Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 35: Reunion
After a devastating loss at the hands of the Olivine City Gym leader Jasmine, Ethan had spotted from afar what he had believed to be Kris, a young and pretty girl he met just outside of Ecruteak. But upon reaching for her he was met with surprise to see instead the girl he had been searching for, Lyra.
Ethan looked into Lyra's eyes with nothing but shock, he had sworn he'd seen Kris, but instead he had seen his once best friend.
What's wrong with me, why did I see Kris, this is... Lyra. Ethan realized.
Ethan finally broke the silence between the two and spoke. "W-what are you doing here?"
"E-excuse me..." Lyra said, walking past Ethan, trying to ignore him.
"L-Lyra wait, hear me out. I just wanted to say, and I've wanted to say for a while, I'm sorry..." Ethan finally said, getting it off his chest.
Lyra stopped; Ethan was facing her back.
"Back at Ecruteak, I messed up big time, I'm really sorry." Ethan apologized. "You were just being kind to me, and I blew it, and I promise I'll never do that again, but, if you're mad at me and hate me, I understand."
Lyra finally turned around, her eyes were red, and she appeared to have been crying. "How could I be mad at you..." She said, wiping her tears.
"Lyra..." Ethan said.
"I'm the one who's sorry Ethan. We were childhood friends, and in just a day I abandoned that, you had every right to be mad at me. I tried to make an enemy out of you." Lyra apologized.
"That's fine, to be honest, I never considered you an enemy." Ethan said. "I wasn't mad at you Lyra... I never was."
"Well, you should have been... I treated you like dirt for so long, you should hate me." Lyra cried.
Ethan walked up to her and grabbed her by the hands, surprising Lyra and even Bayleef.
"I could never hate you Lyra. Look, we both made our mistakes, but I think we can live past that." Ethan said.
Lyra looked into Ethan's eyes before looking down, Ethan let go of her hands.
She wiped the last of her tears and smiled. "If you can, I know I can." Lyra said, in a cheerier tone.
"Heh, I'm glad to hear that." Ethan said, putting his hands on his hips. "You know, looking at the both of us I'm starting to realize, we've both really changed since our journeys began, right?"
"Of course, back before we were just kids..." Lyra said. "And now we're still kids, but now less naïve kids."
"You're dead on the money, so how have you been?" Ethan asked.
"Well, I finally got my fourth badge, I just came back from challenging Chuck!" Lyra said, showing her carrying case.
"How'd you get there?" Ethan asked.
"Well, my Azumarill knows Surf, it took a while, but she finally got me there!" Lyra said, spinning Azumarill's Pokéball.
"That's great Lyra, so... as for Morty?" Ethan asked, he knew she hadn't challenged him from the look of her carrying case.
"Well after, you know, the Burned Tower incident, I needed a break from that City, so, after I defeat Jasmine, I'll challenge Morty." Jasmine said.
"Again, I'm sorry-" Lyra interrupted Ethan. "Ethan, if we stand here and keep apologizing for the mention of every little thing, then it'll always be awkward around us, won't it."
"I guess you're right," Ethan said, he turned to Bayleef, who said hi to Lyra.
"Hi Bayleef, I can just by looking at you you've gotten much stronger!" Lyra said, patting Bayleef on her head.
"Bay!" Bayleef playfully laughed.
"Hey!" Lyra said, "I just realized, I've only ever seen two of your Pokémon!" Lyra said.
"O-oh, right!" Ethan realized.
"Can I see, I want to know what kind of Pokémon you caught." Lyra asked.
"I don't know, will you show me your Pokémon?" Ethan asked.
"Hehe, we'll just have to see." Lyra teased.
"Alright fine." Ethan said, throwing fours Pokéballs, releasing his full team.
"Flaaffy!" Flaaffy shouted.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic exclaimed.
"Eevee!" Eevee barked.
"Hera!" Heracross screeched.
"Wow, so cute!" Lyra said, she dropped her knees to try and pet Eevee, but Eevee walked back behind Ethan's leg.
"You see, Eevee isn't so used around people other than me yet." Ethan said.
"Oh, gotcha." Lyra said, she turned to Togetic and Flaaffy, and pet them down.
Heracross upon seeing this turned around and tried to ignore it, he hated hugs and what not.
"Oh, Ethan, let me guess, was this one the Pokémon that was in that egg?" Lyra asked, holding Togetic in her arms.
"Yeah, you're right." Ethan told her, making her smile upon being right.
"You gathered a good team Ethan; this is something else." Lyra said.
"Now Lyra..." Ethan said, putting his hands behind his back.
"What?" Lyra asked still petting Flaaffy and Togetic.
"Weren't you going to show me your team?" Ethan reminded her.
"Woah hold on, hold on," Lyra said. "I said we'll have to see if I let you, remember?"
"Come on, what's wrong, aren't you proud of your team?" Ethan teased.
"Alright, how about I show you some of my team in a battle. Let's make this a three on three how about?" Lyra asked.
"You want a battle?" Ethan said.
"Yes of course, have you forgotten our battle at Ecruteak was interrupted by Morty?" Lyra asked.
Sure, well let's hope your team can hold a candle to mine!" Ethan gloated, stretching his arms.
Ethan and Lyra moved back some distance, leaving a good amount of room for their Pokémon to battle. The sun had set, and nighttime was about.
"Alright Ethan, you'll recognize this one!" Lyra said, holding a Pokéball. "I choose you, Houndoom!"
"Houndoom!" Houndoom howled upon being released.
"Wow, so you managed to evolve that Houndour of yours huh," Ethan said, raising his Pokédex.
"Houndoom, the Dark Pokémon. If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away."
Flaaffy and Heracross jumped up and down, showing they wanted to battle, but Ethan turned to Bayleef.
"What do you say Bayleef?" Ethan asked. "Want to finish that battle from earlier?"
Bayleef smiled and leaped in front of Ethan, forming a battle-ready stance.
"Bayleef? You want to battle with a type disadvantage like last time?" Jasmine asked.
"I want to see who's stronger between my Bayleef and your Houndoom, as you said, that battle back at Ecruteak never finished, right?" Ethan said.
"Okay then, Houndoom, Fire Fang!" Lyra commanded.
Houndoom pounced for Bayleef with a mouth full of flames, Bayleef had to leap back in time to dodge.
"Houndoom, Dark Pulse!" Lyra yelled.
Houndoom shot from its mouth a dark ray of energy at Bayleef, hitting her in the jaw.
"Bayleef!" Ethan yelled.
"Now Houndoom, Flamethrower!" Lyra said.
Houndoom pulled his head back and exhaled its flame breath, Bayleef managed to dodge, albeit just slightly, if she hadn't, it would have been it for her.
"Nice going Bayleef, don't get hit by any fire type moves and were golden!" Ethan told her.
"Houndoom, Overheat!" Lyra yelled.
Houndoom opened its jaw and unleashed what appeared to be not just flame breath, but a ray of energy, almost like a heat ray. Bayleef just barely dodged the attack by sidestepping.
"Now, Bayleef, Razor Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef listened and swung her leaf, firing many shots at Houndoom, despite being hit by them all, the type advantage fire had over grass allowed it to get back up with no serious damage.
"Houn...Doom!" Houndoom snarled.
"B-Bay..." Bayleef said, sweating.
"Now Houndoom, Fire Fang once more!" Lyra again commanded.
Houndoom pounced for Bayleef, with a mouth full of flames.
"Light Screen, Bayleef!" Ethan screamed.
Bayleef shot up her shield, Houndoom bit into it, causing no damage to it.
"That's a Psychic type move right?" Lyra realized. "Alright then, Houndoom, fire a Dark Pulse!"
"Dark Pulse!" Ethan said, starting to scare at what would happen if Bayleef faced Houndoom face to face.
"Bayleef smash Houndoom with the Light Screen!" Ethan yelled.
Using the shield, she bashed it into Houndoom's face, making him fall to the beach sand, landing on his charged Dark Pulse, which blew up on his face.
"Houndoom no!" Lyra yelled.
"Bayleef, now raise Houndoom with Vine Whip!" Ethan said.
Bayleef grabbed Houndoom, lifting it into the air by grabbing it by the body, two vines opened its mouth wide so it couldn't use any of its dangerous moves.
"Now, slam Houndoom into the water!" Ethan yelled.
"W-what!?" Lyra said.
Bayleef quickly tossed Houndoom into the beach, causing a huge splash of water, almost like a water type move was fired.
"Houndoom, are you okay!?" Lyra asked.
Houndoom finally appeared, he lay in the water, unconscious and unable to continue.
"Yes Bayleef! One down!" Ethan yelled.
"Eev, Eevee!" Eevee cheered on, hearing her cheer got his other three Pokémon to cheer on Bayleef as well.
"Excellent job Houndoom, you did not disappoint." Lyra said, returning Houndoom to its Pokéball.
"Bayleef, return to me!" Ethan yelled. Bayleef listened and jumped to his side.
"You did great Bayleef, now conserve some energy until I call you to battle again, alright." Ethan told her.
"Bay!" Bayleef sharply nodded.
"Alright Azumarill, let's show Ethan how it's done!" Lyra said, throwing her Pokéball.
"Azu Azu!" Azumarill said upon release, leaping to the battlefield.
Heracross jumped up and down, showing he wanted to battle, but Flaaffy had other plans.
"Flaaffy! Flaaffy!" Flaaffy said, leaping to the battlefield.
"He, Hera Hera!" Heracross yelled, feeling Flaaffy cheated.
"Just what I need Flaaffy! Flaaffy's got the type advantage here!" Ethan exclaimed.
Flaaffy surged with electricity, he was pumped for a battle.
"Azumarill, make me proud girl!" Lyra yelled, encouraging Azumarill on.
"Azumarill!" Azumarill promised.
"Alright Flaaffy. Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy surged with electricity, sending a zap at Azumarill, to which Azumarill luckily avoided.
"Now Azumarill, reverse and use Hydro Pump!" Lyra yelled.
Azumarill flipped and turned, firing a Hydro Pump at the ground allowed it to quickly zip across the battlefield, Azumarill crashed into Flaaffy, sending Flaaffy flying back.
"Flaaffy, are you alright?" Ethan asked.
Flaaffy flipped and landed on his feet, he was okay to continue.
"Whew, now use Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy surged with electricity once more and zapped Azumarill, causing Super effective damage, knocking Azumarill to the ground flat on its face.
"You okay Azumarill?" Lyra asked.
Azumarill began to slowly get back to its feet, it almost stumbled but managed to.
"That Thunder Shock did a number on Azumarill, one more should do it!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy began to charge more electricity, giving Lyra a second to act.
"Azumarill, Attract!" Lyra said.
"A-Attract! I forgot Azumarill had that move!" Ethan face palmed.
Azumarill blushed and winked at Flaaffy, causing Flaaffy to become infatuated with it.
"Dang it!" Ethan cursed, not sure what to do now.
"Flaaffy, Flaaffy!" Flaaffy said, immobilized by love, clearly.
"Azumarill, end Flaaffy with Hyper Beam!" Lyra yelled.
Azumarill listened and began charging a powerful red energy from its mouth, giving Ethan a scare.
"You have to get over it Flaaffy! If you don't, you're done for!" Ethan yelled, trying to get Flaaffy to hear him.
"Fl-Flaaffy!" Flaaffy said, ignoring Ethan.
Azumarill shot a dreadful Hyper Beam at the immobilized Flaaffy, causing a large explosion which shook Ethan and his Pokémon back.
"Flaaffy!" Ethan yelled.
Once the smoke cleared, Flaaffy was flat on his face, making Lyra smile.
"We won this, good job Azumarill!" Lyra said, complimenting her Pokémon.
"Oh yeah, look at Flaaffy why don't you!?" Ethan told her.
Flaaffy was standing up, albeit with bruises and scratches, he wiped some blood from his lip and seemed ready to continue.
"Alright Flaaffy, now use Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy began to load another usage of Thunder Shock again, making Lyra smile.
"Azumarill, Surf!" She commanded.
From behind Azumarill appeared a large wave of water, it crashed into the charging Flaaffy and engulfed him entirely.
"That attack won't do much, water type moves don't work on Flaaffy very well remember?" Ethan said, making Lyra smile.
When the water cleared, Flaaffy was down and fainted, it appeared the wave caused the surging Flaaffy to short circuit, as Flaaffy was being zapped by his own electricity, it did not look good.
"As I said, we did win this!" Lyra said, showing a V sign with her finger.
"Flaaffy, good job boy!" Ethan said, returning Flaaffy to his Pokéball.
"Who will be next, Ethan?" Lyra asked smugly.
"Heracross, it's your turn buddy!" Ethan announced, making Heracross happily leap to the battlefield.
"Heracross!" Heracross shouted.
"A bug type, this should be fun!" Lyra said. "Alright Azumarill, start with Hydro Pump!"
Azumarill pulled its head back and fired a large Hydro Pump straight at Heracross.
"That's nothing, Heracross, dodge it!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross listened and avoided the Hydro Pump with his swift movements.
"So quick!" Lyra reacted.
"Now Heracross, Aerial Ace!" Ethan said.
Heracross listened and zipped at Azumarill, who leaped back and dodged it.
Heracross smashed into the sand, kicking up a dust cloud that got into Azumarill's eyes.
"N-no!" Lyra said.
"Good, now use Brick Break on Azumarill!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross leaped up and appeared behind Azumarill in midair, the Pokémon was still wiping its eyes, but felt a sudden hill of Heracross's presence.
Heracross formed a chopped and slammed Azumarill with it, Azumarill slammed into the ground, before flipping and landing on its feet.
"Are you okay Azumarill?" Lyra asked.
"Azumarill!" Azumarill said, appearing to have gotten the sand out of her eye.
"Attract let's go!" Lyra yelled, Azumarill winked and sent hearts at Heracross, but with his quick speed he easily dodged it. Heracross in a flash appeared right before Azumarill, kicking up sand beneath him.
"I-insane!" Lyra said.
"Okay, now use Close Combat!" Ethan uttered.
Heracross threw a fury of punches and slashes at the poor Azumarill, it sounded like a gun shot, how fast and precise each attack was. Heracross finally used one last Brick Break on Azumarill, knocking her unconscious.
"Azu...marill" Azumarill muttered while down on the sand.
"Great job, Heracross! You won that round!" Ethan excitedly shouted, Bayleef and Togetic cheered him on as well.
"Hera!" Heracross nodded, eager to continue battling.
"So, let me guess, will your last Pokémon be Noctowl?" Ethan asked, sounding cocky.
"Not quite," Lyra said, pulling out her last Pokéball. "Go now, Pupitar!"
Pupitar was a Pokémon covered entirely in a thick grayish-blue shell, sporting a hardness that was comparable to bedrock. Its blood red eyes could be seen through two holes on its shell.
"Pupitar!" Pupitar said, in a cold, monotone voice.
Ethan smiled and pulled out his Pokédex to scan it.
"Pupitar, the Hard Shell Pokémon. Its shell is as hard as rock, and it is also very strong. Its thrashing can topple a mountain."
"That's a powerful looking Pokémon, where'd you catch it?" Ethan finally asked, putting away his Pokédex.
"I found it as a Larvitar not so long after leaving Ecruteak City." Lyra told Ethan. "Upon seeing him I just knew he needed to be on my team!"
"Now let's start, Heracross, Aerial Ace!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross flapped his wings and charged at the opposing Pupitar, shining brightly with a white aura at immense speed.
"Don't let it touch you Heracross, use Stone Edge!" Lyra yelled,
Pupitar raised pieces of rock from deep inside the ground, causing Heracross to smash into it as it was thrown, causing Super effective damage.
"Heracross!" Ethan screamed.
"Bayleef Bay!" Bayleef said, worried for her teammate.
Heracross was on the ground before getting up, that stone edge had clearly taken a lot out of him.
"Are you alright Heracross!?" Ethan yelled.
Heracross shook his head, reassuring he was okay and ready to continue, he got on all fours and was serious.
"Pupitar, now use Sandstorm!" Lyra said, sand started to form around Heracross over the battlefield, Heracross had to cover his eyes at this.
"Sandstorm!" Ethan freaked.
"Now, since Heracross can't see, Smack Down! Let's go!" Lyra yelled.
Pupitar charged an orange energy ball, smashing into Heracross upon being released, smashing Heracross into oblivion.
"Oh no!" Ethan gasped.
Heracross fell before Ethan, unable to battle.
"H-Heracross..." Heracross groaned in pain.
"Hah, you're amazing Pupitar!" Lyra said, jumping in and down with joy.
"Heracross..." Ethan said, returning Heracross to his Pokéball. "Man, you did really awesome battling, now take a nice rest."
Togetic went and nudged Ethan's shirt, asking to battle, but Ethan shook his head no.
"Toge, Toge!" Togetic said.
"Sorry Togetic, but Bayleef already fought and has yet to lose, so you can't battle this time, is that okay?" He asked.
Togetic nodded agreeing making Ethan smile, he pet Togetic on the head.
"So, think Bayleef can handle this?" Lyra asked.
"I know she can, isn't that right, Bayleef?" Ethan said.
"Bay!" Bayleef said, leaping on the battlefield.
"Bayleef is strong I'll give her that, being able to beat my Houndoom despite its type disadvantage... and now she has the type advantage." Lyra quietly muttered.
"Bay!" Bayleef shouted, she still had some scuffs and scratches from the first round but wasn't as fatigued as earlier.
"This should be a good match." Lyra said. "Alright Pupitar, use Sandstorm!"
"Sandstorm again!" Ethan said.
The wind started picking up around Bayleef, kicking up an insane amount of sand, forcing Bayleef to close her eyes.
"Err, Light Screen Bayleef!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef listened and shot up a barrier in front of her, she still had to close her eyes from the sand, but she could now move easier.
"Pupitar, Stone Edge!" Lyra yelled.
Pupitar listened and threw many stones at Bayleef in an attempt to destroy the shield, but it was ineffective.
Bayleef continued to charge through the sandstorm, she managed to exit it, making the Sandstorm subside. Even after tanking the Stone Edge. She finally dropped the shield and stared face to face at Pupitar.
"No way, fine then Pupitar, use Double-Edge!" Lyra yelled.
Pupitar listened, and struck its head at full power, making Bayleef spit up in pain.
"Bayleef!" Ethan yelled.
"Now Stone Edge!" Lyra commanded. Pupitar lifted three rocks into the ground and smashed into Bayleef at close range, causing a massive explosion making Ethan turn away.
Once the smoke was revealed, Bayleef was still standing firm, albeit damaged, she shook her head, trying to show that she was okay.
"Pupitar!" Pupitar said angrily.
"Alright Bayleef, use Razor Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef shook her top leaf sending flying leaves at Pupitar, hitting him head on.
"Pupitar no!" Lyra yelled, Pupitar had taken Super effective damage from that Razor Leaf and was weakened.
"Now, Vine Whip and end it!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef charged for Pupitar with her two vines out she was stumbling here and there but continued to come for Pupitar, each step kicked up loads of sand.
"Pupitar, once more Double-Edge and end it!" Lyra yelled.
Pupitar pulled his head back and smashed into the charging Bayleef once more, Bayleef almost fainted from the hit, but landed a slash with Vine Whip, the collision between the two caused once again an eruption of smoke, neither Ethan nor Lyra could tell what happened.
"Bayleef!?" Ethan cried.
"P-Pupitar!" Lyra screamed.
Both Ethan and Lyra ran forth into the smoke to see if their Pokémon are okay, Ethan found Bayleef who was on the ground unconscious.
"Bayleef, you okay?" Ethan asked, he shook her gently and her eyes opened.
"I'm glad you're okay Bayleef!" Ethan said, she went ahead and licked him on the cheek.
Once the smoke cleared, Ethan saw Lyra, who returned her fainted Pupitar into its Pokéball.
"You did wonderful out there." She spoke. "I guess that makes this a tie!"
"Yeah, a tie!" Ethan said, helping Bayleef to get up.
Togetic and Eevee gathered around Bayleef and Ethan, Ethan pet them both.
"That was a good battle, you've got some really strong Pokémon Lyra!" Ethan told her.
"You two, you're incredible, but next time we battle, just know it won't be a tie." Lyra said, smiling.
Ethan returned Eevee and Togetic to their Pokéballs, leaving only him and Eevee.
"Sure Lyra, absolutely." Ethan nodded.
The two looked at each other without talking for what felt like to both Ethan and Lyra a lot longer than it was, it was enough for Bayleef to notice their mutual affection.
It was then when a wave from the beach came and splashed the two, breaking the mood.
"Ew, I hate the taste of salt water!" Ethan complained, coughing.
"Haha, I know," Lyra giggled, her hair was soaking wet and so were her clothes, Ethan looked up at her and had a slight blush.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing... we should probably heal up our Pokémon?" Ethan suggested.
"Yeah, there are some hotels here in the Olivine you know, we could go and change over there afterwards." Lyra said.
"Y-y-you mean you want to share a room together!?" Ethan said, shocked. Upon hearing this Bayleef cringed in embarrassment for Ethan.
"No, you big perv," Lyra teased. "Separate rooms."
"Oh, okay." Ethan said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, you want to come with me to the Center?" Lyra asked, making Ethan smile.
"Yeah, but first can I ask you a question?" Ethan said.
"Anything, Ethan." Lyra responded.
"You said how you would like to challenge the Gym leader Jasmine for your fifth badge, well I battled her earlier today, and lost." Ethan confessed.
"Not a question Ethan." Lyra chuckled.
"If you'd just let me finish, I was going to ask, how would you like to train with me so we can both become strong enough to battle Jasmine individually." Ethan said, not looking Lyra in the eyes.
Lyra smiles. "I thought you'd never ask!"
"I'm glad you want to as well," Ethan said. "Let's go then."
"Alright, and I'm just glad we're friends again." Lyra said not able to hide her smile.
"Ladies first." Ethan said holding his hand out in front of him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Lyra said, she was about to take a step then went back. "You're right, go ahead Ethan."
"Hey!" Ethan chuckled. They both walked to the Center together.
As Ethan walked, with Bayleef right behind him and Lyra to his side, he turned his head to look at the beach one last time. From afar, watching him was Kris. She stood there smiling, watching Ethan back, before vanishing into the air.
Is she even real, am I delusional? Ethan asked himself. I'm going to have to get to the bottom of this.
Ethan's closest to a victory against his rival Lyra currently, and he also gets a new training partner, life is looking on the upside for Ethan right now...