Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 36: The distressed Pokémon
Ethan and Lyra, the two had made a pact that they would train together to get strong enough to beat Olivine City Gym leader Jasmine individually, the two of them met up the next day back from outside the city in a forest.
"So, Lyra, before we get to training, why don't you show me your full team!?" Ethan asked.
"Heh, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise!" Lyra responded.
"Oh come on, worried they'll be collecting dust next to mine, right Bayleef?" Ethan said.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef playfully teased.
"Alright fine, since yesterday you showed me your full team before we even got to battling, I guess I could do the same." Lyra said as she readied her Pokéballs.
"Go!" She yelled, throwing six Pokéballs into the air.
The first Pokémon released was her Azumarill, who leaped and hugged Lyra, who hugged back. She also released her Noctowl, Houndoom, Pupitar, and two Pokémon Ethan hadn't seen her use before.
The first he didn't know was a purple, bat-like Pokémon. It had long triangular ears and triangular eyes with small pupils. Spread between its arms were two blue wings it'd use to fly or glide.
"Gligar!" It screeched.
"Awesome!" Ethan said, scanning it with his Pokédex.
"Gligar, the Fly Scorpion Pokémon. It flies straight at its target's face, then clamps down on the startled victim to inject poison."
"So cool..." Ethan couldn't help but exclaim.
Ethan turned to the next Pokémon. It was a tiny, blue elephant like Pokémon. It had large, floppy ears, along with a stubby trunk, Ethan turned and scanned this one with Pokédex.
"Phanpy, the Long Nose Pokémon. It swings its long snout around playfully, but because it is so strong, that can be dangerous."
Ethan kneeled next to Phanpy and pet it behind its ears, the Pokémon seemed to be enjoying it.
"So, I take it you like them?" Lyra asked, clearly knowing the answer.
"Who would have known you'd get Pokémon this cute." Ethan teased.
"Whatever, so we going to start training now or what?" Lyra asked.
Ethan smiled and pulled out three Pokéballs, Bayleef wanted to join in on the battle, but Ethan asked her to stay so he could train the three Pokémon he used against Jasmine, to which she agreed.
"Alright all of you, go!" Ethan yelled throwing his Pokéballs.
"Heracross!" Heracross screeched upon being released.
"Ee, Eevee!" Eevee roared proudly,
Meanwhile Flaaffy said nothing, he seemed determined to do nothing but train.
"And you?" Ethan asked.
"Phanpy, Houndoom, Azumarill, would you three like to train?" Lyra asked.
They all agreed and leaped in front of the battlefield.
"Now, who should begin?" Lyra said, not sure who to send in first.
"I know who I'm going to use, Eev-" Before Ethan could finish, Flaaffy jumped in front of Ethan ready to do battle.
"Flaaffy!" Flaaffy roared.
"Using your Flaaffy huh," Lyra said. "Well then go! Phanpy!"
"Phanpy!" Phanpy cried out as it jumped in front of Lyra.
Flaaffy gave Phanpy a glare, he looked more serious to battle than Ethan had ever noticed before.
Flaaffy's different somehow... Ethan noted.
"We'll start!" Lyra yelled. "Head Smash!"
Phanpy charged at Flaaffy, it leaped and smashed its head, trying to hit Flaaffy, but Flaaffy dodged and avoided it.
"Flaaffy, Fire Punch!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy formed a Fire Punch and gave Phanpy a heavy blow right in the face, causing an explosion upon impact, Flaaffy jumped back, but once the smoke cleared, was stunned to see Phanpy had taken little to no damage.
"Phanpy is a ground type, meaning fire type moves will barely graze it, and it'll be completely immune to Flaaffy's electric type moves!" Lyra said, crossing her arms.
Flaaffy grunted, beginning to break a sweat.
"Maybe you should return Flaaffy, this isn't the best matchup for you." Ethan said.
Flaaffy refused to go back, surprising Ethan. He was dangerously determined to win the battle.
"Now, Phanpy, Bulldoze!" Lyra yelled.
"Bulldoze!?" Ethan said, concerned for Flaaffy.
Phanpy began to shake the ground violently, causing Flaaffy to fall on his face, inflicting Super effective damage.
"Flaaffy!" Ethan yelled.
From the sidelines, Bayleef, Togetic, and Eevee cheered him on.
Flaaffy began to get up on his feet, albeit damaged.
"Confuse Ray!" Ethan yelled.
Flaaffy's eyes lit up with confidence once more and Phanpy was zapped with the invisible confuse ray, causing Phanpy to trip up on its own movements.
"Ph-Phanpy Phanpy!" Phanpy said all dizzy like.
"That isn't good!" Lyra said worry some.
"Flaaffy now Fire Punch!" Ethan yelled; it was the only move Flaaffy could use on Phanpy that would work here.
Flaaffy went up at swift speed and landed a Fire Punch on Phanpy's face, the flames from his arm were enough to completely engulf Phanpy, but it still did next to nothing.
"Oh crap!" Ethan cursed.
"Now Phanpy, Bulldoze once more!" Lyra yelled, confident in victory.
The ground once more shook back and forth, leaving Flaaffy knocking jaw first into the ground, the Super effective damage proved too much for it, it was over.
"Fl-Flaaffy..." Flaaffy moaned while unconscious,
"Flaaffy return!" Ethan said, returning Flaaffy to his Pokéball. "You were amazing, I'll heal you up later okay."
"I win the first round, Ethan." Lyra said smugly.
"The battle's just starting, go Heracross!" Ethan yelled.
….
Ethan and Lyra spent the day training their Pokémon, and not just the three they initially choose, they also used their other Pokémon, including for Ethan Bayleef and Togetic.
Ethan had come back from walking Lyra to her hotel, he chose to sleep outdoors in his tent rather than sleeping at a hotel, it made him feel closer to nature, and well... Pokémon.
"Goodnight you guys!" Ethan exclaimed as he got under his blanket. Instantly Togetic went and cuddled with Ethan, as he always did since he was a Togepi, and Ethan went and put his left arm around him. Eevee snuggled with Ethan under his blanket as well, Ethan had his right arm wrapped around her as went off to sleep. Bayleef slept in the tent to the side, although she loved Ethan, she was clearly too big to try and sleep with him. Outside the tent Heracross slept on the floor, Heracross liked Ethan a lot and they had bonded some, but he wasn't soft and wasn't a fan of snuggling together with Ethan and his Pokémon, especially since he had gotten over Eevee.
Usually, Flaaffy slept in the tent side by side with Bayleef, but Flaaffy stood outside today, he was the only one awake, he watched the moon as it shined beautifully in the night sky glistening.
It was about four thirty, Flaaffy was all scratched and beat up from training, after everyone went to sleep, he continued to train by himself secretly, Flaaffy had injured his leg while this, causing him to take a break.
Flaaffy watched the moon with a tear in his eye, it was then when he heard Ethan's voice.
"You were training earlier by yourself, weren't you?" Ethan asked.
Flaaffy silently nodded and looked down, not saying a word.
"It's good to get training in, but there's such a thing as too much training, all that builds is fatigue and stress..." Ethan explained.
Flaaffy hadn't responded, Ethan sat down next to him and looked at the pretty moonlight.
"Flaaffy... I know how you feel." Ethan said. "I could see how you looked very disappointed in yourself when I picked you up at the Pokémon Center.
Flaaffy nodded his head, knowing all too well what Ethan meant.
"Just know this Flaaffy, I could never be disappointed in you, you're my Pokémon, and I love you. It's why I don't like seeing you this way, so please Flaaffy, don't feel bad about yourself."
Flaaffy looked down and had tears in his eyes, Ethan went and hugged him. "I know boy, I know, it's okay..." He said, patting Flaaffy on the back.
Flaaffy began to cry into Ethan's jacket deeply, Ethan listened to his sorrow and rubbed the back of his head.
Ethan looked up into the sky to face the bright and shiny moon before him again, it was clear to him, he and his Pokémon were fated for greatness.
"We'll win that sixth badge together Flaaffy, just you wait..." Ethan told Flaaffy, still in his arms.
Flaaffy looked up, still with tears, he sniffled and smiled, and Ethan continued to pet him gently.
And next chapter is Ethan's rematch with Jasmine, just how will he hope to defeat her...