Chapter 80: A Pleasant Surprise – Ralts Evolves!

Ash and his friends arrived at Gardenia Town, a lively spot just before their destination, Cremini Town. As they stepped into the bustling streets, they were immediately greeted by colorful posters and banners plastered everywhere, advertising the local Pokémon Contest. The festive atmosphere was contagious, drawing their attention. "Wow, look at this place!" Misty said, spinning around to take in the sights. "I didn't expect Gardenia Town to be so big! May, you think you've got what it takes to win this one?" May, brimming with determination, clenched her fists tightly. "Of course! No matter who my opponent is, my Pokémon and I will give it our all!" "Squirtle!" "Eevee!" May's Squirtle and Eevee echoed her enthusiasm, hopping around excitedly. Suddenly, Eevee darted into the ground with surprising speed. A moment later, it reappeared with a mischievous glint in its eye, trying to catch Ash off guard. "Eevee just learned Dig!" Misty exclaimed, clapping her hands. "That's such a useful move!" Ash sidestepped Eevee's playful ambush, laughing. "Great job, Eevee! Looks like you're improving fast!" "Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered, giving Eevee an encouraging nod. May beamed, scooping up Eevee. "You're amazing, Eevee! I knew you'd get the hang of it in no time!" "Eevee!" it chirped happily. Amid laughter and chatter, the group made their way to the contest registration booth to sign May up. Little did they know, they were being closely followed. From a nearby alley, Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth peeked out, their usual plotting expressions in full force. "As always, we've successfully tailed the twerps to this town," Jessie said smugly. "Yeah, but what's the plan this time, Meowth?" James asked, scratching his head. Meowth extended his claws dramatically. "Simple! We wait for the right moment and snatch Pikachu along with their other Pokémon!" "Wrong!" Jessie interrupted, flipping her hair. "This time, it's my moment to shine. I'm entering the Gardenia Town Pokémon Contest! Victory will be mine!" Meowth and James exchanged dubious looks. "Again, Jessie? Are ya sure about this?" Meowth asked, cautiously. Jessie's glare was enough to silence him. "Fine, fine! We'll change plans and help Jessie win this time," Meowth said, sighing in resignation. The night passed uneventfully, and the next morning, May and Misty used the time to practice for the afternoon contest. For May, it was the perfect opportunity to test her Ralts, who had been receiving special training from Mewtwo. "Alright, Ralts, let's show them what we've got!" May said, sending out the petite Psychic-type. "Ralts!" it chirped, ready for action. Misty stepped forward, releasing her Starmie. "Don't hold back, May. Starmie's up for the challenge!" The two Pokémon faced off. Despite its smaller size, Ralts stood firm, showing no signs of intimidation. "Starmie, start us off with Water Gun!" Misty commanded. "Ralts, dodge with Double Team and use Confusion!" May countered. Ralts created multiple copies of itself, skillfully avoiding the blast of water. However, Starmie's agility wasn't to be underestimated. Spinning rapidly, it used Rapid Spin to break through the illusions and zero in on the real Ralts. "Starmie, now! Keep spinning and hit it!" Misty said, confident in her Pokémon's precision. May quickly assessed the situation. Starmie's spinning attack was too fast to evade at such close range. But then, inspiration struck. "Ralts, don't panic! Watch its movements and use Magical Leaf!" "Magical Leaf?" Misty blinked in surprise as shimmering, multicolored leaves materialized around Ralts and shot toward Starmie. The attack struck home, breaking its momentum. "Great job, Ralts! Now, finish it with Confusion! Toss it aside!" May called. Ralts focused its psychic energy, surrounding Starmie in a glowing aura before hurling it across the field. Starmie landed with a thud, signaling the end of the match. "That's enough for now," Ash declared, stepping in as the unofficial referee. "Ralts wins!" "Starmie, you did great! Have a good rest," Misty said, recalling her Pokémon with a smile. May rushed to hug Ralts. "You were amazing, Ralts! I knew you could do it!" "Ralts!" The little Pokémon glowed with joy, literally. A bright light enveloped Ralts as it began to evolve, surprising everyone. "Look at that, May!" Ash exclaimed. "Ralts is evolving into Kirlia!" As the light faded, Ralts had transformed into the graceful Kirlia. "Kirlia!" it twirled elegantly, basking in the attention. "You're beautiful, Kirlia!" May said, picking it up. "I can't wait to see you perform on stage in the future. But for today's contest, Eevee and Squirtle will take the spotlight. You'll have your chance soon!" "Kirlia!" it responded with a cheerful nod. Ash checked his watch. "Time to wrap things up. Let's grab some lunch and get ready for the contest. It's going to be a big one!" As they packed up, Ash's sharp eyes glanced toward the shadows where Team Rocket was lurking. He smirked, knowing they wouldn't stay quiet for long. "Maybe a little chaos from those three will give May the extra challenge she needs," he thought. With everything ready, they set off, excited for the contest ahead, and curious about what surprises the day might bring. -------------- T/N: Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals