My footsteps echoed loudly around me as I took slow but purposeful steps forwards. I was surrounded by a dimly lit dome but way ahead of me was a bright light that I aimed for directly, my eyes fixed on it determinedly. I was alone, but I was comforted nonetheless as I walked with six Pokéballs attached to my waist, each containing a Pokémon and they were offering warm and comforting emotions up to me.
My heart gave a resounding thud in my chest as I narrowed my eyes slightly, the light ahead growing brighter with each step closer I took and the dull hum of voices began to increase in volume until finally, the colossal roar filled my ears and the blinding light overwhelmed me.
Cameras flashed all around as I took further steps towards my podium where I was to face the Pokémon champion of Hoenn. I'd defeated Sidney with Aurora and Gallade as my main battlers, taking out his dark type Pokémon. I'd surpassed Phoebe the ghost type specialist, as well as Glacia the ice type expert, melting her frozen tactics with Charizard, Ponyta and Infernape's raging flames. I'd even managed to beat Drake, the dragon type user with a fierce effort made by all my Pokémon, who all gave it their all to end up on top.
Now came the moment the entire region was dying to watch next. The battle between the Hoenn Champion and a challenger. Apparently it had been a long time since anyone had got this far, but I knew I owed it all to the strength and determination of my Pokémon.
Taking a deep breath, I watched as the podium opposite me rose up from the ground to reveal the champion, and to my surprise it was a face I recognised. It took a moment or two, the face sparking something in my memory before I blinked. "Steven?" I questioned and he gave a soft chuckle, bowing his head in greeting. I remember him from the caves on Dewford Island and the Primal Pokémon incident. He wasn't wearing his old travelling clothes anymore, rather he had put on a dapper looking suit with a silk tie, his chiselled features regarding me softly.
"Ruby Bates. I knew one day that you and I would meet here. It has been a while." He said and I nodded my head in agreement. "Today marks the start of a new path for you. In victory you may claim the title of champion, however in defeat, you will still be regarded as a Pokémon Master. In essence, you have already achieved a great accomplishment." I smiled and nodded my head.
"I didn't know you were the Hoenn Champion, I guess your travelling brought you further than you thought!" I called back and he chuckled with a nod of agreement. "Okay, so how about we start this battle? I'm itching to get started!"
"As am I!" Steven laughed and I saw a competitive flame kindle in his eyes as we both flung out our first Pokéballs and instantly there was a clash of roars, mixing with the thundering of our audience which carried high and far into the skies and across the city.
I did not win that day, but our victory was close. So close that had things been even the slightest bit different, then Charizard would have defeated that Metagross without a shadow of a doubt, but the sudden wind change had disrupted his flight, slowing him down a mere second which had allowed the Metagross time enough to counter before Charizard could land his attack and was defeated.
My dear Charizard, he hated losing, but he was glad to have lost to such a formidable opponent, and only a few seconds after Charizard had been deemed unable to battle, Metagross collapsed too. It was frustrating for the both of us, but now we were only more determined to continue battling strong trainers and grow better together.
The press were going crazy and I was shocked when I was bombarded with offers for trade. People wanted my Ponyta, they wanted my Gallade and Aurora, heck, they even wanted my Jigglypuff just because it was mine. However the one they wanted the most, was Charizard. Pokéballs were waved in my face, people offering me all kinds of Pokémon to try and tempt me but with a mighty roar and flap of his wings, Charizard sent them all tumbling backwards to the ground and he snarled, curling his tail protectively around me as Steven Stone walked forwards.
"Enough is enough, none of these Pokémon are available for trade." He announced firmly and with a nod of his head, the Pokémon collectors and reporters all being ushered away before he then turned a smile on me. "A great battle Ruby. I look forward to our next match." He told me in his gentle voice and I nodded my head in agreement.
"Me too." Charizard lowered his head down to my face in an embrace, making me smile warmly as he rubbed his warm skin against mine before slathering his tongue over me in a wet kiss, making me laugh as Steven and I parted ways.
By that time everyone was rushing over, congratulating my battle with reassuring words but they quickly saw that I wasn't upset, so we settled for the end of tournament celebrations. I washed and changed, wearing a flowing sapphire blue skirt which came to my knees at the front and rippled gently behind me in a longer length, a thick belt wrapped around my waist as I wore a white tank top with it and my hair loose and curled.
May even did my makeup for me, though I was a little reluctant at first but she insisted as this party was being thrown in my honour and I should look my best, so I agreed. After pulling on some simple strappy sandals, I walked with May to the beach party where all my Pokémon were already waiting with friends, family and fans, as well as all the other participants and their friends as well.
My Pokémon played in harmony with all the others, though Charizard kept a careful eye on the gang to make sure nobody got hurt or stepped out of line. When Drew saw May, however, wearing a red dress and her hair completely down without her bandana, I was sure I heard his heart skip a beat or two as she smiled prettily and walked straight over to him, placing a light kiss on his cheek before pulling him over to join the dancing, a spellbound expression still on his face.
Aurora looked much like she used to when she was younger. She smiled freely and played in the surf like a little kid, no longer stern faced or serious. She danced around with Vaporeon and Dragonair, wrestled with Gallade and played chase with Shieldon and Ponyta.
Looking over to the cliffs, I saw Gardevoir and Gallade teleport there where they enjoyed one another's company, completely wrapped up in their embrace before they began to dance, floating with the fireflies and I smiled contently. The party was completely underway, so I kicked off my sandals, left them with my mom's stuff as she raved on the dance floor rather embarrassingly before I began to walk down the beach where it was much quieter and more peaceful to enjoy the serene moonlight.
Jett watched me go but didn't follow, knowing that I just wanted some alone time and I was silently grateful towards him as I took a deep breath and walked with my feet in the foamy surf, feeling the cooling wetness wash the sand off my skin as I lifted my chiffon skirt to keep it from getting wet. The music had dulled down to a gentle hum and in the distance I could still see the colourful fairy lights as well as the warm glow of the huge bonfire, so I smiled before continuing my walk.
The sound of the ocean was calming and everything was silver lit, contrasting with the amber glow of the party which after while had begun to hurt my eyes. Reaching up around my neck I felt my keystone and smiled slightly. There was a box of mega stones waiting for me at home which Professor Sycamore had identified for me as ones I would find useful, and I couldn't wait to find out which Pokémon they were meant for.
However as my hand slipped down to my second necklace, my smile faltered a little. I have no idea why I still wore the slim crescent moon and hanging star around my neck, all I knew was that whenever I tried to take it off, I just couldn't do it or didn't feel right without it. My stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought of Gary and Sophia. He'd once told me that he had more sense than to fall for a girl like her, but obviously he was wrong. Obviously I was wrong.
Suddenly there was a pop and I blinked, looking up and around me to find I was completely surrounded by bubbles. They glowed softly in the moonlight, gleaming like perfect pearls before they burst upon occasion and my eyes followed their trail to find myself staring at Blastoise and his trainer, none other than Gary himself.
His hand rested casually against Blastoise, who sent another stream of bubbles at me as Umbreon stood at his side, using Moonlight to bring a little more light around us and I was bathed in the pale glow, making me blink for a moment as my eyes adjusted. "G-Gary?" I stuttered in disbelief, making him smirk further and chuckle.
"Do you always have to sound so shocked to see me Rubes?" He questioned and instantly I looked away, refusing to smile. Gary side and stood upright, running a hand through his messy hair before he took a step closer to me. "Listen Rubes…"
"Ruby." I cut in front of him sharply and he clenched his jaw slightly.
"Just let me explain!"
"Explain what? That you're a total backstabbing traitor who doesn't care about anyone else's feelings except your own?" I demanded hotly, placing my hands on my waist and glaring at him as he glowered back in turn, anger flaring up hotly in my chest like Charizard's flame.
"At least I don't flirt with every other guy who comes my way." He answered snappily and I laughed back at him.
"You do when girls are involved! Just leave me alone Gary, I'm through with you." But Gary wouldn't hear me. He stormed forwards and gripped my arms, whirling me around and I instantly reacted, breaking his grip and thrust out a hand to grip his throat but he didn't flinch, continuing to glare down at me as I threatened to pummel him into the ground with a well trained throw. He knew I could do it, but I held back for a moment, hesitating.
"Well I'm not through with you Rubes. Not until the very end. Maybe not even then." He answered in a low voice which made me pause further, withdrawing my hand as Blastoise and Umbreon nodded to one another and left us alone, returning to the party where Umbreon hurried over to Vaporeon to reunite with her again. I almost wished they hadn't have left because now I was completely alone with the guy who'd hurt me more than I dared to admit.
Gary's grip suddenly slackened and he rubbed my bare arms, feeling that they were cold and I winced slightly at the tender motion, not wanting his concern. "You look really pretty Rubes." He whispered into my ear as he drew me closer, though I remained stiff against him as I refused to relax. "Beautiful even, though you always do, but especially tonight."
"Honeyed words won't get you anywhere, Oak." I scowled at him as I took a large step backwards, folding my arms stubbornly. "Why're you here? Don't you have some order you need to fulfil from your posh new girlfriend? Surely she must be missing you by now, you've been gone an entire three minutes." Gary growled at me and I was amused by the sound.
"You're so stubborn and hard headed. Trying to reason with you is like trying to barter with an Aggron!" He announced in frustration, throwing up his hands and I could sense his aura spike with irritation. His aura was cold today, pulsing with dark blue and a maroon brown colour. It made me frown slightly in confusion. Gary's aura had always been warm before, being near him had always been enough to warm me up had I been cold.
"And you're as vain as an overfed Purugly! You seem to lap up any attention you can get and feed off of like a leech until there's nothing left!"
"You're a hot heated Magmortar."
"You're a livewire Electivire!"
"Aggressive Gyarados!"
"Arrogant Nidoking!"
"You're a hot headed, stubborn minded, infuriating midget who's completely blind to everything right under her face!" Gary yelled back and suddenly, I couldn't hold my walls together anymore. They collapsed around me and like a dam, the flood works began to unfold without any hint of subsiding.
"AGH! I HATE YOU GARY OAK!" I bellowed back, flying around and hammering a fist against his chest as he just blinked down at me. It was a good thing he was so muscular, because I don't think he felt a thing and I hadn't even put any effort into it, as not I was sobbing uncontrollably, beating my fists against him as I cried. "I hate you Gary Oak…I hate you, I hate you…I hate you…" My tears continued to flow until suddenly Gary pulled me into his arms, wrapping me up securely as he pressed his face to the top of my head, hushing me gently.
"Ssh…I know Rubes. I know and I deserve it." He whispered whilst gently rocking from side to side with me, trying to comfort me and in all honesty, he was succeeding. His aura began to glow with a warmth I had not seen or felt from him in a long time and it affected me, causing me to relax and slowly stop crying as he whispered gentle things in my ears. Apologies and promises never to hurt me like that again, calling himself an idiot and begging me to forgive him.
When I looked up, I could see silver trails streaking down his face too, making me gasp in surprise as I reached out and touched them and sure enough, wet marks were left on my fingertips. "You're crying!" He gave me a wry smile.
"You broke me as much as I broke you, Rubes." He answered rather nonchalantly and I flinched. I had hurt him? How? I never meant to…why was he chuckling? The rich sound rumbled in his chest and I instantly pressed my ear there to listen through his plain white shirt, slightly surprised when I felt bare skin but I didn't pull away. When he stopped chuckling I listened to his heartbeat, which I was shocked to find was beating in direct unison to mine. "You see…I was jealous." That made me bark with a laugh.
"Jealous? Why?"
"Of that other guy, Paul." Slowly it dawned on me what he meant, and what had happened. He'd seen how I'd greeted Paul at the festival and how we'd walked with his arm around my shoulders and he'd assumed that…oops. Obviously he understood my thoughts perfectly through my expression as he laughed. "Yes, very inconceivable. The great Gary Oak was jealous of another guy, but who could blame me? He was walking with his arm around my Rubes." His Rubes? Now hold on a moment mister, what are you talking about? "And then when I first met him, I saw the way he looked at you. It was obvious to me though it might not have been for you, so I decided to try and get you back." He looked away, shame now filling his aura and the taste was sour in my mouth. "I know it was wrong, but I wasn't thinking straight Rubes. I wanted you to know how it felt, so I went with the one who I know would hurt you the most."
I just stared up at him. He'd done that all purposefully? What a jerk! But still…why? "At first I didn't know why I was doing it, but then as I grew more and more tired of that spoiled brat's constant talking, I blocked her out and started thinking about you." His hands reached up to my face and began to wipe away my tears with his thumbs, smoothing them away until my face was clear. "And then you were all I could think about Rubes. I missed you."
"Oh." I answered before berating myself. Great going Ruby, that's the most intelligent thing you can think to say? You look like such an idiot! He laughed again, softly and gently as he began to run his fingers through my hair and I found myself closing my eyes at the relaxing sensation, taking a deep breath before exhaling again.
"So I'm sorry Rubes. I know what I did was wrong, and I know it wasn't your fault. I talked it over with Paul you know and we've both come to an agreement." I arched an eyebrow and waited but he only smirked down at me. "But that's for us to know and for you to never find out."
"Jerk!" I snipped at him, punching him gently but he only laughed and caught my hand before turning my wrist to his lips and he pressed a chaste but rather sensuous kiss there, making my jaw drop as I just stared at him. My heart gave a firm jolt at the touch of his rather cool lips against the sensitive skin. A smirk spread across his face as he saw my reaction, realising that he had far more control over me than he had initially realised.
"So I began thinking, Rubes. About us." My heart began to hammer faster in my chest as his voice dropped to a husky whisper, making me gulp slightly and breathe quickly as he leaned closer. "And all the times we spent together growing up, and I came to realise something. Something very important and possibly life changing." I didn't dare speak as he stepped closer and by now, he was so near to me that I had to tilt my head backwards slightly to look up at him, his eyes glowing beautifully in the moonlight.
His head leaned closer and I closed my eyes quickly, furrowing my brow slightly but then jumped as his lips brushed against my ear. "I love you Rubes." For a moment, my world went black, like my mind had become an empty chasm where only his words echoed through the resounding silence, growing louder and louder in my ears until they were a colossal roar.
My eyes flew open as he pulled back and looked down at me, for once with an expression of complete sincerity. No smirk, no mischievousness, not even a hint of playfulness. What was even more frightening was that I couldn't detect a single lie from his aura. He was telling the truth, and what was worse, or even better, it was telling me that he was in fact in love with me. I could feel that emotion pouring from him and it wrapped itself around me like a silky blanket, making me feel warm and fuzzy inside as I blushed deeply.
"Gary I…" He didn't let me finish, as from behind him he pulled something from his back pocket, flung it out then lifted it up to settle it on my head as I gasped, staring upwards to the familiar rim of my hat as I touched it, ensuring it really was mine and I found each familiar wear and tear. He'd had it all this time. He must have picked it up from the battle and just kept it. I can't believe it…I have my hat back! But wait, that isn't even the best part, shockingly.
Gary Oak is in love with me! He really does love me, I want to scream it to the world with glee! This night could not get any better, could it? But then, as always, Gary caught me by surprise. "I returned your hat to you." He told me in a mischievous voice, his familiar smirk settled back on his lips. "Which means you owe me a kiss, my Rubes." I blinked at him, our eyes locking tightly on one another.
The request had barely sunk in before I had reached out and placed my hand against his chest just above his heart where his necklace lay. The simple pendant hung there, smooth and cold and I gave a little smile as I looked at the Squirtle charm, still remaining in the very same spot it had done these years previous. "Well?" Gary requested cheekily so I looked up at him.
Without thinking I rose up onto my toes and pressed my lips to his, my hands wringing my wrists behind my back as I sheepishly but rather happily kissed Gary Oak. Our eyes slid closed of their own accord as I rested my lips to his, unsure of what to do however I felt it was perfect in its own way as I then drew back. It had felt unpressured and tranquil, with the beautiful backdrop of the full moon rising before us and illuminating every soft feature and hair that was caught on the soft breeze which seemed to wrap around us and pull us in tighter as Gary placed his hands on my waist then pulled me into his chest, eyes adoringly gazing into mine.
"You slow Slowpoke." He whispered to me, placing a kiss on my cheek and I tilted back my head as I closed my eyes, hands finding their way to his shoulders.
"You dumb Dunsparce." I answered back in a small voice as his lips then brushed against my jaw, arms lifting me closer to stand on his feet as the surf began to wash in over our toes, making me smile softly as I then lifted one hand to push through his hair.
"Nosy Nosepass."
"Grumpy Gyarados." Gary stopped his innocent attentions to my face to then look down at me intently, his arms drawing me closer still, if it were possible, then leaned in towards me, his lips stopping a bare hair's breadth away from my own lips as peace, joy and several other emotions filled me to the brim, chasing away any darkness that had been within me. Gary smirked.
"You weather brained, bush haired, obstinate shrimp of an idiot." My own smirk grew as I arched an eyebrow then wrapped my arms around his neck, pursing my lips slightly in thought. Behind him I could see Charizard watching us, growling softly whilst punching a fist into his palm, making me chuckle and wiggle a finger at him behind Gary's back. Charizard snorted and rolled his eyes before inclining his head, telling me that he consents but only for tonight, making me smirk further as I then returned my gaze to Gary.
"Hm..." I started before reaching closer. "I love you Gary-stupid-Oak." And then he kissed me.