Chapter 61 - 20 - A Brothers Reunite

At the forests just outside of Pallet Town, Rico was training his Lucario and Piplup on their Force Palm and Bubblebeam. The log the Pokémon used as a target practice had been beaten up with cuts, water stains, and holes. Litleo and Ash's Rapidash are there watching them training. And as Rico kept on training, Jonathan came and was stunned at Rico's age and appearance.

"R-Rico, is that you?" he asked Rico slowly and softly. Upon hearing him, Rico stopped training and then slowly turned around to see who's calling him, only to see his brother staring at him. Rico then remembered his brother's younger self and looks and compared it to Jonathan's present self. After that, Rico, shedding some tears, slowly responded, "J-Jonathan, is really you?" Jonathan then nodded happily to say yes. Due to this, Rico ran to him and hugged him in embrace and tears.

"Big brother, I...I...," Rico responded with stuttering. Hugging him back, Jonathan softly replied, "It's okay, I'm here for you. I will fix this. Really, I promised." Rico's Pokémon and Ash's Rapidash are then amazed by this upon turning around to see this tear-shedding scene.

After this, Rico and Jonathan sat on the grass, Rico taking a break from his training.

"So, Jonathan," Rico asked him in question, "How's your Pokémon training while you were gone? Do you have any Pokémon? How many?"

"Well," Jonathan replied while thinking, "I had a Greninja and a Boldore, so...." Shocked by this, Rico retorted sharply, "What? A Greninja?"

"Yup," Jonathan happily replied, "Traded from a Raticate. And Boldore, I caught it wild."

He then called his Pokémon and they come out of their Poké Balls in seriousness. Amazed by Jonathan's Pokémon, Rico stand up and commented in enthusiasm, "What the...? That was so cool." His Lucario and Piplup then responded in happy greeting. Jonathan's Pokémon then greeted them back. Rico then pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it towards Boldore; his Pokédex then responded, "Boldore, the Ore Pokémon, and the evolved form of Roggenrola. A Rock-tyoe. When it is healthy, its core sticks out. Always facing the same way, it swiftly moves front to and left to right."

"Wow, it's so cool," Rico commented in low amazement upon hearing this. He put down his Pokédex and responded to his brother in normal, "Wow, that was awesome, big brother." His Lucario then responded in happiness. Suddenly, Ash and his Pokémon, Pikachu, Lycanroc, and Greninja, came to the scene and commented about Jonathan and his Pokémon, "Wow, so you're reunited to your little brother, eh? And wow, is that a Greninja and a Boldore?" Upon seeing him, Jonathan stand up, and responded brightly, "Yes, these two are my Pokémon."

"I actually saved that young man, Rico," Ash brightly informed Rico. Amazed by this, Rico stand up and hugged Ash in embrace.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Ash," Rico happily responded while shedding a few tears, "for saving my brother. I really appreciated it."

"You're welcome," Ash brightly replied. His Pokémon then responded in happy saying. Rico then discharged from hugging as Jonathan and his and Rico's Pokémon smiled in happiness and friendliness. It was a great reunion. But they hoped they would surprise Lucas for that, who was at work and the head of the family.

But still, villains will eventually come to intervene their lives.