Chapter 50 - Kale vs. Rico

The next day, after breakfast, Rico, Jonathan, and their Pokémon went to Kale's gym to see if it was open. When they arrived there, they saw that the sign on the front door was gone, as if the gym was now open.

"It's now open?" Rico asked.

"I think so," Jonathan answered him. "Well, let's go in."

Rico then agreed with him, and he, Jonathan, and their Pokémon then pulled the door open and they went in. Inside the gym, they saw the fiery theme of the gym's interiors. Designs of Tamato Berries and jalapenos and fiery flames dominated the walls. The tiled floor was red and green, and the pattern was both complex and repeating. Then, on the terrace, Kale Legazpi was sitting on his red armchair waiting for any Trainer to come and challenge him. That terrace was accessible by stairs, and the hall was huge. Luckily, the building is made of concrete and steel so fires are not a problem.

"Woah, this is so cool," Rico commented.

Riolu then responded in commentary.

Then, Kale looked at them, and noticed that Jonathan, his friend, was with Rico. He then stand up and called Jonathan's name.

"Oh, hey, Kale," Jonathan responded in greeting. "How's your harvesting?"

Rico was shocked to find out that Jonathan knows Kale as a friend.

"Wait, what?"

"Oh, Rico, this is Kale Legazpi," Jonathan explained to him with an introduction, "he's the gym leader here and my friend." Then to Kale, "Kale, this is Rico, my younger brother."

"Mmm, I already know that," Kale said in response. "Jonathan told me about you. So, did you became a Pokémon Trainer? What is your first Pokémon?"

"Um, yes, I am a Pokémon Trainer," Rico answered his questions, "and my first Pokémon is a Riolu."

"Wow, you're so lucky."

"Thanks. Anyway, I am here for my second badge."

"Ah, I see," Kale responded back. He was a bit stylish, but always act as if he had consumed spicy foods.

"Well then, come and get it!" Kale continued.

"I'll do my best!" Rico responded back.

Shortly thereafter, Rico and Kale had a Pokémon battle; their Pokémon are Piplup and Magby. Jonathan, Greninja, and the rest of Rico's Pokémon was at the audience seating watching the battle.

Looking at Magby, Rico pulled his Pokédex and point it towards Magby; his Pokédex then responded, "Magby, the Live Coal Pokémon. A Fire-type. It's small, but its body temperature is over 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Embers escape its mouth and nose when it breathes."

"Woah, what? That was so hot," Rico commented.

He then put his Pokédex back in his pants pockets, and focused back to the battle.

In the audience seating, Jonathan said to his Greninja, "This is not gonna be easy, Greninja. Rico will have a good chance to lose against him."

Greninja then responded with agreement.

And so, the first round of the battle had begun.

"Magby, use Flame Burst!" Kale commanded Magby seriously.

Magby then used Flame Burst, attacking Piplup with a bursting flame.

"Quickly, Piplup, dodge it!" Rico quickly commanded Piplup.

Piplup then dodged Magby's attack, and Rico commanded it, "Then use Water Gun!"

Piplup then opened its beak and used Water Gun, blasting Magby with a forceful shot of water, striking it with effectiveness.

Magby then almost collapsed to the ground in pain.

"Magby, are you alright?" Kale asked it.

But, Magby immediately get up.

"Woah, what?" Rico commented to this. Piplup then became surprised by it.

"Quickly, Magby, use Flamethrower!" Kale immediately commanded Magby.

Magby then used Flamethrower, scorching an intense blast of fire, striking Piplup with minimum power. But, this didn't cause Piplup to collapse to the ground, and Piplup then got up almost immediately. It then learned and used Bubble Beam, forcefully ejecting a spray of bubbles at Magby, striking Magby with power. Magby once again collapsed to the ground, this time a bit more severe.

Rico was surprised to see that Piplup had just learned a new move: Bubble Beam.

"What's that new move?" he asked.

In response to that, Jonathan stand up and responded loudly, "Rico, that's Bubble Beam, Rico. It's a move where the user ejects a spray of bubbles towards a foe."

Hearing that, Rico processed this and replied, "Oh, okay then. Thanks, big brother." Then to Piplup, "Wow, Piplup, that was so awesome."

Piplup then responded with a little bit of pride.

"Wow, that was a huge Bubble Beam I ever seen!" Kale commented to this with style and energy. "Oh, yeah, take this!" Then to Magby, "Magby, use Flamethrower!"

Just in time, Magby managed to get up, and used Flamethrower once more, scorching an intense blast of fire.

But, Piplup dodged it immediately, and Rico commanded it, "Quickly, use Bubble Beam again!"

Piplup then opened its beak and used Bubble Beam, forcefully ejecting a spray of bubbles at Magby, striking it with great power and effectiveness. This time, Magby was defeated, ending the first round.

"Magby is unable to battle," the referee announced. "Piplup wins."

Rico was a bit delighted to see that both he had won the first round and Piplup had learned a new move.

Calling his Magby, Kale said to it, "Well, Magby, you did a great job out there. You deserved some rest."

He then switched it with his second, last Poké Ball and threw it while shouting, "Go, Flareon!"

Flareon then came out of its Poké Ball, and it stepped into battle with seriousness.

"Wow, it's a Flareon," Rico responded to this a bit delightfully.

Once again, he pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it towards Flareon; his Pokédex then responded, "Flareon, the Flame Pokémon, and the evolved form of Eevee. A Fire-type. It has a flame sac in its body. Its body temperature tops 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit before battle."

"Woah, that's so cool as Magby," Rico commented.

He then put his Pokédex back in his pants pocket.

Flareon seems to be stronger than Magby, and will Rico win the second and last round of the battle?