178 The Hoenn League Torch
After the Hoenn Grand Festival was all over, the gang had taken a ferry for Ever Grande City where the Hoenn league was taking place. Apparently, this Pokémon league was called the Ever Grande Conference. Ashlyn felt excited about entering her fourth Pokémon league and she couldn't wait to get there.
"Hey Ashlyn, do you think you'll win this Pokémon league?" May asked.
"Well I can't really say," Ashlyn admitted, "because I don't know how strong the other trainers will be. So all I can say is that I'll just keep on fighting till someone does defeat me."
Ashlyn understood by now how tough Pokémon leagues were, especially since she had participated in three. They weren't easy to beat, but she able to win them with her Pokémon by her side.
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Soon they had set foot in Ever Grande City. It was a busy city, filled with shops, restaurants and other buildings. May had a guide which explained about the shops and restaurants in Ever Grande City and she suggested they try out the famous ramen restaurant. With May leading, the gang tried to find the ramen restaurant. Of course, with May having poor direction they found it difficult. Then came trouble; a flock Murkrow were in the area and then they started to attack the gang with peck.
"Use Thunder Wave, Tesla!" Ashlyn commanded. Tesla let out her electric attack, shocking the Murkrows who soon flew away in terror, "Phew, good work, Tesla." She petted Tesla's head.
Just then a male trainer and a Meowth, who was wearing boots and a hat, ran up to the gang. Ashlyn recognized this trainer. It was Tyson, one of participants for the Ever Grande Conference.
"Hey you okay?" Tyson asked.
"We're fine, we just had trouble with a flock of Murkrows." Alain replied.
"That's the trouble with Murkrow, they love causing trouble wherever they go." Tyson commented.
"Hey, do you know where the Ramen restaurant is? My sister has no idea." Max asked.
"I'm going to the Ramen restaurant too, so I will lead the way." Tyson offered.
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Thanks to the trainer they made it to the ramen restaurant, and they were tucking into ramen. The trainer introduced himself as Tyson and he said that he was entering the Ever Grande Conference too. So Ashlyn had another rival, as well as Morrison, to deal with in the Ever Grande Conference.
"I must say Tyson, apart from wearing a hat and boots, your Meowth looks very well raised." Brock commented.
"Thanks I've had my Meowth for a while now." Tyson thanked Brock.
Meowth was eating Pokémon food with Tesla and Eevee. Suddenly Tyson said that he had to leave now because he was a runner of the torch.
"So that means you will be running with the Hoenn League Torch right?" Alain asked.
"That's right," Tyson replied, "and they say that the flame of the torch came from Moltres."
"Just like the torch in the Indigo League." Ashlyn said.
She explained that the flame of the torch was from Moltres too and she also explained that the flame for the torch in the Silver Conference was from Ho-oh.
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On a hill a crowd of people were waiting for the Hoenn League Torch flame to arrive. Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy and Mr. Goodshow were there too. At that moment some police arrived, carrying a flame on a dish, and then Tyson and the gang turned up.
"I'm so sorry for being late." Tyson apologized.
"It's alright, Tyson. You made it just in time." Mr. Goodshow reassured him.
"Nice seeing you again, Mr. Goodshow." Ashlyn greeted.
"Ah Ashlyn and Brock it's nice to see you two again," Mr. Goodshow greeted back, "I take it you're participating in the Ever Grande Conference, Ashlyn?"
"Yes I am," Ashlyn confirmed, "and I have high hopes on winning."
"Ah full of spirit like always," Mr. Goodshow smiled, "and I can't wait to see how you will do in this Pokémon league, Ember."
"How do you guys know Mr. Goodshow?" Max asked, surprised.
"Well we met Mr. Goodshow at the Pokémon leagues in Kanto and Johto. Also Brock, Misty and I were runners of the Torch at the Indigo League, and I got to run with the torch a bit at the Silver Conference." Ashlyn explained.
"Wow." May and Max awed.
"Impressive." Alain commented.
"By the Ashlyn, May, I saw you two at the Hoenn Grand Festival on TV. I was impressed with your performances." Mr. Goodshow complimented.
"Thanks, Mr. Goodshow." Ashlyn and May thanked him.
Just then Tyson started the running of the torch and Nurse Joy, and Mr. Goodshow gave the gang a lift in the limo.
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Thanks to Mr. Goodshow's lift the gang got to the Pokémon center, where Ashlyn had to register for the Ever Grande Conference. They even saw the area where the conference was taking place. The stadium stood in the middle of a huge lake, with mini stadiums surrounding it in two big circles; you could say it looked like a ring target.
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After Ashlyn registered and got the guidebook, she felt ready now. As long as she had her friends and Pokémon with her, she could get through this league.
"Nervous, Ashlyn?" May asked.
"A little. But I know I'll do the best I can." Ashlyn replied.
"I know you'll do great, Ember." Alain assured her.
Ashlyn smiled with pink cheeks, "Thank you, Alain."
Alain's cheeks blushed slightly as he scratched his cheek while he looked away from Ashlyn.
Suddenly an alarm went off.
"We have a code one emergency! Someone has stolen the torch!" Officer Jenny announced.
The gang gasped at that.
"Squad B, search area number 2!"
"We need additional backup over at Gate 3 immediately!"
The gang met up with Tyson during the announcements.
"Tyson, is it true that someone has stolen the torch?" Brock asked.
"I'm afraid so." Tyson replied.
"Well I have a pretty good idea who stole it." Ashlyn stated.
"You do?" Tyson asked.
"A certain trio comes to mind." Ashlyn replied.
Ashlyn and Brock sighed in boredom.
"Team Rocket." Ashlyn and Brock said in unison.
"Team Rocket?!" May and Max gasped.
"Why would Team Rocket steal the torch?" Alain asked.
"They tried to steal it before." Brock replied.
"They tried during the Indigo League and the Silver Conference." Ashlyn added.
"Since the torch is said to be the flames of Moltres and the other torch was said to be flames of Ho-oh, Team Rocket believed they were a rare item to take." Brock explained.
"But how did they take it?" May asked.
Tyson told the gang that that he, a Nurse Joy and some Officer Jennies had reached the storage room where the flame was to be kept before the conference started. But then a Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny stopped them and told them there was a Moltres in the sky. But as soon as Tyson, Nurse Joy and the Officer Jennies looked up at the sky, the Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy swiped the flame and took it away with them.
"It's obvious that it was Jessie and James disguised as Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy, who stole the torch." May commented.
"Let's go after them and bring back that torch or else we won't start the conference." Ashlyn decided.
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Right now two Officer Jennies were on Team Rocket's tail and Tyson, the gang and Mr. Goodshow was catching up. At that moment, Jessie and James ditched the motorcycle off a cliff and landed in their balloon where Meowth was waiting for them.
"Give back the Torch!" Tyson shouted.
Jessie and James took off their disguises.
"Sorry, but the torch belongs to us now." Jessie taunted.
"We stole it fair and square." James grinned, holding up the torch.
Ashlyn's eyes glowed blue and the torch was outlined blue. Before James could blink, the torch was snatched from his hands and placed into Ashlyn's hands. Team Rocket blinked in shock at the outcome. The others blinked at the outcome as well. Then they turned to Team Rocket and glared heatedly at them.
"It's déjà vu again." James commented, nervously.
"Tesla, Thunder Shock!" Ashlyn ordered.
Tesla let out her electrical attack which shocked Team Rocket who cried out in pain and made their balloon explode. They were soon sent flying further into the sky.
"Another failed torch attempt." James commented.
"I keep forgetting that that twerp is a psychic." Jessie added.
"Well you know what they say, 'never mess with a psychic'." Meowth pointed out.
Wobbuffet appeared and saluted, "Wobba!"
The trio sighed in defeat.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket screamed.
DING!
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With the torch safe and sound and back in the storage area, the Ever Grande Conference could go on.
"Ashlyn, I'm grateful towards you for bringing back the torch for the conference." Mr. Goodshow thanked her.
"You're welcome, Mr. Goodshow." Ashlyn said.
"I must say Ashlyn, I thought you were brilliant back there. I definitely cannot wait to battle you in the conference." Tyson complimented.
"I cannot wait to battle you either, Tyson." Ashlyn smiled.
So Ashlyn and Tyson had now become friends/rivals.
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With the torch safe from Team Rocket, Ashlyn is ready to battle in the Ever Grande Conference. She couldn't wait to battle her new rivals.
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Pokémon Caught: Mightyena (Lela)(F), Swampert (Finn)(M), Shiny Blaziken (Hestia)(F), Gardevoir (Miku)(F), Kirlia (Lancelot)(M), Swellow (Percy)(M), Linoone (Ziggy)(M), Sceptile (Kazuki)(M), Beautifly (Willow)(F), Shiny Milotic (Ula)(F), Crawdaunt (Sebastian)(M), Aagron (Hagane)(M), Sableye (Jacinth)(M), Shiny Flygon (Libelle)(F), Shiny Manectric (Damini)(F), Shiny Salamence (Idris)(F), Torkoal (Shula)(F), Altaria (Alta)(F), Mawile (Trixie)(F), Gorebyss (Coral)(F), Grumpig (Sumire)(F), Armaldo (Brynja)(F), Cradily (Liana)(F), Glalie (Warrin)(M), Absol (Twilight)(M)
