Chapter 74 - 74 - A House at the Valleys

By 4:00 p.m., an hour after going to Pokémon Center and waiting for his Pokémon to be healed, Rico and his team are at the sloped hill part of the valley next to the river, lying down on the green grass while gazing towards the sky and white, sailing clouds. His Pokémon are now fine and healthy. The river is flowing through consistently and constantly with an effect. They are relaxing after that hard Pokémon battle, while Jon and Cecilia are also resting. Juan is reading a book nearby while Detective is sipping his cup of tea, which is steaming hot as he sat on a bench. The atmosphere around was calm and relaxing.

"Wow, being a Pokémon Trainer is so good and adventurous," Rico commented his own life as a Pokémon Trainer. Riolu and Litleo then responded with happy saying as they sat next to their beloved Trainer.

"I wonder what is more in being a Pokémon Trainer?" Rico wonders on his mind. Someday, that question will be answered.

Later that day, Rico and his team are walking through the woods for an exercise and the clearing of their minds. The sounds of their feet rumbling against the fallen leaves soothe their mind and the falling leaves create and lovely scene in the forest as the sun sets beautifully and its rays striking through the forest, creating an even more beautiful and calm scene.

"It seems that today was good and peaceful, nothing bad had happened," Rico said to his Pokémon with positive outlook. His Riolu and Litleo then responded with happy agreement. They then turned slightly to the left, only to see a strange house in the woods. Its looks are a bit more like being abandoned, but it was regularly maintained, giving it more protection against the natural elements like wind and rain. Because of this, it seems to be that the house was owner by someone who had a passion of living in the forest. Upon glancing at that one-storey building, Rico and his team became curious and surprised by it, with Rico thinking in his mind, "What is that house?" Then, finally, driven by curiosity, they stepped in without even asking who is home. Just stepping on the wooden porch made them anxious a bit, but they continued on, opening the door, which was left unlocked, slowly and carefully. They had entered the living room of the house, which was a bit messy and chaotic, as if the owner was either too lazy or too busy to clean. The interior was less cluttered with household items and furniture, but the state of it was a bit messy. Books and paper scattered around the floor and sofa; writing instruments and utensils made a mess on the dining table; and finally, canvases, painting supplies, and oil paints are gathered at one corner of the room. This also might be clues about the owner's occupation. Walking across the room, Rico was mystified by room's current state, not by the painting supplies, hypothesizing that the owner must have been busy up to the point of neglecting the cleanliness of the house.

"Why anyone would leave a house this mess?" Rico wondered in his mind. Then, suddenly, someone and her Pokémon came back to that house after an afternoon exercise, alerting Rico and his team. In an attempt to hide, Rico and his team quickly hid behind the sofa and a bookshelf as that person entered the living room with her Pokémon. That person then turned on the light at the living room, giving the room light through the darkness as the sun sets. She then put her art supplies away beside the bookshelf and went to the small kitchen to make a snack meal for herself and her brother. Watching her and her Pokémon's shadows moving from his hiding place, Rico's mind was renewed by the fact that the owner was a female, and her Pokémon are a Manectric and a Wormadam, an Electric-type and a Bug and Grass-type.

"Woah, those Pokémon are so cool," Rico commented in his mind. He and his team then slowly come out of their hiding place and tried to sneak out of the house. But, that owner came home with her brother, the current champion Edward, who was resting in the living room. And upon them trying to sneak out, Edward became surprised and familiar with Rico, before asking him, "Rico Titus?" This startles them and they slowly turned their heads towards Edward and his team with a scared look on their faces.

"What are you doing in my sister's house?" Edward asked them another question. This causes Rico and his team to apologize with repeated bowing while saying, "I'm sorry!" The apology was repeated as Edward and his team became confused until Edward's sister, named Camellia, came to the living room with a tray of snacks.

"Brother, what is going on?" Camellia spoke up in question. Upon hearing Camellia's voice, Rico and his team turned towards her and freaked out, apologizing to her for trespassing into her home as well. This causes Camellia to chuckle in irony.

"It's okay, kid. I didn't know you went in. I actually forgot to lock the door," she cheerfully responded to them. This statement caused Rico and his team to stop apologizing and became puzzled.

"What? Brother?"

Shortly thereafter, they are all in the living room, trying to sort out all the mis- understandings and misconceptions, with Rico sipping on a glass of water.

"All right then, Rico, this is my sister Camellia," Edward introduced his sister to him, "she's an artist and a botanist. She lived here so she could paint and study about plants." Then to Camellia, "Sis, this is Rico Titus, a kid from Kawayan City, and a Pokémon Trainer." He gets this information from Detective Trevor and Professor Campillo.

"Nice to meet you," Camellia happily responded to Rico.

"Nice to meet you, too, Camellia," Rico brightly responded back. He then looked at her Pokémon, and got surprised and amazed by them.

"Wow, your Pokémon looks so cool."

"Oh, this is Manectric and Wormadam," Camellia introduced her Pokémon to Rico. In response, Riolu and Litleo then responded with greeting. Manectric and Wormadam then responded back with greeting as well. After a little silence, Rico asked Camellia if Edward was the Pokémon champion of the Philas region.

"Yes, for more than 10 years," answered Camellia with facts. "No one could beat his Pokémon."

"Oh, I see," Rico responded back knowing. "Well, I really liked your Pokémon. They are so cool." Starly then responded with happy commentary.

"Thanks," Camellia happily responded back. Rico then pulled out his Pokédex and point it towards Manectric; his Pokédex then responded, "Manectric, the Discharge Pokémon, and the final evolved form of Electrike. An Electric-type. It discharges electricity from its mane. It creates a thundercloud overhead to drop lightning bolts."

"Wow, it's so, so cool," Rico commented in surprise with a low voice. He then turned his Pokédex's direction towards Wormadam; his Pokédex then responded, "Wormadam, the Bagworm Pokémon, and the final evolved form of Burmy. A Bug and Grass-type. When evolving, its body takes in surrounding materials. As a result, there are many body variations."

"Wow, so fascinating," Rico commented with surprised. He then put his Pokédex back in his pants pocket. It was an ironical time for Rico, but in the end, everything went good and great.