CHAPTER 2 – RETRIEVAL

Ruby and Sapphire entered the cave that Slith and Fang ran into. It's surorisingly bright to be called a cave though. Sea water flowed through the gaps on the wall, making small streams of water.

"Wow… this is my first time in Beach Cave!" shouted Ruby.

"Are you sure that screaming won't give out our location?" asked Sapphire.

"They're probably at the end right now… Erm… Sapphire? I'm… still new to this exploring thing… I'm scared."

"Don't worry, I'll help you."

"Really? Thanks!"

They continued their cruise through the cave. Suddenly, a blue slug-like Pokemon appeared and approached the two, looking quite angry.

"Wh-what's that?" Ruby asked.

"That's... a Pokemon." answered Sapphire.

"I know that's one but... what's that?"

"I would've been a Psychic if I know. This is my first time here too."

"So? Any ideas?"

"Well..."

"ENOUGH!" Shouted the blue Pokemon. "I was having my beauty sleep when two stupid Pokemon dashed past. Then you both came in and keep chattering near my bed! When can a Shellos get some sleep around here?"

"Oh my, we're so sorry." Ruby tried to apologize.

But the Shellos wouldn't listen. He immediately charged towards Ruby. Ruby shivered in fear as the Shellos was about to do a full body tackle. Sapphire immediately stepped between the two Pokemon, and stopped the Shellos with her right flipper.

"Excuse my friend here, she's still new to exploring." Said Sapphire.

"And you? Looks like you're strong enough to stop me with one flipper." Said the Shellos.

"Blizzard Island has lots of places to conquer before one can reach the shore. It was harsh, much more than a tackle."

"Oh, and you're with miss fiery chick here?"

"Sadly for you... yes."

Shellos was about to open his mouth, but he was stopped when Sapphire pounded him with her left flipper. Shellos felt a great pain, then he scampered out of the scene, afraid to approach those two again.

"Sapphire... do all Pokemon attack?" Ruby asked.

"Most of them. Usually they attack because they think we're invading their territory. Some have their own specific reasons to attack, like that Pokemon a while ago." Sapphire explained.

"Em... Sapphire? I don't know how to battle." Ruby shamefully admitted.

"You wh-?" Sapphire was shocked with that statement. "A Pokemon doesn't know how to battle? That's kinda new..."

"Is that an insult?"

"No, I just didn't think that's possible." said Sapphire. "Anyway, let me teach you how."

"Really? Thanks Sapphire."

"All Pokemon are gifted with special skills. There are skills that can be learned by all kinds of Pokemon, skills that can only be learned by certain type of Pokemon, and skills that can only be learned by a specific Pokemon. For example," Sapphire opened her mouth and shot bubbles out. "The move I just used is called 'Bubble'. It's a move commonly used by Water-type Pokemon."

"Wow! Can I try?" asked Ruby.

"Of course of can. Now, focus your energy to your mouth."

Ruby closed her eyes and began to concentrate the energy in her mouth. Soon, she felt some warmth inside. Then she opened her mouth and spewed out a small fury pf fire.

"Like... that?" asked Ruby.

"Yes, like that." said Sapphire. "That move is called 'Ember'. It's a common move for Fire-type Pokemon. As we train, we can learn more skills to help us battle. Sometimes we train to be able to use them, sometimes they'll just come subconsciously."

"So... If I practice more, I can know more?"

"You know what they say, practice makes perfect."

"Wow... Hey, if I ever have a question about exploring, will you answer it?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Thanks Sapphire."

They continued their journey at Beach Cave. After some battles with more Shellos and some pink and white coral Pokemon called Corsola, they encountered a yellow-orange seed-like thing.

"What is that?" asked Ruby.

"It's... a seed." answered Sapphire.

"Stop with the obvious answers."

"Okay fine, can't I get a little bit of fun?" said Sapphire. "That's a Blast Seed. You eat it, you'll spew fire."

"It's edible?"

"Yes, and rather hot to the taste."

"Hey! Can I try eating it?"

"Erm... can't you just use Ember?"

"Oh yeah. So... what's the use if I can just use Ember?"

"Well you can always throw them at your enemy and let the seed explode on their face. It's pretty hilarious to see their reactions." said Sapphire as she chuckled softly.

"...You have a weird sense of humor."

"There's nothing wrong with it. Here, let me hold onto that Blast Seed."

After walking around some more, while attacking attacking Pokemon of course, they encountered a round blue berry.

"Hey! An Oran Berry!" said Ruby as she picked it up. "These are delicious, why would anyone throw one away?"

"Well, items are scattered around the floor of dungeons." explained Sapphire.

"Hey Sapph, what does Oran berries do?"

"When you're worn out from all the damage you received, you can eat an Oran Berry to recover."

"Wow... Oran Berries are more amazing than I thought." said Ruby as she looked at the berry in her wings in awe.

"...you really never went exploring, did you?"

"I once tried to, but I got beaten up as soon as I went in."

"At least you're back here safe and sound."

"Yeah... hey, is that the end of this cave?"

Ruby pointed out at at large hole, surprisingly brighter than the other parts of the cave. One has to wonder how that place is very bright.

"Well whaddya know, we found the end after all. C'mon, I want to use this Blast seed on them." Said Sapphire with a smirk on her face.

The two entered the bright hole and saw Slith and Fang in there, discussing about something.

"Are you sssure thisss placcce isss perfect?" asked Slith.

"Don't worry! The Torchic is a coward, I'm sure of it." answered Fang.

"Well the Piplup doesn't look that strong anyway."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING WEAK?"

Fang and Slith were surprised at the sudden loud voice behind them. They turned around to see Ruby and Sapphire ready to fight, with Sapphire looking quite angry.

"Ah, if it isn't the weaklings coming to get beaten." said Fang.

"G-give me back my gem!" shouted Ruby.

"Well, ifff you want it, then you'll havvve to take it fffrom usss." said Slith.

"EAT BLAST SEED COWARDS!" shouted Sapphire as she threw the Blast Seed towards Slith's mouth. Slith's shocked face soon started to turn red from the spiciness.

"HOT! HOT! HOT!" shouted Slith as he started to slither around in circles. The flames from his mouth touched Fang and started to burn him.

"HOT! HOT! HOT!" shouted Fang as he started to run around in circles in the opposite direction of Slith.

"Pfft... This. Is. Hilarious." said Sapphire as she tried to hold her laugh.

"You and your sense of humor... Anyway, I'll get my gem." said Ruby as she charged towards the two purple Pokemon.

"Oh no you're not!" said Slith with the hot taste in his mouth beginning to wear out.

Slith charged at Ruby to give her a piece of his bite. Panicked, Ruby opened her mouth and shot a small fury of flames right into Slith's open mouth.

"Yikes! It burns!" shouted Slith as he started to run around in circles again.

"Pfft... Good aim Ruby, right in the mouth... Ha ha ha!" Sapphire started to bawl in laughter.

"Why you little-" shouted Fang in anger.

The flame on his tail was still on, but Fang managed to stand up and raised his tail. He shot poison barbs towards Sapphire while she was busy laughing, injuring her.

"That hurts..." said Sapphire. "You better learn to 'chill'."

Sapphire opened her beak and fired a chilly light blue beam towards Fang, freezing him in the process.

"Get it? Chill? Ahahahaha!" Sapphire started to roll on the ground, laughing.

Meanwhile, at Slith and Ruby's side, Slith was binding Ruby tightly as she struggled to escape his clutches.

"Don't messss around withhh me next time." said Slith proudly.

"Urk..." Ruby was trapped; she tried her best to escape but nothing's working.

"There'sss nothhhing you can do now."

Ruby suddenly thought of something. She started to focus the energy in her body into her mouth, hoping to gain extra power. Slith wondered what she was doing, and got blasted by continuous balls of fire right on his face, causing him to lose his grasp.

"Wow, Focus Energy. You sure are learning fast." said Sapphire.

"Thanks Sapph. I thought maybe concentrating more energy could deal more damage." said Ruby.

"Anyway, I better stop laughing now. Ruby, thaw the bug!"

Ruby ate the Oran Berry in she's holding to recover from the bruises from Slith's wraps. She proceeded to fire Ember towards the frozen Skorupi, thawing him and at the same time, wounding him. Sapphire then shot bubbles to hit both of her opponents, sending both of them falling. Weakly, Fang and Slith stood up.

"Alright, alright. You can take your gem back." said Fang. "Lady Clover will be so mad at us..."

"Let'sss get out offf here." said Slith.

"You haven't seen the last of us, weaklings."

"We'll be back, you'll sssee."

The two ran away as fast as their legs (or belly muscles) could carry, leaving behind Ruby's red gem. Happily, Ruby picked it up.

"Yay! My gem's back!" shouted Ruby with glee. "Thanks a lot, Sapph."

"...It was nothing." said Sapphire.

"C'mon, let's get out. I don't want to stay here any longer."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Ruby and Sapphire were at the beach again. The sun was setting and the Krabby were blowing bubbles. The bubbles reflected the colors of the ocean and the sunset, creating a magnificent view.

"I can't believe it's sunset!" exclaimed Ruby. "The Krabby living on Treasure Beach blow bubbles around this time everyday. I always love the view they create."

"It really is, a magnificent view." commented Sapphire.

"The view helps me relax. It helps me calm down whenever something bad happened to me." Ruby turned her head towards Sapphire. "Sapph... do you have a place to stay for the night?"

"Well I just got here, how am I supposed to find a place to stay immediately?" said Sapphire.

"You can always stay over at my place, if you're okay with it."

"Really? Thanks..."

"No problem Sapph! You helped me retrieve my gem, so this is my thank you."

"Alright... so, where's your place?" asked Sapphire.

"Here, I'll show you! Follow me!"

Ruby walked towards Treasure Town while Sapphire followed her. She then stopped to see the sea, and the island located far at the horizon, glimmering from the sun's reflection on the ice on top of the mountains.

Yeah, I'll probably have to stay here in Treasure Town for a while..., Sapphire thought to herself.

~*~To be continued~*~

A/N: Wew, finally I decided to type this into the computer. It was worth wasting about 3 hours on.