Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 44: Lake of Rage
After about two days of endless traveling on top of getting lost, Ethan and Bayleef finally made it to Mahogany Town, to which would be the location of the seventh gym.
"We're finally here!" Ethan happily exclaimed as he ran into the town. "Bay Bay!" Bayleef cried as she followed after him.
Mahogany town was quite small, and quite hot for that matter, Ethan was sweating intensely upon getting there.
"We should probably be getting to a Pokémon Center right about now!" Ethan said eyeing the Center which was just across the street.
"Let's go you guys." Ethan said as he released all his Pokémon from their Pokéballs.
"Heracross!"
"Ee, Eevee!"
"Togetic, Togetic!"
"Amphy Amphy!"
Eevee immediately leaped on Ethan's shoulder, making the boy smile, and Togetic spun around him playfully. Meanwhile Heracross looked around to see if there were any strong looking Pokémon around, and Ampharos simply took the sight of the small-town in.
"Alright guys, I say we head and get you lot healed up, follow me!" Ethan said, walking side by side with all his Pokémon. Bayleef herself however closely followed from behind Ethan.
Ethan and them reached the center and entered, instantly getting a warm smile from the Nurse Joy.
"Hello, welcome to the Pokémon Center. Can we help you?" She kindly asked.
"Would you mind taking a look at all my Pokémon and getting them fixed up please?" Ethan asked,
"Of course," Nurse Joy said as all of Ethan's Pokémon minus Bayleef followed her into the backroom.
"What's the matter Bayleef?" Ethan asked. "Don't you want to get healed up?"
Bayleef shook her head, it was then when Ethan remembered out of all his Pokémon Bayleef hadn't done battle once across the two days it took getting on from Ecruteak.
"I'm sorry Bayleef, I haven't done any battling with you recently, what do you say we get some training time with just you until the rest of the gang are finished getting their rest!" Ethan asked his starter.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef agreed, making Ethan smile.
"That's what I like to hear, now let's go!" Ethan exclaimed as he and his Pokémon left the Center. When Ethan checked his Pokégear for directions, he noticed a voice mail from his mom.
"Mom called, I haven't talked to her in a little while, she's probably so mad at me!" Ethan sighed, as he passed through the route.
It was then when Ethan encountered the last thing he wanted to see, two Team Rocket members who instantly locked eyes with him.
Bayleef wasted no time and stood in front of Ethan, just in case they tried anything.
"Hold it there, kiddo! The toll is a thousand dollars to go through." The grunt on the left of Ethan told him, getting close.
"A thousand dollars!? I don't care if it's a single cent. You fools aren't getting shit!" Ethan yelled, pissing the two off.
"What did he just say!?" The one on the right said. "Don't think I heard him right."
"Kid, would you like to rephrase yourself, or are you looking for an ass whooping?" The one on the left said cracking his knuckles.
"Bayleef!" Ethan said, Bayleef instantly understood and grabbed the two by the neck with her Vine Whip, raising them into the air.
"W-wait, we were just kidding!" The one on the left said.
"L-let us go, please!: The one on the right said gasping for dear breath.
Bayleef tossed each of them to the opposite walls of the room, they hit their backs then slid to the floor moaning in pain.
"Team Rocket makes me sick, let's go Bayleef!" Ethan told his starter as she followed him past the route.
Ethan traveled through the forest and battled some wild Pokémon, Bayleef securing some wins over Pokémon such as Spiniark or Geodudes, but Ethan and Bayleef still felt like unfulfilled, it was then when he noticed a small cottage near a lake.
Ethan noticed outside the tree an apple tree, he hadn't gotten food in a few days, but they looked so tasty.
"I'm sure the house owner wouldn't be too mad if I took just one apple, right?" Ethan asked, trying to reach an apple from atop the tree.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef assured her Trainer it was okay, she noticed Ethan had visibly lost a lot of pounds and was clearly underweight.
Ethan reached for the apple, but right before he could take a bite, a fishing hook caught it from his hands, and swung it back.
"Wh-what!?" Ethan said startled.
The apple landed back to a man, who had dirty brown hair and blue eyed, he was wearing a fisher man outfit. He put his Fishing rod behind his back and glanced at Ethan.
"You trying to steal from me, that apple tree's not yours." He said as he took a bite from the apple.
"B-Bay!" Bayleef barked at him, wanting Ethan to get the apple back.
"I'm sorry, I should have known better, I won't do it again." Ethan quickly apologized, earning a smile from the man.
"Know what, I'm feeling kind today, go and get another one, I don't really care..." He said as he continued eating it.
"Really, thanks Mister!" Ethan exclaimed as he went and snatched another apple from the tree, Ethan ate the apple as quick as he could, even the seeds.
"You not from around here?" The fisherman asked.
"That's right, my name's Ethan. I'm from New Bark Town, ever heard of it?" Ethan asked.
"Oh yeah... New Bark Town, lovely place been there a few times couple years back." The fishermen said as he took one more bite, before throwing his leftovers.
"Brandon's the name." He said, tipping his hat.
"Ethan. You a Trainer?" Ethan asked.
"Oh yeah, I've tried the Trainer life, gathered a few badges... but that was back in the day, now I just like catching Water type Pokémon." Brandon said.
"Interesting, why'd you stop?" Ethan asked.
"I moved from Kanto to Johto, making the five badges I already collected meaningless, and it was then when I figured I didn't really care about becoming a Pokémon Champion." Brandon admitted.
"Really, for me being the Champion's been my dream for the longest, I can't relate at all!" Ethan laughed.
"I'm still interested in catching Pokémon, like I said, specifically water types." Brandon said, making sure his shoes were tied.
"Why specifically water types?" Ethan inquired.
"The first Pokémon I ever received was a Squirtle, I tried Pokémon of other types, but they never really spoke to me. I've always found it best to raise water types, you have any?" Brandon asked.
"Me. No, for some reason I haven't acquired any water types yet, right Bayleef?" Ethan said.
"Bay!" Bayleef said nodding her head.
"A Bayleef, nice!" Brandon said as he went and pet Bayleef on her forehead, making her laugh.
"Bayleef's a starter right, doesn't it evolve from Chikorita. Those are extremely rare!" Brandon commented.
"Really!" Ethan said surprised. "Isn't it a starter though, why's it rare?"
"I don't know, when I first came to Johto when newcomers wanted their first Pokémon, they'd ask someone who was already a Trainer to catch a Pokémon for them." Brandon said. "Only the wealthy kids got starters."
"Oh... is that so." Ethan said looking back at his rare Bayleef.
"It's a good Pokémon, but it doesn't quite catch my eye like a good water type does. There's this one that currently has my eye caught." Brandon confessed, sitting in front of the lake.
"What Pokémon's got your eye?" Ethan asked, sitting beside him.
"There's this rare Gyarados I've heard, apparently in this lake, this is the Lake of Rage, kid." Brandon told him.
"What makes it rare?" Ethan finally asked.
"It's a rare breed, it's a beautiful crimson red instead of blue, and no one's really quite sure why. Anomalies like this can be found in Pokémon, be it from a genetic mutation, or some process in evolution. I call it, shiny." Brandon informed Ethan.
"A... shiny?" Ethan said. "So, it's just a different color, that's why you want it."
"Not just a different color, it has meaning. It has value, it'll give me worth. No one else in the world I can imagine has this rare Gyarados, but I can!" Brandon exclaimed. "It excites me more than anything in the world."
"Well... colors don't really excite me, no matter how rare that color is." Ethan said.
"I told you, it's not just color!" Brandon lectured.
"I know, what do you say I help you catch this Gyarados!" Ethan said.
"Really, why would you do that. You plan on taking it for yourself or something." Brandon asked.
"Well, I want to see what the life of a water type master is about! If this Gyarados is really rare, then why don't I see it for myself at least!" Ethan said, turning to Bayleef.
"Bay!" Bayleef nodded, showing she wanted to go to.
"Alright, well then why don't I show you, the life of a water type master!" Brandon said, getting up on his feet, grabbing his fishing rod. "First, you equip some bait, I'll use some cheese."
Brandon threw his fishing rod back then tossed it into the water, he stood there and waited for a Pokémon to take a bite.
"It, seems boring forgive me for saying." Ethan told Brandon.
"I get how it could seem that way, just sitting and waiting. But sometimes, when a Pokémon appears... it's exhilarating." Brandon said, it was then when he felt a tug on his line.
"Something's there!" Ethan shouted upon noticing.
"Isn't it exciting, the anticipation and excitement in seeing what Pokémon it'll be!?" Brandon exclaimed. He yanked the rod, pulling out a Remoraid which had taken bait.
"That Pokémon..." Ethan said taking out his Pokédex to scan it.
"Remoraid, the Jet Pokémon. It has superb accuracy. The water it shoots out can strike moving prey from more than three hundred feet away."
"What a trooper!" Ethan exclaimed while putting away his Pokédex.
"Nah, I already have an Octillery." Brandon said as he tossed the Remoraid back into the water.
"So... not just excitement, but disappointment is also part of being fishing for Pokémon." Ethan said.
"Yeah, but the excitement outweighs the disappointment factor, at least for me. Well anyways, we won't be needing fishing rods to catch that Gyarados." He said setting the fishing rod down.
"We'll be using my boat! Gather your things and we'll go!" Brandon said, going to out back from his house.
"Well, Bayleef... let's go catch us a Gyarados!" Ethan exclaimed.
Ethan and Bradon went on a boat and ventured into the great unknown that was the Lake of Rage. Searching for this so called 'Shiny Gyarados' Brandon had spoken great things of, they wandered the seas for about two hours.
It's been so long... my Pokémon have probably already finished with getting healed up at the center... Ethan thought sadly.
"Bay..." Bayleef sighed, she was extremely bored, she laid her head on Ethan's lap.
Brandon stayed on lookout, staring with his binoculars, he hadn't said a word in over an hour, no matter how much Ethan said his name.
"Her Brandon!" Ethan said, trying to get his attention. "You find your Gyarados yet?"
Brandon finally smiled and lowered the binoculars, startling Ethan.
"You don't mean... we finally..." Ethan said shocked.
"Look through these in the direction I was!" Brandon shouted excitedly handing the binoculars to Ethan.
Ethan looked to see from afar a serpentine looking Pokémon that looked to be quite long, at least ten times the size of Ethan. It was indeed crimson red in color and had yellow scales. With a tan looking underbelly, from its face it had a large red crest, and long whiskers, it enticed Ethan just as it did Brandon.
"It's beautiful." Ethan said dropping the binoculars. "Let's row." And with that, both Ethan and Brandon rowed towards the Red Gyarados.
Upon encountering it, the Gyarados turned to Ethan and Brandon, letting out fierce steam from its nose.
Bayleef stood up and formed a battling position, it was time.
The Red Gyarados pulled its head back and let out a proud roar, it was enough to rock the water and shake the boat, if it were an ocean, they would have been toppled by large waves of water.
"It's strong!" Ethan said trying to hang on.
"B-Bay Bay!" Bayleef shouted being awoken by the loud roar.
By the time the water stopped shaking, Brandon brings out a Pokéball giving a slick smirk.
"It's finally time." He said, releasing his Pokémon into the water.
Brandon released a Gyarados of his own, albeit a regular Gyarados without the shiny coloring, surprising Ethan.
"Y-you already have a Gyarados!?" Ethan asked.
"Of course, now get ready for the battle of your lifetime!" Brandon warned him.
"Mmm, got it." Ethan understood.
The two Gyaradoses locked eyes and growled at each other preparing for battle. An intense could be felt between the two as it was clear to see.
"Now Gyarados, Ice Beam the sea below!" Brandon commanded.
Brandon's blue Gyarados listened and struck array of water, freezing it whole.
"Alright Bayleef, now jump on the ice!" Ethan said. Bayleef lisetend and leaped from the boat on to the ice, instantly begginging to slip and slide on the ice.
"B-Bay!" She struggled.
"Hang in there Bayleef!" Ethan encouraged her.
"Gyarados, use Dragon Breath!" Brandon commanded, his Gyarados listened and fired a mean blast directly at the shiny, causing an eruption of smoke.
The Red Gyarados shook it off and immediately striked back with an Aqua Tail, smashing Brandon's Gyarados in the gut sending it splashing into the water.
The blue Gyarados screeched in pain upon being hit.
"So strong!" Ethan exclaimed, he turned back to face his starter who was just now managing to stand on the ice.
"Bay, Bay, Bay...!" She exclaimed upon getting up fully.
"Gyarados, Bite!" Brandon yelled. His Gyarados went and bit its for in the neck, holding it in place.
"Grahhhhhhh!" The Red Gyarados screeched in pain, it turned its face to the blue Gyarados and fired its directly with its own Dragon Breath attack, hitting it in close range.
"Gyarados!" Brandon yelled out for his Pokémon. His Gyarados shook its head, damaged but ready to continue.
The Red Gyarados let out once again a stern roar, trying to intimidate its foe.
"We have to do something! Bayleef, Razor Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef tossed her leaf at the Red Gyarados, landing a direct hit, causing the Red Gyarados to moan in pain, it turned and eyed Bayleef.
"But Gyarados is a water type, that should of done more!" Ethan said puzzled.
"Gyarados is also a flying type, meaning grass type moves will only do neutral damage." Brandon informed Ethan.
Ethan wiped some sweat from his forehead, beginning to worry.
Gyarados opened its mouth and shot a large Hydro Pump at Bayleef. Even with the attack's type disadvatage it still looked devestating.
"Bayleef, dodge it now!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef leaped into the air and dodged the Hydro Pump, it was so powerful it completely destroyed the ice floor below.
"B-Bay!" Bayleef said in midair, falling towards the floor.
"Err... Gyarados, Ice Beam!" Brandon yelled, his Gyarados listened and froze half of the Gyarados's body from it's neck to its body, sticking it in place.
Bayleef after seeing this took it to her advantage. Bayleef used her Vine Whip to cling to an icicle on the half frozen Gyarados.
Gyarados roared, unable to move entirely. It shook its head violently trying to break free from the ice.
Bayleef used the momentum from the swing to be raised into the air, she stared Gyarados directly in the eyes.
The Red Gyarados shot out an intense Dragon Breath at Bayleef, there was no time for her to dodge.
"Bayleef no!" Ethan screamed as he couldn't see her a she appeared to be engulfed by the blast.
When Ethan looked back he noticed Bayleef was hanging from a Vine Whip from inside the Red Gyarados's knows, gaining its fury.
The Red Gyarados let out a roar enraged.
"Bayleef's okay!?" Ethan exclaimed.
"That's one Pokémon." Brandon said as he watched.
Bayleef continued with an onslaught of Razor Leaf, striking Gyarados directly in the face, all while dangling from its nose.
Gyarados shook its head and charged with a purple aura, instantly breaking free of the ice and causing Bayleef to fall, the waters raged and the current changed in response to the Gyarados's power.
Brandon's Gyarados quickly sunk its head into the water and slithered across to Bayleef, and she landed on his head, and then trying to grow some distance between it and the Red Gyarados
"What is going on!?" Ethan yelled in awe.
"That's Dragon's Dance, that Gyarados is raising its attack and speed drastically." Brandon explained.
Upon unleashing more energy the Red Gyarados swiftly struck Brandon's Gyarados with Aqua Tail again in the gut, causing even more damage than before, on top of being twice as fast.
Brandon's Gyarados almost fell into the water, Bayleef struggled to hang on but just about managed.
"B-Bay!" She moaned.
The Red Gyarados let out a stern shriek, turning to face Bayleef and the opposing Gyarados.
"Dragon Breath now!" Brandon commanded, his Gyarados followed his order and blasted the shiny in the face with a fierce Dragon Breath, causing an explosion of smoke.
"A direct hit!" Ethan exclaimed.
The Red Gyarados shook its head appearing to be just fine.
It was then when the Gyarados was shocked by a jolt of electricity, shocking Ethan.
"Dragon Breath... can inflict paralysis!?" Ethan said surprised.
"Yes, that's also equally bad for us if it hits either my Gyarados or your Bayleef." Brandon told Ethan. "Now's the time to catch it Ethan, you have a Pokéball."
"Yeah, my last one." Ethan said as he held out a Pokéball, it was time while the Red Gyarados couldn't move.
"Here goes nothing!" Ethan yelled, Ethan tossed the Pokéball all the way to the Red Gyarados, upon hitting it, it was absorbed into the ball, which landed in the water.
"Will it catch!" Ethan said crossing his fingers.
The Pokéball shined with a red light as the Gyarados was released, completely shattering the Pokéball in the process, the Gyarados once again let out a shreik.
"T-that was my only Pokéball..." Ethan sighed.
The Gyarados opened its mouth once more and let out a fierce Dragon Breath directly at the opposing Gyarados and Bayleef, who was still atop its head.
"Strike it back with your own Dragon Breath!" Brandon ordered. His Gyarados listened and fired its Dragon Breath, in a beam struggle with the shinies. Upon colliding the Red Gyarados's Dragon Breath began to overpower Brandon's.
"He's losing!" Brandon shouted in fear.
His Gyarados tried its hardest to push back the Red's, but it was far too strong, the opposing Dragon Breath was beginning to get in close to it.
"Bayleef, now's the time!" Ethan shouted, help Brandon's Gyarados with Razor Leaf!"
Bayleef swung her leaf, striking the Red Gyarados down with many leaves, but something caught Ethan's eye, the leafs she fired appeared to be more plentyful, glowing with a pink energy.
"W-what is that?" Ethan asked. "That's not Razor Leaf!"
Brandon's eyes lit up opon seeing it. "I know that move, that's... Magical Leaf!"
"Magical Leaf... wow!" Ethan exclaimed in awe.
The Magical Leaf was enough to get rid of the Red Gyarados's Dragon Breath, as it screamed in pain.
"Anymore Pokéballs?" Brandon asked. "Now's the time!"
"No I already said-" It was then Ethan was reminded of long ago, he was given a special Pokéball by Mr. Kurt back in Azalea.
"Actually I do!" Ethan said, pulling out the Great Ball from his bag.
"Gyarados, Bite and hold it in place!" Brandon yelled.
Brandon's Gyarados sniped its head at the weakened Red Gyarados and once again bit it at the neck, not letting it go.
"Grahhhhhhh!" The Red Gyarados screamed in pain.
The Great Ball went and smacked the Gyarados in the forehead, instantly sucking it inside.
"Now, it will surly catch!" Brandon exclaimed, biting his nails in anticipation.
Before the Pokéball could fall to the ground, Bayleef caught it from atop the blue Gyarados's head with her vine. The Great Ball finally stopped shaking and blinked, indicating the Red Gyarados was caught.
"Alright!" Ethan said jumping with one arm into the air.
"Finally, I've... We've done it!" Brandon said in awe.
Gyarados swam back to the boat along with Bayleef, it lowerd its head so Bayleef could jump back safely into the water.
"Good work Bayleef!" Ethan said as he pat her on the head. "We did it thanks to both your help, that and your new Magical Leaf."
"Indeed, phenomonal work Gyarados!" Brandon said as he returned his Gyarados..
Bayleef handed Ethan the Pokéball in his hands, he caught it and turned to Brandon.
"I believe this is yours." He said, reaching his arm out to hand it to him.
"Thank you kid, you've done me well today." Brandon said as he grabbed the Great Ball. "Let's head back."
"Sure!" Ethan agreed.
After about forty minutes or so they managed to row back to land, pulling the boat ashore to Brandon's place.
"We've made it!" Brandon said as he got off his boat.
Ethan and Bayleef leaped from the boat and onto the land. "Sure did."
Brandon turned to Ethan and smiled. "Again, I can't thank you enough, is there anything I can do to thank you!"
Ethan smiled and shook his head. "It was my pleasure, don't worry about it."
Brandon looked down at the Great Ball and back to Ethan, he was heading out.
"Hey, I've got a proposition!" Brandon spoke up.
"What?" Ethan asked, turning back to him.
"How about we make things interesting, I battle you for the honors of keeping the Red Gyarados, what do you say?" Brandon asked, pulling out another Pokéball.
"W-what do you mean, didn't you really want it!?" Ethan asked.
"Yeah, I do, still do, but it still feels unearned, after we both caught it right? So let's battle for it, winner takes all!" Brandon said.
Ethan turned his head to Bayleef, who appeared to be ready to continue battling.
"Bayleef Bay!" She yelled as she leaped in front of Ethan forming a stance.
"Alright, were in!" Ethan told Brandon.
"I was hoping you'd say that, then I'll show you my starter!" Brandon smirked. "Go, Blastoise!"
"Blastoise!" Said the released Pokémon, it was a large, bipedal turtle-like Pokémon with a mostly blue body that was mostly hidden by its brown shell. From the inside of the top of the shell were two powerful cannons that rested above its shoulders.
"A Kanto starter!" Ethan said as he took out his Pokédex to read up on it.
"Blastoise, the Shellfish Pokémon. It deliberately makes itself heavy so it can withstand the recoil of the water jets it fires."
The Blastoise towered over Bayleef, but she wouldn't just back down.
"Bay, Bayleef!" She roared back.
"My Blastoise has been with me through thick and thin, let me warn you. we won't lose, even with a type disadvantage." Brandon warned, making Ethan smile.
"So has my Bayleef, let's see which one is stronger." Ethan said.
"Hmph, that so... Blastoise, Aqua Jet!" Brandon yelled. His Blastoise listened and slid across the ground surrounded by aqua, hence the name.
"I recognize that move... Bayleef, dodge!" Ethan yelled. Bayleef listened, leaping in the air to avoid it.
"Oh no you don't. Blastoise, reverse and hit it." Brandon commanded. His Blastoise flipped back and crashed into Bayleef sending her crashing back into the ground,
"Bayleef!" Ethan shouted worried, Bayleef got back on her feet, albeit damaged.
"Now, Hydro Pump!" Brandon yelled.
The Blastoise fired from its cannons heavy beams of water firing at insane speeds.
"Light Screen and block it!" Ethan shouted. Bayleef listened and brang up her shield, protecting her from the blast.
"B-Bay!" She said struggling to keep up the shield, but she managed to win out, putting away the shield.
"Rapid Spin!" Brandon yelled, Blastoise curled up into a shell and began heading for Bayleef in a zig zag, trying to smash into her.
"Bayleef, dodge!" Ethan shouted. Bayleef listened and leaped into the air, avoiding the Rapid Spin, this however only made Brandon smile.
"Hydro Cannon while it's in midair!" He commanded. Blastoise focused one of its cannons up and shot at Bayleef with a large water blast, sending her crashing into the ground.
"You okay Bayleef!?" Ethan asked his struggling to get up Pokémon.
"Bay, Bayleef!" She responded while breathing heavily.
"Bayleef is on her last legs... Blastoise, Giga Impact and end it!" Brandon commanded, Blastoise leaped into the air, covered in a rainbow aura as it charged for Bayleef.
"Magical Leaf, on the ground Bayleef!" Ethan yelled, Bayleef blasted off her new attack onto the ground, sending her like a jet flying midair, Blastoise stopped before coming into contact with the Magical Leaf.
"Trying to get some distance huh, it won't work!" Brandon yelled. "Bayleef is done for!"
"If I've learned one thing in all my time traveling, it's that boasting about victory before you've achieved it can often have disastrous consequences." Ethan told him. "Now Bayleef, Synthesis."
While in midair, Bayleef began to sparkle with blue light, trying to heal her injuries, surprising Brandon.
"What move is that?" He asked.
"What Synthesis, it's a move that heals up my Bayleef." Ethan informed him. Bayleef landed on her two feet appearing to have recovered some, Blastoise stared her down and gave a prideful smirk.
"Now Bayleef, Magical Leaf!" Ethan said, Bayleef listened and shot at Blastoise with the many glowing leafs.
"Deflect it with Rapid Spin!" Brandon commanded. Blastoise listened and entered its shell and spun at full speed, deflecting the leaves to elsewhere before it left its shell intact.
"Blastoise!" Blastoise shouted angerly.
"Bay!" Bayleef yelled back, it was then when she almost fell down, but slowly recovered and shook off the pain.
"W-what, why?" Ethan asked.
"Even if she healed up a bit, all that battling with Gyarados and getting bashed by Blastoise should be more than enough to shake her up, Blastoise, end it with one last Giga Impact!" Brandon yelled.
Blastoise pounced to Bayleef charging with rainbow energy, each step it took was enough to crack the ground below. Bayleef panted heavily, beginning to tire.
"Bayleef! You need to dodge!" Ethan yelled. "Please!"
"That Red Gyarados is mine kid, watch!" Brandon yelled. Blastoise crashed into the ground aiming for Bayleef, causing an ejection of vas smoke engulfing the battle scene.
"Bayleef!" Ethan cried out in distress.
"It's over." Brandon said tucking his hat down, confident he had won.
….
It was when the smoke cleared the true victor would be decided, it was then when both Ethan and Brandon noticed Blastoise, who had created a mini crater in the ground, and right by its side was Bayleef who had dodged the blow.
"Bla-Blastoise!?" Blastoise cried.
"Impossible!" Brandon freaked.
"That's awesome Bayleef, now hit it with Magical leaf!" Ethan called out.
Bayleef fired a direct contact Magical Leaf at Blastoise, sending the turtle Pokémon blasting back, but before it could go Bayleef caught it by its arm with her Vine Whip.
"Now, slam it!" Ethan yelled. Bayleef flipped the heavy Blastoise back and sent it crashing headfirst into the ground, pile driving it. Blastoise fell from atop its head to the ground, utterly unconscious.
"B-Blastoise... lost..." Brandon said in surprise.
"Alright Bayleef you did it!" Ethan happily exclaimed jumping up and down. Bayleef leaped from in the crater to over to Ethan, who gave her a nice big pet.
"I know you had it in you, thanks girl." Ethan said as he pat her behind her head leaf.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said playfully, she went and licked Ethan on his cheek.
"Blastoise return to me, boy." Brandon said as he returned his Pokémon. "Congratulations Ethan."
"So, you sure you want to give me that Gyarados, you want it more than I do." Ethan asked him.
"Don't disrespect me kid, as a trainer of water Pokémon, I have to keep my word." He said, handing Ethan the Great Ball. "This is yours."
"Well... thanks, I'll keep it." Ethan smiled.
"That's some Bayleef you have by the way. I never actually thought I'd lose, that'll humble me." Brandon laughed. "If you're ever in this area again and want some food or to go hunting for a water type, you know where to find me."
"Of course, thanks man. See you!" Ethan waved as he left along with Bayleef, unable to take his eye off his Great Ball.
"A Red Gyarados, I'm so excited!" Ethan said to Bayleef, who also nodded in agreement.
As Ethan walked however, he noticed a large shadow, one that wasn't his, standing over him. Ethan turned to look up in the sky, right before the bright sun he noticed a figure, but since it was in the way of the sun, Ethan had to look away, and so did Bayleef.
"I-Is that a Pokémon?" Ethan asked Bayleef. It was then when the figure flew down so fast Ethan could hardly catch its movement, it was draconic, bipedal Pokémon with light orange skin. It had large grayish green eyes and a round snout. Its underbelly was cream colored, and it had two green wings.
Riding the Pokémon was a mysterious looking man. He wore a medieval looking navy-blue tunic with a red-orange trim, a brown belt around his waist, and large black boots with orange two rings around the top of each foot. He sported a long, flowing red and black cape on top of having red, spiky hair.
"W-who are you!?" Ethan asked, clearly intimidated by the stranger who appeared to have been watching him.
The man glanced at him and smiled. "That Red Gyarados wasn't acting right. As I feared, somebody must have forced it to evolve... Did you come here because of the wild tales?"
"I asked you a question mister." Ethan told him again.
"Oh, apologies. I am Lance, a Trainer just like you. I heard some rumblings, so I came here to investigate..." The man said getting off his dragon Pokémon.
"Sorry if I was being rude, my name is-" Before Ethan could finish, he was interrupted by the man.
"I already know who you are. You're Ethan, aren't you?" Lance said, startling Ethan.
"Recognize me from Professor Oak's show huh!" Ethan asked, getting a head shake from Lance.
"No, your father is a Trainer named Allen, yes. I'm a friend of his." Lance said, making Ethan pout.
"I don't want anything to do with that man..." Ethan pouted, surprising Lance and Bayleef.
"I... saw the way you battled earlier, Ethan. I can tell you're a Trainer with considerable skill. Just as your father always said you'd be." Lance smiled, but Ethan didn't want any part of it.
"Please don't mention him around me, we haven't spoken in months, he must be too busy in Hoenn or what not..." Ethan sighed.
"I'm sorry, but you should probably know... He told me he'd be returning to Johto shortly last time we spoke." Lance said, Ethan didn't expect to hear that.
"I-I had no idea." Ethan said, scratching his chin.
Now that I think of it, I never called Mom back, she was probably trying to tell me that! Ethan realized.
"I won't mention anymore of Allen... I mean your father, if that's to your liking. I'd just like to ask, if you don't mind, could you help me investigate?" Lance said, making Ethan smile.
"Sure thing. I wouldn't mind helping you out and neither would my Bayleef I'm sure." Ethan told Lance.
"Excellent! It seems that the Lake of Rage's Magikarp are being forced to evolve. A mysterious radio broadcast coming from Mahogany is probably the cause. And that suspicious souvenir shop... I'll be waiting for you in Mahogany, Ethan." Lance said as he got on his Dragon Pokémon, he quickly flew off, it was so quick, it appeared as a blur to Ethan.
"Man... whoever that guy was, he was no joke." Ethan said, Bayleef agreed. "A friend of my Dad's huh... I've got to get back to Mahogany, and call back my Mom, let's go Bayleef."
"Bay!" Bayleef agreed.
Boom, and theirs Lance! Next chapter things should get even more spicy, it you been reading from the beginning chapters or just the story in general you should have also heard references to Ethan's father, especially in the first chapter, and now it looks like he may be involved in the main story soon.