Chapter 179: The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition!

Words : 1098 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

In front of the television, Johanna watched Dawn's performance unfold. She exchanged a glance with her Glameow. They had just witnessed Dawn's failure to pass the first round of the Hearthome Pokémon Contest. "Well... this was inevitable. Dawn's performance with Piplup and Pachirisu was certainly dazzling, but she overlooked one crucial aspect—showcasing the true charm of her Pokémon. I hope she realizes this soon. "But with Ash and Anabel by her side, I'm not too worried. Having friends like them makes all the difference." Johanna stood up, stepping away from the TV. Traveling alone and traveling with companions were two entirely different experiences. As Johanna had predicted, Ash and Anabel had already made their way to Dawn's side. Anabel approached first, hoping to comfort her. Piplup and Pachirisu also chirped at Dawn, trying to lift her spirits. However— "Enough! I said enough, Piplup! Stop talking... This is all my fault! You both tried so hard...!" Dawn's voice suddenly rose as she confronted her own failure. Ash stepped forward, placing a hand on her head. "You're wondering why, despite giving it your all, you still couldn't make it past the first round... right?" Dawn bit her lip, looking up at him. "Have you forgotten what I told you after your first contest loss?" Ash's voice was calm, but firm. "Failure isn't scary. What's scary is fearing failure—getting stuck because of it. "You, Piplup, and Pachirisu worked hard... but so did everyone else. This loss isn't the end. It's just another step forward. "So let's go. Three days from now, the Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition is happening. Let's sign you up for that! Anabel, you too." Before Dawn could react, Ash grabbed her hand and pulled her along. The second round of the Contest wasn't until the next day, so there was still time to register. As she replayed Ash's words in her head, Dawn glanced down at their joined hands. Then, after a brief silence—she wiped her tears away. "That's right... I just need to keep going. I'll do better next time!" Her confidence returned. Dawn, the radiant and determined coordinator, was back. Holding onto Ash's hand, she turned and grabbed Anabel's as well. Together, the three of them headed toward the Tag Battle Competition registration desk. __ That night, Ash spent time with Latias, letting her roam freely for a while. She had been cooped up in her Poké Ball too much lately. But there was clear progress. Since leaving Alto Mare, Latias had grown stronger—finally mastering the power she once struggled to control. More importantly, she had learned to stay inside her Poké Ball without complaint. Ash still had five Attribute Enhancement Cards left. But after witnessing Chimchar's transformation, he realized these cards weren't just about boosting a Pokémon's stats. They could also enhance potential—possibly even change a Pokémon's destiny. He wasn't going to waste them carelessly. More testing was needed. __ The Next Day – Hearthome Pokémon Contest Finale Ash, Dawn, and Anabel watched the final showdown of the Hearthome Contest. As expected, Nando and Zoey had made it to the final round. Nando, the wandering bard, possessed exceptional talent in Pokémon performances. Despite his poetic nature, his Pokémon were remarkably strong. In the end— Nando defeated Zoey, claiming victory in the Hearthome Contest! Dawn clenched her fists. She wasn't discouraged. If anything, seeing Nando's graceful performance reignited her determination. Next time, she would stand on that stage as a finalist! __ Two Days Later – The Hearthome Battle Hall The Hearthome Battle Hall, also known as the Hearthome Arena, was packed with eager trainers. Holding a microphone, the event host, Yanma, stood at the center of the battlefield. "Alright, everyone—ARE YOU READY?!" The audience erupted in cheers. Yanma held up two silver bells, letting them chime softly. "See these? These are the Soothe Bells! "The winning team in this Tag Battle Competition will receive one of these each! "The Soothe Bell is a rare item, valued at hundreds of thousands of Poké Coins! Just shaking it produces a calming, joyful melody that soothes both Pokémon and their trainers!" "START THE TOURNAMENT ALREADY!" "YEAH! WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!" Excitement surged through the crowd. Yanma grinned. "Alright, alright! Here's how this works: "All contestants received a numbered card at registration. Now, the big screen will randomly match numbers together—find your assigned teammate, and get ready to battle!" The competitors gathered at the center of the battlefield. A total of 32 trainers had entered—meaning 16 teams. Clearly, only confident trainers had dared to enter. The format was simple: The 32 trainers were divided into 8 groups (A–H). Each group contained 4 trainers—two per team. The first round would eliminate 8 teams, leaving 8 winners. These 8 teams would then battle until only 1 remained. And those two final victors... would win the Soothe Bells! Dawn looked at her contestant card—Number 28. Anabel's card—Number 27. Ash's card—Number 15. His assigned partner? Number 5. Ash smirked. If the original timeline was correct... Then the trainer holding Number 5 was— Paul. __ While others scrambled to find their partners, Ash remained still. Hands in his pockets, he stood there with Pikachu, looking completely unbothered. On the other side of the arena, Paul did the same. He had no intention of searching. But as more trainers paired up, Paul grew irritated. "Tch. Whoever has Number 15 is pathetic." His lip curled in disdain. "Everyone else found their partner already, but this idiot still hasn't come over? What a weakling. If they're this slow, they must be useless." Then— His gaze landed on a familiar figure standing confidently, a 15 on his card. A Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Paul's eyes twitched. "Oh? So you're my partner." His expression darkened. "You're late. Everyone else already found their partner, but you took your time? "If you know you're weak, at least try to be useful. What a disappointment." Ash smirked. Without hesitation, he fired back— "Oh? So you're my partner." His voice was eerily similar to Paul's just now. "You're late. Everyone else already found their partner, but you took your time? "If you know you're weak, at least try to be useful. What a disappointment." Paul's expression froze. Because Ash had just repeated his exact thoughts—word for word. -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals

Chapter 179: The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition!

Comments (0)