Chapter 73 - 32 - Nostalgic Memories

Third day of their stay in their growing hometown, 2 days before their departure back to Kanto, Rico was preparing to see his friend Wesley in Muñoz Town, seeing how he and his Pokémon had grown up, after days of separation. And in their old house, Rico was wearing his precious jacket and putting on his white socks and colored shoes in preparation for his exciting visit.

Later at the city's railway station, Rico arrived there on foot.

Moments later, after purchasing the ticket to his destination, Rico proceeded to the station platform and sat on a concrete bench in waiting for the scheduled train to come. He passed time by watching and listening to piano tutorial videos in his smartphone on headset. By 9:10 a.m., at last, the train had arrived at the station on time. And as the doors are opened, many passengers disembarked on their destination station. Rico, like many departing passengers, then boarded the train, proceeding to the third coach, where the accommodation is business class with tables and storage unit for baggage. After much searching, he settled at table for four, putting his shoulder bag on the table and calling his Litleo and Piplup out of their Poké Balls and they stepped onto the seats.

"My Pokémon, we will go to visit Wesley and his place!" Rico announced with almost excitement. His Pokémon in response then shouted in enthusiasm and with caution. Half an hour later, the doors are closed and the train is departing from the station in rising speed as the passengers rested and enjoyed the view and interior.

Later in the journey, as the train is picking up speed, Rico and his Pokémon are glancing towards the train window, seeing the wild Pokémon inhabiting the plains, forests, nearby rivers while crossing bridges, and hills.

In less than 2 hours, the train had arrived at Muñoz Town, which was grown a bit. And as the doors are open, Rico called all of his Pokémon back to their Poké Balls, put them in his Pokébelt, and exited the train whilst wearing his shoulder bag. And after exiting the station, Rico took a look of the town in confidence.

Now walking in the streets of this rural town, Rico was sight-seeing around, seeing how the town and her presence had developed, bit by bit. In no time, he arrived at Wesley's bakeshop. And upon seeing his friend waving in greeting, Wesley, while restocking some pastry in a basket, was amazed and happy to see him; he then put the pastry quickly in the basket, rushed to Rico, and hugged him in embrace.

"Rico!" he responded while shedding a few tears of joy, "You should've call so I could see you at the station."

"Well," Rico happily replied, "I did this as a surprise for you." Happy and wiping his tears, Wesley discharged from hugging.

"You're welcome," Wesley happily retorted. He then sat down and eat with his friend.

"So, how's your Pokémon?" Rico asked him in positivity.

"Oh, my Chimchar is now a Monferno," Wesley responded in coolness while clenching his fist a bit. Stunned by this, Rico commented, "What? That's so cool."

"Also, a Whimsur," Wesley continued brightly.

"A Whimsur?" Rico retorted in puzzling.

"A Whimsur is a Whisper Pokémon from the Hoenn region," Wesley explained, "It may be cute, but it cries with a loud decibel." Shivering by that fact, Rico replied, "That's too scary for me to handle nor own."

"How's your Pokémon?" Wesley brightly asked him back.

"Oh, it's getting better and better, you know," Rico replied with coolness.

"And what's the reason for that?" Wesley replied with confidence.

"My Riolu had evolved into Lucario," Rico replied with confidence. This revelation cause Wesley to be stunned, dropping his half-eaten croissant to the plate in a consistent speed.

"What?" he commented in shock, "It evolved?"

"Yup," Rico happily replied while sitting back and crossed his arms in proud-style, "all thanks by my love, trust, and good deeds towards it." He then called Lucario out of its Poké Ball and it stepped into the scene seriously with coolness.

"What? Lucario?" Wesley commented with amazement, "That was super amazing." He called out his Monferno and it stepped into the scene with coolness.

"Woah, a Monferno," Rico commented in amazement. He then pull out his Pokédex and pointed it towards Monferno; his Pokédex then responded, "Monferno, the Playful Pokémon, and the evolved form of Chimchar. A Fire and Fighting-type. It skillfully controls the intensity of the fire on its tail to keep its for at an ideal distance."

"That was really awesome," Rico commented in stunning; he then put back his Pokédex in his bag and said to his friend, "That was so cool and serious."

"I know right," Wesley responded back with enthusiasm, "Hey, you want a battle with me? Your Lucario versus my Monferno. How's that sound?" Thinking about this, Rico responded with confidence, "Okay!"

At the town square, Rico and Wesley are having a Pokémon battle; their Pokémon are Lucario and Monferno.

"Let's see how your Lucario had grown up so much," Wesley said to Rico in style. Monferno then responded with seriousness.

"Oh, it did," Rico retorted in style. Lucario then responded with seriousness.

"Monferno, use Ember!" Wesley commanded Monferno seriously. Monferno then used Ember, attacking Lucario with small flames.

"Lucario, dodge it!" Rico quickly commanded Lucario in serious coolness. Lucario then dodged Monferno's attacks, causing the Ember to strike the ground and caused a small explosion.

"It's so fast," Wesley commented Lucario's speed in stunning. Then in a serious state, "Oh, yeah, take this! Monferno, use Mach Punch!" Monferno then charged and used Mach Punch, throwing a punch at Lucario at blinding speed, striking it effectively. As Monferno went back to its original position in action, Lucario was weakened to the ground.

"Oh, no, Lucario," Rico commented in alert.

"Heh, Monferno, again!" Wesley commanded Monferno in style. Monferno then again charged and used Mach Punch, throwing a punch at Lucario at blinding speed. But Lucario managed to block Monferno's attack using its paws, stunning both trainers.

"Wow, Lucario was so strong and cool," Rico and Wesley thought simultaneously. Lucario then repelled Monferno and its attack, causing Monferno to be launched back to its original position with minimum pain. Monferno then was weakened to the ground due to the impact. Wesley was shocked, while Rico smiled in confidence and determination.

"Lucario, use Bullet Punch!" Rico commanded Lucario in coolness. Lucario then used Bullet Punch, striking Monferno with a tough punch as fast as a bullet, inflicting it much pain. Lucario then make a back flip and went back to its original position in serious action.

"Quickly, Monferno, attack and use Ember!" Wesley immediately commanded Monferno. Getting up slowly, Monferno charged and about to use Ember.

"Again, use Bullet Punch!" Rico commanded Lucario in quick seriously. Lucario then once again charged and used Bullet Punch, striking Monferno with a tough punch as fast as a bullet, intercepting Monferno's attack and causing it to be launched back to its original position in pain, eventually caused a dust-covered explosion due to impact. And as Wesley coughed repeatedly while waving to clear the dust, the dust settles and Monferno was defeated, fainted in exhaustion. This cause Wesley to get shocked by it and Rico to rejoice in victory; Lucario then hugged him in embrace. Calling his Monferno back to its Poké Ball without any hesitation, Wesley, had turned to be fair and positive, commented, "Wow, what a great battle we had!" He then wiped his sweat with a red handkerchief.

"Yeah, that was so fun," Rico replied brightly while wiping Lucario's sweat with a white and green striped towel. Putting his Poké Ball in his Pokébelt, Wesley responded, "Well, next time, when I trained more, I'll beat you."

"Okay then," Rico happily responded while placing his towel on his right shoulder. They then laughed together as the sun shines thoroughly throughout the day and season.