Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 18: Goldenrod, city of dreams
Ethan and Bayleef managed to reach Goldenrod after about a five-hour walk. Goldenrod was pretty, especially in the day. It was a sprawling metropolis and it also happened to be the largest city in all of Johto.
"We're finally here!" Ethan happily exclaimed. Bayleef next to him was happy as well.
While their walk there they had run into some trouble, a swarm of angry Beedrill after Flaaffy accidentally knocked down with Thunder Shock during a battle with a Trainer who had a Politoed. But other than that, Ethan had no trouble getting there.
Ethan looked around to see there were plenty of people on the streets, many people to talk too. Goldenrod truly looked like a place one could get lost in.
"Alright, I'm not so sure where Professor Elm is." He wondered. "Hey, Bayleef, what'd you say we go and find him and then go challenge the Gym Leader." Ethan suggested.
"Bay, Bayleef!" Bayleef agreed.
Ethan recalled Professor Elm mentioning the talk show he would be on along with Professor Oak, okay, then I've got to head to the Radio tower.
Ethan made his way for the Radio tower. He just wanted to wait for Professor Elm and not intrude on him during the show, but... Things may not go to plan.
"Excuse me," Ethan said as he and Bayleef entered the Radio tower.
One of the clerks turned to face him. "I'm sorry sir, but Pokémon aren't allowed outside of their Pokéballs here, not after that incident with these two Trainers who tried to have a battle indoors here."
"I get it," Ethan said, grabbing Bayleef's Pokéball. "Bayleef, would you mind returning to your Pokéball for just until I leave?"
"Bayleef!" Bayleef agreed, so Ethan returned her to her Pokéball.
"Is Professor Oak's show being broadcasted right now?" Ethan asked the clerk.
"Yes, it's on live." She said.
"Oh, well can I go and see, I kind of have to sit and speak to one of the Professor's once the show's done." Ethan said.
"At best you can stay in the changing room, so please do not try and interrupt the broadcast." She asked him not to.
"Got it." Ethan said, as he headed for the room.
Ethan walked inside of the Changing room and took a seat, there were a lot of outfits on the hangers, the room must've been used for stuff other than Oak's broadcast.
It was then when someone walked in the room, he seemed to be in line with the broadcast.
"Ohh, uh, I'm not intruding, I was just going to talk to Professor Elm when the show ended!" Ethan squirmed to explain himself.
"What're you doing, you're late for your cue!?" The man said angry.
"Wha, but I'm not!" Ethan said confused.
"Just hurry up and come here," The man said grabbing Ethan by his arm and taking him somewhere.
Meanwhile Professor Oak and Professor Elm were sitting on a coach and having a discussion which was being televised.
"So, Elm, it's a great honor to have you on the show, I mean coming from New Bark Town just to be with us today." Oak told Elm.
"The honor is mine Professor Oak; I've always wanted to be on this show since I saw the first episode." Elm said truthfully.
An interviewer came to ask a few questions for Professor Elm, to which he happily obliged.
"So Professor Elm, how does it feel working with Pokémon. How would you describe the Pokémon Professor experience." The interviewer asked.
"Ah, getting down to the nitty gritty I see. Well, I would say it's a huge responsibility, having to dedicate your life to deducting the secret behind this world and Pokémon, but once you get down to it you'll find it may be even as adventurous as going on a journey as a young Trainer." Elm said, a little nervous.
"I can attest to that, that is what being a Pokémon Professor is all about." Oak said.
It was then when Ethan entered the room, he was quite frankly pushed into the room, getting Oak and Elm's attention.
"E-Ethan?" Elm said. The interviewer faced him.
"Uh, hi Professor Elm, I guess I'm uh, on the show?" Ethan said, not so sure what to say.
"Who is this?" The interviewer asked.
"That's my protégé Ethan. He's a young Trainer currently embarking on the Pokémon gym challenge." Elm said.
"Ah, Ethan, we meet again." Oak said.
"Well if you're Elm protégé, would you mind giving us some insight on your experience." The interviewer asked.
"Oh-okay." Ethan said, sitting on the couch right beside Elm.
"Hi mom," Ethan said, waving at the camera.
"So how long have you been on your journey Ethan?" The interviewer asked.
"About a little more than two weeks now, I've already managed to get two badges. And I'm here to challenge the city's gym leader. Ethan said.
"You would mean Whitney then, she's a master of Normal type Pokémon." The interviewer said.
Elm rolled back in his seat, am I really that boring, my episode's getting hijacked by Ethan.
"Whitney, well if she's watching, just know I'm going to conquer that gym!" Ethan said excitedly.
The interviewer began to laugh. "Really, is that so?" She asked.
"Of course, I need to get those 8 badges and she's next on my hit list." Ethan said, grabbing a mug on the table and drinking it.
"E-Ethan, you don't realize." Elm whispered.
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"The interviewer..." Elm said. "Is..."
"That's right kid, I am Whitney." She said.
Ethan turned and looked at her, he was surprised. Whitney sure looked like a gym leader now that he thought of it. Her hair was pink, and she had two ponytails with two small barrettes, her eyes were a very special light pink.
"Ohhh, you're the gym leader." Ethan said.
"Yes, I was just filling in for the reporter role today, and that's all the time we have for today folks, Professor Oak, is there any last thing you want to say to end today's show?" Whitney asked.
"I would once again like to advise all young Trainers to stop by at New Bark Town to get a Pokédex. We plan on making them more widely available in Johto as the years go on." Oak said, pulling out his own Pokédex. "Our young friend Ethan can attest to it! He is the spitting image of the modern Pokémon Trainer!"
"I-I have a Pokédex too!" Elm muttered, pulling out his Pokédex.
"Oh yes, every Trainer should have a Pokédex, everyone from Johto to Unova, the Pokédex is insanely useful and can give you not only information on Pokémon, but also their stats, trivia, and so on!" Ethan said.
"Well, that's all folks and cut!" Whitney said, turning off the camera.
"Good episode!" Someone from the tech room said.
"So, Ethan, you just made a public challenge. I imagine you're going to follow up with it?" Whitney asked.
"Of course, I plan to. I'll be challenging you sometime this week!" Ethan said reassuring her.
"Oh really, well if you're so tough why don't you challenge me today?" Whitney teased putting her hands on her hips.
"Well, I can do that as well if you want. I'd say I'm pretty damn prepared to take on the gym." Ethan said smugly.
"Good, well, see you around." Whitney said as she took her leave.
"So, Professor." Ethan said, turning to Elm, who seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.
"S-sorry for stealing your show!?" Ethan said, shrugging.
Ethan grabbed the depressed Elm by his arm to go take him somewhere they could talk privately. "Nice to see you again Professor Oak."
"And you, Ethan." Oak responded.
Ethan and Elm went to a café so they could talk. They sat down and drank hot beverages.
"So, Togepi." Elm said, as he took a sip out of coffee. "May I see the little guy now."
"Of course, Professor." Ethan said, releasing Togepi from his Pokéball.
"To, Togepi!" Togepi said upon release, it ran up to Ethan and jumped in his lap.
"There's that Togepi I wanted to see for so long!" Elm said gleefully.
"I'm glad to have Togepi, I really am. But I just have one concern," Ethan commented.
"What may that be?" Elm asked.
"Well, Togepi's been all over me, all the time, ever since he hatched. I-it is a he right?" Ethan asked.
Elm took a second to analyze the patterns on its eggshell. "Yup, it's a he."
"Well why is it?" Ethan asked, he was cradling Togepi in his arms. "I mean I love Togepi I really do, but it's a little excessive."
"Let me guess Ethan, when it hatched were you the first person Togepi looked at?" Elm inquired.
"Yes," Ethan nodded.
"Have you ever heard of the term imprinting?" Elm asked.
"Ugh, can't say I have." Ethan shrugged.
"Well, imprinting is the act of a Pokémon recognizing something other than a parent as a mother." Elm said.
"Wait are you saying?" Ethan said getting the idea.
"That's right, Togepi as a Pokémon species tend to view the first person they see as their mother, therefore, Togepi sees you as its mother!" Elm laughed.
"Y-you mean father?" Ethan tried to correct him.
"Nope, mother!" Elm said.
"R-really, that explains a lot, why it's so clingy." Ethan said,
Ethan stood up and raised Togepi to the air. "So, I'm your mother huh." He joked spinning Togepi around making him laugh.
"I'm glad you are having fun on your journey Ethan, but I must be off now." Elm said grabbing his bags.
"I get it, that's all I wanted to ask, oh wait. I almost forgot, Togepi at one point was able to use the move Fire Blast, but when I asked it to again it used Splash as if it were a Magikarp, any idea?" Ethan asked.
"Oho Ethan, I wouldn't want to ruin the fun part." Elm said. "Goodbye now."
"G-goodbye." Ethan said, waving, as he returned Togepi.
"Bayleef, come out." Ethan said, releasing her from her Pokéball.
"Bayleef, Bay!" She cried out happily.
"Alright, time to head off to the Goldenrod Gym!" Ethan said.
"Bayleef!" Bayleef agreed.
Alright guys, next chapter is Whitney...