Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 77: The truth revealed
*Content Warning* This chapter deals with harsh subjects such as suicide and murder to a degree no other chapter does. I recommend those who are uncomfortable to those subjects to continue with caution or to skip this one.
Even though he was scolded by his father Allen to not go and search for the kidnapped Dragon Master Ethan just couldn't sit idly and stand for that. Being led outside the town of Blackthorn by his starter, Ethan encountered both Proton and his Nidoking, to which after a series of battles Ethan and his Pokémon defeated the two.
Now being cornered by not just Ethan but Gym leader Clair and Indigo league Champion Lance, the man in question Proton after realizing his partner Ariana had betrayed him grabbed her trying to stab her with his knife.
"Y-you bitch!" Proton screamed his eyes red with anger as he held his pocket knife over his fellow Team Rocket.
"He's going to kill her!?" Lance cried out in shock. Clair herself appeared to be not believing what she was seeing as well as she didn't even react.
"N-no!" Ethan screamed at the top of his lungs. Although he wouldn't admit it Ariana was probably the one and only Team Rocket member he didn't detest. After all she had saved his life back in Ecruteak and always seemed to have her morals, in her own way.
Ariana flinched her head back unable to look the crazed man in the eye. It was time for her to accept death... only, Proton hadn't stabbed her.
When she looked back to Proton she noticed his knife was an inch away to her torso. He struggled trying to move but was unable to as a pink aura restricted him from moving.
"The hell is this!?" Proton shrieked unable to stab her or even move.
Ethan dropped his head facing his psychic type. Espeon's red gem was glowing a crimson color as she had just in time used Psychic on Proton not allowing him to kill Ariana.
He kneeled down and pet the Sun Pokémon on her scalp. "You're a life saver girl, thank you for being so perfect!"
"Espeon!" She said cheerfully although not taking her eyes off Proton who she was glued too.
"Excellent timing Ethan, you really do think fast!" Lance said looking over to his young friend.
"Isn't that a fact." Clair agreed.
"It wasn't me." Ethan said. "It was all Espeon's doing!"
"S-shit, is it that damn Eevee thing!" Proton howled just barely able to turn his head to see Ethan's psychic type. "Release me this instant you stupid beast!"
The psychic type didn't take too kindly to the Team Rocket executive's insults. Not to mention how he tried to kill her Trainer earlier. Her eyes rolled back, her pupils unable to seen which surprised Ethan.
"Hold on, what's going on!?" Ethan questioned as Espeon almost looked out of conscious although still keeping Proton held firmly. Meganium, Togetic, Ampharos, Heracross, and Gyarados all looked puzzled as well to their teammates current state.
"Let me go right now!" Proton yelled before hearing an interference in his mind.
Silence, or do you wish for me to plunge this knife into your own neck! Said a fierce voice sounding to be female inside of Proton's mind which caused him endless confusion.
Proton despite his mind being invaded as soon as he realized what was happening began to laugh.
I don't give a shit who you think you are! Proton argued back in his mind. If you want to kill me then so be it, do it!
While in his mind Espeon felt something she hadn't felt since her attempt to do the same to Silver's Umbreon. It wasn't a lack of understanding, as she understood Proton quite well. He was evil to the bone, a feeling which gave her shudders to no end as she began to scream.
"ESPEE!" She cried out unable to keep her hold with Psychic as she pulled out of Proton's mind. Her Trainer went and instantly hugged her holding the Sun Pokémon in his arms.
"What's the matter Espeon!?" Ethan asked. As he held her she was shivering as well as exhaling loudly and fast at that. Not understanding it he simply continued hugged her and petting her.
Proton upon realizing he could move again took a second to move his hands before finally realizing that he could do what he set to do, which was finishing off his betrayer. The man looked up to Ariana who hadn't moved out of shock with a malicious grin.
"Just do it!" Ariana muttered to which Proton intended to.
"Now die!" Proton screamed once more going to impale the woman holding the knife over his body about to swing down.
"Somebody do something!" Ethan screamed.
Before the knife could make contact, a large orange blur came and crashed into Proton kicking up a large smoke cloud blinding Ethan and the rest from seeing what had happened.
"The hell?" Ethan questioned. Meganium besides him tensed up and so did the rest other than Espeon who was still shivering in her Trainer's arms. They had no idea if what had appeared was friend or foe.
However, once the smoke cleared, sitting on the crazed Team Rocket was a Dragonite. A old and wise looking Dragonite Ethan had recognized.
"That's-" Lance began.
"Great-grandfather's Dragonite!" Clair finished.
"W-what is this!?" Proton screamed almost having a temper tantrum. His knife he had dropped and all he had left in his arms was his golden revolver which he'd never let go off.
"Think you could get the jump on me so easily?" Said a voice everyone knew. From behind the old Dragonite was the Dragon Master, glaring down at Proton who had a defeated expression.
"W-what the hell are you, I had you trapped?" Proton muttered. He didn't even sound angry, just dumbstruck.
"Did you think kidnapping me in my sleep would give you control over me, I'm one hundred forty years old, it was only a matter of time before I escaped!" The man announced placing his cane atop the Team Rocket's head.
"You're safe now missy." The old blind man said facing Ariana who quickly ran over to Ethan's side. Lance and Clair were reluctant at first as she was still affiliated to the enemy, but it didn't seem like she could cause any harm at the moment.
"I'm so thankful you're alright, M-Master!" Lance said as he got down on one kneel bowing before his Great-grandfather.
"A-absolutely..." Clair agreed. Although not bowing down herself. She hadn't forgotten what the man had said to her prior.
"Get up boy, no need to bow at the moment! Not in front of the enemy!" The old blind man said again nudging Proton with his cane.
"L-let go of me right this moment!" Proton yelled still under the Dragonite to which the Dragon Master didn't care to listen to. "I came here to kill the boy so I could get revenge on Allen, I had no plan for this to happen!"
"Well in the end Allen won't even be there in your final moments before you get locked away, instead you were stopped almost single-handedly by his son!" Lance stated demeaning Proton as he placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"Thanks Lance." Ethan said looking over to the Champion.
"Single-handedly, don't forget I'm here!" The old Dragon Master claimed stroking his beard with his other hand. "Although I suppose Ethan did do pretty well..."
"Let, go of me!" Proton once again reiterated. He stopped talking and turned his head looking at everyone in front of him. Ethan, a strong battler who he just lost his best Pokémon to, Lance, the Champion of the Indigo league, Clair, the Dragon Tamer, the Dragon Master himself, the strongest in the world, and lastly who angered him the most, Ariana, who betrayed him in his mind.
"Let this be a reminder to you Proton." Ariana said. "When pure evil takes over, there will always be good that rises up."
"I'm pure evil?" Proton snickered. "Then what are you?"
The red head took a minute to think it through before finally speaking. "A lesser evil, and I'll face what's coming to me just the same as you."
Proton began to laugh even more. He had tears running through his eyes although he looked the least bit sad. Something that creeped everyone watching to no end.
With his other hand he pulled out something surprising everyone watching, a single bullet.
"Any of our Pokémon can deflect any of your bullets!" Lance yelled.
"Poor Proton, still fighting to the end..." Ariana sighed.
"It was always going to end like this, soon enough a group of cowards who spoke good and evil would come and do this..." Proton muttered placing a single bullet inside the chamber of his revolver.
"It's no use, give up." The Dragon Master scolded. "The only person you could kill with that gun is yourself, our Pokémon can protect us from any manmade weapon."
"But what I never expected..." Proton continued as he closed the chamber to his gun. "Was that in the end one of those fools would be my own comrade!"
"Wait a minute..." Ethan said gaining a realization as he released Espeon from his clutch. "Don't tell me..."
"I may have lost, but Team Rocket will not die with me!" Proton exclaimed with a vicious smile placing his revolver's barrel to his head. Everyone's eyes lit up with shock minus Ethan who had already gotten the idea that was what he was going to do.
"You can't be..." Lance said in awe.
"Don't tell me..." Clair cried out.
"Proton you fool!" Ariana said looking away.
All of Ethan's Pokémon dropped their battle stances as they realized it was the end. Their Trainer however rushed forth to Proton holding his arm out.
"Don't do it!" Ethan screamed dashing to his enemy.
"Team Rocket will live on!" Proton said with a terrifying grin, one Ethan surely would not forget for a long time to come. The crazed man flicked the hammer of the gun down and clicked on the trigger.
There was a loud bang. A noise Ethan would also never forget, but that paled in comparison to the sight of the boy seeing the man's brains being spilled. What horrified him most in the moment, the man's blood went and splashed against Ethan's face. It was very quick but felt like an eternity in the moment as he just witnessed a man lose his life before him.
Proton's lifeless body dropped to the ground causing the Master's Dragonite to get off him. Even it as hardened as it was felt uneasy and even a little scared by Proton's last action.
The young boy dropped to his knees, not in tears, he would never shed tears for one such as evil as Proton, it was more so in shock. Instantly, his six Pokémon went to his side.
"Amphar, Ampharos!" Ampharos said giving Ethan a hug to his side.
"Espe!" Espeon said leaping to Ethan's shoulder.
"He-Heracross..." Heracross said placing his hand to Ethan's other shoulder.
"To, Togetic!" Togetic said hugging Ethan to his side.
Gyarados, who was too big and also too limbless to join in hovered above Ethan making sure his Trainer was okay.
And finally, who walked up in front of him was Meganium. Using a single vine she wiped some of the splattered blood off Ethan's face. Although the boy tried not to, he began to cry.
"Megay!" She cried as she looked into her Trainer's eyes.
"Johto's finally safe from Proton's evils... I just, wish he got to pay for his crimes... He should have been punished... I wanted someone to punish him..." Ethan sniffled as he wiped his tears.
"Take solace that it's all over now, you did it Ethan, you beat him." Lance said walking over to the kid's side.
"I... I know." Ethan said standing up, still with blood on his face. His Pokémon all still standing by his side. Including Meganium who was directly next to him.
Then suddenly from the woods came the sound of footsteps being taken. Ethan realizing who it was, it was his father who was panting on his knees before looking up to his son, with spilled blood on his face and a corpse of his enemy next to him.
Allen had no words simply a shocked expression before he finally spoke. "D-don't tell me, you..." The boy's father couldn't even finish his sentence.
Ethan looked over to his father wiped the last of the blood off his face. "Looks like we've still got some more things to talk about..." He muttered.
"Dragonite... bury his body somewhere, somewhere far far, away from this city. I don't want him behind buried anywhere near my Great-granddaughter..." The Dragon Master said to his Dragonite.
"Drago!" The Dragonite agreed grabbing Proton and carrying his body over his shoulder before he leaped into the air flying elsewhere.
"And good work to you, Dragonite." Lance said as he returned his Dragonite to its Ultra Ball.
Allen finally walked up to Ethan placing his hands on his son's shoulders. "Did you, kill Proton?"
"It was self-inflicted, instead of allowing himself to be captured he instead choose suicide." Ethan said as he kneeled down grabbing Proton's revolver to show it to his father before handing it to him.
"I told you... it wasn't safe... you disobeyed me again..." Allen muttered to which made Ethan snigger.
"That what's important to you now?" Ethan responded back in a cold voice.
Finally, Lance went in between the two as Ethan walked back along with his Pokémon. "Allen, it's over now, Proton has been defeated once and for all, even if the means of which wasn't to our liking, don't blame Ethan, he's a hero."
"Yeah... a hero..." Allen said glaring to his son who glared to him back.
"Wait a minute, where'd she go?" The Dragon Master said as he walked around with his cane.
"Where did who go?" Ethan asked.
"The woman!?" He replied. "She's gone!?"
"What!?" Ethan said as he looked around. It was true, in the midst of their shock Ariana had escaped. She spoke of accepting what would happen to her for her past deeds, but she had fled from the scene.
"I don't think she'll be of much trouble to anyone from now on..." Lance expressed not seeming to care much. "She seemed to have a change of heart, but even so, the police will surely keep looking for her..."
"...Yeah." Ethan agreed although a bit reluctantly.
"Well, I'd say we get back." Clair said almost seeming to have fully recovered from the shock of seeing Proton die. "After everything I think I need a drink, you coming, cousin?"
"You know I don't drink Clair." Lance said following behind the Gym leader. "But someone's got to make sure you don't get to drunk."
"Don't forget me, I could use a drink!" The Dragon Master said quickly following behind his Grandchildren with his cane.
The only two people left were Ethan and his father. Or so the boy thought, but he was shocked as he looked around and realized his father had already left without a word to him.
"I guess things will never return to how they once were..." Ethan said as he turned back to face his Pokémon, but he was surprised to see how Espeon was facing the river. On the other side of which being Crystal's grave.
"What's wrong lady?" Ethan asked walking to her side along with Meganium and the rest. "It's finally over, what's the matter?"
"E-Espe..." She barely managed to say. She had seen something inside of Proton. Something she wished she could express to her Trainer.
"I-It's not that late, but..." Ethan said grabbing Espeon and holding her in his arms. "After everything that happened, I say we get some rest, you guys agree?"
"Meganium!" Meganium said quickly nodding her head.
"Amphar!" Ampharos said pulling his arms back as he nodded.
"Heracross!" Heracross said doing a backflip.
"Togetic!" Togetic cried out getting in Ethan's other arm.
"Grahh..." Gyarados muttered simply nodding.
"Alright, let's get the tent ready..." Ethan muttered setting Espeon and Togetic down.
….
"Ugh, morning already...?" Ethan yawned as he awoke to the sound of growling. He opened his eyes to hear the growl of his starter. Also, the shadowy figure of something he couldn't make out outside which alarmed him instantly.
"W-what's going on!?" Ethan cried as he gently set Espeon and Togetic aside so he could get out and check out who or what got Meganium in such an offensive state.
Ethan went out and instantly was taken aback by what he saw. It was Ariana, who was standing in front of Meganium placing her arms up. The grass type growled taking out her vines threatening to strike.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium barked.
"What's going on Meganium!?" Ethan yelled as he went to her side holding her before glaring at Ariana. "Why have you come? Even if you betrayed Proton that doesn't matter, you're still the enemy..."
"I assure you; I mean you no trouble..." Ariana said with a look of nothingness on her face. Her eyes were red, presumably with tears.
Next to them was Gyarados, Ampharos, and Heracross who were all sleeping. Deciding not to wake them the boy decided not to raise his voice.
"Alright, I'll hear you out." Ethan said. "I mean, you've helped me before... so, I'll give you your ten seconds in the sunlight before I call Lance..."
"Megay!" Meganium agreed.
"No need, I fully plan to turn myself in as soon as this is over you should trust." Ariana said.
"How do I know that, you bailed out on us yesterday?" Ethan asked.
"I already found Clair and told her the same thing I'm about to tell you earlier today, what I'm about to tell you is the truth." Ariana claimed. "And if you don't believe me on that, why would I show my face to you when I could have easily escaped the city yesterday."
"Okay, I already said I'd give you your time to explain yourself." Ethan declared. "Now talk, what *truth*"
"The truth of the tragedy of this city..." Ariana stated as monotone as possible. "The truth about Crystal..."
Ethan was shocked by what he heard. "H-how do you know that name!?" He said with his face contorting to anger.
"Come along..." Ariana said beginning to walk towards the river slowly. Ethan got up and gave chase behind her along with Meganium.
"Wait, what are you saying?" Ethan asked. "I don't get it, how could you even know Crystal?"
"Before I tell you about Crystal you must know about Proton..." Ariana said which puzzled Ethan. He noticed that directly on the opposite side of the river was Crystal's grave. Because of a mist it was hard to see, but still there.
"Talk to me, although what else is there to know about Proton, he was a stuck-up evil bastard." Ethan said making Ariana shake her head.
"There is much more to know, Proton first came here to Johto wanting to resurrect Team Rocket who had fallen back in Kanto by a Trainer called Red." Ariana stated. "Here in Johto, he was the first to revive our fallen organization. Even though our former leader, Giovanni has been in hiding ever since."
"Who is this, Giovanni, really...?" Ethan asked.
"A man who although was the leader of Team Rocket, he wasn't the same as Proton... although I didn't know him too well, even though he was my husband..." Ariana said filling shock in Ethan and Meganium.
"What, your husband!?" Ethan remarked. "You were married to Giovanni!?"
"Yes, although it didn't last long... soon after we had a kid he took my child from me, cut all contact with me even though I still worked under him..." Ariana said with a pained expression.
"I, would never say sorry to a Team Rocket member... but just this once I'll consider you more than that..." Ethan said looking Ariana in the eye. "I'm sorry, no mother should have their son taken from her, so... why'd you continue to work under the man?"
"Same as Proton did, blind loyalty to the organization." Ariana explained. "And I rallied with Proton when he spoke the same things Giovanni did, although he eventually twisted and changed."
"And what does this have to do with Kris?" Ethan asked.
"While Proton was trying to bring Team Rocket back to where we formally were, we started off small, stealing Pokémon, preaching our ways to others trying to gain more members. There was one girl, one powerful Trainer who stopped Proton every time." Ariana continued before Ethan got the realization.
"Kris..." Ethan spoke simply.
"Indeed, no matter what Proton tried she was always there to stop him. She was much like you, powerful, cared about others, loved her Pokémon. I see her in you, you're the spitting image of her." Ariana said with a half-smile. "But... one day, Proton grew tired of it, his plans being ruined constantly by a child... and one day he thought up a horrifying plan."
"W-what are you saying!?" Ethan asked getting a horrifying realization.
"Yes, it was when Crystal was alone at night without her Pokémon, in this very city to which he stalked her too. She had just gotten into a fight with her sister and stormed away in the night. I remember it minute to minute, I pleaded with Proton not to, but he felt different..." Ariana said wiping a tear with her finger. "When she wasn't aware he used his Nidoking cowardly having it strike her in the back of the neck only knocking her out, he wanted to make sure she still had her body intact..."
To Ethan, it was all beginning to make sense now. The Kimono girls had told him they believed Kris to have been murdered, but it still didn't hurt any less. Equally hurt on Meganium's face a tear fell from her eye.
"Using a Hypno he had stolen from another Trainer... Proton, he, commanded it to use the ability, Psychic, to hold her over a stool..." Ariana confessed. "And, I watched, watched as he tied the noose over her..."
Ethan fell to his knees, again looking afar as he viewed the grave from the other side of the river. Tears streaming from his eyes.
"Afterwards, Proton, used the very same Hypno to replicate Crystal's handwriting to a tea in her *forged last note* and, afterwards destroyed her Pokémon from within their Pokéballs and, used his Nidoking, to kill that very same Hypno, to hide all evidence..." Ariana continued trying to hold back her tears. "And I watched all of it... and now I understand there's no more running away, I have no redemption, I deserve to be punished for taking part in any of this..."
"So now I know the truth, I don't doubt you one bit..." Ethan said as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I-I, I had the feeling something was off about her suicide, but... I tried to deny it, I'm so, so sorry Kris..." Ethan cried gulping on his words. Meganium by his side used her vine wrapping around him giving him a hug.
"It still hurts, all these years later... but it felt fulfilling, finally coming out with the truth, like I said, I can never be forgiven, so my plan is to take myself to the local police and say I was the one who resurrected Team Rocket. I want the world to know Team Rocket is truly finished, once and for all..." Ariana said beginning to walk away. But she halted as Ethan took a step towards her.
"Wait." Ethan said gazing at her back. "You said you may never have redemption, that your evil... but you saved my life, more than once, and I can see even though no one else may, I forgive you..." Ethan said. This being the one thing the Team Rocket woman never expected to hear. Not having known forgiveness as she was hated by everyone, she turned to Ethan with tears streaming down her face.
"Thank you..." She cried with snot coming from her nose. "You don't know how much that means to me."
No longer able to face him Ariana ran away. And Ethan had no doubt she would do what she promised, take herself in... Ethan turned to his starter and have her a hug.
"I'm just glad we're alright. Glad you're alright..." He spoke gently petting her scalp as he hugged her.
"Megay!" Meganium said nuzzling her face to Ethan's.
The boy finally pulled back and looked his starter in the eye. "Alright, what do you say we go to the other side of the river, and say our condolences to Kris?"
"Megay!" Meganium agreed.
As he marched forth to the other side of the river he was filled with completeness. He finally knew the truth, and much like Ariana had felt a sense of fulfillment. On the other side, to no surprise, stood Clair. Standing before her sister's grave.
"A-are you alright?" Ethan asked going by Clair's side as he paid his respects to Crystal in front of the grave.
"I... I'm fine, after all these years of thinking it was suicide. It feels good to know the truth, but... it still hurts..." Clair admitted.
"I know, I know..." Ethan agreed.
"Me and Kris had a fight that day, it was her thirteenth birthday, she had beaten me wishing to get her eighth badge..." Clair spoke. "I... didn't want to, I didn't want my little sister to grow so fast, so I, denied her the badge... I never told anyone this, and sometimes I thought she killed herself, just to spite me... the last thing I did for her was place the Rising badge I denied to her in her carrying case, not that it mattered at that point but I felt I had to."
Ethan's eyes widened but her wasn't so surprised. She had done the same to him. He simply nodded his head.
"And... now I know the truth... but now I wonder, if I didn't make Kris mad that day, could things have been different... if I wasn't such a horrible sister..." Clair pondered.
"I-I don't know..." Ethan simply said not having an answer. He walked up to Crystal's grave and dropped a rose Meganium had handed him before standing back up. "But one thing I do know, you're not a horrible sister. You just wanted her to be with you, to not grow up so fast, and, that's something I know, very well..." Ethan said thinking of his father.
"What will you do now Ethan?" Clair finally asked turning to the boy beside her. "Now that you've gotten your eighth badge and have beaten the last of Team Rocket, what will you do?"
"Don't you already know?" The young trainer answered. "I'm heading back home today, Professor Elm's heading here in a helicopter to take me back to New Bark Town, from there I'll train, I should have about a month to this, Indigo league, then... if I'm lucky, Lance."
"I thought so... they'll be plenty of tough trainers competing, mainly from Kanto I believe..." Clair said placing her hand on one of Ethan's shoulders. "But, I should warn you right now, once I told you I hadn't been defeated by any Trainers in a long time, well, that was a lie."
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked puzzled.
"It was terrifying... there was a girl, she challenged me about two weeks ago. She used some rare Pokémon I hadn't seen before... and she slaughtered my whole team, with only that said Pokémon." Clair admitted with an almost scared guise.
"One Pokémon!?" Ethan exclaimed looking to his starter with daze.
"Megay!?" Meganium also with shock.
"This girl, was by any chance her name Lyra?" Ethan asked to which Clair shrugged.
"I don't know, all I remember was the shock and fear I had, if she won the tournament, then perhaps that cousin of mine would have his title in shambles..." Clair expressed as she began to walk off.
"Then it sounds like I have my work cut out for me..." Ethan said turning around to face Clair as she left.
"Goodbye Ethan. I'll see you at the Indigo league in a month, and, Kris... I'll be here everyday, everyday and I'll talk with you... so long..." Clair said as she took off.
Ethan turned back to Crystal's grave and bowed his head, but as he did he got a call on his Pokégear, it being from Professor Elm.
"Hello Professor." Ethan answered as he picked up the call.
"Hello hello, Ethan, I'm going to be here in an hour, we're going to Ecruteak!" He said over the phone.
"Hold on, Ecruteak?" Ethan said in confusion. "Explanation?"
"I'll tell you in the helicopter, just get here, kay, bye, see you then!" Elm said as he hanged up not really answering his protégé's question.
"Weird but alright..." Ethan said before he turned back to the grave, he felt something brush upon his leg and looked down to see Espeon.
"Espe..." She said softly looking to Crystal's grave.
"That's what you saw yesterday, what freaked you out so much?" Ethan said looking down to the psychic type. "When you used Psychic on Proton, you saw the past, didn't you?"
She simply looked up at Ethan and gave a whimper.
Ethan went down and reached for her placing her on his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to see that lady, and I had no idea, I'll never ask to much from you again alright?"
"Espeon!" She said nuzzling her cheek against Ethan's.
The boy couldn't laugh though as he normally would. As he stood at the grave of a girl he respected to no end. It was then though when he felt a breeze behind him causing him to shiver... and then, a voice.
"Thank you for your help, Ethan..." Said a voice the boy hadn't heard in a long while. Ethan turned around quickly not believing what he had heard. And indeed, it was her. The teal haired girl stood behind him looking him in the eyes with a warm smile. Meganium and Espeon hadn't believed what they were seeing, but Ethan could. It had happened before.
"What, what are you?" Ethan asked to the pretty girl who began to snicker.
"I already told you, I'm Crystal, but you can call me Kris." She replied.
It was then from behind the girl came a Pokémon Ethan had seen many times. The Legendary Suicune, who Crystal placed her hand on its scalp to which it took kindly too.
"I, I was right, you were the one Suicune chose!" Ethan exclaimed. "It was you, you're the Trainer who gained the trust of the Legendary Pokémon!"
"That's nothing compared to what you have done, Ethan." Kris said. "You've avenged every single loss soul like me who was, killed by, that monster... Ethan, there were others, and I was just one of them, you've done what I couldn't."
"It doesn't feel that way..." Ethan admitted. "I didn't want him to die, I wanted him to face his crimes, the right way, I feel like part of me failed..."
Suicune left from beside Kris and walked up to Ethan, inviting the boy to place his hand on itself. Ethan smiled and pet Ethan on its scalp, something he had never done before.
"Suicune would beg to differ, Ethan." Kris smiled. "I would beg to differ, you're amazing, you don't give yourself enough credit."
"Heh, is that so..." Ethan also smiling. "So, what have you been doing?"
"I've watched you closely Ethan. Watched as you made it up to Lyra, watched as you gained all eight badges..." Kris said which was of no surprise to Ethan. "And I also watched as you fought against Team Rocket, I placed my hopes inside you, and you succeeded. You're not a failure Ethan."
Ethan took his hand off Suicune who went back to Crystal's side. Meganium and Espeon, who felt the same feeling from Kris they had towards Ethan, jumped in her arms.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium laughed.
"Espe Espeon!" Espeon cried out happily.
"Awe, aren't you two just the most adorably thing!" Kris said hugging them to no end in both her arms petting them gently.
"I know, I love all my Pokémon." Ethan said to which Crystal of course understood.
"Believe me, I know, I've seen as you've collected all of them. The small Mareep you gave a home to, almost giving your life to a wild Ursaring in the process, the adorable Togepi you've raised from an egg as his mother, the Eevee you rescued from its abuser, the Heracross who another Trainer trusted to you, and that Gyarados of yours who through your kindness and purity you managed to befriend. And of course, theirs your Chikorita who's been with you from the beginning." Kris said letting go her hold on Meganium and Espeon as they went back to Ethan.
"I know, and I don't know what I'd do without them." Ethan said once more.
Kris smiled once more and giggled before walking up to Ethan and getting her face in close with his as she grabbed his two hands. "I know that; you're an amazing Trainer whose saved me, saved me and many others and given us peace, now I can finally move on..." Kris said beginning to cry. "Thank you, oh thank you."
"And thank you, for believing in me." Ethan replied still holding her hands with a tear in his eye.
Kris smiled even though she had tears running down her eyes. She pulled her face to Ethan's and placed a soft kiss on his forehead giving the boy a warm feeling.
"That's my last thank you." She said letting go of Ethan's hands and taking two steps back alongside her Suicune. "You've done so much, and I still believe in you, I believe you can win the Indigo league, win, win and defeat Lance, achieve the dream I wanted to achieve.
"I'll win the Indigo league!" Ethan promised giving a thumbs-up. "But I won't do it for me, I'll do it for us!"
Kris smiled and placed her hand over her heart before she began to slowly fade away into the sunrise with a gust of wind causing Ethan to look away. As she left he heard her voice one last time.
"Goodbye Ethan, and best wishes..." Were the last words he heard from the girl. The last words Ethan ever heard from Crystal. Meganium went to his side and Espeon jumped on his shoulder as Kris and Suicune were no longer able to be seen.
Goodbye Kris, goodbye... He thought.
And there we have it, Crystal's sendoff. This is the last time, in any of my fics, that I'll ever go this dark and I promise that. The subject of suicide was a theme constantly integrated in Pokémon Crimson Gold, and I understand how bleak it may seem. I've had to deal with thoughts of suicide so I tried to write it without it seeming like I glorified it. And if anyone has ever even thought about them taking their life from this in any way I am deeply sorry. I will never integrate suicide into a fanfic I make from this point on. That being said I still loved making this chapter, and, this is probably my favorite chapter as I have been planning for this ever since I wrote Kris into the story during chapter 26. Fun fact, originally, I planned for her being the Champion taking Lance's place after defeating him, and she would be Ethan's last hurdle, that changed at some point.