Chapter 101 - 53 - The Shinx Encounter

Later back at their hotel, while having dinner, Rico told them his story on how he met Starly and the events that led him owning it, in every detail. Minutes later, his friends are really amazed and stunned at his long and detail-interlaced story, with Clemont commenting, "Wow, such a great hero you were...."

"Yeah, what a brave kid!" Ash added. His Pikachu then responded with happy comment.

"Such a good kid!" Iris added as well. But Trip commented like, "Heh, you only care about your Pokémon rather then being strong in a short time." Insulted by this, Rico retorted back, "Hey! That wasn't nice! It will take a long time to be strong, you know! You can't just shortcut it!" Serena and Ash then tried to calm Rico down, and Rico lower his temper gradually.

"Losing my temper can be a pain for me," he commented shortly thereafter. This follows by a short silence. Then, Iris asked Rico a question breaking the silence, "So, why Starly's not with you for a long time?"

"Well..." Rico answered while scratching his head in thinking and mild embarrassment, "... because it wanted to be with its friends. Around five of them."

"Oh, I get it now," Serena get it now.

"That was strange," Ash added in commentary. His Pikachu and Greninja then responded with commentary.

"So it didn't train itself?" Clemont asked a question.

"Nope, it did while I was gone," Rico corrected him in response.

"Oh, I see," Clemont get it now too. It was a good night, with the moon rising over the nightly sky.

Later by 10:06 p.m., at his hotel room with Clemont and Bonnie, while the rest are sleeping, Rico was lying on his bed while looking at the ceiling, as if he had insomnia, in the dark.

"Wow, today was an awesome day," he commented in mind, "a battle with Clemont, Starly's back, and a strategy against Red Eye. I hoped my mom, dad, and big brother will be fine..." Before he could continue thinking, Rico reached for his phone and texted his brother about his day, in every event that happened in that day. Minutes later, Jonathan texted him back, replying, "Wow, dude, that was really cool. And good luck with Starly as well. I hoped that it trained well. Good night." After finished reading this, Rico replied back, put his phone on the nightstand, and went to sleep peacefully.

"Woah, we won't," Rico commented.

"I don't want to happen that," Iris added in worry. Rico then turned from worry to positive confidence, saying that he will catch a new Pokémon, but without any expectation on what type.

"Since it's a Power Plant..." Ash concludes what type is the most common in that place, "... Electric-types are dominant, because sparks of electricity still exists there." This stuns Rico a lot, but Rico snapped out, took a deep breath, and replied with confidence, "Okay then, Electric-type it is." Then in mind, "An Electric-type? I hoped I would get one."

At 1:00 p.m., after lunch, they set out to reach that Power Plant, but it had a few obstacles. First, they must go to a river far from the Pokémon Center; secondly, they must ride a boat and crossed the river to likely the middle of the river's length. It took them a lot of time and effort, but worth it. And as they get off the boat, they were surprised a s marveled at the Power Plant's haunted and creepy structure, as if it was abandoned years ago, for some unknown reasons. It was full of cracks of concrete, broken or torn wires, shattered windows, and a gloomy and messed up interior, where the Electric-type Pokémon dwell in. They were unsure and doubt its guarantee of safe passage, but Ash was confident to do so.

"I'm not sure about this, Ash," Rico said in unsure and terror.

"This looks creepy to me," Clemont added as well. Dedenne and Rico's Pokémon then responded in unsure.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Ash responded to them in positive confidence, "As long as we stay together." And so, they pulled their flashlights, except for Rico, who will be using the flashlight function of his phone, turned them on, and went inside the plant. Will they survive inside, or abort their trek?

Inside, Electric-type Pokémon are dwelling in the floor's broken, rarely-lit, disorganized, and chaotic environment. Ash, Rico, and the rest are stayed together, exploring the place and looking at the Pokémon in various reactions.

"Those Pokémon are so fascinating," Rico commented. Lucario and Starly then responded in comment.

"These are really cool and nice," Trip added. Then, suddenly, they come across a Shinx, an Electric-type Pokémon, playing around in the middle of their path.

"Who's that Pokémon?" Rico asked in stunning.

"That's a Shinx," Clemont answered him in response. Hearing what Clemont had said, Rico pulled his Pokédex, and pointed it towards Shinx; his Pokédex then responded, "Shinx, the Flash Pokémon. An Electric-type. Its forelegs have a muscle-based system of generating. Its body shines if endangered."

"Wow, so cool," Rico commented in rising amazement. He then put his Pokédex back in his pants pocket, and get one of his spare Poké Ball. He then activated it and said, "I'll catch that Pokémon." However, the wild Shinx noticed them and got terrified, using Spark on them. Luckily, the group dodged, but Rico got electrified, surprising his team suddenly; Rico then fell to the ground as the wild Shinx fled the scene. Ash and Serena, alerted by this, then help Rico get up and asked him if he's okay. Standing up and picking his Poké Ball up, Rico replied, "Yup, I'm fine. But I wanted to catch that Pokémon." He and his team then went ahead of his group, prompting the rest to catch up with them. Will Rico succeed in catching that Shinx, or not? Meanwhile, Team Rocket are planning to capture Zapdos with a well-arranged plan, but it will be proved to be a failure.

Further up to the building, Rico was still pursuing Shinx across the hallways, while begging it to stop running. Shinx won't, and still runs away from him.

"Rico, wait up!" Iris begged Rico to stop. Her Axew then responded with desperate.

"I am determined to catch that Pokémon, you know!" Rico exclaimed back.

"Wow, he is determined and brave," Iris thought in mind. Then, after a few minutes of running and chasing, Shinx was finally cornered at a dead end. Approaching it without any threat or contempt, Rico tried to convince it, "Come on, it's okay, I'll just catch you and put you in a Poké Ball." Shinx was terrified still in desperate.

"I will be a good and responsible Trainer for you," Rico positively made a promise to Shinx with a guarantee. Influenced by Rico's words, Shinx lower its guard down and responded with unsure and doubt. Smiling at it, Rico replied back like, "I'm sure." Surprised by his response, Shinx responded with happiness and acceptance. However, Litleo wanted to have a battle with it, but Chespin intervened and get into Litleo's way. This results in another spark of rivalry, responding with insults to each other. Luckily, Axew and Pikachu tried to separate them apart, and Rico and Clemont scolded them for fighting. This calms Litleo and Chespin, but still looking away at one another in rivalry.

A few minutes later, Rico granted Litleo's wish and two Pokémon had a battle at a wide field. Ash and others are watching them from one side. Rico was well minded to catch that Shinx. He then asked Litleo, "Are you ready, Litleo?" Litleo then seriously responded with nodding of agreement.

"I hoped he would succeed," Clemont thought in mind.

Then, the battle had began. Shinx used Spark, throwing an electrically-charged tackle at Litleo, but Litleo quickly dodged it in alert.

"Litleo, use Ember!" Rico commanded Litleo. Litleo then used Ember, attacking Shinx with small flames, striking it with power. Shinx was now mildly weakened to the ground.

"Wow, good work, Litleo," Rico positively commented in amazement. Litleo then responded seriously. In another attempt to retaliate, Shinx got up and used Spark again, striking Litleo effectively, and had it paralyzed. This surprises them.

"Oh, no, Litleo! Are you okay?" Rico asked in desperate. Litleo then responded in saying that it is not okay.

"I think Rico would not succeed with a paralyzed Pokémon," Trip commented.

"Let's just watch until the end, Trip," replied Serena in response. Litleo was now struggling to get up and then used Ember again, this time, it weakened ever more. When the time is right, Rico threw his Poké Ball towards Shinx and shouted, "Go Poké Ball!" The Poké Ball hit Shinx on the head, opening it and caused Shinx to go inside it, and then closed back and fell to the ground, while trying to intact Shinx in it. Rico was in pressure of waiting and luck. And then, surprisingly, the Pokémon was successfully intact in its Poké Ball. Having caught his fifth Pokémon, Rico ran to pick it up, raised it to the air, and rejoiced, "Yeah! I just caught a Shinx!" Lucario and Starly then happily joined their Trainer in rejoicing. After that moment, Rico gently pick Litleo up and gave it a Paralyze Heal, healing it from its paralysis. Litleo was now happy again, as Ash commented, "Wow, you just caught a new Pokémon, and heal up Litleo." Pikachu and Greninja then responded with happy comment.

"You had your first Electric-type," Clemont added as well, "That'll give you an advantage against Water-type." Dedenne then responded with happiness.

"Thanks, you guys," Rico happily responded back gratefully. It was a success, like a gamer having won a boss battle level hard.