon. This time, he was in the final match of the Squallville PokéRinger, and his opponent is Lillie.

"Are you ready for this, Lillie," Ash asked his girlfriend, as they were standing in their individual hot-air balloons? "This will be our first battle against each other."

"I'm ready, Ash." Lillie said.

Ash nodded. He knew that his chances to win this are small. Not only because his Staraptor is tired from the battle against Honchkrow, but also because Lillie's Pidgeot is stronger, faster, and more experienced.

Nevertheless, neither he, nor his Staraptor will go down easily. That, he was sure of.

And so, the match has started with Pidgeot, and Staraptor flying toward the ring.

Pidgeot quickly showed her greater speed, as she got to the ring first, and then started to fly down toward the goal.

Ash told Staraptor to use Heat Wave at Pidgeot, as Staraptor flew behind Lillie's Pokémon.

Lillie told her Pokémon to counter Heat Wave, with Hurricane.

Staraptor started to flap her wings, releasing a fiery wind.

Pidgeot on the other hand, stopped flying toward the goal, turned around, and flapped her wings. She released a powerful gust of wind, which collided with the fiery wind created by Staraptor.

The Hurricane overpowered Staraptor's Heat Wave, and actually absorbed the power of the fiery winds. Then, the fiery hurricane shot toward the shocked Staraptor.

Ash quickly had his Staraptor use Quick Attack, to escape from the fiery hurricane, before he told her to use Aerial Ace.

Pidgeot dodged Staraptor's attack, before Lillie told her to use Steel Wing.

Ash's Staraptor also used Steel Wing, and both Pokémon clashed against each other, using their wings.

Pidgeot was pushed back slightly, but Staraptor was nearly sent all the way to the ground, from the force of Pidgeot's Steel Wing attack.

Staraptor flew up toward Pidgeot, to prevent her from placing the ring on the goal. She used Quick Attack, to reach Pidgeot fast, and then attacked her opponent with Close Combat.

Attacks after attacks landed on Pidgeot, but she was holding strong. Fighting Type moves aren't that effective against Flying Type Pokémon, but there is a limit to everything; even resistance to something.

Pidgeot managed to break away from Staraptor, but has dropped the ring during Staraptor's' continuous attacks. Staraptor managed to grab the ring, and then flew toward the goal.

Pidgeot flew behind Staraptor, and Lillie told her to use Hurricane. She flapped her wings, and released an even more powerful winds then earlier. This time, they were powerful enough that they formed into a tornado, which trapped Staraptor inside, and prevented her from leaving.

Then, Pidgeot used Heat Wave, on the Hurricane.

Ash quickly told his Staraptor to use Brave Bird, which she managed to pull off at the same time as Pidgeot's Heat Wave, combined with the tornado, creating a fiery inferno, which stretched for dozens of meters above the stadium, and made the crowd watch in horror.

Ash's Staraptor was trapped inside the inferno, but she used Brave Bird, and managed to fly out of the fiery tornado, without being burned too much. The Brave Bird managed to shield her somewhat.

Staraptor flew toward Pidgeot using Brave Bird. Pidgeot countered with Sky Attack.

The two Pokémon clashed once again; and again, Pidgeot came out as a winner, as she was pushed back just a little, while Staraptor dropped the ring from her beak, and flew all the way down to the ground, where she crashed.

Staraptor tried to stand back up, but before she even had a chance to, she was hit from above by a Hyper Beam fired by Pidgeot.

Staraptor was left lying on the ground, defeated; while Pidgeot flew to the goal, and attached the ring to it, bringing Lillie the win.

XXX

Once the PokéRinger ended, with Lillie as its winner, she was awarded the honorary citizen certificate of the Squallville Town, as well as a large supply of Pokémon food.

She wanted to have all that food shared with all of hers, Ash's and Dawn's Pokémon, but unfortunately, Mamoswine ended up eating it all in just a few seconds.

This didn't sit well with the other Pokémon, but in the end, there was nothing that can be done.

XXX

By the end of the day, Ash and the girls have already left the Squallville Town, and continued their journey.