"They say that the castle in Mossdeep is throwing a ball for all maidens to attend. I reckon they're trying to force the prince to marry. I wouldn't mind marrying him myself!" Sapphire listened to the gossiping women in town as she shopped at the market for her stepmother. "All eligible maidens are required to attend; the order went round all of Hoenn! They must be desperate!"
"Well he is twenty-five now; they probably want him to settle instead of running around the region all the time." She glanced over at the two ladies in their thirties as they hoisted up baskets of fruits and flowers they had spent their spare cash on. The women tottered off and still gassed to one another about this ball.
A little chirruping tweet pulled her attention back to her task at hand, she paid for everything she needed and handed a little basket filled with light items to Cinders, her best friend Torchic. "Let's go home or we'll risk her piling more chores on us." Sapphire heaved up several baskets of food stuffs and turned to walk back to the hell which had exploded at home after her mother had died.
Her mother had been a wonderful woman, but quite a few years back now she had developed a fatal illness. Her father had searched desperately for someone to marry who would take care of Sapphire then he had scampered off to his Gym and worked their nonstop. Nowadays, Sapphire never saw him, he rang up but she was never allowed to answer the phone, only getting half a minute at max to speak with her father.
She didn't blame him per se, but she couldn't see eye-to-eye with his way of dealing with her mother's passing. Her and Cinders were now forced to work all the time, she never had a day off, there was always so much needed to be done.
"You're late." She walked into the house in Littleroot to see her stepmother standing at the top of the stairs, glaring down at her pointing to the clock pointedly. Her tone held all the malice and contempt to suggest that Sapphire had just wiped her nose on the woman's best dress. Sapphire struggled with the shopping, Cinders tottering around her ankles, balancing the small basket in his little wings. "And take those off that filthy Pokémon. I don't wish to catch anything from it." Her cold glare settled on the orange chic. Sapphire stepped between them and indicated for Cinders to place the little basket on the top of those she held.
She glided into the large kitchen, setting the things on the side and beginning to unpack them, her mind mulling over the news she had heard from the ladies in the market today. She wanted to go, to have some fun even if it was only for one night. But Mossdeep was a long way from Littleroot and there was no way her stepmother would allow her to buy a dress and pay for a ferry over to the island city. She pushed the thought from her mind and settled on sorting out everything she had bought today.
Cinders skipped over to the cellar, where many Rattata lived and scurried. Sapphire kept them well-fed and groomed to perfection, giving them little hats she had made so she could always tell who was who. These little critters had become very good friends of hers and Cinders, the two having saved them from the prowling Persian that her stepmother had brought over from Kanto. Her father had gotten her a friend from Kanto as well, a Growlithe she had named Reo. But he wasn't allowed in the house as her stepmother believed him to be a foul, dirt-spreading beast that would attack her soon as look at her. So Sapphire had spent ages building him a little house in the garden so he wouldn't freeze to death or get soaked by the rainstorms which passed over Hoenn in the right seasons.
Cinders gathered the small purple Pokémon for a conference. She was determined to get Sapphire out of this house and to that ball! Every Rattata agreed that she should get out of this house and each of them mused over how to do it, where to get her a dress and so on.
Hours passed, Sapphire forced to begin cooking dinner for her stepmother while juggling other chores such as the laundry and washing the pots left on the side for her. She served up a large roast dinner for the woman and set aside a plate of scraps for the Pokémon, preparing Reo's food as well, she had a few slices of bread to make herself a sandwich, but she always ate last. Once she had prepared Reo's dinner she set the plate of scraps on the floor of the basement, listening to all the scrabbling footsteps of the Rattata as they rushed for the food. She then took the canine's food over to his little doghouse.
"Hi!" She entered and set the plate down, he hurried forward but only half-interested in the food, he fussed over her and the joy of company gleamed brightly in his eyes. "Someday you'll live in a real house, not in this tatty place. I promise you that. Once I get out of here you'll get your own room in a big house where you have such a soft bed you'll think you're sleeping on a cloud! And you'll never be cold and alone again; I'll always be there for you." She hugged the puppy Pokémon sadly. She hated leaving him out here, but no matter how many times she tried, her stepmother wouldn't allow him in the house.
She heard a yell from the house and stood with a sigh. Patting his fluffy head, she turned away and shut the main door of the doghouse, there was still a small exit which he could use whenever he wished so he could walk around the garden if he so desired. Sapphire made her way solemnly to the main house. "Your father has sent you this." The woman waved an opened letter at Sapphire, who scowled as she glared at the nosy woman who had read her post. "Although I don't think it really applies to you, scullery maids are far too common to attend a grand ball at a palace. Why, if you turned up looking like yourself they'd throw you out immediately, or send you down to the kitchens where you belong." The woman let out a shrill laugh. She stood in front of the great fireplace in the lounge. She waved the letter dangerously close to the flames.
"Please may I read my letter?" Her eyes never left the crisp paper, she wanted to read it very much, but the woman was having far too much fun waving it to let her have it. Sapphire weighed up her options and saw that if she made a move towards the paper it would end up in the flames; this wouldn't be the first time that the woman had denied her the chance to read letters addressed to her.
"I don't think you need to my dear simple girl. You're not sophisticated enough to attend such a grand event. You simply don't have the elegance needed to go. Besides, you have no outfit to wear and turning up to a castle in that tatty dress and apron won't get you anywhere." Sapphire looked down at her old, ragged dress which was one of two outfits she owned.
Loud scrabbles were heard, a Rattata leapt into the air and snatched the letter out of the evil woman's hand, rushing into one of the holes in the wooden trimming of the room, just avoided getting his tail snagged by the pouncing Persian. The woman shrieked and waved her hands as she backed away from where the Rattata had vanished into the wall.
"Since I am no longer able to read my letter, may I go back to my chores miss?" She feigned sorrow and saw the delight this brought the flustered woman who waved to her dismissively.
Sapphire rushed to the basement where the Rattata held the letter out to her, she crouched down and took it, thanking her friend for the risk it took in obtaining the letter.
She unfolded it and smoothed it out before her so the Pokémon could listen to her reading it aloud:
My dearest Sapphire
I am sincerely sorry for everything I've put you through for the past few years. I know living the way you have been is tasking and saddening, but I wish to make it up to you.
As I assume you've heard, there is a grand ball taking place in Mossdeep City in less than a week's time. I have gotten in contact with another Gym Leader who has the best eye for fashion I have ever known. I asked him to pick out an outfit for you and stop by Littleroot on the evening of the ball, to help you get ready and attend the event.
I have sent word to your stepmother, sending her an invitation to the event, both for herself and for you.
I hope you enjoy your night in Mossdeep and I hope to see you soon.
A million apologies and my love,
Your father, Norman.
She had tried for a week to get the invitation from her stepmother, but no matter how hard she searched the house, she never found it. Now, the day of the event had arrived and she still didn't have the invite.
She sat in her attic room and brushed her hair, she heard someone pounding on the door. "I'm leaving for the ball with my sister! You are to wait here."
Sapphire stopped brushing, listening to the lock click as she was sealed in the room. "You hag! You've stolen my invite!" She hurled herself at the door, smashing into it then crumpling to the ground. "I swear, once I get out of here I'm going to make your life such hell!" But Sapphire knew that the woman had already descended the stairs and exiting the house as she yelled.
Looking around her room, she thought of anything she could use to pick the lock. She rushed over to the sewing kit she had sitting on her desk, pulling out one of the larger needles, she moved back to the lock, jamming it into the hole on her side and trying to work her way through the lock.
Hours passed, the sun was setting outside the little window and Sapphire had made no progress on unlocking the door. She threw down the needle and cursed loudly, Cinders backing away cautiously. "Oh, I'm sorry Cinders, but I just really had my hopes pinned on going outside this hell and having some fun for once." She scooped up the little chick, letting it snuggle into her shaggy hair as tears pricked her eyes.
A genteel knock sounded on the door downstairs, it echoed and rang out through the silent house. She leapt to her feet; this must be the Gym Leader friend of her father. They could help her!
She set Cinders down and rushed to the window, glancing out of it at the doghouse where Reo was, she forced the little pain of glass open and stuck her head out, whistling to the puppy, who came charging out and looked up to her waiting for instruction. "Reo, get whoever is at the front door and bring them round here!" She called down to the puppy, listening to the knock sounding again.
The puppy hurtled off, running around the house and seeing a confused turquoise-haired man knocking at the door again, Reo barked loudly and hurried towards the man, stopping before he could be identified as an attacking dog and bouncing on the spot, every time he landed he let out a little bark.
"Hello, what's wrong?" The man approached, reaching his hand out to pet the little Fire-type. The puppy nuzzled his hand before looking over his shoulder, pointedly trying to tell this man that he should follow around to the back of the house.
Sapphire was half way out of the window, her feet secure on the uneven bricks which made up the outside of the house. She had only done this once before, years and years ago when she was slighter. But lack of a solid diet had slimmed her quite considerably, so she still managed to ease her way through the window. Cinders hopped onto her shoulder, gripping her hair to balance herself.
Reo padded around to the garden, seeing Sapphire about two storeys up from the ground, she was making her way slowly down the side of the house, her hair whipping around her in the rush of night wind. Cinders gripped onto the ends of the hair, teetering on her shoulders, losing her balance.
Sapphire's foot slipped on a crumbling brick, she dangled by her fingertips for a few moments, the Pokémon on her shoulder toppling and beginning a descent which seemed in slow motion. "No," Sapphire yelled through gritted teeth, letting go of the brickwork with one hand to catch the little Pokémon. She cuddled the Pokémon close to her chest, but glared at her fingers, watching them slip slowly off the crack they clung to.
"Gyarados, catch her!" The stranger threw out a PokéBall, a great blue serpentine dragon-like Pokémon burst from it and glided through the air quickly, just as her hand gave, he had swooped underneath her, catching her before she had a chance to fall.
They swooped around for a short time, she breathed deeply to calm her racing heart as they glided gracefully down to the ground. She slid off the monster's back and stood, a little shaken and confused, glancing around at Reo - who rushed to her barking joyfully - and the stranger who was staring at her in disbelief.
"My dear, what were you doing?" He asked, checking to see if she was hurt at all.
"Escaping from my prison cell." She set Cinders down on the ground and checked her hand, it was bleeding slightly having been cut on the rough bricks, but it was nothing serious. "Thank you for your help, I hate to think what would have become of Cinders and I." She moved across to the back door, lifting up one of the potted plants which stood on either side of the door, taking up the spare key she left out there for emergencies and unlocked the door. "Are you the Gym Leader my father got in contact with?" She asked, ushering him inside and flicking on the lights.
He recalled his Pokémon and followed her inside. "Yes, my name is Wallace; I'm the leader of Sootopolis City's Pokémon Gym."
"Sootopolis? Wow, I always wanted to go there, whenever I see pictures of the city it looks so beautiful." She leaned against the cabinets in the kitchen as she pondered, "But I'm afraid your trip here has wasted your time. I've been double-crossed by my delightful stepmother; she's taken my invite and gone with her sister to Mossdeep." She looked despairingly at the ground.
"Not at all, I have your invite; your father sent me one knowing that you may not receive the one he sent with his letter." He brought out an elegantly decorated card, setting it down on the side. "Now we just need to get you sorted out, please wait here while I get the things I brought here. For tonight, I'll be your fairy-godmother." He waved his hand as he strolled out of the kitchen, his comment putting a smile on Sapphire's face for the first time today.
She was travelling with him now, by sea to Mossdeep. A giant Pokémon was carrying them swiftly through the waves. Her smile had grown into a beam of true delight. She had been assured that Reo and Cinders could also attend the ball so long as they behaved. They were huddled on her lap, fearing the waves lapping around them.
When they reached the beach, the Pokémon slowed and halted as close to the shore as physically possible, Wallace hopped onto the beach and offered her his hand to aid her descent. She took it in one white-gloved hand of hers. All of these seemed so unreal, a giant palace stood in the centre of the city, its doors wide and light and music spilled out across the vast lawns surrounding it.
"Is this real?" She breathed to herself as she stepped forward. She wore a slim ruby dress with a long skirt, which had a long slit up one side, both for decoration and to make it possible to walk properly and not like a Primplup. She looked down at the elegant crimson heels she wore on her feet, her hair tied with a shining ribbon of the same red. A necklace of white-gold clung around her neck, a gorgeous garnet hanging from it. Wallace had explained how the necklace was a present from her father, who had paid for the dress and shoes also, but it was the necklace which had instigated the red dress and shoes. She had looked in a large mirror and smiled at her appearance, the blazing colour suited her perfectly.
"Yes my dear," He laughed happily at the amazed look on her face. Once they reached the castle, an attendant asked her for her invitation, but they didn't ask him for his. She wondered why this was.
She looked around at all the colourful dresses enveloping the many women who attended the ball, a fair few gentlemen weaved in and out of the dresses, asking various women for a dance to the slow music which echoed perfectly through the great hall. A girl with the same coloured hair as Wallace bounced up to them, a fluttering cloud-like Pokémon following her. "You're late! You owe me a dance!" She wore a dress of the same blue as her Pokémon; she grasped his hand and yanked him over to the dance floor, his amused smile evident to Sapphire.
She wasn't sure what to do, she crouched to her Pokémon. "Keep an eye out for that woman okay? Let me know if she's getting too close, but keep yourselves out of her sight." She ruffled Reo's fur and Cinders' feathers as they nodded and Cinders twirled merrily on the spot. "Shall we join the party then?" She straightened and looked around, not quite sure what to do.
"Excuse me miss, may I have this dance?" She blinked up at a tall man wearing a black and purple suit; his hand was extended to her. Butterflies flitted in her stomach; she didn't know how to dance. Her eyes must have reflected her shock and fear as he smiled warmly at her, assuring her with his expression.
She was aware of many eyes on her, what was everyone staring at? She took his hand nervously and he led her to a clearer portion of the room, leading her in a slow dance, the music changed and a female vocalist sang a soft song. Why was everyone looking at her? Why were there many young girls glaring daggers at her?
Sapphire allowed him to lead; she was putting more attention into not standing on his foot or cockling over in these heels. She was aware that everyone had shuffled to the outsides of the hall, leaving a great amount of space open for them; a faint blush graced her cheeks as she glanced around her.
He held her close to him, she felt a little awkward, but the charming smile he gave her whenever she looked up at him endeared the man to her. She wanted to know more about him, who was he? And why was everyone else acting so strangely. Her gaze fell upon a pin on his jacket pocket; it had a strange symbol on it. She blinked in surprise that was a Key Stone, they were only said to be owned by royalty. Her eyes flicked back to the man's face, his silver hair was neatly styled and his eyes were a hue which matched his hair perfectly. She felt her stomach drop when she realized who this must be.
"Are you alright?" He leaned down, whispering to her in concern, her face had paled and her eyes were wide.
She nodded slowly, her ruby-red lips parted slightly, as though she was going to speak. Eventually the words came to her, "Yes, thank you, I-I just saw your pin…" She looked back to it, to ensure she had seen it correctly, the little stone shone rainbows in the light. "I… just…" She didn't know how to say, 'I just realized you're a prince and so shouldn't really be dancing with a commoner such as I'.
"Ah, yes, please forgive me for not introducing myself properly. My name is Steven Stone." Her thoughts had been confirmed, she was dancing with the crowned prince of Hoenn.
She heard a chirping and a scramble, Cinders was visible, hopping on the spot and waving her wings to get Sapphire's attention, but where was Reo? Sapphire looked around panicked, where was the little pooch?
Her ears detected a quiet yelp in the crowd; she looked around sharply and caught a glimpse of her stepmother holding up Reo, glaring at him with narrowed eyes, recognising him as the hound which dwelled in her garden.
"Please excuse me!" She broke away from him, rushing to the aid of her friend, Cinders rushed after her. She cleared her throat and altered her voice slightly to change how she sounded. "Excuse me madam! Please release my little Dinky." She made up a silly sounding name for the pup to hopefully make the woman think she was some pompous rich-girl.
"You're Pokémon? Oh no, this little beast is a hound from Littleroot, I know this beast well. It has threatened my life more than once." Sapphire watched her fingers tighten on Reo, his yelps loosened.
"Release him!" Sapphire stepped forward and grasped the woman's wrists, digging her fingernails into the flesh there. The woman yelled and let go, Sapphire caught the puppy in her arms and turned away, looking at all the horrified glares she was receiving. She ran from the castle, hugging the pooch close to her, his whimpers ringing in her ears, Cinders fluttered behind her, flapping her wings to quicken her pace. "I'm sorry Reo, I'm sorry I let her hurt you like that."
She sniffled sadly as she ran through the city, not knowing how she was ever going to get home, or if she even wanted to go home. She saw a boat, a man starting up the engine. She hoped he could take her where she needed to be.
"Excuse me! She rushed forward, just catching the sailor before he left the shore.
"Hello miss, are you not joining in with the ball?"
"I need to get home urgently, please can you help me?" She halted, her legs killing from running in these heels.
"Of course, Peeko and I are headed back to the beach near Petalburg, where do you need to be?"
"No that'll be perfect, I live near there. Thank you very much!" She carefully climbed into the boat and the sailor set off. She looked over sadly as the grand island vanished in the distance, after making her stepmother's hands bleed like that she needed to get out of there, or fear being arrested for harming a woman. Sapphire would do it all over again if her stepmother tried hurting her little Reo, or Cinders.
It took some time to reach the beach near Petalburg, but the journey seemed to blur into nothing for Sapphire as her mind pulled up images of the kind smile the prince had offered her when they were dancing. She would love to see him again, would have loved it if she could have stayed there longer, but her stepmother had ruined that. She ruined everything for Sapphire.
Sapphire had changed, carefully folding the dress up and placing it in a cupboard in the basement, in the darkest, most Rattata populated portion of the basement, all the rodents were told by Cinders not to touch the lovely red dress.
Sapphire washed the make-up off her face and returned Reo to the doghouse. She made everything look like it had before she had left with Wallace, everything except.
The door swung open and her stepmother glared at her. "How did you get out the room?" She demanded her eyes filled with flames, her wrists bandaged.
"I climbed out the window, I had cores to do and so couldn't just sit around doing nothing now could I?" She glared back at the woman, hatred clear in her eyes. "I'm not a thing to keep locked away. And I don't much appreciate you acting that way. I am going to be telling my father everything that has happened. He won't be pleased." She crossed her arms and smirked over at the woman.
The woman stalked forward, Sapphire was just taller than her, so the woman couldn't quite manage to look down on her affectively. "You little bitch; you think you're so perfect ad hard doe by. You picked a bad time to stand up to me you slut!" The woman grabbed Sapphire's hair and yanked it harshly, walking out of the kitchen and dragging Sapphire up the stairs, not caring when Sapphire tripped.
She intended to lock the girl away for good, in the small store cupboard in the hallway, it had no windows and she would be unable to do anything in there.
The woman flung the insolent girl into the cupboard and slammed the door, locking it before Sapphire could kick the door down. Cinders wasn't with her, she knew that the little chicken Pokémon would stay in the basement - the only place in the house her stepmother never went - she believed it to be far too filthy for her to ever step foot in there.
Sapphire leaned against the shelves, slowly drifting down to the ground, her head in her arms - the shock of the woman dragging her by her hair had completely negated any retaliations Sapphire could have made - she wasn't expecting the woman to actually drag her around by her hair. She went to grasp the necklace of garnet, but felt nothing but her own flesh, it had fallen off! That was the final straw, the tears leaked out of her eyes, but she kept her sobs silent so that her stepmother wouldn't get the satisfaction of hearing her cry.
"Wallace, do you know who that girl was?" The ball had ended, Steven had tried to follow the girl out of the castle, but the mingling people barred his exit and by the time he was out, there was nobody on the island wearing a beautiful red dress.
"I do," Wallace spoke quietly, nodding his head absently as he thought deeply, there was something that was trying to connect in his mind, but he couldn't quite place it. The girl's words echoed in his mind 'my prison cell', then the woman's reaction to the Growlithe which she had called Reo as they travelled, but named Dinky when she approached the woman, then fled before the injured woman could look her in the eye. Said woman left not too long after, irate and very visibly so. "We have to go to Littleroot!" Wallace snapped out of his thoughts, pushing Steven out of the front doors of the castle. "Come on, Metagross!" Steven looked at his childhood friend with a bewildered look in his eye, but he called on his partner without another word.
Before he mounted his Pokémon, he looked around, he'd thought he had seen something glimmer in the grass, he walked over and peered at the lawn, a necklace of white-gold and garnet lay there, he knew it as hers immediately, he never forgot a stone. He plucked it from the grass and returned to his Pokémon's side.
Sapphire had cried herself into an uneasy sleep, she didn't know what time it was when she woke and there was no way for her to find out. She stretched her limbs in the cramped space, feeling the aches and pains travel through her arms and legs, her back was stiff. She heard movement in the house, the pacing of her stepmother in the lounge and the scuttling scratches of the Rattata running through the walls.
She pushed the door feebly, hoping without hope that the door was unlocked, but it didn't budge. She sighed and leaned back against the shelves. She was hungry and thirsty, her mouth was dry and her stomach demanded food. But there was nothing in here apart from clean towels and sheets. She knew that for sure as she was the one who always organised this cupboard. She groaned to herself, wondering if she was going to die in this cupboard, the one time she stands up for herself, the one!
There seemed to be no chance of being let out any time soon. She lowered her head back into her arms, replaying the short time she had sent at the ball, reliving the warm feeling his smile had spilled through her. Was she… Falling in love with the prince of Hoenn? She shook her head, she didn't even know him, yet he seemed so nice and concerned when she seemed a bit off. Visions of someone breaking down the front door of the house to save her from this cupboard confinement, she laughed rather crazily, which would care enough to save her from this? Her father always said he loved her, but he still left her here without ever visiting and she knew no one else except Cinders and Reo, who could get hurt badly by that demon woman if they step a foot out of line. The very idea of someone bursting in to save her from this was laughable for so many different reasons; it was such a childish thing to think of. Yet her mind still wandered to images of a handsome gent coming and rescuing her from this.
She curled up on her side, lying down as best she could in this space, pulling down a blanket and folding it under her head, yanking another one to cover her body, keeping in what warmth she could in this cold room.
Cinders stood in the basement, she knew not to leave and incur the wrath of that woman, but it had been a whole night that she hadn't heard anything from Sapphire for. Worry flickered through her little body, urging her to make a move. She turned to the few Rattata who skittered around the floor, chirping to them, asking them to search the house and make sure Sapphire was alright. The rodents did as asked and spread the word throughout the household.
The Pokémon paced up and down the kitchen, waiting for news, then she'd make her move, perhaps getting Reo in here to help, between the two of them they could handle that woman.
"What is going on Wallace?" Steven asked as they flew over Sootopolis, headed for the small town dubbed Littleroot.
"I fear for that girl's safety, she may be in danger." This urged both Metagross and Steven to reach Littleroot faster.
Sapphire's stepmother walked down into the basement, she wondered why the girl had so much more confidence yesterday than usual. She never had spoken back to her like that even though the young girl had gone behind the woman's back on numerous occasions. She could not allow a little brat to get the better of her! She kicked aside the little chick Pokémon who tried to stand in her way and paced across to the cupboards around the room, hoping to find some clue as to what had caused the girl's sudden rush of self-confidence.
Sapphire sat up hours later, she could hear footsteps stomping up the stairs, her stepmother, but why was she stamping her feet this hard? The door opened and the door let in a stream of light over Sapphire, who looked up from her position on the floor.
"What is this?" Her stepmother held up the gorgeous red dress, the heels in her other hand.
"It looks like a red dress miss," Sapphire's voice was quiet, her throat was dry and she had no energy for snide comments or witty responses.
"You little bitch. You are supposed to stay in this house! Not prance about trying to seduce princes. What did you expect? That he would like you or something?" The woman flung the heels at Sapphire, the stilettos cutting Sapphire's protecting arms. "Did you think he'd care for you because you had one dance together?" The woman hurled the dress into a crumpled mess in the dustiest corner. "That's not how life works you little wretch! You get nothing unless you fight and lie and double-cross for it."
"So that's where all of father's money goes. You steal it and lie about it until there's nothing left. You disgust me." Sapphire glared up at the woman, trying to get up but the stiffness rebelling against her wishes.
She received a stomp on her stomach for her words. When she doubled over to protect her stomach, she cracked her head on the wall; wavering shadows flitted around her sight. "You're going to vanish, and no one was going to care about it. I'll tell your father you went off to a far away region to have a journey and no one will question it." The woman reached down to Sapphire, her nails - curled claws- heading for the girl's throat.
A squeak sounded nearby, a Rattata wearing a pastel-blue cap leapt at the woman's hand, sinking his teeth into it. A scream, a sharp movement and the Rattata crashed into the wall, dropping like a stone onto the wooden floor near Sapphire.
"Wally!" She scooped him up gently and held him close, "Wally, are you alright?" He'd always been a weak little thing, yet he was the one who got out there more, trying to prove he was just as strong as the others, putting his life and limbs at stake. "Wally, you should have gotten Ruby." A tear leaked out of her eye as she looked into his closing red eyes, the blow to his head was severe and she couldn't see how he'd pull through. Sapphire tucked him into a towel as fury burned away the aches in her body. "You bitch!"
Sapphire kicked out at the woman's ankles, watching as the older female staggered away, still clutching her bleeding hand. Sapphire advanced, fury flaring in her eyes. The wounded woman stepped forward, slashing out wildly with her talons, Sapphire received a slice to her cheek but still moved forward, the only that stopped her striking the woman was her own mind, was this pitiful excuse for a human really worth it? Her hesitation cost her dearly.
The woman managed to wrap her hands around Sapphire's throat and squeezed sharply, cutting off Sapphire's air supply. Writhing and panicking only used up what oxygen her body still had, one and only one thought came to her mind. She stepped forward, pushing the woman a step back, heading to send them both toppling down the stairs.
They landed in Littleroot, Wallace didn't wait a second - he darted up to one of the houses - trying the front door but finding it locked. He scooted around the back and lifted up the plant-pot he had seen Sapphire move the night before, there the key lay.
Steven rushed forward, seeing a Growlithe staring at him, upon his gesture, the little Pokémon rushed forward, hurtling into the house and darting past Wallace, barking to Cinders for backup. The two men followed the Pokémon as they were led through the house to the bottom of the stairs, looking up they saw two women grappling, the elder of the two strangling the younger. But the young girl was putting up a fight, pushing the elder towards the stairs.
They all four ran forward, hurtling up the stairs before the women could topple, Reo launched himself at the elder woman, a snarl on his lips and a manic glint in his eye. Wallace wrapped his arm around the older woman and yanked her away from the young girl, who crumpled, only to be caught by Steven.
"I'll deal with her; Officer Jenny will want to know about this little incident. Reo, please come with me and make sure she doesn't do anything else stupid." Wallace pulled her into the nearest room, the door swinging shut after the two Pokémon who followed after. Steven watched as a line of Rattata scurried into the cupboard which stood open, all gathering around a towel within. He turned his gaze back to the girl in his arms, her throat was horribly bruised and a scratch along her face leaked a few droplets of blood.
He lifted her up; moving to a large bedroom nearby, it looked like some form of guest bedroom with just about no decoration apart from a soft bed. He set her carefully on the blanket and sat on the bed beside her, waiting for her to wake.
A few long minutes passed, he could hear her steady breathing. He brushed her bangs out of her face gently - he had immediately recognised her as the woman he had danced with - there was something about her which had outlined it magnificently. She seemed to have a subtle elegance about her which had caught his eye more so than the ruby-red dress she wore.
She was so thin though, it looked as though she hadn't had a decent meal in years, the dress hadn't outlined each and every rib visible or how her hips jutted from her quite drastically, her face was quite full which had made her look a bit more healthy than she really was.
Her breathing caught, her face turned and he saw her eyelids flutter. He watched as she opened them slowly and stared directly at him.
She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness grabbed her and threw her back onto the pillow. "Your highness," She greeted meekly, nodding her head towards him, looking at the ceiling instead of at him. "May I ask what's going on?"
"Call me Steven, none of those awful formalities. If you look at me then I shall tell you what's going to happen." He watched as she slowly looked at him, her beautiful blue eyes nervous and confused. "The woman who attacked you will be arrested for assault and actual bodily harm, and you shall have a choice to make. You can stay in this house by yourself," His voice was quite strong for the beginning of his sentence, but it dropped to early more than a whisper when it came to the end, "or come with me and live a completely different life, as my wife." He breathed the last words so she barely heard them.
Her eyes grew wide; she didn't just hear what she thought she heard. "I-you've seen what I'm like, twice now. I'm far too rough around the edges for the title of princess." She let out a shaky laugh, pushing herself up, ignoring the dizziness which tugged at her reality. She looked to him seeing his reactions to her words. "Why would you say that when you don't know me?" Her eyes showed innocent sincerity.
"I never meant instantly. I wish to know you and for you to know me before I pose the question. And I'm not exactly the perfect prince. From what I have seen of you, you're a strong person who is capable of standing up for herself and defending what you believe is right. Rough edges can always be smoothed down."
A Rattata scurried up onto the bed and sat by her, he wore a red cap-like hat. "Ruby, is Wally alright?" The little purple rat Pokémon nodded, Sapphire felt a sigh of relief leave her chest a sad smile crossed her face as she stroked the little Pokémon. "Thank you for letting me knows." The Pokémon scurried away again. "I'd love to get out of this house and live a new life, but I don't really know if I'm the kind of person who would make an acceptable princess, I'm a scullery maid, I have been since I was eight years old. Ten whole years ago. I know nothing else." She looked down, her mind ticking over her options; she hated this house and wanted to leave it so badly.
She felt his arm wrapping around her shoulder. "Why not come with me and learn more about the world around you, with no worries about anything, the world is out there waiting for you, why not come out and explore." Wallace had informed him that the girl's name was Sapphire and she had two Pokémon Reo, the Growlithe and Cinders, the Torchic.
She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Yes, I'd like that very much." She whispered in his ear, closing her eyes after seeing his joyous smile.
Tatty and Dragon: Thank you for your review! I just imagined he would be the target of many a thief yet not being phased by it too much, but the idea for Sapphire being a thief was part due to Disney influences and partially due to Blue/Green, the girl from the Pokémon manga who is a sassy thief, i thought it'd be fun to do this for these two. I intend to keep these stories going for as long as possible, until i run out of ideas entirely. But even after my ideas have dried up I'll be open to doing requests.
I'll Break Your Heart: I should be thanking you! Your review made my day! I understand what you're saying whole-heartedly! I can never seem to get enough of this ship! I do try and keep my updates on this regular as its my most popular story for Pokémon and i enjy challenging myself with trying to think up something new and fresh! I hope my future content is just as good and interesting to you as the past chapters and hope to hear from you again in the future.