Return to Hoenn
Chapter 8: The Truth
Ruby and Sapphire arrived at Littleroot Town where Prof. Birch and Ruby's parents along with Nana and Coco awaited their arrival. Little had changed in that small town. It was still the same peaceful place that Ruby remembered, with its quaint charm and nostalgic air.
Pilo landed on an empty space and the two teens dismounted.
The Mightyena and Delcatty immediately pounced on their owner with excitement and tackled him to the ground before they showered him with licks and nuzzles.
"Okay, that's enough. That tickles!" Ruby laughed as he tried to sit up. "I get it. I missed you too." The crimson-eyed trainer gently stroked their heads and they happily moved aside wagging their tails.
Sapphire pulled him up while giggling at their antics.
By the time he stood up straight, his mom, Caroline, gave him a huge hug which almost made him fall again. "Welcome home, sweetie!" There were tears in her eyes as she embraced her son.
"Mom, we just saw each other this morning…" Ruby tried to break free but it was useless. After he heard somewhat of a soft sobbing sound, he sighed and returned her embrace. "I missed you too, mom."
"It's nice to have you back, Ruby!" Prof. Birch said as he waved at him.
The young boy looked at him and saw his dad standing beside the pokemon researcher. He had his arms crossed in front of him with a soft expression on his face. It was rare. They just looked at each other without a single word coming from either one of them.
"We're home, Papa!" Sapphire returned Pilo to the forest and she rushed to her father's side.
"Ah, Sapphire. Welcome home, too." Prof. Birch stroked her daughter's head and smiled.
Norman finally spoke. "Why don't you two have dinner over at our place to celebrate Ruby's return? It's been a long time since our families got together."
"Splendid idea!" Birch replied. Sapphire also nodded in agreement.
Ruby's mom finally released her son. "Then it's settled!"
The red-eyed boy took a moment to breathe before they all went inside the house. Sapphire and her father settled in the living room, while Ruby's parents prepared dinner with Caroline cooking and Norman setting the table. Ruby was given some time to unpack and prepare for dinner. But for a while, he lingered in the living room.
It's been a year. Nothing much has changed. He looked around and smiled at the framed photos of him with his pokemon . There were pictures of his mom and dad as well. The atmosphere felt the same as before. Old memories began to flash through his mind, until Nana and Coco led him up to his room to prepare for dinner.
I'm home. After all this time… The boy lay on his bed. The familiar scent was welcoming. Some thoughts circled in his head. They were mostly the times he spent in Sinnoh. He arose from his bed and unpacked his belongings. Then he brought out the small metal case containing the badges and placed it on the desk. His two pokemon sniffed it and looked at him worryingly. He sighed deeply. This is going to be harder than I thought.
Minutes later, Caroline called Ruby to come and to eat. He tidied himself and came down.
Ruby sat in front, being the celebrant and all. Sapphire sat on one side and the other, his mom. Prof. Birch sat next to his daughter and Norman sat next to his wife. Nana and Coco had their own food bowls in the kitchen and proceeded to eat there.
The setting was very touching. The food was delicious. Everyone had smiles on their faces even the stern gym leader. Ruby missed eating his mom's cooking. He struck a conversation and told stories of his journey around Sinnoh, leaving some particular parts out. He included Platina, Pearl and Diamond. Prof. Birch and his daughter laughed when he told them about the manzai. Caroline asked about the blue scarf around the Sapphire's neck. The young brunette flustered when Ruby said he made it for her. The adults looked at each other with a suggestive grin and laughed.
It was a heartwarming being surrounded by friends and family.
After dinner, Sapphire and his father thanked them for the meal and went home.
"So did anything interesting happen today?" Prof. Birch asked his daughter.
The brown-haired girl recalled the stress that this day had given her. She glared at her father, giving him the 'I don't wanna talk about it' look.
Prof. Birch cringed in fear and regret for having asked that. Then his daughter irritably stomped inside their house went into her room.
Back inside, Ruby helped his mom clean up the table.
"It was wonderful having Sapphire and her father over. We should do this more often now that our son's home," Caroline suggested as she was washing the dishes.
"I agree. It's nice doing things as a family," Norman said. He sat down in the living room couch and watched TV as the rest of his family finished the last of the cleaning.
Ruby flinched when his dad mentioned, '..as a family.' They got closer as a family after the Hoenn incident but they didn't have much to talk about. He knew his dad loved him and that he'd do anything to protect him and his mom but there was still an awkward gap between the two males. A gap that was made in those years his dad left in search of Rayquaza. That memory was still vivid in Ruby's mind.
Norman's Flygon came out of the pokeball and flapped its wings, readying to depart. Its whistling sound resonated in the air. Caroline was fixing her son's shirt after she had finished bandaging his injury.
"Come, Ruby. It's time to say goodbye to daddy, now." The short-haired woman stroked her son's face as she tried to hold back her tears.
Ruby squirmed away from her and walked up to his father.
"Daddy?" His eyes were filled with confusion "..Are you gonna stop teaching me battles?"
Norman kept his composure in front of the boy. "From now on, Ruby, you've got to get stronger on your own. Don't do things halfheartedly. Keep going till the end…. I won't be there to guide you anymore."
Ruby stared at him at disbelief. His eyes welling up with tears. 'No, Daddy, don't leave.'
"True strength lies in overcoming obstacles with your own power." That was the last advice he could give to his five year-old son before he would be gone for who knows how long. He didn't want to go but it was for his sake. There was no other choice.
The small boy grabbed his father's leg. "No! I wanna go with you!" His voice was filled with sadness and desperation. 'Why are you leaving?…'
Norman took out his Slaking and the pokemon scooped up the child with his large hands.
"Daddy!" Ruby tried to break free but it was futile. '….Please stay.'
He continued shouting but Norman ignored his words.
"I want Daddy to keep teaching me!"
'Stay...'
"I wanna grow stronger with you watching!"
'I don't want to be.. alone.'
The Gym leader aspirant mounted on his Flygon and flew off without a second glance.
"..Don't go… Don't leave me." The boy's shouts became whispers muffled under his trembling voice.
The dragon pokemon's silhouette soon disappeared into the distance.
Norman was gone and Ruby was alone.
All of a sudden, Nana started nudging Ruby's leg. "Huh? What is it, Nana?
He looked at his Mightyena and was surprised to see her holding the metal case in her mouth. Nana backed away, knowing his owner would snatch it at any second. Ruby placed the last of the plates near the sink in a hurry and confronted the wolf pokemon.
"Nana, give it back." He was starting to panic. He spread his arms apart, attempting to corner her. The Mightyena nodded in disagreement and looked at him as if it was saying 'this is for your own good.'
She bounded towards the living room catching Norman's attention. Ruby chased after her like his life depended on it. Nana, NOOOoooo...!
He pounced on her and managed to grab her but the metal case was knocked out of her mouth, only to be picked up by his dad. Ruby went pale when he saw it. Arceus is cruel. Nana, having done her deed, bolted back into the kitchen.
"What's this thing?" Norman inspected the object that made his son so desperate to get it.
Ruby scrambled to his feet and rushed to grab the case before his dad could open it. "Wait, Dad!"
Alas, he was too late. The gym leader opened the small metallic case and was surprised. In fact he was speechless.
Caroline glanced into the living room to see what all the commotion was about but Coco and Nana nudged her away. Then she understood it was something between father and son. I hope everything works out between them.
There was an awkward wall between them. Ruby's thoughts were a mess. Nana, why did you have to go and… Damn it! He avoided eye contact with his dad. He felt there was something in his throat that prevented him from speaking.
Norman felt the tension around them. He went over to Ruby and placed his hand on the young trainer's hat.
"You've grown taller," He said plainly.
The boy was caught off guard but because of that he calmed down a bit and his mind finally settled.
"I guess," He replied with a soft smile on his face.
There was moment of silence.
"If you have something on your mind, just say it." Norman's voice was not cold as before. It was warm in a fatherly way. "I shall listen..."
Ruby met his gaze. The gym leader handed him the metal case and his son hesitantly took it. He lowered his head again as he clutched the item in his hands.
Norman sat back down at the coach and gestured him to sit with him. The boy walked over and sat next to his father. There was just about a foot in distance between them. He stared at the rectangular object in his hand.
There's no turning back now. I got to say it. All this time, I was never able to tell people anything. He recalled all those times he lied to people in order to cover up his actions.
I always hid and ran away from everything including myself. The memory of him leaving home as well as that time in Foretree where they fought the Grumpig came to his mind.
I promised before I left for Sinnoh. I'll be strong and face who I really am and do what I want without fear of people rejecting me. He remembered the Salamence incident where he told himself he'd never let anyone see him battle because he didn't want to be alone.
It was time that everyone hears the truth.
End of Chapter 8
I think this chapter is so touching. I like Norman and Ruby.
Its shorter than I predicted it in my head. But I still like it!
Norman really does have a soft spot for Ruby though he can be really strict sometimes.
Its just cause he loves him. Tough love.
I'm a little afraid of writing pokemon battles. It sounds hard...
I'll do my best!
This is part of the sideline story I said I'd write.
I'm also thinking of changing the title...
Ideas just randomly flow in so the story is starting to stray from the title.
How about "Back to Hoenn" IDK. Its debatable!
I hope for more reviews...
