13.Ash's Rikoto Story

Chapter 30 Brushus Town

On the Cycling Road, Ash, Alice, and Alex pedal their bikes determinedly up the track. However, when they try to pause for a break, they find themselves slipping backward down the slope. Alice glances at the others, frustration evident in her voice. "It seems like this road is uphill, and whenever we stop, the bikes just slip back down."

"Yeah, I noticed that too," Ash says, breathing heavily. "I guess the only way to keep going is to keep pedaling without stopping. It's exhausting, though."

"But we have to reach the next town," Alex encourages, glancing up the road ahead. Determined, they decide to push forward.

With their muscles burning from the continuous effort, Ash, Alice, and Alex finally arrive at Brushus Town. They slow down, catching their breath as they approach the town's entrance.

"We finally made it... I swear, I never want to ride a bike on a slippery uphill road again," Alice groans, nearly collapsing from the effort.

"I know what you mean," Ash replies, equally worn out. "But hey, at least we're here in Brushus Town."

As they stand at the gateway, Alice takes a deep breath and notices a pleasant aroma in the air. "Yeah, and I can smell something amazing even from here," she says, perking up slightly. "Somehow, that scent is making me feel a bit better after all that pedaling."

"That's probably the herbs from the store," Alex says, grinning. "There are two famous spots here in town: the Herb Store and the Day Care."

Ash nods, his energy slowly returning. "Let's check out the Herb Store first, and then we can visit the Day Care."

The other two agree, and they head off into Brushus Town, eager to explore what it has to offer.

As they enter the Herb Store, Ash, Alice, and Alex take in the various items on display. The shelves are stocked with Energy Root, Energy Powder, Revival Herb, and Heal Powder. Curious, Alice picks up one of the items and asks, "So, what do these do?"

Ash steps forward, explaining, "Energy Root and Energy Powder restore a Pokémon's health points, Revival Herb can revive a fainted Pokémon, and Heal Powder removes status effects. But there's a downside—using them makes the Pokémon less friendly because of the bitter taste."

Alice frowns, clearly concerned. "Why would anyone want to risk their friendship with their Pokémon just to heal them? I mean... I'd rather keep my Pokémon happy and friendly."

Ash nods, understanding her point. "I get it, but sometimes, when there are no other options to heal a Pokémon quickly, bitter medicine can be the best choice."

Alex chimes in, "Yeah, it's a trade-off. When you're in a tough spot, using these might be necessary, even if it means your Pokémon might not like it."

Alice considers this, eventually nodding in agreement, though she still seems hesitant.

They continue browsing and soon come across a stand selling various Incenses. Alice, intrigued by the different scents, asks, "And what about these? What are they for?"

Ash explains, "These are Incenses. The aroma we smelled when we entered the town probably came from these. Each type of Incense has a different use. For example, this Lax Incense can cause attacks to miss the Pokémon holding it. And if a Wobbuffet holds this incense, it can produce Wynaut eggs instead of Wobbuffet eggs."

Alice blinks in surprise. "So without the Incense, it would be Wobbuffet eggs? That's... kind of surprising."

Ash laughs, enjoying her reaction. "Yep, and it's the same with Snorlax. If a Snorlax isn't holding a Full Incense, it'll breed Snorlax eggs instead of Munchlax eggs."