Chapter 10 - The Aftermath, Part I
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"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait... You're serious about that, son?"
Ruby's cheeks increased its temperature, feeling the jittery and uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding the Birch Pokemon Research Laboratory. He watched the professor place his left palm on his belly to support it from his contented laugh. He sighed, a mix of confusion and exasperation forming in his warm breath.
He was starting to wonder why the professor is laughing at his simple question. He never laughed whenever he was asking for his permission, actually. In fact, this was one of the certain type of discussions that were often serious where it was natural for him to be anxious every time it happened.
The professor's new behavior was odd though. It was enough to make him feel embarrassed. If this would continue, he needed to learn on how to get used to it despite how uncomfortable it was.
Professor Birch seemed to have calm down after a minute of falling into a fit of laughter, much to Ruby's pleasure. He grabbed the water bottle on the table and drank from it.
Ruby's rapid heartbeat now accompanied his steaming cheeks. He sat up straight and watched the professor return the bottle of water on the table with a smile on his face.
"Listen, Ruby..."
Ruby swallowed hard and braced himself.
He was used to ask the professor's permission every time he planned on taking Sapphire into another one of his romantic dates with her, and this was one of them. The difference was the fact that he and Sapphire were now ten days engaged. It was a miracle that only a few people know about their engagement.
The lovebirds were kind of expecting people would randomly greet and congratulate them whenever they were having their usual stroll together in Lilycove City.
If people couldn't congratulate them personally, they often received some letters, e-mails or text messages from them. In fact, some so-called 'die-hard' fans even did all of the activities stated earlier.
Nonetheless, they were still engaged and the people would probably congratulate them loudly and passionately after their wedding, which would take place next year.
After telling to their respective parents and to their respective mentors, along with Blue, about their engagement, Ruby and Sapphire were able to discuss when their wedding will take place on the next day.
They made a unanimous decision and agreed they would get married in December of next year. They still didn't have specific date yet, but it was definitely before the holidays kick in. They wouldn't be planning on anything specific for their wedding yet since they still have a year and few months left before their day. The lovebirds just wanted to focus on the present for now.
"You and Sapphire are now engaged, and... I honestly don't see a reason why you should ask my permission whenever you plan on going on a date with her."
Ruby now understood why the professor sort of laughed at his question. He exhaled deeply.
The professor was right.
He was engaged with her.
He would soon marry her and spend their lives together as husband and wife. Hence, they would be living together soon.
The thought of it further increased the heat from his cheeks. He was contentedly engaged with Sapphire, that's the truth, but they were technically not yet married.
He released a sigh in relief. "Well... y-you're my fiancée's father, professor, and..." He released another sigh to calm his anxious heart. He found it peculiar that he was still anxious every time he asked the professor's permission. He knew the professor will agree at his plans, yet he was miraculously not quite confident he would receive one hundred percent of the professor's permission.
Was this a normal feeling for every guy whenever he asks permission from his girl's parents, especially from her father? "Well... I love and respect her. I-It's only natural for me to treat her father with the same respect."
"Hm..." A smile plastered across the professor's face as he folded his arms across his chest, exhaling contentedly.
Ruby's respect and love for his daughter never ceased to amaze him. He and Norman never expected their respective child to fall for one another. The charmer and the conqueror being the best of friends, not to mention each other's rival, were already satisfying. Them being more than friends, and now getting married soon, were more than they could ask for.
He released a soft chuckle at the memory of Norman intentionally buying those tickets for the meteor shower years ago for Ruby and Sapphire. The way Norman told his son to invite their cute neighbor to see the meteor shower with the charmer was definitely amusing. His and Norman's, not to mention the gym leader's wife's, parents' intuitions were stating there was something going on between Ruby and Sapphire's *relationship.
Seeing the slight blush on Ruby's cheeks when he accepted the tickets with an immeasurable smile on his face made their intuitions go a bit wild.
Ruby's smile was a bit suspicious, especially when Norman mentioned Sapphire into their conversation. That alone was enough for them to have a hunch that Ruby was either in the process of courting Sapphire to be his girlfriend or they were already in a romantic relationship, but they were still waiting for the right time to tell that to them.
Nonetheless, he approved Norman's son to be his daughter's boyfriend, and now fiancé, despite any circumstances. After all, he knew Ruby would take good care of his daughter.
"I appreciate your efforts, son. You never cease to amaze me." Professor Birch started, his tone sounding a bit fatherly yet professional. "I don't need to state anything further, in fact. And with that, you have my permission from today and here on out."
Ruby released a sigh and bowed at the professor. His forehead almost hit the table if he didn't stop midway. Regardless, he didn't care about that for now. He was just more than happy that the professor approved. "Thank you, professor."
"Anytime, Ruby." The professor said, acknowledging his gratitude by nodding his head.
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"Wait, what?"
It was the day after Ruby got the professor's permission to take Sapphire on another date.
They are currently in his room, waiting for Norman and Professor Birch to arrive so the five of them can eat dinner together.
His mother did all the cooking while Sapphire assisted her by doing the dishes or chopping some vegetables, fresh berries and some herbs for the food.
Ruby came home from Lilycove City to find out that his Mom and his fiancée were now done preparing the food, only waiting for him and the two men to come home.
Ruby excused himself that he would be going in his room to fix his stuff and told his mother to call him when they were about to have their meal. With a nod from his mother, he grabbed Sapphire's hand, with the conqueror's face started heating up due to embarrassment, and took her with him while his Mom just giggled at their cute interaction then turns on the television to watch some random sitcom shows.
Once they arrived in his room, Ruby went to the bathroom to clean himself from the possible filth he got in his travel while Sapphire just rolled her eyes at him and grabbed the book at the study table that she's been reading for days.
After twenty minutes of waiting, Ruby came out from the bathroom, wearing a plain white V-neck t-shirt and black shorts, to which Sapphire thinks it was quite unfashionable in his taste.
Nonetheless, they were just in his house, so it was normal for him to wear some clothes below his standards.
Afterwards, he immediately told her the news he got from her father. The news turned out to be a question of him asking if she would like to go on another date with him, leaving Sapphire a bit shocked from his question. Thus, leaving her to wonder why.
"W-We're havin' another date?" Sapphire asked, currently sitting on his bed and now finished reading a book about a child `finding her missing mother after years, since her birth, of being separated, while Ruby was sitting beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist for a warm embrace.
Her question made Ruby wonder. Was she getting sick of it? If she was, then he needed to enhance his dating strategies. "How come? Don't you like it?"
"T-That's not what I meant." Sapphire placed her left hand on his arm, gently squeezing it. "I-I mean, I love goin' on every date with ya... It's just that... I... never heard of engaged people goin' on a date. T-That's all."
Ruby released a sigh in relief and planted a soft kiss on her right temple with a smile on his face. Thank Arceus she was having a great time at every one of his dates with her. He would lose his mind if she was not enjoying herself. "I was afraid you're getting tired of it."
Sapphire slowly shook her head. "Ya know I will never get tired of spendin' my time with ya."
"Me too." He said sweetly, kissing her cheek. "I enjoy every time I spend with you, in fact."
Sapphire rolled her eyes to ignore the increasing heat from her cheeks and bit her lip. "Ya always say that."
"Because it's true." He said after releasing a soft chuckle.
"A-Anyway," Sapphire let out a light cough to gather her voice and released herself from their hug. She turned around to face him, hiding the slight blush on her cheeks. She definitely enjoyed their previous position, but dear Arceus, when would she not be flustered at every single time they're having a romantic moment? "W-When?"
"I'm free for a whole day tomorrow. How about you?"
"F-From fifteen onwards, I'll be free from work."
"Ah, perfect."
"Eh?" Sapphire immediately noticed the sparkle in his eyes after stating her free time. Her intuitions were telling her that he is planning to join her all day whether it was in her work or her free time. Moreover, he might be planning to have a little word with her arrogant challengers if she would ever have one tomorrow. She hoped she wouldn't have any challengers with that attitude. It's annoying and tiring. She bit her lip and took a deep breath. Her intuitions were getting a bit specific on this one.
"I'll go with you tomorrow, and spend the whole day with you." Ruby said, passion burning in his voice, as his eyes sparkle with excitement.
Her intuitions were correct again.
He would be spending the whole day with her, and she knew he would go to Ever Grande City despite her protests of using that time to extend his sleeping hours. "Ya just want to give my arrogant challengers a piece of yer mind." Sapphire sarcastically responded with an irk pout and an obvious look.
Ruby's lips curved into a sheepish smile as a light blush sneaked its way onto his cheeks. He knew her too well with or without her strong intuitions. "Yeah, that too."
Sapphire folded her arms across her chest. Her intuitions were always correct despite the circumstances. She had no idea whether or not she would be honored for having such strong intuitions. "Even if I told ya to use that time to get some more sleep, you'll just go with me."
Ruby released a sigh in defeat.
Everything she said were true.
He was quite stubborn when he got a chance to spend more time with her. Whenever he was free from work, he often went to her place and hang out with her despite her protests.
Those chances turned into a habit as time goes by.
It wasn't that Sapphire was annoyed by it.
She found it kind of cute, in fact, but she was just concerned about him.
She may not be letting those negative thoughts get through her, but it was better to be safe than sorry. She just cared too much for him just like he does for her. "I'll be leavin' early tomorrow. Just go there around ten or eleven, okay?" She said, sounding like a concerned girlfriend like from the ones a person reads in a romantic novel or watches in a film of any medium. She pressed her soft lips on his left cheek.
"I will." Ruby responds, receiving a light feeling from his chest, and did his best to control the growing blush on his cheeks. "Wait, where are you going?"
"Our dads are here. I just heard yer mom greet them and I better help her set up the table." She responded, exiting his room to proceed to the dining room.
Ruby's thoughts were more jumbled than before.
He found it cute when she said that she was going to help his mom set up the table for dinner.
He could already imagine them living together in a beautiful house, but never as beautiful as Sapphire in his perspective, somewhere in `Lilycove City.
The table was already set up for their dinner and Sapphire, his beautiful wife, was waiting for him to come home from work.
She would welcome him into their home once he arrived and he would greet her with a kiss. Their kid(s) would go downstairs to greet their father, and... Crap. What am I thinking?!
Ruby vigorously shook his head at the last thought. They were not yet married and he is already thinking of their future together with their possible kid(s).
It's too early for him to even imagine it! He really needed to learn on how to limit his thoughts. Besides, it would be better to let him discuss that certain topic with Sapphire and decide that together.
It shouldn't be him deciding that alone.
He didn't ask her hand for marriage just to have kids in the first place.
His real reason why he asked her hand for marriage was because he loved her and he was willing to spend the rest of his life with and only Sapphire. Having kids would come out unexpectedly.
It wasn't the important part of marriage in a nutshell.
It would only act like a subplot or a filler into their story together.
He released an irked groan, ignoring Rara's silly giggle. He forgot Rara was out from her Poke Ball, and she had definitely read his thoughts judging at the way her shoulders vibrate.
It had always been Rara's habit to read his mind whenever he was daydreaming about Sapphire. He didn't know why she do that but he definitely blamed Blue whenever she teased them. It was true his Pokemon often teases him about Sapphire, but their teasing weren't this intense until they started dating.
It became worst now that they were engaged.
"Ruby, dinner's ready!" His mom shouted from the stair well.
How Ruby wished he didn't observe Sapphire whenever she was lecturing Pietro. It's giving him the idea of their future kid(s).
With another infuriated sigh escaped from his lips, he stood up from his bed and went to down to the dining room.
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The next day, Ruby did what his beautiful fiancée told him last night. He arrived at eleven in Ever Grande City with two take-out meals he bought from the Lilycove Mall.
Sapphire was surprised he brought some take-out meals for them and told him she would pay for her food.
Ruby declined it, however, saying it is their date and it was his responsibility to pay for the expenses. Plus, she paid all the expenses when they were at Trattoria Tropius in Mauville City on her birthday, so he thought it was only fair for him to now pay for the expenses.
Sapphire understood his reasons, but insisted she would be the one paying next time.
Ruby had no other option but to agree since she did insist and he just couldn't decline her offer because of how adorably and beautifully she looked whenever she nervously bit her lip and look a bit guilty from the money he was spending.
She shouldn't be guilty, and he wanted to hug her guilt away, in fact, but she just looked absolutely adorable at the moment. He couldn't help but to agree thanks to that.
With a contented smile on his face, he took her to the building's roof deck.
What was built at the Pokemon League's roof deck is a simple garden decorated with different species of simple, rare plants along with some berries planted on the pots located beside the roof terrace's handrails. The Pokemon League building's elevation from the datum, especially from the roof deck to the datum, was high enough to view the large scale of the sea and the vague sightings of Mosdeep City Space Center's building, the Sky Pillar and the Battle Tower.
The roof terrace's garden was also the place where every people, who were working in the Pokemon League building, could stay whenever they needed a place to relax or in need of fresh air. Being in an island far from the mainland was often a boring place to most people, but the view itself from the garden was breathtaking. It was enough to help any person and Pokemon relax from having such a stressful day.
They sat on the picnic table Ruby set up and the lovebirds ate their lunch peacefully along with some small talks about random topics like did he manage to get at least eight hours of sleep last night. Ruby felt warmed from her concern. She never ceased to stop thinking about him. Frankly, he never stopped as well. He found it quite cute whenever she was concerned about him. He thanked Arceus and felt blessed for having a considerate fiancée and soon-to-be wife.
"This little guy just loves oran berries." Sapphire said, grabbing one oran berry placed on top of the cheesecake, and gave it to the Wingull, who landed on her right shoulder a moment ago. The Wingull chirped loudly after hearing the words 'oran berry' from its friend. "Be careful though. It's too sweet compared to the fresh ones."
The Wingull nodded a gently took a peck at the oran berry from her hand. A smile appeared on its face as it savored a different yet familiar kind of taste from the berry. It let out a happy cry and rubbed its cheeks on Sapphire's, making Ruby a bit jealous from its affection towards his fiancée.
Whenever Sapphire went to the roof deck to get some fresh air or just relax from her work, this Wingull often goes beside her to keep her company. Sapphire met this Wingull last month after seeing it broke its wing and look a bit hungry. She didn't have any food with her except from the oran berries she picked with Courtney from her garden.
She didn't hesitate to feed the oran berries she had to the Wingull. The Wingull seemed threatened at her appearance, but after hastily taking one berry from her palm, it's slowly starting to not feel threatened at Sapphire's presence. It finished every oran berry Sapphire has in the re-sealable plastic bag making Sapphire wonder how long it was starving. She gently places her hand on its broken left wing, but the Wingull acted on instinct and jabbed her left hand with its beak, causing it to bleed a bit. Sapphire has no other option but to let it stay in there for a while since a new challenger just arrived.
She didn't forget it despite it made the back of her left hand bleed. Every day she feeds it some oran berries and as the day goes by, the Wingull learned to trust her, now feeling guilty for making her hand bleed, and let her treat its broken wing. After one day, its broken wing was fixed and it can now fly around Hoenn again thanks to its new found friend. As a way of stating its gratitude for the conqueror, it often visits her, greeting her by landing on her shoulder and nuzzling its cheeks on hers, and keeps her company until a new challenger arrived.
"So… that's the Wingull who made your hand bleed...?" He asked, receiving a glare from the Wingull making him glare back at it as well. He clenched his teeth at the Wingull's aggressive aura. I understand you like her, but she's my future wife. You're just her friend. He mentally shook his head, grumbling at his relatively infrequent thought. It was unusual of him to be slightly annoyed over a Pokemon, piquing an interest at Sapphire, but he didn't quite like its goody two-shoes aura in the first place. Nevertheless, he thought he sort of have the right to return a glare towards the Wingull, just for a bit.
The Wingull averted its glare from the charmer with a scowl look on its face. Sapphire's male human friend was obviously jealous at his cute little affection he was giving to her.
"Ehhh? I-It's not that much of a big deal anymore." Sapphire said with a sigh in exasperation. She didn't know why they had a glaring contest earlier, but she and her intuitions know they're not comfortable with each other yet. "Besides," She took a spoonful of cheesecake and eats it while caressing the Wingull's chin. The Wingull smiled at the comfortable massage she was giving on his chin, which intensified Ruby's glare at the water-flying type. "It must have gone through a lot when I found it injured and hungry." She added after swallowing the cheesecake.
Ruby's glare was instantly gone in a flash. He now looked at Sapphire with a smile forming on his lips. She never hesitated to help any people and Pokemon, and he was absolutely proud at that. He released a soft chuckle when he noticed an excess cracker on her left cheek. She looked so cute whenever she has that on her cheek.
"What's funny?" She asked, tilting her head a bit to her right.
His heart thumped at her reaction. She is so cute. He slowly shook his head and placed his right hand on her left cheek. "You still had some cracker left on your cheek." He leaned in closer, lightly pressing his lips against hers to remove the cracker on her cheek. He licked his lips afterwards and a sly smirk appeared on it. "You're still uncivilized."
Sapphire became flustered at his quick kiss with her heartbeat becoming faster than before, and her cheeks increasing its temperature. His last words made a vein pop on her forehead due to annoyance. She knew he was just messing around, but his sly smirk was quite irritating to look at. "Ya idiot! Ya know yer free to use a napkin!"
The Wingull flinched from his spot from her sudden outburst. He didn't know what happened between them when they got intensely close, but judging by her now red face, she seems embarrassed. Was this normal when the two of them get really close? He released a sigh. Peculiarity was definitely a quality present in every human despite how different they were from each other.
"There aren't any. We used it all. I don't want to see your beautiful face covered with crackers."
"Ya often have excess napkins with ya. Ya know yer free to use it!"
"You know, the cracker tastes better when it came from your cheek. I should often let you eat it all first then kiss you afterwards."
"How did that even improve its taste in the first place?! It has my essence!"
"But yours tastes sweet and amazing. We often kiss, you know? I'll never get tired of your taste."
"This is not the time and place to even say that!"
"Oh, so you do like to talk about it? You can taste my essence too you know."
"S-Shut up! Why are we even talkin' about it?!"
"You mentioned it, love."
"Yer such an idiot!"
A sweat awkwardly drops from the Wingull's left temple. He looks at the bickering lovebirds with curiosity and irritation from whatever they were bickering at. They seemed friendly and sweet earlier and now they were having a very loud discussion over something about crackers and kisses. Do they often do this?
"Okay, if not often then once a week?"
"That's not how it works, ya idiot!"
After another hour of continuing their so-called playful bickering, Sapphire went back to battle the other challengers on the fifth floor with Ruby spectating their battle. However, his real purpose is to reassure himself that she would not be physically and emotionally harmed from the battle while glaring at whoever challenger she would be facing.
Her current challenger was a spiky brunette, teenage boy from a trainer rank called 'Ace Trainer'. The title itself stated that it was a strong and possibly worthy opponent, but Ruby knew, without a doubt, she could defeat her challenger. She managed to defend her title more than a hundred times, after all.
The rules were simple, and that is to defeat all of the champion's six Pokemon in order to earn the title as the new Hoenn Pokemon League champion. Another rule was the challenger has the power to choose between single, double, triple or rotation battles styles, since the champion has mastered all those battle styles herself. The challenger, who claimed by the name of 'Ace Trainer Tyler' chose the traditional, single battle style. With a determined sigh escaping from her lips, Sapphire prepared Chic's Poke Ball, and their Pokemon battle started once the announcer gave them his permission.
Sapphire was able to beat five of the challenger's Pokemon with Chic alone.
Tyler was down to his last Pokemon.
Swiveling his right arm forward, he throws a Poke Ball which later revealed a dragon-flying type Pokemon known as a Salamence.
The Pokemon's presence brought a chill on Ruby's and Sapphire's spines, reminding them of a certain incident that happened years ago. They may have put it behind them, but they still couldn't control themselves from cringing at its presence.
Before he stood up from his seat, Chic was already defeated by Salamence's dragon claw.
Ruby bit his lip, feeling anxious at his fiancée's state, and observed Chic's state.
It was natural for Chic to be defeated by just one move since she'd been constantly battling five of the challenger's Pokemon for an hour. He released a sigh to calm himself. At least, Sapphire had the higher chance of winning based on the number of Pokemon she has left. However, he still couldn't stop himself from being anxious. He knew she could defeat her challenger. But how come out of all the eight hundred and two discovered Pokemon so far, why did it have to be a Salamence? If dragon type Pokemon were the only ones available, can it be a Dragonite, a Flygon, a Garchomp, a Haxorus, a Goodra or a Kommo-o? Just any Pokemon besides that... please...
"It'll be fine. You don't hafta worry."
Ruby went out of his trance, only to find out that Sapphire is in front of him with sympathy forming into her eyes. He released a long and heavy sigh in relief, and stood up from his seat. Without any hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug. Thank Arceus she was alright. He would lose his mind if she ever got hurt again. "Are you alright?" His left arm remained around her waist while his right hand was now caressing her right cheek. His anxious blood-like eyes met her determined yet sympathetic ocean-like eyes. "Did it hurt you?"
"Not one bit." She said determinedly, now starting to feel flustered at their little public display of affection.
She understood why he was worried.
It was their childhood incident that caused their little trauma from any Salamence they would see. They may have overcome it, but feeling a bit anxious at its presence was still an inescapable habit.
"I wish I could help, but..." Ruby bit his lip. This didn't seem right. He should be the one who was making her feel better, cheering for her, telling her that she could defeat the challenger's last Pokemon, but what was currently happening is the exact opposite. She was the one reassuring that she could defeat that Pokemon and be alright at once. He felt like a terrible fiancé now.
"Hey," Sapphire placed her left hand on his left shoulder and took a quick peck on his lips. Their short kiss caused Ruby to go out from his trance with a blush forming on his cheeks. It felt great, but he did not expect that. "It'll be alright. I have my Pokemon with me."
He released a sigh. She's right. If he couldn't protect her now because of the rules, then he could count on her Pokemon to protect her. She was important to them just as she was to him.
"I know you can do it." He said, determination building up in his voice, and lightly pressed his soft lips against hers. "Show him what the conqueror and the champion can do." With a determined wink, he removed his hands on hers and Sapphire went back to her position in the battle field while he went back to his seat.
What she did was truly selfless. She told the judge that she would have a five-minute time out just so she could reassure she would be alright. Even in times like these, she was still thinking about him, and he felt honored and appreciated in return. He exhaled contentedly and watched her grabs Kirly's Poke Ball. She was so kind and considerate. It was one of the many reasons why he loved her for all eternity. He just couldn't imagine his life without her.
"I trained this Salamence to defeat you and earn the champion title myself!" Tyler yelled, cranking his knuckles, and smiled widely. "Go, Han!"
"We ain't backin' down either! Let's go, Kirly!" Sapphire shouted with determination building up in her voice. She didn't have this type of challenger for quite some time, and she had to admit it was quite a refreshing and a familiar feeling. She hoped to have more challengers like Tyler, specifically being a determined one who believed he could defeat her regardless of his low chance on winning. In fact, I'll defend my title fer more than two hundred times... which is why... we cannot lose.
Ruby bit his lip. His rubber shoes now meeting and applying a certain downward force on the concrete floor as his fists were placed on his lap, clenching it from anticipation. He couldn't see clearly Sapphire's and Kirly's conditions due to the immense dust clouds from the stadium. If this were happening in a normal circumstance, he would freak out from the amount of dirt he and his clothes were receiving. But he didn't mind it for now. All he cared at the moment, and for the rest of his life, was Sapphire and her condition. How he wished he had some goggles or anything to make him see through the thick dust clouds surrounding the stadium. He was desperate to know that Sapphire would be okay. He knew she can take care of herself, but it was an inescapable habit to not be worried about her unless she was somewhere safe with him. Please, be safe. Please...
After three minutes, the dust cloud has finally cleared, revealing Kirly and Han barely standing and panting for breath.
Ruby felt relieved seeing his fiancée gasping for breath and in a reek of sweat. He'd rather see her in a cute mess than getting some scars from the attack that's for sure.
Another minute passed keeping its feet standing on the ground, Han collapsed on the floor leaving Kirly to release a sigh in relief and sat on the ground. That is one tough Salamence he just defeated.
The result made Tyler gape in horror. He swears he trained his team competitively, and yet he lost. Letting out a sigh in defeat, he returned his Salamence into its Poke Ball with Sapphire approaching him. "H-How...? I-I swear my attacks are way powerful than yours."
"True, but..." Sapphire turned her attention to Kirly, who is now lying on the floor due to exhaustion. She smiled at her Pokemon. Kirly's skills never ceased to amaze her. He was such a strong powerhouse and a definite hard worker in her team. He deserved a long break. "Kirly is wearin' the choice band. I told him to use Swords Dance before attackin' yer Salamence with an Ice Punch. With his attacks increased sharply, it defeated Han. Plus, Salamence is a dragon-flyin' type, which both are weak to ice types. It made Kirly's attack way stronger than usual."
Tyler closed his eyes and nodded, acknowledging his defeat and her explanation. He released a contented chuckle. "You truly are an amazing champion. Thank you for lending your time to battle me. I learned a lot from it."
Sapphire accepted his hand and gently shook it, up and down, while happily giving him a toothy grin. "I'm glad ya learned as well. It's definitely a great match. I can't wait to have another battle with ya."
Tyler let out a soft, contented laugh, shaking his head, then nodded. "It might take a while since I need more training."
"That's okay." Sapphire placed her left palm on her chest, lightly pounding it, still wearing her cute grin. "I won't be leavin' Hoenn fer a while."
"Sapphire!" Ruby stopped on his tracks, panting a bit from his fast paced run, and stood up straight. He genuinely smiled at her. "I knew you could do it, and thank Arceus you're alright."
"T-Thanks." She said, avoiding her eye contact with him. The way he smiles at her was so cute that she couldn't help but to let the heat from her cheeks increase.
"By the way," Tyler asked, curious about something, and released a light cough to get their attentions. It seemed to have work, but he could tell the champion was still flustered judging by the red color from her cheeks. His eyebrows furrowed. Was this normal? "Congratulations. Not just for defending your title for who knows how many times, but to your marriage as well. For how long were you guys married again, by the way?"
"Ehh?"
His misunderstanding caused Sapphire's cheeks to deepen its color. Why did he assume they were married?! Could he just ask whether they were engaged or just got married?! She swore she was definitely not wearing a wedding ring. She stole a glance at her fiancé, who seemed to be blushing madly at the challenger's question. Was there not a single person who's curious about their relationship.
Ruby swallowed hard as he jerked his head on the right to hide his now blushing face from Tyler. Why did he assume they were married? He was flattered, but they were still technically engaged. They will be married soon, specifically in December of next year. He took a glance at Sapphire and saw her face now rivaling his eye color. She looked so cute whenever she was flustered. If it's just the two of them, he had already hugged and kissed her. He just couldn't resist her current state. Snapping himself away from his thoughts, he released a light cough to gather his voice. "W-We're just engaged for twelve days. Technically not yet married, b-but we'll get there." He stated, trying his best to sound professional and preventing himself to stutter at every word.
"Oh." Tyler says, his tone was a bit disappointed from the charmer's answer. He expected they were married for at least a year judging at how popular they were around Hoenn as a couple or by their respective jobs and achievements for quite some time. They'd been a popular couple for years to be precise, but it turned out they were still in the engagement process. Now he was curious when would they get married. "I noticed the ring on your left finger before we started the match, and I thought you guys are already married." He raised an eyebrow at their amusing reactions.
They seem more flustered than before. Now he understood why some of his ace trainer companions of any gender support the charmer and the conqueror as a couple in such a passionate manner. They were a cute pair, so to speak. "Still, congratulations." He fixed his hair and turned around, walking his way to the exit.
Ruby released a sigh in relief the moment Tyler stepped outside the stadium. Thank Arceus he didn't ask any more questions. It was a good thing trainers at Tyler's rank didn't gossip about someone else's business. If his trainer rank was different, he might bombard them with questions and he would definitely not answer it all if Sapphire weren't comfortable at it. Speaking of his beautiful fiancée, he turned around and linked his left hand on hers with a smile on his face. "You reek with sweat. You should head on to the shower while I change my clothes in the men's rest room."
Still flustered, yet now feeling comfortable thanks to his linked hand, she nodded at his words and quietly went to the champion's room with Kirly behind her.
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"Come on."
"Hm?" Ruby closed the book he was reading and placed it on the table. A smile plastered across his face at the sight of his fiancée in front of him. His heart thumped at the sight of her hair not tied in her usual ponytail. He hardly see her with her hair down, and frankly, he hadn't controlled himself from blushing madly at the sight of it. So pretty... So cute...
Sapphire noticed his reaction and averted her eyes at him with a growing blush on her cheeks. She forgot her hair was down, and he was here to witness it again. The way he looked at her with such passion and admiration glistening in his eyes, as if it was his first time seeing her after years, was still new to her. He had definitely given her that certain look more than once, but like he was when her hair is down, she was still not yet used to it and couldn't control herself from blushing madly. She had known him since her childhood, but it still made her wonder why he was giving her that look sometimes. Was it normal for a guy to have that reaction whenever he saw how beautiful his fiancée was in his eyes? She released a sigh and bit her lip. It looked like he didn't had any plans on averting his eyes at her. Knowing Ruby, he wouldn't get out from his trance until someone started getting his attention.
"Beautiful."
"W-Wait, w-what?"
Ruby snapped back to reality and blinked his eyes, registering what he said. He observes her reaction. She was absolutely flustered, and she looked so cute. Did he say something out loud while he is on a trance? "Sapphire, is something wrong...?"
Sapphire swallowed hard. He had definitely did it again. He said something while he was on a trance, and he had no idea what he just said. "N-Nothin', really. I-It's just... yer... word... s-surprised me."
"Oh." Ruby sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile forming on his lips. What he said was either she's beautiful or absolutely cute. He told it to her many times, but she was still not yet used to it. It was not that he was complaining, he didn't had the right to in his perspective, but he just wished her insecurities would not prevent her from realizing how amazing she was. "Well, whatever I said is true."
"I know." She responds, huffing some air out of her nose due to embarrassment, and folds her arms across her chest. "It's just that... I'm... not used to it... yet..."
"We'll get there, eventually... Anyway," He stood up from his seat, wrapped his arms around her for a hug and kissed her cheek. It further intensified the cute blush on it. "You don't have any challengers left?"
Sapphire responded by nodding slowly. "I-I'm free from work now."
"Perfect." He linked their hands together and slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Latios might arrive at any moment."
"W-Wait, Latios?" She asked, gently squeezing his hand a bit, and let him took her to the building's roof deck.
He nodded at her question. "I told Latios to take us to a pleasant mirage spot for our date. It'll be just the two of us." He stopped on his tracks once they reached the roof deck and stole a kiss from her right cheek, making her heart pound in astonishment.
"Y-Yer..." She let out a light cough to gather her voice. "Yer really determined to not let anyone disturb us in our date."
"Ehhh? You know..." He smiled sheepishly, rubbing his sideburns. What she said were true. He didn't want anyone disturbing their date, and that can only be possible when they were in an isolated place from the mainland. That's why he told Latios to take them in a certain, pleasant mirage spot. It was by far the only place available for them to be alone together where there would not be any person interrupting their time together. "I just... don't want any distractions or anyone interrupting us."
She gave him a faltered look, her cute canine-like fangs sticking out from her top lip, and retorted something with all the sarcasm she could muster, "Unlike yer attempts on askin' me to marry ya weeks ago?"
His widened in shock at her remark as his heart started beating anxiously in a faster pace. He knew she had strong intuitions, but he thought he had kept his surprise perfectly. "Wait, y-you know that...?"
Sapphire shook her head. "Ruby, I told ya before. A marriage proposal was the last thing I could think of."
Ruby released a sigh, relieved she did not suspect a thing about his proposal weeks ago, and gently squeezed her hand. "I thought you already know about my proposal. Thank Arceus the news didn't reach you. I really wanted to keep it as a surprise."
"And it definitely did." She responded with her toothy fanged smile.
"Ehem!"
The lovebirds stopped staring at each other and jerked their heads up north. The one who interrupted them was Latios all along. A slight blush appeared on their cheeks. How long was the Eon Pokemon there?
"Em was right. You two just wouldn't stop flirting. Frankly, you two are engaged and will get married soon. So I guess that gives you two more permission to flirt with each other. Just don't do it in public. I beg of you."
Sapphire bit her lip and hid her crimson face. This was just splendid. A legendary Pokemon is teasing them, and she thought Blue was the only one who could tease them intensely, but it turned out Latios's teasing was just as intense as Blue's. Were they really bound to be flustered and embarrassed at anyone, people and/or Pokemon, who teased them? Just this morning she received a text message from Courtney, stating that she was still very happy and very proud at their engagement and told her she would help them in their wedding plans. She placed her left palm on her chest, slightly gripping it and feeling her rapid heartbeat. Arceus was probably enjoying at how flustered they were now. Why must everyone tease us?
"Wait, what?! Latios!" Ruby placed his right palm to cover his face in embarrassment. He forgot that Latios loves to tease them whenever it got the chance, and its teasing was often brutally honest and intense like Blue's. Was Latias literally the only one who compliments their relationship and not tease them? He should have asked Latias to take them there. Now they would be flooded with Latios' brutally honest way of teasing. If this was Arceus' way to embarrass them, since Latios was technically a legendary Pokemon like Arceus, then the alpha, god-like Pokemon definitely did a great job of embarrassing them. "We are definitely not flirting."
"If Grumpigs can learn to fly, then I will believe it. Besides, it is impossible for a couple like you love-luvdiscs to not flirt even just a bit."
"F-Fer how long were ya here, by the way?" Sapphire asked, changing the subject, and looked at the Eon Pokemon.
"I just arrived five minutes ago only to find out that you guys are flirting." Latios said in a deadpan tone, making Ruby remove his hand on hers and waves his hands in the air.
"Okay, Latios, take us there."
"Calm down, alright? I'll just lower my elevation from you love-luvdiscs. But first, you have to be the gentleman and make your future wife ride on me first."
Sapphire released a sigh, ignoring Ruby and Latios' argument. At this rate, nothing could ever get done. She placed her hands on the terrace's handrails, lifting herself from the ground with ease. She stayed in the air for few moments and gently landed on Latios' back before it managed to level itself on the handrails. "Let's go."
Her sudden act caused the two to stop arguing with Ruby's lips now curving into an affectionate smile. That's my girl. He kind of expected her to do that. She is an independent person, regardless, and it's only normal for her to not ask for his help whenever she needs to mount herself on a Pokemon's back. Although, she somehow ruined another possible romantic moment between them yet again. He released a soft chuckle. He definitely needs to get used to it.
"Your stunts never ceases to amaze me, Sapphire. Now let's wait for your future husband to get on my back." Latios continues to elevate itself from the handrails slowly as he watches the charmer taps his right foot at the concrete roof impatiently. "Be patient, alright, Ruby? You'll get on me soon."
"Just go a bit lower, Latios." Ruby held onto his hat to prevent the wind from blowing it off his head. "And please make it faster."
"There's no need." Sapphire extended her arm at him, receiving a smirk from her fiancé.
"You know I should be the one doing that." Ruby says slyly, accepting and linking their hands together with a smile on his face.
"Idiot." She mumbled, her lips forming into an irk pout, and pulled him from the ground to help him get on the Eon Pokemon's back, gently landing with a thud.
Once he got on, he released a contented sigh and wrapped his arms around her waist. It made Sapphire flustered, but nevertheless, she adjusted a bit on her left to make them both feel comfortable from their warm embrace.
Their cute interaction made Latios smile. Latias often talked how adorable Ruby and Sapphire are whenever they meet up with the Hoenn Pokedex holders. Their meet up often consisted of helping Emerald to gather more soil samples all over Hoenn. The reason why the calmer brought the lovebirds was to tease and traumatize Ruby and his fear of dirt. Sapphire just comes along to have some fun, and make Ruby stop from complaining about the dirt he was seeing. The meet up also leads to Latios and Emerald brutally teasing the lovebirds, leaving Latias giggle at the amusing sight and the lovebirds being flustered as a result. Latias is right about you guys being such a cute pair.
With a sigh escaping on its lips, it took off into the skies, taking them into their destination.
*This is not my headcanon. I repeat: this is not my headcanon. It actually belongs to an amazing person named fallan-angel (I got her permission, don't worry. Also, do check her blog on tumblr. Her blog is awesome. She's awesome. ^^). Her headcanon states that Ruby and Sapphire are already in a romantic relationship during the ORAS chapters, and more information are in her blog. :D (Sounded like I promoted my friend, and well... MY FRIEND IS AMAZING. :D)
`Hint: That book is called "Rooftoppers" by Katherine Rundell. It's a great read, honestly. ^^ (And let's assume she can now read the words she didn't know before. They're not fifteen in this fan fic after all. :D)
`I have no idea why it's Lilycove City. O.o
`Han Solo. I did name my Soul Silver team after some Star Wars characters (Cassian, Jyn, Finn, Luke, Kylo and Rey) so why not spread the force here? (Shut up Cap.)
This is just the first part of chapter 10. Hehe, it's too long. I recheck it and it contains 17k+ words, so I have to divide the chapter into two. Anyway, the second part will be the last chapter of this fanfic. See you all there. ^^