[Lance: Look at him. Enjoying the 'Blessings of the Qi People,' yet he looks like he's on death row.]
[Lila: He isn't enjoying it at all. He's terrified. He doesn't know how to handle two girls agreeing on anything.]
[Cynthia: It's the ultimate defense. If the girls team up, the 'Harem King' has no power.]
By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, the Contest had ended. The three of them walked out into the orange light of dusk.
Chloe and May, who had started the day as strangers, were now walking arm-in-arm like best friends.
They had found common ground in their shared experiences: both had started out disliking or fearing Pokémon, and both had been "saved" and inspired by the same dense boy.
However, while Chloe remained the quiet, elegant researcher, May had grown into a powerhouse whose battling style mirrored Ash's own. She was his true protégée, having learned the art of the "gutsy" victory directly from him.
"So, May... where are you headed next?" Ash asked as they reached the crossroads. He knew the time for parting was near.
"I'm heading to the Unova region," May said, looking up at the fading sun. "There's a new Grand Festival being organized there. Plus, Max started his journey in Unova as well, and I need to check in on that little brat."
"Max, huh? Tell him I said hi!"
"I will." May paused, her smile turning a bit more private. She looked at Ash, then at Chloe, and felt a pang of loneliness. She was a traveler, just like Ash, and travelers always have to say goodbye. "Ash... do you still have that?"
Ash blinked, then a wide, knowing grin spread across his face. "Oh! You mean that!"
Chloe looked between them, feeling a cold chill of exclusion. "What? What is 'that'?"
The two of them ignored her for a moment, simultaneously reaching into their bags. They pulled out two small, velvet-lined boxes.
When they opened them, each contained half of a golden Ribbon medal, the edges jagged where it had been cut in two.
"What is that medal?" Chloe asked, leaning in.
Ash and May held their halves together, the two pieces fitting perfectly into a single, shining sun-shaped Ribbon.
"This," they said in unison, their voices filled with shared history, "is the symbol of our friendship! The Terracotta Ribbon!"
It was a reminder that no matter how many regions lay between them, they had once stood as equals on the same stage.
For Chloe, it was a daunting sight—a bond she couldn't yet replicate. But as she looked at May's encouraging smile, she realized that she didn't have to replicate it. She just had to find her own "Ribbon" with Ash.
In the real world, the global audience was abuzz with discussions about the profound connection between Ash and May, the Princess of Hoenn. The sight of them fitting their half-ribbons together had struck a chord with millions.
[Wallace: What a beautiful, unspoken language exists between those two! It seems that Ash doesn't just carry that medal; he carries it with him at all times, suggesting it holds extraordinary significance in his heart!]
The revelation that Ash had kept this specific memento from his travels through two regions—Hoenn and Kanto—for years was not lost on anyone.
It had been shown during the bonding encounter with Sceptile, but few had realized its constant presence in his life. For May, it was equally clear; she treated her half as a sacred treasure.
[Shauntal: After analyzing the footage and their interactions, I can safely say that Ash and May represent the pinnacle of deep friendship. As for whether they can go further, it all depends on whether Ash can... well, 'open his mind' (slang for 'realize his feelings'). It's clear May already holds him deep in her heart.]
[Steven Stone: A reasonable and correct analysis. Not only is it clear, but it is also very profound. Even without regular contact for years, their bond remains unshaken, as symbolized by that perfect fit.]
[Wallace: Steven, you analyze this so well. Have you ever actually been in love?]
[Steven Stone: ...]
The chat fell into a collective "Bengbu" (slang for 'couldn't hold it together') as Wallace neatly skewered the analytical tiger. Steven Stone, the rich, handsome noble son of Hoenn, had thousands of female fans and looked like a playboy on the outside. But in reality? He had zero actual relationship experience.
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