Thank you guys for all being here for the 300th chapter.
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At this time, Ash had already won three of his official Pokémon Contest Ribbons, meaning that he only needed to win two more to be qualified to participate in the upcoming Hoenn Region Grand Festival.
Although May had only won one Ribbon, she was still quite calm, for now. She does her best to follow Ash and gives special training to all of her Pokémon's every day, especially her newest caught Bulbasaur. Finally, with her careful companionship and guidance, along with Brock's help in some talk, she was no longer as timid as she was before.
Ash believe that her performance in her future Pokémon Contests will definitely get better and better, like the rest of May's Pokémon's.
This time, after the group of teens and a child happened to come across a flyer for a local Contest that was about to be held. After they saw it, they continued on the road and soon came to a small town called Crossgate Town.
Along the way, they also did their usual good deeds and helped a reckless Spoink retrieve the Pearl on its head before it died from not having it for an extended time.
"This town is called Crossgate Town apparently because this is "Crossroads of the Wind," Brock put down his Hoenn Region travel guide and said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, the group, who were standing on top of a petty tall hillside felt the cool wind blowing right in their faces, which felt very comfortable and different from their usual forest breeze.
The wind soon stopped, and they saw a small Swablu flying towards them with a ring in its mouth. May had a sort of minor connection with Swablus because of their previous encounters, "It still looks so cute!"
However, the very next second, a stronger gust of wind blew up, causing the poor little bird to stagger around on the air. It was not flying as smoothly as before and was even about to crash into the ground.
"Noo, Ash! Please!" May's first reaction was to ask her boyfriend for help with his Psychic Powers's.
A pink light flashed in Ash's right finger, and with a swift motion with it, he brought the little Swablu back to where it previously was.
This was a new technique he was using lately that he called Rullers Authority.
At a glance, it was obvious that this Swablu belonged to a Trainer.
And sure enough, a young boy ran over from not far away, and the same Swablu happily landed into the kids arms, "Swablu, are you okay, buddy?"
Seeing that his Swablu was fine other than a little scare, the boy quickly ran over and thanked Ash for helping his Swablu, "Thank you for saving my Swablu, he can be a little clumsy at times. My name is Shane!"
After the group also introduced themselves to Shane, they found out that a PokéRinger Contest was being held here at this time of the year.
It was also an aerial competition, like the one he had previously participated in. Ash will almost never miss this kind of event. He found that in this kind of event that requires the cooperation of Pokémon and Trainer, the Bond Value can be greatly increased.
He tried to do the same kind of events before on his own, but they never seem to do the job after a certain amount.
So, he hypothesized that the reason that their Bond Value only increases in official tournaments/contests is because his Pokémon's feel a different kind of thrill that is hard to make on their own.
This competition is somewhat similar to the previous Hot Air Baloon Contest that he was in before in Johto, but the main thing here is more prominently a Trainers Pokémon, and not the Trainer itself. The Pokémon is required to fight while snatching the rings in the air. The first one to hang the ring on the target hook wins, as simple as that.
This was definitely a much more intense competition than the Hot Air Baloon Contest, and by a a large chunk, too, so Ash was very much looking forward to this event.
The competition will be held this afternoon, so Ash needed to hurry up in choosing his partner for this event.
Togetic was still too weak in Ash's opinion to evolve into the Togekiss he wants, so Ash planned to slow down the little guy's evolution first and train it harder from this point onwards.
So, ultimately Ash exchanged the very first Pokémon that he captured in the Hoenn Region, just in time for Torkoal to train under the rest of his Fire-type Pokémon's in the Lab.
His Taillow was very close to evolving into a Swellow. Ash had purposely put a hold on the evolution for a perfect time, and this was the perfect time he was waiting for.
If everything goes according to his plans, his Taillow will most definitely achieve his Bonds Evolution right after evilving into a Swellow.
As soon as the PokéRinger Competition started, photos of the large number of Trainers appeared on the big screen, and each had a Flying-type Pokémon beside them as their partners.
"Those are the winners of all the past PokéRinger!" Shane introduced to everyone.
"Is this a way to continue to promote the glory they each hold?"
Brock's thinking this way was honestly a very good idea.
Shane has begun to feel more and more excited as the time passes, "If I win this years PokéRinger, I can be recognized as an honorary citizen of this town, and be exempt from all future taxes! I must win, this is my life goal! TAX EVASION!"
"Next, the PokéRinger of our Crossgate Town, the very same one with the longest history and tradition begins!" The host seemed even more excited than the participants to announce the start of the event.
From the first round to the second semi-finals, there are four teams competing in each round. In other words, there are four Pokémon coming to snatch the ring all at the same time.
"Our matchup has appeared. The contestants in Zone B include the last years champion and also this years main candidate to win Volt and his Volbeat, and then the famous Ash Ketchum and his Taillow!"
Hearing what the host said, Brock couldn't help but think, 'Looks like Ash more famous that I could have thought.'
Max on the other was thinking that no matter how powerful Ash was as a Pokémon Trainer, this is his first time participating in such a competition, so he had to be careful. Now that he has met the strongest here, who was also the strongest candidate for the championship, it will definitely be a tough battle for sure.
But Max still bet everything he owned on Red-I mean Ash.
However, Ash didn't seem to put much thought at all into this Volt guy, like he wasn't even blonde.
Additionally, he perfectly knew what level his Taillow's strength had reached now at this stage. It was stronger than most Swellows as a Taillow.
The only thing that could challenge his was someone who knew this game like the back of their hand.
"Really, my opponent in the first round turned out to be a mere child, against me, VOLT? You may be a famous Trainer, but you are an inexperienced child here nonetheless; I will beat you and show the world who VOLT is!" The Volt guy, the strongest candidate for the championship, was a buff due with bronze skin, and he actually ran to Ash's side and shouted in front of the cameras.
Ash didn't show a care to this horrible taunt, if it gene was, but instead said, "Chill, old guy, if you want to cry, do it now, otherwise it will be too late to do it later in the sky."
"Humph, what an unlikable kid!" Seeing Ash's cold attitude,Volt snorted, turned around and left Ash alsone.
Ash chuckled to himself, "Since you are not a kid, that means I can use more things for teaching you a lesson, old man."
"It's perfect, boss Ash, you can compete with the last champion right away! Meaning I have a greater advantage, hahaha!!" James suddenly appeared next to Ash, looking like he was preparing to compete for the championship and was full of confidence.
James' opponent in his round was May, which was a really good arrangement for him.
After all the battle arrangements were completed, an Air Baloon was seen rising into the sky, with the ring hanging underneath it, looking like it can fall at any given second.
The four players in Zone A also rose to the prescribed height, and Shane was also among them.
Ash was drawn into the strongest Group B.
When they rode their hot Air Baloon to the required height, both the air and the wind felt completely different from what it was before.
"The first round of the Annual Crossgate Town PokéRinger Tours begins now!"
As the host announced the start of the game, the four Trainers threw out their Poké Balls at the same time.
There was Shane's Swablu, a Pelipper, a Yanma and a Wingull, who all flew towards the ring in the other way. Although Shane's Swablu had not been trained for a long time to perform like this, he was very talented in it. He successfully avoided Pelipper's Water Gun and Yanma's Sonic Boom, and approached the ring first before the others.
"Swablu, don't just focus on the ring!"
At this time Shane shouted, "Swablu, rise quickly into the air!"
In this so called "Crossgate of Winds," strong winds may blow at any given time, so this was the ideal place to hold the towns Annual PokéRinger.
Just when Ash and the others were wondering why Shane wanted his Swablu to give up his hard-fought opportunity to win the round, a strong wind blew the other three Pokémon that were still in place and they were now staggered around.
Shane had actually correctly predicted that strong winds would suddenly appear and made a last moment adjustment.
Ash also nodded repeatedly, "It seems that knowing how to use the wind correctly may be the ultimate key to victory here."
Shane's Swablu landed again, made a straight dive, and hung the ring on the target hook.
Shane won the first round.
Next was Ash and his Taillow's turn in Zone B.