[PLEASE READ] So um, hi! Some of you may remember this from years ago, but honestly, I highly doubt it haha

Back around 2012, I foolishly decided to start a fic series. To which I was never able to fully dedicate myself to and promptly dropped. It was titled 80 Days, 80 Themes, original, am I right?

As you've probably noticed, it's been long dead for quite some time. Not gonna lie, I was reading through this and I must say, the writing could've been… a lot. Better, so to speak. There's quite a few parts that I'm actually really embarrassed by haha, so I've decided to do a complete revamp!

So due to some (or lots) of complications, after I attempted to just replace the first chapter and such (to which I received no avail), I decided to just delete the previous fic and replace it with this one.

All of the old chapters will be copy pasted under here. And the new rewritten versions will be within the next chapters. I've already finished quite a few, and while some are still rather similar in premise and almost is a bit copy-pasted, others have a lot more details and are completely new renditions, while still keeping elements of the old chapters, so keep an eye out! I'll be posting new drabbles/oneshots as I go after that as well.

Updates will more than likely be spontaneous, as I have other priorities as well. I wouldn't be surprised if I update only once a year or even more. Who knows if I'll ever make it to 80 one-shots, but god dammit, it's been more than a decade and I still can't escape this ship. My few other one-shots can speak to that.

With that, I hope you all enjoy!

[OLD] 80 Days, 80 Themes

Written from 2012-2014

1. Introduction

Ruby and sapphire. The coordinator and the trainer. The calm one and the wild one. The boy and the girl.

It wasn't always that way, though.

Young Sapphire hid behind her papa's leg, tugging on his pants leg. Prof. Birch chuckled at his daughter's shy attitude. He nudged her towards the enthusiastic Ruby, who was grinning ear to ear. Norman stood behind his son, a small smile on his normally emotionless face. "There's nothing to be afraid of, dear," Prof. Birch tried to reassure his daughter.

Ruby approached her and offered a welcoming hand to the shy girl. He gave her a friendly smile, his cotton hat covering his eyes a bit since it was a little too big for him. "Hi! I'm Ruby, what's your name?"

"…" her reply was inaudible.

"Sorry, what was that?" The boy took a step closer until he was right in front of her.

"S-sapphire…" she stared at her feet and blushed slightly from the closure.

"Sapphire, huh? That's a pretty name. It fits your eyes!" He stared at her ocean-like eyes, probably admiring her eyes.

She stared back. His eyes were a fiery red color. He had told her his name was Ruby. The name fitted him too. "Your name fits your eyes too."

Yep, they always have been complete opposites.

2. Memories

Sapphire was frustrated.

Before, she had completely forgotten about the little boy from her past. The boy who was one of her first friends. The boy who protected her from the wild Salamence, and ended up getting scarred for life.

Because of her. And she completely forgot his face years later.

5 years later, she met another boy. His name was Ruby and he was the most feminine boy she had ever met. What type of person, especially a boy, be interested in such girly things? Sewing, knitting, making outfits, fashion… She seriously didn't understand his logic. When she saved him from two wild Mightyena, she suddenly remembered the promise she made with the little boy. So, she made an 80 day bet with Ruby. Ruby always irritated her. And the fact that he was incredibly vain and selfish did not help.

But when Ruby had a change of heart, she couldn't help but start to like him.

They were partners when they fought against Team Magma and Aqua. She found out about his strength. He had proved that he wasn't selfish through and through. He was actually selfless. Ruby had done anything he could just to protect Hoenn from the two evil teams.

So, when they left Mirage Island, she confessed to him.

She knew it was now or never. She knew that he was moving back to Johto after the battle. But she wanted him to stay, to come back to Littleroot, with her. She had liked Ruby more than that little boy from her memories. Sapphire explained to Ruby about her past love, and she saw the shock on his face. It probably was because he didn't know she had a past crush.

Boy was she wrong.

Ruby had trapped her in Wallace's air car and while she was in there, thanked her for the bet she made with him. The part that surprised her the most was when he took off his cotton hat, showing his two scars. When she saw the scars, it hit her.

This boy was the same one from her memories.

3. Innocence

"Look! It's hatching!"

Ruby glanced up from the scarf he was sewing to see Sapphire looking at the Pokémon egg, and excited look on her face. Ruby couldn't help but smile when he saw her face light up. She had received the Pokémon egg from their senior Gold. Gold had claimed that it was to help her on her research, since he knew that the Pokémon in the egg wasn't native in Hoenn. However, he didn't tell them what was in the egg. Surprisingly, Sapphire had taken good care of the egg, always being careful with it. Ruby had been shocked at her sudden responsibility.

The egg cracked once. And then twice. Until a little brown fox Pokémon with a bushy tail emerged. It yawned, baring its tiny fangs. When it set its brown eyes on Sapphire, it squealed and hopped onto her lap. Sapphire stroked it and it purred.

"It's an Eevee," Sapphire whispered with a soft smile on her face. Ruby walked over and sat by Sapphire, placing his soothing hand on the little fox for a while. He took a second to study Sapphire for a while, and then mentally shook his head.

A small smirk settled on his face after that. Just think of all the outfits he could make for the little Eevee! Scarfs, hats, jackets, bandanas. He could dress it up if he wanted too, if Sapphire would let him…

He was snapped out of his reverie when he heard Sapphire ask him a dreaded question.

Hey Ruby, baby Pokémon come from eggs, right? So where do human babies come from?"'

Ruby silently groaned. He could either risk having a long talk with her, or avoid the topic and keep her innocence.

4. Drive

Ruby winced when he saw the blood on his index finger. The 7-year old boy stared at the so-called dress he was fixing.

'He had asked his mom to teach him how to sew. His mom had been rather surprised at her son wanting to do something so...feminine, especially since he wasn't exactly the most patient boy out there. She agreed to teach him though.

When she finished teaching him, the crimson eyed boy had immediately started to put his mother's teachings to a test, but ended up poking himself with the needle…again. This was the tenth time already. He sighed to himself, frustrated. And I can't even fix a dress. He set the needle and dress onto the ground and rubbed his temples, only to accidently touch one of his scars on the side of his forehead.

His thoughts suddenly shifted over to a certain cerulean-eyed girl. It wasn't a reminiscence of the shy little girl; it was the moment when she broke down and cried. His brutality in battle against the Salamence had caused it, and she most probably thought that he was a monster. Ruby was determined to change that.

That was why he had to change himself. He needed her. He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to make things beautiful, like her. He had ruined her beautiful and innocent heart. He wanted to change for the better. For her. Sapphire was his drive to succeed.

And that was why Ruby pressed on.

5. Running Away

Professor Birch could remember that day clearly.

It was a long while ago, and he could barely even remember the times when Sapphire was just a docile little girl who adored little dolls and cute Pokémon. He knew something had happened to her and her best friend while they were playing in the forest so long ago.

He remembered her running up to him, jumping into his arms and bursting into tears, mumbling small words that he could barely make out. The only things he could understand her saying were 'blood' and 'Salamence.'

Upon leaving the laboratory, on the corner of his eye, he could see a small black-haired boy, the right side of his head covered in blood.

The professor put two and two together.

When Norman and his family left Hoenn to return to Jhoto, there was an obvious change in Sapphire. She sat in her room all day, refusing to even say a word. Not only that, but she absolutely refused to even wear her frilly dresses anymore, let alone play with her stuffed Pokémon.

He remembered approaching her, handing over a stuffed Skitty to his brunette daughter. She took it and flung it away, defiance in her azure eyes.

And then, a day after that, she ran away.

There wasn't a trace of the small 5-year old girl. Only a note that said: Papa, I'm leaving.

He had rushed around frantically, grabbing a few Pokeballs, and sprinted out of the lab into the forest, in search for his daughter.

What he found wasn't his little girl, but a whole different person.

Upon arriving to the forest, his daughter didn't make it that far, having ran into his arms again and crying about how weak she was. He wasn't exactly shocked about what she looked like.

Well, then again, he'd be lying if he wasn't at least a bit shocked to see his daughter clad in only leaves.

Of course not.

He was surprised to find out about her motives about leaving the house in the first place. She was barefoot, looking for some berries, and a Pokémon… to fight?

Really? A Pokémon to fight?

She told him with teary eyes, that she wanted to become stronger, and to prove her worth. And to become stronger, she needed to work on survival skills and strength. Apparently, that led her to believe that she needed to fight a Pokémon.

The professor remembered sighing, and saying that she didn't need to be alone the entire way of becoming stronger. He suggested her to get a Pokémon, and together, they'll be able to rise together, looking after one another.

That was how she got her very first Pokémon. A Torchic.

He had watched her grow up, becoming stronger and stronger. He had helped her catch her first Pokémon, an Aron. Together, they became a team, and now, his blue-eyed daughter was a completely different person.

That didn't mean he wasn't proud of her. Of course he was proud of her.

Now, watching her argue animatedly with her best friend, he couldn't help but shake his head amusingly.

Ruby and Sapphire were definitely an interesting bunch.

6. Jealousy

Sapphire couldn't help but just glare at the two.

Blue was hosting a dexholder get-together at Saffron City. So far, yeah, it had been a blast, and Sapphire had definitely enjoyed it by far. It was so much different than the quaint town of Littleroot, with the picturesque scenery and all. It was a good change. And she had been so excited for this.

It wasn't until the Sinnoh Dexholders had made their appearance before things started to go downhill.

Now, she was totally fine with Diamond and Pearl. In fact, the duo amused her with their random skits that were thrown out here and there. And besides, she got on fairly well with Pearl. It was like he completely understood her, seeing as their personalities and point of view on things were rather similar.

No, it was a certain heiress that bugged her. Especially with how she was interacting with Ruby.

How did two people who just met get along so well? She could hear Ruby over there talking with Platina, and just gushing over the beauty of Pokémon. She could even see him pulling out his Delcatty and showing off the Pokémon's silky fur. For crying out loud, he was even showing that 'adorable' purple coat he had made specifically for the Pokémon.

No, she definitely was not jealous about the enthusiasm that Ruby showed Platina. She definitely wasn't irritated at Platina's awed and impressed look. No, not at all. Of course not.

Huffing, she turned away, before engaging another conversation with Pearl. He was rambling about Pokémon battles, and was talking about the numerous battle techniques he had come up with over time.

Well, Sapphire would be lying if she said she wasn't impressed. Throughout the conversation, she found herself smiling often and talking about the numerous strategies that she had come with throughout her training career.

She didn't notice Ruby momentarily stop his conversation with Platina, just to glare at the duo, most of his glare directed at Pearl.