Chapter 300: Rustboro Center
After checking the Pokemon participating in the Grand Festival, Ash's group continued their journey towards Rustboro City.
While passing through a town they hadn't visited in a long time, after the battle to defend the Shroomish mansion, Ash's group encountered a devious Pelipper Trainer in a certain place. Ash used his authority as an inspector to send that cheater off to receive some education.
The next few days of travel were smooth sailing, and Brock also caught a slow-witted Lotad.
Ever since learning about the Grand Festival, May had fallen into a state of confusion.
She was very interested in the format of the Grand Festival, but she found she also yearned for regular battles, so she was truly conflicted.
The closer they got to the Rustboro Center, the venue for the Grand Festival, the more May's inner conflict intensified.
"May, you seem to have something on your mind?" Ash asked with concern.
After being stunned for a few seconds, May hurriedly waved her hands: "Ah? No... nothing at all!"
Ash smiled and said: "You're wondering whether to choose to become a Pokemon Trainer or a Coordinator, right?"
"Ah? Ash, how did you know?"
May looked at Ash with some shock.
She hadn't told anyone about this.
"I could tell. Ever since we left the Pokémon Center that day, you've been zoning out frequently. And when I was training Totodile, I noticed your gaze glancing over from time to time," Ash explained.
"I... was it that obvious?"
May was startled.
Brock recalled and added: "Now that Ash mentions it, it really was quite obvious."
"Actually, there is a lot of overlap between Trainers and Coordinators. May, there's no need to struggle over which one to choose. You've just started your journey, so try new things. You can make a choice once you find your direction in the future."
Ash paused and continued: "May, you should know Mr. Wallace from the Cerulean Gym, right?"
May nodded, "I know him. Mr. Wallace is a friend of my father, and they are both Gym Leaders."
"Mr. Wallace is both a Gym Leader and a top-tier Coordinator. He can achieve a balance between the two. In my opinion, your talent is no worse than his, so you really don't need to struggle with what choice to make. Since you're already on a journey, participating in both types of competitions might just be a pleasure in itself."
What Ash said was the truth. Wallace might be a Champion-level Trainer now, but in the future, May would be the badass who caught Rayquaza and then rode it into space to catch Deoxys.
Once these two top-tier Pokémon were unleashed, let alone Wallace, even Steven wouldn't be able to win.
What kind of existence is Rayquaza?
It's the existence that can crush the three Hoenn gods in a one-on-two. If it were a Shinny Rayquaza, it could even take on seven. Although the Rayquaza that May would catch in the future was just an ordinary one, it wouldn't be ordinary after Mega Evolution.
If someone like that were to stubbornly stick to just the path of a Coordinator, would others even have a way to survive?
Once Rayquaza came out, either the awards would be handed out immediately, or May would use Rayquaza to make her opponents crack, and then the awards would be handed out.
"Choose both paths?"
May's heart shook violently. She whispered: "So there was such an option?"
She said with a serious face: "Okay, Ash, I've decided, I'll participate in both!"
"Then from today on, we are rivals!" Ash reached out his hand.
"Yeah! Ash, I will definitely work hard to become stronger, and then settle the score with you on the field!"
May reached out and shook hands with Ash.
"By the way, May, this is for you."
Ash stuffed the Poké Ball of that Tyranitar into May's hand.
"This is... that poacher's Tyranitar?" May looked at Ash in surprise.
"Yes, Tyranitar. Brock and I already have one, so I'm leaving this one to you for now. Pikachu and the others have already taught it during this time, so it will listen to you. But if you want to truly gain its ownership, you still need to win it through battle and make it completely recognize you."
Ash didn't know how that guy named Aron had raised the Tyranitar; not to mention the loss of potential, it had also picked up a bunch of bad habits.
During this time, to make up for the damage to this Tyranitar's potential, Ash had spent twenty million League coins just to bring its potential up to a normal level.
As for those bad habits, there was nothing that a good beating couldn't fix. If one time wasn't enough, then two. Anyway, Pikachu and Marshadow would take it away to be educated every night.
The kind where they beat it to death. As long as it didn't die, Ash could save it.
"But Tyranitar is a very rare Pokémon, right!"
During this recent journey, May's understanding of Pokémon had deepened. Coupled with the bits of knowledge Ash and Brock taught her from time to time, she had unknowingly shed the title of a clueless newbie.
"Tyranitar is rare, but it's nothing to Ash. My Tyranitar also belonged to a poacher. Ash didn't even want it when he hadn't yet obtained his own Pupitar. So, May, you might as well take it and use it for now. When you feel you can defeat Tyranitar one day, then make it completely submit through battle."
Brock also spoke up to persuade her.
"Alright then."
...
Soon, the group arrived at the Rustboro Center where the Grand Festival was being held.
Although this venue was called the Rustboro Center, it was still two or three days away from Rustboro City.
When Ash's group arrived, a large number of Coordinators had already gathered around the venue.
In order not to miss the competition like Ash, Ash went to sign up as soon as he arrived at the venue.
It was fortunate that he went fast enough; he got the last spot in the competition, while Jessie, who was a step slower, could only watch helplessly.
As for May, because she hadn't prepared anything, she didn't plan to sign up.
As soon as Ash came out after signing up, he saw the scene where May was getting her face smothered by a Beautifly.
May flailed her hands and exclaimed: "Ah! What is this!"
"This is... Beautifly?" Brock said.
[Pokémon: Beautifly (Megumi)]
[Type: Bug + Flying]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Excellent High-tier]
[Ability: Swarm (When HP is reduced, the power of Bug-type moves increases.)]
[Potential: Elite]
[Skills: Gust, Silver Wind, Morning Sun,...]
"To be precise, this is a Beautifly with a Trainer," Ash added.
After the Beautifly left May's face, it circled her twice and finally landed directly on top of her head.
"So heavy!"
May stood there with the fifty-plus-pound Beautifly on her head, swaying left and right, but she just couldn't get it to leave.
Seeing this scene, Ash could only sigh that the humans in the Pokémon world had incredibly strong physical fitness.
"Excuse me, are you okay?"
At this moment, a man and a woman ran over.
Seeing the girl, the Beautifly slowly flew away from the top of May's head.
But Brock's speed was obviously faster than the Beautifly. He used Extreme Speed to rush in front of the girl, "Beautiful lady, my name is Brock. Please, by all means, tell me your name..."
Duang!
Before Brock could finish his sentence, the Beautifly slammed directly onto his head.
The girl was frightened by the Beautifly's actions and hurriedly said: "Beautifly, you can't do that!"
"No problem, Brock is tough," Ash said with a mischievous smile.
"Big sister, are you a contestant in this Grand Festival?" May asked.
"Yes, I'm really sorry, my Beautifly has caused you trouble."
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