"...Okay, where the hell is Rocky?" Ruby asked, noting the wide open Pokeball on her bedside table.

"Oh, he left." Pippi said, looking up from the deck of playing cards to see the look Ruby was giving her. She sighed. "It's a Rockruff thing. Some of them will leave to train on their own when they're close to evolving, and don't return to their trainers until such has happened. Rocky just happens to be one of those particular Rockruff."

"...Okay, now tell me why he made off with fifty bucks."

"I think he wanted some muffins."

"After you left, the others, they were worried you would come back and do something drastic." Gliscor looked down at the cup of hot chocolate in her pincers.

"They told you this?"

"Well, no, it was just something I could feel." She clicked her tongue. "I eventually left one night when everyone else was asleep to find you. I was wandering around Johto when Zana caught me. I was in that cage for over a month. She only fed us enough to keep us alive."

"I thought you looked skinnier than usual." There was a knock on the door, and Ash turned as a Sentinel walked in. She removed her helmet, revealing rose pink hair. "Sentinel Lightning?"

"There's a commotion in the arena lobby. You may want to take a look. Pretty amusing in my case." Ash nodded, picking Pichu up off the floor while Gliscor followed behind.

May clutched her bleeding arm, sitting up angrily. "You bastard!"

"It's not my fault you provoked Null." Gladion said simply. He huffed. "And I had just gotten him calmed down too."

"Fuck you!"

"May, you're causing a scene." Brock urged.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" May snapped. She pulled out a Pokeball, releasing Blaziken. Gladion sighed.

"Unless you want that Blaziken in the emergency ward, I suggest you recall it."

"Fuck you! Flamethrower!" The resulting blast of fire was countered by a Thunderbolt.

"What is it with you harassing people?" Ash asked calmly as he strode up to the group.

"Fuck off!" May hissed. Lightning responded by sending out a Bisharp and Aegislash.

"I'm not really in the mood to deal with you people at the moment, so unless you all want to get hurt, back the fuck off."

"You're nothing but a coward who hides behind his own political power!" Max interjected. "Both you and your family." Ash's eyes flickered towards him.

"My family are not cowards. You should have learned by now that Ruby is pretty confrontational."

"Confront this!" Max sent out his Gallade.

"Meh." Ash shrugged. "I've seen better."

"What!?"

"Someone who's Gallade makes yours look like a prissy little baby."

"My Gallade is top of the line!" Ash pulled out his Pokegear, sending a quick text. "The fuck are you doing!?"

"If you're convinced your Gallade is so strong, then why don't you come by the City Square at sunset and prove it." With that, Ash turned and walked the opposite direction.

"Hey, get back here!" Max's attempt to follow was stopped by Lightning's Pokémon. Pikachu, who sat nearby, saw Gliscor following closely behind Ash. The Electric Type's face changed very slightly, showing just the smallest hint of a smile.

Ruby opened a Pokeball, releasing a shiny Hoopa. "Kalos, Geosenge Town." The Hoopa grinned, opening a portal up as Ruby shook her head. "All the people in this region and he sends me." With a sigh she stepped through the portal, Mawile following closely. Barely seconds later, Rocky bolted up and leapt through the portal.

It was hard to miss the large school building just outside of a small town like Geosenge Town. Ruby woud have been there a few minutes earlier if not for a slight delay... The albino whirled around mid step, opening a pokeball.

"Psychic!" The Metagross that popped out responded in kind, sending its psychic energy into a nearby bush. There was a squeak as a young girl of about nine was levitated out of the bush along with an Octillery. The girl had blue eyes, blonde hair done in pigtails, and wore a blue dress. The girl waved slightly. "...Were you following me?"

"Um... Well, it's just that..."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you that princess girl from the TV? The one in the Legends Tournament?" Ruby waved at Metagross, who lowered the girl and the Pokémon to the ground.

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"

"You're awesome!" The girl squeeked. "My sisters and I loved the part where you brought out that Lopunny."

"And what's your name?" Ruby asked. "Oh, my name's Bubbles!"

"Bubbles... That's a new one."

"Daddy says it's cause I'm all bubbly and stuff." "Bubbles... You look a little young to have a Pokémon." Ruby indicated the Octillery.

"Oh, you mean Octi? Well, the school recently started a junior program for aspiring trainers. My sisters and I won't be official trainers till next year." She paused. "Wait, shouldn't you be in the tournament? Why are you in Kalos?"

"I'm looking for someone. Do you know where the Senior Green Building is?"

"Oh, yeah! I can take you there!" Bubbles took Ruby's hand, dragging her toward the indicated building.

"All I'm saying is, when a kid sees a creepy looking clown in a sewer, he should NOT be sticking his hand in there!" A girl with light purple hair argued. "And look where it got him!"

"Sira, it was a movie, stop over analyzing it." A boy with blonde hair wearing a green vest said, not looking away from his book.

"Well, obviously that kid's parents didn't do a good job of teaching about the whole stranger danger thing." Sira complained. A boy with spiky red hair groaned.

"This is why we don't take you to movies. You don't shut up about them." He looked towards the doorway. "Speaking of stranger danger..." He indecated a dark skinned girl with neon blue hair, who looked toward the doorway as well. The blonde boy looked up to see what was going on. His eyes widened.

Ruby gave a cocky smile. "Care to introduce me to your friends, little brother?"