Ecruteak City
Ethan returns to Ecruteak City with new traveling campanion, Kris as the pair of Gold and Crystal to confront the gym leader Morty for the fourth badge.
" So are you sure you're up for this, Ethan?" Crystal asked the determined Ethan.
" Only way to get to the Pokemon League is through this gym." Ethan said walking closer and closer to the gym.
Ethan took a breath and enters the gym looking into the eyes of both Clair and Morty.
Clair flinches appearing as if caught in the act by Ethan as she was ashamed to look into Ethan's eyes.
" Clair..?" Ethan said.
Clair wasn't able to respond and Morty took notice then smiled.
" It seems you made it after all, Ethan." Morty said.
" How do you know my name?" Ethan said.
" Clair here and she's told me all about you." Morty said.
Ethan then looked at Clair who looked away holding her chest.
" So that must've been Ethan's friend, she's pretty." Crystal thought.
" Clair huh, I see." Ethan said.
" Well I'll leave the two of you alone after I beat you for the badge, after all it's not like it meant anything." Ethan had a cold look on his face that Clair took notice of with hurt on her face.
" It...meant nothing?" Clair thought looking into Ethan's facial expression.
" Oh." Morty gasped in surprise and looked at Clair's face.
" So, all this time our traveling and experiences was nothing to you?" Clair said.
" It's like you said yourself, we're not friends." Ethan repeats back what Clair said to him earlier.
Crystal then looks back and forth at Ethan and Clair after listening to what the other had to say.
" What happened between these two?" Crystal thought.
" Asshole... YOU ASSHOLE!" Clair screamed and ran by Crystal leaving the gym in tears.
Crystal then left the gym to follow Clair in response.
" Oh my, that's gonna hurt." Morty said.
" Enough talk, let's just get our battle over with." Ethan pushes a button on his pokeball while hurting in the inside.
En Route to Olivine City
Clair continues to run out of Ecruteak City at a speed to where she doesn't realize shes being followed and called out by Crystal.
" Hey wait up!" Crystal called out to Clair.
Clair was lost in her thoughts thinking back what led up to this moment.
In the short time that Ethan and Clair parted ways, she began to search for Ethan within Ecruteak City not knowing Ethan was en route towards Olivine City.
Ethan was nowhere to be seen which gave Clair an idea where he might appear, at the gym itself.
" Oh so you're here?" Morty said.
"Morty, I..." Clair tried to speak.
" Clair, listen to what I have to say I'm really terribly sorry how things happened the way it did, really." Morty spoke first.
" I know there's nothing I can do that can change what happened but if you give me one last chance I can make us forget that incident." Morty walked a little bit closer.
" Morty, I'm sorry I can't I have to see Ethan and tell him..!" Clair said with a hint of hesitation.
" Is he really all that you can think of, even now?" Morty asked getting closer.
" I'm not so sure cause I can feel your hesitation." Morty begins to embrace Clair.
" Morty.. no..." Clair started to tremble.
" I'll know how you'll feel after this kiss." Morty leans forward and kisses Clair.
It was at that moment where Clair flinches away from Morty when Ethan entered the gym.
" I see." Morty thought as he took notice of Clair's reaction and how she looked away from Ethan in shame thinking he saw the kiss.
" No, that's not what I wanted Ethan to see that's not why I came here!" Clair thought as Ethan and Morty had their conversation.
" Well I'll leave the two of you alone after I beat you for the badge, after all it's not like it meant anything." Ethan said.
" Ethan despises me, he thought nothing of me I never saw such a cold expression." Clair spoke in her flashback while remembering Ethan's expression.
" I don't know why I tried to apologize to you, nothing meant a thing to you!" Clair closes her flashback and continues to run.
Clair stops for a breath on the outskirts of Olivine City giving Crystal enough time to speak to her.
" Whew, I thought I was energetic you run fast, whew whew." Crystal finally caught up to Clair while panting.
" You're that girl from the gym?" Clair said.
" Yes and I take it you're the person that is Ethan's friend." Crystal said walking closer and sitting near Clair.
" Only that we're nothing to each other anymore." Clair said.
" I wouldn't say that he was pretty bummed out about something but I pretty much got an idea now." Crystal said.
" How do you know Ethan, do you know something?" Clair asked.
" Well I don't really know him too well, I know he's a cute guy who obviously had a lot on his mind." Crystal said.
" I tried to talk with him but he was pretty secretive about what was going on and I only just met him so how can I blame him?" Crystal said.
" I see, so what I said bothered him and to top it all off he must have seen the kiss." Clair said.
" Well I came with him to the gym and I didn't see a kiss even so why would that bother him, are you two perhaps more than friends?" Crystal asked which makes Clair blush in embarrassment.
" What, me and him more than friends, yeah he wishes!" Clair flusters.
" So then what's the deal if he sees you kissing that hottie of a gym leader?" Crystal asked.
" N-nothing I just thought id complicate things when I was going to apologize for what happened." Clair said.
" Hmm well good cause I want him." Crystal said which mildly annoys Clair.
" So who are you anyway?" Clair asked.
" I'm actually going to be traveling with Ethan to complete the Pokedex, you can call me Kris or my nickname Crystal." Crystal introduces herself to Clair.
" I'm Clair, I'm out to capture and to become a dragon type master, I guess I won't be traveling with Ethan anymore." Clair said.
" That sounds like a fun goal but why do you think you won't be traveling with us?" Crystal asked once more.
" I said hurtful things to him I'm the one who first told him what friendship we had wasn't worth a thing to me, so I guess I deserved what he said to me." Clair said.
" Hey now, it's not like you mean it right I mean after all you were going to apologize?" Crystal said.
" Well yes I was." Clair answered.
" Well I'm sure if Ethan hears an apology, he'll apologize too I don't think he meant it either." Crystal smiled.
" You think so?" Clair said with hope in her voice.
" Heh I know so." Crystal replied again with her energetic smile.
" Thanks." Clair smiled back.
" Hey do you mind if I ask you a question?" Crystal asked.
" Sure, what is it?" Clair said.
" Is it possible that you have feelings for Ethan?" Crystal asks her question.
Ecruteak Gym
Ethan battled it out with Morty while Clair and Crystal's conversation took place and is down to two pokemon.
Ethan's Scyther faced off against Morty's second Haunter as the two pokemon are battle worn.
" You still don't seem to get it do you?" Morty said next to his first Haunter who is floating around.
" What's there to get, Scyther fury cutter attack!" Ethan orders.
Scyther dashes forward with a fury cutter slash and faints the enemy Haunter.
" All this time you've been talking about nonsense during our battle!" Ethan said.
" I wonder how dense can you be, it was obvious what Clair came here to do." Morty nods his head to signal his Haunter to battle.
" What are you talking about, spill it!?" Ethan said.
" She came here intending to apologize and maybe to confess her feelings to you." Morty said.
" What did you say?" Ethan shocked from Morty's revelation.
" She told me she intended to apologize to you for whatever reason and though she didn't mention it, I know she feels something for you, however..." Morty mentioned while signaling his Haunter.
Haunter began to shine bright and started to change form thus evolving into Gengar.
" Like this battle, it's too late to win after all the horrible things you said!" Morty stood tall in confidence.
" A Gengar!" Ethan said.
" So then there's hope to fix things after all!" Ethan thought.
" Gengar, shadow ball now!" Morty ordered.
" Scyther, try to brush it off with swords dance!" Ethan said.
Scyther was unable to perform swords dance in time and was knocked out by Gengar's shadow ball.
" So fast!" Ethan amazed by the speed of Gengar.
" Say what you want but it's not over til it's over." Ethan reaches for another pokeball.
Ethan tosses out the pokeball and out comes Quilava.
" Quilava, ember!" Ethan said.
" Gengar, curse." Morty said.
Quilava inflicts little damage to Gengar but is plagued with curse set by Gengar as a spirit floats above Quilava.
" Curse? Doesn't that mean your Gengar has taken even more damage?" Ethan taking notice of Gengar's current condition.
" Not quite." Morty smiled.
The spirit floating over Quilava attacked it inflicting damage.
" What?!" Ethan said.
" Now you're fates sealed, it won't be long til victory belongs to me." Morty said.
" And for me to finally face and capture that pokemon!" Morty thought imagining Ho-oh.
" Even so, my Quilava is strong as is my resolve, I have faith in him!" Ethan gives his vote of confidence and emotionally touches Quilava.
" And in the shape your Gengar is in just spelled your end, Quilava flamethrower!" Ethan ordered as Quilava fired up its body.
Quilava opens it's mouth and releases flamethrower attack moving straight ahead for the tired Gengar.
" Wrong, Gengar hypnosis!" Morty ordered.
Gengar managed to seemingly dodge the flamethrower and places Quilava in deep sleep unbeknownst to Morty that Gengar did take some damage on it's leg.
" Nice work, Gengar!" Morty praises Gengar who gives the thumbs up.
" Damn!" Ethan thought as things have taken a turn for the worst.
The spirit once again attacks Quilava who is dreaming.
" It be too easy if I have Gengar use dream eater to restore it's own health, I think I'll teach this guy a lesson." Morty thought.
" Gengar, use night shade." Morty said.
Gengar's eyes grew dark and released a dark wave of ghost energy to attack the sleeping Quilava.
" Nice!" Morty once again praises Gengar which gave Ethan an idea.
" I'll give you one chance to give this battle up but keep in mind you'll lose whatever chance you have with Clair, I'll even give you a badge if you do." Morty offered.
" No thanks, whatever you have to say I'll let things take its course, I never take the easy way out!" Ethan declared.
" Pity then, Gengar use shadow ball." Morty said.
" Okay Quilava find the willpower." Ethan thought nervously as Quilava showed no signs of it waking up.
Gengar creates a shadow ball and tosses it to hit Quilava once more.
Quilava feeling the effect and damage of the shadow ball started to tremble as sign that it's on it's last stand.
" I'll give you that your Quilava is tough but also is stubborn, much like it's trainer." Morty somewhat astounded but nevertheless was still confident due to Quilava appearing to still be sleeping.
" However, one more shadow ball and your through I'm afraid." Morty said.
" If you're so sure then stop trying to give me the easy way out, come at me like you mean it." Ethan said.
" Very well then, Gengar use shadow ball and use it close range." Morty said.
Gengar walks closer and closer to Quilava forming a shadow ball fully concertrated.
" Wait for me Clair and Ho-oh, this guy isn't worthy for either one of you." Morty thought.
" Sayonara kid!" Morty cues Gengar. Gengar shoots shadow ball at medium range coming straight for Quilava.
" Quilava, now agility!" Ethan shouts.
Quilava was revealed into playing possum and manages to avoid the incoming shadow ball with agility thus gaining the upper hand on speed in the process.
" What?!" Morty exclaimed.
" Quilava, use flame wheel!" Ethan ordered.
Quilava came full speed in a fiery blaze and delivered the flame wheel tackle to Gengar knocking it out.
" It's over, now that's how you set things in stone!" Ethan gave the thumbs up to Quilava.
The spirit that Ethan forgotten about for the last time attack Quilava and faints it.
" What I forgotten about that thing?!" Ethan comedically panicked.
" Technically that counts as a double K.O but since my Gengar fell first and for you showing me your cunning, I award you with this badge." Morty concedes and presents Ethan the badge.
" Are you serious, I thought you'd be against me winning." Ethan said.
" I don't know how you did it but you pulled it off and my pokemon fell first, that alone makes you worthy enough." Morty places his gym's badge in Ethan's hands.
" I'll tell you, while you were praising your Gengar earlier I used a full restore and quickly told Quilava to play possum, that is how your Gengar's shadow ball didn't finish it off." Ethan explained as flashbacks were shown of Ethan quickly spraying Quilava and whispering in Quilava's ear.
" Then I waited until you decided to attack to spring out the trap to finish your Gengar off with a flame wheel after my Quilava's flamethrower already did some damage." Ethan concludes his explaination.
" Hm so I see, well you're very perceptive and it earned you this badge but I have only but one advice for you." Morty said.
" What is it?" Ethan asked.
" Find Clair and apologize, it was her intention to do so and if you're not too late, you can save what friendship you have." Morty said with the sound of his own regret for not doing so himself.
" Thanks Morty, I will now take care!" Ethan said and left the gym.
Crystal was waiting outside of the gym alone with Clair nowhere to be seen.
" Hey Kris, where'd you go?" Ethan asked.
" I followed Clair after she stormed out of the gym to speak to her." Crystal said.
" Was she angry with me?" Ethan asked.
" Well no but she feels that you are angry with her." Crystal answered.
" She should be angry with me after what I told her." Ethan looks down with regret.
" Why not go apologize, she wants to do the same." Crystal suggested.
" How do you know that if that was true she would be standing here with you." Ethan said.
" You got it wrong she does want talk to you it's just something came up and she said something about going Cianwood City for something important, so let's go there." Crystal said.
" Cianwood City huh, well let's go Kris!" Ethan smiled and led the way out of Ecruteak City.
" His smile is something beautiful, makes him even more handsome." Crystal thought running after Ethan with a smile on her face.
" Clair, if you're not careful he'll be mine instead!" Crystal declares herself as another rival of love for Ethan.