Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 30: Ampharos and the Lighthouse
Ethan and Bayleef faced the large Lighthouse on the big hill in Olivine, Ethan had heard earlier from his rival Silver that the Gym leader of the town was in the Lighthouse taking care of a sick Pokémon. Ethan figured he could help, and maybe the Gym leader would know about Lyra if he was lucky.
"Let's do this Bayleef." Ethan told his starter.
"Bay," Bayleef said nodding.
Ethan entered the Lighthouse, upon entering turned to the elevator to which he and Bayleef entered.
"Alright, we're going to go to the top floor." Ethan said, pressing the button on the elevator.
The elevator raised slowly taking Ethan and Bayleef to the top floor of the Lighthouse, when they made it out, Ethan and Bayleef exited, facing the Gym leader.
She was a young woman who looked to be about eighteen. She wore a teal sundress with a bridal helm, that reaches her knees and an orange puffy bow on her chest with a snow-white coat, judging from her appearance Ethan would have never guessed she's a Trainer, let alone a Gym leader.
She was holding in her arms a yellow Pokémon with a white belly. It had conical ears with black stripes and a red orb on its forehead. It had a red tip on its tail which reminded Ethan of his Flaaffy.
That must be the sick Pokémon, Ethan thought.
The girl looked up to see Ethan, she brushed her head away and focused her attention back on the Pokémon.
"If you're looking for a Gym battle then you have come to the wrong place, leave. I am trying to take care of Amphy." She said, sounding annoyed.
"...Pa...paloo..." The sick Pokémon said, its breathing sounded slight.
"Oh no no," Ethan said, trying to explain himself. "I'm not here looking for a Gym battle, I'm Ethan, a Trainer yes, but right now I'm just..."
Ethan didn't know what to say, how to explain his reasoning.
"Then may you go, please, I just want to be alone with Amphy." The Gym leader said.
Bayleef turned to Ethan, Ethan shrugged, not sure what to do.
"I-Is there any way I can help you?" Ethan asked. "I can try and do something to try and help this...?"
"Ampharos, this Pokémon is an Ampharos." She told Ethan.
"Ampharos, got it." Ethan tried to reach to pet the Ampharos, but the girl slightly moved the Ampharos' head from Ethan's reach, Ethan put his hand down.
"...This Pokémon always kept the sea lit at night... But it suddenly got sick... It's gasping for air..." The girl said. "...I understand there is a wonderful pharmacy in Cianwood... But that's across the sea... And I can't leave Amphy unattended..."
"So if the Pokémon can't keep the sea lit at night, that'd be bad for sailors, right?" Ethan guessed.
"Correct, but I mostly am concerned with Amphy's wellbeing." She said, petting the Ampharos.
"What if I said I'd go to Cianwood to get it," Ethan told her.
"You think you could?" The Gym leader asked.
"To be honest, I'm not too sure how I can cross the sea to get there, but I'm sure I'll be able to figure something out, would you be okay with that?" Ethan asked.
"I would appreciate it, thank you." The girl smiled and nodded. "And sorry for being hostile earlier, you wouldn't believe how many Trainers came here trying to challenge me in the past two days."
"I understand," Ethan walked back to the elevator and waved.
"Bayleef, on to Cianwood City then." Ethan told her.
"Bay," Bayleef said.
"Oh, can I just ask you for one question though, not having to do with Ampharos." Ethan asked.
"Anything," The Gym leader replied.
"Before you came here to help Ampharos, did you maybe see or receive a challenge from a girl, about my age, big poofy hat, her name is Lyra?" Ethan asked.
"Hmm... no I can't say..." The girl said.
"Awe, well thanks anyway." Ethan said, opening the elevator, entering it along with Bayleef.
"Goodbye, I swear I'll be back." Ethan said as the elevator closed.
Upon exiting the Lighthouse Ethan stopped and sat on the stairs along with Bayleef.
"Awe, I need to think, how the heck am I supposed to get to Cianwood? I don't have enough money to take a boat trip!" Ethan complained to Bayleef.
Bayleef looked around and pointed with head to Ethan's right, Ethan turned to see the beach, and a Jet Ski.
"What luck!" Ethan said getting giddy. "Good girl Bayleef!" Ethan said petting her on the head, making Bayleef smile.
Ethan ran to the beach, along with Bayleef, it looked like no one was there who owned the Ski, meaning Ethan would be committing a crime if he took it.
"Hey, anyone own this!?" Ethan yelled, looking around he realized no one else was there, at least in the beach.
"D-damn, I can't just steal it can I Bayleef?" Ethan asked.
"B-Bay," Bayleef said, trying to convince Ethan maybe it was the right idea.
"R-really!?" Ethan exclaimed. "I-I don't know, I could get in serious trouble."
Ethan turned to the Jet Ski, he then realized Amphy's life was more important than questionable morals.
"Fine then, I'll just have to take it, and hope to God I can return it before the owner realizes it's gone.
Before Ethan could get on the ski, he was stopped by a man.
"Holt!" He said, alarming Ethan, the boy jumped away from the Jet Ski before turning to see the person who stopped him.
The man wore a Jet Ski gear life vest, making it clear he was the owner of the Jet Ski.
"O-oh I wasn't trying to steal, honest! I was just trying to..." Ethan said, lying his ass off. "There was some Hoothoot poop on it, yeah! And I was just going to clean it!"
"Who said anything about my Jet Ski!?" The man asked. "Look, my names Finn, it rhymes with win! And I'm going to beat you!" He said, as he revealed two Pokéballs.
"Go, my Pokémon!" He yelled releasing a Quagsire as well as a Politoed.
Phew, he just wants to battle. Ethan thought.
"Ugh, I never had a double battle before?" Ethan said out loud as he realized.
Bayleef jumped to the battlefield, directly facing the Quagsire, who her type would fare very strongly against.
"Who will your second Pokémon be?" Finn asked.
"This will be my fire time using him in battle." Ethan said, grabbing a Pokéball.
"Heracross I choose you!" Ethan yelled, releasing Heracross.
"Heracross!" Heracross eagerly exclaimed, being unleashed side by side to Bayleef.
"Alright! Quagsire, use Aqua Tail on Heracross, Politoed, Rain Dance." Finn yelled.
Politoed started to sing and dance, causing a rain cloud to appear, within range of the battle only, however.
"What kind of move is this?" Ethan wondered.
Quagsire ran up at an alarming speed, smacking Heracross with an Aqua Tail, sending him crashing to the beach floor, before flipping and landing back on his feet.
"Heracross!" Heracross exclaimed, it appeared to have taken some damage.
"Politoed, now use Body Slam on Bayleef!" Finn yelled.
Politoed leaped forth, bashing Bayleef in the back, slamming on her, before leaping back.
"Bayleef, you alright?" Ethan asked, before Bayleef got back up.
"Now, Razor Leaf, use it Politoed!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef nodded and swung her leaf, sending multiple razor leaves at Politoed, however, Quagsire jumped in the way and used Hydro Pump, somehow managing to beat the Razor Leaf and hit Bayleef.
"W-what, that's not possible!" Ethan said shocked.
"It's the effect of Rain Dance, water type moves power is enhanced to an insane degree, your Bayleef and Heracross can't stand a chance!" Finn said, confident in victory.
"Oh really." Ethan said. "Cause there's something more important that just power..."
"Really, enlighten me?" Finn said sarcastically.
"Heracross, Close Combat on Politoed let's go!" Ethan yelled, Heracross came rushing forth to the Quagsire at tremendous speed, kicking up massive amounts of sand with each step.
"Err, Quagsire, step in front of Politoed and use Giga Impact!" Finn shouted.
Quagsire listened, rushing Heracross with the force of Giga Impact, which would no doubt have more power than Heracross' Close Combat, so it was then from behind Quagsire, came Bayleef, who had sneaked behind him.
"N-no!" Finn yelled. "Quagsire, get out of there!"
It was too last for Quagsire however, Bayleef grabbed it with her Vine Whip before Quagsire could avoid Heracross, not allowing the poor Pokémon to move.
"Qu-Quagsire!?" Quagsire said shocked.
Heracross smashed his fist into Quagsire, attacking nonstop with a direct onslaught with Close Combat, each punch fast enough to break the sound barrier. After a few hits, Quagsire was down for the count.
"Q-Quagsire..." Quagsire moaned in pain unconsciously.
"Quagsire, return, you did well.' Finn said, returning his Quagsire.
Bayleef and Heracross turned to Politoed, who looked scared now that Quagsire wasn't there to protect it.
"P-Politoed..." Politoed said intimated. Suddenly the Rain clouds vanished.
"I get it now, Rain Dance is a move that only works under extreme conditions, like the user having to have complete focus over using it, that's why Politoed was only able to use one move this whole time, the strain of keeping up a Rain Dance is too much." Ethan said, his hands on his hips.
"Damn, Politoed-" Before Finn could finish, Bayleef fired a Razor Leaf at Politoed, easily causing Super effective damage, and taking down the Politoed.
"Politoed return!" Finn said, returning Politoed.
"Nice job you two, you both did great!" Ethan told his Pokémon.
Bayleef smiled and Heracross let out a proud screech.
"Okay okay, here's your prize money..." Finn muttered, trying to hand Ethan cash.
"You know what, I think I'll pass, there's something else I want," Ethan said, looking at the Jet Ski. "Mind if I borrow your Jet Ski, I need to get to Cianwood fast, and I figure that-" Before Ethan could finish, Finn interrupted him.
"Hold on, you mean... you're asking me if you can come with me on my Jet Ski to Cianwood." Finn asked.
"No, not quite, I'm saying can I maybe... use it...?" Ethan asked.
"Heheh, very funny kid, tell you what though." He said, jumping on his Ski. "There's enough room for two, you can ride with me to Cianwood."
"Ugh... fine," Ethan muttered. "I don't even know how to ride one in the first place so, maybe this is best."
Ethan turned and returned Heracross to his Pokéball, then turned to Bayleef.
"Bayleef, if I'm going to go by Jet Ski. Can I ask you to return to your Pokéball for a bit?" Ethan asked. "As you can tell, you really couldn't ride with us."
Bayleef understood and nodded.
"Great, well then, return Bayleef." He said, returning his starter to her Pokéball.
"Well come on then, want me to leave you behind?" Finn asked, getting ready to start his Jet Ski.
"Sure, I'm going," Ethan said, sitting down right behind him on the seat of the Ski.
"Also, you may want to hang on to my back!" Finn suggested.
"W-why?" Ethan asked.
"Cause I'm going full speed!" Finn exclaimed as he started the Jet Ski, instantly zipping across the sea at tremendous speed.
"Wahhhhhhhhh!" Ethan screamed at the top of his lungs, trying his hardest to hang on to Finn.
Now that's the chapter, next chapter is Cianwood!