Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 48: Bonds between Trainer and Pokémon
Right after watching the fierce battle with the Pokémon League Champion Lance and rival Silver in which ended in an embarrassing loss for Silver, Ethan decided to finally try out his newly caught Pokémon.
"Alright, Gyarados, I choose you!" Ethan cried as he threw his Great Ball, releasing the water type.
The Red Gyarados easily towered over Ethan and Bayleef at a staggering twenty feet tall, its shadow was quite long in length.
It looked down to Ethan, appearing to be confused.
Ethan got a smile on his face seeing his shiny Pokémon.
"Bay!" Bayleef said greeting the Gyarados.
"Hello boy, I'm Ethan. I'm sorry for not meeting with you earlier, I've had a lot to do since, you know, the Lake of Rage." Ethan said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Gyarados looked around, not paying much attention to the boy.
"Hey, can you hear me, I'm trying to say hi!" Ethan smiled, Gyarados finally turned to Ethan.
"Grahhhhhh!" It roared loudly, its spit flew everywhere, and it was even enough to get on Ethan's face, much to his disgust. Ethan flinched his head back and so did Bayleef.
"Gya-Gyarados, what's wrong?" Ethan said, trying to cheer up his Pokémon.
Gyarados turned its head and began to slither off, alarming Ethan.
"Hold on, where are you going!?" Ethan said while chasing after it, Bayleef following him.
Gyarados went off by itself with Ethan following besides it.
"A-are you busy at the moment!?" Ethan asked trying to catch up to the water type.
Gyarados continued slithering not at all acknowledging Ethan.
The Red Gyarados finally took a break from slithering besides a tree, Ethan and Bayleef caught up to it.
"Hey! Remember me, your Trainer!" Ethan said grinning with his hands behind his back.
Gyarados closed its eyes and tried to doze off to sleep, surprising Ethan.
What, what's with this Pokémon...? Ethan thought, unsure of what. He checked his Pokédex to see any information he could find on the Gyarados.
"Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon. They say that during past strife, Gyarados would appear and leave blazing ruins in its wake."
"Hmm, the Pokédex doesn't say anything about Gyarados hating their Trainer's..." Ethan muttered as he stumbled around Gyarados.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said wanting to take a look, Ethan showed her and she also had nothing.
"Alright look, I'm... starting to think you really hate me... is that true?" Ethan asked, stating the obvious.
Gyarados continued to ignore Ethan, much to the boy's annoyance.
Well... now that I think of it, Chikorita was handed to me by Elm, Mareep and Heracross wanted to come with me, I hatched Togepi from an egg, and Eevee I took from that jerk Jacob, Gyarados is the first Pokémon I've actually caught fair and square. Ethan realized.
Bayleef began to nibble on Ethan's backpack, the boy instantly got what she was trying to say.
"Sure, Gyarados should meet the family!" Ethan said taking out his Pokéballs. "Come on out everyone!"
"Amphar, Ampharos!" Ampharos cried.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic giggled.
"Eevee! Eevee!" Eevee barked.
"Heracross!" Heracross screeched.
All of Ethan's Pokémon instantly took notice of the large, towering Gyarados, and their faces lit up with surprise. Eevee, got a little nervous and hid behind Ethan's leg.
"It's alright Eevee, Gyarados is our new friend." Ethan told her.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef tried to tell her.
Bayleef still hid behind Ethan's leg, shaking her head no.
"Have a little stage fright do you, alright then little lady, you can stay on my shoulder at least!" Ethan said picking up Eevee and putting her comfortably on his shoulder, easing her up a bit.
Heracross and Ampharos went together to try and greet the Gyarados.
"Hera Hera, Heracross!" Heracross said trying to introduce himself.
"Eevee!" Eevee said greeting Gyarados.
"Ampharo, Ampharo!" Ampharos said trying to hand Gyarados a flower from the grass, but Gyarados ignored all of them.
"Togetic!" Togetic laughed as he flew towards Gyarados, not minding where he was going so he bumped into Heracross and Ampharos.
"Hera-Heracross!" Heracross said as he fell and landed on top of Ampharos.
Ampharos, startled, let out a Thunder Shock and zapped the hell out of Heracross, making him dizzy. Heracross got up and wobbled around.
"Heracross, Heracross!" Heracross yelled at the flying Togetic.
"To, Togetic?" Togetic said ignoring Heracross entirely, he was atop Gyarados's head, making Gyarados irritated.
"Rahhhh!" Gyarados roared shaking Togetic off him, before Togetic could crash to the ground, he landed again on Heracross making Heracross fall, further pissing off the bug type.
"Uh oh, here we go again..." Ethan sighed.
"Heracross Heracross!" Heracross yelled at the naïve Togetic.
Togetic got in the face of Heracross and smiled, Togetic's eyes turned red however, as Heracross was entrapped by the vortex of Extrasensory, raising Heracross into the air.
"Togetic, set Heracross down before you hurt him!" Ethan called out.
"To, To, Toga!" Togetic laughed ignoring Ethan, he spun Heracross in the air before gently setting Heracross to the ground.
"Hera...Hera..." Heracross moaned as he spun around dizzily.
"Toga Toga!" Togetic continued to laugh.
"Hera Heracross!" Heracross yelled, enraged, in Togetic's face.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said, getting in between Heracross and Togetic, pleading for them to not fight.
Heracross shoved Bayleef out the way and leaped in the air, preparing a Brick Break attack to use directly on Togetic, Togetic seeing it swiftly moved out the way, leaving Heracross in the air, heading for Gyarados.
"Oh crap, that's not good!" Ethan cursed.
Heracross stopped himself from using the Brick Break attack on Gyarados, but he still bumped into Gyarados, making Gyarados get up.
Gyarados earlier was a little annoyed, but now it was full on upset.
"Wrahhhhhh!" Gyarados screamed at Heracross, who wasn't just about to let Gyarados yell at him like that.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross yelled getting in Gyarados's face.
"Alright I think maybe it's best you two cool off, Heracross, Gyarados, return!" Ethan said as he returned the two Pokémon.
"Pharo, Pharo!" Ampharos said as he went up to Ethan along with Bayleef.
"I know, Gyarados isn't really fond of us yet, but it'll be one day!" Ethan declared. Ampharos, Eevee and Bayleef agreeing.
Togetic came down and spun around Ethan playfully.
"Oh and you, you can't be going around and making Heracross mad like that, understand!" Ethan said wagging his finger.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic laughed as he continued to spin around Ethan.
"Listen to me Togetic, you could have gotten yourself hurt, or Heracross hurt, bad boy!" Ethan yelled.
Upon hearing Ethan's words, Togetic dropped his smile and had a tear in his eyes.
"Toooaoooaooo!" Togetic cried loudly, making Ethan freak.
"I know, I'm sorry Togetic!" Ethan said hugging his Pokémon. "I didn't mean it, I'm sorry."
"Toge...To..." Togetic said starting to cheer up. Eevee was getting squished, so she leapt down to Bayleef's and Ampharos's side.
"Bay..." Bayleef sighed at the sight of Ethan being such a push over.
….
Later that day at around six in the afternoon while making his way back to Mahogany, Ethan met eyes with a wandering Trainer who wanted to ask for a battle.
"Hey, my name's Morgan!" A girl looking around Ethan's age said. She was about two inches shorter than Ethan, she had bright blue eyes and whitish blond looking hair. She had a big blue ribbon on her hair and wore a blue shirt and red skirt.
"What do you say we have a battle, a one on one perhaps?"
"Oh, what do you know, I was just looking for a battle!" Ethan said happily. "I'm Ethan."
Bayleef turned to Ethan, wanting to battle first.
"Ethan, hmm, you look familiar?" The girl said.
"You watch a Slice of Life with Professor Oak?" Ethan asked. "I was on an episode if that's where you know me from, I'm a protégé of Professor Elm!"
"Ohh, you're right!" Morgan said. "Anyways, here goes nothing."
Morgan through a Pokéball, releasing a penguin like Pokémon. It had a white, hollow tail, its face and chest were also covered in white feathers with two, three-pointed crests above its eyes.
"Delibird!" The ice type cried out playfully.
"Wow, what a cute Pokémon!" Ethan said scanning it with his Pokédex.
"Delibird, the Delivery Pokémon. It carries food all day long. There are tales about lost people who were saved by its stored food."
"It's adorable, you have great taste!" Ethan told Morgan as he put away his Pokédex.
"Heh, don't underestimate my Delibird just because you think she's cute!" Morgan declared. "You should know I'm basically just as seasoned a Trainer as you, I can see you have six badges pinned to your chest, well I have five, and I plan on getting my sixth real soon!" She said as he pulled out a badge carrying case, showing off the five badges she claimed to have.
"Delibird Delibird!" Delibird said, telling Ethan Morgan wasn't lying,
"Oh, I wouldn't want to make the mistake of underestimating a Trainer or their Pokémon, trust me!" Ethan told her.
"Bayleef!" Bayleef said, jumping in front of Ethan forming a battle stance.
"Oh, wait, Bayleef!" Ethan said to his starter.
"Bay...?" Bayleef asked.
"Um, I'd love for you to battle, and you know I would, but maybe now's a good time to test out my new Pokémon, right?" Ethan said, holding the Great Ball.
"B-Bay!" Bayleef said, getting besides Ethan.
"This'll be our first battle together as Trainer and partner!" Ethan exclaimed, throwing his Pokéball. "I choose you, Gyarados!"
"Rahhhh!" Gyarados shrieked upon being released, it stared at Morgan and her Delibird and then back to Ethan.
"W-woah, a Gyarados!?" Morgan freaked. "And a red one!"
"D-Delibird," Delibird said, bestowed with fear.
"Gyarados, hey, I know we haven't really befriended each other yet, but working together in a battle is a great way to build a bond between a Trainer and his Pokémon, wouldn't you agree!?" Ethan asked.
Gyarados looked at Ethan then back at the small, stumpy Delibird, who was barely at two feet tall.
Gyarados blew some steam from its nose and closed his eyes, ignoring both Ethan, and the battle entirely.
"Uh... having trouble with your Pokémon there?" Morgan asked.
"N-no, yes, maybe!" Ethan stumbled over his words.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said, trying to plead with Gyarados, but Gyarados wouldn't hear it.
"You know what... it's fine, Gyarados, return." Ethan said, returning Gyarados to its Great Ball.
"Well, Gyarados was unable to battle, and Delibird still is... so, guess that makes me the victor...?" Morgan said confused,
"You're right, here, your prize money." Ethan said, handing her some cash from his wallet.
"Oh... I couldn't, I mean, it doesn't even count as a victory for me, please, keep it." She pleaded with Ethan.
"Um... you sure?" Ethan asked.
"Yeah, but thanks anyway." Morgan said laughing. "You're two kind!"
Just then Ethan heard a man approaching them, Ethan turned to see an older looking man. He wore a brown shirt, with the neck area having a white color, he had a scarf of the same color, and a long blue jacket with azure buttons. He had short white hair with three upper spiked fringes on front and two spikes on each side.
"Awe, there's that niece of mine!" The man said. "You two kids were having a battle?"
"Oh uh, hi! Yeah, I guess you could say that." Ethan said scratching under his noise.
"Yeah Uncle, this is Ethan, he's a Trainer!" Morgan told her uncle. "Ethan, this is my Uncle, he's the Gym leader of this town!"
"Oh wow, so you're that Pryce I heard of!" Ethan said, making the man laugh.
"Yes, I am Pryce, Gym leader of Mahogany Town." He responded. "Ohh, six badges, you must have some real skill."
"Heheh, I hope so!" Ethan chuckled.
"And is that a Bayleef?" Pryce asked. "Wow... you should feel lucky to have won sonny!"
"Bayleef!" Bayleef replied happily.
"My niece over here is in training, she wants to defeat me and get the Glacier badge, don't they grow up so fast!"
"Don't embarrass me, Uncle!" Morgan told him.
"Haha, I won't, anyways. I trust you plan on challenging my Gym?" Pryce asked.
"Of course, I plan too!" Ethan assured the Gym leader.
"Alright, I'll leave you alone now." Pryce said as he head off. "Goodbye!"
"Nice meeting you Ethan, see you!" Morgan waved as she followed her uncle back.
"Pryce huh, Lance definitely mentioned him along with the Blackthorn Gym leader. He's a Master of Ice type apparently." Ethan said.
"Bay!" Bayleef agreed.
Ethan looked down and grabbed his Great Ball once more.
"I just... want Gyarados to like me, what am I doing wrong...?" Ethan asked himself.
Bayleef went up to Ethan and put her head against his chest, he smiled and pet her.
"What do you say... we try this again!?" Ethan asked his starter.
"Bay!" She agreed.
"Go, Gyarados!" Ethan yelled as he threw the Great Ball once more, releasing his Red Gyarados.
"Grahhh..." Gyarados said looking at Ethan, not sounding angry, more so confused.
"Gyarados, hi, maybe we got off on the wrong start, but just know I really want us to be friends, okay!" Ethan said, holding his hand out to pet Gyarados, if Gyarados would come down and let him.
Gyarados scoffed and turned his head, ignoring Ethan.
"W-why do you hate me...?" Ethan asked. "Because like I said, I really want you to like me..."
Gyarados shook its head and let out a small roar, telling Ethan something.
"What'd it say, Bayleef?" Ethan asked his starter. Ethan lowered his head and Bayleef told him something.
"What! I smell you say!?" Ethan reacted. "Well, you're not all Mr. Clean yourself!"
Gyarados got a little annoyed and from his mouth fired water at Ethan, causing a big splash, making Ethan soaking wet.
"C-cold, cold!" Ethan cried as he shivered.
"Bay..." Bayleef sighed.
"Fine I'm sorry Gyarados, so hug and make up?" Ethan suggested still wet and cold, Gyarados not having a word of it. "Or... I guess, just make up?"
Gyarados smirked and went back to resting, lying his whole body on the ground.
"Okay, get some rest if you like. Gyarados, return!" Ethan said returning his disobedient Pokémon.
"What am I going to do...?" Ethan asked himself.
So, Ethan finally meets his sixth Pokémon, the Shiny Gyarados. If anyone is curious this will be Ethan's last Pokémon since six makes up a full party and I don't plan on Ethan switching out any other members of his party. So yeah, Bayleef, Ampharos, Togetic, Eevee, Heracross, and Gyarados, that's the team and I had I was always going to give Ethan these six Pokémon to be honest.