Pokémon Crimson Gold
Chapter 96: Insomniac
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. He kneeled down and held and grasped her in his arms, Meganium had burns all over her body, the life in her eyes nearly extinguished, streams of tears coming from her eyes as well as streams of her own blood.
"You're going to be okay girl, I promise you, you're going to be okay, please, please, I promise you, you're going to be okay!" Ethan said too with tears running through his eyes. However all his words were just as empty as the remaining life within her as Meganium closed her eyes. All light having left her.
Ethan closed his eyes and brang her dead body close to him as he embraced her in one hug. The last moment he would ever have with his starter. Everything went dark in this instance, there was nothing but a boy and his first Pokémon.
But suddenly there was light, Ethan opened his eyes, Meganium's corpse no longer in his arms but lying on the floor before him. The boy looked around, no longer was he in the cold dark, nor was he back in New Bark Town during his battle from earlier.
The first thing he saw after facing his head to the sky was the large screen, the large monitor which had been presenting the battle he was just having to everyone in the audience.
Ethan looked around. Suddenly it wasn't just his mother and Elm, everyone in the audience was watching during his darkest moment. And that's what brought about the realization. This was his league match, his final league match.
He stopped looking around. He knew who was in front of him, he knew it was the girl he had just lost to, and he didn't want to look. All he wanted to do was run off and never return, but he couldn't do that. He had a responsibility, and so he gathered all the courage he could muster from within himself and faced the Trainer in front of him.
There stood Lyra who looked down on him as he stood before his fallen Pokémon. She watched him with a sadistic grin on her face. It was even more terrifying than the demonic Tyranitar that stood in front of her eying down Ethan.
Her glare was interrupted by the cry of the announcer who stood at the edge of the ring. "And there we have it folks, Meganium has died in battle, making Contestant Lyra the winner!"
Along with his excitement followed the cheers of the audience. Everyone seemingly celebrating the tragedy that had occurred in ring.
Ethan ignored it as he returned his care to his Pokémon who he slowly pet on her cold face and neck, but as he did he felt the ground shake and begin to crumble.
It was caving in. The ground was falling in on itself from a whole in the center in the ring. An endless void like a black hole lied in the middle, to which the rubble and the destruction centered too.
Ethan tried to hang on to Meganium so her body wouldn't get lost in the random destruction but he had no power. He grabbed onto Meganium holding her by her antennae but no matter how he tried, he couldn't. Meganium was being pulled, by a force he couldn't at all comprehend or fathom.
He was all alone. Alone but with nothing but the antagonism from the audience, they were cheering Lyra's name. Everyone seemingly forgot he existed.
He just wanted it all to end. This couldn't be reality, it couldn't be. But then...
….
"Ayeeeeeee!" The boy screamed as he awakened from his deep sleep. He could still feel his skin crawling along with his mind at a lost before he settled down.
Ethan looked around as he desperately hugged the covers of the bed. He was in his room. It was all just a bad dream, thankfully, it was all just a bad dream.
But unfortunately it wasn't just the first time he had this dream. All during his nights sleeping before the big rounds he had terrible nightmares preventing him from actually dreaming.
He finally steered his sight to the alarm clock beside him. It was about two pm. Right about time he return back to the Indigo plateau to see if Meganium and the rest of his Pokémon were alright.
The boy removed the blanket off of him and got out of the bed. He quickly stripped free from his pajamas which he had put on and onto his usual attire.
After finishing changing he placed his backwards hat atop his head. But as he did he heard some noise from outside. Sounded like some random screaming his lungs off and he could also hear the sound of photos being taken.
He walked over to the window with all his curiosity. Maybe it was a bad idea since the kid often had bad luck with strangers and this occasion was no different.
A man with a camera in his hand was repeatedly taking pictures of Ethan through his window over and over all the while screaming. "That's Ethan of New Bark Town, Ethan of New Bark Town, he's moving on to the finals of the Indigo league!"
Ethan covered his eyes from the bright flash. It was nice being recognized but not like this, not when he least expected. He reached over and grabbed both curtains and closed them shut. He didn't need this right now.
After that event he walked through the bedroom door and into the living room. First thing he noticed while walking in was the smell of a nice cherry pie. Over at the stove his mother was baking it.
Eliza turned and looked at her son. "Hello sweetie, I'm cooking up a feast in honor of your big day tomorrow!"
"Yay!" Ethan said sarcastically, he didn't really care much for it at the moment. "Anyways, think I'm going to get out of here, go and see if my folks are all done getting checked out."
"As you want Ethan, oh, Elm's going to be visiting us later tonight when it's all ready." Eliza explained.
"Why?" Ethan asked jokingly as he opened the fridge grabbing a bottle of chocolate milk.
"Very funny, oh yeah, dad's out now but he's going to be coming back later." Eliza said which caused Ethan to crush his bottle with milk coming out and spilling on him as well as the floor.
"Awe man, I just washed this!" The kid complained looking at his now-brown stained jacket. It looked like he had gotten his own shit on it.
Eliza looked over and noticed this. "Ethan, what's wrong? Why did you do that?"
"I-It's nothing." Ethan said closing the door to the fridge shut. "I just... I don't know, so ugh, dad's coming back later today."
"Yeah, he promised me he would." Eliza said. This made the boy begin to laugh.
"Hah, right, cause whenever he makes a promise he always keeps them." He snickered before dropping his smile.
"I thought you were mad at him, but I didn't want to be right." Eliza said sadly.
"I'm... I wouldn't say I'm, mad." Ethan replied. "But I don't have much reason to believe he's actually make it, I mean sure he's stayed with us for the week in between the latest round and the one before but, I mean, I- whatever..."
"Of course he will Ethan, this time he's not the one trying to win the tournament, you are, how could he miss that for the world." Eliza lectured.
"Well this isn't the final round of a tournament, this is family dinner, when has he ever showed up to one of those." Ethan asked.
"He did with us back during Goldenrod-" Before she could finish Ethan interrupted her and yelled.
"Yeah, right before he tried to prevent me from continuing my journey!" The boy yelled. Eliza didn't respond with words but instead gave him a glare with both anger but behind it all he could see some sympathy.
"Um... I'm sorry, I don't know why I yelled, that was unjustified." He apologized. "Well uh, anyways, like I said I should get going." He said placing his hand on the doorknob. "Um... love you."
"Ethan..." Eliza said stopping her son from leaving. Ethan closed his eyes and slowly turned his body around facing his mother.
"I'm not your maid, you spill chocolate milk on the floor you clean it up yourself, go ahead." She told him.
Ethan smiled and laughed as he ran to go grab a paper towel. "Sorry, can't believe I actually forgot to!"
….
After finishing cleaning up the boy had made his way towards the Indigo plateau once again. Once he won the battle with Silver his Pokémon were still very injured. Thankfully he had found a kind girl who'd help him to fix up his Pokémon, and even better, she was almost as good as every other Nurse Joy he had ever met.
He made his way towards the front receptionist as he walked in through the door. It was a different lady at the desk than the normal one. "Hello, my name's Ethan, I'm um, one of the contestants in the league-"
"I know who you are." The lady interrupted him not so much as looking him in the eye. She was busy typing away on her computer.
It was a bit awkward but Ethan ignored it. "I know there's no more battle's going on today, but I uh, left some of my Pokémon with someone who I don't believe has left yet for the day, so can I walk through the doors, I promise I'll be quick."
The receptionist finally looked up from her computer and gave Ethan a disapproving gleam as she smacked on the gum in her mouth. "Plateau closes after the round ends, you can't get your Pokémon, sorry, that's too bad."
"Oh come on..." Ethan sighed. "I'll just be really quick-"
"Pfft, just kidding, I don't give a shit." The lady said taking her eyes off the kid and back into her computer. "Just be quick cause if you take too long I'll have to, you know, assume you're trying to find out our most hidden secrets, sort of like this place was built from child labor."
"W-what!?" Ethan said not at all having expected that answer. "I didn't even, I never-"
"Dude, I'm just screwing with you." The receptionist said getting suddenly aggravated. "Just, go and do whatever you want to do, I don't really care what."
"Alright, thanks I guess?" Ethan told her as he went and walked past her heading for the door. Weird conversations aside he made his way through the long hallway stopping right before the door where his Pokémon's new caretaker was earlier.
Inside, there she was. Placing the last of bandages over Meganium's nose was Garnet. Not only was the grass type, but also Ampharos, Togetic, Espeon, Heracross, and Gyarados who, well, was inside his Great Ball.
The caretaker looked up as she heard the sound of knocking on the door. Upon glancing her eyes were met with Ethan's who had knocked still peaking his head from the outside.
"Mind if I come in?" Ethan said as he opened the door and walked into the room.
"Awe, Ethan, good timing. Your Pokémon have just finished getting healed up!" Garnet said as the five Pokémon before her went and ran towards their Trainer.
Ethan kneeled down as the five of them formed a circle around them. All of them, Meganium, Togetic, Ampharos, Espeon, and Heracross all looked a okay.
"You guys feeling better now?" Ethan asked of his Pokémon.
"Megay Megay!" Meganium frantically nodded.
"Toge, Toge!" Togetic said spinning around Ethan.
"Amphar, Ampharo!" Ampharos cried with his skin rising along with some electricity.
"Espe..." The psychic type purred softly.
"Hera, Hera!" Heracross screeched jumping and did a backflip.
Ethan took it all in. All his Pokémon nearly spotless, almost without a scratch on them. Well, there were still some bruises but to be fair it'd surely disappear with some time.
"Oh, that reminds me, Gyarados, his Great Ball?" Ethan asked of Garnet.
Garnet turned to the counter and reached for the Atrocious Pokémon's ball. She grabbed it and walked over to Ethan. "Here you are, how could I forgot?"
"You're fine." Ethan told her as he reached and grabbed the Great Ball. "Yup, that makes six, so, thanks again for healing up my Pokémon, means a lot, really."
"The pleasure is all mine, the pleasure is all mine." Garnet told him as Ethan turned around and headed for the door.
"Well, anyways, I wish I could repay you but I can't quite, so hopefully my thanks is enough, see ya later!" Ethan cried before she reached and placed her hand on his shoulder and tapped twice.
"Um... Ethan, before you go, there's something else I wanted to speak with you about, that okay?" Garnet told him. He turned around and so did all his Pokémon as they looked at her.
"Of course, what's wrong, tell me whatever's up." Ethan asked her.
"First, maybe your Pokémon should wait outside in the hall, I think this is best as a private conversation. I-it'll just be a minute, I promise." Garnet swore with a worried brow.
Ethan could tell something was a little off. It didn't matter though. After all she had done for him he had to hear her out. "Um, you heard her you guys, all five of you, out in the hall for a second."
His Pokémon agreed, Togetic, Ampharos, Espeon, and Heracross headed out through the door. And in the back was Meganium who before leaving turned her head giving a lingering stare towards both her Trainer and Garnet before she exited.
Ethan had returned his Pokémon's gaze before he slowly turned front and center towards Garnet. Right now it was just the two of them the boy noted. Her little grass type was out of sight. "So, where's Bellossom at, I haven't seen her all day?"
"Bellossom, she's fine. Not with me at the moment, I've trained her to be able to help out other Pokémon like her, grass types that is. Right now she's off helping out other Pokémon anyway." Garnet answered.
"Right... right." Ethan said as he turned and took a seat on the nearest bench. "Well, let me hear it. It's about Meganium, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I watched your battle with that Silver... it was..." She began.
"I know, it was risky." Ethan admitted.
"Risky?" Garnet repeated taking a seat besides Ethan. "Well, I was actually going to say, it was incredible, the fact you won in the first place."
Ethan took a minute to recollect upon mentioning his earlier battle.
….
Typhlosion came homing towards Meganium with a great, red flame which turned blue in color. He could feel the heat coming from it more so than any attack. And the radius to which the attack covered. It felt like everything surrounded Typhlosion by a five-meter distance was on fire.
"Flare Blitz!?" Silver identifying the attack. "Typhlosion learned a new attack!"
Meganium saw the royal blue flame coming from her. She was terrified and the only thing she could do was close her eyes and accept certain defeat. Try and brace for impact. The grass type turned her face away from her opponent as she lied on the floor. All she could do.
It felt like time stood still. The Flare Blitz should've hit her yet it hadn't. Could it be a phenomenon akin to time slowing down when one is about to die?
But something was off. She didn't feel the immense flames anymore. Meganium opened her eyes; there stood Typhlosion in front of her, the Pokémon stood there with lifeless eyes still standing, standing over her, not moving a muscle.
Its arm, was over Meganium, perhaps trying to bash her with the attack to the neck while the Flare Blitz hit. Either way, the Pokémon stood there. Utterly, and undoubtedly defeated.
Both Ethan and Silver were speechless. How could Meganium, who could barely stand be the victor when Typhlosion had all that power.
The announcer walked over to Typhlosion and shook his head before raising the microphone. Before he spoke his words he looked over to Ethan and Silver to which neither spoke. "Despite all odds, Typhlosion is unable to battle, meaning Contestant Ethan will be making it to the final round!"
….
"I... I'm proud of my Pokémon, how could I not be. But I'll admit it." Ethan said lowering his voice so none of them would hear him. "Meganium... she got lucky, if Typhlosion hadn't taken the recoil damage from using that attack, what was it, Flare Blitz, then she, I, we, we would've lost the league."
From outside, despite him trying to lower his voice Meganium was pressing her head to the door. She heard what Ethan had said. After hearing it she brang her head down saddened, the bright and happy gleam she had on her face seemingly vanished. Espeon beside her had noticed and walked to her side.
"Well, to be fair..." Garnet said breaking the silence between her and Ethan. "She did the best she could, it's not her fault-"
"I'm not saying it's her fault." Ethan interrupted. "Like I said, I'm proud of her, just the same as the rest of my Pokémon. And technically I didn't break out little promise, you said not to use Meganium unless I had to, in a six-on-six battle. And I didn't, but... I didn't expect a six-on-six battle to happen so soon."
"I know, I know." Garnet said calmly. "I know how much it must stress you out, I just wanted to tell you... she's doing alright, but, all this battling, it's not good for her. You saw how much it's all eaten at her stamina."
"I have seen." Ethan nodded. "You know, sometimes I feel like maybe this is all on me, it's my fault she was even put in this condition, maybe I'm even worse for making her battle."
"Don't talk like that, I saw everything, remember, I know how she was put in such a state." Garnet reminded him placing her hand on his. "You're a Trainer, a great one, there's no fault in asking a Pokémon to battle, don't ever forget that, Ethan. You said you're proud of your Pokémon but you're not the only proud one. Your Pokémon, they're all just as proud to have you as their Trainer."
Ethan smiled as she released his hand. "Hah, well, maybe you're right about that. But... I don't know, after all this, she's going to have to take a long break from all this battling."
"I agree." Garnet said with a nod. She turned her head from the boy. Her face tensed up before she took a deep breath calming herself. It was now the time to ask him the big question she had intended to ask when she asked for him to stay and speak with her.
"Ethan." She said looking into his eyes. Their heads only a bit apart. "Meganium, you're right about one thing, she is in need of rehab. And... I think, maybe you should..."
"What?" Ethan asked. She was starting to slip on her words.
"W-what Meganium needs is rehabilitation, and I know how I, we, can best do that." Garnet said no longer looking him in the eye. "Ethan, I think, I think maybe you should let me take Meganium of your hands."
Ethan couldn't believe what she was saying. "W-what?"
"Me, and my family, we can rehabilitate her, my dad especially, I-if you think I'm good, then he's at least three times my superior, it, it may take time to get her back to her former self, but in no time I'm sure we can bring Meganium back from what state she's in now." Garnet told the Trainer sitting beside her,
The offer was a lot to take in for the boy who was at a loss for words. "I-I mean, but, that, that's not. I thought you and your family lived in Unova?"
Garnet had simply no words. She simply nodded as Ethan got her implication.
"Y-you're saying you want to take Meganium from me!?" Ethan cried getting up from his seat. He looked both nervous and shocked at the same time.
"Shh, I-it doesn't have to be like that." Garnet said asking him to settle down. "Look, I'm not trying to take her from you, I'm just offering you, it's up to you, Ethan. I just want to make sure you understand that if you gave her to me and we went to Unova together, I know we could get her the best treatment in the world, and for no charge."
"But Unova's across the world." Ethan sighed. "W-we'd be so far from each other, a-and if something God forbid were to happen, I wouldn't be there."
"Who's to say you won't be." Garnet said standing up behind him. "I-I implore you, come to Unova, you can be with Meganium as we rehabilitate her, you two don't have to be separated."
Ethan took one moment to think about it. "I... I couldn't go to Unova, leave my mom and everyone else all by themselves without me. I'm sorry Garnet but, Meganium has me, my mom, and Professor Elm, well, sure he's no expert Pokémon nurse like you and your father but I'm sure we can take care of her just fine."
"Sure, don't worry I get it." Garnet nodded still not looking him in the eye. She turned around and leaned on the nearest table. "Well, I'll see you later I'm sure; all the best during the finals tomorrow."
"I'm glad you understand." Ethan said as he turned around and headed for the door. He placed his hand on the knob before speaking one last line. "Oh and, I really do appreciate your support, it means a lot to me, alright, I'll be seeing you later."
He opened the door and slowly closed it behind him. The door creaked very loudly, the only sound that could be heard between their brief utter silence. Ethan's hand dawdled on the knob before he turned to face his five Pokémon who were all staring at him with bug eyes.
"H-hey everyone." Ethan said kneeling down. "Look, I just wanted to say that, you guys, if I don't say it enough, thank you, thank all of you. Not just for the fact that you guys battle for me, but also just that I have all of you, I'm really thankful for that, you guys don't even know."
All his Pokémon nodded their little heads with Togetic leaping in his arms and Espeon jumping on his shoulder. Ethan laughed and held the two as he walked alongside the rest of them, Ampharos and Meganium to his left, Heracross to his right.
As he walked out the doors of the Indigo plateau, even with all his Pokémon by his side it didn't help with his epiphany, he still couldn't get tomorrow's opponent out of his mind.
….
It wasn't a very far walk from the plateau to back at the hotel. With about a quarter hour to spare till four he finally made it. Ethan and Meganium stood in front of the hotel door before he gave it a knock.
As they waited in the hall, Ethan took notice of something and turned to his grass type. "Hey, did you get a lollypop by any chance?"
Meganium shook her head. She had nothing on her.
"Heh, of course, you know, Garnet asked me something today, something important." Ethan told his starter.
Meganium was curious, she steered her head towards her Trainer with wonder but before he could speak the door opened.
Ethan looked at the man in front of him; his father who went and slapped him on the back as he passed him without a second glance.
"Hey, Ethan! Man, I really am proud of you, how you battled out there, you really were amazing." Allen said gleefully, all the while Ethan and Meganium ignoring him.
He walked over to the kitchen table and took in the smell of fresh food. They had nearly everything. Spaghetti, mashed potatoes, chili, and Eliza had just set a fresh new batch of pie on the table.
"Ethan, you made it just in time." Eliza told her son who pulled up a seat for himself.
"This stuff smells good, so, when the Professor gets here we're all going to start eating, right?" Ethan asked. He turned to Meganium behind him who remained there temped to take a bite from the cherry pie.
"He should be getting here any minute." Allen said from beside his son as he took a seat next to him. Ethan didn't like that he of all people was sitting next to him but again tried his best to ignore it.
"Anyways, this will be in celebration of your making it into the final round of the Indigo league." Eliza said as she took a seat in front of her son. "We really all are proud of you-"
Before she could finish they heard another knock on the door. Eliza immediately got up and ran towards it. "That must be him!" She cried.
As the door opened, there he stood, the Pokémon Professor himself. With a bottle of champagne in his hand as Eliza hugged him and he walked in the room towards the big table.
Ethan's smile returned just seeing the man. "Alcohol huh, now this is a party!" The boy joked.
"Ethan...!" Eliza gasped in a non-serious tone.
"Kidding, kidding." Ethan replied as Elm sat to the right of Eliza.
"So, Ethan, that was quite the battle you had earlier, that kid, what was his name, Silver?" Professor Elm asked as Eliza handed him and the rest of them a plate.
Ethan didn't know quite what to say, after all, with everything that had happened between him and Silver. Or how Silver had stole Cyndaquil from the man, "Uh, yup, that sounds like him."
"So, that was quite the hug you too shared, and I thought you said you didn't know him?" Eliza said which only stressed her son out more.
"...I mean, we fought a few times before, I wouldn't really say I know him all that well." Ethan lied. "Right Meganium?"
"Megay Megay!" Meganium lied as well. Trying to act like her normal cheerful self.
"Oh yeah, and that reminds me, back when he was fighting that horrible Team Rocket, you stepped in and, well, we couldn't really hear what you were saying and all, but..." Elm began.
That gave Ethan the bright idea. "Yeah! That's it, I just heard all the awful things that Team Rocket dude was spitting and I couldn't help but step in, I guess he really appreciated it more than I would've guessed."
As he said that, Eliza grabbed his plate and gave him some spaghetti along with mashed potatoes along with a fork. And now that they could eat Ethan excitedly went and reached for the pie knife before Eliza lightly slapped him on his arm.
"Owie!" Ethan said bringing his hand back as he held his wrist with his other.
"What do I always tell you, desert comes last, after you finish the main dish you can have pie." Eliza lectured.
"Right, sorry." Ethan apologized as he grabbed his fork. Well at the very least his mom could make good food so it wasn't all that bad.
Allen grabbed some chili and some spaghetti and began to dig in. "Wow, haven't had good food like this in a long while."
"I'll say, this is really good Eliza." Elm said as he began to chow down on some mashed potatoes.
They just sat quietly eating for a little bit before they continued there talking. Ethan in particular was finally feeling his mind get off the big event tomorrow before the group brought it back up.
"So, Leviathan." Allen said swallowing the last string of spaghetti from his plate. "I'll be honest, I really didn't think that Lyra stood a chance against her, what do you think Ethan?"
Ethan stopped ignoring his father as he plunged his fork into the mashed potatoes. "Good ol' Lyra... well, I never lost faith in her that she could beat Leviathan, just cause what, he's got a Legendary Pokémon."
"Well how do you feel; her Tyranitar looked so powerful!" Allen exclaimed. "I'm still torn on if that thing's stronger than Lance's Dragonite or not, I don't think I've seen a Pokémon that strong in a long time!"
"Y-yeah, I know more than anyone, how strong that damn Tyranitar is." Ethan sighed which got a gasp from his mother.
"Ethan, watch your mouth!" Eliza spoke up getting an apology from the boy.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to curse." Ethan told her.
"You better be, I've noticed you've gotten a potty mouth ever since you turned twelve, just cause the other kids your age curse doesn't mean you have to." Eliza muttered to which Ethan nodded.
"...Anyways." Elm said changing the subject. "Now that you're going to be battling Lyra tomorrow, do you think you've got any plans or strategies you'd like to tell us?"
"T-that's best I keep a surprise for tomorrow." Ethan responded with sweat dripping down his forehead as his hand began to tremble slightly while holding the fork. His mother noticed this.
"Honey, what's wrong, you seem tense?" Eliza asked.
"I-it's nothing, I'm fine, really." Ethan told her setting aside the fork.
"I know, you must be real excited about tomorrow, I'd be." Allen said happily. "Getting to see between you and your best friend who's progressed the most."
"Uhm, umhm." Ethan said shaking his head barely speaking now.
"Well, as strong as Eliza is, I know she can't beat my Ethan, sure you lost to her the last time you both but I know how much stronger your Pokémon have come since." Eliza said all giddy. "What do you think Elm?"
"Augh, I don't know, as much as I want for Ethan to win, Lyra was also my student, I can't put one of my protégés over the other." Elm explained. "I'll have to go in tomorrow's battle unbiasedly, I'll vote both of them on."
"So, you're saying you do have your biases." Eliza smirked. "You can't lie to us, we all know you want for Ethan to win. After all you came here with us, and not Lyra or her parents."
"Oh whatever." Elm brushed it off.
"Either way, I know my boy can win this." Allen said which only stressed Ethan out more.
He sat there holding his cup of water as he took a big fat gulp from it. All this talk of the battle only served to stress him more and more out. He could feel his body shaking ever so slightly and more and more talk of it would only hurt him more.
"Ethan's going to beat her for sure."
"My boy can do anything; I know he can beat her."
"Tyranitar is powerful no doubt, but so is Ethan and his Pokémon."
Finally he couldn't take it any longer. His grip on his drink tightened so much he could feel a crack of glass start to form. Not able to take it any longer he set it down and got up from his chair. "I-I've got to get out of here, let's go Meganium."
"Meganiuh?" Meganium asked as she followed behind him. Elm, Eliza, and Allen were all at a loss for words.
"W-where are you going, come back here Ethan, you didn't even get to eat the pie I made for you!" Eliza cried to which Ethan returned to her with a shout.
"I don't want any, I'm leaving!" He yelled raising his voice.
Enough was enough. Allen stood up and gave a yell. "Ethan, you do NOT walk out on your mother!"
Ethan gave a salty laugh as he opened the door. "No, that's your job!" He said before slamming the door shut.
All three of them remained in the room all with no words. Allen finally pulled his chair back up and took a seat. He grabbed his plate and set to a side.
"I, I don't know what's gotten into him." Eliza apologized for him. "Allen I, I guess I shouldn't have talked so much about tomorrow's match, he must be really distressed about it, this is all my fault."
Allen sat there and couldn't bear to listen to his wife's guilt. Especially when the fault was all his. "No Eliza, the fault's all mine."
"You did nothing wrong Allen, what are you...?" Eliza asked.
Allen sighed as he remained in his seat. "Before the big day, the first day of the Indigo league, Ethan came so late he was nearly disqualified, remember."
"How could I forgot." Eliza answered. "Why, what happened?"
There was a silence at the table before Allen grabbed his drink of champagne and took a sip. As he set it down he finally mustered the courage to confess his wrong doings. "I stopped him, I didn't want him making it to the Indigo league, well I did, but I wanted to know if he truly had it in him. And so we battled, it wasn't originally supposed to a big thing, just a quick one-on-one, but I got lost in it, and it ended up being a full-on battle. I lost, and Ethan ended up making it to the league, albeit extremely late."
Eliza didn't know what to say and neither did Elm who sat beside her. They both remained there returning his silence before Allen reached over the table and grabbed her hand.
"I know I should've told you a lot sooner, and I'm sorry. And now I fear Ethan's going to be a lot more bitter for it." Allen explained asking for forgiveness.
Eliza after another brief silence stood up from the table. She left the table and grabbed her coat from the counter before heading out, not giving her husband a word.
Allen and Elm just sat there. Both not saying a word to the other.
….
Ethan laid his head against a rock in the middle of the woods. The same place to which he had rested with the rest of his Pokémon back when he wasn't staying with his parents. He lied taking in the sight of the beautiful river before him.
Meganium laid beside him, placing her head on his chest as she drifted off to sleep. Ethan held her and pet her ever so slightly so she wouldn't wake.
As he did he couldn't help but not take his mind off the upcoming battle. But not only that. He wondered why he had made such a fuss at the dinner table. It wasn't that big a deal and yet he had made it won.
I've got to win that battle tomorrow... Ethan thought desperately despite thinking otherwise. I don't have a choice, I have to win tomorrow, I can't let Lyra beat me.
As he laid there and told himself over and over that he must win, that he would win. He knew otherwise. He would have been no match for Leviathan, and yet Lyra had beaten him regardless. It also made him mad at himself. How could he think these things. After all he had so much faith in his Pokémon, yet not enough to believe they could beat a girl he had battled several times before. And just because of one Pokémon as well.
I'm so pathetic... he thought. His last thought in desperation before he heard footsteps coming his way. He looked up after gently setting Meganium to the side. Coming in through all the trees was Professor Elm who waved his hand.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked.
"As long as your not my mom or dad, then go ahead." Ethan told him not so much as looking him in the eye.
Elm walked towards him and took a seat next to him in front of the rock. He sat there for a bit before finally speaking. "What's up, you can talk to me, I know something's wrong."
"Yeah, no shit." Ethan said disrespectfully before he lightly slapped himself. "I-I'm sorry about that, I don't mean to be rude."
"It's alright, you're not being rude, you're just hurting." Elm replied. "I can see it clearly, so, what's eating you?"
Ethan sat up, giving Elm all his attention. He turned and looked him in the eye. "I don't... I don't think I can beat Lyra tomorrow."
"That's it huh." Elm said. "Ethan, time and time again I've seen you go through unbeatable odds, and yet you've always managed to pull out a victory."
"Really, cause I don't remember pulling out a victory when I battled her last." Ethan told him. "And sure, we've done some training but, who am I kidding, what chance do I have."
"Well, you could've said the same for when you battled Grayson, Kenneth, Eusine, or Silver, and yet you overcame all those challenges." Elm said. "What makes Lyra so different?"
Ethan didn't have any words until he finally continued speaking. "You know, I don't want to sound like a baby, normally I'd take a loss with pride or whatever but, this is different, I can't afford to lose tomorrow."
"Why not, what makes this different, cause it's for the sake of league champion?" Elm asked.
"No... not just that." Ethan said. He figured it was time to be upfront and honest with him. "Look, there's this girl-"
"Hehe, there's always a girl." Elm snickered interrupting him.
"No, not like that." The boy said. "Professor, do you believe in the afterlife?"
"You know I don't Ethan, I'm a scientist." Professor Elm answered. "Why?"
"Then you won't believe what I have to say next, so there's no point." Ethan said closing his eyes. Elm smiled and put his hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"Well, I believe in you more than any science, so tell me, and I'll take your word for it." Elm told him earning a smile from the boy.
"I met a girl, all the way back in Ecruteak, only I didn't think it were real cause she had completely disappeared on me, needless to say I was curious, I asked all about her, found out she was real, only, she had passed." Ethan explained. Elm looked a little lost from what he was hearing but nodded his head.
"And then what?" He asked.
"She was everything I wanted to be, a powerful Trainer, had collected all eight badges, only she was dead. Yet I had seen and talked with her, she suicided, or at least that's what I was told, and then something insane happened, I found out her death, was all framed, Team Rocket's doing." Ethan continued. "It was horrible, this all happened in Blackthorn, but right as I was getting ready to leave, I saw her again, and she told me something."
"What'd she tell you?" Elm asked.
Ethan sighed. "I still remember the exact words, '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."'
"You promised her you'd win then." Elm realized.
"Yeah, I did, it's not just a regular promise, this is a promise I made to someone across the stars." Ethan exclaimed. "I need to win, to honor her but I'm afraid, I just, I don't know if I can do it anymore. It's been eating me up I mean, it's all I think about sometimes. I can't even sleep because of it, cause when I do all I imagine is me losing."
He looked into the sky and shook his head. "I'm sorry... Kris."
Upon hearing the name Elm was even more surprised. "Wait, did you say Kris?"
"Yeah, you've heard of her?" Ethan asked.
"How could I not, not so long ago one of the champion's cousins had passed, so that's the girl you were talking about this whole time." Elm still awestruck.
Ethan nodded. "Yup, I promise you, if I hadn't made that promise I'd be a lot less upset right now, or maybe I would always be like this... I really don't know anymore."
"You'll figure it out Ethan." Elm said kindly. "When battles are at their most tense, that's when you pull out some epic battle strategy I've noticed. I know, I know you won't disappoint her Ethan, you'll win this, not only is she but... I'm also routing for you."
"Really?" Ethan said. "I thought you had to stay unbiased when two of your protégés were going up against each other."
"I know, but I'm being honest with you... and myself." Elm said.
Ethan smiled. "Thanks... for hearing me out, even if you don't believe me, as I'm sure you can imagine, I've never really told a lot of people about this whole Kris thing."
"Who else knows?" Elm asked.
"One person, her sister, the Dragon type gym leader Clair." Ethan confessed.
"Well, I'm just glad you trust me enough to tell me all this." Elm said as he got up from the ground. Ethan smiled and turned to Meganium who was still resting peacefully on the ground.
But suddenly, some rustling came from the trees to which both Ethan and Elm noticed.
"A wild Pokémon?" Ethan said as he grabbed a Pokéball from his bag.
Elm put his arm before Ethan trying to halt him. The boy listened and did not throw a Pokéball. Both Ethan and him just stood there before someone came from the trees.
There he stood. Allen walked and finally revealed himself. "...Hey, kiddo."
"Oh great, just who I wanted to see." Ethan murmured as he turned his head away from him.
Elm and Allen made eye contact. "Um, Elm, would you mind?" Allen asked.
"O-oh, of course." The Professor said as he lightly jogged out of there. As he did he turned and waved towards his protégé. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Ethan, I know you can do it!"
Ethan was no longer in a good mood. Just seeing his dad after everything was just about the last thing he wanted. He sat there pouting not once looking him in the eye.
Allen sighed and walked over to his son. He just stood there admiring the cold waves of the river in front of them before he found the right words.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you." He apologized looking down at his son. "I should've understood how stressed out you were, I was in the wrong."
"...Whatever." Ethan said brushing it off.
"Also, I confessed to your mother, about what happened when you were late for the Indigo league." Allen said which shocked his son.
Ethan could hardly believe it. His dad would do that?
"Y-you're kidding me, why would you do that?" Ethan asked with his eyes wide open.
"Well, I could tell it was eating you up, right?" Allen asked. "Isn't that one of the reasons you're angry with me."
Ethan turned his face away and shook. "I have a lot to be angry with when it comes to you, but don't worry, it doesn't hurt anymore. So, where is she?"
"Your mom? She left as soon as I told her, probably to go find you, I tried calling her, but she wouldn't answer." Allen told him.
"I had no idea." Ethan said.
Neither of them talked as they both watched the calm river silently. There was still a sense of bitterness coming from Ethan which his father noted.
Allen leaned his back against the nearest tree and just watched his son before speaking. "Is there anything I can do, for you to forgive me, and I know, I know there's a lot to forgive but..."
Ethan just sat there quietly before he stood up with a sudden malicious smirk on his face. "You really want my forgiveness, fine, hand it over." He said holding his hand out.
"What, what are you talking about?"
"You want me to forgive you, then there's only one way I will, Blaziken, I want it." Ethan said shaking his hand. "You giving me it or not?"
"But, you don't even need Blaziken, you're Pokémon are already strong enough?" Allen asked in shock. "Why would you even want it in the first place?"
"Man are you dense." Ethan said. "Listen, during tomorrow's battle with Lyra, and if I'm lucky, the battle with Lance, I want to use Blaziken, a Johto boy using a Hoenn starter during the final rounds of the first-ever Indigo league tournament, it'll be iconic, and then from there, I could sell Blaziken, make a buck, who knows, I could be rich!"
Ethan walked around in a circle before returning his hand in front of his dad with his palm open. "So, what'll it be, you want me to forgive you or not."
Allen finally dropped his look of shock and grabbed Ultra Ball. Indeed it was the one which held his Hoenn Pokémon. He reached over and placed it in Ethan's grasp.
Ethan smiled and looked closely at the Ultra Ball. It was so shiny clean it gave off a bright glimmer from the button in the middle. He finally returned his father's glance. "You'd be willing to give your Blaziken to me, without even a second thought?"
"If that's what it'll take for you to forgive me, then yeah." Allen said. Ethan smiled and held his arm back out, the Ultra Ball he returned to his father's hand.
"Don't worry, you're right. I wouldn't need Blaziken, so I'll be selling him to you, that'll be two thousand Poké Dollars." Ethan said to which Allen scoffed.
"Fine, just two thousand, right?" Allen said as he reached and grabbed some cash from his wallet. After pulling out just the right amount he placed it in his son's hand. "Oh, and by the way, if I thought you were being serious I might not have actually given you Blaziken, I know you Ethan, you're not shallow like that."
"Right." Ethan said as he stood up. "So, I guess... we're good."
"Seriously?" Allen replied happily.
"I guess... only since you were nice enough to actually listen to me for once, and, it does seem like you are trying to change, for once." Ethan said before laughing. "Sorry, sorry, that was petty of me, I won't do that again, I promise."
"So, can we go back home, I really hope your mother will forgive me once we get back." Allen said.
"Hmm... I guess." Ethan shrugged. He reached down and grabbed his backpack, but as he strapped it to his shoulder, something slipped and fell from the open zipper.
Ethan felt something hit is foot and so he looked down. He thought it was maybe a Pokéball but he was wrong. It was the special stone which he had been given so long ago.
Allen took notice of it. "An evolutionary stone, I know the one, that's a Shiny Stone!"
"What about it?" Ethan asked as he kneeled down to pick it up. "
"If you give it to Togetic, it'll evolve don't you know?" Allen explained. "If you had that thing for so long, then why wouldn't you have given it to Togetic sooner, did you not know?"
Ethan took a second to think before answering. "I knew from the moment I was handed it, it's just, well, I don't know... it wouldn't feel right forcing Togetic to evolve like that, I could never do it."
"Then why do you bother holding onto it?" Allen asked.
"T-that I don't quite know." Ethan said. "I hold onto it just in case, but that's only if Togetic were to want to evolve, I-it's not my choice."
"Did you ever try and give Togetic the choice?" Allen asked.
Ethan recollected before he shook his head. "N-no, I've never did so come to think of it." He said as he clutched the stone in his hand.
"Then aren't you robbing Togetic of that choice?" Allen asked. "You'll never know what it wants, plus, one thing is for sure, if Togetic's strong enough to defeat my Blaziken, then imagine how much stronger it'd be at its final stage."
"Yeah, but..." Ethan said. "It's never been my way."
"...Well, ultimately, it's your choice at the end of the day, your choice to tell Togetic of it or not, I'd ask Togetic if I were you, but then again, I'm not you." Allen said before he turned around. "Well, should we go?"
Ethan stood there as he stared at his father's back. With his other hand, he held Togetic's Pokéball in his hand. "W-would you give me a second, please, to speak with Togetic?"
Allen smiled and nodded his head giddily as he excitedly turned and headed towards the trees. "Good luck!"
"Here goes nothing..." Ethan muttered as he pressed on the button to the Pokéball, from there, came Togetic who gave an excited spin midair before he went front and center in his Trainer's face.
"To, Togetic...?" Togetic said confused as to the conflicted look on his Trainer's face.
Ethan could hardly look Togetic in the eye. He looked down to his sleeping Meganium. Maybe he should consult with her really quick... or not. It was Togetic's decision, not his, Allen's, or Meganium's, but Togetic's.
There was a long stretch of silence from Ethan before Togetic came by his cheek and rubbed his face against his. Ethan laughed at this and finally began to settle down some. "Alright, alright, thanks Togetic, anyways look, I've got something important to tell you, please listen."
Togetic backed away some and nodded his head. Ready to hear whatever it was Ethan had to say.
Ethan looked down once more at the stone in his hand, it was giving off an even brighter shine this time. Indeed, the name 'Shiny Stone' was perfect for it.
"This stone right here, has the power to evolve certain Pokémon, get in to close with it, and you'd evolve." Ethan explained. Togetic took a great look at it with wonder and awe, he began to move closely towards it which only served to scare Ethan.
"W-woah, get to close and you'll evolve!" Ethan yelled bringing his hand away from his Pokémon.
"...Togetic." Togetic said as he settled down.
Ethan sighed and regained his composure. "Sorry, that's not what I meant, if evolution is what you want, then I won't stop you, so go ahead, the choice is yours."
From there, Ethan set the stone to the ground. It was a good distance away from Togetic who watched it getting an approachable feeling from it. Just being around it he could tell it had a mysterious and mystical aura to it. It felt like he should go and get closer to it.
Togetic began to move forth. It felt like slow emotion to Ethan who watched in wonder, he had no clue whether Togetic would choose to evolve or not, but one thing was for sure, it wasn't his choice to make.
And that's the chapter boys and girls. Uh, I'm sorry, I'm sure it must be annoying not knowing if Togetic choose to evolve or not, but don't worry, all will be revealed some time. Anyways, about my ten-day absence. I know, I know I said I'd upload in two days, but a family emergency happened, my father, he had a stroke a few years ago and is being nursed back to health. Me and my mom are his caretakers, anyways, he had a seizure, like, nine days ago, and I've been in the hospital with him ever since. It'd be wrong if I was writing fan fiction while he was recovering, so I decided to go on a hiatus, but now that he's out, I'm free to continue uploading. Anyways, I'll try and post a new chapter soon, like, six or seven days soon. See y'all then.