Chapter 51 - 51 - Battle at the Waters

Later, the mini platforms and one large platform for battling had been raised up from the water, and Rico and Angelina are ready for battle. Their Pokémon are Riolu and Wartortle. Maneki, Mr. Fukui, their Pokémon, and the rest of Rico's Pokémon are at the audience watching the battle, along with Angelina's students and their Pokémon as well.

"Wow, a Wartortle," Rico commented in positive amazement. He then pulled out his Pokédex and point it towards Wartortle; his Pokédex then responded, "Wartortle, the Turtle Pokémon, and the evolved form of Squirtle. A Water-type. It cleverly controls its furry ears and tail to maintain its balance while swimming."

"Such a cool Pokémon," Rico commented in positive amazement. He then put it back in his pants pocket and focused back on Angelina.

"First of all, Rico," Angelina said to him in style, "I am a swimming coach here in addition to being a gym leader. After my parents, I am one of the best swimmers in this peninsula. I have been training since my childhood."

"I know," Rico get it now in positive style, "I'll do my best to beat you." Riolu, on that large separate platform facing its opponent, then responded in positive and confident style.

"I hoped Rico will win," Mr. Fukui commented in doubt and unsure, "I mean, Angelina is a tough, big girl to beat. Only those who had trained well could win against her. She's one of the best in this peninsula."

"Yeah, I knew her for a long time," Maneki agreed to his father.

Back at the battle, the battle had began.

"Wartortle, use Tackle!" Angelina commanded Wartortle with style. Wartortle then use Tackle, charging towards Riolu with full-body tackle.

"Riolu, quickly, dodge it!" Rico quickly commanded Riolu. Riolu then quickly dodged Wartortle's attack by jumping high.

"Then use Focus Blast!" Rico continued on in commanding. While in the air, Riolu then used Focus Blast, heightening its mental focus and unleashes its power, striking Wartortle with power. As Riolu landed back in the platform in action, Wartortle almost collapsed.

"Wow, you are well-trained," Angelina commented Rico's strategy, "but can you handle the power of bubbles?" Then to her Wartortle, "Wartortle, use Bubble Beam!" Standing up, Wartortle used Bubble Beam, opening its mouth and ejected a spray of bubbles at Riolu, striking it up to the point of pushing it to the edge of the platform. But, Riolu managed to withstand it and didn't got knocked out of the platform.

"Riolu! Are you okay?" Rico asked in stunning alert. Riolu then responded, saying that it is alright, before shaking the bubble liquid off its body and face.

"Your Riolu was really lucky," Angelina commented.

"Yeah, it is, but we had trained up a lot, you know," Rico replied back in positivity with a bit of coolness. Then to Riolu, "Riolu, use Karate Chop!" Riolu then jumped high towards Wartortle and used Karate Chop, attacking it with a sharp chop, striking it effectively.

"Woah, that was an amazing move," Angelina commented in surprise, "I could bȧrėly recognize that move."

"Karate Chop." Maneki commented while watching, "That was a good move for a Fighting-type."

"Yeah, it's more like a beginner move for it," Mr. Fukui added as an opinion. Maneki's Pokémon then responded with surprise amazement. Wartortle then collapsed to the platform in pain, and Angelina was shocked in surprise.

"Riolu, use Focus Blast, again!" Rico commanded Riolu in serious coolness. Riolu then used Focus Blast, heightening its mental focus and unleashes its power, striking Wartortle with all its strength and power Wartortle got fainted in exhaustion and defeat. This stuns Angelina and Rico smiled in confidence.

"Wartortle is unable to battle," the gym referee announced, "Riolu wins." Rico, upon hearing this, then rejoiced to it by exclaiming in accomplishment, "Yes! I did it!" Riolu then came to him, and Rico gave it a pat-pat on its head gently.

"Wartortle, you did a great job," Angelina called her Wartortle back to its Poké Ball without any hesitation nor retaliation, "Get some rest." She then hold it firmly and said to Rico, "That was good battle we had, Rico, but, we're just halfway in our battle. One Pokémon might be cute, but strong as well." She then put the Poké Ball in her Pokébelt and switched it to another one, this time, it's Mudkip, one of the starters of the Hoenn region.

"Wow, a Mudkip," Rico delightfully responded. Again, he pulled his Pokédex and point it towards Mudkip; his Pokédex then responded, "Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokémon. A Water-type. In water, Mudkip breathes using the gills on its cheeks. If it is faced with a tight situation in battle, this Pokémon will unleash its amazing power - it can crush rocks bigger than itself."

"Woah, so cool," Rico brightly commented upon hearing it. He then put his Pokédex back in his pants pocket, and focused back on Angelina. At the audience, Maneki commented, "Mudkip can use Mud Slap and it can reduce the opponent's accuracy."

"Right," Mr. Fukui agreed with him. Maneki's Chespin then responded with agreement.

Back at the battle, the second part had began.

"Mudkip, use Tackle!" Angelina commanded Mudkip with style. Mudkip then Tackle, charging towards Riolu with a full-body tackle. Riolu then dodged it quickly, and Rico commanded it, "Riolu, use Karate Chop!" Going down, Riolu used Karate Chop, attacking Mudkip with a sharp chop. But Mudkip was quickly alerted and dodged it.

"Use Mud Slap!" Angelina commanded Mudkip with positive style. Mudkip then used Mud Slap, hurling mud in Riolu's face, striking it with effect, and it reduces its accuracy.

"Oh, no, Riolu!" Rico was alerted with surprise.

"Ha! Your Pokémon will miss its attacks towards mine," Angelina retorted to him with style.

"This is not good," Mr. Fukui noted with possible consequences. "Now Riolu couldn't attack Mudkip now."

"I knew it," Maneki added with expectation.

At the battle, Rico, thinking fast, then commanded Riolu quickly, "Quickly, use Focus Blast!" Riolu then used Focus Blast, heightening its mental focus and unleashes its power, but it missed Mudkip, aborting the attack.

"What? It missed?" Rico commented in alerted despair. Riolu was stunned and surprised by it.

"Alright, use Water Gun!" Angelina commanded Mudkip with style. Mudkip then used Water Gun, blasting Riolu with a forceful of water, striking Riolu with power. Barely getting up, Riolu shakes the water off its body.

"What the...? It's powerful?" Rico commented in sudden surprise.

"That's why me and Mudkip train up for a long time," answered Angelina back with an explanation. Riolu was weakened to the platform in pain. While Rico was distracted, Angelina had her opportunity and immediately commanded Mudkip, "Again use Water Gun!" Looking towards Riolu seriously, Mudkip used Water Gun again, blasting Riolu with a forceful of water, striking it so much Riolu got fainted in defeat. Rico was shocked, so shocked at his first Pokémon being defeated.

"Riolu is unable to battle," the gym referee announced, "Mudkip wins. Last one for Rico." Calling his Riolu back without any contempt or retaliation, Rico said to it, "Riolu, you did a great job. Get some rest." He then put the Poké Ball back to his Pokébelt, turned towards Angelina, and said with positive coolness, "That's alright, Angelina, I had one Pokémon to go, but I'll use my knowledge to beat you."

"Your attitude is good and impressive unlike most of my previous opponents," Angelina evaluated Rico's unselfish attitude and personality. "But, let's continue our battle till the end." She is like a stylish girl of pride and evaluation, but pridefulness is neither her style nor move. Rico then get one of his Poké Balls and called Starly out, and it entered the scene with a positive attitude.

"Wow, a Starly," Angelina commented in positive surprise, "such a good and lovely Pokémon you had."

"Yeah, one of my recent Pokémon," replied Rico. "This one knows a few moves." Starly then responded with seriousness.

"He had a Flying-type," Mr. Fukui commented on Rico's Pokémon.

"Yeah, like me," Maneki agreed with his father. In this case, Rico can have an advantage against Mudkip because Ground-type had no effect on Flying-type. Back at the battle, Angelina commanded Mudkip, "Mudkip, use Mud Slap!" Mudkip then used Mud Slap, hurling mud in Starly's face. But Starly flew high immediately, dodging Mudkip's attack. Angelina was shocked in surprise and Rico smiled in positive confidence.

"Then use Gust!" Rico commanded Starly in cool seriousness. While in the air, Starly used Gust, whipping up a gust of wind using its wings, blowing strong wind against Mudkip. Mudkip then tried to resist the winds, but got blown away and almost fell off the edge of the platform.

"Mudkip, are you okay?" Angelina asked it in surprise alert. Mudkip then managed to get up, but a bit weakened by the Gust.

"Wow, you had outsmarted me," Angelina commented in surprise. Then back to her stylish attitude, "but I'm the strongest in this peninsula. Mudkip, use Water Gun!" Mudkip then used Water Gun, blasting Starly with a forceful of water. But Starly was really alerted, dodging the Water Gun by flying out of the way. This stuns Angelina a lot.

"Use Air Cutter!" Rico commanded Starly seriously. Starly then used Air Cutter, launching razor-like wind to slash Mudkip, striking it with so much power Mudkip was defeated with fainting. Angelina was defeated by Rico of Kawayan City.

"Mudkip is unable to battle," the gym referee announced, "Starly wins, and the battle goes to Rico." Rico then rejoiced in victory, and Starly flew to him in happy victory. Without any contempt or retaliation, Angelina calling her defeated Pokémon back to its Poké Ball, and she said, "Mudkip, you're a great Pokémon. Have some rest." She then put it back in her Pokébelt and said to Rico in an unselfish, positive attitude, "That was an outstanding battle we had. I really liked it. By the next time we see each other again, I'll beat you with my Water-type."

"Thanks," Rico replied back in cool positivity, "we will, in the future." It was a cool and calm time of the day, with a right mindset and personality.

Later, at city's Pokémon Center, as they waited for Rico's Pokémon to be fully healed, Rico was looking down in his Pokédex, browsing the Pokémon entries he had. Maneki and his father are doing their own thing while their Pokémon are on the floor, playing with each other. At this time of day, the Center is not that busy, making the atmosphere calm and peaceful.

"Rico, you're so cool and fair," Maneki commented the battle at the gym. "I was nearly inspired."

"Thank you," Rico happily replied as he sat down on the sofa in comfort. "You know I don't always win."

"That was good of you that you didn't do anything in retaliation," Mr. Fukui commented with a positive effect.

"Yeah, I don't do that, you know," Rico replied while scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Well then, are you ready to meet Maneki's relatives?" Mr. Fukui asked him brightly. Rico then positively nodded to say yes.