Chapter 72: Chapter 72 – Two against two
Third person POV
A bit later, Adrian's two cousins, Aquila and Paulita, alongside their Pokémon, came home early from school. Their local Pokémon school got an early break time from classes for the upcoming Book Festival.
"We're home," Aquila said to his and Paulita's mother.
Rico and the others then looked at them.
Adrian was happy to see them, while his aunt positively said to them, "Welcome back home, you two. Adrian is here."
After both of them took off their shoes, Aquila, Paulita, and their Pokémon walked to the living room, only to see Adrian and his team and friends being in their house.
"Woah, Adrian-kun?" Paulita responded to this.
"Yup, hey there." Adrian smiled back at them.
"So those two are Adrian's cousins…" Rico thought in his mind.
Because of this, Aquila and Paulita took off their backpacks and ran towards Adrian, hugging him tightly for a few seconds on how much they missed him for a long time.
"It's been so long!" Aquila said to him happily.
"Yeah, I know," Adrian responded back, before patting their backs for a couple of moments.
After that, Aquila and Paulita pulled back from hugging, and their mother is happy for them. "Also, say hi to his friends." She then referred that to Rico, Jonathan, and their teams. Seeing that, Aquila and Paulita looked at them.
"Hi there," Rico said to them positively in response, "I'm Rico Cruz of Kawayan City. This is my Pokémon, Riolu."
Riolu then responded with positive coolness.
"I'm Jonathan Cruz," Jonathan added, "I am Rico's older brother, and this is my Pokémon, Greninja."
Greninja then responded with seriousness.
Riolu and Greninja really caught the two siblings' attention, and Aquila and Paulita were amazed at their appearance.
"Wow, so amazing…"
"Those two are so cool!"
"Thanks," Rico happily responded back.
Adrian was happy that his two cousins had gotten along with his friends.
Later after that, Rico, Jonathan, Adrian, Aquila, Paulita, and their Pokémon teams are out walking the narrow streets and staircases of Galen City's sloped and coastal neighborhood. Along the way, Rico and Jonathan shared to Aquila and Paulita about their entry into Camellia's gym and how Rico had won to acquire the gym badge. Hearing all that, the two young cousins were surprised that Rico was in the Philas League and acquiring gym badges was one of the crucial steps for entry.
"Woah…"
"That's amazing!"
"Yeah, but it wasn't easy," Rico responded back, "because Camellia is a little tougher than I thought."
"Yup, she was," Adrian replied back, "she had a lot of experience."
His two cousins and Rico got that.
A bit later, all of them stopped at a concrete field next to some houses on the cliff's edge. There Aquila wondered about something and then turned to Adrian. "By the way, did you become a Pokémon Trainer?"
"Yes, I did," Adrian replied back positively.
"What is your first Pokémon?" Paulita asked.
"It's a Bulbasaur."
Adrian's Bulbasaur then responded in greeting.
Paulita and Aquila were amazed to see that.
Then, both of them looked at Rico.
"Hey, you're a Pokémon Trainer, right?" Aquila asked him. "You said that you had went into Camellia's gym."
"Yes, I am," Rico positively replied back.
After that, all of them stood on that field, and Aquila and Paulita asked Rico and Adrian for a Pokémon battle.
"A Pokémon battle?" Adrian replied back.
Paulita then nodded. "Yes, we just became Trainers, too. Let's test each other's strengths."
Rico and Adrian then agreed and accepted their request.
"Okay!"
"Let's do it!"
And so, the four of them had a Pokémon battle on that concrete, vacant field; it was two versus two. Their Pokémon are Riolu and Bulbasaur on one side and Budew and Karrablast on the other. Jonathan and the others are nearby watching the battle.
Seeing Budew and Karrablast made Rico a bit amazed. "Wow, those two Pokémon are awesome."
He then pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it at Budew; his Pokédex then responded, "Budew, the Bud Pokémon. A Grass and Poison-type. Over the winter, it closes its bud and endures the cold. In spring, the bud opens and releases pollen."
"Woah…" Rico commented, before pointing the Pokédex towards Karrablast; his Pokédex then responded, "Karrablast, the Clamping Pokémon. A Bug-type. These mysterious Pokémon evolve when they receive electrical stimulation while they are in the same place as Shelmet."
"Wow, nice…" Rico commented, before putting his Pokédex back in his pants pocket and focusing back to the Pokémon battle.
All four Pokémon are ready for the battle.
And then, the battle began. "Karrablast, use Fury Cutter!" Paulita commanded Karrablast with cool seriousness. Karrablast then Fury Cutter, slashing the Riolu with claws.
"Riolu, dodge that and use Focus Blast!" Rico immediately commanded Riolu.
Riolu did so and used Focus Blast, heightening its mental focus and then unleashes its power.
This strikes Karrablast a lot, but it managed not to get defeated by it.
"Budew, use Poison Sting!" Aquila commanded.
Budew then used Poison Sting on Bulbasaur, stabbing it with a poisonous barb of some sort.
But Bulbasaur dodged that easily, and Adrian commanded it. "Use Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur then used Vine Whip on Budew, striking it with slender, whip-like vines to inflict damage.
This strikes Budew some damage.
Aquila and Paulita were stunned at Riolu's and Bulbasaur's quick dodging skills but were determined to be undeterred by it.
"Quickly, Budew, use Absorb on Riolu!" Aquila commanded Budew.
Budew then used Absorb on Riolu, draining some of its energy.
Riolu felt that, but it managed to stand on its own still.
"Riolu, quickly use Quick Attack!" Rico commanded Riolu upon seeing that.
Riolu then used Quick Attack, charging at Budew at a fast pace.
"Now use Tackle!" Aquila commanded Budew.
Budew did so but got knocked out by Riolu instead.
This time, Budew was defeated, leaving Karrablast in the battle.
Aquila was shocked that he lost, but he accepted it, calling his defeated Budew back. "You did great.'
With that, he glanced at Paulita. "Well, sis, you're on your own now."
Paulita then nodded, determining to win against Rico and Adrian.
But who will win?