Pidgeot was hit and dropped the ring from his beak, only to catch it with his foot. "Tailwind!" Liam called. the huge bird began to pick up speed as he got closer to the goal.

"Acrobatics!" Honoh flitted out of sight again before reappearing in front of Mega Pidgeot doing aileron rolls in an imitation of a Drill Peck attack.

"Air Cutter!" Liam called. a sickle of air shot toward the Talonflame.

-

"Brave Bird!" Honoh flitted out of sight to avoid the Air Cutter and from above, the Talonflame looked like a comet as it was surrounded by bright blue energy, diving towards Mega Pidgeot at almost transonic speed.

"Corkscrew toward Honoh and us Brave Bird as well!" Liam called.

Mega Pidgeot altered course and after conjuring a bright blue glow as well, flew up at Honoh. The two birds both looked like comets as they flew straight at each other and when they collided, an explosion issued forth. Shiranui was concerned for Honoh, but wondered what would happen next.

When the dust cleared, both Pokémon were out cold in a heap. Pidgeot had returned to normal, and the ring was sitting on the goal hook. Reviewing footage from an aerial camera showed that Pidgeot had tossed the ring toward the goal at the last minute before the collision. Liam was named the winner. Liam used a Max Revive on Pidgeot and tossed one to Shiranui for Honoh. Liam received the trophy and the egg. He arranged for the trophy to be sent home.

Shiranui thanked Liam for the Max Revive and promptly used it to fully heal Honoh. He started thinking about what strategies to use against Winona after things started calming down.

Liam knew the tricks to accelerate the hatching of a Pokémon egg, such as the proximity of a Pokémon with the Flame Body ability. But for now, the brown and purple colored egg would not be able to receive such aide. Liam was also trying to finalize his plan of attack for the gym. He sent Pidgeot to Oak's lab to take a break. He called in another Pokémon that would in theory do well at the gym.

Shiranui wondered what the egg would hatch into as well. "We know Winona uses Flying-types and we also know of their weaknesses, but we should be wary of anything she may use that would cover those types," he stated.

Liam was ready to go to the gym and get his sixth Hoenn Badge. He went to see of Shiranui was ready as well after taking a break at the Center.

Shiranui made adjustments to his party and was now ready to take on the gym.

The heroes went to the gym. She inquired which would go first, as well as that each trainer would use three Pokémon.

"I went first last time," stated Shiranui, "You can take this one, Liam."

Winona sent out Peliper. Liam sent out Pikachu. Liam had been rotating Pikachu to the team periodically to help with his training. It was now time to see if the training had paid off.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Liam called. Peliper grounded itself with its wing, and minimized the damage it took.
"Steel Wing!" She ordered. Pikachu was hit with the steel type move, but Static was triggered.
"Propell yourself into the air with Iron Tail!" Liam called. Pikachu slammed his tail on the ground and soared into the air, landing on Peliper, who was unable to shake him off due to the status condition.
"Now, Thunder!" The lighting attack brought Peliper crashing to the ground. Winona recalled it.

---

Winona next called on Altaria. Liam swapped out for Froslass.
"Aerial Ace!" Winona called.
"Ice Beam!" Liam ordered. Froslass was hit. Froslass than fired the ice attack and clipped a wing on the opponent, rending flight impossible. Winona called for Flamethrower. Liam ordered for Hail, which triggered Snow Cloak, allowing Froslass to avoid the fire.
(Hail 1)
Altria was than ordered to use Astonish, which worked and Froslass flinched.
(Hail 2)
Altria tried Flamethrower again. Froslass used Ice Beam again, both scored a critical hit and it was a double KO.

---

Winona sent out her Shiny Swellow and Liam switched for his shiny Lapras.
(Hail 3)
Liam called for Parish Song. Lapras sang a grim song that put a counter on both Pokémon. Swellow used Steel Wing.
(Hail 4, Song 1)
Liam had Lapras use Sing in attempt to void any more hits. The song failed and Swellow tried Aerial Ace, getting a critical hit.
(Hail 5, Song 2)
Swellow went for another Aerial Ace and Liam called for Protect.
(Song 3)
Parish Song struck and KO'd the shiny Swellow. Liam received the Feather Badge.

After Winona healed her Pokémon, it was time for Shiranui to take her on. The gym leader opened with her shiny Swellow and Shiranui sent Hoshi out. "Swellow, Double Team!"
"Hoshi, Telekinesis!" Swellow flitted back and forth, creating illusory copies. Hoshi soon put a stop to that, literally, by holding Swellow in a psychic grip that was like a temporary one-sided version of the No Guard ability, its crystal core glowing a bright green colour.
"Swellow, Aerial Ace!"
"Hoshi, Thunder!" Swellow was able to swoop in and nail Hoshi for a hit right in the crystal core before lightning struck the bird for a one-hit knockout.

---

Winona—in a deviation from her battle with Liam—sent out a Skarmory. "Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon. Skarmory is entirely encased in hard, protective armor. This Pokémon flies at close to 190 mph. It slashes foes with its wings that possess swordlike cutting edges." Shiranui kept Hoshi out and the next round was on.
"Skarmory, Air Cutter!"
"Hoshi, Reflect Type!" Winona was surprised to see Hoshi change colours. The Starmie looked like it was made of platinum with the area surrounding its crystal core a metallic gold. Skarmory sliced and diced the air, sending pneumatic slices at Hoshi, but now that the Starmie was a Steel/Flying type, the move was resisted.
"Skarmory, Metal Sound!"
"Hoshi, Magic Coat!" The Starmie's core glowed a red colour as it conjured a lustrous shield. Skarmory scraped the edges of its wings against each other, producing a sound like fingernails scraping a blackboard. Hoshi's shield echoed the sound right back and Skarmory felt a harsh drop in its Special Defence stat instead.
"Skarmory, Steel Wing!"
"Hoshi, Flash Cannon!" Hoshi collected the light energy reflecting off its body and let out a bright flash that did minor damage on Skarmory while Skarmory swooped in and struck the Starmie with its wings.
"Skarmory, Steel Wing once more!"
"Hoshi, Thunder!" The Starmie's core glowed yellow before lightning struck Skarmory into a knockout.

---

Winona sent out her Altaria and Shiranui switched Hoshi for Senritsu—his own Altaria.
"Altaria, Dragon Breath!"
"Senritsu, Hyper Voice! Mega Ring activate!" Shiranui activated the keystone on his Mega Ring and an orb surrounded his Altaria. The orb shattered to reveal a Mega Altaria. Winona was surprised not only at Senritsu's new look, but also at the fact that the Mega Altaria was not affected by her own Altaria's attack. Senritsu let out a very loud chirp that Altaria barely survived.
"Your Altaria can become a Fairy type?" Winona asked, surprise still evident in her voice.
"Not just any Fairy type—Senritsu now has the Pixilate ability, which turns any Normal-type move she uses into a Fairy-type move and increases its power," answered Shiranui.
"Altaria, Roost!"
"Senritsu, Disarming Voice!" As Winona's Altaria was descending for a landing, Senritsu let out a series of adorable chirps. Altaria crash landed on hearing Senritsu's move, knocked out. Shiranui had won the Feather Badge.

During the gym battle while Liam was watching, Pikachu rustled through his trainer's bag and pulled out some sweets and began eating them. After the battle, Liam was ready to head to the Pokémon Center before they moved on.

Shiranui was ready to head to the Pokémon Centre after storing his Feather Badge.

Liam handed over his Pokémon to Joy once he is was at the Center.