Return to Hoenn
Chapter 10: Dreams and Reality
Sapphire was taking a walk in Rustboro City when something caught her eye. A familiar figure with long black hair was sitting in a small café. She ran towards to the place to check and sure enough it was the heiress from Sinnoh, Platina.
"Good morning, Sapphire. What brings you here today?" Platina asked as she smiled at her.
The brunette tried to recall the reason she came but she somehow forgot.
"No reason. Ya here for breakfast?" She sat in a vacant seat across the Sinnoh girl.
"Sort of… And by the way, that seat is taken." Platina gestured to the seat that Sapphire was sitting on.
The azure-eyed trainer was confused. Who could be here with Platina? When she stood up, she heard a boy's voice.
"Sorry for the wait, milady." Ruby came over with a tray of tea and berry-filled crepes.
Sapphire couldn't believe it. "Ru-RUBY?! What are you doing here!?"
The crimson-eyed boy just noticed her. He wasn't at all startled at her sudden raise in tone.
"Hey, Sapphire. Wanna join Platina and I?" Ruby smiled as he offered her a seat before taking a vacant chair and setting it beside Platina. Then he sat next to the black-haired girl.
Sapphire sat back down in disbelief. The two were so close to each other. Too close, in her opinion. They kept smiling at each other as if they were the only two people in the café. –As if it didn't matter she was there.
"Sapphire, why don't you have some crepes?" The beauty-obsessed boy offered her a plate but she just sat there frozen.
"Is there anything wrong?" Platina asked as her arm wrapped around Ruby's and her head leaned on his shoulder.
The scene was devastating for the blue-eyed brunette. "..Ruby, do you like Platina?" Tears were welling up in her eyes. She didn't dare to look at him.
Ruby and Platina looked at each other. Then they burst out into laughter. Sapphire looked dumbfounded. What the heck is happening!?
A loud beeping sound interrupted their laughter. It was Ruby's poketch. "Ooppss.. I'm late. I gotta go now!" The crimson –eyed trainer drank a bit of tea and ate his crepes in a hurry.
Sapphire stood up and slammed her hands on the table."Where do ya think yer going?!" She was still confused by the sudden turn of events.
"I don't wanna be late for my date." Ruby replied as he took out a mirror and tidied himself up.
A D-date!? If he's not dating Platina, then who?! Sapphire's mind was in a world of chaos. "Who the hell are you dating?!" Her tone was extremely angry. She wanted answers and she wanted them badly. Platina behaved as if she was just oblivious to what was happening. She continued drinking tea and eating her crepes.
Just then an unfamiliar voice called out to Ruby. A boy's silhouette waving at him was seen at a distance. Ruby's face grew bright pink as he answered, "I'll be right with you!"
Sapphire froze up like a statue as the boy she fell in love with ran off with the mysterious boy.
In a split second, her mind snapped back. "Ruby! Wait!" She tried to chase after him but ended up tripping into the tables and chairs in the café.
*crash*
She opened her eyes and found herself at the foot of her bed. A dream.. It was just a dream. She sighed in relief before she flopped unto the floor. What the heck is wrong with me?!
The sunlight seeped through the window curtains. It was already morning. She could hear the Tailows chirping outside.
The brunette got up and checked the time on the wall. 7:45am. She had slept in. She hurriedly got changed and went down stairs for breakfast.
"Ah, Sapphire. You woke up later than usual." Prof. Birch was already up, dressed in his lab coat. He had just finished setting up breakfast for them. The smell of newly-cooked food made Sapphire's mouth water. There was a hint of berries in the air.
"Hmmm… What's for breakfast?" She asked as she inhaled the delectable aroma.
Prof. Birch smiled and presented her with a plate full of… Crepes!
Sapphire suddenly lost her appetite, having a flashback of the nightmare she just experienced.
"..Ugh. No thank you." Crepes… why crepes!?
Her father was confused. His daughter loved berries and she never says no to food. Instead she looked through the fridge and took out a cold veggie sandwich. She shoved it in her mouth and went back upstairs to get the rest of her stuff, leaving Prof. Birch to wonder to what was wrong with the food.
By the time Sapphire finished packing, her pokegear rang. It was Ruby.
"Hey Saph, could you do me favor?"
It was strange for Ruby to call. His house was just next door.
"Sure, what's up?" Sapphire had a bad feeling about it. It was because of that bad dream.
"Can you accompany Platina later with her research? I've got somewhere to be."
The brunette was starting to panic. Why would he leave me with her, of all people?! What could Ruby be doing that's so important?!
"Uhm.. Wh-why? Where are ya going?" She asked. Her stress meter was rising.
I can't tell her I'm gonna battle Dad at Petalburg gym. She'll find out about the badges. Ruby hesitated before answering. "Let's just say I have a man-to-man bonding time with someone." He meant to say father-son time but that would be suspicious. Ruby and Norman rarely spent time together.
The line was silent.
"Saph?"
No reply.
"Hello? Sapphire you still there?"
Sapphire was petrified. The dream.. It can't be true! First crepes.. Now this?! The heck does he mean man-to-man bonding time!?
"Hey Saph, if you're still there, I already called Platina. She'll meet you at a café at 9am… Alright? I gotta go now. I don't wanna be late. I'll call again in the afternoon."
The line went dead.
Prof. Birch was concerned about his daughter and decided to check on her. He went up to her room and found her depressed and gloomy in a corner.
He reluctantly tapped his daughter's shoulder. ""Hey Sapphire, are you alright?"
She turned her head creepily. Her face was like a zombie. It sent shivers down the professor's spine.
"..Yes.. I'm alright.." she replied and turned her head back, facing the dark corner of her room. It came true.. That dream… It actually came true..
Quarter to 9am, Platina was waiting at a café conveniently located near her hotel. She was dressed in a dark pink version of her skirt with a light pink scarf and tall boots that were good enough for rough terrain. She also wore a black tank top with a white inside shirt.
People were buzzing here and there in the big city but to her it was quiet. She missed the morning sound that the pokedexes make when she was with Pearl and Diamond. She recalled those mornings where Dia usually sleeps in and Pearl was already filled with energy. When breakfast came Diamond would wake up and devour almost everything. Those times were always filled with happy thoughts.
Then Platina noticed a brown-haired girl getting closer. It was Sapphire. She was wearing a deep blue sleeveless top with matching bandana and black shorts. The Sinnoh trainer waved at her with a pleasant smile. The still gloomy girl sat down and slumped her head on the table.
I guess Sapphire is not a morning person. Or could it be because Ruby couldn't come? Platina thought. Maybe some sweets will brighten up her mood.
"Sapphire, would you like something to eat?" The dark-haired girl asked.
"..Anything but crepes." she replied.
It puzzled the other girl. Does she have something against crepes? Allergies?
Platina ordered some ice cream sundae made from moomoo milk and topped with an assortment of rare berries. She ate daintily like a lady while Sapphire continued to play around with the spoon. Something was indeed bothering her. Platina didn't know her that well other than the stories Ruby and Wallace told her. If Dia and Pearl were here she would be bursting out in laughter.
"Uhm, Sapphire? If there's a problem, it's alright to share among friends. Didn't I tell you that before?"
The azure-eyed girl stared at her dark colored eyes then turned away her gaze. She couldn't ask her. There was still one part of the dream that didn't happen. That was Platina holding on to Ruby and flirting. She didn't want to say anything more. Platina realized she wasn't going to get answer. She finished the last of her sundae and ordered some pastries to go in case they get hungry while they were out on the field. She took the take-out bag and went back to their table where Sapphire was slowly eating the remains of her half-melted sundae.
"Sapphire, I'll be in your care for today. Please guide me well." The Sinnoh guest smiled at her female friend and the Hoenn trainer swallowed the last of the berries and stood up, forcing herself to smile and nod in acknowledgment.
Platina took out her journal and already planned the day's schedule. She relayed it to her research partner.
"Prof. Rowan specialized in Evolution of Pokemon so the first on our list is observing the evolution of Wurmple to either Cascoon or Silcoon. We need to note down the factors that cause it."
Meanwhile, Ruby was standing outside the gym at Petalburg City. He was wearing black pants with a red and black short sleeve top with his signature white hat with a red band.
His heart was pounding in nervousness. He looked at the pokemon in their pokeballs. He left Popo and Nene back at home and brought Nana and Coco with him. They had a determined look in their faces. It was very encouraging for Ruby.
He took a deep breath and entered the gym. A long line of rooms with trainers awaited to face him and at the end of the rooms he would battle his father. It was a moment he never imagined to come true. Now, here he stands at the border of dreams and reality.
End of Chapter 10
Wow. Chapter 10 already?
School is just around the corner so my 'ultra fast update' will slow down a bit.
Plus, I have to write battles. I have to think of strategies and research on pokemon moves.
I found this really funny. I'm such a sadist towards Sapphire.
Anyway. Hope you like it! Review Pls.
Any review is fine. I'll consider suggestions. Pls. feel free!