"Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal: The Shining Adventure"
Chapter 8 – The Bet and the Tree:
Well, speeding up my rate. I hope you like romance, because this chapter has the first romantic scenery of this story. Hope you enjoy ^^
Crystal walked around the City, hoping that she would find Gold somewhere. She was about to give up and call him via the Poké Gear, but then she spotted him, leaving the Poké Center. She smiled at first, ready to say hi, but then Whitney came out as well, making her frown, for some weird reason even she didn't know. She began to think that Gold maybe was a ladies man.
Truth be told? Whitney and Gold simply went to cure their Pokémons and decided to tag along. When Gold left the building, he spotted Crystal as well and smiled widely.
"Oi! Crystal!" Gold waved at her, obligating her to approach Gold.
"Hi." Crystal spoke with a smile, approaching Gold and Whitney, but she still was wondering about Gold's relation to this mysterious girl.
"Nice to meet you, Crystal. I'm Whitney, the City's Gym Leader." She then turned to Gold. "It was an awesome battle, Gold. I have to go now. The Gym is empty right now."
"Bye." Gold said goodbye and Whitney left, leaving him alone with Crystal. He then turned to her and smiled his childish grin. "Nice to see you again."
"Same." Crystal was still a bit suspicious about the whole thing with Whitney. "Say, Gold, what do you think of Whitney?"
"Whitney?" he asked, turning his head to the Gym Leader who was running towards the Gym one last time. "She's cute. Why do you ask?"
"F-For nothing." Crystal spoke, trying to look calm, but showing a bit of a nervous feeling. Gold noticed this and quickly understood what was happening. He put on a mocking grin and made the million dollar question.
"Are you jealous?"
"What?! No!"
"Why do I think you're lying?" Gold spoke, maintaining the same expression, trying to make Crystal angry.
"Because you're a jerk." She spoke, turning away, hiding her slight blush. "Why am I doing all this?" she wondered to herself, noticing she was being much more protective than usual.
"You think I'm a jerk? Well why don't I prove you wrong?"
"I'm listening…"
"A quick one on one battle. If I win, we go on a date."
"What?! No way!"
"If you win, I'll be your butler for a full week."
"Hmm… I do need someone to carry around my bag during my researches… And it would be amusing to have a butler… Ok. I don't intend to lose!"
"Neither do I. Togepi-Onee, come on out!"
"Toge-Toge!" Togepi landed on the floor and was ready for the battle.
"Are you trying to give me the victory? Rhyhorn! I need your assistance!"
"Rhy!" Rhyhorn entered the battle field, and his glare scared Togepi, but she didn't back off.
"Ok then, let's begin!" Gold spoke, starting the battle.
"Rhyhorn, Horn Attack!"
"Horn!" Rhyhorn dashed towards Togepi, pointing his sharp horn at her.
"Togepi, Extrasensory!"
"Toge-pi!" her eyes glowed gold and she released a rainbow-colored beam from her mouth at the charging Rhyhorn, stopping him from running. Rhyhorn might be resistant, but psychic waves sure can stop him.
"Encore!"
Togepi raised her hands and a white orb of energy appeared between them. Togepi then fired the orb at Rhyhorn. When the orb hit, Rhyhorn's body sparkled white.
"Grr… Rhyhorn can only use Horn Attack now. Better than nothing, still! Rhyhorn, Horn Attack!"
"Rhy-HORN!" Rhyhorn dashed towards Togepi, ready to slam against her.
"Jump!" Gold spoke, making Togepi jump and grab onto Rhyhorn. Who continued running around.
"Shake her off!" Rhyhorn stopped running and started shaking his body, trying to get Togepi off of him.
"Sweet Kiss!" Togepi walked over Rhyhorn, managing to stay on him, and then reached his face. She swiftly pecked a kiss on his cheek, which shrunk his pupils. Togepi jumped off and went to her side of the field, as Rhyhorn seemed to be somewhat lost.
"He's confused now, damn it…" Crystal spoke, biting her thumb.
"Metronome, let's go!"
"To-ge, To-ge, To-ge, To-ge, To... Ge... Pi!" Togepi waved her fingers in the same rhythm as her words, and at the last syllables, they stopped glowing. She jumped and slammed her hand on the ground, causing pillars of water to rush towards Rhyhorn. When the pillars reached him, they formed a ring of pillars and then merge into one giant water geyser-like pillar, damaging Rhyhorn tremendously. Rhyhorn fainted, showing that Crystal had lost.
Both of them withdrew their Pokémons and approached each other.
"Well, I guess that means I actually got my date." Gold spoke, feeling pretty lucky.
"Yeah, yeah…" Crystal felt a bit obligated, but, a bet is a bet. "So, when's the date?"
"Right now."
"Eh?"
Gold took Crystal's hand and ran off with her to the center of the city. She was a bit in shock, or surprise would be more appropriate to describe her state.
Gold took Crystal to a café.
She looked confused. "Wha…?"
"Aren't you hungry? It's lunchtime." Gold explained, and just like the timing is a pain, Crystal's stomach growled a bit. She blushed in embarrassment and Gold grinned. "Don't worry, it's on me."
Crystal decided to accept the offer. They sat down on an outdoor table, under a little parasol that made shade for them. The waitress then arrived, and spoke.
"What's your order?"
"An Oran Berry Milkshake and a plate of carbonara spaghetti." Gold requested, handing the waitress the menu.
Wow, this is what I call a café! They even have carbonara spaghetti on the menu!
"For me it's a soda and two slices of margarita pizza." Crystal ordered, giving the waitress the menu as well.
Pizza as well? Where the hell is this café?! Oh, Goldenrod City…
The waitress took the menus and walked back to the café. Crystal couldn't help but to ask some questions.
"So, you're paying?"
"Yup."
"Why? I have money."
"In a date, the guy always pays."
"Hmm… Maybe I should go on more dates. That seems cool." Crystal admitted, as the waitress brought them their beverages.
"Not all guys have this way of thought, by the way."
"Hmm… So I guess only ladies men do that."
"Ladies man?" Gold was a bit confused. "Not really. After all, this is my first date."
Gold confessed it at the worst timing possible, because Crystal was taking a sip of her drink. She spit out the liquid in her mouth out of surprise. Bad thing was that she sprayed it all over Gold.
They had a laugh and their food came in. They ate while talking, the usual, getting to know each other. Crystal explained that she was surprised about being gold's first date, since he seemed to know all about the concept. He confessed he was just doing what felt natural to him and went with the flow.
After lunch, they went to the Department Store. They went to the floor where the clothing shop resided. Crystal wanted to try some clothes on. Of course, Gold would offer his opinion on the options she would try on.
She tried on quite a number of outfits, but every time she asked "how do I look?", Gold would answer "with your eyes". Of course, she would get angry, but then he would give his opinion that would normally make her blush slightly. But she ended up buying nothing because it didn't feel the same way as her usual clothes did. In other words, she liked them, but didn't suit her style.
After that quick couple of hours (ok, not so quick) and finally, Gold had one last thing in mind.
"Let's go check out the fortune teller."
"No way." Crystal answered, confusing Gold.
"What? Why not?"
"Fortune tellers are nothing but people trying to steal out money. They make up half of it and it never comes true."
"Oh, c'mon. Never heard of suspension of disbelief?"
"No…"
"Then do what it means!" Gold dashed away, dragging Crystal with him (she was somehow already used to it, so she didn't react like she was surprised or anything), and they went to the Fortune Teller's tent.
They entered, the atmosphere changing almost immediately. It was the afternoon outside, but inside it almost seemed like it was the middle of the night, yet, light up by multiple candles.
"Approach, dear children."
"What is this, the 1890s?" Gold wondered, noticing the way of speaking of the fortune teller.
The fortune teller was a woman, no doubt about that. Probably in her 40s. She had clothes of Arabic origin, covering most of her body and face, but still showing some skin, like the hands, shoulders, and, of course, eyes. They seemed familiar to Gold, somehow.
"Don't judge by appearances, little girl." The fortune teller warned, as Crystal and Gold sat down.
"Ok… So, how's the gist?" Gold wondered, curious about the procedure. Crystal wasn't as curious as Gold though.
"It depends: do you want a fortune for each or a single fortune about your future together?"
"One for-"
"Future together." Crystal interrupted Gold, but what surprised him the most was the fact that she wanted to know about their future together. She even looked very determined.
But it was sure to say that, even if they had met very recently, they had a strong bond.
"Very well, young lady. I know you don't believe in fortunes, but I can see your determination in wanting to know your future with this boy in your eyes." The fortune teller confessed, leaving Gold a little bit surprised and confused. "Please, young man, show me your right hand. Young lady, your left hand."
Gold showed his right hand, the closest one to Crystal, and Crystal showed her left hand, being the hand closest to Gold. They both laid them down on the table and the fortune teller ran her fingers through their hands.
"You two… share an unusually strong bond. And it will develop a lot throughout your adventure together. You might get separated once in a while, but you'll always find each other."
Gold and Crystal looked surprised, glancing at each other. They had no certain reaction in mind. Crystal looked a bit skeptical.
"That's all?" Crystal asked.
"That is all." The Fortune Teller confirmed.
Gold paid and walked away with Crystal after saying goodbye.
But after they left, the fortune teller undressed the face mask-like clothing, revealing the young mother of Gold! She sighed in relief, since it appeared her son didn't recognize her. A Fearow entered through the back of the tent, carrying a little screen streaming the video of Professor Elm, a real life stream, the screen held by a string, tied around the Fearow's neck.
"Thank Arceus…!"
"Mrs. Hibiki, aren't you afraid that Gold might find out?"
"It's impossible." She spoke, turning on a fan so she could cool down the inside of the tent. "He knows nothing about my part-time jobs, and he only knows that I read tarot cards, nothing about hands." She explained, looking rather relaxed, making both Fearow and Professor Elm to sweatdrop.
"Still, how did you know about all that connection?"
"Oh. I made half of it up."
"EHHH?!" Both Professor Elm and Fearow were astonished, making the same movements and expressions.
"In reading two hands, each hand tells a word. By reading the words, it's simple to know what will happen."
"And what did they say?"
"White dress."
Professor Elm looked rather astonished, seeing how relaxed Gold's mom looked.
"You sound pretty fine with it."
"They look like the perfect match: the joker and the serious girl that doesn't mind laughing." Mrs. Hibiki stood up and stretched her body, tired of being sat down the whole day. "Well, Fearow-kun, time to go home. Once again, thank you for lending me your Fearow, Elm-sensei."
"Nonsense. Anything for a former student." Professor Elm answered, making Mrs. Hibiki giggle.
"Student? You tutored me when you needed money and I needed good grades."
"Need I remind you that I am 7 years older than you?"
"No you don't." Gold's mom replied, as she finished packing. "Let's go, or Elm-sensei ends up without dinner."
She climbed onto Fearow's back, and they flew away, back to New Bark Town. In the meantime, Gold and Crystal decided to simply stay the rest of the evening at the Poké Center, resting.
They spent the night there as well. On the next day, the proceeded on their adventure.
They woke up pretty early. Crystal early, I mean. Gold didn't stop yawning the whole time while they walked out of Goldenrod City.
"Hey, Crystal, I've been wondering something."
"Yeah?"
"What do you think the Fortune Teller meant with what she told about us?"
"She probably made it up. Don't believe everything people tell you."
"But if I follow your advice, shouldn't I not believe in not believing everything that people tell me?"
"Gold, don't confuse me." Crystal requested, closing her eyes. Then, as they walked through Route 36, they noticed that the narrow path that would lead them to the next city was being blocked by some sort of weird tree. Gold and Crystal tried to bent it somehow, but it was too hard to bend.
"Damn, what do we do now?"
"Maybe if we sprinkle it with some water it soften up and become bendable." Crystal suggested, taking out a Squirtle Sprinkler from her back. She filled it with water using one of the water bottles she also brought, and then started sprinkling the tree. But for their surprise, the tree began to move. And attacked them!
Gold and Crystal jumped back when the tree slammed its arm against the ground.
"What the-?!"
"Sudo-woodo!"
Gold pointed his Pokédex to the tree.
"Sudowoodo, the Imitation Pokémon. To avoid being attacked, it does nothing but mimic a tree. It hates water and flees from rain. Although it always pretends to be a tree, its composition appears to be closer to a rock than a plant."
"I've studied them before, how didn't I notice that it was a Sudowoodo?" Crystal asked herself, knowing she infuriated Sudowoodo by mistake.
"Sudo…" Sudowoodo jumped and raised up his arm. He then fell, ready to attack. "WOODO!"
"Focus Punch!" Gold quickly threw his Poké Ball and Aipom came out, punching Sudowoodo away with his tail hand covered in a blue aura. Sudowoodo seemed to be almost knocked out, but it was impressive how Sudowoodo continued on. "I've decided!"
"Sudo?" Sudowoodo and Crystal looked at Gold, puzzled.
"I'm going to catch you, Sudowoodo!"
"Sudo?" Sudowoodo looked puzzled, but then grinned, liking Gold's attitude. "Sudo-woodo!" Sudowoodo's green spheres on his right branch began to glow brightly green and he dashed towards Aipom, ready to strike him with his arm like a hammer.
"Aipom, Strength, on his forehead!"
"Eipa!" Aipom jumped and became outlined in a gray aura, similar to a steam-like effect. Aipom then struck Sudowoodo's forehead with a finger, making Sudowoodo lose his balance and Aipom landed behind him. Gold prepared his Poké Ball and threw it, hitting Sudowoodo. The ball opened and absorbed Sudowoodo into it. The ball began to shake, but then clicked, showing that Gold obtained a new partner.
"Yata!"
"Good for you, Gold." Crystal spoke with a smile, as Aipom climbed onto Gold's shoulder. Aipom began to picture Gold and Crystal together romantically, but that was kept all to himself.
They soon arrived to their supposed destination: Ecruteak City.
Pokémons of the Day:
Fearow - Fearow's large wings and stamina allow it to fly for an entire day without landing. It will shoot upward, and then dive down to catch prey. Its long neck and beak allow it to pluck prey from both land and water, and it will even catch tiny insects that hide underground.
Sudowoodo - Sudowoodo disguises itself as a tree and stands along paths to avoid being attacked. Its camouflage fails in the winter, as its forelegs remain green unlike real trees. Sudowoodo is very weak to water and hates it, so it flees when it starts to rain.
Well, I know it wasn't the best kind of romantic I could do, but there were many factors to stop me from doing anything more. And hey, were you expecting that twist? Neither was I! Oh, and please, don't forget to write a review if you don't mind, and also…
Bye, remember, BEAST OUT!