The Gardenia Ribbon!
The first match pitted a Wartortle against a Furret. The latter triumphed, weaving through attacks with impressive agility and clinching the victory.
The second battle saw a Bayleef face off against an Aipom. Utilizing its vines and Leaf Blade to perfection, Bayleef emerged victorious.
Finally, the third match arrived, the one the audience had been waiting for: May versus Jessie!
"Thank you to our previous contestants for their dazzling displays! Now, let's welcome our next pair: May and Jessie!"
"Ha! The moment I've been waiting for," Jessie declared, her eyes narrowing. "I'll show everyone that I'm the true star of this competition!"
Taking her spot on stage, Jessie revealed her Pokémon, the shimmering Dustox. Its wings glimmered in shades of purple and green, a perfect choice for an elegant display.
May wasn't fazed. She gripped her Poké Ball tightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "This is it, Eevee. Your debut on the contest stage!"
From the glowing red light emerged May's Eevee, its fur gleaming in the arena lights.
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Eevee? That fluffball is supposed to compete with my Dustox? Let's finish this quickly. Dustox, use Poison Sting!"
The moth-like Pokémon flapped its wings, unleashing a barrage of glowing purple needles toward Eevee.
"Eevee, counter with Shadow Ball!" May commanded confidently.
Eevee stood its ground, a dark sphere of energy forming rapidly in front of it before shooting toward the incoming attack. The Shadow Ball collided with the Poison Sting, overpowering it and continuing toward Dustox.
"Dustox, dodge!" Jessie yelled.
But it was too late. The sphere struck Dustox head-on, sending it spiraling back. Jessie's score took a visible hit on the display board.
Grinding her teeth, Jessie forced a smile, hiding her frustration. "Not bad, but let's see how you handle this. Dustox, use Psybeam!"
A kaleidoscopic ray shot toward Eevee.
"Eevee, another Shadow Ball! Don't hold back!"
The two attacks clashed in midair, creating a burst of shimmering energy that momentarily filled the arena. Residual fragments of the clash floated down like glitter, drawing applause from the crowd. But May's precision began to show.
"Eevee, quick, use Dig!"
With a swift motion, Eevee disappeared into the ground, leaving Dustox hovering aimlessly above.
"Where'd it go? Dustox, stay on guard!" Jessie ordered, her voice rising in panic.
A heartbeat later, Eevee burst from the ground beneath Dustox, catching it off-guard.
"Now, Eevee, Swift! Finish it!"
Eevee unleashed a flurry of golden stars, surrounding Dustox in a dazzling display. The stars exploded in quick succession, causing Dustox to let out a weakened cry before falling to the ground.
Jessie's score plummeted to zero. The judges unanimously displayed their decision: Jessie and Dustox were eliminated.
"Unbelievable!" the announcer, Lillian, exclaimed. "What a spectacular finish! May and her Eevee take the victory!"
Jessie's face turned crimson. She clenched her fists, trembling with rage. "This is rigged! There's no way I lost to a newbie!"
Lillian calmly addressed her. "Miss Jessie, please remember, the Contest not only evaluates battle prowess but also the creativity and elegance displayed. May and Eevee excelled in both areas."
Jessie was silenced by the crowd's chorus of boos. Muttering under her breath, she stormed off the stage, vowing to vent her frustration on James and Meowth later.
With Jessie out of the way, May faced little resistance in the subsequent rounds. Using her Eevee and other Pokémon strategically, she captivated both the audience and judges.
In the final match, May's skilled use of combination moves earned her the highest score of the competition. The applause was deafening as Lillian stepped forward to announce the winner.
"After a day filled with remarkable performances, the winner of the Gardenia Pokémon Contest is… May!"
May stepped forward to receive her ribbon, her fourth in the journey to the Grand Festival. Holding the ribbon high, she declared, "This is just the beginning! One more ribbon to go, and then it's off to the Grand Festival!"
"Eevee!"
"Squirtle!"
Her Pokémon joined in the celebration, their cheers blending with the crowd's
Beside her, Ash offered an encouraging smile. "That's right, May. Just one more ribbon for you, and I'm just one Battle Facility away from discovering the final location of the Battle Frontier. It's perfect timing!"
The group soon arrived at the edge of a massive lake. Ash paused, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes.
"This lake... We must be near Cremini Town. If I remember right, the original timeline had me meeting Anabel by a lakeside like this. Could it be here?" Ash wondered aloud.
"Pikachu, let's rest here for a bit," Ash said. "There are probably Beedrill nests around, so let's not wander too much."
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu agreed, nodding.
A short distance behind, Misty and May caught up. "Ash, slow down!" Misty called. "We've already reached the island across from Cremini Town. There's no need to rush!"
Ash laughed sheepishly. "I guess I'm just too excited about facing the Battle Tower. Let's take a break here before giving it our all!"
And so, the journey continued, with May and Ash one step closer to their respective dreams.
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