Chapter 103 - 55 - End of the Short Tour!

At the Pokémon Center, not too far from the river, as their Pokémon was healing up, the group are resting from their nervous trek to the Abandoned Power Plant. Rico was playing with Shinx and Starly; Ash was doing his tech work of building a small mechanical engine, in the size of a one-by-one wooden plank, while Serena was brushing Delphox's fur. Shinx hot really along with the rest of Rico's team, especially Starly.

"Wow, Ash," Rico said to Ash happily with thanksgiving, "thanks for taking us here. I was really grateful to be able to explore this region." Litleo then responded with happiness.

"You're welcome, Rico," Ash replied back.

"But at least you learn some lessons," Iris commented, "like walking very long distances and not always using an advantage in battles."

"I know, I know," Rico responded back to the former, "I'll practice to walk more and more." Crossing her arms, Iris replied, "Alright, but make sure you bring more food and water."

"I already know that, you know!" Rico responded back. Iris then laughed at his saying as Rico kept telling her that it's not funny. Clemont, watching them from across the room, then thought like, "Oh, boy, these two are such kids."

Later on, they went back inside the Abandoned Power Plant to have a chat with Zapdos. In turn, Zapdos told them about the time it encountered Ash and his team back at the Kalos region, including the time Ash's Noibat evolved into Noivern.

"Woah, Noivern?" Iris commented in amazement.

"Wow, that was awesome, Ash," Rico added in positive amazement as well.

"Yup," Ash happily replied. His Pikachu then responded with happiness.

"That was amazing that you had met a Legendary Pokémon," Trip humbly commented back.

"Actually, Trip," Ash corrected him in response, "I met a lot of Legendary Pokémon." This surprises his rival a lot.

"Ash, this place was such a solitary for a Legendary Pokémon like Zapdos," Rico commented in loving it. "Not to mention its creepy structure. It doesn't have to be a fancy and well-maintained." His Lucario and Prinplup then responded with happy comment.

"Yeah, that makes sense, Rico," Ash replied back in positivity.

By 5:16 p.m., they said goodbye to Zapdos and thanked it for having a great time with them, before heading back to the Pokémon Center. There they had a hearty dinner, prepared for the night, and slept by 9:44 p.m. The moon was blocked by the clouds, but yet still shines through the night.

The next morning, they got up, ate a short breakfast, and left the Pokémon Center, thanking Nurse Joy for her hospitality. They walked along towards Cerulean City, where they will be flying back to Pallet Town on Ash's Flying-type Pokémon. The sun was shining, but the sky is sparsely filled with white and light grey clouds, but rain is not the sign.

By midday, they stopped aside to eat lunch, under the trees from the hot sun. Serena and Rico will cook and make for them, with their Pokémon as helpers. The rest couldn't wait for the lunch to be served. Rico had brought his portable stove and pots, along with utensils for stirring and slicing. He only had a foldable dagger for slicing, but he makes sure he washes out before using for slicing ingredients, for sanitary reasons. He also brought his curry powder and other small packs of spices, and had recently shopped at Celadon City for vegetables. So, they'll be cooking Yellow Curry, some nice green salad, and freshly steamed rice. A bit later, they are now done and now eating their hearty and hot lunch, while their Pokémon are eating their special food on food bowls. The atmosphere around them are lovely and calm.

"Wow, this curry's delicious!" Serena commented in loving it.

"I can't believe you could cook like this," Trip calmly and humbly added another commented. Happily nodding to say yes, Rico responded back, "Yeah, I spent a few months perfecting it. And that's a really good one than my first try." Though it was spicy, but they can handle the heat.

"Make sure you eat your vegetables," Ash happily reminded them, "or you'll not be stronger to be Pokémon Trainer." His friends then get what he was saying while eating.

Meanwhile, Chespin finished eating its food and wanted for more. Nearby, Litleo was blissfully eating its food. Wanting more food, Chespin reached for Litleo's food, grabbed a handful of it, and shove it in its mouth. This upsets Litleo a lot and responded with scolding. But Chespin was not paying attention to it, and annoyed by it, Litleo headbutt it, hurting Chespin very mildly, surprising Lucario suddenly. Getting up, Chespin retaliated by pushing Litleo away with force. Litleo then retaliated back by ramming at Chespin in resentment. Getting up again, Chespin looked at it in anger, and then sparked another rivalry in fierce. Seeing this, Lucario get up, ran to its Trainer and to Clemont, and responded to them with telling. Alerted by Lucario's telling, Rico and Clemont put aside their food, stand up, and ran to where their Pokémon are having a rivalry. The rest got alerted as well, putting aside their food, stand up, and ran with Rico and Clemont.

"Litleo, stop it!" Rico told Litleo upon seeing this rivalry.

"Chespin, stop this instant!" Clemont told Chespin. But the two Pokémon wouldn't listen to their Trainers and continued their rivalry. The rest just watched them fight. Chespin used Pin Missile, and its spikes on its head stiffen and glow white. It then fires white orbs trailing green streams of light at Litleo. But Litleo quickly dodged it and used Flamethrower, opening its mouth and scorched an intense blast of fire, burning Chespin severely. Stunned by being burned, Chespin fell to the ground and fainted in defeat. Shocked by this, Clemont ran to his Chespin, carry it in his arms, and asked, "Chespin, are you okay?" Chespin then responded bȧrėly in defeat. Rico ran to his Litleo, called it back to its Poké Ball, and said to it in concern, "Litleo, I think that's enough for you then." Rico then turned towards Clemont and apologized for his Pokémon's actions.

"It's okay, Rico," Clemont calmly accepted his apology in desperate, "I'm sorry about my Chespin as well."

"It's alright," replied Rico back in concern. In response to this, Ash facepalms and sighed in disappointment.

"That reminds me of my Oshawott and Pignite," Ash commented, "or at that time, Pignite is still a Tepig." This catches the attention of his friends.

"A rivalry between your Oshawott and Pignite?" Clemont asked back.

"Yeah," Iris answered while crossing her arms, "in the past, they used to fight just because Oshawott took a bit of Tepig's food." This dismays Rico, Serena, and Clemont.

"Really?" Rico commented, "just a bit of Pokémon food?"

"And they began fighting?" Clemont added as well. Ash then nodded to say yes.

"Wow, I can't believe Ash's past was mostly full of hardships, including tackling the rivalries of his Pokémon," Rico thought in commentary. They then all went back to eat, with Rico calling Litleo out so Litleo could continue eating its food. Litleo did so, and resumed eating. Clemont, meanwhile, was healing his Chespin of its burn.