Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 8: Welcome to Violet City
After about three days, Ethan and Chikorita finally made it past the end of the route, which he had gotten so lost in.
Once he made it to the entrance, of the city, he was surprised by how big and large it was. Chikorita who was by his side, was also in awe. The city easily was larger than Cherrygrove, by at least two times. He also heard the people were very kind, which was always a plus.
Ethan looked down to Chikorita. "We did it buddy, we're finally here!" Ethan said, getting a happy squeal out of his starter.
"Well, I can't get too distracted, I have to go find that gym. But some training probably wouldn't hurt either." Ethan said aloud, scratching his chin.
The past couple of days in that forest both Chikorita and his newly caught Mareep got a lot of practice, Ethan fought many wild Pokémon, including a wild Ursaring who they just barely managed to escape from with their lives. Ethan was extremely broken for a while after that specific encounter, but he tried to keep up his joyful front for his Pokémon, and more and more want that front becoming real, as it once was.
Most importantly, Chikorita and Mareep had gotten much stronger for it, so they have much to thank for in the past few days.
Before Ethan could take another step, he saw a crowd of people formed, watching a battle to what he could assume. The crowd was quite large, there was at least twenty people. Ethan came and tried to get in between some folks so he could actually see what was going on. Chikorita jumped on his hat to get a better view.
Ethan was stunned to see Lyra; she was in a battle with another trainer. Her Marill was in a battle-ready stance. She was up against a young trainer with glasses, and his Furret.
"Alright Furret! Use agility!" The young trainer announced.
Furret moves at a quick pace, causing multiple after images of itself.
"Marill, time it right and then use quick attack!" Lyra announced to her Pokémon.
While Furret was in midair, creating many speed blurs of itself. Marill crashed into the right Furret, luckily, sending Furret back to the floor.
"Yes, and now Marill! Finish it with Aqua Tail." Lyra yelled, happily.
Marill obliged, smacking Furret in the gut with its tail, rendering it unable to battle.
"I-I lost!?" The kid said, as he went up and grabbed hold of his Furret.
"That's her third straight win in a row! That's girls got some real talent!" The guy in the front of Ethan said.
Woah, third straight win. Ethan thought, a little surprised.
"Are there any other challengers?" Lyra said. "My Marill's still raring to go, right Marill?"
"Ma, Marill!" Marill said, giving a battle cry.
I challenge you! Ethan wanted to come out and speak. But he knew he needed more training before he could take her on.
He turned his head and decided to head out from the crowd, it was then when he heard Lyra call out to him.
She ran past the crowd and patted Ethan on the shoulder, getting his attention.
"Hi Ethan, took you a few days to get here." Lyra said, smirking.
"Hey Lyra, how you been?" Ethan said, trying to not pay her much attention.
"You know how it is, being a trainer and I'll that? More importantly, I've been doing some training, you ever heard of Sprout Tower?" She asked.
"Nope, only just got here." Ethan said.
"Well, trust me, you're going to need it, I trained over there and got much stronger, these past three days. In fact, I beat the first gym leader, guy named Falkner."
Ethan's face lit up with surprise. "Y-you mean you already have a badge!?"
"Yup, got it right here, want to see it?" She said, as she showed him her carrying case, revealing the Zephyr badge.
Ethan tried to hold just to see it, but Lyra quickly moved it away from him. "Woah buster, I said you can see it, not hold it."
"S-sorry." Ethan apologized.
"You're not... you're not acting like your usual self; you don't seem all arrogant and stuff like you usually are." Lyra said, seeming almost concerned.
"These fast few days have been nothing but humbling." Ethan said as he walked past her, Chikorita next to him.
"Why are you holding that egg? And why is your face all scuffed up." She said, catching up to him.
"Why do you care." Ethan muttered under his breath.
"Alright, I get it if you want to be left alone, but you don't even want to challenge me to a Pokémon battle?" She asked, putting away her badge case.
"Not really." Ethan said, which surprised Chikorita.
"What are you scared? I promise I won't beat you as badly as last time." Lyra said, boasting.
"Whose being arrogant now?" Ethan said, snapping back at her.
"Come on, if I win you tell me what's up with egg! Just let me show you how effective that Sprout tower training can be!" She said, smiling.
Ethan faced Chikorita, she looked like she was ready for battle.
Ethan turned to face his rival. "Fine, let's do this then." Ethan said, ready to send in Chikorita.
Lyra chuckled, she pulled out a Pokéball, sending in a Noctowl.
Ethan was surprised, he was expecting her to send in Marill, and he also didn't expect her to already have evolved her Hoothoot.
"Noctowl!" Noctowl yelled, as it flapped its wings.
"N-Noctowl, let's check this thing out," he said, scanning it with his Pokédex.
"Noctowl, the Owl Pokémon. Its eyes are specially adapted. They concentrate even faint light and enable it to see in the dark."
"It evolved during my time in that tower. Now you're at an even bigger disadvantage." Lyra said.
Damn, this is bad, on top of having a type advantage, but Chikorita looks raring to go, I can't switch her out now. Ethan just knew.
"Alright, I'll begin, Noctowl, use Air Slash!" Lyra yelled.
Noctowl moved its wing at an extremely fast speed, sending a strike of air directly at Chikorita.
"Chikorita, dodge it, then weaken it with growl." Ethan said, not really sure of what to do.
Even though Chikorita had weakened Noctowl, it was still too much, it striked and hit Chikorita with quick attack.
"You okay Chikorita? Now quick return to me!" Ethan yelled. Chikorita wasn't expecting that command, but she obliged.
"Giving up?" Lyra asked, with the biggest grin on her face.
"Not a chance." Ethan said, reading a Pokéball.
He threw the Pokéball, unleashing his newly caught Mareep.
"Mareep!" Mareep said softly.
"An electric type, that would be better idea than fighting with Chikorita, but I don't think it'll do you any good here." Lyra announced, confident.
"Oh yeah, let's see then. Mareep use static!" Ethan said, gaining his old energy back.
Mareep simply looked at Ethan in confusion, Lyra began to laugh.
"Ethan, static is a hidden ability silly, it activates mid battle at random points." Lyra said. "But thanks for revealing it to me."
"Oh crap! I messed up!" Ethan said, face palming, almost dropping the egg before he caught it.
"Now Noctowl! We can't get close to that Mareep, so Air Slash! Let's go!" Lyra commanded.
Noctowl again threw another Air Slash, which crashed into Mareep sending it flying back.
"Mareep, no!" Ethan said. He gently put the egg on the ground next to Chikorita, and caught Mareep in midair, causing him to fall on his butt.
"Mareeeep!" Mareep said in his arms. "I know little guy, I know, you did great out there, now take a long rest." Ethan said, returning Mareep in its Pokéball.
"So hurry up and send in that Chikorita of yours already and get this over with!" Lyra said, while petting her Noctowl.
Ethan looked at Chikorita, she looked ready to continue, making Ethan smile.
"No thanks Lyra, you win." Ethan said, surprising Chikorita.
"Oh, so you're giving up. That's not like you, but a victory is a victory," Lyra said, feeling happy for her fourth win in a row.
"Yeah, I'm sorry Chikorita, but I think it's just going to take a bit more training before we're ready to fight with such a big advantage you know." Ethan said, causing Chikorita to cheer up.
"What happened to you these past few days, you're really different. You seem... I don't know?" She said.
"Forget it," Ethan said, picking his egg back up. "I'm going to a Pokémon center, nice battling with you again." Ethan said.
Lyra just began to remember. "Oh wait, didn't you agree if I won, you'd tell me about that egg of yours?"
Ethan stopped in place. He turned to face her again. "Professor Elm gave it to me; I have no clue what it'll hatch into. But I really look forward to seeing what's in it." He said.
"Well, if it's from Professor Elm, then I can't wait to see either. Anyways, I'm going off to Azalea town to get my second badge. Try not to be left in the dust by me, kay." She said, as she turned and left, skipping happily.
"One of these days, the shoes going to be on the other foot." Ethan said, clenching his fist. He turned to Chikorita. "Alright Chikorita! Let's go to this Sprout Tower and train up some! What do you say!"
"Chika!" Chikorita exclaimed happily.
Once again Ethan loses to Lyra...? How will he hope to defeat her...?