Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 81: Under the Indigo Sun
Venturing into a land unknown to him, he was finally here. The S.S. Aqua had finally made it to its destination right outside of Viridian as it docked near a port.
Many others also got off the dock alongside Ethan who was hanging back to the exit door taking in the view of the Kanto hills from afar alongside his Pokémon. That of course being his Meganium, Ampharos, Togetic, Espeon, and Heracross.
Standing atop the draw bridge he stopped and took a deep breath. These next steps he took would be his first into a brand-new world.
"So, this is the Kanto region huh, it feels so weird." Ethan said to his Pokémon. "It kinds of reminds me of back home, what do you guys think?"
"Megay Megay!" Meganium agreed as she always did.
"Amphar, Amphar!" Ampharos of course wagging his tail.
"Toge, Togetic!" Togetic said as he got off the floor and hovered right above Ethan and the rest.
"Espe!" She cried leaping on Ethan's shoulder.
"Hera Hera!" Heracross giving a thumbs-up.
Ethan then closed his eyes once more taking another breath. It was time, a time as well as any, and he was glad he was out with his Pokémon for this.
"Well, let's all do it together, our first steps together into Kanto." The boy said as he took his first step down the drawbridge. Or rather, their first step, as they all traveled down together making it to the shore down below.
"Thank you for riding with the S.S. Aqua, your time and patience is appreciated." Said the sailor down below as he welcomed Ethan.
"And thank you." Ethan smiled as he reached his backpack pulling out something.
"What are you?" The sailor asked as Ethan handed him a fold of cash.
"Take it, please, I really appreciated all the assistance I got during the trip here." Ethan smiled as the man accepted his money.
"I wish you the best in the Indigo league." He smiled as Ethan and his Pokémon passed him.
Ethan looked around wide the beach. Today was the date for the Indigo league to begin, but he had no clue where it was. He looked around for about five minutes trying to ask just about anyone where he could find the league, until he stumbled upon one person.
"Oops." Ethan apologized as he bumped into a boy. A boy looking to be a few years older than him. The guy instantly gave Ethan a mean-looking snarl, he had dirty blond hair, wore a black leather jacket along with denim jeans and wore wristbands.
"Watch where you're going!" He yelled causing Ethan to take a step back.
"Whoops, sorry there!" Ethan apologized rubbing the back of his neck. Meganium besides Ethan got an uneasy feeling from the guy but Ethan ignored the feeling.
"You better be..." He snarled walking back before Ethan patted him on the shoulder.
"Hold on, excuse me, could you help me out here?" The young Trainer asked earning once again a mean glare from the jerk.
"What do you want!?" He spoke up.
"Woah, sorry but I was just wondering could you tell me the directions to the Indigo plateau, it should be around here, right?" Ethan asked. "You see, I'm from Johto."
"You're from Johto, a Johto tourist huh, you should have stayed back in your lousy region, we have enough damn filthy Rattata around here!" The guy scoffed as he began to walk off.
"Hmm, guess Kenneth wasn't kidding when he said Kanto Trainers hate Johto..." Ethan sighed as he looked towards his Pokémon, all five of them. They were angry and looked about ready to snap at the guy before Ethan stopped and headed off towards the shore to which they followed.
"Gyarados! Gyarados!" Ethan called out with his Great Ball in hand trying to find his water type as he stood near the water.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium called out searching for Gyarados in front of the shore alongside her Trainer. They were finally about to start worrying when out from the water came that familiar shiny Pokémon came from under the water startling Ethan as a splash of water hit him and his Pokémon. The crowds of people on the beach going crazy at the sight
"Woah, a red Gyarados!?"
"Is that even possible!?"
"This kid must be amazing!?"
"Unreal!?"
After returning Gyarados to his Great Ball the boy turned smiling and waving at the crowd as it got quieter and died down. But there was one last person standing there, it was Kenneth himself and he was no longer accompanied by his Venusaur.
"Ethan!?" He said sounding alarmed. "Still showing off your Pokémon I see!?"
"Hehe, not really showing off." Ethan smiled not trying to give off the wrong idea.
"Well, since it's your first time in the Kanto region, I'm betting you're quite not sure where the Indigo Plateau is at. How bout I show you." Kenneth suggested.
"Alright, sounds like a plan." The Johto boy smiled as Kenneth turned around and led the way.
Indigo Plateau, here I come... Ethan thought with a glint in his eye as he followed.
It wasn't a very long walk before Ethan and Kenneth finally made their way towards the Indigo Plateau which just seeing it filled the boy in awe. It was large, in the shape of a huge colosseum and although they couldn't see it from outside, there was many stands of stairs inside. There was at least two hundred people there, making it impossible to tell just who was competing.
"We're here." Kenneth said turning to Ethan with a smirk. "So, what do you think?"
"What do I think!?" Ethan exclaimed starstruck. "It's so cool looking, and not just that, but this is where my destiny will be decided!"
"Megay Megay!" Meganium agreed.
"Amphar!"
"Togetic!"
"Espe!"
"Hera Heracross!"
"Hehe, well I'm glad you feel that way!" Kenneth smiled. "So, you'd better go and show off your badges to one of the people up front, I already did earlier."
"Sure, no problem!" Ethan smiled as he walked along with his Pokémon. The crowd was huge and he finally made his way up the stairs to the front committee who were seated right before the colosseum.
From the left to right were seated three people, the one on the leftmost seat was a bearded man with a belly. He had a grumpy look to his face and a mean snarl when Ethan approached him. He wore a black suit with an apricot tie as well as stainless dress pants and had a pencil in his ear.
To the right of the man was a woman with an irritated face. She was a lithe and curvy woman whose hair had two pigtail and a ponytail as well as being a crimson red color. She wore a pair of glasses and had beautiful hazel-colored eyes making Ethan wonder if they were contacts. She wore a black sleeveless shirt, a purple pencil skirt, black high heels and a golden bracelet around her arm. She was holding a clipboard.
To her right was a man to whom Ethan recognized giving him a bright smile.
"Professor Oak!" Ethan said excitedly. "It's great to see you again!"
"And you my boy, as I thought, you've made it, congratulations!" Oak saluted with a wave. As he spoke his kind words. "And my oh my, you've evolved that Chikorita of yours fully huh, even better!"
"Megay!" Meganium agreed.
"Professor Oak, with all due respect, can we carry on here!" The older man to the most left said with a moody voice as he turned to the Professor.
"That's right, there's a line behind him remember, other people want to watch the league you know!" The woman spoke up making Oak chuckle.
"Now, now, Lorelei, Mr. James..." Oak said before going blank in the face. "...Uh, apologies, carry on..."
"Yeesh, alright." The woman apparently named Lorelei sighed.
"Wait, Lorelei!?" Ethan spoke up gaining a realization. "Where do I know that name!?"
"I don't know, the Elite four probably." She winced as she changed the subject. "Anyways, I'm guessing by those eight badges of yours you're here to compete?"
"Absolutely." Ethan replied leaning his hand on the table which made the man to the left, Mr. James mad.
"Hands off kid!" He yelled as Ethan retreated his arms.
What's with him...? Ethan wondered.
"So, name and where are you from?" Lorelai asked. "Tell us."
"Oh, names Ethan, I come from New Bark Town, Johto." Ethan answered.
"Pfft, Johto..." James snarled getting an elbow from Lorelai who gave him a mean glare before turning back to Ethan.
"Well, good luck." She said as she handed Ethan a card with a number. "But one thing, walking around with your Pokémon out of there Pokéballs..."
"There's a problem with that?" Ethan asked.
"Do it at your own risk." She scoffed before looking behind the boy. "Next!"
As Ethan walked off along with his Pokémon Oak turned to him one last time and gave the boy a thumbs-up.
"Haha, thanks." Ethan smiled returning it. He turned back and entered the doors of the Indigo Plateau, for the first time with his Pokémon standing side by side with him. On the inside, the stages were quite empty meaning he was early, but that hadn't even come to mind. Immediately striking him were a crowd of ten Trainers all giving him stank faces, some even with smirks on their faces.
"H-hey!?" Ethan said feeling the uncomfortable tension in the room. "What's the matter with you guys?"
"It's you again, Johto boy." said a voice in the back. Ethan took notice and saw the same boy who he asked directions from earlier.
"Y-you're also competing in the Indigo league!?" Ethan in awe.
"You bet your ass I am! And just so you know, the name Is Grayson." The guy said taking out his carrying case revealing eight Kanto badges. "And I would never have thought that some Johto rat like you would make it into the league."
As he said that however someone came from behind Ethan as he heard the chime of the door opening. His arm was grabbed as he was pulled out of the door and so his Pokémon followed.
"Are you crazy, what are you doing Ethan?" A familiar voice said which Ethan once again recognized. He turned around to see his rival, Lyra who was angry with her hands placed on her hips standing on the top of the stairway.
"Woah, it's you Lyra!" Ethan exclaimed at seeing his best friend and rival but she didn't return the favor.
"What are you doing, walking around the place with your Pokémon out!" She yelled pointing at Meganium and the rest. "You want those jerks to know who you're using!?"
"W-who I'm using!?" Ethan said not once having considered it.
"Yeah, you're purposely giving yourself an unfair disadvantage, Pokémon battles like these thrive off of knowledge after all, and you're just showing off to everyone!" Lyra still raising her voice. Ethan smiled at that and let out a little chuckle.
"I'm proud of my Pokémon, I'm not just going to hide them just cause some Trainer's might get the upper hand against me." Ethan said as he clenched his fist. "Isn't that right guys."
All of Ethan's Pokémon nodded their heads, Lyra then sighed before smiling.
"Alright, then I guess I was right, you are crazy Ethan." She spoke. "But enough about that, it's great to see you again. I doubt I need to ask if you've gotten stronger, right?"
"Who knows." Ethan said with a shrug as he took a step down on the stairs and sat down. Lyra followed and sat right next to him.
"You don't need to tell me if you've gotten any stronger, because I just know you have." Lyra told Ethan. "I mean, you've had to, otherwise you'd have no chance of beating me."
"Isn't that a fact, but don't think just cause last time you've got a chance in defeating me." Ethan laughed. But that was just his confident front. Truth was he lost to her badly the last time they battled. He'd need to have prepared far and wide for battle with her. Plus there was no telling how much stronger she got as well. But the boy tried to ignore that, after all, the league hadn't started yet.
"Sure Ethan." Lyra replied. They sat next to each other along with Ethan's other five Pokémon before from the bottom of the stairs, Ethan and Lyra both noticed a young boy glaring up at them.
A boy Ethan knew all too well; walking up the stairs was Silver. Accompanied by both his Typhlosion and Umbreon who walked side by side with him.
"It's, that boy from Ecruteak!?" Lyra said beginning to feel the tension between the two.
"It's Silver I'll have you know." Silver said as soon as he was face to face with his rival who stood up, but to Ethan's surprise Silver was more concerned with Lyra than him.
"Lyra, and you brought us a lot of trouble way back when." The girl said with a hint of discern in her voice. "So, you're competing in the Indigo league as well?"
"That's right." Silver replied. "When I first saw you back in that tower, I thought you were no more than an afterthought, I didn't think you were to be taken seriously as a battler."
"Awe, that's so sweet." Lyra responded sarcastically. "Same goes for you, honey."
"Relax, will you, because I'll admit this now, I was wrong." Silver confessed. "I was there back when you two battled in New Bark Town recently, and I was shocked to see your power, I thought Ethan was my main concern for victory, but it looks like I was wrong."
"Well, you shouldn't let on battle be the judge of that." Ethan smirked. As he said that Typhlosion took notice of Meganium and revealed an intrigued grin. After all it had no idea the grass type evolved.
"Typhlo, Typhlo!" Typhlosion roared.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium with determination in her eyes.
Not just them but Umbreon glared down Espeon as well. Espeon was terrified of Umbreon the last time they battled upon the Eevee's evolution but now she had no fear. She returned the Dark Type's glare with no intention of giving in to the intimidation factor.
"You shouldn't worry too much about me." Lyra smiled. "It's not a given we're even going to battle is it now, but I'm telling you right now, don't count Ethan out, cause if you do, I'm sure you'll be in for a surprise."
"Of course, how could I count Ethan out." Silver said before turning to Ethan. "Hey, if we battle, you'd better give it you're a game."
"Absolutely, and you'd better do the same." Ethan replied happily.
"So long." Silver said as he turned his back on Ethan placing his hands in his pockets. Umbreon and Typhlosion followed behind their Trainer's taking one more glance at their rivals.
"Meganium, Espeon?" Ethan said taking notice of the two's sudden formed battle stances. "What's wrong you two?"
"Espe..." Espeon purred sitting back more relaxed on the seat next to Heracross and Togetic.
"Meganiuh, Meganium." Meganium said sitting back down next to Ethan to his right.
"Haha, guess they're worked up seeing Typhlosion and Umbreon, I mean, two starters, and two evolutions of Eevee." Lyra answered.
"That's right, and we aren't going to lose to them, are we know!?" Ethan asked to his Pokémon.
"Espe!"
"Megay!"
"Hera Hera!"
"Togetic!"
"Ampharo!"
"I'll take that as a yes!" Ethan sat back and smiled.
"So, league starts tomorrow..." Lyra said as she got up from the stairs putting on her backpack.
"You leaving already!?" The boy asked looking up to her.
"Course, I want to get as much training as possible before it begins, but I doubt I'll be needing to so much." Lyra said with confidence before she took a few steps down the building. Before she could go out of sight she stopped and turned to her rival once more.
"And Ethan, one last thing." She simply said.
"I'm listening!" Ethan replied.
"Don't lose to that Silver jerk." Lyra said with a wave. "Cause I'm the only one who can beat you!"
"Haha." Ethan smiled. "Sure, and I want to battle you myself as well!"
"It's a must." Lyra smiled before going down the stairs leaving the plateau. Ethan dropped his smile and got up himself.
"Alright guys, guess we should try and get a place to stay at while we're here." Ethan said as his Pokémon all agreed.
The Indigo league wouldn't be officially starting until tomorrow and do now was just the time to show off your eight badges and earn passage. Although he wanted to stay at a motel preferably, there wasn't one in a mile radius from the league. So instead at nighttime the boy found the nearest Pokémon Center he could and slept on the bench right outside of it.
….
Tyranitar went in for another Shadow Claw this time one with even more power. He raised his arm preparing to strike Meganium down before she just barely moving her head got out of its range. There was no attack she could do at this moment. All she could do was bite Tyranitar, bite its hand which did nearly nothing to it.
Tyranitar proceeded to beat Meganium over her head with punches, not even Shadow Claw, just punches. He beat her repeatedly with his other arm. But Meganium didn't give up her bite which only pissed off the Armor Pokémon even more.
Raising its arm into the air it once again struck down with intense force now coated by the ghoulish aura which was Shadow Claw. The aftermath of which causing Meganium to release Tyranitar's other arm with her bite as she coughed off blood her head and neck falling to the floor.
"Azu..." Azumarill from Lyra's side mumbled looking away unable to watch any further.
Meganium laying sideways and panting excessively still had a glint of resolve in her eyes. Tyranitar could see that which angered it even more and so it began to charge a Dark Pulse.
Ethan had bit his nail to the point it was bleeding. There was no way he could stand and watch this continue any further. "The battles over, I forfeit!"
"Stop it Tyranitar, don't attack her any further!" Lyra yelled to her rock type. But it would not listen to her word as it continued charging the Dark Pulse attack which if hit, could do more than just knock out Meganium, it could kill.
"Stop it you green bastard!" Ethan yelled running forth grabbing a pebble from the ground. He picked it up and hurled it as hard as he could at the back of Tyranitar's neck. The Pokémon hadn't felt a thing, of course Ethan's weak throw wouldn't hurt it after all. What happened next horrified Ethan the most.
"RAHHHHH!" Tyranitar shrieked firing the pitch-black colored beam of energy at the weak Herb Pokémon. Meganium tried to move truly she did... only she couldn't. Meganium was blasted close range by the Dark Pulse causing an explosion engulfing half the battlefield.
"Nooo!" Ethan screamed at the top of his lungs. He could hear his mother and Professor Elm screaming, screaming not to approach the brutal Tyranitar but he didn't care. In the moment all he cared about was his Meganium.
"Meganium!" Ethan cried dropping to his knees next to his Pokémon once the smoke cleared. And to his horror, she was done for. Nearly lifeless in his hands as he held her in her arms, on her last breath. Blood seeping from all the holes in her body Tyranitar made.
"No, no this can't be happening!" Ethan cried and screamed. His starter, no longer with so much as a pulse fell. Not just knocked out, but dead.
As he cradled his first Pokémon in his arms. He felt himself being enveloped in a shadow. He looked up to see it belonging to none other than Lyra who was now twice his size.
"Thanks, please Ethan, don't take it too hard." Lyra said with a smug grin looking down on her opponent. "Your Pokémon did very good as well, you should be proud, I can see how you managed to get all eight badges."
….
"AIEEEEEE!" Ethan suddenly screamed awakening on the bench. He was panting heavily having had a nightmare like no other.
"W-what, that, that was just a dream!?" Ethan asked himself looking around just to be sure. And sure enough there was his Meganium who was alive and well. Her eyes opened as she had awakened to Ethan's cry.
"Megay Megay!?" She said with concern for her Trainer. The grass type going to Ethan's side worryingly.
"I-I just had a bad dream is all..." Ethan explained. Still he wondered why he had dreamt that. Sure it was looking bad for Meganium back there but Lyra would have never let Tyranitar end it that way.
What's wrong with me...? The boy wondered face palming. Could I be, scared...?
Breaking him out of his sadness was Meganium who smiled and gave him a lick on the cheek which brought him out of it. He looked up to his starter who gave him back a confident look.
"Megay Megay!" She exclaimed.
"I'm sorry for scaring you..." Ethan said placing his hand on her scalp. As he did he realized his Pokégear had a notification, a missed call.
"What's this?" Ethan said. "Looks like, mom called me, guess her and the Professor got here!"
"Meganiuh!" She said nodding her head.
"Let's give her a call!" Ethan said as he dialed her number on the cell before awaiting the ring. Finally when he got an answer much to his surprise he could hardly hear his mother's voice and could mainly only hear the sound of cheers.
"H-Hello!" He could just barely make out his mother's voice.
"Hi mom!" Ethan said wondering as to why there was so much noise. The sounds of cheers, it could only mean... "Oh my God, am I late!?"
"Ethan!" Eliza yelled so her son could hear her over the noise. "What're you doing, the league matches are beginning! I've been trying to call you all day!"
"Damn it!" Ethan barked. He overslept last night and it was already two in the afternoon much to his disdain.
"Um, okay, just tell me, have I been disqualified!?" Ethan asked alarmed. Meganium equally as concerned.
"I-I hope not, they haven't called you yet, but you'd better get here and fast!" Eliza yelled. "Don't miss it, please, get over here as fast as possible!"
"Got it!" Ethan said hanging up on the Pokégear and turning to Meganium. "We've got to get going and now girl!"
"Megay!" She replied before running and leading the way. Ethan followed pissed off at his self for oversleeping. How could he, today was the most important day in his life.
Just great, this is just great! Ethan thought as he ran.
Many others on the streets there wondered where the boy was going so fast. But one man watched from the sidelines observing him like a predator watching its prey from the bushes.
Late on a day as special as this... pathetic... the person thought before getting up from the bushes.
As Ethan continued running. He suddenly came to a halt; a smoke cloud engulfed the scene causing him and Meganium to jump back. Was this an ambush he wondered?
"Wha-what's going on!?" Ethan freaked. "I don't have time for this!"
The Indigo league was still half a quarter mile away from him. He could see it in his sights, but he now had a distraction. Could someone have been trying to ambush him so he couldn't compete, the boy wondered.
"W-who goes there!" Ethan bellowed. "Show yourself!"
And so finally, from the smoke, emerged two figures. The two of which being not at all what Ethan imagined. It was his father Allen, standing on the opposite side of the road, and right besides him was his Feraligatr who stood their menacingly.
"Megay..." Meganium snarled as she formed a battle stance.
"D-dad!?" Ethan freaked before losing his shock. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"Stopping you, from embarrassment." Allen scoffed crossing his arms. "You're not ready to compete in the Indigo league, you're still too weak!"
As Ethan and Meganium stood there, they realized something. There odds of making it too the Indigo league now was far more unlikely.
And that's this chapter. Now, apologies, there was a long wait between this one and my last chapter. Five days, which might not seem long compared to some others who don't update as often but for me this is probably long. See, summer's ending, and college is starting, my first year of college, so I had a lot of preparations I've been doing lately. Now, I don't want my chapter output to decrease this drastically but since I'm going to school, I just don't know... still, this story going to be completed, and you guys can hopefully expect for it to end sometime this month, if not September. Guess it will be much more of an issue for when I write my next fic, since this one's almost done...