Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 34: An iron defense
After hitting the Pokémon Center to make sure all his Pokémon are all okay first thing in the morning, he knew it was time to challenge the Gym leader.
Ethan exited the Center, along with Bayleef. "Okay, today's the day we challenge the Gym and get our sixth badge." Ethan stated.
"Bay!" Bayleef said, determined to win.
Yesterday Ethan had traveled to Cianwood by Jet Ski to grab medicine for a sick Ampharos as an errand for Jasmine, the Gym leader.
Ethan finally knocked on the door to the Gym, not having any knowledge as to what kind of Pokémon Jasmine used or if he'd be in trouble or not, all he knew was that he couldn't afford to lose here.
Finally, after not so long a pretty young girl opened the door. "Hi, you must be Ethan." She spoke.
"Yes, I am, I take it you're the referee for our gym battle?" Ethan guessed.
"Correct, I am Coral, Jasmine spoke a lot about you, she said more Trainers should be as kind as you." Coral said.
"Is Jasmine here now?" Ethan finally asked.
"She just finished having a gym battle, she should be ready to continue now though." Coral said, leading Ethan to the stadium.
"So, did Jasmine win or lose the Gym battle?" Ethan asked.
"She won, and I'll give you a word of advice, Jasmine is strong, if you're not adequately trained then no way will you win this battle." Coral warned.
"I'm strong too," Ethan said, eying his Bayleef who smiled back. "We'll just see who's stronger!"
Ethan was led to a wide stadium, covered in rock and stone, on the other side was the Gym leader, Jasmine.
"It's time." Ethan finally said, Bayleef joining his side.
"Thank you for your help at the Lighthouse... But this is different. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Jasmine, a Gym leader. I use the... clang! Steel type!" She said, pulling out a Pokéball.
"Steel type?" Ethan said, rubbing his chin.
"...Do you know about the Steel type?" Jasmine asked. "They are very hard, cold, sharp, and really strong! Um... I'm not lying."
"I'll take your word for it, now let's start!" Ethan exclaimed.
"This will be a three on three between Challenger Ethan and the Gym leader Jasmine, may you both bring out your first Pokémon and begin!" Coral announced.
"Alright, I choose you, Magneton!" Jasmine shouted, throwing a Pokéball.
Magneton was released and surged with electricity; Ethan instantly recognized the Pokémon from Silver.
"Nice Pokémon! Now I choose you!" Ethan yelled. "Go, Heracross!"
Heracross was released from his Pokéball, giving a stern shout, ready to battle.
"A Heracross, funny choice, you realize bug types are weak to Steel types?" Jasmine asked.
"Heh, doesn't matter, Heracross is also a Fighting type!" Ethan said, confident. "And that's great when battling for Steel types!"
"Hera Hera!" Heracross said, raring to go.
"Magneton, Supersonic!" Jasmine yelled.
Magneton attempted to blast Heracross with the Supersonic, but Heracross managed to dodge the attack.
"Heracross! Megahorn!" Ethan shouted.
Heracross's horn began to shine a bright white, it smashed into Magneton, sending him flying back to the ground.
"Magneton!" Jasmine yelled.
Before Magneton could crash, he reversed, catching itself.
"Heracross, go on the offensive with Close Combat!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross rushed at full speed at the Magneton, making Jasmine smile.
"Magneton, use Electric Terrain!" She commanded.
Magneton was surrounded in what appeared to be a dome of electricity, causing Heracross to leap back before being paralyzed through contact.
Protecting yourself with a defensive move, interesting idea, and considering Heracross only has physical moves rather special, he can't touch Magneton, Ethan analyzed.
"What will you do... Ethan?" Jasmine asked.
"Heh, your Magneton can't do much to Heracross from inside that dome, the minute he leaves, Heracross will strike!" Ethan told her.
"Heracross, when Magneton leaves, you know what to do!" He told Heracross.
Heracross sharply nodded at Ethan, before looking back and facing full attention for Jasmine.
Magneton finally dropped the shield, giving Heracross the opportunity to pounce. Heracross came at full force with a Aerial Ace, but Magneton instead fired a gray beam at Heracross.
"That move!" Ethan commented.
"Flash Cannon, a steel type move, Heracross will be hit with the impact at full force." Jasmine said.
"Heracross, dodge it!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross was still flying in the same direction, the beam was only an inch away from Heracross's face before he quickly reacted, dodging the beam by moving to his side.
"So quick!" Jasmine said in awe.
Heracross smashed into Magneton, sending him flying back at full speed, crashing into the groundbreaking chunks of rock.
"Now, finish it will Brick Break!" Ethan said.
Heracross listened and pounced on the weakened Magneton, with one chop, he smashed Magneton once again into the ground so hard, the floor below cracked into pieces.
"Magneton!" Jasmine cried out.
Magneton had fainted from that last attack, unable to continue, Heracross stood over it and gave a proud bellow.
"Magneton is unable to battle, Gym leader Jasmine, please bring out your second Pokémon!" Coral announced.
"You're awesome Heracross, keep it up!" Ethan celebrated.
"Bayleef Bay!" Bayleef jumped up and down cheering Heracross on.
"This next Pokémon … should provide a more difficult challenge..." Jasmine said, readying her second Pokéball. "Go, Magnezone!"
A funny looking Pokémon Ethan had never seen nor heard before of had emerged, it was a very robotic looking Pokémon, resembling a disc or saucer, with a thin edge circling the diameter of its body. It had one, big, red eyes in the middle, Ethan readied his Pokédex to scan it.
"Magnezone, the Magnet Area Pokémon. Exposure to a special magnetic field changed to make Magnezone evolve, but their efforts ended in failure."
"This Pokémon, reminds me a lot of your previous Pokémon, Magneton." Ethan commented, putting away his Pokédex.
"You'd be correct in that thinking... Magnezone is the evolution to Magneton, first discovered in the Sinnoh region by a certain professor... Magneton exclusively evolve into Magnezone with exposure to Magnetic fields... As your Pokédex said, or course." Jasmine said.
"Heracross, we still got this!?" Ethan asked.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross responded, ready to continue.
"Allow me to start, Magnezone, please use Gyro Ball!" Jasmine said.
Magnezone began spinning like a top at full speed heading for Heracross.
"Heracross, move out the way!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross tried to dodge but was then suddenly zapped by a jolt of electricity, causing him to get smashed by the Gyro Ball.
"Static!" Ethan reacted.
"Oh goodie, Heracross is paralyzed... That'll make this battle in my favor..." Jasmine said.
"Heracross, fight through it!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross shook its body, trying to move some static was no match for him.
"Now, Magnezone, Lock On!" Jasmine yelled.
Magnezone faced Heracross and shot what appeared to be a red X at Heracross, the move was too fast to dodge, but it did no damage.
"That was too fast to react to!" Ethan said.
"Heh, now Magnezone, Flash Cannon!" Jasmine shouted.
Magnezone began charging with a silver energy, about to fire it at Heracross.
"Err, Heracross, just dodge it!" Ethan yelled.
The beam fired at Heracross, Heracross jumped back to dodge it, but the beam surprisingly followed him.
"Hera?" Heracross said confused.
The beam smashed into Heracross, causing a huge explosion midair that would be hard to come back from for just about any Pokémon.
"How did it...?" Ethan questioned.
"Surprised, right?" Jasmine asked. "That was the effect of Lock On... Once the move lands, then there is no dodging my Magnezone's Flash Cannon..."
"What an insane move, too powerful." Ethan said.
Heracross fell from the giant smoke cloud in the sky, upon falling on his back he flipped and landed on his legs.
"Hera!" Heracross screeched, he was definitely hurt, it was clear Magnezone was winning.
"Heracross, Close Combat, once again!" Ethan yelled. Heracross listened and charged at full force for Magnezone, ready to give another flurry of heavy hitting attacks.
Heracross leaped, spreading his wings, his fist was aiming for Magnezone, making Jasmine smile.
"Discharge quick!" She yelled.
Magnezone began to surge with blue electricity, it engulfed Heracross and covered the range of the entire stadium. The blue electricity shined so bright Ethan and Bayleef had to look away,
"H-Heracross!" Ethan screamed.
When the shine vanished, Heracross dropped face to the floor, it was over for him.
"Heracross is unable to battle! Challenger Ethan, bring out your second Pokémon!" Coral said.
"Heracross, you did great buddy, now take a good long rest." Ethan said, returning Heracross to his Pokéball.
"Have you decided... who your second Pokémon will be?" Jasmine asked.
"You know it!" Ethan told her, pulling out a Pokéball. "Eevee, I choose you!"
"Eevee!" Eevee yelled upon being released, she leaped on the stadium ground, face to face with the Magnezone.
"Magnezone!" Magnezone said, in a cold, robotic voice.
"Eevee!" Eevee roared back, not showing any fear.
"I'll begin, Magnezone, use Gyro Ball!" Jasmine started.
"Eevee, quick dodge!" Ethan yelled.
Using Quick Attack, Eevee leaped and dodged Magnezone's fast attack.
"I have experience with Discharge." Ethan said. "Your Magneton no longer has any Electricity to use!"
"No matter that... I can win without that... This is a steel type gym after all." Jasmine replied.
"Eevee, now use Swift!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee shook her tail, firing many stars at Magnezone, but Magnezone used Gyro Ball to spin, reflecting the move to the wall.
"Now Magnezone, Lock On!" Jasmine yelled.
Magnezone once again fired an unmissable red X at the midair Eevee, who of course, was unable to avoid it.
"There's no getting around that attack!" Ethan commented.
"Now, Flash Cannon!" Jasmine yelled.
Magnezone began to charge the silver beam, radiating intense steel type energy.
"Alright, use Swift, don't give Magnezone the chance!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee once again used Swift, and Magnezone was unable to dodge since it was charging the move, causing an eruption of smoke.
The smoke cleared, Magnezone was still charging the move, even when scuffed and damaged.
Magnezone fired the blast at Eevee, one hit would be very dangerous if it landed.
Darn it, thanks to Lock On, Flash Cannon is unmissable, Eevee's durability isn't as good as Heracross's, if she gets hit, it'll be bad. Ethan realized.
"Eevee, Use Dig and dodge!" Ethan yelled; it was his only hope.
Instead, however, Eevee pulled up a barrier, and not the same kind of barrier Bayleef uses for Light Screen, the beam hit the shield, and instantly bounced off, smashing into Magnezone.
"E-Eevee... Knows Reflect!?" Jasmine said, beginning to worry.
"Reflect? Yes, a new move!" Ethan said, putting his arms up joyfully.
Once the smoke cleared, it was quite clear Magnezone was on its last legs, it was even more damaged and scuffed, the match was in Eevee's favor.
"Eevee, you're doing great, now end it with your Swift!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee once again launched a ferocious Swift at Magnezone, slamming Magnezone to the ground.
"Magnezone, get up!" Jasmine yelled.
"End it Eevee, Quick Attack!" Ethan said confidently.
Eevee rushed into Magnezone with Quick Attack, as she smashed into the Magnezone, the ground beneath them shattered, causing once again a smoke cloud.
Eevee flipped and jumped back on all fours, having won handily.
"Eevee!" She roared.
"Magnezone is unable to battle! Gym leader Jasmine, please reveal your final Pokémon!" Coral announced.
"Return Magnezone... you did swell." Jasmine commented.
"Eevee, you're killing it, we've got this battle down the bag!" Ethan declared.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef exclaimed.
"I wouldn't be so sure Ethan... This next Pokémon is my strongest... It is the Pokémon I first set out with when I first started out as a young Trainer..." Jasmine said, pulling out her final Pokémon.
"Let's see it then!" Ethan responded,
"Be my ace once more, go Steelix!" Jasmine threw the Pokéball.
Steelix was a long, serpentine Pokémon with a silver-gray body made up of rock-like sections. Its body had many chips and scrapes on it. It had large spikes coming from its sides.
"Bay..." Bayleef said, starting to worry for Eevee.
Ethan was instantly intimidated by its rough design, he scurried to his Pokédex.
"Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon. Its body has been compressed deep under the ground. As a result, it is even harder than diamond."
"Steelix, huh, this should be interesting." Ethan said, determined to win no matter what.
Steelix pulled its head back and gave a stiff screech, making Eevee shake a little.
"Alright Steelix, now begin with Iron Tail!" Jasmine commanded.
Steelix's tail shined white, it lifted it and smashed it at Eevee, but Eevee managed to dodge, the impact further shattered the stadium ground, even Ethan and Bayleef could feel it.
I see, Steelix is slow, but incredibly powerful, Ethan thought. "Eevee, Quick Attack!"
Eevee rushed and crashed into Steelix at incredibly fast speed, but she hadn't even made Steelix flinch. Eevee fell to the ground, seeming like she had a headache.
"Um... I made sure to mention that the steel type is incredibly strong, right?" Jasmine said, worrying Ethan further.
"Now Steelix, Iron Tail once more and crush Eevee!" She commanded.
Steelix after letting out a roar prepared to crush Eevee under his tail, but Eevee jumped back into the air, dodging the attack.
"Dragon Breath!" Jasmine yelled, taking Ethan a back.
"D-Dragon Breath!?" Ethan said concerned.
Bayleef had to look away, she couldn't see what would happen to Eevee next.
Eevee was hit with head on with what appeared to be a purple blast of energy, upon getting hit Eevee fell to the ground, hurt bad.
"Eevee, are you okay!?" Ethan asked.
Eevee began to stand up, shaking heavily, but she fell back to the ground, unconscious.
"Eevee is unable to continue, Challenger Ethan, bring in your last Pokémon!" Coral announced.
"That was an amazing battle Eevee, good job!" Ethan said as he returned her. He turned and glared at the big, angry Steelix, while holding his third Pokéball.
"Who will it be?" Jasmine asked.
"Here you are. Flaaffy, I choose you!" Ethan yelled, throwing his final Pokéball.
"Flaaffy!" Flaaffy yelled as of being released.
"Flaaffy..." Jasmine said, smiling. "I never thought you'd have that Pokémon... I wonder how it'll fare against my Steelix?"
"Pretty damn good you'll find!" Ethan declared. "Flaaffy, let's show her how it's done!"
Flaaffy turned to Ethan and wagged his tail, showing he was ready to battle.
"Steelix, Iron Tail!" Jasmine yelled.
Steelix's tail once again glowed white as it aimed for Flaaffy, Flaaffy smiled.
"Fire Punch now!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy's fist was engulfed with fire as it was thrown, the punch made contact with Steelix's tail, causing an explosion which lit the entire battlefield.
"Flaaffy, leap up and use Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled. Flaaffy listened and bounced up, unleashing electricity at the large Steelix, who was a quite literal unmissable target. The electricity smashed into Steelix, but did no damage.
"What!?" Ethan cried.
"My Steelix... is also a Ground type, meaning electric type moves are entirely ineffective." Jasmine told Ethan.
"Just great," Ethan complained.
"Oh, and I was surprised to see Flaaffy knows a fire type move, that's Super effective..." Jasmine said, "Steelix, let's take this seriously and use Autotomize!"
Steelix glowed white entirely, making Ethan uneasy, when the white light vanished, Steelix let out another roar.
"W-what happened just now?" Ethan questioned, not aware of that move.
"Iron Tail once more!" Jasmine commanded. Steelix's tail lit up white, and it quickly smashed into the ground before Flaaffy, to which Flaaffy luckily dodged.
"Flaaffy!?" Flaaffy said, surprised in Steelix's fast movements.
"I see, it must be a move which increases the Pokémon's speed." Ethan realized. "Flaaffy, Confuse Ray!"
Flaaffy's shot out a Confuse Ray, which despite Steelix's new speed, its size allowed it to be hit.
"Steelix!" Jasmine shouted.
Steelix looked around, not so sure of its surroundings, as what happened when a Pokémon was confused.
"Flaaffy, now use it to your advantage and hit Steelix with Fire Punch!" Ethan yelled.
"Flaaffy!" Flaaffy yelled as his fist charged with flames, Flaaffy ran forth at Steelix, fist full of fire, while Steelix was still confused.
"It won't work!" Jasmine said.
Flaaffy smashed its fist into Steelix's large body, making direct contact, causing an explosion on Steelix.
"This has to be it!" Ethan yelled.
The smoke cleared however, revealing the Steelix to be fine, sending chills down Ethan's spine.
"Fl-Flaaffy!" Flaaffy said alarmed.
"Now Steelix, Bind!" Jasmine said, confident in victory.
Steelix shook its head, finally free of confusion, using his long tail, he wrapped and grabbed the struggling Flaaffy, confining him from moving.
"Flaaffy no!" Ethan yelled.
"Steelix, squeeze and make sure to not hold back!" Jasmine commanded.
Steelix listened and increased the power of its hold on Flaaffy, making Flaaffy groan in pain.
"Flaaffy no!" Ethan said, not sure what to do.
Flaaffy continued to cry out, making Ethan fret even more.
"A-alright Flaaffy, Discharge!" Ethan said, out of options and with no clue of what to do next.
Flaaffy while squeezed lit up with blue electricity, he exerted all his power, and unleashed a zap much stronger than the Magnezone from earlier.
"Discharge... not a wise choice..." Jasmine commented.
Flaaffy could no longer use electricity, now even more exhausted than before, Steelix's hold over him continued even further.
"Now Steelix, release Flaaffy and end it!" Jasmine ordered.
Steelix dropped Flaaffy to the ground, and with his tail smacked him all the way back to the ground beneath Ethan, he was clearly unconscious.
"F-Flaaffy!" Ethan said, saddened.
"Flaaffy is unable to battle. Gym leader Jasmine is the winner!" Coral announced, she looked sorry for Ethan.
"Bayleef Bay..." Bayleef said trying to cheer up Ethan.
"Don't worry Bayleef, I'm okay." Ethan told her.
"Alright Flaaffy, you were awesome out there, thank you!" Ethan said, returning Flaaffy to his Pokéball.
"You should be proud Ethan... you did very well, an admirable effort... that must be your gift!" Jasmine said with a smile on her face, she went and pet her Steelix as is lowered its head to her, seeming to like it.
"Alright, thanks." Ethan smiled. "I'll be back some other time, and when I return, I'll be the victor, remember that!"
Ethan left along with Bayleef, after a tremendous defeat that left him with stress, after dropping off the Pokémon he fought with at the Pokémon Center. Later after they were healed, he took a break sitting by Bayleef on a bench, contemplating on how to beat that monstrous Steelix.
"It was like a monster Bayleef, all my time traveling, I've never seen a Pokémon so strong!" Ethan said.
"Bay!" Bayleef nodded, wishing she could somehow give Ethan a hint as to win.
"My ace in the hole, Flaaffy's Fire Punch did nothing, we'll need to train nonstop!" Ethan declared, standing up.
"Bay!" Bayleef agreed, Ethan reached out to pet her on her scalp.
It was then Ethan noticed, far away near the Gym, he noticed a blue haired girl, who he had seen before from Ecruteak, she was standing by the beach, seemingly enjoying the view.
"K-Kris!?" Ethan said, last he heard about her was from the Ecruteak City Gym leader Morty, who said she was allegedly dead, even though he met her a day prior.
His mind was taken off the Steelix and onto the girl, he had to talk to her, to ask her some questions cause man did he have some.
Ethan walked from behind and walked up to Kris, she hadn't moved a muscle, she was watching a beautiful sunset, the orange of the sun sinked into the beach, as it melted into the horizon.
Ethan gulped upon gazing at Kris's back, she was quite pretty, but that wasn't even on his mind, he needed to get answers from her, to be at ease.
"Hey, excuse me!" Ethan said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
The girl turned around, and upon a view of her face, Ethan saw someone completely different, it was now the girl he had been searching for since their fallout at Ecrueak, Lyra.
"E-Ethan?" She spoke.
"L-Lyra!?" Ethan said in awe.
And just like that Jasmine washes Ethan, how will he hope to defeat her...? And what will happen between him and Lyra?