In the morning we set out early because we knew Ecruteak City wasn't too far away. If we hurried we could get there early morning for our gym battles. So we packed up camp, ate a large breakfast then head out on the road again with Ash talking all the while about how excited he was for his next battle, wondering what Pokémon he should use.

"What about you Ruby? What Pokémon are you using?" I thought for a moment.

"Well, I checked the guide book and it says that the gym leader here uses ghost type Pokémon, so I thought that my best chance against them would be Pokémon that are normal type. So that means I'll probably use Jigglypuff, Pidgeot and I'm not too sure about my third. I'm thinking maybe Vaporeon as it'll be good to test out her new skills in battle." I explained but Ash frowned.

"I thought Pidgeot was a flying type?" He asked so I sighed.

"She is, genius, but she's a mixed typing class. She's flying and normal, which means ghost type moves should have no effect on her." I explained. "And the same goes for Jigglypuff."

"Oh I get it. So that means you'll have a huge advantage over the gym leader with just two Pokémon, both of which are really strong." Misty said and I nodded my head. "That's good thinking Ruby, you shouldn't have too much trouble with your battle if you use that strategy."

"Thanks Misty. I thought it was a good idea." I agreed with a smile. Suddenly I looked up and found myself standing in view of a massive city, nestled neatly within a forest with the main road heading straight down towards it.

"We're finally here." Ash said with a tone of slight relief. I don't think my feet would have managed much further either, at least now we're at Ecruteek City and can relax a little.

"I can't believe it!" Misty awed over the city. Just imagine, proper beds, hot bath, real central heating…let's go already!

"That's Tin Tower!" Brock pointed towards a tall tower in the distance, surrounded by trees but also looking a little lonely, a solitary figure among much smaller subjects. "It's a famous Ecruteek City landmark. The Ecruteek gym should be pretty close by there." Brock theorised so Ash and I both smiled with focused expressions.

"Cool!" Ash looked back at Pikachu, who sat on his shoulder.

"Let's go Pikachu!"

"Pika!" Together we ran forwards, all too eager to get both of our badges by the end of the day. We entered the town then slowed our hasty pace so that Brock and Misty could catch up, seeing as we may have charged on ahead just a little too far.

"Wow, this place looks amazing." I said as I looked around me, taking in the old looking houses and buildings, all neatly arranged so that the streets were wide. "Like something out of a storybook."

"Yeah, it's pretty neat." Ash agreed as Pikachu sprang from his shoulder and jumped onto mine, pointing upwards.

"Pika Pikachu!" He called and we both followed where he was pointing to see several kites flying in the wind, one a Butterfree, another a Gyarados and the last a Haunter. "Pika…"

"You're right Pikachu, they look almost like the real thing." I agreed with a smile, watching them fly high in the wind as Brock and Misty caught up with us. "Hey guys. So which way are we going?" I asked as Brock looked down into the guide book.

"According to this it's right at the next street." He said.

"Okay then, let's go!" Ash cheered but I grabbed the back of his jacket as he began running, anchoring him in place as his feet continued to move fruitlessly.

"Hold it genius, let's wait for Brock and Misty this time." I suggested. "If you use up all your energy then you won't have enough left for your battle, so take it easy." He stopped running, blinking as if he'd just had an epiphany.

"You're right. I gotta conserve my strength." He agreed so this time, we set off at a much more regular pace. We took our time and looked around all the old fashioned buildings, glanced over a few stalls and stopped to take a deep breath outside the bakery before moving on again.

"This place is a lot older than I thought it'd be." Misty mused as we continued on our way.

"The book says Ecruteek City is steeped in history and tradition-ARGH!" We all cried out at once as an out of control Flamethrower appeared in front of us, almost burning my hair as the heat got a little too close for comfort.

"I'm just the guy you're looking for." Someone said as the flames stopped and we looked up to see a weirdly dressed man walking towards us with shades on his eyes. He was dressed up in a strange pink and blue clown costume and his cone hat stood bolt upright on his head.

"Who're you?" Misty asked in bewilderment, casting an eye over his dress up before shooting me a confused glance which I returned.

"I'm Nin Fernando, fire breathing clown and street performer extraordinaire." With that he blasted another shot of flames down at our feet, making us all leap back with a startled yell. That's just crazy? I wonder how he does it, because I seriously doubted it was real. "I surmised that you youths are visitors to our humble town." He told us and Ash blinked, impressed.

"How could you tell that?" I smacked him on the head.

"Because we look like we've been travelling for weeks on the road, rely on a good old guidebook and he's probably never seen us before in his life in this city. That enough clues for ya?" I questioned as Ash rubbed the back of his head where I'd hit him.

"No need to keep on hitting me, you could hurt my brain you know." He said with a slight pout which only made me smirk.

"I don't worry too much about damage, there's not much left up there anyway to be concerned about." He growled at me, trying to think of a comeback but then the clown breathed fire over our heads, making us quickly duck down as he demanded our attention again.

"Hey! Cool it with the fire won't you?" Misty growled dangerously at the guy who merely leaned forwards and began to whisper.

"Let me show you something you ain't going to find in no guidebook." He told us before producing two fancy looking metal rods. Ooh…shiny. "It's the last one I got left." I arched an eyebrow.

"And I'm beginning to lose my patience. We're not interested in buying crooked junk. We've got important things to do." I answered back as I stood up but Ash leaned forwards with interest.

"What is that thing?"

"This here's a treasure detector. Ecruteek is an ancient city and it's got all kinds of historical junk buried subcutaneously." I hope he knew what that word meant, otherwise I was worried. He could have used something far better without it sounding so disgusting and bringing up nasty mental images. "All you gotta do is grab these rods and walk around until you hear the big beep-beep-beep! Which means you're standing directly over something that's valuable!" Yeah, and I have a tail like Pikachu's.

"Really?" Misty asked, starting to believe this guy.

"Cross my heart and hope to…hey…why don't you buy 'em and try them out?" He suggested but for once, Ash had the right idea and did the smart thing.

"This sounds like a rip off to me." He noted as he walked off, no longer interested in the rods. Way to go Ash! Misty sighed then followed after him.

"Let's get to the gym."

"The gym?" The clown queried before laughing aloud. "The gym! That's what I forgot! The gym is the perfect place to use the treasure detector, it's built on the oldest part in the whole city!" I walked off as well, leaving Brock behind as I followed after the others but after a moment I realised he hadn't followed. "How about a demonstration?" The clown suggested but Brock merely smiled.

"Sure but only if you can find me a girlfriend." Misty walked back and grabbed Brock's ear, shooting him a look as she then dragged him away.

"He's a clown, not a magician!"

"Ah! The ear!" He yelped as she marched him away. "Take it easy it's attached to my head!" Once she let go Misty continued to march with a glare, stomping her way to the gym as she growled under her breath.

"Stupid salesman trying to target unsuspecting kids like us. It's not fair."

"Wow. Misty sure didn't like that guy trying to cheat us." Ash mused as we followed a safe distance behind Misty. Hey, when Misty is in a grump, it means she's likely to lash out or explode at any moment, so it is wiser and safer to just let her blow over.

"Well guys." Brock announced suddenly and I looked around. "This is the Ecruteek City gym!" He proclaimed and I blinked, making a slight face as I looked at the slightly worn down building.

"It is?" Ash questioned, slightly disbelieving.

"It sure looks different to all the other gyms we've been to." Misty noted as we looked around it carefully. The tower inside was burned down and it didn't look like anyone was home. Hey, wait a second, we'd seen the tower from the hill and it wasn't burned down to a cinder like this. What's going on? "Are you sure that's the gym?" Misty asked but Brock nodded his head.

"According to the guidebook it is."

"Well, then let's go check it out." Ash said before leading the way but I hung back, unsure about going inside.

"I'm not sure, it doesn't look too safe." I said and the others stopped to look back at me.

"Come on Ruby, you're not scared are you?" I glared at Ash in answer, stalking over then smacked him on the back of the head, making him yelp and collapse to the floor.

"I am not scared! I'm just concerned for my wellbeing!" I told him haughtily as I folded my arms and turned my back to him. "Can't you see how burned out that building is? It could collapse on top of us at any moment and no one would know about it because it looks like it's been abandoned for a long time. I vote we go find somewhere to eat. Pizza anyone?" I suggested hopefully but Ash shook his head as he got back to his feet.

"No way. If this is the gym then I'm going inside and getting myself a gym badge! You can stay out here if you want. Alone." He emphasised and instantly I froze in place, glancing around at the spooky trees as Ash ran on inside, Misty and Brock calling out for him to wait and think for a moment.

"Hey, don't leave me out here by myself!" I yelped and quickly ran after them, hugging my egg to me. It looked worse on the inside and as far as I could tell, there was no one else around for a gym battle. "It's been totally barbequed, what happened here?" I wondered as I turned and looked at my surroundings.

"Maybe it happened recently." Misty suggested but Brock went over to one of the wooden beam pillars with a thoughtful expression, looking at the burn marks before shaking his head.

"No, whatever happened here happened a long time ago. These scorch marks look old." Suddenly Pikachu gasped, his head snapping around to look at something and I jumped in my place at his sudden fright.

"Pikachu!"

"What is it Pikachu?" Ash asked his buddy but just then, a fire started before us, consuming the last of the cinders and turning them to soot as the flames all danced before us bright and clear. "Agh! What is that? Where'd it come from?" But I was already hightailing it out of there, grabbing Ash on the way since he just stood there.

"Run now questions later. Let's move it!" We raced out of the room and just as we entered the corridor more fire sprung up from the ground and I yelled, turning the other way to run in the opposite direction of the flames. They burst up in front, cutting us off and we stopped short.

"It's spreading fast!"

"This way!" This time Ash grabbed me and pulled me through a door which so far hadn't been touched by the fire but the moment he took a step in the dark, he fell down with a yell and we all tumbled with him, grunting and yelling as we hit each step and landed in a heap at the bottom.

I groaned, feeling several bodies lying on top of me as I was crushed into the cold ground. "Great. Old habits just never die." I winced as they all got up off of me. The egg had landed safely on the ground in front of me which Pikachu instantly leaped forwards to retrieve.

"Sorry about that Ruby, are you okay?" Brock asked as he helped me stand and Pikachu rolled the incubator and the egg back over to me.

"Pika Pika." He said as I picked it up, reaching out to tickle his belly and he instantly squealed happily.

"I'm fine, and thank you Pikachu." I assured him then looked around us. "Well, it looks like we've outrun the fire." Without warning it sprang up around us, growing bigger by the second and I yelped in alarm, veering back away from it. "Spoke too soon!"

"It's everywhere! You and your big mouth Ruby!" Ash yelled at me so I smacked him on his head.

"Quiet and get your water Pokémon!" I snapped back at him. "We'll get out using their Water Gun." Thank goodness I had Vaporeon now. "Okay Vaporeon, we need your help so come on out!"

"Totodile!"

"Staryu!" Ash and Misty called as our Pokémon all appeared, standing in line before we all chorused together. "Put out that fire!" All three Pokémon took a deep breath then shot their Water Gun attack at the flames, dousing them completely but it didn't seem to have any effect at all, the flames only seemed to grow bigger!

"It's not doing anything." Misty gasped but Ash just clenched his jaw in determination.

"Get closer Totodile!" Totodile walked over to a cluster of flames and spouted a closer range attack only with the same result, however Totodile then stopped and blinked, stepping even closer to the flames then put his hands in. "Totodile look out!" Ash tried to warn but the little Pokémon merely leaped into the fire then…began to dance in it. Huh?

"Vaporeon, are the flames even hot?" I asked her, walking over and together we put a hand and a tail into the fire only to find it perfectly cool. Oh, so that's why we haven't been overheating. "Guys, the flames aren't even warm, it's like touching air." I said in confusion but then Misty gasped.

"So this is all just an illusion?" That makes sense, otherwise I'm pretty sure we'd be barbeque kebabs by now.

"This is a job for Noctowl." Ash announced with a smirk. "Go Noctowl!" Noctowl appeared in the air, flapping his wings as sparkles danced off his feathers. "Noctowl use your Foresight." Ash directed and Noctowl instantly flew around the room with glowing eyes, shining a bright beam on the fire to reveal a hoard of Gastly surrounding us. "Look guys, Gastly!"

"They're the ones creating the illusion!" Brock realised as I glared at them then shook my fist.

"You guys could have really hurt us with your dirty tricks, that's not nice!" Suddenly they began to shoot through the air and flew dangerously close to us, almost as if they were trying to push us away.

"What are they doing?" Misty yelped, leaping to the side to avoid one getting too close.

"I don't know but I think they want us to get out of here!" Brock answered and I gave a wry laugh.

"That's fine with me!" I replied as a Gastly close to me shot a dark beam down at my feet, forcing me to leap back but then Vaporeon leaped out in front of me, glaring up at the Gastly as she stood to protect me.

"Poreon! Va….poreon!" She cried then began to shoot a multitude of fast hitting bubbles up at the Gastly, hitting them all in the face and knocked them back as they got too close.

"Alright Vaporeon! You nailed that Bubblebeam!" I cheered her as she leaped forwards and attacked again as the Gastly got too close. Finally the Gastly began to retreat, fading out of sight into the walls and left us alone. I turned to Vaporeon who looked around me with a hopeful smile. "Vaporeon, you rule." I said to her as I knelt down and let her leap into my arms though she was careful of the egg. "You saved the day!"

"At least they've gone now." Ash said but then Misty shrieked.

"Argh! I wouldn't be too sure, look!" We all turned to see the Gastly coming back, only this time with Haunter at their side as well, all of them looking pretty angry and miffed that we'd invaded their home. "Haunter…" Misty gulped as she took a step back.

"They just got reinforcements. Pikachu, use your Thundershock!" Ash called, trying to warn off the ghost Pokémon but as Pikachu sent the attack out they disappeared from sight, appearing and reappearing at their leisure but each time in a different place. "It's no use!"

"They've got us surrounded." Misty worried, clutching Togepi close to her.

"Ruby, try and talk to them!" Brock said to me. "Maybe if you can connect with at least one of them, they'll listen to us!" I nodded my head as Vaporeon stood between my legs, head lowered and ready to fight.

"Got it." I nodded my head then put the egg down for Vaporeon to watch over. I took a deep breath and punched my fists together in front of me, clearing my mind of all thoughts as I then pushed out my aura. Ever since that run in with Rhodri, I'd learned what it was I'm able to use and see. Aura. I hadn't told the professor that I knew, however I had been trying to harness it recently, though I hadn't had much luck. It seems to be an on the whim thing.

Suddenly I felt anger, letting me know instantly that I was connecting with some of the Gastly and Haunter, if not all of them. They were angry. Very angry. "They do not want us here." I began haltingly, struggling to be of two minds, half conscious and half unconscious. It was difficult to find the middle ground but somehow I was managing at the moment. "They think we are here to hurt them, invade their home." I explained and the others all blinked. "They are angry that we have disturbed them."

"I get it now. Since this place is abandoned, they've made it their home." Brock said as I tried to quell the anger and replace it with peace. In my mind I began to use my aura to carry the waves, helping to relax the ghost Pokémon so that they were able to listen.

We aren't here to hurt you. We didn't know that this place was your home and we are sorry for trespassing. Please do not be angry, it is just a mistake. I tried to tell them, but some were too angry to listen, thinking that I was just lying to get away without punishment so I took a deeper breath then exhaled slowly. My name is Ruby and I promise not to hurt any of you now that I know what it is you want. I am sorry my Vaporeon attacked but she thought I was in danger. She was only protecting me.

This seemed to ease them a little, slowly beginning to think things through. "What's happening now Ruby?" Ash asked me but then saw that I was beginning to tremble and grit my teeth, my mind beginning to ache at the pressure of communing with so many Pokémon at once. "Ruby!"

"Ruby you have to stop now, before you get hurt!" Brock ordered, trying to shake me out of it. With a gasp I forced the connection to shatter, crying out in alarm before collapsing however good old Brock was there to catch me, lowering down to the floor as I shivered from the cold, though I was sweating buckets. "Ruby, you're burning up. I shouldn't have asked you to try something so risky." He said to me gently as Misty and Ash both crowded around.

"Is Ruby going to be okay?" Ash asked as Vaporeon climbed up then rested her head on me, whimpering with worry as I continued to shake. My heart powered forwards, hammering in my chest as I suddenly felt sick to the stomach, the after effect of being linked to so many auras and trying to overcome such a powerful emotion having taken its toll on me.

"Guys look! It's a Gengar!" Misty suddenly cried and I looked to see the Pokémon watching us with bright red eyes and a skin crawling grin. Ash instantly leaped out in front of us with Pikachu, standing right in front of Brock and I to shield us.

"Quick Pikachu, use your Thunder…"

"Stop." Someone commanded and I groaned slightly as Brock pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around me, but then looked up to the man who stood at the top of the stairs. He was young, probably not much older than Brock and he wore a blue headband in his sandy blond hair with a matching shirt. The Gastly and Haunter instantly shot over to him, looking up as the Gengar followed. "Please understand, these Pokémon are not trying to harm you. They're only trying to defend themselves against your intrusion." I gave a weak roll of my eyes.

"D-didn't…I j-j-just say so?" I chattered, still shivering from the cold and the drained sensation fell over my body again as Brock continued to hold me in his arms, trying to nurse me as Vaporeon stood guard, glaring up at the ghost Pokémon.

"Who are you?" Ash demanded hotly but in answer, the guy flung out a hand and all the ghost Pokémon instantly disappeared. All save for the Gengar who stood at the bottom of the stairs as the newcomer descended them.

"My name is Morty. I'm the Ecruteak gym leader." He informed and I just about died on the spot. Oh great, that's just perfect. He's the gym leader, and I'm wrapped up like a Metapod in its cocoon because I'd got too ahead of myself. "I see your friend doesn't look too well." In answer I began to struggle to my feet, making Brock leap to his feet with a worried sound.

"Take it easy, you overdid it this time." I shook my head, managing to find my balance.

"I'm fine." I told him, clenching one fist then pointed at Morty as I now held my egg in the other. "I'm Ruby Bates and I'm here to challenge you to a gym match, and so is my friend Ash Ketchum." I declared, keeping the shakiness out of my voice but then my knees buckled and Brock had to sit me down again.

"Just rest a bit, let the shock wear off." I nodded my head with a sigh. Doesn't look like there's much else I can do.

"I'll be glad to battle you when you're well enough, Ruby, but this isn't the place or time." Misty and Ash looked around them, taking in all the destruction before she looked at Morty.

"What is this place?" She asked him and I saw him lower his head in sadness.

"Once it was a place of brightness and hope, but now it's a place of darkness. That's why so many ghost Pokémon have come to live here." He explained to us all.

"So this is their home. You were right Ruby." Misty said to me and I smiled.

"I'm always right. I'm Ruby." I replied with a shrug as Vaporeon settled in my lap and nuzzled against me as Brock put the blanket back around me.

"Maybe we should get you to a hospital. You seem a little feverish." Brock suggested to me but I shook my head.

"Nah, I'll be fine. All I need is a good gym battle to set me back to my old self." I tried but for some reason, Brock didn't buy it.

"You're shivering but you're starting to burn up. I don't like it." He told me but I brushed it off. Thankfully, Ash came to my rescue when he noticed a plaque with a picture of a Pokémon carved into its surface hanging on the wall.

"Argh! What is this?!" He demanded, running over to it to get a closer look so I got up and followed, smiling at Vaporeon as she nudged into my legs to help keep me stable. When I reached the carving I saw a large bird Pokémon with a large, many feathered tail, long neck and distinctive features.

"That's a Ho-oh, a legendary Pokémon." Morty explained as Ash stared up at it.

"It may be legendary, but I saw one." He declared and I blinked at him.

"You mean this is the bird you saw? On your first day as a Pokémon trainer?" I blinked. Ash had told me all about it and I believed him, because Ash was many things but a liar was definitely not one of them, however Morty didn't seem to agree with me.

"I doubt it. You must have seen some other Pokémon." We both whirled around and glared at Morty as he looked down at us with a condescending expression. Urgh I hate it when people treat us like kids!

"I know what I saw! Why'd you say it must be some other Pokémon?" Ash demanded to know as Morty wore the same expression.

"Because, Ho-oh vanished from the world a long time ago Ash. They haven't been seen for three centuries." Ash blinked in surprise. "There's another building called the Tin Tower which is just a short distance away from where we are now."

"We know about it, we saw it on the way over here." Brock said as Vaporeon tried to urge me to sit down, tugging on my trousers so I sighed and complied, letting her fuss over me as I smiled to her but listened to the conversation.

"That tower is actually a copy. This is the original Tin Tower." Morty revealed and my mouth dropped open slightly. So this had been the original Tin Tower? That explains a little I guess.

"What happened to this tower?" Ash asked so Morty continued to explain.

"It was built to promote understanding between humans and Pokémon, and my ancestors protected it for generations. Over the decades, the Tin Tower became known as a special place for another reason. It was the only place on earth where Ho-oh, the legendary Pokémon, made contact with humans. Ho-oh's visits were a sign of peace, but it would only appear to a chosen few. Only to those guarding the tower." Morty told us and I tried to imagine meeting a real Ho-oh, but was unable to really comprehend how amazing it would be. It would be the greatest honour to meet such a legendary Pokémon.

"But then one day, invaders came who sought to use the Ho-oh's power for evil. In the ensuing battle the Tin Tower was set afire. The Ho-oh fled and ceased to make contact with humans, and it has never returned." I could tell how much this story meant to Morty by how the emotion expressed itself through his words. It was sad to think that humans were still screwing up three hundred years ago like they are now. "Some wanted to rebuild the tower, but my ancestors insisted that it be left as a witness for future generations of man's brutality. But they also decided to build a new Tin Tower. Their hope was that the Ho-oh might return to a new place of peace. So far, these hopes have been in vain. We've waited so long that some people say that Ho-oh is a legend that never really existed." That set off Ash's spark.

"But I know I saw it! I know I did!"

"I'm sorry Ash, but it's impossible." Feeling my own spark crackle I stood up, stepping in front of Morty and jabbed my finger into his chest.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I do know Ash and he is not a liar, I've never heard him lie all the time I've travelled with him, so if he says he saw a Ho-oh then that means he saw a Ho-oh. It doesn't matter that everyone else may say they don't exist, or that they can't be back just because they haven't seen them and you can't either! Even if you haven't seen a Ho-oh with your own eyes, doesn't mean you should give up believing that one day they will return to the tower, or maybe they'll just show themselves to people they choose to let see them, because that way no one will try and hurt them again. You got it, Bucky?" Morty stepped back in surprise, a little overwhelmed.

"Well…yes. But my name is Morty." I sighed and shook my head.

"It was a play on words….never mind. Can we just get out of here please? I'm freezing and could really do with some hot cocoa."

"You need a doctor Ruby. I'm worried you might have made yourself ill." Brock said to me but I was already marching towards the stairs.

"I'm fine, really!" I promised with a smile. "There's no need to…woah!" I yelled, catching my foot on the large blanket and tripped, succeeding only in falling backwards and was crash landing for the ground seeing as I had no hands free to regain my balance.

"Hold on!" Morty suddenly sprang forwards and managed to catch me, helping to steady me as I blinked then looked away quickly with a blush.

"Well this is embarrassing. Maybe you should have just let the floor swallow me." He gave a soft chuckle, picking up the blanket then set it a little neater on my shoulders.

"Come on, I'll show you guys the way out, then we'll get you some help." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder then began to help me back up the stairs, however I heard Ash mutter under his breath.

"It'll take a lot of help to ever set that one to normal."

"I heard that Ash Ketchum! You wait till we get out of here, I'll show you clinically insane!" And that's where Brock cut in.

"Alright calm down. Let's just get out into the sun then see how you are Ruby. If you need to go to the hospital then that's where we'll go, your gym battle will have to wait." Shock and horror struck my heart.

"No! I have to battle! No fair Brock!" But he wouldn't change his mind, so I focused on just simply gaining back my ability to walk by myself. The drained and heavy sensation in my limbs seemed to have cleared up a lot and I didn't feel sick anymore, though I was cold.

When we got outside Brock instantly checked my temperature. Frowning in thought as I gave a hopeful smile. "Gym battle?" I asked but he shook his head.

"No." Darn it! "Your temperature is still a little high and you look exhausted. I think you should get some rest at the Pokémon Centre and then battle tomorrow if you're feeling better." Hmm…maybe Brock has a point. If I sleep now, I can rest up and have an awesome battle tomorrow. Sighing in defeat I nodded my head.

"Okay. I'll go get some rest." I agreed but then turned to Ash. "You have a great battle Ash, I know you'll do great." I said to him and he nodded his head.

"I will, I'll make sure to battle extra hard for you. I'll make Morty feel like he's battling twice what he normally does." Nodding my head with a smile I turned and began to walk away, Vaporeon walking at my side and Brock on my other.

"I'll come back and watch your battle once I've made sure Ruby's alright." Brock called over his shoulder to Ash who laughed and waved.

"Make sure she doesn't walk into the bedpost again!"

"Ketchum! You better watch it!" I yelled back but he was already running and laughing away towards the other Tin Tower and to his next gym battle. Oh well, I'll get him later.