Of Leaders, Elites, and Champs
New Story: Why Couldn't We
Chapter One: Like Mentor, Like Dexholder
(Japanese names) (manga-verse) (post-Emerald arc)
Mikuri watched his student, Ruby, try as hard as he could to beautify Zuzu the Swampert's newly learned Hydro Cannon move, and he couldn't help but remember the days when he, as a new Leader bored with constant challengers, was just learning the skills of being a coordinator. He used to always be last place, even in the Normal Rank Contest, and his Pokemon were anything but what they were now.
As he gradually became better, he met an experienced Leader named Nagi. She was from Fortree City, in the mainland, but she preferred battles to Contests. Needless to say, she always came to support him at a Contest after they met. Their relationship grew and grew, and so did Mikuri's skills. But one day, she came up to Mikuri after his latest win and said:
"I can't be in love with you anymore. I've decided to focus more on battling. I-I'm sorry, Miku-kun, but I just don't have the will to be with you anymore!" she sobbed as she began to run away. Mikuri's heart was shattered. He was a Leader too, but he spent considerably more time coordinating than battling. He didn't want to give up his passion for her, but he still loved her very much. Eventually, both had to move on.
The day Nagi broke up with Mikuri was also the day he met Ruby, and the day Nagi learned about Sapphire from her new colleague, Asuna. They both took the two Dexholders as their students, and they both helped them fight when Team Magma and Team Aqua attacked Hoenn. It was there that they met again. They worked together to defeat the evil teams, but after that they led their separate lives again.
Mikuri continued to watch his student perfect the new move. He decided, then and there, that Ruby had done enough.
"Okay, Ruby, you're done. We're going to start working on something exciting." he said, releasing his favorite Luvdisc, Elizabeth.
"What is this exciting thing?" the young teen said, as his Zuzu stopped moving.
"We are going to work on the new Sinnoh Contests and the Pokemon Musical! Haven't you heard? They're the biggest thing since Xtransceivers."
Ruby gasped. "They have Contests in Sinnoh too?! Well then, I should be on my way there! I'm going to call my juniors right now-" Mikuri stopped him. "Hold on, young man. I think we should practice first. One of the things in this new Contest, including the Musical, is dancing with your Pokemon. Now come on and let's start with your Mightyena first!" he yelled, doing a giant sweep of his arm as Elizabeth frolicked nearby.
Ruby gasped again. "D-Dance?! Mikuri-sensei...I don't know how..." he whispered.
Mikuri laughed. "Isn't that why you are here today? Let's get started quickly!" he continued.
As they began their new Contest practice, Mikuri sighed. He still couldn't help thinking about Nagi and how she was doing. Because he knew that Ruby had somehow managed to land Sapphire as his girlfriend, who was Nagi's student. The two teens couldn't be more opposite of each other, he thought.
If Ruby and the Sapphire girl could do it, why couldn't we?
Sapphire continued barking out orders to her Pokemon, engaged in a fierce practice battle with Nagi before she left to visit the new Battle Frontier in Sinnoh, when Nagi held up her hand to stop her.
"All right, that's enough! Really, Sapphire, you're making your Pokemon tire out more quickly lately. What's the deal?" She said to the young teen.
"I want to show Ruby-kun that I'm really really strong, y'know! That's all!" she said loudly.
Nagi sighed. "This is the fifth time you've mentioned your...well, boyfriend during practice, Sapphire." She pulled her student closer. "I really think you can do much better in battle than right now. So I really want you to focus a little more. No distractions. Please. Just saying R-Ruby's name is..." She sighed.
Sapphire looked worried. "Nagi-sensei...what's wrong?"
"Has Ruby ever mentioned anyone named Mikuri to you? Ever?" Nagi asked.
Sapphire gasped. "Y-Yeah! M-Mikuri-san is Ruby's master. He teaches him how to do better in those stupid Contests." She smiled. "I've seen him once, when we were fighting those evil teams earlier. Did he do something wrong or something? He seems kinda okay." she finished.
Nagi sighed again. "W-we used to have a relationship, before we met you. But then Mikuri got more and more into Contests...I couldn't see him anymore, because I realized that the things we grew to care for were different. But...I still wish we were together again. I still really like him. And it's all because of you and Ruby. "
"M-me and Ruby? What about us? We only just started going places together. I-it's not like that! I mean, not yet." Sapphire started.
"You know how different you two are. I mean, he's really, really into Contests...like Mikuri-san. And you...you really love battling with your Pokemon...like me. It's like we're almost the same." Nagi continued.
She began to walk around the battlefield. "I really hope that one day we can overcome our differences and get back together again." she said.
Sapphire thought for a while. If Nagi-sensei really likes Mikuri-san...and she really wants to get back with him...then something must happen, otherwise it's almost impossible! That means...I know!
Sapphire walked over to her teacher.
"I know somebody who can make that happen."
RMW2 in! This is the first time I attempted a Gracefulshipping story. After another chapter I'll return to Fuuro and Kamitsure's story, okay?
Yes, Rube and Sapph are a couple. They still fight and call each other barbarian and prissy boy, but less so. And yes, Nagi (or Winona or whatever you call her) still has feelings. I think that in the manga its the opposite, since there's a scene where Mikuri extends her hand and says something...I don't know.
This takes place after Emerald, during the Black 2 White 2 arc, because Gold, the Sinnoh trio, and White play major, major roles here.
Anyway, I probably won't be updating until the weekend because of school, so until next time, as Lack-two would say, RMW2 out!