Hey, mochicocoa, this is yours, right? I do hope you like it ;) [it's really short- forgive me!]

Disclaimer: I am secretly the owner of Pokemon *gets arrested* Okay, maybe not. Can I go now? I posted bail…Guys? Guys…?

The lesson to be learned, kids, is to never say something is yours when it is clearly not.


11. Earth:
"I swear, sometimes your head's so up in the clouds I wonder if you're on the right planet."


"Ruby, can you come help with the dishes?" Ruby's mother called as she soaped and soaked another dish in the sink. Her son didn't reply, and she dried off her hands before backing up so she could see her fifteen year old son sitting on the couch, absently stroking Nana as he stared at the blank TV screen.

"Ruby," his mother repeated again, this time in a firmer tone, and her son actually jerked as he came back to reality.

"Hmmm…? Sorry, Mom, were you talking to me?"

"Yes. Can you help with the dishes? My arms hurt after I fell off the ladder last week…"

He obediently got up and scurried into the kitchen. "What were you doing on the ladder again?" he asked.

"Fixing the roof tiles; you know how your father is never around." His mother flexed her wrist. "Remind me to go see Professor Birch tomorrow. He said that he might have something that would help alleviate the pain…" She trailed off when she noticed that Ruby was mechanically doing the dishes, a glazed look in his eyes as he looked out the window. "Ruby?"

He came back to earth, blinking rapidly. "Sorry, Mom."

"Honestly, you have your head up in the clouds so much that I wonder if you're actually living on the right planet," his mother scolded playfully.

Ruby smiled. "Well, I've always liked Pluto. What were you saying before I zoned out, Mom?"

"I was saying that I need to go see Professor Birch tomorrow," his mother began, and that was when a flash of expression crossed Ruby's face; he looked away and she felt her senses go on the alert. "What was that?"

"What was what, Mom?"

"You looked away when I mentioned Professor Birch. Did something happen between you and Sapphire again?"

"I don't know what you're talking about…"

His mother crossed her arms. "Ruby," she began in that don't-tell-me-lies-because-I'm-a-mother-and-I-can-sniff-it-from-a-mile-away tone of voice, "Don't lie or you'll be grounded."

The red-eyed boy sighed gustily. "Really, Mom, it's nothing to worry about…"

"Then what is…" An awful thought occurred to her. "OH MY ARCEUS- DID YOU TWO DO IT?"

Ruby blinked at her, the corners of his mouth scrunching up in a very confused expression. "Do what?" he wanted to know.

His mother began to have a fit. "YOU DID, DIDN'T YOU? THAT'S WHY YOU'RE BEING DISTANT- YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE CONSEQUENCES- Ruby, I'm not ready to be a mother," she babbled in one single breath, and Ruby's eyes grew as wide as saucers as he realized what his mother was implying.

"Mom!" he yelped, although his voice gave out at the end. "We didn't do it! We've never even kissed- I mean, I don't even like her in that way-" He dropped the dish into the sink, his extremities apparently deciding to lose all function from his shock. "Mew, why would you even think that…" he mumbled.

His mother sank into a seat, holding a hand over her heart. "Oh, thank Mew," she muttered. "Ruby, don't scare me like that again!"

"You were the one who came up with the idea in the first place!" Ruby protested.

"It's not my fault if you were behaving strangely." His mother eyed him with a critical stare. "Then why are you behaving so oddly?"

"No reason. I'm just thinking about the Contest next week, that's all." Ruby placed the last dish in the drainer. "I'm done," he announced. "See you, Mom. I'm going to go and groom Coco and Nana."

His mother watched him go, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. Right, she decided, I'm going to have to keep an eye on those two.

Somehow, though, she missed seeing a bouquet of flowers show up in Sapphire's hideout with an apologetic note attached to it.


Do you get it? Do you? :D I tried implying stuff in this chapter. Didja get it? Did you? *attempts to sound like hyperactive child*

And I realize this is the shortest story I've ever posted. Only 700 some words. Heh... I hope you liked it though :)

Well, as always, reviews help boost my ego. GO FOR IT. :D