Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 10: The only outcome
Ethan finally arrived at the Violet Gym. He had left the mysterious egg at the Pokémon Center, only for the time being though. He walked both with his Chikorita and Mareep. Before he could enter the doors to the gym, he was stopped by another Pokémon trainer, who stood in front of the entrance.
"Excuse me," Ethan said, trying to get through. The guy didn't budge however, he stood in place, crossing his arms. He was muscular, he had brown hair and wore an undershirt with cargo pants.
"Don't kid." The man said, not even batting Ethan an eye.
"What are you saying, I'm challenging Falkner of this gym, move aside." Ethan said, in a more demanding tone.
"You're not ready kid, don't make me tell you again!" The man said, grabbing Ethan by his jacket, pulling him close so he could look him eye to eye,
Chikorita began to get ready to use an attack, Mareep started forming electricity. Ethan took notice of this, and so did the bigger guy.
Ethan smiled. "You really want to do this; I wonder what Poison Powder would do if it hit a human head on."
The guy looked intimated, but unwilling to back down, he let go of his grasp on Ethan, preparing a Pokéball. "Then how about we make this a battle, I'll show you how unprepared you really are."
"Fine," Ethan said, jumping back, preparing to command Chikorita.
The trainer sent out his Pokéball, unleashing his Electrode. Electrode starter surging with electricity.
Before Ethan could command his Chikorita, the door opened. Revealing Falkner, who grabbed the trainer opposing Ethan. The trainer returned his Electrode.
"F-Falkner, what are you?" He said, before Falkner slapped him.
"You think just because you lost to me that means you can go and pick on other trainers." Falkner said, furious.
"N-no, not at all! I was just trying to spread awareness on your strength, I just didn't think this kid was ready." He said, rubbing his cheek.
Falkner swept him with his leg, dropping the man to the floor, hitting his bottom on the stairs.
"Get out of here, and don't anger me again!" Falkner said.
The man turned around and ran away as fast as he could, getting some amusement out of Ethan, and Falkner himself.
"Sorry about that, distraction. Come in, Ethan." Falkner said, happily welcoming him inside.
Ethan walked in; the room was huge. At least fifty feet wide, there was a huge stadium, where the two would be battling.
"This place seems like a good place to do battle!" Ethan said.
"Thank you, now I wonder, did you go out and defeat the final test of Sprout Tower?" Falkner asked, taking his position on the battlefield.
"Yes, I did." Ethan said taking his position. "Let me tell you, it was no breeze."
Falkner took a long stare at Mareep, he then pulled out his Pokéball and smiled. "Good, then hopefully this'll be a decent match."
"Jeffrey, come on and start the battle already!" Falkner yelled, to the back of the gym.
The referee came from the back, he was late for whatever reason.
"Alright, this will be a two-on-two battle between Violet City's Gym leader Falkner, and young trainer Ethan. May the battle begin!" He yelled.
"Alright Mareep, I'll begin with you!" Ethan announced, Mareep leapt on to the stadium, ready to go at it.
"I knew you would use Mareep first. You know, people say you can Flying-type Pokémon's wings with a jolt of electricity... But I won't allow such insults to bird Pokémon! I'll show you the power of the Flying-type."
Falkner threw his Pokéball, revealing a Pidgey.
"A Kanto Pokémon, huh." Ethan said, taking out his Pokédex to get its description.
"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. It usually hides in tall grass. Because it dislikes fighting, it protects itself by kicking up sand."
"Cool, alright Mareep! Use Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled. Mareep began to surge with electricity.
"As I expected, trying to win with electric types, eh, Pidgey, dodge then use Gust!"
Pidgey easily dodged the beam of lightning it flew high in the sky and flapped its wings at an extremely fast pace, sending Mareep back with gust.
Mareep could barely hang on, it was knocked into the edge of the stadium.
"Mareep! You alright!?" Ethan asked, concerned.
Falkner smiled and pointed. "Alright Pidgey, now, go ahead and use Quick Attack. Pidgey went ahead and came flying towards Mareep at tremendous speed, easily crashing into him.
Mareep fell to the ground. Even though the moves weren't very effective, Pidgey was trained to an impressive level.
"So, will Mareep be out of the fight this early?" Falkner said.
The referee held his arm out. "This first round is not yet over!"
Mareep, although battle damaged, was still up and ready to continue.
"Mareeep!" Mareep exclaimed.
Pidgey then was suddenly shocked by a slight bolt of electricity. Causing Falkner's eyes to widen.
"Hehe, you were the one who gave me those berries in the forest, you should have known to watch out for static!" Ethan said.
Falkner laughed. "You got me, but it's not over that quickly. Pidgey, Agility!"
Pidgey moved left and right at a fast pace, creating many after images of itself increasing its speed.
"Now, Air Slash!" Falkner said, Pidgey flapped its wings at supersonic speeds, sending an air wave directly at Mareep.
Mareep was directly hit. Pidgey's new speed was a little too much for it. But thankfully it was still up and ready to continue.
Damnit, the only thing keeping Mareep up and fighting is his type advantage! If I don't figure out something now it's over, and I can't just use discharge, can't risk Mareep using up all its electricity now. Ethan thought worried. I just have to take advantage of that static.
"Now, Pidgey, once again, Gust!" Falkner yelled. Pidgey then flapped its wings, trying to send Mareep crashing back once again.
Ethan noticed the ground in the stadium was made of solid rock, giving him an idea. "Mareep! Dig your claws in the rock and fast!"
Mareep listened, by digging its claws into the rock beneath it, it had an easier time not flying back.
"Now Thunder Shock!" Ethan yelled. Mareep blasted Pidgey with a big zap of lighting, big enough to send Pidgey crashing to the ground, knocking it out.
"Pidgey is unable to battle, Mareep wins!" The referee announced.
Falkner returned Pidgey to its Pokéball. "Nice job Pidgey, you never disappoint."
"Alright Mareep! You're doing so well!" Ethan said.
"Chika Chika!" Chikorita said, cheering her fellow teammate on.
Falkner smiled, pulling out his second Pokéball. "Alright, Pidgeot. Go!"
Falkner's second and final Pokémon, Pidgeot, was released. The final evolution to Pidgey, it was enough to spook even Mareep.
"Alright let's see what the dex has to say?" Ethan said.
"Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. It's well-developed chest muscles make it strong enough to whip up a gusty windstorm with just a few flaps."
Pidgeot spread its wings and screeched, it was loud enough to shake the battlefield.
"Alright Pidgeot, go ahead and use Sky Attack!" Falkner yelled. In an instant, Pidgeot formed with a white aura, as it crashed into Mareep launching it into the ground.
"And now, Whirlwind!" Falkner yelled. What felt like a Tornado formed, sucking in Mareep into, there was nothing Ethan could do to prevent this.
"M-Mareep, hang in there!" Ethan yelled, trying to come up with a plan, meanwhile, he couldn't even see Mareep in the tornado.
"Fine, let's risk it all! Discharge let's go!" Ethan said.
Mareep, still stuck in the whirlwind, attempted to spike up with electricity, but Falkner wouldn't let him.
"You might want to close your eyes, Ethan. Pidgeot Sand Attack!" Falkner commanded.
Pidgeot, from the ground below, worked up sand, which spread to the tornado above, Ethan couldn't even watch as he had to cover his eyes from getting hit. By the time the tornado lifted. Mareep fell to the ground, it was done for.
"Mareep!" Ethan yelled, in a state of shock.
Pidgeot came back to the ground once again giving a triumphant screech.
"Mareep is unable to battle, Pidgeot wi-" The referee was about to say, before he noticed Mareep getting back up.
Mareep just barely managed to get up from the ground, this time, it stood on two legs. "Mareepp!" He yelled, Mareep was still in the game.
Ethan wiped some sweat from its face. Chikorita was relieved too.
"You should feel lucky to have such a resilient Pokémon Ethan." Falkner said, smiling.
"That's right, I am!" Ethan said.
"Alright, may the battle continue!" The referee said.
"We'll end this right here! Pidgeot, Sky Attack!" Falkner yelled.
Pidgeot came flying at supersonic speeds at Mareep, Ethan could barely react in time.
"Mareeeppp!" Ethan screamed, right before the hit could make contact.
Mareep, on two legs just barely managed to react in time, it began to glow with blue electricity, zapping the Pidgeot with a full power Discharge. Pidgeot didn't give up with its Sky Attack, however. The two attacks collided causing a large explosion.
"Alright, we're still in this!" Ethan said, hoping once the smoke cleared, Mareep would be the one standing.
By the time the smoke started clearing, Ethan noticed a blue glow, completely different from electricity, surrounding from near Mareep's side on the battlefield. The light was almost blinding. Ethan couldn't help but look away from its shine.
Falkner smiled as he understood what was happening. "Congratulations Ethan, take a look at Mareep!"
Ethan moved his hands away from his eyes, his eyes lit up with surprise. Mareep was now pink, not to mention, completely bipedal. A white mane of wool covered its head and upper body, but not its belly. It was an entirely new Pokémon.
"Flaaffy!" Mareep, now Flaaffy roared.
"Alright! Mareep has evolved!" Ethan happily exclaimed. He raised his Pokédex to scan it.
"Flaaffy, the Wool Pokémon. As a result of storing too much electricity, it developed patches where even downy wool won't grow."
"Chika Chika!" Chikorita said, proud to have such a resilient teammate on her side.
"Don't forget Ethan, Flaaffy's on its last legs, and it has no more electric moves to use. If Flaaffy goes down, then all you'll have is Chikorita." Falkner said.
Ethan smiled. "I won't need electric types moves, you're already on your last Pokémon! Now Flaaffy, go right up and use Take Down!"
Flaaffy began charging at Pidgeot, its entirety was being surrounded by a red aura.
"Pidgeot once again, Sky Attack!" Falkner commanded. Pidgeot charged towards Flaaffy, their collision was enough to kick up the battlefield, causing what appeared to be a mini whirlwind. Flaaffy however, was just too damaged from non-stop getting attacked. And Flaaffy was launched directly into the ground, unconscious.
"Ugh Flaaffy!" Ethan said, returning him to his Pokéball. "You were amazing out there and on top of evolving as well, now go and get some good rest."
"I suggest you give up Ethan." Falkner stated. "You can't defeat my Pidgeot with a Chikorita, it's impossible."
"Funny for you to say, considering you were the guy just preaching about how you're flying types wouldn't be beaten so easily by just an electric type!" Ethan said, pointing out his hypocrisy.
"Let's be honest here, Ethan, that Chikorita isn't even evolved. If you throw it in, you'll just be getting it a ticket to a Pokémon center."
"I won't know till we try," Ethan said, sending in Chikorita to battle.
"You're making a mistake, right now this battle's only outcome, is my victory." Falkner declared.
"Okay, let the battle continue, go!" The referee said.
I'm so close, I can't fail. Ethan thought clenching his fist.
"Chikorita, we'll start with-" Ethan wasn't even able to finish his sentence before Falkner sent his Pidgeot to use Sky Attack. Pidgeot crashed straight into Chikorita, causing her to fly into the air and then crashing to the ground.
"No Chikorita!" Ethan panicked.
"The battle is over, I win." Falkner said, turning away from Chikorita and Ethan, he faced the referee. "Jeffrey. The battle is over, end it!"
"B-but Falkner, look!" Jeremy pointed.
Chikorita was slowly getting up back on her feet, she was extremely damaged, on top of being hit with a super-effective move. But she was still getting up.
"Chikorita can still batt-" The referee didn't finish his sentence, Falkner raised his right hand, signifying Jeffrey to be silent. Chikorita, fell back to the ground. She was utterly unconscious.
"Chikorita nooo!" Ethan said rushing to her side.
"You should have listened when I told you earlier, this battle was over as soon as you lost your Flaaffy. You've failed you're Pokémon." Falkner said harshly.
Ethan heard his words, but was more concerned with Chikorita's well-being, he held her in his arms. Ethan couldn't hold back his tears.
"Falkner, even though he lost, you must admit, the boy came awfully close to defeating you." Jeffree said. "Don't you think you could give him the badge."
"Of course not, the kid was far too concerned with winning the battle than waking up and seeing reality. The well-being of his Pokémon was second nature to him. Do you hear me, Ethan?" Falkner said, he walked up to Ethan and kneeled next to him. "You've disappointed me today, now get out."
Ethan, heartbroken, grabbed Chikorita and rushed to the Pokémon Center, he had lost.
Yup, Ethan already loses his first gym battle against Falkner, and damn was Falkner harsh about it too, I'm publishing this long after making them, so I forgot just how harsh the world could have been to Ethan like it was here.