Chapter Two

"When you see a Beedrill, the general idea is to run! Not to try and capture it!" Ruby shouted over the rhythmic buzzing noise coming from behind her.

"But I wanted one!" Lance complained. "And how was I supposed to know there was a flock of them?"

"Maybe fro' the buzzin' noises comin' fro' teh tree?" Everglade asked sarcastically as she bounced uncomfortably in Ruby's green and orange waist-pack.

Lance snorted quietly. Pichu had disappeared into his PokéBall, from fear, no doubt. Ruby felt a stinger graze her shoulder and she winced, stumbling and falling down on the coarse grass.

"Mateo! Use Night Shade!"

"Breon!"

Before Ruby could realize, a dark shot of black thunder shot out of the trees, making the Beedrill retreat. One was lying on the grass, injured from the attack, and Ruby threw a PokéBall weakly.

Once… Twice… and PING! The Beedrill was caught, and that was when Ruby collapsed, from the poison in its stinger.

"Ruby… Ruby… Wake up Ruby…" Ruby stirred to the familiar voice of her friend, Lance, and groaned, wishing no more to sink into this soft mattress. Wait a second. Mattress? Ruby's eyes shot open, revealing the cheerful face of her comrade, peering down at her.

"AAAH!" She screamed. It wasn't nice to wake up to someone watching you while you slept. Lance staggered back, and landed hard on the wood floor. Groaning, he rubbed his head, where Ruby had screamed in his ear.

"No need to shout, Ruby…" Lance grumbled. In through the door stepped a girl, about one year older than Ruby. She was holding a tray laden with a bowl of soup, a glass of water, and two small tablets. By her heels padded an Umbreon, dark red eyes winking at Ruby.

"Who… Who're you?" Ruby stuttered, feeling pain course through her muscles.

"Gemini. Star…" The girl replied, and seated herself next to Ruby's mattress. She laid the tray down and took the tablets. "Take these. They will help flush out the poison in your body," She said, holding out the pills and glass of water.

Ruby shakily took them from Gemini, and swallowed them in one gulp. "W-Where's Everglade?" She asked quietly.

Lance grinned, and shuffled next to Gemini. "Look…" He whispered, pointing to something under her blankets. Ruby slowly drew them back to see Everglade, sound asleep, curled up in a tight little ball. "She was really worried."

"And it's amazing she slept through your screaming." Gemini rolled her eyes as the Umbreon rubbed up against Ruby gently. "And this is my Umbreon, Mateo."

Ruby patted him. "Where are my PokéBalls?" She questioned, and realized she had had her red jacket, black sweat pants and waist-pack removed, revealing her only wearing a red t-shirt and a pair of black shorts.

Gemini nodded to Mateo, and he dashed out of the room. He came back in a second, holding the waist pack, the two full PokéBalls glittering as he passed in a sunspot.

"Thanks." Ruby took it gratefully, and opened her Skitty's PokéBall. "Go, Purel." Out of it appeared the kitten Pokémon and she blinked around drowsily. "I'm Ruby, your Trainer!"

"Skit… Skitty?" Purel yawned, and curled up next to Everglade, falling into sleep. Ruby laughed silently.

"Very impressive." Gemini nodded at the Skitty with a wry smile. "I've heard Skitty's are fairly rare around Hoenn."

Ruby blinked and nodded. Lance had released Pichu, who had taken to tossing a small silver coin up and down happily. "We should leave soon."

"As soon as she gets some rest, we'll leave!" Gemini said.

"We? Who said you were coming?" Lance asked coldly.

"Me," Gemini answered.

"She can come. I'd like to have another person…around…" Ruby slowly felt her body tip back and Gemini and Lance helped put her into the bed.

"Come on, we should leave her alone," Gemini whispered. Lance nodded, and smiled at her.

"Thanks a lot, Gemini," He muttered. With that, the two walked out the sliding door quietly.

The next day was beautiful. Bright blue skies, warm temperature, and many wild Pokémon were outside. And that's where we find Ruby, creeping up on a Poochyena who seemed to be content chewing on some food.

"Now, Everglade! Pound!" Ruby suddenly cried, causing a group of Pidgey to take flight in alarm.

Everglade dashed forward, swinging her tails and knocking the Poochyena hard in the head. She whipped around, snarling and baring her teeth, diving in for a Bite attack.

"Go! Use another Pound!" Ruby called. Everglade hit the Poochyena this time back into a tree. She groaned softly, and was hit with Ruby's empty PokéBall, and sucked in immediately.

"Very good," Gemini said, crossing her arms. Mateo watched, sitting on his haunches.

"Hey! Guys! Look!" They turned to see Lance running toward them and waving a PokéBall. "I caught an Elekid!"

Gemini raised an eyebrow. "When you already have a Electabuzz?" She asked skeptically.

"Well, I'm not going to let it evolve, after all!" Lance shuffled his feet and gave a grin.  Ruby laughed to herself and clipped her Poochyena's PokéBall onto her belt. "Come on. We're almost to Petalburg city!" She said good-naturedly.

Lance grinned and nodded, Pichu doing the same on his shoulder. "Piiiichu!" He cheered.

But then they noticed something. A beautiful glimmering blue stone, lying in the bank of a clear river. Ruby made her way over and scooped it up in her palm, turning it over curiously. "Wow… Look at this…" She said, showing it to Gemini and Lance.

"A Water Stone! They are very rare, you know… You have all the luck!" Gemini smiled at her, and Ruby put it in her waist-pack.

"Ya'll! Get ova 'ere!" Everglade called. The three ran over to see what she was talking about and saw two sleeping Eevee's, nestled together contently. Ruby and Lance nodded at each other, and tossed two PokéBalls. They instantly captured, the Eevee's being asleep after all.

"Now all I need is a Thunder Stone and I'll be able to evolve it into a Jolteon!" Lance cried happily.

Ruby nodded, and together, they walked toward Petalburg city.

"STOP! THIEF!" Cried a voice over the hustle-and-bustle of Petalburg city. The three companions instantly called forth Mateo, Eevee and Ruby's Eevee, Tsula. Ruby touched her with the Water Stone and she evolved instantly. Then Ruby put a Translator collar on her. "Be ready!" Ruby called.

Out of the crowds burst a distracted man, for he was looking over his shoulder. He didn't notice Tsula, Mateo and Eevee until it was too late. He came crashing down to the earth and a bright yellow stone rolled out of the stolen bag and accidentally touched Eevee.

"Hey?" Lance cried. Slowly, yellow light separated to reveal a Jolteon, growling at the man. "Woah!"

"Numel! Zubat! Poochyena! Go!" The Magma called, tossing three PokéBalls. Out of them appeared the Pokémon.

"Tsula! Water gun that Numel!" Ruby commanded.

"Jolteon! Use Thunderbolt on the Zubat!"

"Mateo! Use Bite on that Poochyena! And then use Night Shade!"

"Right away!" Tsula opened her mouth, and the water gun made the Numel blanch. When it came in for a headbutt, Tsula dodged easily and shot another Water gun at its side, making it fall. It struggled to its feet, but Tsula knocked it away with a powerful Water Gun.

Jolteon yelped as Zubat came in for a Wing attack. He dove, and let fly a close ranged Thunderbolt attack, making Zubat fall to the ground, twitching.

Mateo dove in, sinking his teeth into the Poochyena. When it tried to counterattack, Mateo's eyes glowed as he used Night Shade.

 The Magma stared at the Eevee evolutions as all of his Pokémon fainted. "N-No!" He cried in anguish.

"Your under arrest, Magma." Out of the crowd stepped Officer Jenny, who put handcuffs on him and led him away. But not before turning to Lance, Ruby and Gemini. "Here, you three. I want each of you to have a Growlithe. They're all trained and ready to hunt down those Magma scum."

"Thanks!" Ruby said as she clipped the PokéBall onto her belt. Officer Jenny nodded, and walked away. Ruby bent down and picked up the bag.

"My stones!" Cried a voice, and an older man ran through the crowds. He grabbed the bag from Ruby and scowled at her. "Thief!"

"We're no thieves!" Ruby growled.

"Hey, we got those back for you!" Gemini shouted, her eyes aflame.

"You should be grateful!" Lance snapped, and recalled his newly evolved Jolteon.

"And you stole one of those!" The man snarled, pointing at the used Thunder Stone on the ground.

"We did not! It rolled out of the bag! Feh! I don't need to take this! I'm out of here!" Gemini snorted, and disappeared into the crowd with Mateo at her heels. Ruby and Lance scowled at the man, and they followed their friend, Tsula close behind. Now they would have to face a adventure they would rather forget…