Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 91: The superior and the inferior
It was about eight in the morning when the boy woke up in his tent. Side by side to him was Espeon and Togetic who were resting softly in both his arms.
Ethan simply stayed there while staring at the top of the tent while lost in thought for a few moments.
Today's going to be the third round... and after this is the semifinals. Ethan thought. Day by day, it seemed like his dream of making it to the finals we're coming to fruition. But at the same time, he knew there were still many, many rivals he'd have to defeat in order to even make it to the finals.
Lyra, who defeated him in battle more than once; Silver, who has proven himself to be a worthy adversary on multiple occasions; Eusine, who had defeated him in their most previous battle; Leviathan, the Trainer who had somehow captured a legendary Pokémon; and the man whose real name he hadn't known, Mister Viridian who seemed so interested in facing him.
Ethan finally sat up not able to force himself back to sleep. He gently set Espeon and Togetic to the side with them not waking up before he left his tent.
Upon leaving his tent he made sure not to wake his other sleeping Pokémon, Meganium, Ampharos, Heracross, and of course Gyarados who laid in the most nearby river's water.
Ethan yawned and stretched all the while before hunching. "Augh, another day waking up in Kanto, got to say I miss that Johto air..."
He turned around seeing his asleep Pokémon once more. He didn't want to wake them until it was time to get ready and so he got dressed quietly out of his pajamas. Putting on his red hoodie, his black hat, and his hat which he forever placed backwards.
After that he looked over to the water Gyarados was in, he was thirsty but with him never being able to wash Gyarados due to his size he needed to find someplace else to drink.
And so he began his hike. He didn't walk very far, he needed to be close enough so that his Pokémon wouldn't be worried if they awoke him. He eventually found himself at another clearing where he hoped to find cleaner water.
He kneeled down before the river and cupped his hands in the water as he washed his face off. It was a bit refreshing and as he did so he continued to wipe his face.
As he did so however, he could just faintly hear the sound of footsteps. He slowly stopped wiping his face and slightly turned his face. Behind him stood a man who remained hidden in the shadows of the trees. But what he could see clearly was the man's sharp and cold stare.
It didn't seem so good for the kid. Not a single one of his Pokémon were with him and so if it was a killer who was there he'd have no means of defending himself.
Not seeing any alternative, Ethan slowly got up from his knees while turning around. And not very much to his surprise the man within the shadows took another step revealing himself.
He could see him clearly; the man standing in front of him was Mister Viridian. But something was different as to yesterday, Ethan could see it clearly. In his right hand he was holding a pistol aimed directly at Ethan's abdomen, and to make things worse, unlike the creepy grin he had the day he looked completely serious with not a laugh in the world.
There wasn't much else to do, so the boy raised both arms into the air. "What're you doing here, and what're you doing with that gun?"
"Hmph, caught you at a bad time did I?" Mister Viridian laughed. "What with you not with your Pokémon to save you?"
"So... you're going to kill me?" Ethan asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." Mr. V answered. "I'm afraid that's up to you."
"Excuse me?" Ethan asked.
"I'm going to give you a choice, Ethan." Mister Viridian said slightly lowering his gun. "I can either kill you now, or kill you later..."
"You're the one with the gun." Ethan said still holding up his hands. "What's stopping you from pulling the trigger?"
"Please Ethan, do think about what you say next... I'm offering you this choice now because no matter what, I plan to destroy you, and I am going to." Mister Viridian claimed raising the gun once more. "I want to do it slowly, and I want to hurt you so much so to the point where you beg for me to pull the trigger, but... then again, here I have you, completely unattended without a soul in the world, besides your Pokémon who are sleeping and very far away, it would be the perfect crime."
"Perfect crime!?" Ethan said with a snicker dropping his raised hands. "You're an idiot, if I died then who better to suspect of the crime than the very contestants in the tournament, you would be one of the primary suspects. So, if your stupid enough to do the deed then go ahead, kill me, do it quick."
"Me, stupid? I knew you were hasty, but I didn't think you were a fool." Mister Viridian claimed. "Do you even know why I'm here telling you I'm going to kill you right now?"
"To be honest I don't really care." Ethan answered, despite the fact he already had a pretty good idea.
"Well, nonetheless, I'll enlighten you. Like I told you before Ethan, I'm a big fan I've made sure to keep up with your journey for a while, ever since that day in Mahogany, all the way to Goldenrod then Blackthorn. You never failed to meddle with my organization's affairs, and then you destroyed it. We were more than an organization, we were an ideal, an ideal your robbed from us!"
"As I thought, so your just another common terrorist out for revenge." Ethan said with disgust in his voice. "I've had enough being around you V, you make me sick, so if you're going to kill me just hurry up and get it over with."
"You're bluffing..." Mister Viridian said earning a snicker from Ethan.
"You think I'm bluffing?" Ethan asked walking up face to face with the man. "If I'm bluffing, call it!"
Mister Viridian didn't move to Ethan's provocation which only pissed off the boy more.
"CALL IT!" Ethan yelled shoving Mister Viridian with all his might in his chest, of course with him being a kid he was only able to move the man back by an inch or two, but he still didn't back down. "Call it... or get your punk ass out of here."
"Tough guy all of a sudden huh." Mr. V laughed before quickly raising the gun straight below Ethan's chin. He could feel the cold of the pistol's muzzle on him. But he didn't feel scared, he was just angry.
"I'm not scared of you." Ethan grunted which merely made Viridian laugh. He then raised the gun in the air and smashed Ethan in the face with it causing the kid to fall to the grass while clinging on to the slight bleeding coming from the side of his head.
"Gahh..." He said rubbing his head before he looked up only to see Mister Viridian's cold stare along with the gun pointed to his head.
"You know kid, I planned on killing you depending on your answer, if you said you wanted death, I would have spared you only to watch as you suffer long term before you die, and if you said you wanted to live I would've killed you on the spot." Mister Viridian snickered before suddenly turning to anger. "But what I never expected was for you to raise your voice against me and try to agitate me, so tell you what, I'll respect your decision for death, you've earned it, so, any last words...?"
"Just three, eat a dick." Ethan muttered before Mister Viridian moved the pistol closer to his forehead.
It was the end; the end for Ethan. He watched as his life flashed before his eyes in that moment... or at the very least he expected it to be when he heard someone approach from behind Mister Viridian.
V stood up with his signature cold smile as he turned around to see Silver with his hands in his pockets along with Typhlosion.
The Volcano Pokémon stood there with a blaze behind him, Ethan knew the Pokémon didn't care much for him so Silver must've told him to look as ferocious as possible. Either way, the kid's life might've been saved.
"Hmph, if it isn't you, my friend. Nice to see you Silvy-boy, how's your mother?" Mister Viridian asked as he turned around putting his pistol in his belt holster.
The redhead was shocked as to how he mentioned his mother, but it didn't matter, right now all that mattered was protecting Ethan.
"If you even think about killing Ethan, Typhlosion will incinerate you... do you understand?" Silver asked while Typhlosion barked.
"Fine, understood sweetie. But there's a problem, this isn't going to stop me from slaughtering the kid, so if you're going to kill me then by all means." The man said crossing his arms. "But of course, you don't have the stomach for it, do you Leonardo?"
Again that same name from yesterday. But it didn't matter in this moment for Silver, at least he tried to convince himself that. "Get walking... NOW!" He raised his voice.
"Hmm... very well, there's no need for me to waste my time here any longer, I believe I've already made my point." V said with another snigger. "I'll still be able to kill Ethan, maybe not now, but certainly eventually, and no matter how much you threaten me you'll never be able to kill me, we both know you don't have it in you."
"Shut up." Silver said trying to retain some sanity. "You don't know anything about me, so before I kill you leave, final warning."
"Absolutely, don't worry laddie, I'd love to stay longer but if you insist, I'll leave." Mister Viridian snarled as he pulled out something from behind him, not seeming to be another pistol at the very least. "Oh, and Ethan my boy, don't mention what happened to anyone what you what happened today, if you do, that cute little mom of yours will die."
"You threaten my mother!?" Ethan yelled but was quickly silenced by Silver's cry.
"I said, final warning, you bastard!" Silver yelled even more angry. His hand was shaking as he was truly contemplating giving his Pokémon the command. "You won't threaten Ethan or his family any longer, do you want me to kill you!?"
"And I said I'm leaving." Mister Viridian restated. "I'll leave, just as your father did."
Silver had enough, this man had took him to the boiling point and in this instance he couldn't hold back his anger any longer. "That's it, Typhlosion, Flamethrower!"
"F-Flamethrower!?" Ethan said jumping out of the way and ducking while covering his head.
Typhlosion listened and pulled its head back as it prepared a plethora of flames straight for V who saw it and snickered.
"Good day, and farewell...!" Mister Viridian yelled throwing the object in his hand to the ground. From it came a puff of smoke which encompassed him, blinding both Ethan and Silver's view.
Typhlosion still fired off a Flamethrower but it merely passed through the smoke clouds and nearly hit the bushes and trees which would be devastating.
There was a brief silence between both Ethan and Silver for a minute. Both boys were utterly speechless until the both of them noticed something. Lying on the very ground Viridian had vanished from remained a white blank card.
They both gave a look to each other before nodding. Ethan was the first to kneel down grabbing the card by the end corner slowly. He looked up to Silver once more who with a gesture reassured him to lift it. Ethan listened and lifted the card, of course, nothing was on it. And so he flipped the card around.
On the backside of it. An R, nothing else, but just one look at the letter told the two everything they needed to know.
"It's just as I thought." Ethan said.
"Team Rocket..." Silver agreed.
"A-anyways." Ethan said putting it away into his bag. "Thanks man, you really saved my tail, if you weren't here, I'd probably be dead now."
"No thanks to yourself you idiot." Silver said. "Do you have a death wish or something? I heard the way you yelled at him; you were just asking to get shot."
"When I made the choice to help deal with Team Rocket back at Mahogany, I had to accept my path could lead to death. It's harsh sure, but that's the way it is, I can't stay a child forever." Ethan claimed. "And, even if you don't like it, I'm afraid by saving my life you may have put your life on the line as well."
"Hmph, perhaps." Silver agreed pulling out a Pokéball as he withdrew Typhlosion. "But it doesn't change the fact you were so easily willing to die."
"Well I'd rather die standing than kneeling to a coward who hides behind a gun." Ethan said. "But enough about me, that guy really seemed to know you... Leonardo, was it?"
Silver's face turned with anger at the hearing of the name before he calmed down. "I... don't know, he, something about him seems familiar, like it's locked away in my head, but I can't remember, and the name Leonardo oddly enough doesn't sound so off. I-it scares me. He somehow knows everything about me, he even knew my father."
"Think you want to talk about it?" Ethan asked to which Silver agreed.
"Well... we first met in Johto, but I'm actually from Kanto. I was born and raised for most of my life in the Sevii islands, but eventually I ended up moving to Viridian City along with my father." Silver began.
"And what about your mother...?" Ethan asked.
"I, never met her, she died the day I was born. I was always told that she had a weak heart, and died it stopped shortly after she pushed me out." Silver admitted. "It's weird though, I never even saw a picture of her, it was strictly forbidden, so I was raised soley by my father."
"Who was your dad?" Ethan asked.
"He was a good man but given a bad hand. See, he was a Gym leader in Viridian once we moved, but... we needed money, being a Gym leader doesn't pay many bills after all, so he found himself mixed up with bad people.
"What kind of people?" Ethan said.
"Team Rocket." Silver answered which shook Ethan. He always knew Silber was bitter towards the organization, and now he knew why. "Uh, I don't get the feeling you're on good terms with your father anymore, are you?"
"That's right, you see, following Red's defeat of Team Rocket, the team was desperate, they needed more members if they were going to rebuild. And so they came to me, they forced me to join them, I was trained for about seven months, I was just twelve years old then, and my father hated it, he never wanted me to join the organization, but he knew what they'd do to me if I left, so he couldn't do anything, and eventually... after my training they gave me my final test." Silver said. Ethan could see the fear in his eyes from uttering the words alone.
"I take it the test wasn't the multiple-choice kind, so what was it?" He asked.
"I was tasked... to kill a man, a man they kidnapped. He was a talk show host who publicly bashed the team. They wanted to set an example out of him, and they figured why not let it be my inauguration." Silver confessed. "...But, my father, he came to me one day and helped me escape, he told me he didn't want me to live this life, a murderer, and so I left."
"Jeez... that's awful." Ethan said. "I-I'm sorry, I had no idea your life was that hard."
"It wasn't that hard, I was lucky enough to have people, to help me change. As much as I hate to admit it, you really helped change me. If you didn't, I may have become just as bad as this V guy I fear." Silver said. "I, I was so hateful, I blamed my father and Rocket for the lonest but... if I wasn't so weak, none of this would've happened."
"Hey, don't kick yourself." Ethan told him. "None of this is your fault, and you're not weak either, you're one of the strongest people I know, so... what do you say we get out of here and get to the plateau.
Silver smiled. "We'd better get going then."
After regrouping with the rest of his Pokémon, Ethan along with both Meganium and Silver made their way towards the Indigo league. Today would mark the third round of the league; there were eight more Trainers remaining compared to yesterday's sixteen, meaning there would be four matches remaining.
Walking into the main colosseum from the hallway provided Ethan with quite the surprise, as he continued to walk past the benches, he felt someone grab his arm, someone from the audience.
"Look buddy, I'm not looking for a fight here!" Ethan hissed hostilely as he turned his head to see who was trying to mess with him. Probably another Kanto douche who wanted to tell the him how much they hated those from Johto. But much to his surprise, it was a familiar face.
"Hey Ethan, long time no see huh friend!" The man said waving towards Ethan. He was middle aged, had dirty brown hair and wore a sloppily prepared suit and tie.
Ethan couldn't help but recognize him as he got lost in thought.
….
Togetic looked back and smiled at Ethan, before returning his gaze at the Heracross, who once again lunged at Togetic.
Before Ethan could command Togetic, he came dashing at Heracross with a white aura around him. Togetic slammed into Heracross, causing Super effective damage.
"That was Aerial Ace!" Ethan said, stunned, even Bayleef was surprised to see such a powerful move.
Heracross got up after being hit, it was clearly in bad shape, but didn't want to back down.
"Hera, Heracross!" Heracross shouted, once again trying to scare the Togetic, but only managed to get a laugh out of Togetic.
Before they could continue, Ethan heard a voice calling for Heracross.
"Heracross! Heracross!" Said a man, he had dirty brown hair and was wearing a blue suit and tie and glasses. He looked middle age.
Heracross upon seeing the man turned away, not wanting to face him.
"Heracross!" The man said, kneeling to him. "You can't just run off me like that, you almost gave me a scare boy."
"That's your Pokémon?" Ethan asked to the man.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that," The man said. "I'm Matt, by the way."
"Ethan. Don't be sorry, it was an entertaining fight." Ethan said, returning his Togetic. As Togetic returned the Heracross gave him a stank face.
"Heracross you two, return." Matt said, returning Heracross. "Whew, I wish Heracross would just listen to me, like how he did in the old days."
….
"Oh my God, that you Matt!?" Ethan remarked as he realized it was Heracross' original Trainer making the man smiled.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium cried out happily.
"Yeah, it's nice to see you again kid, how've you been!?" Matt asked.
"Ugh, I've been doing great, so, what brings you here in Kanto?" Ethan asked. Silver who was behind Ethan got fed up of waiting for him and just walked away.
"Wanted to take a vacation, and with the first ever tournament style Indigo league I figured I may get nostalgic and watch all the Trainer battles." Matt answered. "I've seen your previous battles, and I must say you're strong, way stronger than I was in my prime even.
"And how're the kids, Kate and Julia if I remember correctly? Ethan said.
"They're doing great, they're back at the hotel though, they don't much like battles." Matt answered with a smile. Ethan was about to mention something else before he turned his head hearing something. It was both his mom and the Professor.
"Ethan, you're finally here, we were just looking for you!" Eliza cried.
"Yeah, oh, and who's your friend?" Elm asked.
"Oh uh, this man right here is Matt, he was really kind to me and gave me lunch one day when I was... not doing so hot." Ethan explained. "But most importantly, he gave me Heracross, he's a real nice guy."
"That's right." Matt said waving towards Eliza and Elm. "Anyways, you go on now kid, maybe we can talk more later."
"Okay, see you man." Ethan said as he began to walk along with his mother and Elm.
"Interesting friend you've got there." Elm said looking towards Ethan.
"Hah, maybe your right, so, can we get seated in one of the bottom rows, I want to watch the battles along with you and Meganium." Ethan asked.
"Sure thing, let's get seated... hmm." Eliza said looking around for a seat. Eventually, Ethan and them found another family they could squish in-between near, the end of that bleacher. They all sat down but almost as soon as they did, they noticed a change on the monitor.
Ethan looked up. It was him, and right next to him on the screen was Eusine, it was time, time for another rival battle to get on with.
The boy's eyes tensed as he turned to look at Meganium who gave him a nod. It was time, Ethan stood up without turning his back to face Elm and Eliza who cheered him on.
"Go get em' Ethan!" Eliza cried.
"We know you've got this!" Elm also cheered.
Ethan hadn't listened to them though; he was already fretting having to battle one of his rivals remaining, but he stopped thinking as he turned his head back towards the audience.
Standing and clapping his hands for Ethan on one row above his mom and Elm stood Viridian much to the boy's dismay, and even the people next to him who hated him for his cruel act from yesterday mid battle. He was giving Ethan a powerful glare as he applauded.
The Johto Trainer stopped looking behind him and sighed. I can't even tell them about him, if this is what he calls a slow death than am I already dying?
He didn't have much time to think it over as he made his first steps onto the ring. Only other person besides himself and Meganium there was the announcer. Eusine wasn't there for whatever reason.
"Um... Contestant Eusine?" The announcer said aloud. "We're awaiting you, it's time for your battle can't you see?"
"I'm right here." A voice said from the audience. Ethan followed the voice and surely enough, it was Eusine. He stood atop the highest level of bleacher on the opposite side of the colosseum before he took a leap passing multiple stairs.
He landed with a kneel towards the ground before the ring. Getting up slowly he finally faced Ethan. It was then when the boy noticed something about Eusine was different than normal. Apposed to his normal attire he wore a black coat along with a black suit with a long necktie, looked pretty fitting for the occasion.
But one thing that didn't change, the first thing he did upon seeing his rival was grabbing his camera and snapping a screenshot of the kid causing him to cover his eyes.
"Ouch, that thing is bright you know!" Ethan complained as Eusine entered the ring.
"Yes, apologies. But I wanted to capture this moment, the look on your face before and after I prove my superiority over you." Eusine remarked.
"Always going on about superiority and inferiority, aye Eusine." Ethan commented. "You told me before you can't afford to lose when you've come so far, so answer me one thing, what're planning to do if you lose."
"That's not going to happen Ethan, I'm winning this and that's final." He said as he pulled out a Pokéball. "Let's do this already."
"Now we're talking." Ethan said also pulling out a Pokéball.
"And so we have both Contestant Eusine from Cerulean City versus Contestant Ethnan from New Bark Town, just who between the two will prevail!?" The announcer said.
As the two we're about to reveal their first Pokémon, Lyra was standing with her back to the wall on the other side of the colosseum, excited to see another one of Ethan's battles.
She took her eyes off the ring however once she noticed not quite too far from her was Leviathan who was watching the battle from apart the members in the audience as well.
Needing to speak with him the girl ran up to him crying his name.
"Leviathan, Leviathan!" She uttered catching his attention.
"Awe, it's you, Lyra." He said with a smile. "You seem eager about something?"
"Huh, oh, I'm just happy to see Ethan battle is all, he can be... weird at times, but that's what makes him so fun to watch." Lyra exclaimed. "And that guy he's battling, think I saw him battle the other day, he seemed good."
"I know, I think they said his name was Eusine, right?" Leviathan asked.
"Yup, think it is." Lyra answered. "But Ethan's going to cream him, just wait."
"Really." Leviathan said turning to her. "Surely you jest."
"What are you talking about, it's Ethan, of course he's going to win, he's not about to lose in the quarter-final round now is he?" Lyra asked.
Leviathan turned his face away from her and focused back on the ring, on Ethan. "I've seen him battle twice now, he's nothing special."
"N-nothing special!?" Lyra said surprised.
"Of course, you may see someone who's unpredictable but all I see is a kid who pushes his luck, much like a boy who puts his hand in the cookie jar, one day he's going to get caught." Leviathan scoffed. "Don't tell me you actually think he's a decent Trainer?"
Lyra looked up to Leviathan with a glare. "I do." She uttered before walking away from him not at all hiding her anger.
He noticed her sudden madness but paid it little mind. He pulled out his journal along with a pencil where he planned to jot down all he could analyze about Eusine.
"Alright, this battle's going to be a three versus three, and you can only call back your Pokémon once there unconscious or you view them to be unable to battle, so no substitutions!" The announcer shouted. "So, reveal your Pokémon at the same time and get started!"
Ethan looked back into the audience. He could still see Matt and that influenced his choice in Pokémon.
Got to go with Heracross, it'd be nice to show him how happy the guy is working alongside me... Ethan thought.
"Come on out!" Both Ethan and Eusine said at nearly the same time as they tossed their Pokéballs into the air. And so both Pokémon we're released at the same time.
On the side of Ethan was of course Heracross who came out with a stern battle cry.
"Heracrosssss!" He cried out flexing both arms.
Ethan smiled and looked back; he could see the happiness in Matt's eyes as he saw his old Pokémon. Ethan turned back with a newfound glimmer of hope within him.
"We're going to win this Heracross!" He vowed.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium cheered from right behind him.
Heracross listened before moving his head analyzing his opponent. It was one he hadn't seen before. It was a bipedal, humanoid Pokémon with yellow skin. It had triangular ears with brown interiors, sleepy-looking eyes, and a rather sizable nose. Beneath its fur was a small white coat around the neck along with a pendulum in his left hand.
"If I had to guess, that's the evolved form of that Drowzee you had all the way back when?" Ethan guessed.
"Good guess, and it's Hypno by the way." Eusine told him.
"You and your psychic types." Ethan chuckled. "Well, let's do this already!"
"Yes! Okay Hypno, start with Psybeam!" He yelled.
Hypno listened and pulled its head back before releasing a sizable beam of psychic energy which nearly hit Heracross before he jumped out of the way.
"Megahorn!" Ethan cried.
Heracross listened now air bourn and used his wings to help him glide towards Hypno while his horn increased in power.
"Good thinking, a bug type move." Eusine commented. "But it won't work, Psychic now!"
Heracross whose tail was now about an inch away from Hypno stopped in motion now being encompassed by a pink coat of aura.
"H-Heraaaahh!" Heracross cried suddenly being carried into the air with fast speed.
"It had psychic too, that's not good, thanks to his fighting typing that'll be super effective!" Ethan realized.
Heracross crashed back to the ground landing on his shell before flipping over instantly recovering from the attack awaiting his Trainer's next move.
If we're in trouble at any distance then we can afford to get as close as we want. Ethan realized. "Alright then, use Close Combat!"
The bug type listened took one big leap before landing on the floor. He began to dash for his opponent with a fury of punches prepared.
"Hypnosis!" Eusine yelled.
Hypno began to wave its' pendulum as fast it could. A faintly visible beam was fired which would put anything it touches to sleep immediately.
"Dodge it Heracross!" Ethan yelled.
Heracross who was now right in front of Hypno slid to his knees just barely dodging the Hypnosis much to Hypno's surprise.
"H-Hypno!?" It cried before being smashed in the face with Heracross' hardest right hook. The poor psychic type was sent like a rocket into the sky from the sheer force alone.
Eusine looked up into the sky almost looking pissed off. But his anger calmed as Hypno landed back to its feet.
"I'll admit, that brief hit from Close Combat was impressive, considering Hypno takes less damage than normal from fighting type moves thanks to his typing, but we're still going to take the round." Eusine stated.
"Enough talk." Ethan said. "Heracross, get in close again and land your Megahorn!"
Heracross began dashing once more to Hypno with his horn beginning to shine once more, but this was all too Eusine's liking as he smirked.
"Psychic once Heracross gets in close." Eusine yelled.
Suddenly right before Heracross could once again land a super effective blow, he was stopped midair with the use of Psychic being raised into air getting thrown off his feet.
"H-Hera!?" Heracross said wailing his arms. He was still relatively close by to his opponent who was just sitting there looking him in the eyes while wagging one finger.
"Now Poison Gas!" Eusine yelled.
"Poison Gas...!" Ethan repeated.
It was too late. Nothing more for him to do while he was trapped under Psychic and Hypno released from his mouth an explosion of toxic smoke that covered Heracross entirely. All Ethan could hear was his Pokémon's shriek of pain.
"Heracross no!" Ethan cried out. It was then when Heracross was flung back towards him landing on his back. While also being zapped by the effects of poison.
"Oof, an unfortunate turn of events, looks like Heracross has been poisoned! How will he get out of this now!?" The announcer commentated.
Heracross was still retching on the ground in pain from the poison. First time Ethan had seen him hit with the move he realized.
"Come on Heracross, you've got to get up, you can do this, I promise you, you can do this!" Ethan cheered. "Right now, everyone's watching you, right now, Matt's watching you!"
Heracross' eyes lit up upon the mention of his previous Trainer's name. He slowly turned his head, and there he was. Matt stood there. They were so far away yet they recognized each other clearly. It felt like time had paused for the two in that instance.
Finally Heracross turned his head away and slowly got up from the ground. Something was different about him now. Something Ethan couldn't quite put his finger on.
"It's on its' last legs Hypno, end it, Psybeam let's go!" He cried.
"Heracross, dodge it and then use Megahorn again!" Ethan cried.
The fighting type listened, but rather than dodging he raised one fist as Hypno prepared a beam of energy.
"...Hypnoohh!" Hypno shrieked as he fired a Psybeam twice as big as the previous.
Heracross simply stood there as his fist glew with a powerful aura. His eyes were closed as he had to endure the after effect of Poison Gas but he didn't let it get the best of him.
The Psybeam was about half a millisecond's worth of travel time before hitting Heracross, that's how close it was. But in that instance Heracross' eyes lit up with determination as he crashed his fist into the ground kicking up a wall from the floor which took the attack for him.
"What!?" Eusine cried.
Finally, Heracross leaped into the air, once again preparing his most powerful fist as he came in close to Hypno.
The psychic type was terrified, it was just a fighting type move yet he was terrified. The power behind the punch seemed somehow amplified.
With significant speed Hypno had no time to react. Heracross landed right directly in front of Hypno and with a great Uppercut smashed Hypno across the face sending the psychic type crashing into the wall right next to the audience as well as slightly shattering it.
Eusine turned back shocked. A fighting type move shouldn't have done that much damage yet it seemingly had the same effect it would if Hypno was neutral to the attack, or maybe even weak to it.
"What a powerful blow, Hypno's going to be feeling that one in the morning!" The announcer cried. "Needless to say, that's a knockout!"
Ethan hadn't even listened to what he said, he was too amazed by his own Pokémon's power before he realized something.
He walked over to his Pokémon who was still observing his own fist. Heracross looked over once he realized Ethan was behind him. "That was fantastic boy, say, that was probably the strongest punch I've ever seen you land before. I think maybe that's your hidden ability, guts."
"Megay Megay!" Meganium cried cheerfully.
"Hera?" Heracross said looking at Ethan with wonder before looking back at his own fist.
"Uh... guts?" The announcer said coming besides Ethan before handing him the mic. "Care to explain?"
"Of course, it's a hidden ability unique to certain Pokémon, until now I've only ever seen one Pokémon with it." Ethan claimed speaking in the microphone. "Basically, once a Pokémon with the ability is hit with a status move, in this case, poison, his power is amplified to incredible heights."
"That's amazing!" The announcer cried.
"Oh, and here." Ethan said handing back the mic to his hands. He then turned to his Pokémon and put his arm around him. "Congratulations, boy, you've got guts, the status ability. Or... maybe you don't, maybe you were just filled with so much resolve once you saw your original Trainer's face you gained that much strength!"
"H-Hera!" Heracross cried out, all before he was struck down with the effects of poison being shocked from it. He fell to the ground screaming in agony once more. Ethan seeing this reached into his bag and grabbed a perry.
He put it to Heracross' mouth and nodded. "Eat up, taste yucky but it'll make you feel better."
Heracross listened eating the thing in one bite from Ethan's hand. Upon eating it he quickly felt the poison within him washing away but could still feel its toll on his body as he was tired.
"Ugh, you do realize you can't feed your Pokémon replenishing berries like that mid battle?" The announcer asked.
"Don't worry I know." Ethan said pulling out Heracross' Pokéball and holding it over him before withdrawing him. "Return boy, that was an awesome battle, you really impressed not just me, but everyone else in the audience, and Matt I'm sure..."
With that line he glanced back into the audience seeing Matt who gave a smile and wiped a single tear in his eye from a handkerchief.
I knew I left Heracross in the right hands, he even let Ethan put his arm around him, he would've never did that back when he was with me and the girls... Matt thought again wiping another tear. "I'm so proud of you... hehe, Stag Stag!"
Meanwhile the three judges were astounded by Ethan's knowledge.
"The hell was that he just gave the Heracross now?" Sullivan asked. Oak peaked his head over surprised as to Sully's question.
"Never heard of a Pecha berry?" Oak asked. "Well, a lot of Trainers I notice tend to not be very knowledgeable of those kinds of things, take a bit out of it and it can cure poison."
"You know, the brat's actually a bit smarter than I took him for. He was instantly able to recognize guts despite not seeing Heracross use it before." Lorelai gave him credit for. "He must've studied up on Pokémon abilities."
"Nah, I still don't like him!" Sullivan said crossing his arms. "If it was up to me no Johto Trainers would be allowed to take part in this, it's the KANTO league remember!"
"Indigo- not Kanto." Lorelai corrected getting a scoff from Sullivan.
With Sullivan's comment Oak turned and looked into the audience. For some reason, he didn't feel as much hostility as normal coming from then whenever Ethan battled. He still heard some boos but overall, it was... quieter.
Think we have the winner, you're my winner Ethan... Oak thought. If you're able to win this tournament, than maybe people would warm up to Johto folk, you have my vote Ethan, always.
Eusine had walked back towards the ring after returning his Hypno with an angry look on his face as he glared towards his opponent.
Ethan returned his gaze and so did Meganium. Finally the boy put his hands in his bag preparing another Pokéball.
"You shouldn't have forfeited your Pokémon Ethan." Eusine said while pulling out a Pokéball. "I don't understand, you could've had one up on me, yet instead you choose to do that."
"I've still got two other powerful Pokémon left." Ethan said pulling out his Great Ball. "Want to see?"
"Gladly!" Eusine said throwing his Pokéball. Right at the moment he threw it Ethan followed throwing his Great Ball just a second after.
Being released on the side of Eusine was an interesting looking Pokémon to say the least. It was a quadrupedal Pokémon with a long neck and hooves. It had a round, pink nose with a white blaze on its muzzle. It had two horns with bulbous tips on top of its head and the front half of its body was yellow with black spots.
"Giraf, Giraf!" The Pokémon cried.
On Ethan's side. Gyarados was realized coming out with the sparkle of rainbow-colored stars. Landing on the battlefield he stared at his much smaller opponent and gave a loud shriek.
"Rahhhhhhhh!" Gyarados screamed letting out all his rage, it was enough to be still fear in his much smaller opponent.
His yell however was overpowered by the sounds of the screams in the audience. Everyone was met with shock as to the Gyarados' color of scales.
"Why the hell's it red!?"
"It looks really cool!"
"Aren't Gyarados supposed to be blue!?"
"I-I-I don't believe my eyes, I think I can speak for everyone when I say we've never Gyarados seen a Gyarados like this before!?" The announcer cried. "Tell us Contestant Ethan, what's your secret."
"There is no secret." Ethan said with a smile. "What makes Gyarados special isn't his color, but what's inside."
Even the judges we're shocked to see the color of Gyarados.
"Are my eyes working right?" Sullivan asked towards Lorelai.
"Hey don't look at me, I have no idea what's going on here." Lorelai said losing her awe. "Professor, you must know something about this."
"Of course, sometimes genetic mutations occur within Pokémon, although the chance is one in a one-hundred thousand for this kind, I've seen a few other Pokémon with different colors such as this one." Professor Oak answered.
"Amazing... how the hell did the kid catch something like that?" Sullivan asked glancing back to the ring.
Opposed to everyone in the audience, Eusine watched Ethan's Red Gyarados without a care in the world.
Those fools actually care about some different-colored Pokémon, nonsense, if that's all it takes to rile them up then they wouldn't even be able to comprehend my Suicune... Eusine thought almost triggered before he raised his arm. "Girafarig, Thunderbolt!"
Eusine's normal and psychic type suddenly began to light up with electricity which manly cackled within its horns. A big shot of lightning fired from there leaving Gyarados no time to dodge as he was blasted.
"Huh, Gyarados!" Ethan gasped.
"Megay Megay!?" Meganium cried looking away.
It was horrible. Gyarados was two times effected by electric type moves thanks to the weakness of both the flying and water types to which he hailed to. To no surprise Gyarados fell face floor to the ground with a large thud.
"Girafarig, Girafarig!" Girafarig exclaimed excitedly having believed to have won.
Suddenly the awe in the audience had vanished as they were brought back to reality. Maybe beauty was really skin-deep cause Gyarados was already down.
From the bottom bleachers both Elm and Eliza winced at the sorry sight.
"Not good, all that hype and nothing to show for it!" They heard someone say in the audience to which Eliza got up grabbing her Megaphone..
"GYARADOS IS GOING TO BE FINE, YOU' LL SEE!" She shouted as loud as she could making Elm and everyone besides her in the audience cover their ears.
And not only them. Standing far above them was Allen who watched down focusing on Ethan crossing his arms.
Come on Ethan... you can do this, you always surprise everyone, remember, even me... Allen thought with a smile. You have this, surely you do...
Focusing back on the ring, Ethan was filled with relief to see Gyarados pick his head back up. His eyes drifted off before locking them onto Girafarig with steam coming from his nose.
"I knew you could do it!" Ethan exclaimed. "Okay then, use Aqua Tail and crush it!"
Gyarados lifted his tail which was covered in a veil of water before he brought it back down trying to smash the psychic type under his tail.
"Dodge it!" Eusine commanded. Girafarig heard him leaping back avoiding the blow from Gyarados' tail which nearly shook the whole ring.
"Now, Double Kick!" Eusine continued.
Girafarig leaped in front of Gyarados' head and landed a swing kick before turning in motion and doing it again.
"Rahhhh!" Gyarados screamed needing a second to recover.
That thing is tough... Ethan thought.
Eusine noticing Gyarados' strain continued with the onslaught of attacks. "Zen Headbutt!"
Girafarig again lunged forth tucking in its head, while being encased in a bright pinkish aura. Moving across the battlefield he headbutted Gyarados inflicting even more damage.
Ethan didn't like he was seeing and needed a turnaround. "Dragon's Dance!"
Finally, Gyarados began to glimmer with a purple aura before it radiated around his body entirely. The excess amounts of energy were more than enough to fling Girafarig away from him but the Pokémon managed to redirect itself while air bourn and land on its hooves.
Gyarados then glared back at his opponent, now with much more power and speed for that matter.
Got to find a way to beat this thing, it's so fast and nimble, thankfully Gyarados' is faster now, I've got to find a way too... Ethan asked himself considering his options. Going to have to rush it...
Eusine finally raised another arm preparing for another command. "Now, finish Gyarados with Thunderbolt!"
Ethan winced fearing the attack right as Girafarig began to surge with electricity. But his eyes lit up as he got an idea.
"Hydro Pump and fast!" Ethan cried.
Gyarados listened and opened his mouth firing a large wave of water straight for Girafarig who was still preparing for the finishing move.
"Trying to short-circuit Girafarig huh, well it won't work, dodge it!" Eusine commanded. Girafarig listened leaping into the air rolling over the Hydro Pump as it splashed the ring. Water got everywhere as it drenched the ring and the ground near by it.
The announcer leaped out the way not wanting to get wet but Eusine simply stood there getting wet from head to toe. He would not even for a second take his eyes off the battle.
"Another miss, looks like Contestant Ethan's special Gyarados isn't as special as we though-" The announcer stopped talking as soon as Gyarados ferociously turned to him with a mean stare that instantly made him shut up.
Finally, Girafarig landed back on the floor, but it was different now. The psychic couldn't keep up its electrical charge any longer as its' hooves kept waddling over the wet floor and so it began to slip.
"N-no!" Eusine yelled.
Ethan smiled. "Dragon Rage now!"
Gyarados opened his mouth and formed a large beam about the size of his head. It fired with about enough force the audience could feel it. Girafarig, scared, turned his head not able to look at the impending doom coming his way.
The Dragon Rage not only hit, but it carried its' victim along with it in the sky before it erupted into what looked like sparkly fireworks
Eusine looked up to the sky with rage seething on his face. He watched as his Pokémon dropped from the leftover smoke in the sky and fell on its back first. Defeated and with no way of getting up.
"And there we have it, Girafarig is out, Contestant Eusine, please send out your final Pokémon!" The announcer cheered.
Eusine looked like he was going to blow a fuse before he shut up, he closed his eyes and slapped his cheeks. Once he did he seemed back to normal, he raised Girafarig's Pokéball and recalled it. Ethan watched as he could see the worry on his opponent's face.
"How you holding up?" Ethan asked earning a grim stare from his rival.
"How am I holding up!?" He repeated. "This is a battle, don't treat me like your lesser, like I said before, I'm your superior, and I plan to prove it."
Ethan smiled. "This isn't about inferiority and superiority; I wish you'd understand that."
Eusine looked away from Ethan with spite on his face as he spoke under his breath. "...It always has."
He brought out his final Pokéball before turning back to Ethan. "Look, you've done well so far but right now any chance in victory you had is gone, you hear me, you've lost this."
You know what, it's funny... Ethan thought to himself. All this time I was nervous, nervous to face my rivals, and that includes you Eusine, but I can see on your face, no matter how confidently you speak on the inside you're the same.
"Gyarados, you're killing it buddy, let's keep this up and we'll be making it to the semi-finals!" Ethan said coming up from behind his Pokémon and hugging the back end of his tail.
In return the water type looked towards Ethan and with a mischievous smile sent a stream of water to which landed on his the boy's hat taking him out of it as he let go.
He saw the sudden flash of the Pokéball and looked up to see Eusine's final Pokémon, one he had seen before. To little surprise, it was the same psychic type that had taken out Heracross in their previous battle.
"Alakazam, Alakazam!" It cried looking up towards its much bigger enemy.
Ethan looked towards Meganium. "Remember that guy, man was it strong, and if I had to bet it probably hasn't forgotten that one move, think it was Future Sight?"
"Megay!" Meganium said with a quick nod.
He turned back to the battlefield. To Eusine who smiled.
"Your next move, Alakazam has already seen it..." He muttered.
"Then we'll just have to out speed it!" Ethan claimed. "Gyarados, Dragon's Dance once more!"
Gyarados let out a shriek as he filled himself with his vicious aura. Eusine watched with little to be impressed about.
"Nothing to get worked up over, Alakazam, show off your new move." He uttered.
Alakazam listened, he raised his two spoons and between the both a void almost like a black hole appeared in between them. Ethan looked into it and it blew his mind, it looked nearly infinite in size somehow yet so small.
"What the hell...?" He asked himself before he saw Alakazam with a hand motion release the very same energy, it was like a shockwave only it appeared to grow in size before it shot at Gyarados landing direct damage.
"Rawwwwww!" Gyarados screamed in pain nearly falling to the floor before recollecting himself, but right as he did he saw what appeared to be three different forms of energy coming his way.
"Tri Attack!?" Ethan realized.
The attack smashed him in the face causing an eruption of smoke, and with that, a thud.
Landing on the floor nearly laid out. Gyarados was out for good from this battle.
"After an incredible run, Alakazam takes down the Red Gyarados, who will be Contestant Ethan's final Pokémon!?" The announcer asked into his mic.
Ethan walked up to Gyarados who just now managed to come to although in no shape to continue. The kid put his hand on the water type's cheek and smiled. "That was great Gyarados, you really did prove you're more than that color of yours."
Gyarados smiled and gave Ethan a lick nearly covering his whole body which made the boy laugh. He finally grabbed his Great Ball and raised it over Gyarados.
"Take a good rest, promise I'll get you healed up at the Pokémon Center later, kay boy." Ethan said as he withdrew the water type. Afterwards he turned around and faced Eusine.
"One Pokémon left, seems we're on an even playing field now, except I still have the advantage, Alakazam as you know can see up to one minute into the future." He said with a great smile.
"Nah that doesn't bother me, but what was that moves name Alakazam used just earlier?" Ethan asked. "Never seen anything like it."
"It's called Expanding Force, and arguably his strongest move, at least as far as attacking goes." Eusine explained. "Face it, you're finished, no matter what you do Alakazam can see through it, power, speed, stamina, none of that matters, for Alakazam knows what you're going to do before you even do it."
"Ala, Alakazam!" Alakazam uttered throwing his spoons in the air and catching them with the opposite arms.
Ethan brang out his final Pokéball from his bag before looking back at his foe. "If Alakazam can see into the future, then it'll see itself losing with this next Pokémon."
He finally threw his Pokémon. Out from it came his very own psychic type who with a flip midair landed on her feet as cats always did.
"Espe..." She purred staring her opponent down.
"You've got this Espeon!" Ethan exclaimed.
"Meganiuh, Meganium!" Meganium cheered as well.
"And would you look at that, folks, another psychic type, it looks like we'll get to see just exactly which of the two is the better!" The announcer said.
Meanwhile Eliza and Elm watched patiently, both starting to feel the same stress Ethan and Eusine felt.
"One Pokémon left, huh." Eliza said.
"Both, one Pokémon left." Elm clarified. "Although it may be a different story if he still had Heracross."
"What happened to Meganium really changed him I suspect; he doesn't want to overwork his Pokémon far too much." Eliza explained.
"Yeah, that to, I don't know much about this Eusine guy or this Alakazam, but I do know one thing, Espeon is strong, it'll be able to handle it." Elm claimed.
"You mean she?" Eliza corrected.
"Haha, yeah..." He agreed.
Espeon at this point was still staring at her opponent. She hadn't thrown a single move and neither was Alakazam.
"Hmm... why aren't you calling any commands?" Eusine asked towards his opponent.
"Thought it kind of obvious." Ethan said with a sly smirk before looking down to his arm. He pulled back his sleeve looking at his Pokégear looking at the time.
Eusine instantly got the idea. He smiled once more and clenched his fist. "I see what you're doing, trying to use up time to take out Alakazam before the minute passes, well don't forget Alakazam can just use the move again and so the minute he runs out of time I can just tell him to use the move again."
"Yeah but in that second between Future Sight and normal I'll have Alakazam taken out." Ethan said raising his arm. Finally on his Pokégear a ding went off which was of course from his timer. He saw Eusine about to give a command and so he took the opportunity to go first.
"Quick Attack, let's go!" Ethan yelled.
Espeon listened, she easily lunged off the floor zooming towards Alakazam. And with her speed she'd be able to move across that instant in the amount of time before the human mind could even react, let alone a second.
But not how fast a Pokémon could react. Much to her surprise Alakazam raised its two spoons with a force of electricity. Having no other place to go the Sun Pokémon was hit in place with the move which appeared to be Thunder Wave as she screamed in pain from the paralysis.
"Yes!" Eusine exclaimed. "You thought we were so predictable, didn't you!? You were so concerned with Future Sight that you couldn't see another attack coming, you're a fool, and now my wish will be achieved. I will finally prove I am your better!"
"I'm a fool?" Ethan said. "Then who's the one celebrating over his Pokémon getting paralyzed.
"Wait, what!?" Eusine said looking back to his Pokémon. Much to his shock, Alakazam was being hit with the effects of static and giving a cry.
"I-Impossible, what the hell did you do!?" He uttered looking to Espeon.
She was perfectly fine standing confidently in place watching as her opponent was being paralyzed. Finally, Ethan knew he played all his cards right.
"Alright Espeon, magic bounce did the trick, so let's finish this once and for all!" Ethan said. "Okay, Psybeam!"
Espeon raised her head forming a ball of rainbow-colored energy before firing it point blank at Alakazam hitting it straight in the face with a tremendous beam. Alakazam shrieked before being launched into the sky before being stopped in place.
It looked down to see Espeon's red gem glowing. She had used psychic.
"Now, the finishing blow!" Ethan cried clenching his fist.
"Esss...PEE!" Espeon cried. With a swift jerk of her head Alakazam followed suit and crashed to the ground making a direct hit face first into the ground.
Eusine instantly ran over to his fallen Pokémon, it couldn't have been over, it couldn't have, because if it was, then he'd have lost and his whole journey would've been for nothing, at least that's what he told himself constantly.
He looked at Alakazam turning his body over. Seeing the results he gasped before looking up at Ethan with a single tear in his eye. Alakazam was done. His reign, over.
The announcer took one good look at Alakazam before raising his microphone to his mouth. "And there we have it, Alakazam is unable to battle meaning Contestant Ethan is the victor!"
"Espeon! Espeon! You won it!" Ethan cried excitedly as he lunged for his psychic type with open arms. She turned around and leaped in his arms as well as they embraced.
The psychic's Trainer laid on the floor as he hugged her. "I'm so proud of you Espeon, there really is no other psychic type like you!"
"Espe!" She squealed equally as excited.
Meganium looked at the two and couldn't help but feel just as giddy. Ethan was making it to the semifinals, just the idea of it alone was exhilarating.
The three judges were astounded. Perhaps this poor Trainer from New Bark Town really was much than they gave him credit for originally.
"Kid's better than I thought. I'll admit it, he's got... talent." Sullivan confessed to Lorelai and Oak. "I still hate the kid's guts, but whatever, anyways what was that thing that happened between Espeon and Alakazam, how come Thunder Wave reversed?"
Lorelai looked towards Sully and for possibly the first time ever smiled. "H-he's so smart, that was magic bounce, a hidden ability in which status moves like that are flipped on its head, reversed, meaning the user of the status ability is the only one affected by it."
"Yup, few Pokémon can use it, I wonder how when he realized his Pokémon can use it!" Oak cried happily.
The audience for once, well at least on a collective front wasn't booing. In fact it was mostly quiet, yet Ethan could hear some claps, some cheer, sure he heard some negative being spouted but still, he heard... good.
He looked around viewing the massive audience. All before he heard sobbing. Ethan turned around letting Espeon out of his hands. Eusine was on the floor, on his knees, crying.
"HOW CAN THIS BE, HOW CAN THIS BE!?" Eusine cried out. "I-I was supposed to win, I was supposed to prove my superiority."
He looked up to Ethan with streams of tears coming from his face. Ethan could see it all, the pain, the hurt, the longing for more, the dissatisfaction, everything. "S-Suicune, this was my chance to prove myself to Suicune... this was never supposed to happen..."
"...Eusine." Ethan spoke. He didn't know much to say, never before had he seen an opponent of his cry in front of him.
The man while crying reached into his bag. He pulled out something only could see, a knife, and while normally he'd be prepared to defend himself, especially with what had happened earlier, he trusted Eusine and so he walked up to him and kneeled in front of him placing his hand right on Eusine's arm.
"It doesn't have to be this way Eusine, you don't have to do what I think you're trying. I get how you feel, and that it hurts, having to live your life one way only to feel rejected..." Ethan said in a soft voice. "But, that's not the answer... even if you don't think it, you've got to live for, forget about Suicune, forget about the Pokémon, and start thinking about you... the man."
"I-I can't." Eusine said moving his hand away from the knife in his bag. "My whole life has revolved around Suicune... I-I was supposed to win this, and Suicune would accept me, think I'm worthy."
Ethan smiled and placed his same hand on Eusine's shoulder. "Well, I can't speak much for Suicune, but I think you are worthy Eusine, much more worthy than I could ever be. You said our previous battle didn't count because you weren't a Trainer back then, but you're a Trainer now, and you're unlike any other Trainer here, when everyone was so terrified to face that Leviathan guy you embraced it, saw it as an opportunity."
"That was just an act." Eusine said looking Ethan in the eye.
"No Eusine... I mean it, the world would be a lot worse without people like you, I truly believe, come on, let's go for a walk and talk at least." Ethan said standing up, he reached out his hand, this time for Eusine to reach.
Eusine looked up towards Ethan not sure to take his hand or not.
"Come on, you don't have to be alone anymore... please." Ethan said.
"Espe, Espe!" Espeon agreed.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium cried happily.
Eusine smiled and stood up grabbing Ethan's hand as he helped him up. But much to his surprise as he stood up Ethan grabbed and raised his arm into the air.
With a gesture of a finger he had the announcer come towards him only to snatch his microphone. "Everyone, Eusine of Cerulean City!"
And much to Eusine's surprise, despite him losing a surprising amount of the audience had clapped their hands. He just stood there watching, even having embarrassed himself everyone treated him like a winner. Of course, not exactly everyone, there was still many boos but it didn't even matter as all that truly mattered was what Ethan doing for him.
In the audience Lyra was singing praise for Eusine frantically. She was cheering Eusine on but on the inside she was cheering her friend on.
You did it Ethan, you did it... she thought.
At the same time, Leviathan had closed his journal with nothing more than a smile on his face as he watched Ethan and Eusine. For once, he was wrong.
Would you look at that, this whole time I thought I'd be writing stuff about this Eusine guy... but I ended up writing about Ethan the whole time... He thought happily.
Whew, and that's this chapter, probably feels like two chapters in one and for that I'm sorry. I'll split this into both Eusine and Mister Viridian, for starters with this V guy, I don't know why but whenever I heard him speaking in my mind I hear Mark Hamill, specifically his Joker voice from Batman: The Animated Series and the Arkham games and so on. I'm just saying if this fic was somehow an anime I'd want Mark Hamill playing Mister Viridian immediately. As for Eusine I really hope you guys enjoyed his little bout with Ethan, this has been a long time coming and I'm literally up at three AM writing this shit, anyways... peace out.