Third person POV
A bit later, they entered the main battle hall of Bastian's gym. Bastian then said to Rico, "So, Rico, are you here for the gym badge?" He then pulled out his gym badge, which was in the shape of an open book in blue and white, for a bit.
"Yes, I am, for the League," Rico enthusiastically responded back, "and me and my team won't back down, either!"
His team then responded with positive determination.
Bastian then looked at Rico and readjusted his glasses for the second time, reflecting a bit of the sunlight through their lenses. "So be it."
And so, a bit later, Rico and Bastian had their Pokémon battle; their Pokémon are Prinplup and one of Bastian's three Normal-type Pokémon called Smeargle. Upon seeing that, Rico was a bit amazed. "Woah…that Pokémon looks unique…"
He then pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it at Smeargle.
The Pokédex then responded, "Smeargle, the Painter Pokémon. A Normal-type. A special fluid oozes from the tip of its tail. It paints the fluid everywhere to mark its territory."
"Woah, cool…" Rico commented in rising amazement and stunning, before putting his precious Pokédex back in his pants pocket and focusing back on the battle with Bastian.
"Me and my Smeargle won't give up and use what we had learned our training…" Bastian said to him and Prinplup with boldness like a tall mountain.
Jonathan and the others are watching the battle nearby on a lecture hall-style seating for the audience. Shion was looking at Rico with determination to outsmart his speed once he had won his next badge. The rest of Rico's team (except for Shinx and Riolu) are with them, too.
"Oh, this would be interesting…" Marshall commented.
Jonathan then nodded in agreement.
And so, the Pokémon battle began. "Smeargle, use Pound!" Bastian commanded Smeargle. Smeargle used Pound, physically pounding Prinplup with its paintbrush long tail.
"Dodge it and use Water Gun!" Rico commanded Prinplup immediately and seriously.
Prinplup did so and used Water Gun, squirting water at Smeargle.
Smeargle got struck by it yet managed to hold its ground and shook the water off its body.
Bastian was a bit stunned. "Woah, smart…!"
Prinplup responded with good pride, while its Trainer had a similar expression.
But Bastian won't back down that easily and said, "Oh, yeah?"
Then to his Smeargle. "Smeargle, use Comet Punch!"
Smeargle then charged at Prinplup and used Comet Punch, hitting Prinplup with a flurry of punches.
It was quite rapid, and Prinplup was being struck down many times and almost lost its balance and ground.
"Prinplup!" Rico responded to this while scrambling for a response to this attack from Smeargle.
"Hehe, what are you going to do now, Rico?" Bastian said to him while being confident of this.
Will Rico pass the first round and perhaps, all of it, against Bastian, the nerdy gym leader of Aklat-An?