Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 49: The Teacher of Winter's Harshness
After failing to grow a bond with his Gyarados, Ethan spent the rest of the night training his Pokémon, as he would challenge the Mahogany Town Gym the next day.
"Alright then, we ready Bayleef?" Ethan asked his starter as he stood in front of the door to the gym.
"Bay, Bay!" She nodded her head.
"Good, let's go then!" Ethan said as he knocked on the door to the gym.
After about a minute wait, the Trainer Ethan had met yesterday, the Gym leader Pryce's niece, Morgan opened the door and greeted Ethan.
"Awe, Ethan! You here to challenge my Uncle?" Morgan asked shaking Ethan's hand.
"Yup, you got it, think I may be ready!" Ethan told her.
"Really, did you get that Gyarados of yours to listen to you?" She asked.
"N-no..." Ethan muttered. "But I still have to challenge Pryce, that's what being a Trainer is all about, right?"
"Absolutely. Let me warn you though, so far I've challenged my Uncle three times, never won a single battle, he's really good." Morgan warned.
"That so, well, can I come in?" Ethan asked.
"Sure, right this way!" Morgan said letting Ethan in.
Ethan walked through a long white hallway to get to the main room of the gym and it was extremely cold, he felt cold even with his jacket.
"U-ugh, Morgan, I know it's an ice type gym, but this is a little much don't you agree." Ethan said shivering, he could even see his breath. Bayleef besides him was cold as well.
"Huh, well me and my Uncle have been training with ice types all our life, actually it feels kind of warm to me!" She said.
"R-really huh," Ethan said dumbfounded.
Upon entering the door to the room, it felt like the insides of a freezer, on the other side of the room was Pryce, who waved at Ethan.
"Hello sonny, finally here for that match!?" Pryce said.
"Y-yeah, but uh, maybe could we do something about this temperature first?" Ethan asked.
"Haha, sorry but this is just about the temperature my ice types need to fight at their full potential you see, I hope you can understand!" Pryce said, spinning his Pokéball.
"I-I understand..." Ethan sighed. "Well, anyways, I say we do this."
"Uncle, mind if I observe the battle?" Morgan asked going on the side of the battlefield.
"Haha, let me guess, you want to see if this young man Ethan here can uncover some kind of hidden weakness of mine so you can use that when you have a rematch with me?" Pryce asked his niece.
"Heh heh, maybe." She giggled. "Come on please, I can ever be on referee duty!"
"Oh alright, since you're already here I guess that'd be fine." Pryce said before focusing back to his challenger. "So, Ethan. If I recall yesterday, I found you had six badges yes."
"Yup, all the way from Violet City to Olivine and everything in between." Ethan said proudly.
"Then I won't be needed to go easy on you, will I know?" Pryce asked.
"Test me however you like sir." Ethan replied.
"Hmm, I say we make this a four on four, you surely have more than four Pokémon, right?" Pryce asked.
"You got it, a full team of six." Ethan nodded.
"Alright, well then, Morgan, please start our battle." Pryce said to his niece.
"Of course, Uncle, this will be a four on four between Challenger Ethan and Gym leader Pryce, may you both bring out your first Pokémon and begin!" Morgan announced.
"As for my first Pokémon, I choose you!" Pryce said throwing his Pokéball. Released and leaping to the battlefield was a pinniped Pokémon with a snowy white, furry body, its face has two black eyes, a black nose, and two tusks extending from its upper jaw. It had two front flippers and a long flowing tail.
"Dewgong!" The Pokémon cried.
"Dewgong aye," Ethan said searching for its Pokédex entry.
"Dewgong, the Sea Lion Pokémon. Its streamlined body has little drag in water. The colder the temperature, the friskier it gets."
"A water type, but also an ice type, huh." Ethan said. "Bayleef, I choose you!"
Bayleef leapt on the battlefield on the opposite side of the Dewgong, forming a battle stance.
"Bay!" She said confidently.
"Awe, Bayleef huh, a double-edged sword, Bayleef may be able to land Super effective damage, but so can my Dewgong, and Bayleef's in my territory... interesting choice." Pryce commented.
"Now, we'll start, Ice Shard!" Pryce commanded. Dewgong followed Pryce's order and fired a lightning quick Ice Shard straight for Bayleef.
"Dodge it quick Bayleef, then use Magical Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef stepped to the side avoiding the blast, she then swung her leaf firing a Magical Leaf straight at the Dewgong.
"Dewgong, overpower it with Surf!" Pryce yelled.
"Dewgong!" Dewgong roared, from behind it came a giant wave of water that was at least twenty feet in size. The Magical Leafs could not contest with the mighty wave and fell apart.
"Go ahead and freeze the wave with Ice Beam!" Pryce yelled, Dewgong listened and fired an Ice Beam, freezing the wave, sending a gigantic frozen wave at poor Bayleef.
"B-Bay!?" Bayleef freaked.
"Dodge it Bayleef!" Ethan panicked, not having anything else.
Bayleef regained her composure and swung her leaf, firing Magical Leaf at rapid speed at the ground, allowing her to zoom to the air.
"Quick thinking, Bayleef!" Ethan reacted.
After leaping past the ice wave, Bayleef lost momentum in the air and started falling towards Dewgong, taking out her long vines.
"Dewgong, Hyper Beam!" Pryce commanded his Pokémon.
Dewgong opened its mouth and started charging an energy ball made up of pure heat, making a special looking red color.
"Hyper Beam, that's not good, don't let it hit you!" Ethan yelled.
"Too late, Dewgong, fire!" Pryce ordered.
"Dew...Gong!" Dewgong yelled as it fired the tremendous Hyper Beam towards Bayleef.
Although she panicked a bit at the sight of the powerful blast, Bayleef finally used her vine to grab hold of a sprinkler on the ceiling, using it she swung dodging the Hyper Beam, managing to land face to face with the Dewgong.
"Bayleef!" She cried startling the poor ice type.
Dewgong panted and was unable to move, as after using Hyper Beam it'd need to charge.
"Bayleef, catch Dewgong with your Vine Whip!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef listened and before Dewgong could try anything she caught it with her two vines, one on its neck and the other wrapping its body, it had nowhere to go.
"Dew, Dewgong, Dewgong!" Dewgong freaked out.
"It appears I'm in a bit of a pickle." Pryce said.
"Now Bayleef, Magical Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef listened, swinging her leaf and striking down the Dewgong with multiple leaves, sending it flying into the air.
"Dewgong!" It screamed in pain.
"Don't just take it Dewgong! Aurora Beam now!" Pryce yelled.
While falling Dewgong went and fired at Bayleef with a blue beam of frost.
"Light Screen!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef brought up her shield to block the move, but it overpowered the shield and crashed into Bayleef landing Super effective damage.
"No Bayleef!" Ethan yelled, but it was too late.
"Ba..ay.." Bayleef moaned laying on the floor in pain.
"Are you alright, Bayleef!?" Ethan asked his starter.
Bayleef was in pain, but she got up, panting heavily.
Dewgong crashed to the ground kicking up smoke, once the smoke cleared, it was clear the Pokémon was unconscious.
"Dewgong is unable to battle, Gym leader Pryce please bring out your second Pokémon." Morgan announced.
"Return Dewgong, you did marvelous." Pryce said as he returned his Pokémon.
"Bayleef you did great as well, why don't you take a breather, come on!" Ethan told his Pokémon. Bayleef listened and jumped from the battlefield to his side.
"Take it easy for now, I'll call you back in later, got it?" Ethan asked his starter.
"Bay!" Bayleef nodded.
"Hmph, this next Pokémon will be quite stronger than my last, go Jynx!" Pryce said throwing his Pokéball.
Jynx was a humanoid Pokémon resembling a woman. It had a purple face, pink plump lips, saucer-like eyes, and long blond hair. It wore a long red gown with two gold circlets on the chest.
"Jynx!" Jynx cried out.
"That an ice type?" Ethan said checking his Pokédex for data on it.
"Jynx, the Human Shape Pokémon. It rocks its body rhythmically. It appears to alter the rhythm depending on how it's feeling."
Jynx went ahead and blew a kiss at Ethan, which sent shivers down his spine more than the cold did.
"Jynx!" It said blushing.
"Um... anyways..." Ethan said awkwardly. "Go, Heracross!"
"Heracross!" Heracross cried out flexing its muscles.
Heracross landed in front of Ethan and store down the Jynx.
"Heracross, do your best, alright!?" Ethan said to his Pokémon. Heracross turned his head and gave Ethan a thumbs-up.
"Alright, we'll begin, Jynx use Ice Punch!" Pryce commanded.
Jynx formed a fist of frost and head for Heracross at full speed.
"Heracross, dodge it!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross swiftly side stepped the attack, shaking up Jynx's footing.
"Now, Close Combat!" Ethan yelled, Heracross listened and pounded Heracross with punch after punch in rapid succession.
"Heracross!" Heracross yelled with one final punch knocking Jynx in the face.
Jynx before falling on its back flipped and landed on its two feet on the ground.
"Jynx isn't just a fighting type, it's also a psychic type, meaning that attack didn't do much!" Pryce announced confidently.
"That so, aye, Heracross, Megahorn!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross leaped into the air flapping its wings at swift speed, heading for Jynx with its horn glowing a bright white.
If it lands it'll be Super effective, Ethan thought crossing his fingers.
"Bay!" Bayleef cheered Heracross on.
"Jynx, Attract!" Pryce yelled.
"W-what, Attract!" Ethan panicked.
Jynx blushed and winked at the zipping Heracross, sending pink hearts towards him.
"Hera, Heracross!" He excitedly exclaimed now in love with Jynx. His horn stopped glowing in color as he had no intention of battling anymore.
"Heracross no!" Ethan yelled.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross said, trying to hug Jynx. But Jynx simply refused.
"Heracross, you have to get passed this, listen to my voice!" Ethan yelled but to seemingly no avail.
Heracross got on his knees and pulled out a ring trying to propose to Jynx.
"Hera Hera!" He said trying to hand Jynx the ring. Jynx simply turned her head ignoring his advances.
"This isn't good." Ethan cursed pulling out his Pokéball to return. "Heracross, why don't you take a break for now!"
"Don't let him Jynx, hit Heracross with a close-range Ice Beam!" Pryce ordered.
It was too late for Heracross as he was blasted and frozen entirely by the Ice Beam completely engulfed in Ice.
"What! I can't return Heracross!" Ethan said endlessly clicking on the button of the Pokéball with no effect.
"Hyper Beam now!" Pryce ordered.
"Jynxxx!" The Pokémon exclaimed as it charged the Hyper Beam, it expanded at a rapid size, almost enough to shake the battlefield.
"I'm sorry Heracross." Ethan said as he looked away.
The frozen Heracross was blasted by the Hyper Beam completely destroying the ice and sending Heracross back like a blur before Ethan.
"Heracross are you okay?" Ethan asked his injured Pokémon.
"Hera...ra..." Heracross said as he passed out.
"Heracross is unable to battle, Challenger Ethan, please bring out your next Pokémon!" Morgan said.
"Heracross to me." Ethan said returning Heracross to his Pokéball. "You were awesome out there, now go and get some rest."
Who should I use next, Bayleef's a girl but I can't have her battling Jynx with all her ice moves. Ethan thought.
"Now it's a three on three." Pryce said.
"It's about to be a three on two!" Ethan yelled throwing a Pokéball. "Eevee, it's your time to shine!"
"Eevee!" Eevee yelled out upon being released. As she landed on the battlefield, she instantly began to shiver from the cold.
"Bay!" Bayleef cheered her on.
"An Eevee, perhaps it would do you better if it were a Flareon." Pryce remarked.
"You better not underestimate my Eevee, if you do you it might not end well for you!" Ethan replied.
"Eevee!" She barked at the Jynx who looked unimpressed.
"Start one again with Ice Punch!" Pryce ordered his Jynx.
Jynx charged for Eevee once more with a frost fist, but Eevee easily managed to dodge it as she was quite small and agile.
"Now Eevee, Quick Attack!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee leaped from the ground and plunged her head into Jynx's gut as she Quick Attacked, causing the Jynx to groan in pain.
"Catch Eevee now!" Pryce yelled.
Jynx caught Eevee before she could move however as Eevee was already far too in close range, not allowing Eevee to move.
"Oh no! Eevee!" Ethan yelled.
"Ee-Eevee!" She struggled trying to get rid of Jynx's clutch.
"Now, Hyper Beam!" Pryce commanded.
Jynx's mouth began to charge the energy required for Hyper Beam scaring Ethan and especially Eevee.
Wait I've got it! Ethan realized.
Jynx's Hyper Beam was almost ready, it was now or never.
"Eevee, Reflect!" Ethan yelled confidently.
As the blast fired Eevee quickly brang up the reflect which reversed the Hyper Beam and blasted Jynx in close range, causing a huge explosion which took up half the battlefield.
Using Reflect at the last second, what a bright kid! Pryce thought.
"Wow, Ethan's amazing!" Morgan reacted.
The smoke cleared, and Jynx was heavily damaged, and on top of that she would need a breather after using Hyper Beam.
"Jynx... Jynx..." Jynx panted heavily.
"Now Eevee, Quick Attack and end it!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee listened and ran in a zig zag quickly heading for the Jynx.
"This is bad, Attract!" Pryce commanded.
Jynx looked at Eevee and blushed and winked, sending pink hearts at Eevee who was hit head on but with no effect.
"What a pickle, Eevee's a girl!" Pryce smiled.
Eevee struck Jynx once again with Quick Attack, knocking Jynx down on its back to the ground, using the momentum Eevee was flung into the air.
"Now, Swift!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee swung her tail sending many lightning-fast stars at the weakened Jynx, hitting it head on.
"Jynx!" Pryce yelled. By the time the smoke cleared, it was clear to see Jynx had fainted.
"Jynx is unable to battle, Leader Morty, please bring out your third Pokémon!" Morgan announced.
"Return Jynx, you beat his Heracross and for that I thank you." Pryce commented.
"Good work Eevee, you're killing it!" Ethan told his Pokémon.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have underestimated your Eevee, as you said." Pryce admitted.
"I mean yeah, Eevee was really the perfect choice there, she's fast and agile, and with her being a normal type she was really not at risk unless Jynx had a fighting type move I didn't know about. And with Attract not working on her! The same would be with Bayleef but she'd be at risk of ice type moves." Ethan told his adversary.
"Hmm, I see." Pryce said pulling out a Pokéball. "This next Pokémon will be much stronger than the last, see for yourself!"
Pryce unleashed a weasel-like Pokémon with a pale, gray body. It had a bright red crown and collar made of wife feathers and a single, thinner feather on each ear. Its eyes were blood red, and it had a yellow oval marking the center of its forehead.
"That's... a funny looking Sneasel, or is it one?" Ethan said scanning it with his Pokédex.
"Weavile, the Sharp Claw Pokémon. It lives in snowy regions. It carves patterns in trees with its claws as a signal to others."
"I've never heard of this Pokémon, it's not common in Johto I'm guessing?" Ethan asked.
"Correct, this Pokémon here is the evolution of Sneasel, first uncovered in the Sinnoh region." Pryce declared. "So, will you keep using Eevee?"
Ethan turned to his Bayleef and then back to Eevee. "Eevee, you want to switch out or what?"
"Eevee!" She barked standing her ground.
"You heard the lady; we'll stay in this!" Ethan told Pryce.
"Very well, Fury Swipes!" Pryce commanded.
At swift speed Weavile sent rapid strike after strike towards Eevee, who began to dodge.
"Don't get hit Eevee!" Ethan yelled as she continued to dodge.
"Weavile!" It yelled, finally landing a strike on Eevee sending her flying back.
"Awe, you okay Eevee!?" Ethan asked as she fell to the ground.
"Ee-Eevee!" She said as she got up to her fours.
"Weavile, Ice Shard!" Pryce commanded.
Weavile listened and charged an Ice Shard, it was as big as a diamond before it was fired.
"Eevee, Dig!" Ethan yelled. Eevee listened and dug into the ground dodging the Ice Shard.
"Nice play, Weavile Agility!" Pryce ordered.
"Agility, that's not good!" Ethan said.
As Eevee broke out from the ground, she found herself surrounded by at least a dozen afterimages of the Weavile. Eevee looked around confused as to which was the real one.
"Now, reveal yourself and use Scratch!" Pryce said, all the Weavile's started coming for Eevee who had no clue which was the real one and she was struck with a quick Scratch attack.
"Eevee!" She screamed upon the blow.
"Eevee, maybe let's switch out!" Ethan suggested.
Eevee turned her head to Ethan and smiled, wanting to stay in battle.
How can we overcome this Weavile...? Ethan thought.
"Weavile, Ice Beam!" Pryce yelled. Weavile opened its mouth and shot out an Ice Beam at Eevee.
"Reflect!" Ethan yelled. Eevee raised the Reflect and it reversed the Ice Beam, freezing Weavile solid.
"Using Reflect on my Weavile for it to freeze him, you know your stuff truly!" Pryce remarked. "I haven't had a battle this entertaining in a while, boy."
"Heh, and it's only just getting started, Eevee, Swift now!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee shook her tail sending multiple stars at the frozen Weavile which broke the ice smashing into Weavile.
"Wea... vile..." The now thawed Weavile moaned in pain.
"You're doing great Eevee!" Ethan said to his Pokémon.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef agreed.
"Let's end this, use Quick Attack!" Ethan yelled.
Eevee sped for Weavile
"Hmph, yes, let's end this. Weavile, you know what to do!" Pryce yelled.
Eevee ran forth but passed through Weavile now knowing it was just an afterimage.
"It used Agility!?" Ethan reacted.
Weavile turned and caught Eevee by her tail, it was over.
"Now, end it with Fury Swipes!" Pryce commanded.
Weavile smiled and tossed Eevee into the air and as she fell to the ground Weavile striked her with a fierce Fury Swipes onslaught.
"Hang in there!" Ethan yelled.
However, it was too late. Weavile struck Eevee with one last Swipe and sent Eevee flying back to Eevee.
"Are you okay, Eevee?" Ethan asked.
Eevee began to get up on her fours but fell back down, defeated.
"Oh no, Eevee lost." Morgan said. "Oh, uh I mean- Eevee is unable to battle, Challenger Ethan, please bring out your next Pokémon!"
"Good job, Eevee." Ethan said as he returned her to her Pokéball. "It's always a pleasure to see you battle for me, so thanks a bunch."
"You've raised a fine Eevee, truly!" Pryce complimented. "But I think my Weavile was just a bit stronger."
"Weavile!" The Weavile shrieked.
Ethan turned to Bayleef, she nodded and leapt to the battlefield.
"Bay!" She exclaimed.
"Bayleef huh, unlike Dewgong my Weavile is not a water type, so Bayleef is at a total disadvantage." Pryce said.
"That may be true, but we won't let that get in our way, right Bayleef?" Ethan said.
"Bay Bay!" She barked as she formed a battle stance.
"Heh, this should be good." Pryce said. "Alright, Weavile, Scratch!"
Weavile ran fourth at Bayleef with one arm in the air preparing for the attack.
"Bayleef, Light Screen!" Ethan yelled.
She listened and brought up her shield which completely blocked the attack.
"Weavile!" It muttered.
"Now Bayleef, grab it with Vine Whip and put some distance between you two!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef dropped her shield before grabbing hold of the Weavile with her vines and raising it into the air.
"Now use Synthesis to heal up!" Ethan said.
Bayleef began to sparkle white as she replenished herself.
"Weavile, Fury Swipes!" Pryce ordered. Unfortunately for Bayleef she hadn't wrapped Weavile's arms, so it managed to use Fury Swipes to cut and free itself from the shards.
"Tough luck!" Ethan reacted.
"Now, Ice Shard!" Pryce yelled, Weavile listened and blasted Bayleef with an Ice Shard which smashed into a million pieces upon hitting her, interrupting the Synthesis.
"Bayleef!" She screamed upon the hit.
"Are you okay!?" Ethan asked as Bayleef struggled to get up.
Bayleef again formed a battle stance showing she could still battle.
"Weavile, Ice Beam!" Pryce yelled.
Weavile began to charge up an Ice Beam from its mouth at rapid speed.
"Bayleef! Vine Whip once more!" Ethan yelled.
"It won't work, Weavile dodge before it manages to do so!" Pryce commanded.
Before Weavile could move four of Bayleef's vines came from the ground grabbing Weavile by not only its body locking its arms but also by the neck which disrupted the Ice Beam.
"We-Weavile!" It choked.
"Weavile no!" Pryce yelled.
"I-if me and Ethan had that battle from yesterday, I'd have lost bad..." Morgan said under her breath.
"The earlier Vine Whip was really just a distraction for Bayleef to dig some more into the ground." Ethan explained.
"Resourceful, I like it!" Pryce commented.
"You've got that right, now Bayleef, drop Weavile to the ground." Ethan said.
Bayleef released Weavile finally, she had choked it to the point of near unconsciousness, and it could no longer battle.
"Weavile...! Weavile...!" It said gasping for air.
"Can you still battle Weavile!" Pryce asked his Pokémon.
Weavile's eyes closed as it fainted, cementing a loss.
"W-wow! Ethan's winning this!" Morgan said. "Alright, Leader Pryce, bring out your final Pokémon!"
"Return Weavile." Pryce said withdrawing his Pokémon. "Excellent job boy!"
"You're doing wonderful Bayleef, keep it up!" Ethan complimented his starter.
"Bay!" She nodded.
"Humph, this next Pokémon will be stronger than any of the Pokémon I used previously, watch out I should warn you." Pryce announced.
"Scary, but we still have a shot at winning this." Ethan said smiling.
"Alright, I choose you!" Pryce yelled releasing a Pokémon.
The Pokémon was quite large, looking to be at least 8 feet. It resembled a wooly mammoth crossed with a boar. The Pokémon's face had a blue mask-like pattern with a white rim around the face eyes, almost resembling ski goggles. It had brown fur appearing to be very thick and had to large twin tusks.
"A Piloswine! I've never seen one in person!" Ethan said intimidated by the Pokémon's appearance.
"Not a Piloswine, this Pokémon is its third stage, Mamoswine!" Pryce announced.
"Let me guess... also discovered in the Sinnoh region." Ethan said.
"You've got that right." Pryce told him.
"Ethan, I'll say this not as a referee but as a fellow Trainer. Mamoswine is my Uncle's strongest Pokémon, I've faced it many times and never put even a dent in it!" Morgan warned him.
"Let's see what the Pokédex says..." Ethan said pulling it out and scanning Mamoswine.
"Mamoswine, The Twin Tusk Pokémon. A frozen Mamoswine was dug from ice dating back ten thousand years. This Pokémon has been around a long, long, long time."
Mamoswine glared at Bayleef and let steam from its nostrils, which was enough to shake Bayleef up a bit.
"We'll start this time, Bayleef use Magical Leaf!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef swung her leaf, sending many leaves at the Mamoswine, it didn't appear to be fast, so how could it dodge Ethan thought.
"Mamoswine, overpower it with Blizzard!" Pryce commanded.
"Mamoswine!" It bellowed as it sent a storm of snow and hail at the Magical Lead which completely overpowered it.
"Oh no!" Ethan freaked.
The move was too fast, and it hit Bayleef head on despite seeming more like a close-range move. Bayleef screamed in pain.
"Bayleef no!" Ethan yelled.
Bayleef fell to the ground in defeat, the Super effective damage and the intensity of the move being too much for her.
"Bay... ay... leaf..." She muttered slowly lying on the floor nearly unconscious.
"Bayleef is unable to battle! Challenger Ethan, reveal your final Pokémon!" Morgan said.
"Three down, one more to go!" Pryce smiled.
"Bayleef, are you okay." Ethan said kneeling down next to his starter.
"Bay..." She said groaning in pain getting up slowly.
"You did great Bayleef, I'm really proud to be your Trainer. Now let's get you off the fighting ground." Ethan said as helped Bayleef up.
"So, any idea who your last Pokémon will be?" Pryce asked Ethan who stepped off the battlefield along with Bayleef.
"I need just a minute to think!" Ethan told Pryce.
Ugh, can't use Togetic... he'd be weak to the ice! And Ampharos is a no-no too, since if Mamoswine is anything like Piloswine it should also be a ground type. Ethan thought.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said asking Ethan who he'd use next.
"It's risky." Ethan said pulling out his Great Ball. "But it makes the most sense here to use it, after all it is a water type."
Ethan raised the Great Ball and threw it. "Go, Gyarados!"
"Wraahhh!" Gyarados shrieked upon being released, upon landing on the battlefield it completely shook it entirely. The ground below Gyarados even cracked a little giving way to the twenty feet tall beast.
"It's his Gyarados, but yesterday it refused to even follow a single order of his, what could have changed then?" Morgan wondered.
"Oh my! A Red Gyarados, in all my years I've never seen anything so remarkable!" Pryce said stunned.
"Y-yeah..." Ethan said already stressing out over having to use Gyarados. He was biting his finger excessively.
Mamoswine released even more steam from its nose preparing to do battle once more.
Gyarados took one glance at Mamoswine and then back to Ethan.
"Please hear me Gyarados, I know you can win this! Your water moves are going to Super effective, and even without it I know you're strong, so please just this once!" Ethan pleaded.
Gyarados scoffed and laid his head down to the ground trying to rest.
"Gyarados please!" Ethan said one more time.
"Having trouble with your Pokémon I see..." Pryce said rubbing his chin.
Ethan nodded and then returned his gaze to Gyarados, who continued ignoring him.
"I'll help you out, Mamoswine, use Rock Tomb on Gyarados!" Pryce commanded, surprising Ethan.
Mamoswine raised from the ground four sizable rocks and tossed them fiercely at the snoring Gyarados which woke it up as it screamed in pain.
"What are you doing!?" Ethan yelled.
"If your Pokémon won't battle by your order, then perhaps it will to defend itself." Pryce said, making Ethan relax a little.
Gyarados let out a shriek then charged in its mouth a Dragon Breath which it blasted at Mamoswine.
"Mamoswine, dodge!" Pryce yelled, and despite its large design Mamoswine was able to leap to its side, just barely quick enough to dodge the move.
"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump, it'll pack a hell of a punch!" Ethan yelled. Gyarados however paid Ethan no mind and used Dragon Dance, increasing its attack and speed.
"S-still not listening..." Ethan said sadly.
"Mamoswine, Ice Beam!" Pryce yelled.
"Mamooo... Swine!" It yelled as it fired at the powering up Gyarados with the Ice Beam which froze parts of it.
Gyarados let out an ear-splitting screech, causing Ethan to cover his ears. The ice couldn't hold it for long as another Dragon Dance completely shattered it to pieces.
Mamoswine responded by hitting Gyarados directly with a Sandstorm, inflicting Super effective damage.
"Aqua Tail, please!" Ethan begged his Pokémon.
Gyarados while getting hit with the storm turned to Ethan and roared at him in a thundering tone, causing Ethan and Bayleef to fall to the floor beneath them.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said yelling at Gyarados, who wasn't having any of it.
"Ethan..." Morgan said sadly.
"Mamoswine, let us end this!" Pryce said. "Once more, Rock Tomb!"
Mamoswine listened and blasted the Red Gyarados once more with the Rock Tomb smashing and hitting Gyarados not only in its body but also its head which caused Gyarados to fall to the ground, kicking up smoke beneath him.
"Gyarados!" Ethan panicked.
Gyarados laid on the ground defeated, unable to move a muscle.
"I-it's over..." Morgan said. "Gyarados is defeated, Gym leader Pryce is defeated!"
"Augh, Gyarados return!" Ethan yelled as he returned the Pokémon to its Great Ball.
"You've done well Ethan. If only Gyarados might have listened to you, after all Pokémon are always stronger when working together with their Trainer." Pryce said returning his triumphant Mamoswine.
"I-I should have seen this coming, as a Trainer I ought to have better judgement..." Ethan fret, he flipped his hat to he right side and hid his eyes.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said trying to explain to Ethan he did nothing wrong.
"Anyways... I'll be back soon I'm sure, see you two then, Pryce, Morgan." Ethan said.
"Goodbye, I wish I could give you the Glacier badge, but rules our rules." Pryce said.
"Yeah... See you again Ethan, and my uncle wasn't lying, out of all the people I've seen challenge my Uncle in the past five months, you've come the closest to defeating him." Morgan told Ethan as he made his way to the door.
"Bayleef, what're you doing?" Ethan asked to his starter as he held open the door. "Come on."
"Bay!" Bayleef said as she followed behind Ethan.
After the boy's humiliating loss, Ethan made his way back to the Lake of Rage right near Brandon's house, who appeared to not be home.
Ethan stood in front of the large lake just observing the deep blue water before grabbing his Great Ball once more.
"Bay?" Bayleef asked him, thinking she knew what he was about to do.
"Gyarados come on out!" Ethan said releasing the Pokémon into the water.
Gyarados released still heavily damaged from earlier. He took one look at where he was and was confused why he was back at the Lake of Rage.
Gyarados gave a short grunt asking what was going on.
"I've seen today that this just isn't going to work..." Ethan said sadly. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer, and you're a Pokémon who doesn't want to have a Trainer, and that's fine, I'm not going to try and force you to battle for me if you don't want to."
Gyarados nodded its head, surprised as to Ethan's resolve.
"So... go, be free Gyarados, and goodbye!" Ethan said tipping his hat before reversing it back.
Gyarados turned around to get out of there, before taking one last look at Ethan and Bayleef. He shook his head and continued to swim off.
"Bay?" Bayleef said in a questioning tone.
"It's for the best Bayleef. Trust me, I'll just have to catch a Pokémon that does like to battle, let's go." Ethan said with his hands in his pockets as he head off.
So that's this chapter... sucks for Ethan that he couldn't get his Glacier badge, but hey, what can you do? Also, it must suck to have such a strong Pokémon that won't listen to a word you say, Gyarados is strong, but it'll never reach its full potential this way, maybe it's best Ethan released it...