With Ash's newest win he strutted along the street, making me giggle as he lifted his knees high and marched into the Pokémon Centre, however he was suddenly mowed down to the ground as Brock raced up to the reception to see Nurse Joy.

"Nurse Joy, your presence is enough to overwhelm me with complete love and admiration for you! The feeling is so great that it hurts to even…ow! Ow! Not the ear!" He pleaded as Misty grabbed a hold of him and dragged him away.

"I'll show you what really hurts." She said with a growl and I smiled before turning to Nurse Joy.

"Nurse Joy? Would you mind healing my Pokémon for me please?" I asked her and she nodded her head, pulling out a tray.

"Of course! I'll have them ready to go in no time." She assured me so I left them in her care then went over to the video phone booths to make a call to Professor Oak.

"Hey Ruby! Are you calling the professor?" Ash asked as he raced over and I nodded my head.

"Sure am, I'm going to tell him the great news." I said then looked back at the screen just as Professor Oak's face appeared.

"Hello there! It's good to hear from you two so soon. I'm guessing you went to the gym in Azalea Town?" He asked and I nodded my head as Ash leaped up.

"You bet we did! We both got a Hive Badge! This gym battling stuff is turning out to be pretty easy." I smacked him on the back of the head.

"Quit it Ash, you know the battles are only going to get tougher as we go along." I told him with a roll of my eyes. "Don't get too cocky."

"I won't, I'm just saying it's going better than I thought it would." Ash said before looking back at Professor Oak. "Professor, how are all my Pokémon?" He asked and Professor Oak smiled.

"They're doing fine. Snorlax is very happy with the amount of apples we've grown in our orchard this year." The professor joked, laughing before clearing his throat. "Did Kurt tell you anything new about the G-S ball?"

"He said that the lock is very powerful and he's not sure how to unlock it yet, but he's going to work on it." I said, butting in before Ash could. "We've left it with him so he could have more time to study it but he's promised to keep you posted on his progress." I explained so the professor nodded his head.

"Very good. Ash my boy, your mother has asked me to tell you to call her the moment you get a chance. I would go do that now if I were you, I know she's been dying to hear from you." Ash balked, a guilty expression crossing over his face.

"Right! I'll do that now." He nodded then quickly moved over to another booth to call his mother so I turned back to the professor, opening my mouth to ask a question but Professor Oak jumped ahead of me.

"I know what you're going to ask Ruby. The egg is fine." He assured me, walking off camera then returned with it in his arms. "It's looking good and I don't think it'll be long until it's ready to hatch."

"That's great professor!" I beamed at him but then I registered his serious expression. "What's the matter? Has something happened professor?" He sighed, shoulders slumping before finally he looked me in the eye and answered.

"Well, it's just that a group of people came round the other day asking questions about a mysterious egg and whether or not I had found one. I told them about this one as they were very intrigued but I fear I have made a great mistake in doing so." He told me. "Because you see, last night there was a break in. Someone broke into the lab by the window and tried to make off with the egg but thankfully Muk was around. He tried to hug the stranger and in doing so, made them drop the egg and the kafuffle woke me up. When I came investigating there was no one there, but it was all caught on camera." My blood ran cold.

"So you mean someone tried to steal the egg?" I swallowed the lump in my throat, unsure of how to react. I decided to stay calm and think things through. "What are you going to do?"

"Well, I've made sure I've been locking everything up at night and Muk has rather taken it upon himself to guard the egg. I'm just worried that it may not be enough to protect it. Perhaps I should send it somewhere to be safe…"

"Send it to me." I instantly answered, putting a hard, stony yet determined expression on my face. "Send it to me and I'll keep it safe." Professor Oak didn't look so convinced.

"Ruby I know you want to protect it, but if these people find you with it then I fear they won't be easy to beat. You'll be in danger." I ignored him, shaking my head then began to speak.

"I'm going to send you Pidgeot and Bulbasaur to help you protect the egg for now. Let them travel with it and I'll pick it up again when I reach Goldenrod City at the Pokémon Centre." I told him, standing up. "Let me just go pick them up and tell them what's going on."

"Alright Ruby, if you are certain about this." I nodded my head. I wasn't so certain about anything else. I turned around and went back to the desk where Nurse Joy smiled at me.

"Your Pokémon are all fighting fit. Good luck with your next gym battle, I'm sure you'll do great!"

"Thanks Nurse Joy." I said, giving a quick smile before running back to the screen. "Okay, Pidgeot, Bulbasaur, come on out!" I called, throwing their Pokéballs up into the air then caught them again as the two Pokémon appeared. "Hey guys, I need to ask a huge favour." I said, kneeling down to cuddle Bulbasaur as he climbed into my lap with a smile.

"Bulbasaur! Bulbasaur Saur!" I chuckled, stroking his head then reached up a hand to rub Pidgeot's face as she cooed.

"You see, last night the egg was attacked and almost stolen but thankfully Muk saved the day." I said to them and they instantly listened with keen interest. "So I'm going to send you over to the professor to help him protect it, and you're going to travel with it so you can keep it safe until I can pick you all up again in Goldenrod City." I told them with a smile. "Pidgeot, I'm sending you because I know you're very strong and won't let anything happen to the egg and Bulbasuar, I know you can see very well in the dark because of your time spent in the sewers, so you'll be perfect for keeping guard at night." I said and he nodded his head seriously.

"Bulba." I hugged them both tightly one at a time. It was strange letting go of two of my Pokémon but strangest of all was Pidgeot. She's been with me every moment since I stepped out my door to start this journey, it would be almost alien to travel without her.

"I love you both. Remember that. I'm counting on you, but I know you'll both be fine." I smiled, rubbing Bulbasaur's head as he licked my cheek, making me giggle. "Okay, return now. Have a safe trip." I said, letting them back into their Pokéballs then turned to the professor. "We're ready."

"Good, just put the Pokéball in the transportation unit there and I'll receive them here." Professor Oak directed so I placed Pidgeot's Pokéball first, watching as it lit up then disappeared. "Pidgeot has been transported here safely." Professor told me, lifting up the Pokéball to show me. "And now for Bulbasaur. I must admit I've missed that little fellow. He makes excellent tea." I giggled and nodded my head, placing Bulbasaur in the little cupped hold and watched as he too disappeared. "And your Bulbasaur is here safely too. Don't worry Ruby, I'll take good care of them and by the time you reach Goldenrod City from Azalea Town, all three will be there waiting for you."

"Thanks professor. Be careful now and make sure you let the Pokémon take care of things should anything happen." I said to him. "Goodbye!"

"Take care Ruby. Don't train too hard. Remember, sometimes focussing on training too much means you lose out on all the fun, and I know how important playing with your Pokémon is to you." Professor Oak reminded me. "So make sure you set aside time to just have some fun. Bye now!" The screen went blank but I sat there for a moment, thinking things over.

I realised he was right. I was focused so much on training that I hadn't played a simple game of catch in a long time. What is wrong with me?! Well I'm going to fix that! You bet I am! "Hey Ruby! We're ready to go if you are!" Ash called from the entrance so I stood up with a smile.

"I'm ready! Let's go!" I said as I hurried over to them. We head out of Azalea Town to a view top that overlooked it as the sun began to set. It was amazing, the entire town looked like it was bathed in golden fire with the mountains peaking with a bright sheen and I couldn't help but lift up my camera and capture the moment.

"Well, looks like it's time to say goodbye to Azalea Town." Ash said as we all gazed out and appreciated the spectacular view.

"It took a long time to get here but it sure was worth the trip." Brock agreed and I sighed, breathing in the warm evening air.

"Yeah." Misty agreed. "Well, let's hit the roa-oh wait a second. Doesn't it seem like we're forgetting something?" Misty asked and I frowned in thought. What were we forgetting? It's on the tip of my mind, I can almost…argh! We all cried out at once.

"We never got our apricorn Pokéballs from Kurt!" Ash said quickly as I slapped my head. How could we forget that?!

"Ash!" I heard Maisy's voice and I turned to see her running towards us, waving. "Hi Ruby, hey Brock, Misty, how did the gym match go?" She asked and I smiled.

"It went great, thanks Maisy, we both won our Hive Badge." I told her as she reached us, gasping for breath but still smiling.

"Congratulations!" She cheered and we all smiled down at her.

"Did you come all the way out here just to congratulate us?" Ash asked her but she shook her head quickly.

"Nope! Grandpa says these are for you!" She told us then pulled out four Pokéballs and held them out to us.

"Hey look guys, Pokéballs!" Brock said and we all leaned closer to get a better look as we oohed at them, smiling at how amazing they looked.

"The one with the little bubbles is a Heavy Ball, and the greenish ones are Lure Balls. This other one is a Friend Ball." Maisy told us, describing each one so we could tell which was which.

"That's great, thanks!" Misty said as Brock smiled down at Maisy.

"It was really nice of you to come all the way out here to bring them to us." Brock told her as Misty reached out for a Lure Ball.

"I think I'm going to take a Lure Ball."

"I think I'd rather take a Heavy Ball." Brock said, taking it from Maisy's little hands so I looked at Ash.

"Do you have a preference?" I asked him but he shook his head.

"I know you would want the Friend Ball so you go ahead and have it. I'll take the other Lure Ball." He said and I beamed at him.

"Thanks Ash!" I said then took the Friend Ball with a smile. It had a green top with four red droplets dotted on the front, their points angling inwards as they were spread out in an arc with a yellow dot at the peak. I couldn't wait to capture a Pokémon with it, I wonder what Pokémon it will be? This is so exciting! "And thank you Maisy. Without you we wouldn't have been able to collect the apricorn for these amazing Pokéballs. Make sure to tell your grandpa that we're very grateful for these."

"I will. I just have one little request." Maisy said before giggling, looking away with a blush. "Can I have my picture taken with all of you?" She asked and instantly I smiled.

"Of course! Gather around guys, I'll set up the camera." I told them so they grouped together, Misty standing beside Ash with Maisy in front, hugging Pikachu and already beaming as I stood the camera up on a stand which I flipped out from its pouch, stretching out the legs then set it on a timer. "Alright guys, in five! Four! Three! Two…say Pikachu!"

"Pikachu!" We all chorused as I reached my spot and turned around, spreading out a hand and smiled at the camera as it flashed. "Thanks everyone! Ruby, will you send me the photo?" She asked and I nodded my head.

"Of course I will. Just write down your email and I'll send it to you the moment I have it downloaded onto a system okay?" I said, pulling out my notebook and checked through the addresses I had written there before finding her a slot which she scribbled down quickly.

"Thanks, good luck with your journey!" She called as I put my camera and stand away. "Goodbye!"

"Bye Maisy! See you again someday!" Misty called back as we turned and walked off into the sunset, already focused on our next battle.