13.Ash's Rikoto Story

Chapter 29 The Cycling Path

As they head north from Route 4, Ash, Alice, and Alex find themselves at the entrance to the Cycling Road. The sun glints off the path, casting a warm glow on the trail ahead.

"It seems like there are two paths," Ash observes, looking ahead. "Which way should we go first?"

Alex points to the signs at the fork. "As you can see, one is the Cycling Road. We need bikes to use it, and it's the only way to Brushus Town. The other path leads to a waterfall, but it's a dead end."

Alice nods, relief evident in her voice. "Good thing we bought those bikes back in Rustbolt City. But... I've never ridden a bike before."

Ash smiles reassuringly, his confidence easing her worries. "Don't worry, Alice. I'll teach you how to ride. Just go with the flow, and soon enough, you'll get the hang of it."

Alice returns his smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thank you, Ash."

As they approach the entrance to the Cycling Road, something catches Ash's eye. "Alex, why is your bike different from ours?" he asks, noticing Alex's tandem bicycle.

Alex grins sheepishly. "Oh, that. Elena likes riding with me, and she said that a tandem bike would bring us closer together."

Alice chuckles at the thought. "I never considered that."

Once on the path, Alice struggles to find her balance. Her hands grip the handlebars tightly, and she wobbles uncertainly before toppling over. Ash is quick to her side, helping her up and offering encouraging words each time she falls.

"It's okay, Alice. You're doing great. Just keep trying," Ash reassures her, his voice calm and patient.

After several attempts, Alice finally steadies herself, the bike gliding smoothly beneath her. Her face lights up with triumph as she pedals forward. "I did it!" she cheers, reaching the entrance to Brushus Town.

Ash catches up to her, beaming with pride. "That's awesome! How about we go back and check out the walking path?"

Alice grins playfully. "You're on!"

With that, the two race back to the starting point, laughter filling the air as they zoom past Alex. He watches them with a resigned smile. "Oh well, here we go again. Wait for me!" he calls, pedaling after them.

After returning to the entrance, Ash, Alice, and Alex decide to take a leisurely walk along the path leading to the waterfall. The trail winds through a serene forest, and eventually, they find a grassy clearing where they decide to rest. Ash takes this opportunity to send out his Ninetales and Pikachu for some training.

Ninetales, with her graceful movements, practices her ice attacks near the waterfall, the water mist catching the light and sparkling like tiny diamonds. As she trains, she suddenly becomes aware of a presence nearby. Her ears twitch, and she calls out, "Who's there? Show yourself."

From behind a tree, a small, pink fox Pokémon emerges, its expression shy and apologetic. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you," the Pokémon says timidly.

Ninetales gazes at the newcomer, feeling an inexplicable connection to the little fox. Despite its timid demeanor, there's something about it that tugs at her heart. "It's fine," Ninetales replies gently. "But are you lost?"

The pink fox shakes its head. "No, I live around here... alone," it says, its voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Ninetales tilts her head thoughtfully. "I see. Would you like to meet my trainer?"

The fox Pokémon hesitates but then nods shyly. "Yes, I would."

Ninetales leads the way back to where Ash and the others are resting. Ash notices her approach and asks, "Ninetales, is something wrong?"