Chapter 86 - 45 - Being Tested by a Rival

After healing up and things had settled, Ash, Rico, and their group went to a restaurant in the city to eat lunch, with Trip joining them. Their Pokémon are eating beside them around. The atmosphere is quiet and good, with only a few people and staff present. And as they continue enjoying, Trip commented about Rico, "So you're saying that this kid right here is Rico Titus, or Rico, of another city and region?"

"That's my name," Rico happily responded. "And I currently had three Pokémon."

"Yup, he is," Ash happily added.

"Oh, I see," Trip replied in understanding it. He then turned his head towards Rico's Lucario for a few seconds, and then turned back and replied, "Rico, these Pokémon of yours are really cute and looking strong, I think."

"Thanks, but..." Rico replied in positivity.

"But, I'll test your strength in a Pokémon battle," Trip interrupted him quickly. Surprised by his saying, Rico responded nervously, "Oh, o-okay, sure, w-why not."

"Be careful, Trip is a strong Pokémon Trainer, you know," Ash seriously reminded the young kid while crossing his arms.

"And it won't be easy," Iris added another reminder seriously. Because of their warning, Rico gulped and thought in nervousness, "Oh, no, I forgot, Trip is a strong Pokémon Trainer. I must be careful on commanding my Pokémon." It might be hard, but Rico will do his best. Will he succeed on winning, or not?

When lunchtime is over, they and their Pokémon went to the outskirts of Viridian City and to the forests, the same spot where Ash won against Trip, to have a Pokémon battle. There Rico and Trip went to their positions of against each other. They then called their Pokémon, Lucario and Serperior, and they stepped into battle with seriousness.

"Your Pokémon may looked strong," Trip commented about Rico's chosen Pokémon, "but mine is a lot stronger than yours." Serperior then responded with seriousness.

"I won't be scared of you then," Rico retorted seriously. Lucario then responded with seriousness and determination. Ash then commenced the battle to begin while the girls are watching it.

Then, as the sun shines through, the battle had began.

"Serperior, use Solar Beam!" Trip commanded Serperior seriously. Serperior then used Solar Beam, absorbing sunlight, and then fire it as a beam towards Lucario.

"Quickly, Lucario, dodge it!" Rico commanded Lucario immediately with serious effect. Lucario then dodged Serperior's attack quickly, causing the beam to strike a tree instead.

"Then use Force Palm!" Rico quickly commanded Lucario then. With seriousness, Lucario used Force Palm, running up to Serperior and its palm on it. It then fires a huge light green blast from its paw at Serperior, striking it with power. In this moment, Lucario jumped backwards due to the power of Force Palm and landed perfectly back to Rico's side. Serperior was weakened to the ground, prompting Trip to say, "Serperior, don't give up!"

"Wow, that was a good move, Rico," Ash commented Lucario's move in approval. Pikachu then responded in liking it.

"Nice," Iris added a comment. Axew then responded in liking it, too.

"Oh, yeah," Trip retorted to Rico, "do you think you could win against me, a strong Pokémon Trainer?" Then to Serperior in commanding, "Serperior, use Dragon Tail!" Managing to stand up, Serperior became serious and then used Dragon Tail, charging at Lucario and its tail glows light blue and it hits Lucario with immediate effect, striking it with much pain. As Serperior went back to its Trainer's side, Lucario was weakened to the ground in pain, alerting Rico quickly.

"Oh, no, Lucario, please don't lose," he told it in trying to motivate it. Lucario then get up slowly while trying to fight the pain.

"Wow, it seems that Lucario is not giving up," Iris commented in surprise.

"Alright, Lucario, use Bullet Punch!" Rico commanded Lucario in serious coolness. Standing up straight, Lucario charged at Serperior and used Bullet Punch, striking Serperior with a tough punch as fast as a bullet. But Serperior dodged Lucario's attack fast, causing Lucario to strike the ground instead.

"Use Solar Beam!" Trip quickly commanded Serperior. While in the air, Serperior used Solar Beam, absorbing sunlight and fire it as a beam towards Lucario, striking it with so much power Lucario got defeated by it, fainting in defeat.

"Lucario is unable to battle," Ash announced. "Serperior wins."

"Heh, you're saying?" Trip retorted in style to Rico. Shocked by his lost, Rico sighed in defeat and without any contempt, calling Lucario back to its Poké Ball, saying to it, "You did a good job, Lucario, get some rest." He then put it back in his Pokébelt and stayed down for a little bit. And then, as others became aware of Rico's suspected contempt, Rico rose his head, but in a positive way, responding to Trip, "That's alright, Trip, I just did my best. It's okay if I lost, because being a Pokémon Trainer is not all about winning, but is about learning and growing in progress." This surprises them, but Ash approved this, replying, "That was a good response, Rico."

"Thanks, Ash," Rico happily replied. "That was a good evaluation." Due to this, everyone laughed in happiness. Though Rico lost, Rico will learn his lesson from this experience with a strong Pokémon Trainer, and it will help and aid him in his future adventures.

Later when evening came, back at the Pokémon Center after supper, Ash knocked at Rico's room. Upon hearing him, Rico came in answering while Iris fell asleep to rest her body. Rico then opened the door, only to see Ash with a serious face. Of course in response, Rico was surprised by it, saying, "Ash, what are you doing here?"

"Rico, we need to talk," Ash retorted seriously, "about what you hid." Nervous by his response, Rico replied, "O-Oh, okay, sure why not. About the Bone Rush thing?" Sighing in disappointment, Ash responded, "Yes. You should have told me about it."

"Sorry, Ash," Rico replied in embarrassment "I thought you could not help me with that."

"What?" Ash retorted in puzzling. "What do you mean by that? Of course I could help you with that." Then in a serious state, "You should tell me about that, and I'll help you." Sinking his face in disappointment, Rico apologized to him.

"That's okay," Ash replied in positivity, "It's just a mistake. Just forget about it." Rising his head in positivity, Rico replied, "Thanks, Ash." After that, Ash left and went back to his room. Rico, having learned his lesson, then closed the door calmly.