AG187: Difference between revisions

After losing against {{an|Brandon}} in the [[Battle Pyramid]], {{Ash}} sits in a hot spring reflecting. He wonders out loud what could possibly be the thing "only he could teach himself." Meanwhile inside the [[Fennel Valley]] [[Pokémon Center]]'s [[Contest Hall]], {{an|May}} is also going through a hard time, Ash's recent defeat having reminded her of her own loss in the [[Grand Festival]] against [[Solidad]]. Even the return of {{TP|May|Skitty}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}} is not doing much to lift her spirits. [[Scott]] and {{an|Brock}} comment about how she isn't taking the loss very well and how she is worried about how her battling style is a lot like Ash's. May decides that she should practice her Contest moves. Skitty uses {{m|Blizzard}} and Beautifly uses {{m|Psychic}} which both [[Contest combination|combine]] to create a blue horizontal snow tornado but May doesn't react positively. As Ash and [[Max]] arrive and greet Skitty and Beautifly, May tells them that [[Caroline]] told her that Beautifly had learned how to use Psychic, so she decided to recall them to her team to spend some time together and train. Ash asks how the practicing is going, and May admits that it isn't going very well. Brock and Max suggest that she and Ash practice together, since both are going through the same sort of struggle. Ash is all for it, but May adamantly refuses, much to everyone's confusion. The group's musings are suddenly interrupted by the appearance of {{an|Professor Oak}}.

In the Pokémon Center lounge, Professor Oak states that word of Ash's recent difficulties spread word, so various family and friends put together gifts for him. First, Ash receives a banner made by {{Tracey}} and {{cat|Ash's Pokémon|his Pokémon}}. Ash has no trouble identifying each of the prints, much to the amazement of Max. Next, he receives {{an|Misty}}'s [[Misty's special lure|lure]], and a large box of food from {{Delia}}. Finally, Professor Oak hands Ash a postcard from {{Gary}}, much to the latter's shock. The postcard is from the [[Sinnoh]] [[region]], which is Gary's current base of operations for his Pokémon research. Ash pictures Gary telling him that he shouldn't let a loss get him down, especially since Ash was able to defeat Gary [[EP270|before]]. Ash decides that he is going to work even harder and won't lose against Brandon again. Professor Oak recites a poem for Ash to help him, while [[Nurse Joy]], thrilled at meeting yet another one of her idols, runs up to him and asks for his autograph. Seeing Ash's spirits lifted doesn't seem to do much to lift May's mood, however. Her thoughts are broken by the appearance of a {{TP|Drew|Roselia}}. Recognizing it instantly, May realizes that [[Drew]] must be there as well. Sure enough, Drew approaches the group, surprised they are all in Fennel Valley. Before he can say more, Nurse Joy asks for his autograph.  

Back in the Contest Hall arena, May admits that she was shocked to see Drew just as she was thinking of him. Drew is surprised at this admission, though May attempts to brush it off by mentioning Ash's talk of rivals. Drew asks how May is doing after her recent loss, but he sees through her facade of "doing okay." Since the Grand Festival, Drew has been focusing on making sure his Pokémon are taken care of, even bringing them a new friend. When May doesn't react much, he realizes that May hasn't been able to get past her defeat, suggesting her current struggles are from discovering her weak points and not knowing how to conquer them. When Drew asks May to confirm his suspicions, she merely nods in admittance. Drew suggests that they have a Pokémon battle, thinking it would help clear the air after the tension of the Grand Festival. Though May is still hesitant, Ash and Brock tell her to go for it, the latter adding that it would give her mind a much-needed rest. {{TRT}} arrives dressed as [[Mr. Sukizo]], [[Raoul Contesta|Mr. Contesta]], and Nurse Joy and suggest that they should be the ones to judge. The group instantly suspects the three as being phony, their thoughts confirmed when a [[Harley's Cacturne|Cacturne]] suddenly appears and uses {{m|Bullet Seed}} to reveal the ruse. The trio are horrified by the appearance of [[Harley]], who screams that only ''he'' is allowed to mess with May and that he certainly doesn't need Team Rocket's help to do so, having "already waltzed down that muddy road [[AG174|once]] [[AG175|before]]." Team Rocket tries to leave, but Cacturne blocks them. Harley tells them just because he wants the trio to butt out doesn't mean he doesn't want them to leave. He tells Ash and his friends that they will act as cheerleaders today, but nobody trusts them and thinks they are plotting something.  

After Nurse Joy eagerly receives an autograph from an exuberant Harley, May asks Professor Oak and Scott to judge, and Nurse Joy to be the [[Contest announcer|announcer]]. As the stands fill up with people from the Pokémon Center, Ash comments on how the battle will now feel like a real [[Contest Battle]]. At Nurse Joy's signal, May brings out {{TP|May|Combusken}} and Beautifly, while Drew brings out Roselia and his newly obtained {{p|Butterfree}}. May opens the battle with Combusken's {{m|Fire Spin}} and Beautifly's Psychic to create a fiery version of Skitty and Beautifly's earlier combination. Roselia uses {{m|Petal Dance}} to break up the flames, but Beautifly used Psychic to send the residual fireballs back at the opponents. Roselia uses {{m|Magical Leaf}} to defend, scattering flaming leaves throughout the air. With the path seemingly clear, Combusken moves into attack, but Butterfree uses a combination of {{m|Confusion}} and {{m|Gust}} to blast both Combusken and Beautifly simultaneously, greatly reducing May's score. The judges comment on how May's combinations were powerful, but Drew's seemed to be a bit more so. May tells Beautifly and Combusken to focus their energy on Butterfree. Butterfree uses {{m|Psybeam}} while Combusken dodges and uses {{m|Sky Uppercut}} which hits its mark. Roselia uses Petal Dance while Beautifly uses {{m|Silver Wind}}, but Beautifly's attack is absorbed into the petals and batter it and Combusken with even more power and beauty. Combusken attempts to turn things around with an {{m|Overheat}} attack at maximum power, but Butterfree uses {{m|Protect}} to completely block the attack. Roselia uses {{m|Solar Beam}} and Butterfree uses Psybeam to land a [[critical hit]] on Combusken and Beautifly to knock them out, giving Drew a decisive victory. May compliments Combusken and Beautifly on their hard work.

Outside, May tells Drew that she felt like she was getting overconfident and that's why she has lost. She also states her desire to find her own unique style just like Drew is attempting to do, so that she can show off her Pokémon much better. Drew reveals his intent to travel to the [[Johto]] region to enter more Contests, and that Solidad is going there as well. Harley interrupts to reveal that he is ''also'' going to the Johto region, though May isn't too thrilled about that idea. Harley asks [[Jessie]] if she is going to Johto as well, but she says that Team Rocket is more important, so she declines the offer. Angered, Harley brings out Cacturne to use Bullet Seed to send Team Rocket blasting off before Jessie can attempt to defend herself. Harley suggests to May that she should go to the Johto region as well as he prances off toward his next challenge. As Ash and the others arrive outside, having been drawn out by Team Rocket's blast off, Drew decides to depart, telling May that he expects that to see her new style the next time they meet. Drew waves good-bye as he heads to the Johto region and May thanks him for all of his help. Hearing that Drew is going to Johto brings back good memories for Ash. Brock suggests that Drew and Harley were destined to help May overcome her problems, and May says that she is not confused anymore. She says that she and Ash are on a new path, finding their own styles, and cheers for Ash to win his rematch at the Battle Pyramid. Professor Oak comes up with a poem to sum up the paths they are taking.