Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 54: Lost and Abandoned
A few days after Ethan and his now Espeon's triumph against the Pokémon's previous abuser, he continued along the way to Goldenrod from Mahogany.
"Let's see..." Ethan said checking the map on his Pokégear. "On foot from here to Goldenrod... we have about two days..."
"Bay..." Bayleef sighed as she could barely continuing walking. They were walking through a lengthy valley and tired out.
"I've got to sit down, mind if I take a little nap Bayleef?" Ethan asked sitting next to a rock.
"Bay!" She nodded.
"Thanks, come to think of it why don't we let the others have a bit of a breather." Ethan said taking out his Pokéballs. "Come on out, guys!"
Ethan released three of his Pokémon at once.
"Amphar!" Ampharos exclaimed.
"Espee!" The newly evolved Espeon purred.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross bellowed.
Ethan grabbed his two other Pokéballs, one containing Togetic and the other containing Gyarados.
"You two as well!" Ethan yelled as he released them.
Gyarados landed near the other three Pokémon already released, as he landed to the ground he caused the other four Pokémon to fall on their butts.
"Gya...Gyarados!" Gyarados apologized.
"Togetic!" Togetic laughed upon being released.
Heracross instantly turned his face away in anger upon seeing Togetic, on top of Togetic being a flying type which was his weakness he also found the egg Pokémon to be very annoying and felt he hogged Ethan too much.
Togetic instantly screamed gleefully and spun around Ethan before flying into his arms.
"Hey boy, you're getting so much bigger already!" Ethan said giving Togetic a pat on the head.
Togetic smiled lifting his head from Ethan's chest and flew back into the air.
"Alright guys, I'm going to take a break and rest for a minute, you guys enjoy yourselves." Ethan said stretching his arms.
All Ethan's Pokémon understood and he rested his head on the rock trying to get some sleep.
Espeon went up to Ampharos and nudged her head against him.
"Amphar?" Ampharos asked her what was wrong.
Espeon had a scared look on her face and pointed with her tail to Heracross, who was being raised in midair by Togetic's extrasensory.
"Hera Hera!" He yelled shaking screaming for Togetic to let him down.
Bayleef, Espeon, and Ampharos joined in trying to plead with Togetic to let Heracross go.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic laughed playfully, spinning Heracross one last time incredibly fast before dropping Heracross to the ground.
"Hera... Hera...cross!" Heracross moaned crashing to the ground, landing and squishing Ampharos in the process.
"Amphar!" Ampharos gasped startled, it was then when he unleashed a Discharge attack, using up all his electricity and zapping all the rest of the Pokémon including Gyarados.
"W-what was that!?" Ethan said as he awoke to the crackling of lightning, he saw all his Pokémon other than Togetic flat on their faces looking burnt.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic laughed.
Ethan got up and ran to his Pokémon to see what had happened.
"What happened you guys!?" He yelled, he turned to Ampharos who looked like he used up all his electricity.
Espeon got up and pointed with her tail at the laughing Togetic.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross yelled at Togetic as he got up on his knees.
Bayleef tried to urge him to control his anger since Togetic was just a kid, but Heracross wouldn't listen and continued to yell at the flying type.
Ethan finally caught on and put a stern look on his face.
"Togetic, did you provoke Heracross again!?" Ethan asked in a serious voice.
Togetic flew down to try and hug Ethan, but Ethan stopped him.
"This is no time for games Togetic!" Ethan yelled. "What you think is just playing around is hurting everyone around you! Maybe I've been too lenient on you but your behavior isn't right!"
Togetic dropped his smile and looked around to see Bayleef, Ampharos, Espeon, Heracross, and Gyarados all with looks of disapproval on their faces.
"To-Togetic!" Togetic said getting closer to Ethan trying to explain himself.
"No Togetic!" Ethan yelled. "I said this isn't time for games, you need to go and think about what you've done!"
Togetic pulled back, with a sad expression on his face. He flew down to the ground and said sorry to everyone he'd hurt.
"To... Togetic..." He apologized.
The rest of the Pokémon listened, but had no words for the Pokémon simply keeping silent.
Ethan sat back down continuing his rest with his head on the rock.
The rest of Ethan's Pokémon with their fun spoiled laid their heads down, all except for Bayleef.
Bayleef turned to the sad Togetic who sat on the grass with a sad pout. She walked up to the little guy with a smile.
"Bay!" She said trying to cheer up the egg Pokémon.
Togetic didn't respond.
"Bay!" She said sounding more cheerful nudging her head to Togetic.
Togetic didn't respond.
She bent her neck down and gave Togetic a lick on the cheek.
Togetic finally looked up at Bayleef with a sad face and a single tear he was trying to hide.
Bayleef felt sorry for the little guy. Who she once was jealous of she had now grown to like even knowing the mischief he caused, she at least always knew it was never intentional.
Bayleef with her vine picked up and placed Togetic near her and snuggled her head next to his wanting to cuddle with the Pokémon as they slept as Ethan always did to cheer him up.
"To... Togetic." Togetic sniffled while trying to thank Bayleef.
Bayleef smiled and with her leaf wiped the last of Togetic's tears off his face. Togetic returned her smile and placed his head and back to her head as they tried to get some shut eye.
….
"To! Togetic finally yawned and awoke still snuggling with Bayleef, he looked around to see every other Pokémon was still sleeping.
"To, Toge!" He said about to wake them, but then stopped himself upon realizing he may be disturbing them, not having forgotten what Ethan had told him earlier.
It was then when Togetic heard footsteps approaching from the trees. Togetic turned his face in that direction to see what was up.
Out came a surprise for the little guy, a small, light-yellow Pokémon with a round body encased in what appeared to be an eggshell. Togetic instantly recognized it to be his previous evolution.
"To... Togepi!" The Pokémon cried wandering by itself. It waddled with tears in its eyes.
"Togetic!" Togetic said quickly zipping over to the crying Pokémon.
The Togepi looked up at Togetic and dropped his tears, Togepi went and gave Togetic a hug, surprising Togetic.
"To... Togetic?" Togetic said after a lengthy hug from the Togepi.
Togepi explained to Togetic that he was lost and can't find his way back. Apparently looking for his family.
Togetic nodded and understood, grabbing Togepi gently with his Extrasensory he flew into the air with his little buddy in his protection in search of Togepi's home.
"Togepi!" Togepi let out an excited cry as he flew.
Togetic smiled at seeing the Pokémon cheer up and continued his search for the little guy's home.
After not so long Togetic passed by a red barn to which caught the little Togepi's attention.
"Togepi! Togepi!" The Togepi cried out confirming it was its home.
Togetic understood and flew down to the front gate of the barn gently releasing Togepi to the ground.
"Togepi! Togepi!" Togepi again thanked Togetic giving him a big hug, to which Togetic returned. It was then when an older gentleman approached upon seeing the Togepi.
"Oh my God! Togepi!" He said in awe.
"To... Togepi!" Togepi cried as it jumped into the man's arms.
"I thought I lost you Marie! We don't know what we'd do without you!" He said as he spun Togepi in the air.
"Togepi! Togepi!" Togepi laughed.
Togetic smiled watching as it was the same that Ethan once did back when he was a Togepi.
"Margaret! Marie's here, we found her!" The man yelled and with that a woman came looking relieved.
"Marie! Thank goodness your safe, we don't know what we'd do without you!" She said, before she could hug Togepi she noticed Togetic.
"That Togetic, that's not one of ours." She said turning to the man. He went and handed her Togepi.
"Hey there little guy, are you lost?" The man asked.
Togetic's face was filled with wonder but shook his head no, but before he could the man walked to him and kneeled.
"Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Kevin and that's my wife Margaret." He said petting Togetic on the head. "We raise Pokémon just like you, Togepi's and Togetic's. So, what do you say, would you like to come with us?"
Togetic took two steps back, unsure of what to do but that was when Kevin picked Togetic up and held him in his hands.
"I'm sorry little guy if you're scared. How about we get you inside and you meet the family." Kevin suggested.
"That's an excellent idea, please come with us Togetic, we'd like to show you around." Margaret said holding Togepi in her arms.
"Togepi!" Togepi said cheerfully wanted Togetic to go with.
"I'm sorry little Togetic, I know how hard it must be abandoned by your Trainer. So why don't we go and cheer you up?" Kevin said as he took Togetic with him inside the barn.
His words made Togetic ponder for a bit. He hadn't considered himself lost or abandoned as he thought Ethan who he viewed as his mama still loved him, but couldn't help but think back to what he had told him just earlier.
This is no time for games Togetic! What you think is just playing around is hurting everyone around you! Maybe I've been too lenient on you but your behavior isn't right!
He hated to think it, but maybe it was for the best.
Togetic was met with the faces of many other Pokémon just like him. Outside the backdoor of the barn was a herd of Togetic and Togepi, all looking at Togetic with smiles.
Kevin gently dropped Togetic and Margaret did the same with Togepi.
"You're here now Togetic, so how do you like it!?" Margaret asked to the Togetic who had a look of wonder and awe.
A bunch of Togepi's and Togetic's ran and huddled around Togetic, introducing themselves.
"To, Togepi!"
"Togetic!"
"Toge, Togepi!"
"Togetic Togetic!"
Togetic looked around, he turned to the Togepi called Marie who he had first saved.
Marie looked up and nodded his head at Togetic, telling the egg Pokémon this was his home now.
….
"Bayleef Bay!" Bayleef screamed at Ethan, waking her Trainer up.
"What! What's the matter Bayleef!?" He asked realizing something was wrong.
"Bay Bay!" Bayleef said jumping urgently. Ethan looked around at the rest of his Pokémon who were just now waking up to see Togetic was nowhere to be found.
"G-guys!? Did any of you see where Togetic went off to?" Ethan asked his Pokémon.
Ampharos, Espeon, and Gyarados all shook their heads no, not having seen where the flying type had went.
"And you Heracross?" Ethan asked turning to the bug type.
Heracross was shocked Togetic was gone, starting to think he had run away.
"Hold up, don't tell me Togetic ran away!" Ethan said smacking himself on the forehead. "I was too harsh on him, he's just a baby! What was I thinking!?"
"O-okay everyone, we have to find Togetic immediately!" Ethan explained. "H-he may have caused you guys some trouble, but he's still one of us!"
All Ethan's Pokémon agreed nodding their heads.
"Alright! Gyarados, can you look around with your height and search from atop the trees?" Ethan asked, Gyarados nodded and took a look.
"Alright, we'll search in groups! Bayleef and Ampharos, you two take the right, Heracross and Eevee, you two take the left." Ethan said.
They nodded their heads once again.
"I'll go by myself as well." Ethan said, surprising Bayleef.
"Bay Bay!" She said running up to Ethan.
"It's okay, I'll be fine without any Pokémon, nothing will happen! I need to search for Togetic myself, after all this is all my fault." Ethan explained, Bayleef didn't like it but she understood.
"Thanks girl, good luck." Ethan said petting her on the scalp. "Alright I'll be going north of here into the trees, let's all meet back here in an hour and we should have Togetic back by then... I hope."
Ethan ran through the trees Togetic had went through, anxious and stressed thinking of the worst.
….
Togetic sat by himself after Kevin and on the ground not interacting with any of the other Togepi's or Togetic's. He found just like him people he could call family but in the process was losing the family he once had.
Togetic thought about Ethan once more... but before he could get further lost in thought a Pokémon that was neither a Togepi nor another Togetic approached him.
It was white, avian Pokémon with an ovoid body. Its wings were broad and triangular and red and blue triangular markings were over its underside. It had three spikes on the back of its head and most importantly had a friendly face.
"Togekiss!" The Pokémon said revealing its name.
Togetic looked up in awe at the Pokémon, who smiled and nuzzled its head next to Togetic making him laugh.
Togekiss flew and spun around Togetic, getting another laugh out of him.
"Toge, Togekiss?" It said asking Togetic what was wrong, before Togetic could answer however he heard a voice calling to him.
"So a Togetic came here?" A voice said from afar. Togetic instantly recognized who it was, he turned to see Ethan who was walking over along with Kevin.
"One came along with Marie, one of our Togepi's." Kevin explained.
"Then Togetic's got to be one of them." Ethan said focusing his attention to the herd of Togetic's and Togepi's before him.
Seeing Ethan's face Togetic shed a tear knowing Ethan was still looking for him, but knowing it was for the best he hid.
"Togekiss?" Togekiss asked wondering what was wrong, but Togetic simply zoomed past it.
Togetic went to the back frantically knowing there was no way Ethan could recognize him among the dozens of other Togetic's. Ethan simply looked around frantically trying to search for the little guy.
"Togetic! Togetic!" Ethan called out; all the Pokémon looked up at him but none of them came to him.
"Togetic, it's me Ethan! Your Trainer, your mama!" Ethan called out. "Please come on out, we miss you!"
All the other Togetic and Togepi looked up at Ethan in awe but still no one came to him.
"I'm sorry kid." Kevin apologized to Ethan. "Even I sometimes have trouble in being able to tell which one is which, no one can."
Ethan ignored him and continued looking around, he finally put his face down and sighed.
"I... I made a mistake today Togetic, I lashed out on you and took things too far and said things I didn't mean... well, I promise it'll never happen again." Ethan said.
Togetic heard Ethan's words and wanted to go to him more than anything, but he felt paralyzed and wasn't willing to move despite it all.
"Togetic. To me you're irreplaceable, I with you since you were an egg and you've been with me since. I may not actually be your real mother... nor am I a woman in the first place." Ethan let out a mini laugh while wiping a tear from his eye. "But you really are my child, and I love you. So can you just turn around so I can say that to your face."
Togetic was surprised at Ethan's words, he turned looked around seeing if any other Togetic's had their backs turned to him, but no others did.
"Y-you know which Togetic is yours even among this large crowd!?" Kevin said in surprise.
"You, yeah you. I see you, you're in the back. You're over there, tenth row, fourty eighth from the left." Ethan said pointing. "I knew where you were the entire time."
Togetic turned around, all the other Togetic's and Togepi's moved aside leaving room for him to go and hug his Trainer. Togetic couldn't help but run streams down his face.
"Now come and give me a hug!" Ethan said raising his arms.
"Togetic!" Togetic cried as he rushed into Ethan's arms. Ethan hugged him back and spun around before raising him so he could look him in the eye.
"I'm sorry for neglecting you." Ethan apologized while starting to tear up. "You aren't a pain to everyone around you, you're precious to all of us!"
Togetic smiled and nuzzled his face against Ethan making Ethan chuckle.
"Co-congratulations kid." Kevin said patting Ethan on the shoulder.
"Thanks for taking care of Togetic. I really appreciate it." Ethan thanked the man.
"The pleasure's mine, really!" Kevin responded.
It was then when Heracross and Espeon came running through the door, relieved to see Togetic in Ethan's arms/
"Espeon...!" Espeon exclaimed.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross said nodding his head happy to see Togetic alright.
Togetic saw Heracross and immediately flew towards him letting go of Ethan.
"Where you going Togetic?" Ethan asked.
Togetic flew down to Heracross and went on the ground by him and Espeon.
"Togetic Togetic." He said apologizing.
Heracross smiled and gave Togetic a quick hug, patting Togetic on the back, Espeon smiled at seeing the two get along.
"Alright, everyone's friends now!" Ethan laughed.
"Togepi!" It said to Togetic who turned around. Marie had tears in her eyes knowing Togetic would be leaving now.
"Togetic!" Togetic said telling Marie it was time for him to go home. Togetic gave Togepi a hug, and she returned it.
"Awe, so cute!" Ethan said. "I remember when my Togetic was a Togepi."
"I... think my Marie's taken a liking to your Togetic." Kevin said to Ethan.
"Wha, really?" Ethan asked.
"It appears so, she's a girl, and your Togetic's a boy, what do you say we make a trade." Kevin suggested. "You see here in this barn we find and breed Togetic's and I think those two would make a nice pair. I'll pay you out of pocket fifty thousand Pokédollars right now if you agree!"
"I think we both know my answer." Ethan said, making Kevin laugh.
"I thought to. Can't blame a guy for trying." He replied.
Togetic finally released Marie from his arms and said his goodbyes.
"Togetic!" He said kindly.
"To... Togepi!" Togepi exclaimed, beginning to light up and glow.
Espeon and Heracross's faces lit up upon realizing what was about to happen.
"W-woah... your Togepi's evolving!" Ethan said.
"Wonderful!" Kevin said excitedly.
The light left Marie and she was now a Togetic same as Ethan's she looked at Togetic and spun around him making him laugh.
"Anyways, I think you should have this." Kevin said handing Ethan a stone, it had a shine that was almost irresistible.
"Isn't this an evolutionary stone!?" Ethan asked to which Kevin nodded.
"It is. Give it to your Togetic and it'll evolve to its final stage, Togekiss. Or not, it's your choice." Kevin said, Ethan glanced again at his Togetic who was saying goodbye to the newly evolved Marie.
"It's Togetic's choice. Not mine, but a choice for another day." Ethan said putting the stone away in his backpack.
"So long kid." Kevin told Ethan.
"Thanks again, bye." Ethan waved as he head to his Pokémon.
"Okay guys, we have to meet up with Bayleef and the rest. What do you say we leave Togetic?" Ethan asked.
Togetic smiled and flew into the air, leading the way back.
And that's this chapter! I think this chapter feels like something taken straight out of the Pokémon anime which how I get could feel like filler to most but I really wanted to take the opportunity to focus on Togetic's character cause I feel like I as the author have been neglecting the little guy ever since Ethan challenged Chuck all the way back in chapter thirty-two. So yeah... please leave reviews if you like, or not.