Ash and his friends were nearing Fallarbor Town, and with only a short distance left, they decided to take a well-earned break.
But May wasn't about to rest—she had the Akiba Pokémon Contest coming up, and she was determined to be ready!
After Combusken's recent surprise evolution, May decided this time to focus her training on Beautifly. She had been improving steadily and had even gotten pretty good with a frisbee performance move—maybe too good.
"Whoops! I threw it too hard!"May scratched her head and stuck out her tongue playfully as the frisbee sailed way off into the distance.
"Cha-mo~!"Combusken patted his chest confidently, volunteering to retrieve it. Ever since evolving, he'd become much more dependable.
A moment later, Combusken came jogging back—frisbee in one claw, and in the other… a small pink cat Pokémon.
"Huh? Who's this?" May took the frisbee and bent down, eyeing the tiny creature."Let's check it out!" She pulled out her Pokédex.
Skitty – The Kitten Pokémon.Skitty loves to chase moving objects. It often gets dizzy from spinning in circles trying to catch its tail.
"Aww, it's so cute!" May gushed. "Hi there, I'm May!"
"Meow~..." Skitty responded weakly, curled up and clearly exhausted.
May gently scooped it into her arms.
"It seems really out of it…"
Despite their efforts, none of them could get Skitty to react with any energy.
Ash tilted his head.
"Maybe it just played too hard and wore itself out?"
"Leave it to me!" Brock declared, suddenly energized. "I know just the place!"
He proudly led the others through the wilderness. Along the way, they spotted various Grass-types—Oddish, Weepinbell, and more.
Eventually, they arrived at a building framed in an arch of flowering vines. It was lush, vibrant, and peaceful.
"Here we are!" Brock announced. "The Yamako Research Institute—a greenhouse dedicated to Pokémon Aromatherapy!"
"Aromatherapy?" May asked.
"Yep!" Brock beamed. "It uses fragrances to relax and treat tired Pokémon. I read all about it in a magazine once!"
Just then, a woman with long blue hair stepped into the garden and greeted them.
"Hello there. Can I help you with something?"
"You must be Ms. Arisa, the Aroma Therapist!" Brock cried. "You're even more stunning than in the magazine!"
"That's what he came for…" Max sighed, facepalming. But still, after his heartbreak with Yuki, he swore to be stronger—from now on, he'd live by Misty's teachings!
May explained their situation.
"We found this Skitty, and it seems really tired and listless."
Arisa invited everyone inside, and Brock dramatically declared:
"Then I shall enter through the front door with pure intentions, to learn from the master herself!"
"Uhhh…" Arisa blinked in confusion.
Max jumped up and yanked Brock's ear.
"Cool it, Romeo!"
"Ow ow ow—okay, okay!!"
Inside, the greenhouse was filled with gentle light, rare plants, and soothing aromas. Arisa began introducing the group to various essential oils.
May placed Skitty on a soft cushion.
"Please take care of her."
Arisa examined Skitty gently.
"Hmm… yes, she's definitely exhausted. But don't worry—it just needs rest and the right treatment."
She carefully began selecting essential oils, blending a calming fragrance. Brock was about to swoon again, but Max had him on a short leash and pulled him back before he got a word out.
Once the scent was prepared, Arisa sprayed it around Skitty. The gentle aroma filled the air, even soothing Ash and the others.
While Skitty rested, Arisa gave the group a tour of the institute—but May chose to stay behind and watch over her. She had truly grown more mature.
Later, the others returned—just as Skitty woke up.
"Meow~!" Skitty stretched, then started chasing its own tail in circles until it spun itself dizzy.
"...So that's how it got tired in the first place," Max sweatdropped.
Seeing that Skitty was fully recovered, May smiled.
"Skitty… would you like to come with me?"
Skitty purred in reply and stepped forward. It understood May's care and was ready to battle!
The two stepped outside the greenhouse.
Skitty• Gender: Female• Type: Normal• Ability: Cute Charm• Strength: Late Normal Stage• Moves: Tackle, Fake Out, Assist
"Let's do this! Go, Combusken!""Cha-mo!"
Skitty rushed in with a Tackle attack, but Combusken was ready.
"Use Double Kick!"
Combusken delivered two swift kicks, sending Skitty tumbling.
"Poké Ball, go!"May threw the ball—and with barely any resistance, Skitty was caught!
"Yes! I caught a Skitty!"May jumped for joy, hugging Combusken."Cha-mo~!"
Meanwhile…
"I've found you, Team Rocket!""Pika~!""Eevee~!"
Ash had sensed their presence while they were scheming to steal the institute's fragrance and impress Giovanni.
"Wha—Ash?! How do you keep finding us?!" Jessie screamed.
"To protect the peace of this place… I'll send you blasting off again—nicely!""Pikachu, use Thunderbolt! Eevee, Tera Blast!"
"Pika!""Vee~!"
The golden lightning and sparkling light struck fast. Team Rocket was sent flying before they even had a chance to launch their plan.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!""Wobbuffet~!"
Flying through the sky…
"We're no match for Ash anymore!""We need serious training!""Let's enter the Akiba Contest and then take revenge!""Wobbuffet~!"
Back at the institute…
"Hey, Ash, where'd you go?" May asked.
"Nowhere. Just took care of a little trouble," he replied with a wave.
"Oh, okay!"
Before they left, the group bought some aroma oils that would help their Pokémon relax and recover more easily.
With Brock reluctantly dragged away from Arisa, they finally said their goodbyes.
Now with Skitty as her third partner, and Team Rocket failing to interrupt for once, May was feeling more confident than ever.
After a brief encounter with their old friend—the Knickerbocker boy Nicholai—the group finally arrived at Fallarbor Town.
There were only three days left until the Akiba Contest, and the town was already filled with Trainers and Coordinators from far and wide.
Their next stop: the Pokémon Center to sign up!
To be continued…