DISCLAIMER: All rights to Pokémon Special/Adventures belong to Hidenori Kusaka, Shōgakukan, The Pokémon Company and all those who've worked hard to bring us this awesome manga. [Insert witty comment here].
RATING: T for language, mild crude humor and SHIPPING!
CHARACTER AGES: Red (29), Green (29), Blue (30), Yellow (27), Gold (26), Silver (26), Crystal (26), Ruby (25), Sapphire (24), Emerald (24), Diamond (22), Pearl (22), Platinum (22), Black (21), White (21).
TIME FRAME: January 8th, 10 years later.
A/N: Sorry this took so long! I had massive case of writer's block, especially now since I'm starting college in a few weeks. It's hard to write Crystal's character because most of her personality stems from her interactions with other characters. Hopefully I did her justice. Also, I had a lot of fun creating "Pokémon" brand names for this chapter. Now go grab a bucket of Olivine Redenbacher's and a Fresh Water. Here's Crystal!
Chapter 5 - CRYSTAL
(Nimbasa Airlines, Nimbasa City, Unova Region)
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...
...
"Emerald! Where are you?" the pig-tailed woman yelled into her Pokégear. "The plane's going to leave in fifteen minutes!"
Todd leaned over her shoulder to speak as well. "Dude, if you didn't get the Focus Sash, its cool!" he assured. "Just get him something else!"
"It's not that." he answered back.
"Then what?" said the woman, rubbing the temples on her forehead. "And it better be good."
"Y'know...I gotta investigate the letters, and stuff."
"That's not good enough!" she retorted. "You can't just take over Silver and Black's job like this! Your job was just to find out what material they came from. "
"Well, I haven't figured it out yet, Crystal. So it only makes sense that I stay, right?"
"What do you think?" Todd asked her.
Crystal pulled on her face and heaved a sigh before speaking into the microphone. "Emerald...you really don't have to do this."
"Yes I do! If I don't, I'll never be able to show my face to Seniors Blue and Green ever again!"
"I think you're overreacting a bit," she said. "But if you want to stay here, I guess I'm in no position to stop you, am I?"
"Sorry, Crystal. I would have called earlier but I was a little...out for a while."
"Don't worry about it. Just call Silver on your Pokégear and tell him you'll be staying longer than-"
"Um, about that...my Pokégear's busted."
"What?" Crystal gasped. "How?"
"...Its a long story."
The Catcher groaned as she rubbed her forehead for the eighth time that day. "Wait!" she suddenly realized. "Then how are you calling me?"
"From my X-transceiver, that's how! Yo, Em, who ya callin', anyways?"
Sounds of a woman giggling and Emerald trying to silence it filled up the line, causing Crystal and Todd to look at each other in confusion.
"Uh, Emerald," Todd began hesitantly. "Who's that?"
"Just some crazy fan who wants my-HEY!" The second voice took over, sounding very annoyed.
"Say what? Boy, you're lucky we're on a roller coaster, 'cause otherwise I'd throw your ass over the-"
"Excuse me," Crystal interrupted. "Who is this?'
"My apologies, ma'am. Name's Jade, and am I to assume that this is Crystal, the world famous capture specialist?"
"Uh, yes." she replied, taken aback at her knowledge. "I'm sorry, uh, Jade is it? But would you mind putting Emerald back on the phone?"
"No can do ma'am. Em and I are too busy sharing some ravioli under the beautiful night sky, fifty feet in the air."
"I beg your pardon?"
"GIMME THAT!" Emerald's voice boomed over the microphone, followed by some nervous chuckling. "Hey, guys, wassup?"
"Emerald are...are you on a date?" asked Todd in disbelief.
"No! Listen, could you guys do me solid and call Silver for me? My hands are kinda full at the moment."
Crystal mentally sighed before answering him. "Sure, no problem."
"Thanks, Crystal!"
"And Emerald..."
"Hmm?"
"Don't listen to Gold, okay? Treat her nice." She hung up her Pokégear and turned to Todd, who was looking more surprised than she was.
"Can you believe this?" he said with wide eyes. "I mean, don't get me wrong. Emerald's a great guy, but still..."
"She must really be something, huh?" Crystal asked, giving out a yawn.
"Yeah." Todd glanced at the overhead flight schedule and adjusted the strap over his shoulder. "I guess I better get going now. My flight's probably boarding already."
"'Kay, then. See in you in a couple weeks."
"You too," he said, shaking Crystal's hand. "Just be sure you get some sleep until then."
She chuckled embarrassingly as Todd walked off, heading for the east gate. Looking behind her, Crystal saw several tourists filing in to board the plane heading for Goldenrod City, and quickly ran over to get in line.
...
"Well, do you got it?"
"Almost...just gotta move this here...rewire the wireless adapter, and...there! I think we're good to go!"
"Alright, everyone, cross your fingers." Crystal nervously pulled down the lever as the other scientists waited anxiously in response. A few seconds past before they heard a beep, followed by a second beep. Suddenly, the CPU started to hum as the the monitor lit up an image of a large, rotating Pokéball.
The whole room broke out in cheers and applause, except Crystal, who could only sigh with relief. She smiled to the older man next to her, who shook her arm appreciatively.
"Thank you so much miss Crystal!" he said, cheekily. "I knew Professor Oak wouldn't let me down when he sent you over here."
"I really can't take all the credit, Professor Park." she said, modestly. "I learned all I know about how this machine works from Bill."
"Speaking of Bill," interrupted a young woman with swirly brunette hair. "I just got off the phone with him. As of right now, the Kanto Pokétransfer system is officially up and running!"
Professor Park shouted in excitement and raised his hands in the air. "This calls for champagne!"
Everyone cheered as the professor led them out into the commons. Once there, he ordered one of his assistants to retrieve their drinks from the pantry, as everyone else took a seat at the table. The assistant poured their drinks before taking the last seat, and Professor Park raised his glass in the air.
"A toast to Crystal. Thanks to her, trainers from around the world are once again free to use our service."
"To Crystal!" The whole table cheered their glasses and took a drink. While most of the scientists talked amongst themselves, Professor Park and his acquaintance, Professor Juniper, focused on Crystal, who for some reason was being unusually quiet.
"What's wrong, Crystal?" Professor Park inquired, noticing her glass was still full. "Don't you like Brunello di Shuckle?"
"Oh, um, I was just being polite," she said respectfully. "I really don't drink."
The old man gave out a hearty laugh. "I should have expected," he grinned. "Professor Oak did say you were a 'good girl', after all."
She returned the smile, though what he said had actually surprised him. Before Crystal could press the issue, she felt a soft hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, Professor Juniper?" she asked, turning her head to the older woman.
"I know its really none of my business," she began, her words already worrying the Dex Holder. "but I just wanted to ask, how have you been doing lately with your capturing?"
Crystal felt her face turn red, and forced herself to look down at her drink. "To be honest...unproductive."
"Why's that?"
"Eh.." Crystal muttered. "Things have been kinda hectic lately. I spend most of my time now working at Professor Oak's lab, especially now since, well...you know, with everything that's been happening..."
"I see."
"Also," she continued, surprised that she kept talking. "I just...haven't been motivated to do anymore capturing. I've already caught pretty much every species there is, so I don't really know what else there is to do now."
"How long ago was your latest capture?"
Crystal paused, pretending to count the numbers in her head. "After a week from today, exactly one year ago."
Professor Juniper didn't respond right away, which troubled the pigtailed Dex Holder.
"I know, I know," she blathered. "I'm sorry. I really should be staying in shape, and I realize I'm just wasting my talents, but with the Pokédex completed, and never having any time to go out, I...I just can't. And then there's Gold..and the New Year's Eve party-"
"It's okay."
She stopped. "It...it is?"
"Of course," the professor said, with an light smile. "Look, sweetie, if capturing Pokémon isn't doing anything for you anymore, then you shouldn't force yourself into thinking it should."
"But...I still like capturing," she insisted. "It just doesn't have that...rush anymore."
"I understand," Professor Juniper placed a hand on the young woman's shoulder, while digging into her lab coat with her other. "But I think I have something that may interest you."
"What's that?"
"Something that just might get you out of your capturing funk." She gave Crystal a playful wink, while placing a small object in the Dex Holder's hands. "I usually don't do this, mind you, but you seem like someone who could use this to its full potential."
Crystal stared blankly at the object in hands, trying to determine what it was. "I don't...I don't know what to say."
"Don't worry about it. Just remember that whether you're a capture specialist or a stuffy lab assistant, you'll always be Crystal of Violet City."
...
(Johto Region)
"All passengers please buckle up for landing."
Crystal snapped her eyes open and looked around her. She felt the aircraft tilt forward, and saw the other passengers strap on their harnesses. She immediately caught on to the situation and did the same, grasping the handrails as the plane skidded across the runway.
The terminal was completely packed, with trainers and tourists moving in every direction. Although she had trouble navigating through the crowd, Crystal managed to get to the baggage claim relatively fast. She found her belongs, and with the help of her Monlee, carried them out the door.
It only took a few minutes to find a taxi, and by then, midnight had struck. Crystal limped into the backseat, and rested her head against the soft leather, as the taxicab drove off into the clearing.
...
"Exactly, why do I have to do this?" Gold asked, laying himself across the bed.
"I told you, like, six times already!" Crystal groaned, as she placed a few shirts in her luggage.
"That's not my usual eight."
She gritted her teeth as she slammed her suitcase shut. "I'm going to the Unova Region tomorrow, and I need someone to watch Megaree while I'm gone."
"Can't you just take him with you?" he asked, sitting up.
"The Pokemon Storage System is down again." she explained. "I can only take whoever's already on my team, and I'd prefer not leave Megaree in storage for five days."
"And you want me of all people to do it because..." Gold started.
"Because everyone else is too busy having responsibilities," Crystal finished, emphasizing the last word.
"Hey, I got a job now!" he defended.
"It's only for a few days. You'll survive." she stated, moving her suitcase against the wall. "And besides, you owe me after what happened."
Gold suddenly jumped to his feet. "You still on that? I told you, I was only trying to get you to loosen up! I didn't plan for it to go that far!"
"That doesn't mean it wasn't your fault!" she proclaimed, her anger rising. "If you hadn't spiked the Soda Pop, it never would've-"
"I just wanted everyone to have a good time, damn it!" he interrupted. "Is that so hard to understand?"
"Yes, it is." Crystal sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. "I'm sorry Gold, I..I know you weren't trying to take advantage of me."
"I'm sorry too, I guess." Gold looked away, trying not to appear too emotional. "Listen, Crys...I'll watch over Megaree while you're gone. You just concentrate on fixing up that Pokémon transferring whatchamacallit, okay?"
"Okay," Crystal replied, facing away from him. "But when I get back, you and I are gonna have a long talk about this RING RING RING..."
...
Crystal stretched out her muscles and gave out yawn. She pulled her Pokégear from out of her bag and cleared her throat before speaking into it.
"Hello?"
"Senior Crystal?" came a troubled voice on the other line. "It is Platinum. I am sorry to disturb you so late at night, but I am afraid I have something of the utmost importance to tell you."
"What's going on?" Crystal asked, now at full attention.
"Diamond, Pearl, and I have received our letters."
"Crap," she cursed under her breath. "Are they any different than the others?"
"No, other than having our names addressed, they are completely the same."
"Okay, well, at least we know that whoever sent them doesn't have any personal vendetta against you." Crystal said with a sigh.
"Yes, but...there's something else."
All the uneasiness came right back. "What?"
"These letters were sent directly to us at the Ribbon Syndicate, and not our homes. It's as if they knew exactly of our whereabouts."
Crystal could sense the fear in the younger woman's tone, and softened her voice. "Platinum, honey, everything's going to be fine."
"But Senior, we must do something. It frustrates me that this person is completely in control and we have no way of stopping him or her."
"I know, I feel the same way." Crystal replied. "But we have to be strong. This guy wants to scare us, but we can't let him, right?"
"...right."
"Atta girl," she beamed. "Now, I'll be sure to tell Silver about this as soon as I can. In the meantime, look into your library and try to determine what type of metal the letters are composed of."
"I shall not let you down!"
Crystal grinned at her junior's ambition. The two girls then said their goodbyes just as the taxicab was about pull into Crystal's driveway. The driver helped bring out her suitcase from the truck as Crystal stepped out of the vehicle. She thanked the man and paid him the cab fare before walking over to the front door.
Taking her first step into her house, Crystal yawned and headed for her living room, having every intention to fall asleep on the couch. Upon entering, she suddenly had the vague feeling that her home had been recently entered, but she was far too tired to look into it. When she flipped on the switch, every ounce of drowsiness instantly left her body, and she clutched her heart in pure terror.
"OH MY G-"
"Welcome home, Super Sexy Gal."
The color was instantly drained from Crystal's face, which scrunched up in disgust at the horrific sight in her living room. Gold was laying across her sofa in nothing but his boxers, posing seductively in response to Crystal's reaction. A tray of desserts was arranged on the coffee table, and mood music played from a conveniently placed sound system.
"So," Gold sweet-talked, popping a mint in his mouth. "How was your mini-vacay?"
He was answered by a small cushion smacking him in the face. Momentarily stunned by the impact, he fell off couch and landed hard on the floor. The startled Dex Holder brought himself up and adjusted his eyes to an unamused figure standing before him.
"Gold, I'm seriously not in the mood," Crystal groaned, switching off the the music. "It's late, I've had a long day, and frankly, I just want to get the hell to sleep."
"Aw c'mon, Crys! I even brought out your favorite drink," Gold whined, offering her a wine glass from the table. "My special blend of Moomoo Milk and herbal tea."
"Oh, no!" she hastily replied, pushing it away. "The last time I took a drink from you, I ended up waking up on Senior Red's coffee table."
"Hey, not my fault you like to get hot when you're drunk."
Crystal folded her arms as Gold gave out a laugh. "Alright, what'd you do this time?"
"What do you mean?"
"The only time you pull this disgusting stunt is when you majority screwed something up."
"Now I am offended, Crystal." Gold made a big show of appearing innocent. "Can't a man just give a nice welcoming gesture for his girlfriend without being accused of having ulterior motives?"
Crystal rolled her tired eyes and walked over to the couch. "You know what, Gold? I'm seriously not in the mood to deal with you right now. Whatever it is you did will just have to wait until morning."
"Fine," Gold casually walked away, as she rested her head on a pillow. "I can take care of Megaree's child all by myself anyway. Maybe I can take it to an all-nighter at the Game Corner."
"What?" Crystal yelled, jerking her head back up. "Child?"
Gold let a smirk stretch across his face. "Well, egg, technically. What do think I should name it? 'Sunbo Two'? Or is that too obvious? Maybe something more hardcore, like, 'Sunny Boy'. Then again, it might be a girl, so-"
"Hold it!" Crystal ran in front of the man and crossed her arms. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that while you were gone, Megaree and Sunbo decided to have a little fun. The next thing I knew, we got ourselves a Sunkern egg."
"How long ago did this happen?" Crystal asked, staring him down.
"Just a few hours ago." Gold forced on a big grin and patted her on the shoulder. "But don't you worry, Super Serious Gal. Uncle Gold promises to take good care of it for you."
"Wait...what do mean 'for you'?"
"Well, obviously I'm going to be its owner." he answered as a matter of factly. "Not like there's anyone else to do it."
"Hello?" said Crystal, angrily. "What about me?"
Gold shrugged his shoulders and turned back into the living room. "No offense, Crys, but I just don't think your cut out for child care."
A laugh was choked out of Crystal mouth. "Oh, really?"
"Think about it for a sec." Gold sat down on the couch as he continued. "You've never taken care of a Pokémon egg before. I have. You catch Pokémon, and I breed them. You're boring, I'm cool. Need I say more?"
"Okay," The female Dex Holder started, walking over to him. "First of all, you've taken care of an egg twice. Second, just because you can hatch Pokémon, doesn't mean you can raise them. And lastly, you're a reckless, irresponsible idiot."
"All I'm saying is that between us, I'm the more qualified parent." he retorted, stretching his arms across the furniture.
"Qualified?" Crystal shrieked and laughed at the same time. "And the number one caretaker at Earl's Pokémon Academy isn't?"
"Well...yeah."
"You know what?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "I don't have time for this! Where's the egg?"
"In the kitch'." Gold replied, jerking his thumb in said direction.
Crystal grumbled to herself as she made her way into the next room. "Honestly, of all the times to get me worked up, why did it have be one in the...Gold?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you put the egg on the counter top?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's gone."
Gold instantly scrambled to his feet and rushed in after her. He turned his head to the counter, expecting to see a green Pokémon egg. All he saw was an empty brown basket and a crinkled up blanket.
"Where the hell did it go?" he screamed, grabbing the basket. "It was right here, I swear!"
"Okay, just calm down," Crystal said, more so to herself than to Gold. "You put it on the counter, and then what did you do?"
He put the basket down and started to count off the following events in his head. "I went to the pantry to make some treats. Then I headed upstairs to get your boom box. After that, I brewed up your drink and waited in the living room."
"I don't see how any of that could have-" she pinched her nose, her sense of smell suddenly processing the kitchen. "Damn! Something smells absolutely horrible!"
'Hmm? Oh, my bad." the goggled Dex Holder replied sheepishly. "I kinda spilled some Azalea Merlot on the floor while I was making your drink."
"You were trying to get me drunk!"
"Sorry," Gold chuckled nervously. "After I dropped it, I figured cleaning it up and opening a window would be enough to hide the stink. Guess not."
"Wait...you opened a window?"
"Uh-huh, so?" Gold blinked before his eyes widened in realization. The two Johto Dex Holders turned their heads to the open window, where the wind was blowing into the house from the backyard.
"Let's go!" Crystal shouted, rushing to the backdoor with Gold behind her. She stepped outside, her eyes slowly adjusting to the nearly pitch-black night sky.
"You see the egg?" asked Gold, surveying the area.
"No, not ye-THERE!" Gold looked in the direction she was pointing, which was right at her large oak tree. He squinted his eyes, barely making out a small dark figure nestling in the branches.
"Is that a Murkrow?"
"Yeah, and look at what its got." Gold focused in on the nest, seeing just what he was expecting.
"That freakin' bird jacked my egg!" he growled, reaching behind his back, only to mentally slap himself when his hand came back empty-hand. "Crap! I left my pool cue inside the house!"
"I'll handle this," insisted Crystal, pulling out a Pokéball. " Go, Chumee!"
She gave the Pokéball a swift kick towards the tree, but instead of going towards the branches like she hoped, it released Chumee right at its center, causing her to crash right into the trunk.
"Sorry, Chumee!"
"Looks like you're starting to get a little rusty, huh?" Gold sneered.
"Shut up! Now Chumee, use Mean Look!" Two dark rays flashed out of her Smoochum's eyes, directed right at the now angry Murkrow. "Now, use Sing!"
Before Chumee could open its mouth to execute the move, the wild Murkrow suddenly flapped its wings, unleashing a strong wind across the yard. The move knocked Chumee off its feet, sending it flying straight back into its Pokéball.
"It knows Whirlwind?" Gold cried in disbelief. The Murkrow squawked mockingly at the two humans and flew back into its nest. It grasped the Pokémon egg in its talons and started to fly off into the sky. "It's gonna get away!"
"Oh no its not!"
Crystal whipped out a Dusk Ball and placed it evenly on the yard. Placing her feet firmly on the ground, she locked her eyes on the barely visible Murkrow, and with a might yell, kicked the Ball straight into the air, leaving a smoldering tread on the grass. Within the same second the Ball had left the ground, it made contact with the Murkrow, absorbing the Pokémon right inside.
"Crystal, the egg!" Reacting quickly to Gold's outburst, she pulled out another Pokéball gave it a spinning kick in mid-air.
"Xatee, Psychic!" Upon exiting the Pokéball, Crystal's Xatu glowed a light blue, and the Pokémon egg as well as the captured Murkrow were enveloped in a veil of the same color. Xatee then directed both of them safely into its trainer's arms.
"Good job, Xatee." Crystal thanked, returning it to its Pokéball.
"Man, that was close!" Gold heaved, clutching his chest. "It's a good thing we got here in time, huh?"
Crystal shot him a dirty look, immediately shutting him up. "You didn't do a thing! In fact, it was your fault all of this even happened!"
"I know, I know...I'm sorry." Gold extended out his hand, and put on a face of, what Crystal could tell, honest sympathy. "I seriously messed up, tonight, didn't I? Forgive me?"
"As always," Crystal grinned, shaking his hand. "Why do I always forgive you?'
"Because you love me." Gold wrapped an arm over Crystal's shoulders, causing her to shake her head in embarrassment. "C'mon, lets go back inside. I got a pillow and couch with your name on it."
"That sounds so nice right now." she answered. "But on one condition."
"What's that?"
"Put on some damn clothes before your boxers give me nightmares!"
The two Johto Dex Holders broke out in laughter, and with the Pokémon egg in safe hands, walked tiredly into Crystal's house.
To Be Continued...
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NEXT TIME: "It not that, its just that...you hate lace."
Sapphire bared her teeth. "If dis is what it takes, then I'm gonna do it! Besides, dere's no way Ruby can say 'no' ta this!"