Chapter 81: May vs. Jessie!

As Ash, Misty, and May left the area, James and Meowth peeked nervously from behind a tree. "Meowth! That twerp... something about him feels different, ya know? Like he's sharper or somethin'—way more dangerous than before," Meowth muttered, his tiny paws clutching his chest. James, holding his Mime Jr., looked equally uneasy. "Do you think... he might've spotted us? Maybe we should call it quits. Jessie's actually pretty good at these contests. We should trust her abilities for once." "Ma-nai!" Mime Jr. chimed in enthusiastically. "Are you outta your mind?!" Meowth swiped a paw at James. "There's no backing out now! Let's go make a plan, pronto." The duo huddled to strategize. Meowth's eyes gleamed as he hatched an idea. "If we can create a 'little accident' during May's performance, she'll be disqualified. No contest, no problem. Jessie wins by default!" "Genius!" James exclaimed. Meanwhile, the clock ticked closer to 2:00 PM. Ash, Misty, and May made their way to the contest hall, where they met someone unexpected—a Pokémon Breeder named Yūmu. Yūmu's warm smile welcomed them. "You must be May. I've heard great things about your contests. I'm here as a spectator today, but I'm also looking for a protégé to train in the art of Pokémon breeding." If Brock had been present, Ash thought, he'd have dashed forward to seize Yūmu's hands, gushing with compliments. But Brock was back at the Battle Pike facility, leaving Ash and Misty to manage introductions. The group entered the packed contest hall. Every seat was taken, and even the aisles were crowded with eager spectators. "Hello, everyone!" the host, Lillian, greeted the audience. "I'm your host, Lillian, back again to guide you through another dazzling Pokémon Contest! Are you ready for some stunning performances?" Cheers erupted as May headed to the contestant lounge. A large screen displayed the live performances on stage, allowing contestants to watch their competitors. "Let's begin with our first contestant!" Lillian announced. The first participant, a young girl, showcased her Raticate's mastery by having it bite a wooden log into intricate carvings with its Hyper Fang. The crowd clapped politely. Then it was May's turn. "Squirtle, take the stage!" May called out. "Squirtle!" the little Pokémon chirped, leaping gracefully into the spotlight. "Start with Rapid Spin!" Squirtle spun rapidly, creating a gust of wind that stirred excitement among the audience. "Wow! Look at that speed!" Lillian exclaimed. "Squirtle's Rapid Spin is truly dazzling!" In the stands, Pikachu cheered loudly alongside Ash and Misty. "Pikachu!" "Now, use Bubble Beam!" May commanded. Squirtle fired a stream of bubbles into the air, the colorful orbs floating delicately before descending in a pyramid formation. "Jump to the top, Squirtle, and finish with Ice Beam!" Squirtle bounded to the apex of the bubble pyramid and released an Ice Beam. The frosty energy solidified the bubbles into a glittering, icy sculpture shaped like a crystalline pyramid. Squirtle stood triumphantly at the peak, drawing gasps from the crowd. "Unbelievable! A perfectly executed display of coordination and creativity!" Lillian cheered as the crowd erupted in applause. Even the judges were impressed. "A splendid performance! Squirtle's cute charm and precise execution stole the show." Backstage, Jessie—competing under the alias "Jessibelle"—watched the performance with a scowl. "Those two fools! Where are they? I needed their help to sabotage that brat!" Unbeknownst to her, Ash had anticipated trouble. Using his Aura powers, he had detected Team Rocket's presence and quietly sent Pikachu to handle James and Meowth. In a secluded area outside the contest hall, Pikachu faced off against the bumbling duo. Sparks flew as Pikachu unleashed a thunderous attack that sent them blasting off—temporarily out of commission. Inside, Jessie fumed. "Fine! I'll do this myself. That little upstart doesn't stand a chance against my Dustox!" After several more impressive performances from other contestants, Jessie finally took the stage. She twirled dramatically, releasing Dustox from its Poké Ball. "Dustox, start with Poison Powder!" Jessie commanded. The Dustox flitted gracefully, scattering sparkling, purple dust across the stage. "Now, use Psybeam to create a dazzling light show!" Dustox's Psybeam refracted through the Poison Powder, creating a mesmerizing array of colors. The audience clapped, though not as enthusiastically as they had for May. Jessie bowed theatrically. "Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week!" As the first round concluded, Lillian announced the results. The giant screen displayed the names of those advancing to the second round: May, Jessie, and several other coordinators. "Here are your matchups for the next round!" Lillian said. The screen revealed the pairings. May's opponent was none other than Jessie! Back in the lounge, Jessie smirked. "Time to end your contest journey, little girl." May met Jessie's gaze with determination. "We'll see about that. Eevee and I are ready for you!" Ash, watching from the stands, smiled to himself. This contest was about to get even more interesting. -------------- T/N: Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals