The Ribbon Cup Caper

Ashlyn and May were busy for the rest of the month, training their Pokémon for the Hoenn Grand Festival. During the month some of their pikeman evolved; Sumire evolved to Grumpig and May's Marill evolved into an Azumarill. Both their Clamperl's evolved into Gorebyss. Alain had been training his Pokémon with Ashlyn too and some of his Pokémon evolved too; his Clamperl evolved to Huntail, and his Numel evolved into a Camerupt. Max's Numel also evolved into Camerupt and his Grovyle into Sceptile. So a lot of things happened during the month.

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Right now the gang was on a luxury cruise ship called the S.S. St Flower. This ship was for the contestants of the Hoenn Grand Festival to get to Slateport City. Ashlyn and May were happy that they were traveling in style, and they were allowed to bring friends with them, so Alain, Max and Brock were happy to be on the ship too. This ship had everything: a Pokémon center, a game room, a movie theatre, restaurants and a shopping gallery.

Ashlyn thought that this ship was better than the S.S. Anne ship and May was delighted to be on a luxurious ship for once.

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The gang were headed towards the Pokémon center to give their Pokémon to Nurse Joy. They soon arrived at the Pokémon Center station.

"Hey Nurse Joy, nice to see you." May greeted.

"Hello, it's nice to see you too." Nurse Joy greeted back.

Brock was instantly in front of Nurse Joy and held her hands in his as his cheeks were pink, "Incredible! Leave it to a gorgeous ship to have the most gorgeous Nurse Joy. Hi, the name is Brock. I was wondering if a romantic luxury dinner for two might be of interest at all?" He asked.

"Cool it, sailor! How does a lonely for one sound?" Max grabbed the back of Brock's jacket and began pulling him away.

"Oh Joy." Brock whined.

Ashlyn, Alain and May sweat-dropped. Then Ashlyn and May walked up to Nurse Joy.

"I was wondering if you take care of our Pokémon, Nurse Joy." May requested.

"I'd be happy to. Do they need rest or exercise?" Nurse Joy asked.

May blinked in confusion.

"Well as you can see, we have quite a playroom especially made for Pokémon." Nurse Joy explained.

"Maybe they could have some rest first and then they can play. I would like them to be well rested and relaxed before the Grand Festival starts." May suggested.

"Good idea. No problem." Nurse Joy smiled.

May released all her Pokémon who were all happy to come out. Ashlyn released hers as well.

"Oh, before I forget, do you have a Water Stone, Nurse Joy?" May asked.

"Yes I do. But why are you asking for one?" Nurse Joy questioned.

"Well I would like to evolve my Staryu. I believe it's time for Staryu to evolve." May answered.

Nurse Joy handed a Water Stone to May, and she evolved Staryu into Starmie.

"I cannot wait to use my Starmie in the Grand Festival." May beamed.

"I can't wait to use Sumire in a Pokémon battle." Ashlyn added.

At that moment, Officer Jenny with her Growlithe came up to the group.

Brock's eyes turned heart-shaped and held out a bouquet of red flowers to Officer Jenny while on one knee.

"Here Officer Jenny! This bouquet matches perfectly with your beauty." Brock stood up, "Why don't you and I-"

Brock yelped when Max grabbed him by the ear, "Be thankful that you're not getting arrested for embarrassment." Max pulled Brock away.

"Is there something wrong, Officer Jenny?" Alain asked, changing the subject.

"Yes there is," Officer Jenny answered, "You see, a man who calls himself Brodie the phantom thief has been sighted on this ship."

"Brodie?" Ashlyn and Alain said in unison.

"You don't mean Brodie from Team Magma, do you?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yes I do," Officer Jenny confirmed, "You see, after the arrest of Team Aqua and Magma, Brodie managed to escape and now he's become a thief."

"Since Brodie disguises himself, it won't be that easy to catch him, especially since he disguises himself very cleverly." Brock stated, who remembered Brodie.

"I know, but if you kids do manage to see him, please tell me at once." Officer Jenny requested.

Suddenly Officer Jenny got called on her two-way radio. "Officer Jenny speaking." she said, speaking into the radio. The radio spoke out that something had happened in one of the rooms of the ship.

"I'm on my way." Officer Jenny said.

"Officer Jenny, can we please help?" Ashlyn offered.

"We can't let Brodie get away a second time." Alain added.

"Please Officer Jenny." May pleaded.

"Raichu." Tesla added.

"Alright, you better come with me then," Officer Jenny suggested, "Since you kids know much about Brodie, I'll need your help in case he's here."

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Officer Jenny and the gang ran into a room where, to the gang's surprise, Raoul Contesta was. Raoul explained that the Ribbon Cup, which was held on display in the room, had been taken and a fake one was in its place. The Ribbon Cup was a trophy that would be given to the winner of the Hoenn Grand Festival.

"If we don't get that trophy back, then I'm afraid the Hoenn Grand Festival will be cancelled." Raoul stated.

Ashlyn and May were not happy to hear that, especially since they had come too far to enter the Grand Festival.

"We have to do something," Ashlyn declared, "we can't just let the Grand Festival be cancelled."

"You're right, Ashlyn," Officer Jenny agreed, "and I have an idea of what to do."

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Officer Jenny's plan was they would hold a fake golden Pokéball in the same room, where the fake Ribbon Cup was, and lure out the thief. Everyone thought that was a good idea. So while Officer Jenny planted a gold painted Pokéball in the glass container, the gang went around spreading news of the golden Pokéball. Then the gang went back to the room and Officer Jenny told everyone to hide and wait to see if Brodie will turn up.

"I'll give the signal when Brodie turns up. I saw right through him the last time we saw him in a disguise." Ashlyn explained.

"That's right, you noticed him when he was disguised as a woman before." Max remembered.

"A well thought of disguise." Alain commented.

"Okay Ashlyn, I'll leave you to point out Brodie." Officer Jenny decided.

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So Officer Jenny and the gang waited and watched to see if Brodie would enter the room. So far everything was quiet, and Brodie hadn't turned up yet. People had come in to see the fake golden Pokéball, but none of them was Brodie. When the room became empty again, a woman in a green dress and hat entered the room alone.

Suddenly Ashlyn jumped out of her hiding place. "Hold it right there, Brodie!" She shouted, "I know who you are, and you can't fool me!"

The woman revealed herself as Brodie.

"I see that you remember me huh kid?" Brodie asked.

"There's no way I would ever forget anyone who was a member of Team Magma. Especially with an ugly face like yours." Ashlyn remarked.

A tick mark appeared on Brodie's forehead, "A girl with no manners huh?" Brodie took out a Pokéball, "Go Golbat!"

"Gol!" Golbat appeared.

"Golbat, use Haze!" Brodie ordered.

Golbat released a thick black smoke from its mouth which helped Brodie escape while everyone else was distracted.

"Come on after him quick," Officer Jenny ordered, "I left a tracking device on the fake golden Pokéball, so we shall be able to follow him."

The gang followed after Officer Jenny.

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Thanks to Officer Jenny's tracking device, they were able to follow Brodie up to the deck of the ship. Brodie had the Ribbon Cup with him and was about to make a getaway, when Officer Jenny and the gang stopped him in his tracks.

"You're not taking the Ribbon Cup anywhere, Brodie!" Officer Jenny announced.

"We'll see about that." Brodie grinned as he reached for his Pokéball.

Ashlyn's eyes glowed blue and then Brodie's Pokéballs along with Ribbon Cup were snatched from his belt and hands. Ashlyn held the Ribbon Cup and Alain held Brodie's Pokéballs.

"Uh, can we talk this out?" Brodie offered, a little bit nervous.

Ashlyn glared at the Ex-Team Magma member released her Butterfly Pokémon, "Willow, Stun Spore!"

"Beautifly!" Willow the Beautifly appeared and released an orange-colored powder on Brodie who was soon paralyzed. Officer Jenny arrested Brodie at once.

"You will be cured of your paralysis after we place you in jail." Officer Jenny said to him.

Brodie could only groan in frustration.

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Raoul Contesta was pleased that the Ribbon Cup was back safe, and sound and he thanked Officer Jenny and the gang.

"The Hoenn Grand Festival can now go on as planned." Mr. Contesta declared.

"Now coordinators everywhere will have the chance to compete after all." Officer Jenny stated.

"That's right." Mr. Contesta agreed, and he turned to Ashlyn and May, "As for you two, I'm looking forward to seeing your work in the contest, Ashlyn, May."

Ashlyn and May nodded, "Thank you. We'll do the best we can." They said in unison.

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So with the Ribbon Cup back and Brodie arrested, Ashlyn and the gang could finally look forward to the Hoenn Grand Festival.

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Pokémon Caught: Mightyena (Lela)(F), Swampert (Finn)(M), Shiny Blaziken (Hestia)(F), Gardevoir (Miku)(F), Kirlia (Lancelot)(M), Swellow (Percy)(M), Linoone (Ziggy)(M), Sceptile (Kazuki)(M), Beautifly (Willow)(F), Shiny Milotic (Ula)(F), Crawdaunt (Sebastian)(M), Aagron (Hagane)(M), Sableye (Jacinth)(M), Shiny Flygon (Libelle)(F), Shiny Manectric (Damini)(F), Shiny Salamence (Idris)(F), Torkoal (Shula)(F), Altaria (Alta)(F), Mawile (Trixie)(F), Gorebyss (Coral)(F), Grumpig (Sumire)(F), Armaldo (Brynja)(F), Cradily (Liana)(F), Snorunt (Warrin)(M), Absol (Twilight)(M)