Meeting Drew

A few days after leaving Dewford Town, the gang arrived at Slateport City where the next Pokemon Contest was going to be held. Ash was checking out the six Pokemon he had with him right now; Latias, Dustox, Feebas, Sableye, Seedot and Aron. He was going to enter the Slateport City contest too and he was thinking of what Pokemon to use this time. His recently caught Pokemon Aron, Seedot and Sableye weren't ready for this yet, but Ash decided to train with them, Feebas and Dustox today.

Max was watching Ash and told May that she should train her Pokemon too.

"The contest may be nine days away." Max said. "But you should still train your Pokemon."

May didn't like being ordered around especially by Max, but she knew he was right. She released Torchic, Azurill, Beautifly and Staryu from their Poke Balls.

"Okay everyone." May said. "I will be entering my first Pokemon contest here in Slateport City and we need to practice for it."

May found an empty area and had her Pokemon practice an attack one at a time; Torchic with Ember, Beautifly with Silver Wind, Azurill with Bubble, Bellossom with Petal Dance and Staryu with Water Gun. But this didn't go as planned. The Pokemon ended up hitting each other by mistake and then a fight broke out between them.

"Hey that's enough!" She shouted.

The Pokemon stopped fighting.

"I think you better ask Ash about this." Max advised. "He knows more about training than you do."

May agreed with that.

"You definitely are a beginner." A voice said.

The voice belonged to a green-haired boy about a year older than May.

"Your Pokemon aren't ready for a Pokemon contest." The boy said.

His comment angered May.

"Who do you think you are?" She demanded.

"My name is Drew." He introduced himself. "And seriously you have a lot to learn little girl."

May became even angrier.

"Come on May." Max said. "Let's not bother with him and let's train with Ash instead."

"Ash?" Drew asked. "You mean the Ash Ketchum who won the Rustboro contest?"

"Yes that's right." May answered. "My brother and I are traveling with him."

"I see." Drew said. "Well at least there will be a worthy opponent in the Slateport contest."

And he left.

"I will mop the floor with that guy once I win the contest." May said angrily.

Elsewhere...

Ash was practicing with Dustox because he decided to use her for the contest. His Beautifly and Dustox were both female and they knew quite a lot of moves. Beautifly knew Tackle, Harden, Poison Sting, String Shot, Bug Bite, Gust, Morning Sun, Aerial Ace, Mega Drain and Stun Spore. Dustox knew Tackle, Harden, Poison Sting, String Shot, Bug Bite, Gust, Confusion, Aerial Ace, Moonlight and Psybeam. Right now Ash had Dustox practice breaking a String Shot attack apart with Aerial Ace.

"Wow Ash." May said. "You really know what you're doing, unlike me."

"Need help May?" Ash asked.

"Yes I do." May replied.

Before Ash and May could get started practicing together, a man walked up to Ash.

"I saw you and your Pokemon kid." The man said. "I take it you're practicing for the Pokemon contest right?"

"Yes sir, I am." Ash said. "But who are you?"

The man introduced himself as Mr. Big and that he was a Pokemon coordinator in the past.

"Wow, what do you do now?" Ash asked.

"I make fireworks by using crushed berries to use for the colors." Mr. Big said. "And there is something you may need to know as a Pokemon coordinator."

He informed the gang about Pokeblocks. Pokeblocks were candy blocks for Pokemon and they raised a Pokemon's condition. Mr. Big pulled out two Pokeblock cases from his pockets and gave one to Ash and May. A Pokeblock case was a item where you stored Pokeblocks in. Ash and May became intrigued by Pokeblocks and decided to learn about them right now.

"I'm glad I bought that Pokemon berry book from Rita, Natalie and Nicole." Ash said. "It will be a big help when I make my own Pokeblocks."

"I agree with that." May added.

Just then Drew came out of nowhere.

"We meet again little girl." He said.

"The name is May, thank you Drew." May said angrily.

Ash asked Drew who he was.

"I'm Drew, a Pokemon coordinator and I take it you're Ash Ketchum?" Drew said.

"Yes that's me." Ash said.

"I saw you on TV when you won the Rustboro Contest." Drew said. "And I must say; you still have a long way to go if you want to become top coordinator."

"Excuse me." Ash said. "But I'll have you know that this is my first time as a Pokemon coordinator, but I have been a Pokemon trainer for three and a half years."

He explained that he traveled through Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto.

"Well that's incredible." Drew said. "But it won't prevent me from beating you in the Slateport contest."

"We'll see about that Drew." Ash replied.

Then Drew left.

"Well May." Ash said. "You and I now have a common Pokemon contest rival."

"I agree." May sighed.

For the rest of the day, Ash and May learned about Pokeblocks and making them with a berry blender and practiced some more for the Pokemon contest. That night Mr. Big presented a fireworks display for a carnival, and when the fireworks went off there were pictures of Pokemon; a Torchic, a Mudkip and a Treecko. Aside from enjoying the fireworks, May couldn't wait to enter her first Pokemon contest.