Happy birthday, Ruby! I already have this draft saved back in 2018 but I feel like rewriting it from scratch and thankfully, I was able to work on it for a month. I think it's much tolerable than the first version. The first draft was too cheesy :'))
It's fun writing this, though, and of course,,, More in the last author's notes :'))
Summary: Sapphire learned a valuable lesson: never ask for help from someone who's horrible at cooking and anything related to the kitchen.
Rating: T because Emerald cusses again
WARNING: THIS IS NOT BETA-READ!
66. Finding Inner Peace
...
...
Vexing screeches were heard all over Littleroot Town; it could almost rival Unova's own loudmouth Dexholder. Bird-like Pokemon fled the moment they heard such ruckus whilst its people stopped to wonder what the hell was going on.
"For Arceus' sake!" a man opened his window, screaming along with the noise. For a senior citizen, he still had a lot of pent up rage left in him. "I'M TRYING TO GET SOME SHUT-EYE HERE!"
"Can you quiet it down, Yama?!" another one yelled with the same exasperated energy. "My grandchild can't even sleep with both of you yapping!"
"Well, you should've bought some earplugs, Runa!"
"Whiny old fart!"
"You're the whiny old fart!"
The shrieking, however, proceeded and the two old people had no clue as to why. They just ignored it, hoping it would stop.
It didn't, much to their dismay, and as old man Yama closed his window, he caught a glimpse of three teenage boys arguing. He rolled his eyes. Quite typical of young people nowadays. They thought they owned the town and could do whatever they pleased.
"Guys, just let go, dammit!" Ruby bawled, struggling to remove his wrist from Emerald's 'new' gadget. He swore he didn't sign up as a test subject! "Wally!" he looked at the green-haired lad, his eyes pleading for mercy. "Don't just stand there! Help me!"
Wally raised his arms whilst shrugging. His lips cracked into a nervous yet apologizing grin. "Sorry, Ruby, but there's nothing I can do," the Charmer squinted for a glare, but it didn't faze the boy. "You tried to get away from my grip earlier, so Emerald and I have no choice."
He gritted his teeth, grumbling in response. What did these two want from him anyway? He couldn't just leave, especially when he hadn't seen Sapphire since breakfast. And they always had breakfast together! "Guys, come on, no fair!" he complained whilst Emerald yawned.
The Trick Master definitely did a wonderful job with this gizmo. He knew Ruby wouldn't willingly go with them, and this was their last resort. Although he wasn't certain if this machinery was indestructible. He could always ask Sapphire since she owed him big time.
"Ya know, dude," he moved one lever and patted the Charmer's back. To the latter, it felt like a rock falling on his back, and it was starting to ache. "we wouldn't resort to this if you didn't resist. Just saying."
Ruby dropped his head, grunting once again. "I haven't seen Sapphire yet," he murmured, puckering his lips for a pout. "She's on her way here to greet me and," he clenched his teeth. "I. Can't. Just. Leave!"
"Nah, man," the blond dismissed, as if it was nothing, and it offended Ruby. "It's a boys day out. You can get your smooches with Sapphire later."
The Charmer swallowed a lump in his throat, as he lowered his head to cover his reddening face. When did Emerald find out he'll receive his birthday kiss later?! When were they that predictable? "S-Since when—when did you decide that...that it's a boys day out?! I-I didn't sign up for this!"
The Calmer cackled. "Stop changing the subject, lover boy, and it's your birthday so you'll treat us with ice cream and anything we wanna buy."
"I heard Unova's famous Casteliacone has a new branch in Hoenn!" Wally added with a smile. "They're really good since I tried them myself while I was travelling to Unova."
"Yeah, and you'll pay for that since it's your birthday, lover boy!"
Ruby smacked his free hand onto his face. This was not how birthdays worked! When did these two get that idea?! "Of course, that's the reason," he muttered, sliding his palm across his chin. He knew he couldn't stop these two, let alone run away from them. This gadget would prevent him from running anyway. He breathed in.
He hated doing this.
"Fine," he conceded. "But can I at least wait for Sapphire to arrive?"
"I told you," Emerald raised his arms, as the mech let go of the older boy, and hopped off from it. "you can have your birthday making out with Sapphire later!"
A bright pink hue appeared on his cheeks. He screamed, "Hey, that's—"
"Do you and Sapphire really do that?" Wally pondered, as Ruby's face was now as red as his shirt.
The Charmer covered his face with his right hand. "I'll just kiss my girlfriend! That's what Emerald meant!"
"I know," Wally replied so casually with an indifferent reaction. It was quite odd for a gentleman like him, but the two let it slide. "I'm not that dense—I know what making out means. But are you guys really going that—"
He had enough of this conversation.
"Okay! Where should we go first?" Ruby intervened, changing the subject. He had an uncomfortable grin on his face and his blushing demeanour wasn't helping. The Calmer sighed.
"We'll go to Slateport first and maybe Lilycove City next," the blond responded as a matter of factly. "I have a gift for Gold," he gripped his fists, his eyebrows stitching together for a glare. "that'll make him regret his decision of giving me those growth hormone meds!"
The Contest Master blinked. He wasn't even surprised at Gold's gift. Emerald hated it when people insulted his height and Gold went too far with his gift. "How much is that item?"
"Dunno," the Calmer said. "I'm sure you have a lot of money in your wallet."
Ruby rubbed his temple. "No, I don't. I—"
"Sorry I'm late!" a familiar voice called, and Ruby didn't hesitate to dash right through the source.
"Sapphire!" he yelled, as he was on the verge of crying. He threw himself into her arms while she caught him. Both wrapped their arms around each other for a while, as Ruby buried his head in the crook of her neck. "Emerald and Wally are bullying me!"
Sapphire blinked, letting out a nervous giggle. Considering how sarcastic Emerald is, she wasn't surprised but Wally? She didn't expect it from him. She patted his back as gently as she could. She honestly didn't know what to say.
"What took you so long?" he let go of their embrace, but his arms remained around her waist. "You're usually the early Pidgey."
"I..." she cleared her throat, chuckling again. "I overslept. Work was...work was really tirin'!"
He raised an eyebrow. She was acting differently and when she did, she was either tired or something was bothering her. His right hand reached for her cheek, his thumb stroking it moments after, as he leaned his forehead against hers. "You sure you're getting enough rest?" he frowned. "I kinda noticed your eyebags..."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course ya'd pay attention to that."
He chuckled softly and pecked her forehead. "Hey, I'm worried."
"I know," she responded, giggling. "Silly," she kissed the tip of his nose whilst he pulled her closer. As long as they had each other, they didn't bother at everything was alright; nothing could ruin their day. However, a cough would soon break their zone and their blossoming romance.
"Do you mind doing your lovey-dovey shit later?" Emerald swatted his hand in the air, as if he smelled something horrible. "Ruby still needs to treat me and Wally some ice cream."
"Hey!" the Charmer complained. "I only said I'll go with you!"
"Potato, potato, mac and cheese," the blond mimicked his mouth with his hand opening and closing like a sock puppet. "You two can make out later, geez."
The couple's faces blushed, whilst Sapphire lowered her head to hide her face in Ruby's chest. Did he really have to say that out loud?!
"I-I think ya should go," she stuttered, gently pulling away several seconds later.
He frowned. "But—"
"I'll be fine," she stretched her arms and yawned. "I'll be restin' all day so when ya get home, we'll have dinner with our parents and spend the rest of the night together. Is that okay?"
His frown converted into a smug grin. "The rest of the night and tomorrow," he winked, smooching her lips for several seconds.
Emerald rolled his eyes, his face twisting into a revolted one and stuck his tongue out, further indicating his disgusted demeanour. Why were his friends so corny and gross?
Wally, on the other hand, was averting his eyes at the two. He always wondered if he and Sap—no, he shouldn't even think that far!
"I'll be home soon, okay?" he continued and hugged her tightly. She nodded.
"I'll wait for ya," she uttered, before kissing his cheek. "Happy birthday."
He chuckled and winked. Now he felt amazing! He couldn't wait to get the rest of his gifts later. "Save some for later, love."
Her cheeks flushed once again and as she was about to reply, Emerald had enough.
"You two are so goddamn revolting," the blond intervened, shuddering a tad. "Anyway, we're borrowing your Tropius, Sapphire."
"Umm," Wally tittered, scratching the back of his head. "I'll just ride with my Altaria."
"Okay, Ruby is borrowing your Tropius," Emerald corrected. "Let's go, let's go! We don't have all day, people!"
Wally sent out his fluffy bird Pokemon, as he and Emerald hopped behind it. Ruby rubbed the back of his head, sighing. He grabbed Ruru's Poke Ball and handed it to Sapphire. "Here," she received it from him and looked at the Gardevoir sleeping inside the ball. He smiled slightly and kissed her forehead.
"Ruru should help you relax and make you sleep better," he caressed her cheek, brushing his lips on hers. "Feel better soon. I'll be right back."
"S-Sure," she gulped, also grabbing Kiruru's Poke ball and placing it on his palm. She rolled his fingers to secure the object in its place. "Ya should take Kiruru too," she then glanced at the two boys behind her boyfriend. "Just to keep yer sanity in check."
He cackled. "You know me," he breathed and placed the Gallade's ball in his pocket. "I know these two will empty my wallet. Anyway," he smooched her cheek once more. "I'll be borrowing Troppy."
She bobbed her head, as she raised her right arm and put them closer to her mouth, releasing a blaring whistle. A few moments passed, a Grass-Flying type emerged from the forest and descended from the sky. He let out a cry whilst the Conqueror patted his head.
"Heya, Troppy!" she greeted with a toothy grin, scratching the Tropius' chin. "Ruby needs a ride," she grabbed three Oran berries and the Pokemon ate them with glee. "Take care of him for me, 'kay?"
Troppy nodded and rubbed its cheek on the Conqueror's. The brunette giggled and ruffled the Pokemon's head. Ruby watched them with a genuine smile. He was always enjoyed seeing Sapphire play and pet their Pokemon. It just showed how much she loved what she did. He breathed, moving closer and petted the Grass-Flying type as well.
"You ready to go, Troppy?" he asked while Troppy nodded. The Pokemon lowered its head, assisting the Charmer, as he sat on its back.
"Finally!" Emerald hollered. He was in front of Wally as both were on the Altaria's back. "Let's go, let's go!"
Ruby rubbed his forehead, sighing. Why did he let himself get into this mess? "Let's go, Troppy."
Sapphire watched the two Flying types flap their wings, as she held her newly stitched bandanna. Her hair flowed and tussled with the strong gust, as the Pokemon ascended to the sky. Once they were out of her sight, she released a relieved breath.
She was glad Ruby didn't notice anything suspicious—maybe he did and she probably didn't notice it.
"Are they gone?" her neighbour—Ruby's mother—asked and approached the brunette.
"Yeah," she nodded. "Let's start cookin'."
"Speaking of that," her future mother-in-law let out a sheepish laugh. "I think I need to buy more groceries. Lisia just arrived and I don't think she bought what you need."
The Conqueror raised her eyebrows. "Whaddya mean?"
The older woman moved her head to the side, gesturing to the younger girl to head inside the house. They saw Lisia sitting on the couch and was busy texting.
"Lisia," Sapphire called. "Did ya buy the ones on the list?"
"Huh? Yeah, yes, Sapphy," Lisia responded and stood up, her eyes still glued to her phone. "They're in the kitchen."
The brunette blinked and looked at the older woman in the room. She just shrugged and encouraged her to follow the contest idol's instructions. Once they entered the kitchen, they only saw one bag placed on the counter.
"Lisia," the Conqueror opened the paper bag. "Where's the rest?"
"What do you mean?" the contest idol dropped her phone in her purse and stood right next to her friend. "I bought everything you need!"
Sapphire gently shook her head and took a deep breath. How could she even explain without sounding stressed and annoyed? "I told ya to buy the missin' ingredients like some pre-made soba noodles, so why am I seein' 10 packs of instant ramen?"
Lisia threw her back, cackling. "I never liked soba anyway. I'm more of a ramen gal!"
The brunette inhaled through her nose to calm herself. She cleared her throat. "Ruby likes soba and today's his birthday. We can't have the food ya want."
Maybe she was a bit harsh with the last part. But thankfully, the young contest idol brushed it off. She waved her hand and continued wheezing. "I know!" she replied cheerfully. "But wouldn't it be fun to mess with Ruby?"
"Ya always mess with him."
"Exactly!" she winked, giving her some finger guns. "Just imagine his annoyed reaction!"
Sapphire struck her palm right through her face. "I know ya always annoy him, but let can ya let it slide for just one day?"
"No way, Sapphy," Lisia shook her head. "Every day is 'annoy Ruby day'!"
She huffed, trying to control her haste breathing. "Lisia, I can't cook him instant ramen! It's supposed to be his special day with his favourite foods on the table!"
"I'll just buy the missing ingredients," the mother uttered. "In the meantime," she placed a hand on Sapphire's shoulder, hoping to calm her future daughter-in-law. "why don't you make the mochi dough? I have the ice cream flavours ready in the fridge."
The Conqueror grunted and bit her lip. She pouted but eventually nodded. "Okay," she gave in whilst the mother smiled and left the two girls in charge of her house.
"Lisia," the brunette stared at her younger friend. "Ya said ya'll help me cook, so ya hafta assist me until auntie comes back."
She swore she'd seen Lisia smirking. Did she even say something funny?
"Oh yes," Lisia stated with a mischievous tone. Her smirk converted into a devilish smug, and Sapphire didn't like it one bit. "Auntie, huh?" the brunette blushed. Did she really have to point that out?! "Did I miss an engagement party or something?"
"I-It ain't an engagement!" Sapphire screamed whilst stuttering. "And—And don't ya change the subject! We're here to cook!"
Lisia released a loud laugh that was almost contagious if Sapphire wasn't the one getting teased. The contest idol later wiped a tear off her eye. "Sure, honey, sure."
The brunette wanted to kick this girl out of the house. This was certainly not the time to tease her!
"Although," the contest idol tapped her chin. "isn't instant ramen enough? Cooking is exhausting!"
Sapphire's jaw slacked. "Have ya tried cookin' yer own meal?"
Lisia shrugged. "I cook instant ramen and cup noodles all the time! Do they count?"
Her eyes twitched. She could let that slide. "Can ya cook food that ain't instant?
The younger girl's laugh was loud and exuberant. "Absolutely not!"
The Conqueror's palm went to smack her face once more. At this rate, her forehead would have a red dot if she continued. "But ya said ya'll help me!"
"Well duh, of course! I helped you with the groceries!"
Sapphire clenched her fists, trying to control her quivering arms and her loud grumble from escaping. This was going to be a long day.
...
...
Birthdays were something Ruby always looked forward to—be it his own or Sapphire's, it became special to him. It usually wasn't; he did run away on his birthday the moment he moved into Hoenn, but knowing Sapphire gave him a different perspective and appreciation for such events.
On one hand, he was overjoyed knowing Sapphire was alive and could celebrate her special day with him. In another, he'd get his birthday kisses from Sapphire the moment they started dating. He couldn't help the latter; it was quite rewarding.
Although this had to be his worst day so far. Not only he couldn't spend every second of it with Sapphire, but also the fact that he would most likely be broke at the end of the day. Knowing Emerald, he would take advantage of such power since he 'owed' him for distracting Sapphire at her own surprise birthday party last year.
"Could you quit being emo?!" Emerald screamed, snapping Ruby out of his trance. "It doesn't sit right with you. That's more on Silver's territory."
Ruby's mouth hung open, as he covered his eyes with his right palm. "I'm not being emo," he corrected. "I was just thinking."
The blond rolled his eyes. "You can make out with Sapphire later, geez."
The Charmer's cheeks heated up. He dropped his hand. "I told you, I respect her so much that—"
"Yeah, yeah," the Calmer brushed it off. "I will kill you if you disrespect her."
He chewed his lower lip. He still couldn't comprehend this side of Emerald's. It was nice to know that he cared about Sapphire in his own 'Emerald way', but it was odd he'd actually make his life miserable if he hurt Sapphire again. He clenched his fists. No.
He would never hurt Sapphire again—both intentionally and unintentionally.
"Anyway, can we make a stop?"
Ruby was reverted back to reality. He blinked. "What?"
"I need to pee."
He dropped his head, grumbling. "Can you just hold it? We've only left Littleroot 30 minutes ago!"
Emerald shrugged. "But I need to go now."
"Well, you should've gone before we left!"
Wally raised his hand. "Actually, I need to go too."
Ruby covered his face with his hands. These two were driving him insane! He felt like their babysitter just by scolding them with this restroom topic! "You two should've gone before leaving!"
"To be fair," the blond interjected. "we can't control it. What do you want me to do? Say 'pee come forth'?!"
Emerald did have a point, but Ruby digressed. He sighed. There was no point in arguing with these two. "Fine, we'll make a quick stop in Rustboro."
"Can we just stop in Petalburg Forest?" Wally suggested. "We're already here now."
"No way I'm entering that forest again!"
"Then I'll just pee here!"
Ruby's eyes widened. He never liked the sound of it—let alone the very idea He'd already seen how that turned out when he and Sapphire mistook that 'rainbow' in the Battle Frontier. He thought he buried that memory in the very depths of his mind. He hated how he was having flashbacks when Emerald said that. "Eww, gross!" he whined. "Troppy, make sure we're at least 50 metres away from these two!"
Emerald cackled. "I'm kidding! I can still hold it!"
...
...
Sapphire removed each ingredient from the paper bag. There were 10 packs of instant ramen, a tub of matcha and ube ice cream, and... She opened her mouth, releasing a breath. She only gave Lisia one job—one freaking job—and she couldn't even get them correctly. She knew her handwriting was bad, which was why she let Wally write the grocery list instead of herself.
She shook her head, grabbed the tubs of ice cream and placed them in the freezer. She still couldn't figure out what she would do with the instant noodles; it'd be a waste to just leave them here and at the same time, she couldn't serve this to Ruby. She knew his tastes in food and even if he eats instant food, he didn't like to eat them often.
She grabbed her phone and clicked on the PDF app. Ruby loved this ice cream place at Lilycove Mall and while the store's policy forbade them to share any recipe with outsiders, she was able to find one online. At least the one a rookie like her could follow along.
"Cheer up, Sapphy!"
The Conqueror blinked. She eyed Lisia and saw her holding the tub of matcha ice cream. How did she even?! "Is that the ice cream I just put in the freezer?"
The contest idol shrugged. "I can't help it! The matcha craze is getting to me!"
The brunette tried to control this irked sensation. She clenched her fists for a few moments, before grabbing a spoon and a mug. "Can ya at least eat 'em here? We need that ice cream for Ruby's birthday!"
"Fine, sheesh," Lisia gave in while she let Sapphire scoop enough ice cream for her in the coffee mug. She handed it to her and returned the ice cream tub to the fridge.
"Let's just make the mochi dough," the Conqueror dropped her head. She hasn't even started cooking and yet, she was already losing her sanity! She just hoped Ruby was doing better with the boys than she was with Lisia. "Ya got the potato starch, right?"
The younger girl tapped her finger on her chin. "I don't know what a potato starch looks like, but I did buy some potatoes!"
Sapphire wanted to hit her head on the wall at least 100 times. She was certain that potato starch was sold in packs and they had a name written on those same packets!
...
...
Ruby was sitting and leaning on Troppy's back. He made sure he was at least 10 metres away from Emerald and Wally. While they were doing their personal business in the bushes, he was scrolling through his phone gallery and viewing pictures of him and Sapphire (well, mostly his girlfriend). Every photo made him feel a tad nostalgic.
He remembered how Sapphire won the Pokemon League Championship. Her Champion Ceremony was right after her victory and despite the crowd, he was able to drag her away for some time alone he was craving. They were on this cliff near the edge of Ever Grande City and the view was spectacular.
Sapphire didn't know it, but he took a photo of her while she was looking at the vast ocean. It was picture-perfect—her hair flowing with such elegance was something that always got him. His heart couldn't stop beating like a Zangoose zooming through the forest; she was that flawless.
Time flies, as they said, but the memories he had with Sapphire were everlasting.
"Get a grip, man," Emerald uttered, zipping his fly. "You'll get to spend more time with her later."
Ruby locked his phone, dropping it in his pocket. His eyes squinted for a glare, as he let out a fuming grunt. "I could be spending the whole day with my girlfriend, you know!"
"Then just marry her," the blond smirked. Ruby tried to answer back but was too flustered to do so. Checkmate. "And to be fair, lover boy, I had to do your dirty work last year! Remember when I almost died when Sapphire tried murdering Gold with that tree? Arceus, that woman is scary! What the hell do you see in her?"
His embarrassment dropped and converted into a confident smug. He didn't know why he found that funny—Gold did deserve it, but he just hoped that idiot wouldn't fight back with more teasing. He loves his girlfriend—he would die for her if he had no other options—but the teasing was too much for him and Sapphire to handle.
"Hey! That's not funny!"
"For me, it is," the Charmer quipped and Emerald was tempted to throw him in an icky mud pile.
"Whatever," the blond pouted, folding his arms across his chest. "Let's just buy those Casteliacone."
"They have a branch here!" Wally said, his eyes were glued to his PokeNav. "It's right next to the PokeMart!"
"Then let's go!"
"Hey," Ruby stood up. He patted the Tropius' back. "I thought we're buying that in Slateport?"
"Ice cream now, complain later!"
The Charmer gritted his teeth, his eyes twitching. These two were making him lose it! He just hoped Sapphire was getting enough rest despite his suffering.
...
...
Sapphire lifted the spatula in her hand, inspecting the mochi dough. She really hoped she didn't screw this up. The first two were...not very good, and she had to perfect this since their ingredients were limited. She glanced at her phone, but thankfully, Ruru was out of her Poke Ball and held it in front of the brunette.
"It says it has to look like a plastic goo," the girl said, as the Gardevoir placed the phone back on the counter. "It seems like one. Whaddya think, Ruru?"
The Psychic-Fairy type looked at it carefully, before nodding. The Conqueror exhaled in relief and grabbed a rolling pin and the potato starch. She opened it but halted when she saw Lisia was struggling to peel the potatoes. She rolled her eyes.
Her friend was definitely helpless in the kitchen.
"Here," she handed her a vegetable peeler. "Ruru, made sure Lisia ain't hurtin' herself."
The Gardevoir followed her co-trainer's orders. Lisia grabbed the vegetable peeler. With one hand holding the potato, she gently slashed the sharp object through its skin. "This is so much better!" the contest idol chirped. "Thanks, Sapphy!"
The brunette rolled her eyes. "Just don't hurt yerself, 'kay? Ruru may be there to help but just try to be careful."
"Trust me, Sapphy, I'm trying," Lisia gestured whilst Ruru flinched. Sapphire just told her to be careful with it and now she was swinging it like it was nothing! "Holding a knife isn't my expertise. This is why I watch Siebold's cooking videos. Although, he's very aggressive. Like, he gets angry when people say food isn't art!"
"Sounds familiar," Sapphire murmured. She didn't know Siebold that much besides being an Elite Four member in Kalos and a chef, but she knew he was a passionate guy based on that description alone. She could tell since she was dating Ruby, and she'd seen Ruby criticize every piece of clothing with no mercy. His 'aggressiveness' in his expertise could definitely rival Siebold's. "Very familiar."
"You know, maybe you should let Ruru peel this!" Lisia suggested. The Gardevoir glared at the contest idol. "I mean—"
"No," Sapphire answered, snapping out of her trance. "Ruru is just here to assist us," she spread some potato starch on a board. "I'm cookin' everythin' for Ruby's birthday!"
"Speaking of that," the contest idol wiped another sweat from her temple. Ruru seriously had enough of this girl. She moved that peeler as if it wasn't harmful! "I never knew you could cook!"
The brunette puckered her lips, chewing the lower part between her teeth. "I never told anyone," she confessed. "I know how to follow the recipes, but I ain't an expert. Ever since Ruby became my boyfriend," she could feel her cheeks heating up and so was Lisia's devilish smirk. She had a feeling her friend would tease her as soon as she was done.
She breathed. She opted to ignore both circumstances to continue. "I just—I just cook—cook when I feel like it," she stuttered, biting her lip. This was harder than she thought!
She guessed some emotional wounds could never be healed like a scar. She thought she moved past this grief. "My...My mum—she died. She died when I was just a kid. So, I have to take up some responsibilities she left like cookin' since my dad is horrible at it."
Lisia put down the items in her hands to wipe her tears away. "I'm so sorry about your mom, Sapphy. I never knew."
"'Tis fine," she muttered with a meek smile, but it was just a facade. Thankfully, Lisia didn't notice it. "Ruby doesn't know I can cook—well, follow the recipes, so this is my chance to show him that."
Lisia's mischievous grin returned. "To prove that you can be that wife that can cook?"
The brunette's cheeks turned red. It was redder than the bottles of spice mix arranged in a nearby cabinet. She always had to find a way to tease her, huh? She thought she could avoid it, but she felt dumb for underestimating the contest idol. "Why do ya always have to make that conclusion?" she shrieked and Lisia was enjoying the ruckus. "Ruby and I—we're...ugh!"
"Honey, please," the contest idol tittered loudly and for once, Ruru was fine with it. She did like teasing Sapphire and Ruby too. "Everyone knows how much Ruby loves you and vice-versa! And we at the RuSa fan club want you to get married! It's our life goal!"
Sapphire dropped her head. She somehow lost her energy to roll this dough.
"I'll be your maid of honour, by the way!"
Why wasn't she surprised at that suggestion? The thought of marrying Ruby was already too much for her. Dating him already felt surreal—a fever dream—and taking their relationship beyond that was something she never imagined.
"By the way, are we making French Fries out of these potatoes?"
The brunette snapped out of her trance. "N-No?" she faltered. "We're mashin' 'em up for some mashed potatoes."
"By frying them?"
Sapphire furrowed her eyebrows and gave Lisia a disappointed expression. She was kidding, right? Everyone knew that mashed potatoes were boiled and not fried, right?
"Pretty sure that's how mashed potatoes are made!"
She wanted to break this rolling pin in half—maybe into pieces. She couldn't tell whether or not Lisia was joking.
...
...
Ruby was the patient one between him and his girlfriend. However, that record would soon be blended into dust. He breathed through his nose and yanked his hat downwards as if it was his hair. He screamed in such frustration that the bystanders didn't care.
"Why do we have to wait in that line for three freaking hours?!" the Charmer shrieked, gasping like a wild mutt. He tolerated waiting in line, but this bonkers of a long line just for some stupid ice cream was driving him mad!
It felt like every person in Hoenn decided to go to Rustboro just for this ice cream even though it has another branch in the Region! What was wrong with these people?!
"Relax, will ya?" Emerald licked the ice cream in the cone. "It's summer, it's hot. People want ice cream. Nuff said."
Ruby tucked his lips in his mouth, containing his exasperation and his tears. "Don't say that casually!" he pointed an accusing finger to his friends. "You guys bought the most expensive ones! How could you do this to my wallet! Earning money isn't easy, you know!"
Emerald and Wally looked at each other before shrugging.
"It's your birthday," the blond said with an aloof tone. "you're supposed to treat us."
"If it makes you feel better," Wally added. "I can treat you guys on my birthday!"
"Uuugggghhhh!" the Charmer slapped both palms on his upper head. He continued groaning. "I just wanna go home!" he yelled, his enraged tears now falling freely. His two friends didn't bother, though. They knew Ruby often cried. "That'll make me feel better!"
"Sapphire will give you your birthday smooches after we go shopping in Slateport!"
He opened his mouth to inhale. One more. One more. He could take this. He could survive this nightmare. "Fine!" he threw his hands in the air. From an outsider's perspective, he was overreacting but Ruby had no time to deal with them. "This better be the last stop!" he paused to gasp.
Wally raised an eyebrow, giving Emerald a look. He was concerned if Ruby was going crazy. Was this what it felt like to not receive a kiss from your romantic partner?
"No side-tracking too!" he was frantic—almost to the point of insanity, and the boys knew they had to keep their word. Ruby looked so unhinged and he seemed like he lost it. They knew Sapphire was the only one who could calm him down at this point.
"Or else I'm going home and I don't care if you try to chase me!"
He was definitely more than unhinged—he was flat out crazy and lost his mind.
"Fine, no more stops," Emerald reassured. "Geez, man. You sure you're not stressed?"
Ruby's eyes flared into a lour, as his hand gesticulated all over the place. "YOU TWO ARE THE REASON WHY I'M STRESSED!"
...
...
"I'm home!" the mother called from the front door. She went straight to the kitchen to place the grocery bag on the kitchen counter. "I'm glad I was able to do some last-minute shopping too!"
"Did Ruby see ya?" Sapphire perked up, as she placed the now finished mochi ice cream in the fridge.
"I don't think so?" the older woman raised an eyebrow, taking out the groceries. There were some berries, vegetables, and even a beef stock pack. "Anyway, do you need my help?"
The brunette bobbed her head. "Is it okay if ya look at the boilin' potatoes?"
"Sure!" the woman smiled. "But why do we have them? I thought the menu didn't involve potatoes."
The Conqueror clenched her fists, containing herself. She exhaled with such exasperation that she looked like a steam train's chimney. "Lisia bought 'em along with the potato starch," she muttered whilst pouting. How could one tell their friend that they were annoying without hurting their feelings?
The mother shook her head, sighing. "I see."
"Ooh! Is that another tub of ice cream?" Lisia grabbed the item from the table, but Sapphire used one palm to stop her friend from opening the lid.
"Hey!" the brunette said. "These are for later!"
"Geez," the contest idol rolled her eyes. "You sure are stressed, Sapphy. Maybe next time, just order food and cook some instant ramen for your husband!"
Sapphire took a step back and retracted her hand. Heat emanated her cheeks to the point where it reached her ears. "He ain't my—"
"Aww!" the adult in the room squealed. "Did Ruby finally propose to you, Sapphire?"
Lisia gasped and zoomed closer to Sapphire. She held the new Hoenn Champion's hands and swung them vertically. "Did he really?! Did Ruby actually have plans to marry you?! DID WE FINALLY GET SOME SOLID HINTS?! TELL ME MORE, SAPPHY!"
Her jaw slacked, as she tried to stop her blushing face. It wasn't working and all she could do was take a deep breath. Wait, what did she mean by finally?! Why was she so curious about this anyway? Wasn't tormenting her and Ruby enough?! "Whaddya mean by that? Ruby and I—We're not yet—" she paused, her face was now redder than the tomatoes placed on the counter. "We're—I-I mean—"
"This is such great news to share with the RuSa fan club!" Lisia squealed, removing her hands from her friend. Her smile turned into a wicked smug and Sapphire knew these rumours would spread as fast as a Zangoose in the wild.
The Conqueror shook her head, covering her left eye with her left palm and now messy bangs.
"And posted!"
A popping sound could be heard before Lisia could place her phone down. There were at least five notifications and they were all asking the big question. "Ooh!" the contest idol's eyes sparkled. Although Sapphire swore there was a glint of mischief in it. "They're all asking when's the wedding! Isn't that great?! Uncle Wallace's comment has the most likes so far! He said he wants to be the godfather!"
Sapphire's eyes widened. When did Wallace become a member of that club?! Did Ruby even know about this?!
"OMG! Even auntie Winona and Steven commented!"
This had gone too far; she needed to change the subject. Wallace knowing it was already embarrassing but with her Master and even Steven being aware of it as well, it was only a matter of time before every Gym Leader and Elite Four member would find out.
Going back to work would be exhausting.
"A-Are ya—Are ya gonna help me cook or not?!"
...
...
Their plan was simple: leave Rustboro City the moment Emerald and Wally finished their ice cream and then do some shopping in Slateport City. The ride from Rustboro to Slateport was a minimum of an hour and a half. However, due to the blond using the bathroom since he 'couldn't hold it', they had to stop which caused a thirty-minute delay.
They arrived two hours later and Ruby just couldn't take it anymore. Coffee didn't usually help him calm down—tea was his drink to feel serene and level headed, but the convenience store ran out of it, and he never liked factory-made milk tea anyway. So, here he was with a can of cold coffee in his hand.
The Contest Master breathed and then chugged his canned coffee. He then looked at his clock, which said two in the afternoon. His lips curved into a frown.
He didn't know how long they'd be here, but he hoped it'd be before 5 PM. He was doing what he could to hold his sanity together and when he saw Sapphire later...
He'd let everything out; he just wanted to have her in his arms again.
"Geez," Emerald chuckled, and it did not please Ruby. "You looked like an overworked buffoon."
He wanted to crush this can if he could or pour this remaining coffee in Emerald's hair. He just had enough. Thankfully, he managed to control himself and released Kiruru from its Poke Ball. The Gallade looked at him with concern.
"I can't handle it anymore, Kiruru," Ruby muttered whilst trying to control his palpitating heart and his vexed demeanour. "Just keep me company. You're the only sane one I'm with right now."
Kiruru didn't know how to react. He'd seen this boy lose his mind, but it wasn't as bad as this. Lifting his right arm, he patted the Contest Master's back. His trainer needed a lot of explaining to do after this.
"Okay, I got my eye on this Proteam Omega plushie," the blond showed them a photo of the giant mecha suit from that show. "You'll be paying for it, Ruby. I need it."
"Hold up," Ruby rubbed his right temple with his fingers. "I already bought you two some ice cream—the most expensive ones to boot! That cost me an arm and a leg, and now you're telling me to buy that thing?! Since when were you into Proteam Omega?!"
The Charmer's complaint didn't faze the Calmer and neither did Wally. The blond shrugged in response. "It's still your birthday," he added.
"THAT'S NOT A VALID EXCUSE!"
Emerald waved his hand and dismissed Ruby's frantic behaviour. "That's for Gold. It's part of my revenge plot against him."
Ruby dropped his arms and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Silver and I plan to prank him with Proteam Omega merch," the blond explained, folding his arms across his chest. He gritted his teeth. "I'll make him regret giving me those growth hormone meds! How dare that asshole!"
He released a breath. He understood where his friend's grudge was coming from but did he really have to drag him with it?
"And I know you'll join us by paying for that plushie. Remember how Gold gave you and Sapphire the worst dating advice?"
Ruby almost choked his drink. He removed the coffee can from his mouth and tried swallowing the tiny amount of drink he consumed. He coughed.
He swore to never speak nor remember such an event. Gold being Gold told them about 'needing to touch each other more' and he swore it was a horrible thing to say, especially in public.
"Fine, you got me," he conceded, gripping the can in his hand. Emerald really had to make him remember that...that thing!
"Oh, hey, Ruby!" Wally waved his hand at his friends. He was in a shopping stall carrying a dozen Quick Balls. "Can you pay for these too?"
The Charmer tried to breathe in as slowly as possible, but he couldn't. He knew Wally wasn't as sassy as Emerald, but why was he joining the 'annoy Ruby squad'?! "Fine!"
...
...
Cooking was supposed to be a tad relaxing for Sapphire but she felt the need to crush these potatoes' souls if they had any.
She couldn't help it; this aggravated sensation was too much for her that she had to let it out through these potatoes. Grabbing another one with her bare hand, she placed the semi-hot potato into the potato ricer and pressed it with its lid.
If she knew Lisia was an awful assistant, she would've just let her distract Ruby. Then again, she knew Lisia would find a way to spend the rest of the day with her. The contest idol did mention (at least three times a day) that she preferred spending time with her than the boys.
It made sense since they were both girls, but still...
Couldn't Lisia be more useful in the kitchen?!
"The table is all set," the mom called from the dining room. "Are the rest of your friends having dinner with us?"
"Oh, no!" Lisia tittered, standing up from the couch. She was texting her uncle the entire time and was unaware of Sapphire's fuming aura behind her. "My uncle Wallace will take me to this fancy Galarian resto! They just opened in Lilycove mall last week!"
"Oh, that's nice!" the adult uttered with a smile. Though, she still had no idea why this girl stayed here just to mention that fancy place.
"Bye-bye, Sapphy! Bye-bye, Ruby's mom!"
Sapphire opened her mouth as soon as she heard the door shut. She was finally able to release the horrendous grumbling she'd been holding for a while. Ruru and the mother, on the other hand, were just watching her with some sweat trickling down their temples.
"I feel so disappointed and angry at the same time!" the brunette dropped her head, as she grabbed a spatula and mixed the mashed potatoes with some heavy cream and butter. "Ruby wouldn't have the soba noodles he wanted for his birthday! Uugghh!"
The Gardevoir instantly identified the Conqueror's sudden mood swings. She frowned, giving her a comforting pat on the back. She didn't know it could work, but she could tell how disappointed Sapphire was with herself.
And knowing her trainer, he would feel bad when he saw Sapphire like this.
"Sapphire, it's okay," the mother approached the brunette and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Ruby will understand and plus," her lips form an encouraging smile. "you managed to make some good alternatives!"
She bit her lip, chewing it between her teeth. She didn't know; Ruby could be quite...picky and he wasn't afraid to state his opinion, especially when it came to quality. She breathed. "I hope so too, auntie."
"That's the spirit," the woman embraced her. "Now, I don't mean to interrupt, but let me handle this. You need to freshen up before Ruby comes home. Ruru and I will take care of everything."
Sapphire immediately gave in; she knew Ruby's mother meant well. Plus, they were much more reliable than Lisia in the kitchen, and she trusted them more with the remaining tasks. She bobbed her head. "Okay, I'll be back, auntie."
"Sure!"
...
...
Sapphire tried to hurry and walked faster, but this time, she couldn't despite how much force and effort. She knew this was the consequence of cooking whilst being distressed. She just hoped a nice, warm shower would do.
Thankfully, her house was just several feet away and she was able to reach her room. She knew her father was still busy with his meeting in Mossdeep City, so she opted to just leave the door unlocked just in case he forgot his keys again.
Once she turned on the shower, she raised her head and closed her eyes, letting the warm water soak her skin.
It was refreshing; just what she needed to relax. Although there were still some worries in her head, she'd just disregarded it for now to clean and relax herself.
Once she finished, she didn't procrastinate on getting dressed. She then saw herself in the mirror and noticed her messy hair. Her bangs weren't in their place and it was...bushy. That was the best way to describe it.
She puffed some air out of her mouth to remove some strands of hair from her face. She was about to grab a comb until her phone rang. She had a feeling she knew who it was. "Hello?" she asked, placing her phone close to her ear.
"Sapphire!"
She moved her phone a few inches away from her ear. She knew it and based on his tone, he was distressed like she was. "Are ya okay, Ruby?"
"NO!" he whined and she could already imagine his waterfall-like tears. "Emerald and Wally emptied my wallet!"
She shook her head. She told those two to keep an eye on him while she was busy preparing his birthday dinner. She didn't know they'd taken advantage of his wallet. This wasn't part of their agreement! "Do ya still have money in yer card?"
"My debit? Yeah. I'm on my way home. I can't wait to see you, love," his last words were soft, sincere, and full of love. It was the only thing that made her calm down and forget Wally and Emerald's shenanigans earlier for several seconds.
"See ya soon, Ruby. Where are ya now?"
"Troppy and I are gonna land in Littleroot. Are you in your room?"
"Y-Yeaahhh," she answered reluctantly, opening the window. As if on cue, gusts of wind blew everything on its way with a Tropius landing from the sky. She could see Ruby waving at her from a distance whilst she waved back.
"Don't move," Ruby chuckled, smiling at her from below. "I'll go up there."
"S-Sure," she said, before hanging up. She turned around and waited for her boyfriend to go upstairs. She only guessed he ditched Emerald and Wally or the other way around. She couldn't help but facepalm.
Those two were insane. They might as well join Lisia with that crazy fan club.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She came in closer to open it. She wasn't able to catch a glimpse of her boyfriend—only his arms wrapping around her body and pulling her closer to him.
"I missed you so much," he whispered, pecking her forehead. He caged his arms around her waist whilst hers was resting on his chest, as their embrace halted. She giggled.
"Ya were only gone for five hours, silly."
"I know," he chuckled, smooching her cheek. "But Emerald and Wally have been irritating me all day! I don't even know where that came from!"
She laughed. "Well, to be fair, Lisia's been annoyin' me all day too."
His eyes widened. Somehow he was able to put all the missing pieces of the puzzle together. He should've known it was that annoying contest brat! "Was this Lisia's plan? Did she plan to steal you away from me just to bug me on my birthday?"
She blinked. "What? No! I—" she paused, biting her lip. Well, he did have a point—Lisia adored agonizing him and she still couldn't understand why. She'd teased Ruby, but she had a feeling it wasn't even close to Lisia's level. She exhaled. "It's my plan to keep ya distracted. I planned on cookin' food for yer birthday."
She gripped the fabric of his shirt. "I'm sorry for keepin' this from ya..."
Ruby didn't know what to feel; on one hand, he was more surprised than before. In another, he suddenly felt special and touched that she did all of this for him. He didn't even mind if Sapphire kept this from him; it was for a good cause and her intentions were genuine. Although he wondered how she was able to convince Emerald and Wally. Knowing Sapphire, she'd give him the money their friends made him spend.
"Y-You can cook?"
Her cheeks heated up, as she lowered her body and buried her head in his chest. "K-Kin—Kinda? I mean, I can follow a recipe, b-but I ain't a chef!"
He laughed, causing her to lift her head to face him. He had an arrogant smirk and she wanted to kiss that away. "You are sneaky," he uttered, landing a quick peck on her lips.
"H-Hey!" the pink hue on her face darkened and turned red. "I—"
"I love you," he muttered, his right hand cupping her cheek. He couldn't articulate his emotions properly; he was just...happy, and maybe it was beyond happiness—he was exhilarated. He had such an amazing girlfriend and best friend. "You don't have to do this for me, you know," he kissed the tip of her nose and closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers.
The sensation was quick like a spark of lightning flashing from the sky. She, too, closed her eyes and encircled her arms on his back. He pulled her closer, silently promising to never let her go.
"I just wanna do somethin' for ya," she said moments after. He opened his eyes. His smile was warm, comforting, and soft as the morning sunlight. "I tried not to invite a lot of people since I know ya want some alone time."
He couldn't help but laugh, and it was even more embarrassing for her. She pouted.
"R-Ruby!"
"I love you so much!" he half-yelled, hugging her once again and lifting her. Her eyes went round. She knew when Ruby started doing this, his happiness was sincere and beyond words. She giggled along, as their laughter echoed.
Seconds after, Ruby gently let her feet touch the floor. They went back to incline their foreheads. "You know me very well," he continued cackling genuinely. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
She puckered her lips. He was so...corny, and she loved it. "I guess it ain't too late to say happy birthday?"
He winked and it was enough to make her heart flutter once more. "Can I finally get my birthday kiss, then?"
She rolled her eyes. He was so arrogant, but she could let it slide since it was his birthday. "Fine," she cupped his cheeks with her hand and closed her eyes. Ruby followed along and tilted his head, as both pressed their soft lips against each other.
Ruby let out a moan, pulling her closer to deepen their lip lock. Sapphire's hands slowly let go of his cheeks, moving their way to his nape to pull him closer to also intensify their kiss.
This is just what they needed to relax after everything that had happened.
Their kiss was cut short, however, when Sapphire heard the main door creaking open. She slowly let go of their locked lips, but Ruby's arms never let her go.
"My dad's prob'ly home," she uttered, causing Ruby to groan. She shook her head, sighing. "We'll continue later, 'kay?"
His smug demeanour returned and she was extremely tempted to kiss it away. He winked. "I need at least 20 kisses since you let me suffer from Emerald and Wally."
She jerked her head to the side. "Not so loud, Ruby!"
"I love you too, Sapph," he cuddled closer, nuzzling his head in her neck, and it was worsening her mortified reaction. If her dad saw them like this, she didn't know how they could even explain themselves! He was lucky her dad wasn't that strict nor anxious as everyone expected!
...
...
Ruby opened his mouth and gripped a fork in his hand. He took a bite from the ube mochi ice cream and closed his eyes, savouring the flavours and the chewy texture of the food. Sapphire was right beside him, watching him intently with a smile on her face.
It was weird watching him eat the mochi with a fork but knowing Ruby, it made a lot of sense for him to do that.
Dinner just ended and Ruby made sure to excuse himself and Sapphire from their parents. Although he grabbed the rest of the mochi ice cream, placed them in a tupperware, and ran off with them. The adults didn't bother and just ate the ice cream in the fridge for dessert.
Ruby took Sapphire to the cliffside of Littleroot. It had always been their favourite spot to hang out with after dinner, and that's where he continued eating the ice cream with a fork. He didn't want to dirty his fingers, after all, and he'd cuddle with his girlfriend as soon as he finished these sweet treats.
"I know you said you got the recipe online, but it's really good! Trust me!"
"Ruby, ya dummy! Don't talk when yer mouth's full!" she lightly scolded, grabbing a handkerchief and wiping some excess ice cream from his lip. This felt déjà vu-ish for the both of them; they knew this already happened before that incident. Frankly, it didn't matter. They were able to move past that and heal from it together.
He smiled, holding her hand. "I remember the first time you wiped off my messy face," he reminiscence whilst smiling. He pecked her cheek, causing them to turn red. "Thank you."
"I-I—It's fine," she responded, wiping another ice cream drip from lip. She smiled slightly. "Although I don't look the same and," a strand of hair fell, as she reached for her bangs and started fixing it. Though she only worsened it, making it frizzier. "This stupid messy hair!"
He couldn't help but gaze at her, chuckling along the way. She looked so beautiful and amusing to watch; his heart couldn't help but thump faster than ever. "I like your bushy bangs, don't worry."
She dropped her arms, pouting. "My hair's always been messy and this is the first time I tried fixin', silly."
"I know," he scooted closer, drawing their already little proximity between them. He turned his body and placed both his arms around her waist. He rested his forehead on hers. "But it's part of your charm."
She opened her mouth, but she couldn't utter a word. She closed it instead and averted her eyes from him.
"I enjoyed the food too," he added, cackling lightheartedly. "Thank you for doing this for me, love."
"I-I told ya: it's—it's nothin'," she grinned despite her flushed cheeks. "I'm just glad ya did. I was worried I'll screw 'em up since the mochi ain't that good lookin'."
He shook his head. "Maybe, but they taste good and I'm not saying this because I love you. I just...I just know these are difficult to make. Plus," he kissed her forehead. "it's the thought that counts, right?"
She gazed into his eyes and smiled meekly. "Guess so," she uttered. She could see how earnest he was and it was more than enough to make her feel better. "Happy birthday, Ruby."
The wind howled, as the night went on but neither cared and opted to focus on each other. Ruby tucked some loose strands of her brunette hair behind her ear and held her cheek. "Thank you," he replied lovingly, before capturing her lips for another kiss.
Quoting Brandon Sanderson on his Chef vs Cook video, a Chef knows what is the purpose of each ingredient and can make a dish better or improve it. A cook knows how to follow the recipe.
I always headcanon that both Ruby and Sapphire know how to cook, moreso know how to follow the recipe. I personally don't think Sapphire doesn't know how to cook all because she's "feral". She's just wild and not feral, honestly. She never knew how to behave around people since the human interaction she had for the past 6 years [also known as the time after the Salamence incident and before the 80-day bet started] is her father.
We all need to interact with different people to learn and in my opinion, Sapphire became better at socializing and knows how to act and behave around DIFFERENT people because of Ruby and their 80-day bet. Ruby and Sapphire drew wisdom from each other and therefore, they became the best version of themselves thanks to each other. This is why I think Sapphire can cook, moreso knows how to follow the recipe. Plus, I headcanon her mother died when she was young and we all know kids whose parents died take up some responsibilities like being a parental figure to their siblings [Katara to Sokka from ATLA and then Mako to Bolin from TLOK] and other household chores/responsibilities and I can imagine Sapphire doing just that.
"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale." - Uncle Iroh, [Avatar: The Last Airbender, 2005]
I headcanon that Siebold is kinda like the Gordon Ramsay of the Pokemon World except he doesn't curse [gotta keep it PG XDD] but he insults people aggressively. So aggressive that he made them cry okayno dghjhdjk
I also headcanon Lisia is horrible at cooking :'))
The part where they mentioned Sapphire's surprise birthday party "last year" is a reference from chapter 59 of this one-shot collection where it's about Sapphire's own birthday surprise party :D
I have already written Sapphire's Championship battle but I don't know when will I post it. Still contemplating when :'))
The mochi ice cream recipe was from Binging With Babish. His youtube channel is called Babish Culinary Universe. And,,, yeah, I enjoy watching his cooking videos,,,
#BringBackSapphiresBushyBangs