Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 68: Epitome of emptiness
The next day in the morning Ethan finally awoke from inside his tent. By his side sleeping next to him were both Espeon and Togetic, both in each of his arms. Ethan layed them down gently and sat up.
Ethan checked his Pokégear surprised to see he had woken up so late, it was already eleven am, he had overslept.
"Oh this is just great!" Ethan muttered quickly getting out of his tent. They had all slept outside of the city of Blackthorn as the young Trainer was still avoiding his father.
Instantly the eyes of his Pokémon sleeping from outside of the tent lit up, Meganium, Ampharos, Heracross and Gyarados all went and greeted their Trainer.
"Hey everyone, it's finally time we return to Blackthorn!" Ethan exclaimed. He turned around and took one last glance at the water stream before him. On the other side of the river was Crystal's grave, to which Ethan took off his cap and gave a brief moment of respect.
"I'll be back before I leave Kris, just you wait." Ethan promised putting his hat back on backwards.
"Megay, Megay!" Meganium said walking by Ethan's side. Ethan smiled and placed his hand on her scalp before turning to see his other Pokémon.
"Alright you guys, today's going to be the day where we face that Clair, the Dragon tamer!" Ethan declared. "She's strong, so we've got to give it everything we've got!"
"Hera!" Heracross screeched in excitement.
"Amphar!" Ampharos shouted giving a thumbs-up.
"Meganium Meganium!" Meganium barked.
Ethan smiled; he just knew today would be the day he got his final badge.
Later Ethan accompanied with Meganium made it back to Blackthorn City, Ethan walked into the place with a confident grin on his face.
As he walked through the street, he heard someone calling out to him, he turned to see Lenny, Lance's younger brother.
"Ethan! Ethan!" He said running to the Trainer's side. He immediately after began to pant heavily so he must have been running for a while without break Ethan realized.
"What's going on Lenny, everything alright?" Ethan asked.
"N-no, not quite!" Lenny said before looking to his left and right making sure no one was paying attention to the two of them. Meganium took notice and budged on Ethan's arm trying to tell him something must have been wrong.
"I know girl, I know." Ethan whispered to her before turning back to the kid in front of him. "Tell me what's going on, is it an emergency?"
"Oh well it's not good, I'm sure from when you met my cousin earlier you could tell she's, well... a hard-ass." Lenny said lowering his voice, so no one heard him curse.
"Your cousin, Clair..." Ethan replied as he got lost in thought.
….
"Oops!" Lenny said, holding flowers in his hands. He looked up to see Clair and the Dragon tamers eyes shot up with anger and she looked away from the boy.
"I-I brought you these flowers, please, take them..." Lenny said trying to hand them to Clair. "I-I'm sorry Clair, here, for her anniversary."
"And what interest do I have with those, deliver them to her yourself..." Clair said walking past the little boy marching off along with her Dragonair.
….
"Yeah, I think I got the impression of that..." Ethan said rubbing the back of his head. "So what happened with her."
"Nothing good..." Lenny continued on before reaching up to Ethan's ear. Ethan listened to the kid's whisper and his face was lit with shock from what he heard.
"Awe, are you serious!?" Ethan exclaimed really loud, getting plenty of shushes from the folks that were around them.
"S-sorry, sorry...!" Ethan laughed it off with an easy tone.
"Yes, it's serious, you've got to do something, please!" Lenny pleaded with the Trainer before him.
"I will, just, tell me this, is my father, the guy called Allen... here?" Ethan asked getting a head shake from Lenny.
"Not that I know of, think Lance mentioned he left Blackthorn temporarily trying to locate some Rocket hideout, or something." Lenny responded before turning around. "Now come on, follow me!"
"Sure, Meganium, let's go then!" Ethan said to his starter who happily agreed.
Lenny led Ethan and Meganium over to the Blackthorn Gym where Clair was standing on the rooftop of her gym with her cousin the champion behind her. The woman stood with her arms crossed and had an annoyed look on her face having to deal with Lance.
"Looks like they're in the middle of something!" Ethan commented while watching from below the ceiling of the gym the two bicker.
"Clair, please, surly you can think this through a little more!" Lance pleaded, grabbing his cousin by the shoulder earning her to snap at him.
"Shut up Lance, I already told you I made up my mind!" Clair barked at him shoving his hand off her.
"Y-you don't know what you're saying!" Lance argued but Clair didn't take a word of it. She instead hopped off the gym startling Ethan.
"Wha, what are you crazy!?" Ethan freaked, but to his surprise Clair landed on her feat without any issue. Lance then followed suit landing behind her.
"Clair, I beg of you, I understand if you've grown to despise being a Gym leader but the Indigo plateau have yet to select a worthy Trainer in your stead." Lance said. "Without you as the Gym leader then how else would remaining Trainer's from Johto be able to enter the Champion's league?"
The Champion's league...? Ethan thought with Lance's words grabbing his curiosity.
"I don't give two shits about any remaining Johto Trainers who have yet to collect their final badge." Clair snapped. "It's not like a single Trainer would be able to get a badge anyway, this entire year not a single challenger has beaten me."
"Hold on a second!" Ethan said raising his voice, Clair turned to him with an irritated look. "If it's a challenger you're looking for then I'm your guy, you can't retire because I haven't gotten an eighth badge yet!"
"You think I care if some pipsqueak from the boonies hasn't gotten an eighth badge!?" Clair yelled snapping at Ethan.
"What was that, the boonies?" Ethan replied. "You don't know anything about me, who are you to say that?"
"Meganium!" Meganium barked sharply.
"Oh please, you're Ethan from New Bark Town, and your father is that friend of my cousin, Allen, I know all about you." Clair said surprising Ethan.
"Clair, I beg of you, if Ethan here doesn't collect his final badge, then they'll be no chance of me facing him during the League, and that would be unfair to him as well as every other Trainer who has yet to challenge you."
"Does it even matter if he makes it to the Champion's League, Lance, even if he won the damn thing and got to battle you it's not like it'd make even the slightest difference!" Clair argued. "No Trainer in either Kanto or Johto could defeat you, well, except for, those two..."
"Wha, what is this Champion's league you guys keep talking about?" Ethan finally asked getting the attention of both cousins.
"Well, as I'm sure you know the usual requirement for facing off with the Champion is to conquer Victory Road and defeat the members of the Elite four." Lance explained. "But this year we'll be doing things differently, to build comradery between the two neighboring regions, we'll be having a shared tournament, the winner of which will take on the Champion without having to face the elite four."
"I, I see..." Ethan realized finally understanding. He looked over to Meganium wondering if she could handle such a thing in her current condition. She looked at Ethan and smiled ensuring she could.
"Hmm, Johto's been thriving off Kanto for years, the only reason the two regions share a league and a champion is because Johto's too poor and weak to have their own league." Clair scoffed pissing off Ethan.
"Clair!" Lance raised his voice. "How could you say such a thing, I already explained that it would be to lessen the tension between Kanto and Johto, how could you not see that?"
"Watch what you say, aren't you from Johto as well, how could you disrespect your own region like that?" Ethan argued.
"Hmph, I don't care about Johto, I don't have any ties with anything or anyone here, not a single person means anything to me, not Lance, and not my brat of a cousin over there." Clair stated.
Lenny shed a single tear before gaining a spark of anger. "How, how could you say that!? What's wrong with you, why do you close everyone off Clair, why can't things be like before!?"
"Just shut up. You're not worth my time. None of you are." Clair said squinting her eyes in a disrespectful manner.
"Don't talk about my brother, your cousin that way!" Lance yelled. "Remember who you are Clair, I understand the toll Kris took on you when she did what she did, believe me, I do. But you must remember you still have family left, please, you're not alone."
"That's where your wrong cousin, I have nothing." Lance declared. "You think I'm doing this because of Kris, well you're mistaken, I stopped considering her my sister the minute she did what she did, taking her life like that, what a coward, no sister of mine is that weak!"
Ethan couldn't take it anymore, before Lance or Lenny could say anything Ethan snapped. "You're right Clair, Kris sure as hell wasn't your sister cause no way someone as pure and kind as her could have a bitch of a sister like you-" Before he could finish Clair marched to him and raised one hand in the air, before Ethan could process it she slapped him across the face causing a stinging in his right cheek.
"A bitch, how dare you, you stupid brat!" Clair screamed grabbing Ethan by his shirt glaring into his eyes.
Meganium couldn't take it and pulled out her vines, threatening Clair to stand back but Clair didn't listen.
"Clair, calm yourself. Sure, Ethan maybe took things a bit too far but your behavior as of late has been unacceptable." Lance said, causing Clair to release him.
Ethan rubbed the large red marking on his cheek before locking eyes with the pissed off Dragon tamer who then gave a smug smile.
"You should just give up and go back to New Bark Town, I don't time to have to deal with a bastard like you, just go back and cry to your mommy." Clair laughed. "I mean it's not like you can cry to your father, from what I understand that deadbeat's too busy parading around with my cousin than spending any time with your mother or you, but who could possibly blame him when his son turned out to be such a brat!"
"Arghhh, just shut up!" Ethan yelled before pulling out a Pokéball. "Listen here, you are going to battle me, right here, right now, do you understand!?"
"You don't tell me what to do." Clair said shoving Ethan away, he turned around and glared at her as she took her leave.
"I don't care if it's for a badge!" Ethan yelled. "What you just said to me I won't stand for, we're going to have a one on one, right now!"
Clair turned around and gave a cocky smirk. "I said, you don't tell me what to do, but fine, looks like you really are insistent on getting on my bad side." She then pulled out her own Pokéball and dropped the smile on her face.
Lenny ran up to his brother's side on the field giving Ethan and his cousin some space, Lance was surprised she actually agreed to a battle.
"Cousin, if Ethan wins then you must agree to continue on as a Gym leader, at least until the Champion's league is held in a month from now." Lance stated.
"Fine fine, it's not like I'd lose to a little kid." Clair declared. "You hear that, it's on!"
"Meganium, Megay!" Meganium cried insisting she do battle, but Ethan thought differently as it seemed a bit too risky.
"I'm sorry girl, I promise maybe next time." Ethan said stroking her neck gently. "I know you want to defend me but it's not safe for you to battle yet, remember Kenneth?"
Meganium pouted and took a few steps back, but ultimately understanding her Trainer's decision.
"So, what will it be, hurry up and show your Pokémon so we can get this over with!" Clair yelled over to Ethan.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Ethan said before tossing his Pokéball. "Alright, Ampharos, I choose you!"
"Amphar, Amphar!" Ampharos exclaimed before sticking the landing, he stood tall and firm and surged with electricity as he was angered hearing the words Clair spoke about Ethan from inside his Pokéball.
"An electric type, a poor choice." Clair said throwing her Pokéball, out came her special Dragonair, which with its shiny coat had elegance to it.
"Do you not have experience battling with dragon types, they have special resistances to many types, including electric types." Clair claimed. "But in the face of the dragon type nothing else matters, although it's true the ice type may have an advantage over dragon's, in the end it is pointless, the only thing that can defeat a dragon type is another dragon."
"Dragonair..." Dragonair said in a soft and gentle voice, almost the opposite to its Trainer.
"I, I may not have any experience of battling dragon types, but I'm not losing here, and not to someone like you." Ethan declared.
"You really want to compete in the Champion's league that badly, don't you?" Clair asked to which received a head shake from Ethan.
"No, I'm prepared to not make it into the league, only the best of the best of Trainer's will be there, right?" Ethan replied. "Today I battle in the name of your sister's honor, I'm battling for Kris!"
"Hmph, I'm tired of hearing her name, just shut up and begin the battle so I can end it quickly..." Clair said to which Ethan agreed.
"Fine, Ampharos, Fire Punch!" Ethan yelled.
Ampharos listened and leaped into the air forming a fist full of flames, Clair showed no emotion to this.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing, Dragonair, Agility!" Lance ordered.
Dragonair split into what appeared to be ten after images of itself leaving the Light Pokémon confused and unsure of where to leave his attack.
"Now, Dragon Tail!" Clair yelled. Dragonair reappeared from the after images right behind of the startled Ampharos.
"Behind you, don't get hit!" Ethan screamed, Meganium also chimed in cheering her teammate on.
It was too late however as Ampharos was struck across its face with the Dragon Tail move, it was sent flying back but landed on its hands before flipping and ending up on its feet.
"Amphar!" Ampharos gave a reassured shout expressing he was fine.
Kenneth, who beat me, said he'd lost to Clair himself... Ethan recalled. No matter what happens, Ampharos is strong, he's going to win this no matter what.
"Dragonair, continue the punishment with Dragon Pulse!" Clair yelled. Dragonair listened and widened its mouth charging up an orb of pure energy.
"Ampharos, counter it with Iron Tail!" Ethan roared.
"So, it knows Iron Tail..." Clair remarked.
Ampharos lunged towards the dragon and using its tail blocked the Dragon Pulse, with steel resisting dragon it was expected to have easily overpowered the beam, but to Ethan's surprise the electric type was bounced back landing on its back.
"Ampharo!" Ampharos screamed.
"No way, Ampharos are you alright!?" Ethan gasped. To his pleasure Ampharos jumped again landing on its feet with a determined look.
"Ethan, Clair's Dragonair is strong, as a fellow dragon type user I can promise you straight offensive isn't a viable strategy, dragons already dominate in that field, you'll need to battle some other way." Lance warned Ethan who took note.
"C-can Ethan possibly win this?" Lenny asked his brother who was tapping his foot in anticipation.
"I hope." Lance simply replied.
"Megay, Meganium!" Meganium cheered Ampharos on.
"Ampharos, I know we can do this, remember you're not battling for my sake, we're battling in the name of Kris!" Ethan told his electric type.
"Didn't I tell you to stop mentioning her." Clair yelled now even more irritated. "Dragonair, Dragon Tail once more!"
"Dragonnn... air!" The dragon type screeched as it quickly slithered like a snake over to its opponent.
"Wrap and quick!" Clair demanded.
Before Ampharos could dodge its advance it was too late. Dragonair took hold of the electric type grabbing it by its tail sealing it from moving.
"Amphar!" Ampharos screeched as the Dragon Pokémon's clutch was tight. It could feel it being pressed from the inside.
"Now's the time for Dragon Pulse, and this time make sure to end it in one final blast!" Clair ordered.
Dragonair listened and from close blank charged a powerful looking Dragon Pulse. As the Dragonair's face was only a foot away from Ampharos's, the electric type knew it would be a devastating blow.
"Am, Ampharrr!" Ampharos squealed unable to lose the clutch from the Dragon type.
"Hang in there Ampharos, it isn't over till it's over!" Ethan cheered his Pokémon on. It was then when he was reminded of something.
….
The smoke cleared however, revealing the Steelix to be fine, sending chills down Ethan's spine.
"Fl-Flaaffy!" Flaaffy said alarmed.
"Now Steelix, Bind!" Jasmine said, confident in victory.
Steelix shook its head, finally free of confusion, using his long tail, he wrapped and grabbed the struggling Flaaffy, confining him from moving.
"Flaaffy no!" Ethan yelled.
"Steelix, squeeze and make sure to not hold back!" Jasmine commanded.
Steelix listened and increased the power of its hold on Flaaffy, making Flaaffy groan in pain.
"Flaaffy no!" Ethan said, not sure what to do.
Flaaffy continued to cry out, making Ethan fret even more.
….
That's it, it didn't work back then but it's a must now! Ethan realized further gaining a grasp of his resolve.
"Alright Ampharos, use Discharge, release everything you've got!" Ethan said with a confident smile.
"Wait, what, Discharge!?" Clair gasped.
Ampharos smirked which even caused the Dragonair to be filled with fear. His body was overtaken with blue electricity which engulfed the Dragon type. The intensity of the electricity was nothing to scoff at, it was large enough it could be seen from the clouds.
"So powerful!" Lenny said in awe.
Even my Dragonite would feel that... Lance thought with certainty.
With all his electricity having left him he was finally free of the Dragonair's hold. Ampharos leaped back with a grin.
"Amphar!" Ampharos exclaimed.
Dragonair was heavily damaged despite its resistance. It panted quite heavily with steaming bruises all over its body.
"No, it isn't over yet, you can take it, surly you can Dragonair!" Clair yelled at her half passed out Pokémon on.
"You have no more electricity left which is fine, continue with Fire Punch!" Ethan yelled.
Ampharos quickly sped across the battlefield punching the Shiny across its face causing the weakened Pokémon to spit up a drop of blood.
"Now Iron Tail!" Ethan yelled.
"No, this can't be!" Clair uttered.
Ampharos jumped into the air with his tail glowing a bright white, it spun with its tail gaining the property of steel once more.
"D-dodge it, you have to!" Clair yelled, but before Dragonair could move it was halted by a stray bolt of electricity.
"No, that electric type's static landed!" Clair realized almost pulling her hair out.
Ampharos struck its Iron Tail into the neck of the paralyzed dragon type shattering its chance of victory as it fell to the ground in defeat. The power of the Iron Tail and Dragonair landing to the ground kicked up a smoke cloud.
"Dragonair!" Clair cried as she ran over to her fallen dragon type. She entered the smoke and as it cleared Ethan quickly took notice of how her Dragonair was knocked out cold.
"Dra... dragonair..." It muttered unconsciously while it laid in its Trainer's arms.
"Ethan actually managed to win!" Lenny said surprised as he had underestimated the Trainer.
"Ampharos!" Ampharos happily cried out running over to his Trainer.
"Good job boy, you did it, I knew you could!" Ethan smiled as he went to pet his electric type behind his ears but pulled back at a slight shock of static.
"Ouch!" Ethan muttered.
Ampharos took notice and chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Amphar!" Ampharos laughed.
Meganium walked up to her teammate and using her antennae she high fived with Ampharos celebrating his victory.
"Ugh, Dragonair return, you did good girl." Clair said as she returned her fainted Pokémon to its Pokéball.
"You happy you won!?" Clair yelled looking back at her triumphant opponent who dropped the smile on his face.
"No, not at all." Ethan said. "That battle wasn't for me, like I already told you, it was for Kris."
"And didn't I already tell you twice now to stop speaking of her, why does she matter to you so much anyways?" Clair questioned getting up from her knees. "Did you, did you have a crush on her or something, surly you have a soft spot for her?"
"What does it matter to you, you said you disowned her as a sister the minute she did what she did, isn't that right?" Ethan barked back.
"Megayy!" Meganium agreed.
"Ampharo!" Ampharos also said.
"Cousin, now that Ethan's won this, that means that until the next month once the Champion's league is held, you will continue your role as Gym leader, leaving us time to decide on a replacement." Lance asserted. "And, not only that, since Ethan won, hand him the Rising Badge."
"Hmph, don't get carried away cousin." Clair snarled. "A badge can only be given when the Challenger and Gym leader have faced with the judgement of an official, last I checked there was no referee here..."
"Are you saying the judgement of the Champion of both Kanto and Johto isn't official enough for you!" Lance yelled now enraged from the bottom of his being, but Ethan held his arm out and interrupted him.
"It's fine Lance, that wasn't a battle for a badge, that was just to prove a point." Ethan claimed. "We can battle again tomorrow, and I'll earn the badge in a full-on battle, that sound alright to you, Clair?"
"Hmm... fine." Clair said turning her back on Ethan. "I'll- I'll leave now, I'm heading to the Pokémon Center."
And with that Clair went on and left. Ethan was filled with anger just by looking at her.
"I get she must still be hurt inside by what happened to her sister, but that just isn't right, ignoring what Kris meant to her and shunning away her family, awful just awful..." Ethan said with a disgusted look on his face.
"I know, I know, but please don't speak of our cousin that way, she may be lost right now, but she's still family." Lenny said making Ethan apologize.
"S-sorry, but it's just..." Ethan began.
"What does Kris mean to you anyway, like I've said no way you could have known her, you lived in New Bark Town all your life and Kris never went there as far as I know." Lance asked.
"I just can't stand to hear her talk that away about a fellow Trainer, especially one who's said to be as amazing as Kris." Ethan said, only giving the half-truth.
"She, she wasn't always like that. Her and Kris were incredibly close, she loved Kris endlessly, as you can see, clearly what happened to Kris hit her hard." Lenny explained.
"Absolutely, to shield herself from further pain she's emptied herself of all ties and is now has nothing, she is truly an epitome of emptiness." Lance said. "Believe me Ethan, despite her insults, she still loves Kris, this is just her form of grief..."
An epitome of emptiness huh... Ethan thought.
"Well, I'll prove to her the errors of her ways!" Ethan promised. He raised one arm towards the sun in the blue sky before clenching his fist.
"Tomorrow Clair, tomorrow, I'm winning that badge, just you wait!" Ethan announced.
Yup, and that's the chapter, I had a lot of time to write it as I wasn't sure exactly how to express it, but I think I've nailed it down perfectly, the next chapter Ethan will have an official battle with Clair, can he possibly pull a victory. Also, side note, did you guys see the Nintendo Switch Oled trailer, I don't really care about the switch itself, although I acknowledge it's certainly a looker, after all that white is irresistible, but what I'm really talking about is the short snippet we saw of BDSP! I was disappointed with the graphics from the first trailer as I'm sure many others were but from what we saw with Lucas and that Buizel it looked much better! Thankfully, I was really worried for a second there. I don't have a switch unfortunately since it's too expensive, but hopefully I can rack up a few dollars from the piggy bank so I can buy one of the remakes along with a switch, or not I guess... I haven't actually beaten a gen 4 game other than HeartGold, so now may be a good time to play Platinum to completion since I've never actually beaten it, I've only played Diamond up until Volkner you see, which was a bad choice since everyone agrees Platinum's the superior version, so yeah, that's all folks.