13.Ash's Rikoto Story

Chapter 11 Dullfern Forest

"Ash! Alice!" Before Ash and Alice can continue toward the next city, a familiar voice calls out, stopping them in their tracks. Keira, full of energy, rushes toward them, her smile as bright as ever.

"Great to see you, Ash! Alice! How are you doing?" Keira asks, her excitement evident.

Ash proudly holds up his new badge, the light catching on the polished metal. "Good! I just got my first badge," he says with a grin.

Keira's eyes widen in admiration. "Wow! You've already won your first Gym Badge? That's amazing! I'm planning to challenge the Gym Leader as soon as Rodney's done." She pauses, as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, before I forget, take this!"

With a quick motion, Keira pulls out a small, unfamiliar device and hands it to Alice. Both Ash and Alice examine it curiously.

"What's this?" Alice asks, tilting her head slightly as she inspects the gadget.

"This is an Exp. Share," Keira explains, her tone filled with the eagerness of sharing something valuable. "It's a machine that allows one of your Pokémon to gain experience, even if it didn't participate in the battle! You should give it a try!"

Ash nods, appreciating the gift. "Sure, we'll definitely try it out."

Keira beams at them. "Anyway, I better get some training in before my gym battle! I'll see you soon, Ash, Alice!" With that, she waves enthusiastically and hurries off, no doubt heading toward her next challenge.

Alice chuckles softly as she watches her go. "Keira, Rodney, and you— all three of you are so excited about these gym battles."

Ash smirks, knowing the thrill all too well. "I can tell. Once we get past here, we'll be heading into Dullfern Forest."

Alice nods in agreement, and with renewed determination, they move forward, stepping outside the city gates. However, their progress is soon halted when they find Rick standing in front of a cluster of thick spider webs, blocking their path.

"Hey! You!" A sharp voice breaks the silence, drawing Ash and Alice's attention. They turn to see Rick, standing with a confident smirk on his face. "You're that trainer with the rare Pokémon, like Pikachu, back in Serpentine City."

Ash crosses his arms, unimpressed. "So?"

Rick glances at Ash's badge, a glint of something like respect in his eyes. "I see you won the gym badge... maybe you're not as weak as I thought."

Alice's eyes narrow, her protective instincts kicking in. "Excuse me, who are you to judge him?" Her voice is sharp, fueled by the audacity of this stranger.

Rick's attention shifts to her, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "And who might you be, lady?"

Alice steps forward, her stance firm. "I'm Alice, and I'm traveling with Ash. So don't you dare badmouth him in front of me."

Ash sighs, placing a calming hand on Alice's shoulder. "Alice, calm down. It's not worth it." He then turns back to Rick, his expression serious. "Why are you here? Are you just here to brag about how strong you are?"

Rick chuckles, clearly enjoying the tension. "You see this web here?" He points to the thick, intricate web blocking their path. "It was made by a Spidox. If you want to get through, you'll have to cut it down. But, if you do, it's very likely you'll get attacked by the Spidox. I mean, you're destroying its home..."

Ash gives a small shrug, unfazed by the warning. Without hesitation, he pulls out a pair of clippers and cuts the web. As the last strand falls, a Spidox suddenly appears, its multiple eyes glaring with fury. Without warning, it launches a Poison Sting attack at them.