Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 40: Lyra's battle
Ethan and Lyra made their way through countless encounters with wild Pokémon and Trainers on their way to Ecruteak city, but they were not too far off from reaching the big city.
"How much longer does your Pokégear say until we reach Ecruteak?" Lyra asked, while checking hers.
"Twelve hours, we're in the final stretch!" Ethan said sounding relieved. "If we run into one more wild Sentret I'm going to lose it!"
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef agreed.
"Speak for yourself, I love battling wild Pokémon, you know seeing my Pokémon be triumphant it's all I could ask for." Lyra explained to Ethan.
They had just left the big forest and were met with a big open prairie looking area, no tall grass meaning hopefully no wild Pokémon.
It was then when they were faced, out in the open with a Trainer who had her back turned to both Ethan and Lyra. All Ethan and Lyra could see was that she had long, blond silk hair and a blue gown, she also wore a black hat with a feather on it. She seemed to be having a battle with another Trainer.
"Alright Cloyster, use Aurora Beam!" The young Trainer she was battling yelled, using a Cloyster.
"Azumarill, dodge it!" The woman yelled, her Azumarill wagged its finger as it easily dodged the beam of ice, it landed on some grass, completely freezing it.
"Hmph, now Mega Punch!" The woman commanded.
Her Azumarill reappeared behind the Cloyster in a swift motion.
"Woah, I couldn't even see it move, it's like a ninja!?" Ethan reacted.
"Cl-Cloyster!?" The Cloyster said shocked at the Azumarill's speed, it came with its Mega Punch and smashed Cloyster in its face, sending it crashing to the ground defeated easily.
"Return Cloyster!" The Young Trainer said as he returned his Pokémon.
"Azu Azu!" The Azumarill said as it pounded its chest.
"Here's your prize money." The boy said trying to hand the woman money.
"No need, carry along with it," she said, making the boy smile as he waved goodbye and left.
"Another Azumarill!" Ethan said as he noticed which Pokémon it was. "Should we introduce ourselves?"
"I guess, I'd like to get a battle with her to see who's Azumarill is stronger!" Lyra said, pulling out her Pokéball.
"I'd like to see that. Well, shall we?" Ethan said.
"Hey, excuse us!" Lyra said, waving her hand at the lady.
The woman turned around and saw Lyra, she waved back at her.
"Hey, what are you two kids doing here!?" She asked.
"Hi, I'm Lyra, and this is my friend Ethan." Lyra said, introducing herself.
"Hey!" Ethan said, waving his hand.
"Georgia. Long way from home, aren't you?" The woman asked.
"Well yeah, we are Trainers after all!" Lyra laughed. "A-anyways, I was wondering, would it be okay if I asked for a battle?"
"Hmm... I don't know, let's see what my Azumarill thinks, Azumarill, you up for it?" Georgia said.
"Azu, Azumarill!" Azumarill said jumping up and down.
"Well, you heard her, we can have that battle then." Georgia smiled.
"Yes! I was hoping you'd say that!" Lyra exclaimed. "Wish me luck Ethan, Bayleef."
"Bay!" Bayleef said, assuring Lyra she had this.
"Break a leg out there." Ethan told her. He took Bayleef with him and walked to the sidelines to watch the battle.
"Azumarill, get in battle position!" Georgia said, Azumarill leaped in front of her Trainer and formed a battle stance, waiting for Lyra to throw in her Pokémon.
"Who will it be, Lyra?" Georgia asked.
"I choose you, Azumarill!" Lyra yelled, releasing her Pokémon.
Lyra's Azumarill pounced in front of Lyra, facing Georgia's Azumarill, the two Pokémon smiled at the sight of each other, both wanting to show who was the stronger Azumarill.
Water type moves aren't going to do me any good here, but neither will Attract, and Hyper beam is too risky to start with, so... Lyra assessed.
"Azumarill, use Hydro Pump!" She commanded.
Azumarill leaned her head back and shot out a large Hydro Pump directly at Georgia's.
"Azumarill, Hydro Pump as well!" Georgia yelled. Her Azumarill fired another Hydro Pump, which connected and struggled with the other.
The Hydro Pumps both canceled each other out with equal force, splashing both Azumarill's, and even Georgia and Lyra.
"Awe, it got in my eye!" Lyra said as she tried to wipe her face.
"Don't take your eyes off the battle! Azumarill, Giga Impact!" Georgia yelled.
Georgia's Azumarill leaped into the air and charged with a rainbow color aura, pouncing at Lyra's.
"Oh no! Azumarill, dodge!" Lyra said scared.
Before Georgia's could crash into Lyra's, Lyra's Azumarill leaped back and used Hydro Pump to be pulled out of there.
"Nice thinking Azumarill!" Lyra said happily.
"Not so fast, Aqua Jet!" Georgia yelled.
Georgia's Azumarill slid across the field, covered in a veil of pure water and at tremendous speed at that.
"She's good..." Ethan realized.
"No, Azumarill!" Lyra screamed.
Georgia's Azumarill with Aqua Jet was much faster than Lyra's, it easily crashed into Lyra's, causing the latter to crash into the ground.
"A-Azumarill!" Lyra said.
"Azumarill, now use Mega Punch!" Georgia ordered. Her Azumarill pulled its fist up as it began to glow, as she came down all that could be seen was the encaptivating white light. Georgia's Azumarill slammed Lyra's in the gut with Mega Punch, causing an eruption of smoke.
"Azumarill!" Lyra screamed.
Georgia's Azumarill stood victorious next to Lyra's unconscious Azumarill. Georgia's let out a stern roar, signifying its triumph.
"Great job, Azumarill, you did me well." Georgia said, her Azumarill went by her side, and she pet it.
Lyra walked to Azumarill's side, her Azumarill just began to open her eyes.
"A-Azu, Marill..." She moaned in pain.
Lyra dropped on her knees and pet her Pokémon. "You did great out their girl, thanks."
"M-Marill..." Azumarill said, following back asleep.
"Take a nice long rest, heaven knows you earned it." Lyra said returning her Pokémon. She then turned to Georgia.
"You did well kid, you raised that Azumarill very well, you should be proud." Georgia told her, trying to make Lyra feel better.
"Ugh... here you are," Lyra said, handing her the prize money.
"Don't. I don't need money from a child." Georgia said, shrugging it off.
"Are, are saying I'm not a worthy opponent!?" Lyra asked.
"Woah, it's okay Lyra, it's okay!" Ethan told her trying to calm her down. Lyra listened and got a bit more relaxed.
"I appreciate the offer, but I cannot accept it. Please keep it." Georgia said. "And I never said you weren't a worthy opponent, to be frank, you battled much better than my previous opponent."
"I'm sorry." Lyra said, getting off her knees.
"Any chance we can have a rematch sometime?" Lyra asked.
"Absolutely, I train here quite often, the trees, the lilies, the fresh air, it appeals to me... I'll probably be here tomorrow, but maybe not the day after, if you'd like you can have a rematch with me." Georgia said.
"I-I'd like that, thank you." Lyra said, not looking her in the eye.
Georgia went to go shake Lyra's hand, but Lyra instead took two steps back and ran out of there, surprising both Lyra and Ethan.
"Lyra!" Ethan yelled, as he went to go follow her.
"Strange girl..." Georgia sighed as she went back to training her Azumarill.
Not so long after, Ethan found Lyra, sitting on a small tree stump all alone in the woods near a large lake. It was just them, Bayleef was still searching for Lyra as they split up.
"Hey Ethan..." She said, finally.
"Lyra." Ethan said, he wasn't quite sure what to say. "You battled well, Georgia was right, you should be proud,"
"Well, she was wrong... I got washed, you saw it, it was so embarrassing." Lyra pouted.
"Lyra, you think losing is embarrassing. Losing is just a part of being a Trainer, you know that." Ethan said.
"It wasn't just that I lost Ethan... of course, as a Trainer I've lost many times as well, but this was a battle to show who's Azumarill was the best. And I failed my Pokémon." Lyra said.
Ethan sat beside her on the stump making her scoot just a bit, he let out a sigh.
"I know Lyra, I know. Sometimes I feel that way too, especially in the beginning, I lost a lot of battles and felt the way you're feeling now." Ethan told her.
Lyra smiled and wiped a tear. "I know, I shouldn't be sad, losing... is natural, and I still have tomorrow for a rematch."
"Now why don't you go and take out your Azumarill, I know she can cheer you up more than anyone!" Ethan suggested.
"I'll do that." She said, taking out Azumarill's Pokéball, but she lingered for whatever reason.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, concerned.
"It's nothing, it's just. Would you mind leaving me be for a little while, I just want to be alone with my Pokémon right now." Lyra asked, no longer with tears.
"Oh," Ethan said as he got up from beside her on the stump. "I get you, well, after I meet back up with Bayleef I'll be by the river. If you feel like talking, I'll be there, so..."
Ethan turned his face back to Lyra then turned foreword as he got out of there.
"Azumarill!" Lyra said as she released her Pokémon.
"Azumarill!" Azumarill said as she was released from her Pokéball.
"Can you let me hold you?" Lyra asked, Azumarill nodded and jumped in her Trainer's arms and sat in her lap.
"You battled very well earlier Azumarill. I'm so proud of you." Lyra told her Pokémon in her arms.
"Azu Azu!" Azumarill said nodding her head. Looking up into the sunset.
"When I first got you, I promised... promised I'd make you into a strong Pokémon someday, and you've already become one." Lyra said, which got a tear from Azumarill.
Lyra stood up and help Azumarill in the air gently.
"We are going to win that rematch tomorrow, now what do you say we get some training done?" Lyra asked.
"Azu Azu!" Azumarill replied happily.
"Ethan Ethan!" Lyra said, as she ran over to meet with him. Bayleef was resting near the fire and Ethan was roasting Marshmallows on sticks.
"Oh, you're feeling better Lyra?" Ethan asked, happy to see her in a better move.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef went up and licked Lyra on the cheek, making Lyra laugh.
"Haha, yup, I'm all better... and you were right, it was nothing to get sad over in the first place." Lyra said as she pet Bayleef on the face.
"So, how you plan on facing that Georgia again tomorrow?" Ethan asked.
"We're going to train all night." Lyra replied.
"All night, we can train some but there's such a thing as over training." Ethan told her.
"I know, I'm not being literal." Lyra retorted.
"Sit with me, will you?" Ethan said scooting over some.
Lyra sat beside him along with her Azumarill, Ethan handed her one of the sticks and she gladly accepted.
"It tastes good!" Lyra said, taking a big bite of it. "You make them well!"
"Thanks to you for bringing them." Ethan said, he held his stick to Bayleef and asked her to take a bite from the Marshmallow, and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Once we get to Ecruteak, we need to get you some real food." Lyra told Ethan. "You can't keep living off of Marshmallows and berries you find lying around."
"I know, remember that Ramen place we both went to last time, maybe we can go there..." Ethan said. "But enough about me, other than training what's your plan?"
"You want to know..." Lyra said, dropping the stick on the floor and leaning into Ethan's ear.
….
Later the next day, Lyra returned to Georgia's training location for her rematch.
"Okay Georgia, once again. I want a one on one, my Azumarill versus yours!" Lyra declared.
"You've got this Lyra. I know you do!" Ethan cheered his friend and rival on.
"Marill!" Lyra's Azumarill exclaimed as she jumped forth in front of Lyra and readied herself for battle.
"Alright then... go, Azumarill!" Georgia yelled as she threw her Pokéball.
"Azumarill!" Her Azumarill shouted upon being released. It landed in front of Georgia and gave Lyra's an intimidating stare.
"I want all my Pokémon to witness this!" Lyra said as she threw her Pokéball's into the air.
Lyra released her Pokémon, Noctowl, Phanpy, Houndoom, Gligar, and Pupitar, upon being released they went and huddled to Lyra.
"Everyone, I want you all to watch this battle, cause Azumarill's going to shine!" Lyra exclaimed.
"I'll begin, Azumarill, start with Mega Punch!" Georgia yelled. Her Azumarill rushed towards Lyra's and smashed her in the face with the move.
"Azumarill!" Lyra yelled, her Azumarill bounced to the floor on her back but quickly recovered.
"Good, now use Surf!" Lyra yelled.
Azumarill let out a roar and from behind her unleashed a large wave of water, to which made Georgia laughed.
"That's nothing, Azumarill use Aqua Jet!" Georgia yelled.
Her Azumarill dived into the water and quickly swam, brushing through the current as if it was nothing, but Lyra showed no concern.
"Now, crash into that Azumarill!" Georgia commanded. Her Azumarill once reaching Lyra's leaped out to crush her with Aqua Jet.
"Azumarill now, unleash your special move!" Lyra said confident.
"What, special move!?" Georgia reacted.
Using that move already huh, Ethan thought.
Lyra's Azumarill formed a fist which began to be empowered by frost, she smashed her first into the foe's Aqua Jet, which had more than enough force to send Lyra's Azumarill crashing back.
"Are you okay!?" Lyra asked to her Pokémon, but Azumarill managed to get up just fine, albeit damaged.
"Azu, Azu!" Azumarill said proudly.
"Giga Impact!" Georgia yelled, however to her surprise her Pokémon couldn't move which caused her to worry.
Georgia's Azumarill began to be engulfed in sheer ice, its entire body from top to down was covered like an ice cube in a freezer, only Azumarill's face wasn't frozen.
"Azu... Azumarill!" It shivered.
"Agh, that can't be Azumarill!" Georgia yelled.
"You're doing great Lyra!" Ethan continued to cheer her on.
Lyra turned back to Ethan and smiled before giving her focus back to the battle.
"Hyper Beam now!" She yelled. Lyra's Azumarill formed the ball of energy from her mouth which appeared to be extremely destructive if hit.
"No!" Georgia panicked.
"Do it quick!" Lyra commanded, Azumarill listened and unleashed a big, red beam of energy straight for the frozen Azumarill.
"Err, alright then, only attack we can use then in that case is Hydro Pump, do it now!" Georgia yelled. Her Azumarill listened and fired back a massive Hydro Pump which connected with its foes' Hyper Beam.
The two attacks collided, but Hydro Pump in this case appeared to be the inferior of the two, Lyra's Hyper Beam easily overpowered the Hydro Pump. Making it dissipate into splashed of water, the beam went and crashed into the frozen Azumarill, causing a heavy smoke cloud.
From the smoke, Georgia's Azumarill fell, now entirely defrosted, yet also unconscious.
Lyra's Pokémon lit up with excitement at her win, Phanpy jumped on her shoulder and nuzzled its face into hers, Noctowl landed its talons on her arm and did the same. Gligar landed on her poufy hat, making her laugh. Houndoom went up to Lyra and put its paws on her, letting his tongue out as he panted.
"Haha, you guys!" Lyra said, her Pokémon finally gave her some room to breathe and released her.
Azumarill ran towards Lyra, making the girl drop to her knees to give her Pokémon a big hug.
"We did it... Azumarill!" She happily exclaimed, so excited,
"Azumarill! Azumarill!" Azumarill said back.
"Congratulation's kid." Georgia said as she returned her fainted Pokémon. "You really battled smart."
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Lyra said, releasing Azumarill from her arms.
"I like you, if we ever meet again, then let's have another match." Georgia said as she took her leave.
"That we will!" Lyra promised her new adversary. Her Pokémon except Azumarill all went off to play.
"Wow that was really cool!" Ethan cried as he ran up to congratulate her.
"I know wasn't it, it's all thanks to Azumarill... and you, for helping us train to learn Ice Punch," Lyra admitted.
"Hey, I don't want to hear it, it was all you." Ethan told her making her chuckle.
"Seriously though, you're going to regret helping Azumarill learn that move, Ice punch is Super effective on Bayleef!" Lyra teased.
"Azu Azu!" Azumarill playfully shouted at Bayleef, making her smile.
"Is that so, well both Vine Whip and Razor Leaf are Super effective on Azumarill, what will you do then?" Ethan asked back, slightly boasting.
"Bay!" Bayleef said, forming a playful battle stance making Azumarill laugh.
"Same as I've always done. Beat you, you forgetting we've fought three times and at best you've only tied with me!" Lyra flexed.
Ethan and Lyra both gave each other a fierce look as they were rivals through and through, but they just laughed and let it go.
"So, if we keep going north, we'll be in Ecruteak by midday." Ethan told Lyra, who nodded.
"Let's go then, homestretch right!?" She said.
"Yeah, hopefully we can get their sooner than later." Ethan replied.
"Okay! Bayleef, Azumarill, Gligar, Noctowl, Houndoom, Gligar, Phanpy, Pupitar!" Lyra said, getting all the attention from their Pokémon.
"Let's go!" She said as she and Ethan with their Pokémon behind them happily dashed for Ecruteak.
Next chapter Ethan and Lyra make it to Ecruteak... so no more filler, I really enjoyed writing this though.