Chapter 91 - 50 - Friendly Battle

After that laughing time, Clemont was thinking about something, and then, with confidence, turned towards Rico and asked him, "Hey Rico, do you want a battle with me?"

"Huh? A battle?" Rico responded in attention.

"Yes, to test your strength and trust on your Pokémon," Clemont explained its purpose. " Are you ready for it?" Thinking about this, Rico stood up, and responded with cool confidence, "Sure! I'll accept that!" But due to that, Iris thought, "Oh, Rico, don't be reckless..."

Later, at a park in the city, Rico and Clemont are having a Pokémon battle; their Pokémon are Piplup and Chespin. Their friends are present, but Ash and Erika are not, staying at the gym.

"As a gym leader from Lumiose City," Clemont said to him, "you will battle me and my Pokémon."

"Okay," Rico confusedly replied. In his mind, "What is talking about?"

"I will test your strength as a Pokémon Trainer," Clemont responded back. Chespin the responded with cool confidence. Rico then pulled his Pokédex and point it towards Chespin; his Pokédex then responded, "Chespin, the Spiny Nut Pokémon. A Grass-type. Such a thick shell of wood covers its head and back that even a direct hit from a truck wouldn't faze it."

"What the...?" Rico commented in surprise. "That's strong." He then put it back in his pants pocket and turned towards the battle, saying that he was amazed by Chespin.

"Alright then, are you ready?" Clemont asked him with coolness.

The battle was just beginning. The atmosphere around is intense, even the battle had just begun.

"Chespin, use Vine Whip!" Clemont commanded Chespin in coolness. Chespin then jumped and used Vine Whip, striking Piplup with slender, whiplike vines.

"Quickly, dodge it!" Rico quickly commanded Piplup. Piplup then dodged Chespin's attacks and used Hydro Pump opening its mouth and blasted water at high power, striking Chespin while in the air, but not that effective. Chespin fell to the ground, but got up and shook the water off its body.

"Ha! Do you think your little Water-type would beat a Grass-type?" Clemont asked him in retorting.

"Rico, are you nuts?" Iris responded.

"I know, but I think I don't have to use an advantage," Rico immediately told her seriously.

"Chespin, use Pin Missile!" Clemont commanded Chespin. Chespin then used Pin Missile, and the spikes on Chespin's head stiffen and glow white. It then fires white orbs trailing green streams of light at Piplup, striking it with power. Piplup was weakened to the ground.

"Piplup, don't give up!" Rico told it with motivation. Piplup then got up with determination, like a fighter against an enemy, and then, suddenly, it shouted upwards, evolving with effect. Both sides and the audience got stunned and surprised by this evolution, even their Pokémon as well.

"Woah, Piplup's evolving!" Rico thought in commentary.

Meanwhile, back at the gym, Ash, Pikachu, and Erika are at the front of the gym, looking up towards the gym.

"So it got rebuilt. Right?" Ash asked her. His Pikachu then responded in asking.

"Yes, a long time ago," replied Erika in positivity.

"Oh, okay," Ash get it now.

Back at the battle, Piplup is evolving, changing its size, form, and body as everyone glanced in amazement. And then, Piplup successfully evolved into Prinplup, with seriousness. Everyone was amazed, with Rico commenting, "Wow! A Prinplup!" He then once again pulled his Pokédex and point it towards Prinplup; his Pokédex then responded, "Prinplup, the Penguin Pokémon, and the evolved form of Piplup. A Water-type. Its wings deliver wicked blows that snap even the thickest of trees. It searches for prey in icy seas."

"Wow, so awesome..." commented Rico in surprise. He then once again put it back in his pants pocket.

"Ha! Do you think you beat me with that?" Clemont asked him in coolness.

"I better try," Rico seriously replied. Then to his Prinplup, "Are you ready?" Prinplup then responded with nodding to say yes. Then, without any command, Prinplup suddenly learned Peck, charging towards Chespin and jabs it with a pointed beak, striking it very effectively, shocking both sides. Piplup then went back to its Trainer's side in action.

"What? Peck?" Clemont commented.

"That's Peck?" Rico added.

"Flying-type moves are effective against Grass-types," Iris reminded Rico with knowledge.

"I know," replied Rico seriously.

"Again, use Pin Missile!" Clemont quickly commanded Chespin. Snapping out from pain, Chespin used Pin Missile and the spikes on its head stiffen and glow white. It then fires white orbs trailing green streams of light at Prinplup. But Prinplup quickly dodged Chespin's attacks, shocking Clemont once more.

"Use Peck, again!" Rico commanded Prinplup this time. Piplup then once again used Peck, charging towards Chespin and jabs it with a pointed beak, striking it with so much power Chespin got defeated by it, fainting in defeat. This shocks Clemont a lot in despair. Serena, acting as the referee, then announced the battle, "Chespin is unable to battle. Prinplup wins." Hearing her announcement, Rico was stunned at first, and then rejoiced in victory. Clemont called his Chespin back without any hesitation nor contempt, saying to it, "You done great, Chespin, you deserve some rest." He then hold its Poké Ball and said to Rico in positive coolness, "That was a fun battle, Rico, I can't believe you beat, with a Water-type!" Scratching his head in not knowing how, despite the Flying-type move of Prinplup, Rico responded, "Yeah, I probably don't know why, but still effective with a Flying-type move." They all laughed together hilariously for a minute.

"Okay, I take that back," Iris thought her regret on the earlier thought about Rico. If Ash and Pikachu finds this out, they'll be surprised by Rico's luck and a determination not to give up.