Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 17: Hijinks ensue
Ethan made his way through the vast Ilex Forest all night, battling many wild Pokémon along the way after getting his Bayleef healed up back in Azalea. He couldn't have another wild encounter like the one with that Pinsir, so he'd need to get his Pokémon a lot stronger. Other than that, they spent the night sleeping out in a small, secluded area in the forest near a lake.
Ethan slept in a tent he kept in his bag, along with Bayleef and Flaaffy, he kept Togepi in his arms, who kept waking up and, in the process, waking Ethan. So Ethan just decided to stay up instead.
At about nine in the morning, Bayleef woke up, she awoke to see Ethan spinning around Togepi in the air, much like her had when she was a Chikorita.
"Togepii!" Togepi laughed as he was swung through the air.
Bayleef tried to ignore it and she turned her face away.
"Togepi, what'dya say we go to sleep now?" Ethan asked, wanting to go back to sleep after playing with Togepi for the past two hours.
"Togepi!" Togepi said, as he shook around, wanting to be spun away again.
"Haha... sure thing." Ethan said, spinning Togepi one last time.
Bayleef tried to sleep on it but couldn't sleep when Togepi kept being loud. Not to mention he was all over Ethan.
"Bayleef, Bay!" Bayleef said, raising her voice.
"What's wrong Bayleef?" Ethan asked stopping from spinning Togepi.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef barked.
"Did I disturb you, I'm sorry." Ethan said, dropping Togepi to the grass.
Togepi turned back to Ethan and waddled around, asking to be spun again. But when Ethan didn't as he was talking to Bayleef, he began to tear up.
"Waaaaaaaa!" Togepi cried.
"Flaa..." Flaaffy said as it woke up from Togepi's tantrum.
"T-Togepi! What's wrong, don't worry, I'll spin you again." Ethan said, spinning around Togepi once more.
"To, Togepi!" Togepi laughed, making Bayleef turn over and try to go back to sleep angerly,
Later when everyone was awake, Ethan got his Pokémon breakfast. He got them all a bowl of Poképuffs.
Flaaffy began to dig in into his breakfast.
Bayleef tried to eat, but she was further annoyed when Togepi began to cry.
"What's the matter Togepi?" Ethan asked worryingly.
Togepi jumped in Ethan's arms, shaking him by the jacket.
"Y-you want me to feed you!?" Ethan guessed.
Togepi cheered up and nodded, making Ethan smile.
"Alright Togepi, here comes the airplane!" Ethan said, after mashing up the food from the bowl with a spoon. Togepi ate from the spoon and smiled and laughed.
Bayleef was being driven insane by this, she was too mad to eat.
"Flaa, Flaaffy?" Flaaffy said, asking Bayleef if she would give him his food.
Bayleef moved her plate over to Flaaffy, making Flaaffy happy for seconds.
After breakfast, Ethan packed up his tents and sleeping bags. "Alright you guys, let's head out for Goldenrod, but next." He dialed a number on his Pokégear.
"Hello, Ethan." Professor Elm said.
"Ah, Professor, I got good news!" Ethan said, petting Togepi.
"Let me guess, the egg hatched. Did you see Togepi?" Elm asked.
"Yeah, so you really did know what was in the egg." Ethan said, Togepi ran up and hugged Ethan, Ethan put his arm around him.
"Alright, well I'll have to come and see it, where are you Ethan?" Elm asked.
"I'm currently in Ilex Forest." Ethan told him.
"It'd take you at least a week to head back to New Bark Town on foot at best, I'll be headed to Goldenrod City, think we can meet there?" Elm asked.
"Sure, I was just heading there anyways." Ethan said. "But how will you get here so fast?"
"Helicopter, I'm going to be on my mentor Professor Oak's radio show in Goldenrod, see you then. Bye." Elm said.
"Okay then, can't wait for you to see my team, bye." Ethan said, hanging up,
"Now let's head off." Ethan said, grabbing two Pokéballs. "Flaaffy, return."
Ethan turned to Togepi, who was hugging Ethan's leg.
"Togepi, return." he said, withdrawing Togepi, he then turned to Bayleef. "Let's go together, Bayleef."
"Bayleef!" Bayleef happily said, glad Togepi was gone for now.
It was then when, unbeknownst to Ethan, Togepi was released from his Pokéball.
"Toga Togepi!" Togepi cried, unhappy to have been sent to his Pokéball.
"Okay then Togepi, you can come in my arms!" Ethan said, picking up Togepi making Togepi cheer up.
Bayleef scoffed and pouted.
On their way to Goldenrod City, they were stopped by a Trainer around Ethan's age, he challenged Ethan to a battle.
"When eyes meet, a Pokémon battle begins." The opposing Trainer said.
"Alright you're going to lose!" Said the young Trainer, he grabbed a Pokéball enlarging it. "Go Charmeleon!"
"Charmeleon!" Charmeleon roared as it was released.
"That's a Kanto starter!" Ethan said, pulling out his Pokédex.
"Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon. It is very hotheaded by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents. It calms down only when it wins."
"Bayleef, show him how it's done!" Ethan declared, Bayleef jumped onto the battlefield.
"Heh, that Grass Type Pokémon won't do you anything against a type disadvantage this big!" The Trainer laughed You'd be better off sending in that baby Pokémon in your hands."
"My Bayleef's done me well in battles like this before, I'll show you." Ethan told him.
"Bay!" Bayleef said.
"Charmeleon, Ember attack let's go!" The trainer said.
Charmeleon opened its mouth and shot a blast of flames.
"Bayleef, how abou-" Before Ethan could finish his sentence. Togepi started crying, causing Ethan to instantly focus his attention on Togepi.
Bayleef turned her head, she was expecting a command, but Ethan was too busy trying to calm Togepi down.
Bam, Bayleef was shot straight with an Ember attack, her face was all burned, she smelled like smoke bacon. She turned to Ethan, who hadn't even looked.
Bayleef began to tear up, she took two steps back, before turning and running off through some bushes.
"Bayleef, what's wrong!" Ethan yelled as he took notice. Ethan returned Togepi to its Pokéball and chased her.
The Trainer stopped Ethan standing in front of Ethan.
"What?" Ethan asked in an impatient tone.
"When you lose a Pokémon battle, you have to pay up." He said, holding his hand out. His Charmeleon looked about ready to attack if Ethan didn't pay up.
Ethan reached for his pocket and gave the Trainer his entire wallet, he urgently continued following Bayleef.
Bayleef was crying slightly as she ran, and Ethan was right behind her.
Bayleef stopped at a clearing from the forest, she stood near a tree, she thought she had lost Ethan.
Ethan then slowly appeared behind her and put his hand on her head. Bayleef turned to see Ethan, she was not trying to hide the tears in her eyes Ethan wouldn't see she was crying.
"I understand Bayleef, I'm sorry if you feel like you're being replaced. I want you to know I'd never do that." Ethan said, patting her.
Bayleef turned to Ethan, she looked cheered up.
"But still Bayleef, as out journey continues, I'm going to get more Pokémon, if it ever feels like I stop caring about you just know I do. But I also have to spend time with all my Pokémon, but don't ever forget, remember what I told you during that Ursaring encounter? You'll always be my girl." Ethan said, hugging her.
"Bayleef, Bay." Bayleef said, hugging Ethan.
"I'm sure you'd like for me to carry you on my shoulder like I used to, but you've gotten too big for that, what am I going to do with you," Ethan joked as he wiped the tears from her eyes.
Ethan pulled out Togepi's Pokéball showing it to Bayleef. "I promise you, Togepi's not that bad, I know his crying may be a little annoying, I know. But I want you two to be friends, can I ask you to try?"
Bayleef nodded, she nudged the button on the Pokéball with her head, releasing Togepi.
"Toga, Togepi!" Togepi said happily, he was facing Bayleef. Bayleef smiled and grabbed Togepi with vines it formed from its leaves, surprising Ethan.
"Woah Vine Whip! You keep surprising me every day!" Ethan laughed.
Bayleef placed Togepi on her back, giving him a piggyback ride, making Togepi laugh joyfully.
"Yay, you two are friends now!" Ethan said, clapping his hands.
Ethan then looked up to after hearing the voice of a woman singing, a voice he could have sworn he heard before. He looked up to see the same Kimono girl he had seen back in Violet City.
"It's that cute Kimono Girl we saw back then..." Ethan whispered to Bayleef.
"Kimono Girl, Kimono Girl, lost and all alone. Poor girl lost in the dark Ilex Forest." She sang.
The woman took notice of Ethan. He smiled and waved upon seeing her.
"Hiii!" He said, waving. "We met at Violet City, remember!?" He asked.
The Kimono Girl turned to face Ethan, she smiled and laughed. "What, you remember me from Violet City? You must have me confused with one of my sisters."
"Oh, I see, sorry I said anything." Ethan apologized.
"No that's fine. I love seeing young Trainers who show such care for their Pokémon. It gives me hope there is still light in this world. I can see you are one such Trainer." She said, complementing Ethan.
"T-thanks." Ethan said, rubbing the back of his neck.
The Kimono Girl happily smiled. "I must be off now, please be safe on your way to Goldenrod I imagine you're going, it's that way North. You can't miss it. Goodbye now." She spun around after waving goodbye.
"Thank you for the directions, stay safe ma'am!" Ethan told her as she left.
Ethan turned back to Bayleef and Togepi. "Alright you two, let's head for Goldenrod!"
Not much going on in this chapter except for character building... next chapter is Goldenrod though...