Act 2

Chapter 1: Riolu's ability

The next morning, the four young people were in the same restaurant as Riolu, had eaten the other day.

After waking up, Riolu felt like continuing to sleep in bed. They remembered that he had mentioned that he fell asleep in a box yesterday and Maria, say she cannot imagine how no one could sleep in a bed.

She mentioned that Pokémon slept in nests. Riolu, didn't believe it. Neither does he imagine himself sleeping in one of them. They need to create beds, they are the most comfortable thing to sleep on.

After the three of them took a bath, they discussed where they should have breakfast and the Pokémon, proposed the same place they were now.

The four of them were seated at a square table in the corner. Riolu, were sitting in the very corner. Santiago and Mario, were at his sides and Maria, was in front of him.

Each had already ordered and now they were eating it. Riolu, was eating green chilaquiles. They consisted of topotos bathed in green sauce, with cream, and a little melted cheese. Maria, was eating the same thing, but with red sauce. Mario, ate Mexican eggs and Santiago, green tamales with chicken.

Everyone was enjoying the food. "What a good place, Riolu!" Mario commented, very happy.

"I'm very glad you said so." He said happily.

"I don't feel like it's a good idea for you to be here though." Santiago said seriously. "I think you should still stay in the room."

They had argued that if Riolu, should stay in the room all day to avoid being discovered by anyone. Something that Maria had made him think about. The Pokémon, commented that he could dress up with the clothes he had and that it works. In addition, he did not like the idea of sitting all day, knowing that there are people chasing him and that he had to recover his memory. They argued until Riolu, won, with the support of Mario.

"We already discussed it." Maria said. "And I'm not going to talk about it again."

"By the way? Has the woman already spoken to you?" Riolu asked Maria.

"Yes. Se sent me a message about half an hour ago." She reported, causing the three of them to stop eating and pay close attention to her.

Santiago took a little look back. Riolu, didn't doubt that he was making sure no one listened to them.

"She told me that there was another place we should go."

"Where is that place?" Santiago asked,

"She sent me an address. I checked it on my cell phone and it is near la Marquesa."

"La Marquesa!?" Mario asked, surprised.

Riolu, didn't recognize that name. "Is near? Is far? What is the Marchioness?" He asked.

"It's a touristic place." Santiago replied.

"Exactly." Maria affirmed. "La Marquesa is a park where people come to rest and have fun."

"Besides that it is located in mountainous areas." Mario said. "That place has it all. Paintball, climbing, zip lining, go karts, motorcycle riding, horse riding and much more. "

Riolu, felt even more unsettling and really wanting to go there. It sounded really funny.

"This is not important." Said his sister. "The important thing is to go to that place of the address."

Maria was right. What mattered is going there. Maybe he'll find something from his past or the location of where Scorbunny is.

"How are we going to get there?" Riolu asked.

"Very simple." Maria said. "We are going to pay for a tourist bus to get there early tomorrow, since it would take five hours or more. Once we arrive, we are going to eat there at La Marquesa and then go to the place."

"It sounds pretty good." Santiago said. "I also propose that we pay for the trip when we finish breakfast."

"I agree."

Without them realizing it, the lady had approached the table they are sitting on. "Everyone is fine?"

"Yes, thank you very much." Mario said.

"That's great." She answered, but soon after she got very serious at all three. "And for God's sake you don't lose him again!" The lady said, as if she were a mother to the three of them and that she looked at the Gomez brothers. "Especially you two who are his brothers."

When they arrive the hotel and the lady who had asked them who the little boy was. Maria, without thinking, had said that he was her younger brother. Riolu and Mario, were very surprised and confused.

Then he asked her the reason for all this and she replied that it was the best to avoid suspicions and it made more sense that a group of brothers are on a trip. Riolu, asked about Santiago and said that if someone asked, he was a good friend of the family. Although there were people who asked her if he and Maria were dating. He didn't seem to mind, but to Maria, she seemed to care.

He wondered if he had a girlfriend in the Pokémon world. He admitted that hhe found Kirlia quite pretty, but he didn't feel much. How did it feel to be in love?

"We promise! We won't let that happen again." Mario said. "What's more, I will take care of him as if he were my little brother."

"You mean you didn't treat him as family, despite you are actually family?"

Mario, had made a mistake and he felt very worried. He was not used to calling Riolu, like a brother. "Dijo! Dijo! I do treat it as one. It's that- I- huh. I'm a little stupid."

"I can see it." Pablo said, which he walked by chance, something that offended Mario.

"Pablito!"

"With permission!" He said, after being scolded by his mother.

But before leaving, he notices Maria. He changed his expression and walked over to very confident. "Very good days."

"Good Morning." She said, not interested in him.

"Could you give me your phone number. You know…" He said, beckoning like if he had a phone in his hand.

"All right." She said.

Maria, took out a notebook and a pen from her backpack. And she with a piece she wrote the said number. Although Riolu, suspected something was going to go wrong.

When she finished writing, she handed it to Pablo, who took it with speed and emotion. When he read it, his smile faded very quickly.

Then he glared at the journalist. "Mala." He said and threw the paper on the table.

Santiago took the piece of paper and saw what was written. "Get lost." He said, showing her what he had written.

"I don't date anyone, not even the first idiot who throws me a flower." She said, very sincerely and coldly.

"Mala!" Shouted Pablo.

Mario, didn't seem surprised at all. He wondered how many guys Maria turned down.

"Besides, I don't have time to go out with guys, we have a job to do."

"What kind of job?" Asked the lady.

"We are journalists." Santiago said. "We are traveling through this state in search of news."

Riolu, was impressed with how easily he told her. Sure he had part of the truth, but he didn't tell her everything.

"Well, the other day La Cruz Negra occupied a town that was nearby. Did you know?"

"Yes." Maria said. "But we don't plan to go there. There may be danger and having lost Riolu. We just can't make something bad happen to him."

"I understand." She said. "Shall I bring the bill?"

"Please, if it's not too much trouble?" Mario said.

The lady withdrew, leaving the four of them alone. "Now what?" Mario asked.

"What do you mean: now what?" She said. "That we pay the bill and we are going to pay the trip for tomorrow."

"Certain. But could she go for a walk around town?" He asked. "You know: it's Tangamandapio, I'm a fan of Chavo and I want to take some photos."

"It's okay."

"May I accompany you?" Riolu asked.

Maria and Santiago did not approve of the idea, obviously. He didn't want to be in the room. In addition, he had the illusion of meeting Alberto or Andrés again.

"Why?" Maria asked seriously. "Not bothering you, but you were here longer than us."

"Certain. But I have not been able to explore the whole town much and if we have a day left to be here, it's better to take advantage of it."

"I don't know." Maria said. "There may be a Cruz Negra in town and if they see us, they will inform their bosses or capture us."

"We promise that we will be careful."

"Let them go for a walk." Santiago said.

That surprised Riolu a lot, even Maria, stared at him. As serious as he was, he thought he was going to agree with her.

None of the three spoke. They were waiting for some response from him. Although Maria, couldn't hold out much longer. "Why do you change your mind?"

"I think the best thing to do is keep Riolu on the move all the time." Santiago said. "It is true that la Cruz Negra has many eyes and that they will hope to catch us at the right moment. But they won't if we're in a public place, not after what happened. So it is best to be in places where there are many people, although of course it is more risky for someone intelligent to discover it, but that better than la Cruz Negra caught him."

"Or better than not letting anyone catch us and discover Riolu."

"You are right." Said her older sister.

The next thing that happened was that the lady came and they gave them the bill. Maria and Santiago, they paid for it between the two of them. Pablo, who returned and said the typical phrase of him: "You gonna give me a tip?" Just causing his mother to get mad and he ran off.

Shortly after thanking the food and saying goodbye, they left the place. Then they parted ways, as they had agreed.

Riolu and Mario, explored the places of Tangamandapio. The first thing they did was to the statue of Jaimito el Cartero. He was very happy to see him in person. He even asked her to please take a picture of him posing next to the statue.

The Pokémon was very fascinated with the camera and the function of capturing the image that he is seeing. It was something totally different from the video camera.

Mario, proposed that he also pose the statue to him and take a photo of it. With the face uncovered and without the hood on. Riolu, didn't feel like it was a good idea. He said they were going to do it quickly and without anyone watching. He didn't know why he said yes, but it worked. Mario, took the photo of the smiling Pokémon next to the statue.

Then they went to the square that the Pokémon was previously. Mario was taking photographs with his camera of the church, the buildings, the sculpture of the trunk and the square. He admitted that he is very good and he loved doing that.

Then they walked the streets, without any particular destination. Just seeing.

They came to a part of town that had stairs leading to high ground. When they got there they noticed that there were three crosses and a portrait of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

As they went up, Riolu asked about the portrait. Mario, told him that he does not know much about this, but all this was remote in the year 1525. After the conquest of Mexico. He says the two beliefs had come together. Those of the Indigenous and the Christian. To this day, the Virgin of Guadalupe is one of the most respected and recognized beliefs in all of Mexico.

Now they were on top. They both looked back to see the view of the entire town. The many houses, the plants and trees that are in and around the place and the mountains that are just ahead.

"Wow!" Exclaimed Mario. "Nice view!"

"Jaimito described the town quite well." Riolu said, delighted with the sight.

"Certain." Mario said, but then he sighed and his expression changed. "Too bad I can't meet the person who brought the character to life."

"Why not?"

"Passed away." He replied, causing him to let out an 'oh'. "Like most of the members, including Chespirito. That he not only acted, but he wrote the scripts for each episode. But I'm thankful that they existed. They made many people laugh in the past and even now."

Riolu liked that Mario, found the positive side. He was also happy that they were excellent company and that they could talk about many things.

So the Pokémon, return to the previous topic. "Look at this town. It makes me feel small."

"And wait we get to Mexico City. There you will feel small."

The Pokémon couldn't help but imagine what the City would be like. Clearly it must be double or triple the size of Tangamandapio.

"I guess." Riolu said.

Mario, was taking photos of the landscape until he suggested that they take a photo of the two smiling and behind the view of Tangamandapio. After doing so, they descended the stairs and continued exploring.

After a walk, they sat on a bench to get some rest.

He informed Riolu that he had just received a message from his sister saying that they had already paid for the trip and that they tell him where they are, that they were going there. Something good, since they were a bit tired.

Riolu, noticed that in front of them there was a field that is used to play soccer. There were even two goals. And right now there were children playing.

He could tell that they were having a lot of fun. Mario explained what that game is about, since Riolu had asked it. He told her that this is a two-team game, where they try to get a ball into score a goal. It is not only important to score a goal, but also to work as a team and strategy. When time is up and whoever has the most points, that team is the winner.

He also mentioned that soccer is also one of Mexico's favorite sports. And that his favorite team was los Pumas. And that for nothing in the world he support the America, since it would be like digging his own grave.

The Pokémon looked back at the boys playing soccer. He felt a need to get up and ask to join them in the game. He could see that everyone was having fun But he felt very unsure that it was a good idea.

He also wondered if there was a similar game in the Pokémon world. If he has participated in many games and has fun with them. If he was the best or the worst.

Then his gaze focused on how they made the passes and how some members of the opposing team tried to take them off. He could tell that between those two, the one with the ball and not, there was a duel. The one who had him was making movements with his feet to keep the ball moving, while he was looking to make fun of him or pass it to a teammate. The opposing player was attentive to the movements, trying to predict what he was going to do and take it from him.

While he was watching them, it happened to him the same as yesterday, he felt something in his head. As if he had captured the moment of the play in his head. As if it were a camera.

He wondered why he was the one who happened to him. He kept paying attention to other plays and the same thing happened to him. Is it a ability of his kind? Could he do them?

Suddenly Mario was hit in the face by a ball. He fell to the ground and Riolu, went to him. "Mario!"

Mario, was getting up but he was a little stunned. "That I call a good shot." He said.

He could hear the children talking to each other about what just happened. hey said like: "Chanfle!" Or "te pasaste!" Or "You him on the head!" And so.

Then one of the children approached them. This boy had a white t-shirt, shorts, short cut hair. He may come to apologize or get the ball back or both.

"Sorry for what happened. Can you return the ball to us?" He asked.

"Of course." Mario replied, without any remorse. He takes the ball and it is handed to him. "Here is the ball."

"Thanks a lot!"

Before leaving, Riolu spoke to the boy. "Hang on a minute. I can play with you? If there is no problem?"

The boy looked at him briefly, not sure if he should be a part of the game. lthough of course, Mario was confused and surprised.

"Hey, let me ask them and then I'll answer 's fine?" He said.

"Yes." He said the Pokémon, while he nodded.

He went with his friends to talk to her about the Pokémon proposal, while Mario got up from the ground completely.

"I don't think it's a good idea to play. They can discover you. "

He understood why. This game is very moving and he would risk a lot of getting caught. But he needed to know if he could do the movements that were etched into his head.

"I know. But I want to find out something."

"What thing?" Mario asked.

"I don't know how to explain it-. Well, I can, but... I'm just asking you to record this. Please."

The boy returned with both of them. "They say you can join and play with Pancho's team."

"Thanks a lot." Riolu said.

"Riolu, I don't think-."

"I know what I doing." He said seriously. "Trust me."

Mario still seemed to disagree with Riolu. But after thinking about it for a few seconds, he gave in to the idea. "All right." He said, as he started to pull his camera out of his backpack.

"Thanks Mario." Riolu said, and went to the boys.

After meeting with them, he could tell that there was some discomfort to the new member. "Do you know how to play?" Asked a boy, one enough have something than the rest. Pancho if he wasn't wrong.

"Yes." Riolu lied.

"All right. You will play defense with David and Manuel." Pancho said.

Everyone got into different positions on the court. He was on the left side and he could see that he had Manuel next to him, who was in front of the goalkeeper named Gabriel. Riolu looked back at Mario, who already had his video camera on and pointing at it.

He seriously hoped he knew what he did.

Then he started the game again. The ball was held by the opposing team. The forwards tried to take them off, but they made good passes. The players advance safely towards the goal.

Riolu, had the person who possessed the ball just ahead. He couldn't let that guy advance or pass on to a partner. He had to take it off.

His opponent was not moving and he had his foot on top of him on the ball. He was waiting for the Pokémon to try to take it off to taunt and keep moving forward. But Riolu, couldn't exactly wait. If he does, surely a partner of his will appear and pass it to him. Riolu, stepped forward a bit and he stepped back, still holding the ball. The Pokémon tried to take it from him, but he made a move with his foot and kicked it to the left to make a pass.

But the speed of Riolu, interrupted the pass and had the ball. He kept running forward. A player tried to intercept him and take the ball from him. But Riolu, had in mind the moment where he witnessed an interception. He could do the same move perfectly and he managed to evade him and kept going.

He managed to evade his opponents to score a goal. He felt really good having done that.

Those around him and Mario were amazed at Riolu's ability. Some of his teammates came over to celebrate and extend it. Even Mario, he applauded him from where he was.

The team had the ball in their possession. He was very attentive to how they played. Another thing that he noticed, that his ability needed a lot of attention at a specific moment to be able to capture him in the head.

He could only capture one until he got it back. A certain Carlitos said that he pass it to him. He could make the same play again, he felt he could do it. But this is a team game. He would take away the magic if he acted on his own account. So he passed it on to Carlitos.

Although that play did not end well, since a girl named Alex, intercepted the pass and scored a goal.

The rest of the game was fun. He didn't much care to know more about his ability, he just wanted to enjoy the game. Will he be able to play it again?

Riolu moved forward and his teammate kicked the ball towards him. The Pokémon wanted to kick it where it is and see if it would score a goal where it was by kicking it with great force.

"Riolu!" He heard Maria scream.

By listening to her, Riolu, is distracted from her. Even though he did kick the ball, he deflected the shot. Instead of scoring a goal, he hit Maria in the face.

She fell to the ground on her back. All the boys stopped when they saw that. While Riolu and Mario, they were with expressions of terror and concern. "Who is she?"

"She is my sister." Riolu said.

Hearing that, they ran away from here. As if their lives depended on it. Riolu, watched very quickly how they went until he was the only one on the court.

"They are going to kill us both." Mario said.

Four minutes have passed since Maria, had received the ball in the face from Riolu. The four of them were on the bench where Riolu and Mario had sat earlier.

Maria, was sitting there. Luckily for her, the ball didn't hurt her that much, she didn't even draw blood. But they were both apologizing, but all in a mess.

Just until Maria interrupted them. "Paren!" With that they fell silent. "First of all, I'm not mad about the ball." That statement left Riolu a bit calm. "But what were you thinking of playing soccer?" Then she looks at her brother. "And why did you let him play? You know that we can't do something like that."

They both knew it very well and felt guilty about it. "I'm sorry. But I wanted to find out something." Riolu said.

"What thing?"

"Well… it will sound a little crazy. lthough of course what is happening is very credible."

"And what is?" Santiago asked.

Riolu, told them everything. The moment he had seen the wrestlers and the boys' plays, he caught the moment. He knew how to do the move perfectly. But he needed to know for sure and that's why he entered the game.

"We saw it." Santiago said, making both of them very surprised.

"Wait, did you see it?" Mario asked, confused. "Since when did they arrive?

"Since that girl scored a goal." Santiago said. "We decided to let you play a bit and see how you played."

Riolu already understood. When they arrived, he must have called their attention to that detail. Since playing that sport, it must take a lot of practice and training.

"It's amazing!" Mario said, impressed with the Pokémon's ability. "He can learn many things."

"It's not like that." Santiago said. Making both of them look at him confused.

"What do you mean with that?" He asked. "You saw it."

"Yes, I saw it. But it's not what you think."

"What are you talking about?" Riolu asked.

"I better prove it to you." Santiago said.

He took two padlocks out of his backpack and showed them to Riolu. He could see that each lock was different than the other.

One he give it to Maria. "Open this one." And then he look at the Pokémon. "Pay attention."

Riolu agreed. Maria, take out of his right pocket her beloved pick. He was watching carefully how she open the padlock without any problem.

Santiago, asked Maria to hand over the pick and lock to Riolu and that he try to force it.

The Pokémon did not have any trouble doing so, since he had used his ability.

"All right. Now try to do the same with this one."

He wondered what the reason for all this is. He do the same with this one. But to his surprise. He couldn't.

He tried again and the same result happened. He did not understand. He had seen Maria do it and he couldn't do it.

"I understand now." Maria said.

"What do you understand? What's going on?" Mario asked, also just as confused as Riolu.

"It's very simple." Santiago said. "He did not learn it. He copied it. "

Even Riolu, didn't understand. "Copy? What are you talking about?"

"You see Riolu. You can capture the movements of the target, in a way that you can copy the movements and do it. Like you did in the game. Something very useful, but the problem is that you did not learn to do it. That's what I mean."

It had no logic. Well, he admitted that he has a certain point. But he has in the head, he...

He does not know it. He remembered the moments, but he no longer felt that he could make them. Apparently that effect was temporary.

"You have good ability, but if you want to learn all those moves, you'll have to keep practicing until it's natural."

Riolu sighed. "You are right."

"But once I remember." Santiago said, leaving his backpack on the ground.

He started looking for something to get it out. Just causing Riolu, to feel very curious.

So he pulled out a pair of knee pads, elbow pads, calves, and bracelets. Then he give them to the Pokémon. "Take them."

Riolu, who was surprised, grabbed the objects."All this? Is for me?"

"Yes." Santiago affirmed. "These things will give you a little more protection. From what I understand, your especially is close combat. So all of this will help you endure and resist the fights a little longer."

That detail really enchanted Riolu. Using protections in his future fights would be very useful. "Chanfle! Thanks!"

Before trying them on, the four left one isolated place and without people to put it on with calm and security.

Once there, Riolu, took off his sweatshirt and pants. Then he put on his two black elbow pads. The bracelets were made of leather. It looked sturdy and dark brown in color, and it could tell it had made a hole so that its oval-shaped protectors could fit and not disturb him. The knee pads were in his places. And finally the dark brown calves.

After putting on all the gear, Riolu, it felt a little weird to use all of this. But he at the same time he felt quite safe.

"So how do I look?" Riolu asked, showing off.

"Totally amazing." Mario said, making him feel confident.

"Thanks." He said. "I wonder how the Pokémon in my world dress."

"Yes, about that. They don't wear clothes. "

That made Riolu, looking at Maria, confused. "Don't they use it?"

"No."

"Wait, but our Pokémon friends, they used bandanas." Mario said.

"Please, Mario. That's more of an accessory than clothing for them."

"So they go... naked?" Riolu asked, uncomfortable.

"To clarify, they have fur and scales. They don't have the same need to wear clothes as we do."

Maria, was right. They have neither fur, nor scales. But the idea that the Pokémon, walked around without clothes, gave him something. Besides why did he feel that way? He was a Pokémon, not a human. The clothes thing shouldn't matter to him, unless to blend in.

The truth, he could not imagine like that. He thought that he must be so used to them that he couldn't go a day without wearing them anymore. Something characteristic of humans.

"Enough." Santiago said. "I think we should take care of the next matter."

"What matter?" Riolu asked, curious.

From afar, there were two people hiding behind a tree, who were atoning for young people with binoculars.

Those people were el gordo y el flaco. The same ones who had persecuted Riolu and who had been arrested. They were clearly free, as Andrés had said.

Then el flaco spoke to his friend."Hey, Gordo. Remind me what are we doing."

El Gordo sighed and smacked him on the head. "How brute you are!" He said. "We had been ordered to locate the boys and expose them."

"Ahhhh..." Flaco said. "So that?"

"To catch them."

"Ahhhh… Didn't we catch them right now? I just said, they are already alone. "

"We can not. Don't you remember they told us that the fours will be difficult to catch? " Gordo said. "That if we tried, it would make a scandal and they would kill us if that happens."

"Ah right." He said.

"But we were going to do something, that we should catch the Pokémon and only him."

"Are we going to do it?" He said. "Catch the Pokémon?" Flaco asked, already remembering everything.

"Yes. We have to wait for the right moment. Remember that la Cruz Negra are trusting us and we cannot fail them."

They moved that their bosses released them, although it should be noted that they were unaware that they only used them and did not trust both people.

"Very sure." He said. But then he sees that the four boys leave the place, not knowing that they are being watched. "Look! They are leaving!"

"Chanfle! Follow them, but don't let them see us."

The two followed them. As stealthy as possible. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch Riolu.