Verdanturf Contest

The next day Ash and May were at the contest hall and they were waiting for Timmy, who hadn't shown up yet.

"If Timmy doesn't hurry up, he might miss the chance to register for the contest." Max said, worried.

"Do you think something is wrong?" Tomo asked.

Just then Timmy showed up and quickly registered for the contest.

"What happened Timmy?" Ash asked. "We thought you would be here before us."

Timmy explained that his mom was making him do a lot of homework, but his dad helped him get out of the mansion without her noticing.

"I hope I can make it up to him somehow."

"Well one way is doing your best in the contest." Ash said.

Timmy agreed and put on his Phantom mask.

"Let's do this Ash, May." He said.

Soon, it was finally time for the Pokemon contest. Brock, Tomo and Max took their seats as did Drew. Since Drew wasn't going to participate due to his injured Roselia, he was going to watch the contest instead. Vivian did the usual introductions and showed off the Verdanturf Ribbon, which was orange and light orange colored.

Ash went first in the preliminary rounds this time and he called out Kirlia.

"Okay Kirlia, use Magical Leaf." He said.

Kirlia fired leaves from her body.

"Now use Confusion." Kirlia moved the leaves in front of her.

"Now use Flash." Ash said.

When Kirlia used Flash, the light from her body shined through the leaves making a greenish-yellow light shine on the audience. The audience and judges liked it and Ash got a score of 27.8.

A few more contestants were after Ash and then it was May's turn. She sent out Skitty and told her to use Blizzard. Skitty sprayed a shower of snow from her mouth and it looked like it was snowing inside. Then May and Skitty did their juggling act. It gave them a 25.9. Then it was Timmy's turn, but he was registered as Phantom and he was in his Phantom costume. He ordered Dusclops to use Will-O-Wisp and then use Psychic. The Will-O-Wisp being controlled by the Psychic, made a flaming picture and Timmy got a score of 27.8.

Meanwhile Mrs. Grimm found out about Timmy participating in the Pokemon contest and she and Mr. Grimm were on their way to the contest hall.

"How could you allow Timmy to enter that Pokemon contest?" She demanded.

"Timmy loves Pokemon more than anything." Mr. Grimm replied.

"That's too bad." Mrs. Grimm said. "When I was Timmy's age I spent all my time studying, not wasting time with Pokemon."

"That's not exactly true." Mr. Grimm said. "I still remember that one time."

Mrs. Grimm was silent. There was a secret from her past she wanted to keep to herself.

Back at the contest hall, the results were in and Ash, May and Timmy made it to the battle rounds.

"Ash, May no matter who wins, no hard feelings right?" Timmy questioned.

"Of course." Ash said. "I want you to give me all you've got just like I will give you all I've got."

"Same for me." May added.

May was first in the battle rounds against a trainer named Stefano and his Wartortle. Skitty easily defeated Wartortle with Thunderbolt. Next was Ash vs Timmy.

"I can't wait to see how Ash and Timmy will do." Max said.

"Timmy better watch out because Ash knows how to deal with ghost type Pokemon." Tomo said.

Just then Mr. and Mrs. Grimm entered the arena. The three boys were worried about Mrs. Grimm, but Mr. Grimm smiled at them to assure them it was all right.

Ash sent out Kirlia and Timmy sent out Dusclops.

"Prepare yourself Ash." Timmy said.

He ordered Dusclops to use Focus Punch but Ash had Kirlia use Double Team. Dusclops missed Kirlia.

"Sorry Phantom, but I've gone up against plenty of ghost type Pokemon." Ash said.

"Very clever Ash." Timmy smiled. "But watch this."

He ordered Dusclops to use a combination of Will-O-Wisp and Psychic. The flames struck all the copies of Kirlia and the real Kirlia, who received a burn.

Mr. and Mrs. Grimm were watching the battle.

"Do you see now dear?" Mr. Grimm asked. "Our son has never been more focused or determined on anything in his life. But now he is in this contest."

Ash ordered Kirlia to use Shadow Ball and Timmy ordered Dusclops to use Psychic. The two attacks collided with each other.

"Don't give up Kirlia." Ash said.

"You too Dusclops." Timmy added.

May, who was in the waiting room felt nervous about who would win and about who she would have to face next. Ash ordered Kirlia to use Magical Leaf and Timmy ordered Dusclops to use Shadow Punch. Kirlia got punched by the shadowy punch and Dusclops was hit by the leaves. Time was soon up and the battle ended. The results were Timmy had a few more points than Ash, so he was the winner of the first battle round.

"That was a great battle Phantom." Ash smiled.

"Same here Ash. That was the best battle I've ever been in." Timmy said.

He and Ash shook hands with each other.

Just then Ash noticed Mr. and Mrs. Grimm were in the contest hall. Timmy noticed too. Mrs. Grimm left the hall in a bit of a huff. Ash and Timmy went back to the waiting room where May was waiting for them and then Mr. Grimm and the others entered the waiting room.

"It's time I told you the reason why my wife hates Timmy interacting with Pokemon." Mr. Grimm said.

He explained that Mrs. Grimm also loved Pokemon when she was a child, but she was the only child to wealthy parents and she was destined to take over the family business when she grew up. She was forced to grow up fast and her parents took everything they thought was childish away from her including her Pokemon Poochyena and she was prohibited from interacting with Pokemon again. Timmy and the gang felt sorry for Mrs. Grimm after learning the truth.

"The truth is Timmy, she doesn't hate Pokemon. She just feared that if you ever fell in love with Pokemon you would end up heartbroken like she was. But she's still not happy about seeing you with Pokemon, so this might be your last time competing in contests."

"Timmy, let's make this battle one you and I will never forget." May said.

"Let's." Timmy replied.

Now it was time for May and Timmy to battle. Timmy had his mask off this time because he decided to prove that he could battle without the mask on. May sent out Skitty and Timmy sent out Dusclops. May was informed by Ash that normal type moves don't affect ghost type Pokemon so her best bet was to use Blizzard, Thunderbolt and Iron Tail and if necessary Assist. Timmy ordered Dusclops to use Focus Punch and Skitty was struck by it.

"Okay Skitty use Thunderbolt." May said.

Dusclops was shocked by Thunderbolt.

*'I'm surprised Skitty knows Thunderbolt.'* Timmy thought. *'But it won't get me down.'*

He ordered Dusclops to use a combination of Will-O-Wisp and Psychic.

"Oh no. Skitty use Assist." May said.

Assist was a normal type move that gave the user the ability to replicate a move among those known by other Pokemon in the party. Assist allowed it to replicate Torchic's Ember and Ember struck Will-O-Wisp.

"May's doing well for her first time facing a ghost type Pokemon." Brock said.

Timmy ordered Dusclops to use Hyper Beam and May told Skitty to use Blizzard to counter it. Blizzard broke Hyper Beam and then struck Dusclops. Suddenly time was up and the winner was May as she had a few more points than Timmy.

"Wow May did it." Max said.

"Timmy was great out there too." Tomo added.

Even Drew was impressed that May defeated the Phantom, but of course he called it luck.

Timmy congratulated May and thanked her for a fantastic battle. Just then Mrs. Grimm came up onto the stage. Timmy was about to apologize to his mom, but she stopped him.

"After seeing that I decided that you may continue entering Pokemon contests and keep your Pokemon as well as catch more." She said. "But no falling behind on your school work."

Timmy was delighted that his mom allowed him to become a Pokemon coordinator.

So everyone was happy in the end. May got her second ribbon and Timmy was finally allowed to interact with Pokemon.