During our hasty race to Cinnabar Island we had stopped at a Pokémon Centre where Nurse Joy had taken a look at Charmeleon. "He's a healthy and well taken care of Pokémon, so I fully expect him to recover." Nurse Joy said to me. "You have nothing to worry about." I exhaled with relief. "Just don't use it for anymore battling unti you reach Cinnabar where the hot springs and heat of the volcano can help it to revitalise its strength and fire but until then, give him a spoon full of this medicine a day in the evening until he fully recovers." She continued to explain, handing me back Charmeleon's Pokéball and a bottle of medicine which I took gratefully. "And ensure you give it spicy food to eat, it'll help kickstart its immune system and maybe stoke the flames a little, its nothing to worry about at all, so don't worry about a thing!" She told me brightly and I never felt happier to hear anything in my life.

"Thanks Nurse Joy." I smiled to her then blinked as Brock reached out and clasped her hand.

"Oh Nurse Joy, your name is so perfect for you and me, for you bring me the greatest joy I could ever possibly feel!" Brock declared but then Misty grabbed his ear and dragged him away.

"I'll tell you what gives me joy, keeping you from embarrassing all of us!" I giggled, waved to Nurse Joy then left the Pokémon Centre.

"Hey, we're pretty close to Grampa Canyon." Ash said, pointing to the map. "How about we take a look?" He suggested but then gulped. "Oh wait, we have to get to Cinnabar Island."

"Actually, Nurse Joy says it isn't that bad." I said to Ash with a smile. "It's nothing to worry about and that I was just panicking. She's given me some medicine for Charmeleon so he'll be better in no time. If you want to see Grampa Canyon then I would too, I've always wanted to see it and it's right on the way to Cinnibar anyway, so let's go!"

We all rushed to Grampa Canyon, eagerly smiling as we waited to see its spectacular views. We followed the signs to the canyon but stopped when we saw a long line of diggers heading in the same direction we were. "Hey! What's going on down there?" Ash asked aloud, all of us blinking curiously. "I wonder what they're doing with all those picks and shovels."

"Don't you know anything?" A voice barked and we all looked to the left to see an Indiana Jones wannabe standing there, pickaxe in hand. Gary Oaks. Bleh! "Ash, not only late as usual but clueless too!"

"Hey it's Gary!" I shot Ash a blank look.

"Really? I han't noticed under all the stupid costume he's wearing." I said sarcastically and Ash snorted with laughter before pointing to him.

"Why're you dressed like that?"

"Ha! Don't tell me you've never heard of the Pokémon discovery, even a total nerd like you should have heard about the great fossil rush!" Gary said smugly and we all repeated after him like parrots.

"The great fossil rush?"

"Gary, Gary he's our man! If he can't find 'em no one can!" Oh great, the cheerleaders are back.

"You still parading around with that troupe?" I asked him, folding my arms as Eevee nestled on my shoulder. "Looks like some tired old things just never go away." He shot me a look.

"Love to stay and chat but I've gotta go, I've gotta find those fossils before anyone else does!" I arched an unimpressed eyebrow at him.

"How noble of you." Ash and the others all choked on their supressed laughter, trying to hide behind their hands at my deadpanned sarcasm but Gary merely smirked.

"Well I can't just hang around here with two losers like you!" Hey! No fair! Both Ash and I dove after him but Brock and Misty held us back.

"Guys! Take it easy!"

"Agh! That know it all!" Ash ground out and I folded my arms in irritation.

"He's just a big jerk, Ash, he's not worth it really." I told him then smirked. "Althoguh if we were to be the ones to find some fossils first then I definitely wouldn't mind shoving that in Gary's face!" Ash punched the air, joining my side.

"Yeah! I'm going to find a Pokémon fossil before Gary even starts digging! That'll show him who the real loser is!"

"Hmm…" Brock murmured, thinking to himself before speaking. "I don't feel right about digging up old Pokémon fossils, especially if they've been resting in the earth for such a long time."

"If they've been lying in the earth for thousands of years, maybe they'd like a little fresh air." Misty suggested and I smiled.

"Exactly! And if you don't feel comfortable Brock, then just don't dig." I winked to him. "Ash and I'll show that Gary who the reall heroes of Pallet Town are!" Ash, however, merely rubbed the back of his head with a cheeky grin.

"I think its Misty's brain that needs a little fresh air." She shot him a filthy look as I clapped him on the back of the head as we both snapped at him.

"Who asked you?" Ash yelped and ran away from us.

"Wargh! Let's go check it out huh?" He yelled and Misty and I both glanced at one another.

"You're not getting away Ash Ketchum, you still owe me a new bike!" Misty yelled and I giggled. Are they still going on about that? Wow, Misty can really hold a grudge. Brock and I chased after them and we looked down into the canyon to see hundreds of people dotted around the place hammering the earth away looking for fossils.

"Wow, look at all the people digging!" Ash breathed as we joined up with him again.

"We'd better hurry before all the fossils are dug up." Misty agreed as Brock rubbed his chin.

"All these people digging yet nobody's found any fossils yet. I wonder if this great fossil rush is really for real." He had a point, it looks like this place has been dug through for years now. Surely they would have found more than just a few fossils by now?

"Sure it is." Ash answered and I shook my head slightly. Poor Ash, still young and naïve yet innocently so. It was kind of sweet.

"What's taking those two so long?!" A familiar catty voice complained and we all looked around in surprise. "Humans. The only thing you can depend on is that their always independable." Was that Meowth? What was he doing here? Moreover, where were those two goons Jessie and James?

"Tadah!" There you go, right on cue. They leaped out from behind a rock then in unison struck a pose whilst sitting on it. "Prepare for trouble."

"And make it double." James answered, eyes closed as he bowed his head dramatically into a rose. How was that thing still alive? Did he pick fresh ones every time those morons cooked up a new plot or was it fake?

"To protect the world from devestation…" Not this again! Please, someone make it stop, MAKE IT STOP! Thankfully, Meowth answered my prayers. Before they had even finished he whacked them both on the heads with a yell.

"Cut the power tree! I bet you clowns didn't even plant the dynamite like you were supposed to!" Meowth gave away the plan in one perfect sentence. They were going to blow up Grampa Canyon! Just for some old rocks? Jeez, these guys really were desperate.

"Argh! Wrong again furball!" Jessie snapped then kicked Meowth into a rock, causing a dent where his form slammed into the surface and it remained there even after he slid down to the ground. "Of course we planted the dynamite.

"Once we blow up Grampa Canyon, we'll be able to scoop up all those Poké Fossils!" James finished brightly, seemingly pleased with himself. Meowth leaped up from the ground with an angry wail, kicking up his feet and flailing his arms.

"Next time I'll make fossils out of you!"

"Did you hear that?" Misty gasped. "They're going to blow up the whole canyon!"

"And all the people digging are going to get caught in the blast!" Brock added and my face dropped with worry. Gary was down there? Hold up, maybe thay's not such a bad thing…oh who am I kidding, not even Gary deserves to be blown up like that, even if he is an idiotic creep.

"Pikachu and I will stop it, you two spread the word to run for it, there's no time to lose!" Ash ordered and I picked up Eevee and handed her to Misty.

"Take Eevee, I'll go help Ash!" I said to her the same time Brock called out and turned to run.

"Let's go!" Turning around I raced after Ash, catching up with him easily and we watched Meowth held a lighter in one hand and a fuse in the other. Okay, I knew these guys were bad and sometimes a little stupid, but I didn't realise they were this dumb!

"Hold it right there!" Ash called and I stood at his side, putting an unafraid and confident mask on my face.

"Oh it's those pests again!" James complained and Jessie turned around with a sharp glare.

"Always messing up out plans!"

"But this time, they're too late, the fuse is already lit!" Meowth crowed and I gasped, inching forwards slightly as I saw that the fuse was already running away from us.

"Woah! We've gotta stop them! Squirtle! I choose you!" Ash yelled and flung out his Pokéball, releasing Squirtle who leaped out with an excited call, ready to battle. "There's no time to lose, Squirtle squirt out that fuse!" Ash called and I looked at him quickly.

"Nice rhyming Ash." I said to him then watched as Squirtle began to spit out shots of water attacks, trying to hit the fuse but it snaked out of his reach then slipped down over the side of the cliff. "We can't let those explosives go off!"

"Squirtle, after it!" Ash yelled and we all raced forwards.

"Keep trying to hit it Squirtle!" I called as I ran forwards with Ash. Squirtle leaped over the side of the cliff and rode down on his shell, calling out slightly in surprise as he was tossed into the air upon the rise.

"Go Arbok!" Jessie yelled and I gasped, looking over my shoulder as I slid down the cliff after the others.

"Wheezing go! Keep that fuse lit!" Uh oh, this is big trouble made double! I chased after the boys, clenching my fists as I ran with Team Rocket hard on our heels. "Hurry Weezing, don't let themput out the fuse!"

"Move it Arbok!"

"You can do it Squirtle!" I encouraged as we snaked our way lower and lower into the coanyon. Ash and I hurried after Squirtle, hearts racing.

"We're not gonna make it!" Ash yelped.

"Just keep going!" I called back but then looked behind me. "Wargh! Look out!" I yelled as a Team Rocket boulder ball came tumbling after us, a mix of human limbs and Pokémon. Suddenly it slammed into us and both Ash, Pikachu and Squirtle into the mix then dragged me into it to. "Ow! This hurts!" I yelled as I was crushed into the ground repeatedly.

We bumped and bounced, all of us grunting in pain before finally, we crashed onto flat ground. Groaning I slumped into the gorund, flattened by everyone else as I was, of course, once again at the bottom. "My back is never going to be the same again." I moaned, wriggling to get free.

"Oh no the dynamite!" Ash yelled and instantly I scrambled harder.

"Stop that fuse someone!" I yelled and Pikachu stood up.

"PIka-CHUUU!" Anybody but Pikachu, that is. The electric attack shot up the wire and overrode the lit fise, hitting the dynamite and Pikachu looked at us proudly. "Chu!" Suddenly the dynamite exploded into a bright flash of white and yellow, beams of light shining upwards into the sky before everything exploded outwards.

Without warning the ground split open and everyone began to fall down but upon blind instinct I grabbed onto the side and clung on for dear life. "Ash! Grab on!" I yelled, stretching out my hand as I saw him fall.

"Ruby!" He yelled, reaching out and our fingers brushed but he slipped out of my grip and he fell into the darkness.

"Ash! No! Ash, Pikachu, Squirtle!" I yelled as they disappeared from view. Something rumbled and I looked up with a gasp to see the part of the cliff beginning to collapse. "Uh oh." I hauled myself up over the side, swinging my leg up then began to roll over the ground as quickly as I could to get out of the way as the rockslide rumbled down into the deep.

A large burst of dust rose up and I coughed, spluttering on the dry taste until it cleared. "Squirtle…"

"Oh! Squirtle!" I gasped then ran over to him as he pulled himself out of the rubble. I gripped onto him then lifted him up, holding him in my arms to make sure he was okay. "I've got you now." I assured him then looked around as Brock called out.

"Ruby!" I turned to face them, a look of panic on my face.

"Ash and Pikachu fell! They're under all those rocks!" They reached my side and we all looked down at the rock collapse. Eevee leaped out of Misty's arms and into my own and I hugged her tightly, rubbing my face into her fur.

"Vee!"

"This is a disaster!"

"We've got to get them out!" Nodding my head I leaped onto the rock pile and together we began to shift the rocks. Putting Eevee safely on the ground I then turned and began to help move the rocks. I grunted, shifting away all the rocks I could though my fingertips began to tear and bleed.

"What happened here?" Officer Jenny demanded as she came running towards us and we all whirled around to face her.

"Team Rocket blew up the canyon!" Misty told her and Brock quickly put in.

"Ash must be trapped under these boulders, you've got to help us!"

"The bulldozers can't make it down here!" She said to us. "We'll have to dig by hand, I'll go get some help!" She turned and began to run back to the dig site to round up some volunteers. We were all filthy and grimy, covered in dust from the rocks.

"Go Geodude!" Brock yelled and the rock Pokémon appeared from his Pokéball. "Geodude! Help us shift this pile of rocks!" Brock called and the Pokémon lifted up his arms.

"Dude! Geo-dude!" He began as he shifted rocks much faster than any of us could naturally. Soon we were all glistening with sweat as we foraged down into the rocks.

"Listen Ash, you'd better hold on!" Misty grunted as she flung another rock away. "Don't forget you still owe me a new bike!" I gave a wry grin before grunting as I tried to shift another heavier rock.

"Ash! Can you hear us?" I called down as Squirtle worked beside me. Suddenly people came pouring into the lower part of the canyon, carrying their pitchforks and shovels. "Over here! Come on, put your backs into it!" Gary leaped over the side and landed next to me, turning quickly to face me.

"Officer Jenny told us what happened, are you okay?" I blinked at him then nodded.

"I'm fine, but Ash is trapped down there." Gary gave a small smile and a nod before lifting his pitchfork then struck down into the rock as the others did the same.

"Ash!

"Hey Ash!" Suddenly I heard a voice call back, though the words were muffled and hardly audible.

"Get us…ere…nd hurry!" Suddenly there was a yell and I looked as the rocks began to give way.

"Hurry Squirtle!" I yelled, picking him up then flung him over to Brock who caught him as I jumped on the falling rocks, scrambling to get to the side.

"Ruby!" Gary suddenly slammed into me and together we hit solid surface, his arms wound around me. Okay, I'm getting a little tired of him saving me all the time, this is ridiculous! Though I am not complaining, I would really rather not die or be crushed to death by those rocks. Gary was up on his feet, pulling me with him by my hand to get free from the collapse.

Eevee jumped into my arms and I exhaled with relief. "At least you're okay." I murmured softly and she nuzzled her nose into mine.

"Vee…Vee…"

"Over here!" Misty yelled and I turned to see her so I quickly whipped my hand out of Gary's. The dust cleared and before anyone could take a breath, a large shape shot out from underneath the ground. Was that a dinosaur? Suddenly Charmeleon and Pikachu landed in front of us, wincing slightly.

"Charmeleon!"

"Pikachu!"

"Where's Ash?" Pikachu shook himself off then pointed upwards to the supposedly extinct Pokémon. Hey, was he carrying something? Or…someone! It's an Aerodactyl! And it's got Ash! This is not good, that Aerodactyl is looking at Ash as it it's his next meal.

"Jigglypuff!"

"Huh?" I looked around to see a Jigglypuff running towards some high beam lights eagerly.

"Jigglypuff! Jiggly Jiggly Jigglypuff!"

"Hey there's Jigglypuff!" Brock exclaimed and we all stared as the pink puffball ran towards the lights.

"I wonder what it's doing here." Misty questioned but then gasped. "Oh! I get it!" She ran forwards to its side then turned back to us. "It wants to sing! I'll get Jigglypuff to sing to Aerodactyl" Hey, was this the same Jigglypuff they had been telling me about before?

"Great idea!" Brock agreed and Misty turned to the Jigglypuff who had inflated itself to glare at Misty.

"Jigglypuff, if you help us out now then we'll listen to your song later as much as you want." Enthralled by the bargain, Jigglypuff nodded its head.

"Jigglypuff!"

"Argh! Somebody get me down!" Ash yelled and I turned, running to his Charmeleon's side. Charmeleon growled then blew a Flamethrower in irritation, unable to reach the Aerodactyl. I heard Ash had been having some troubles with his Charmeleon but it looked on ball now. Looking up I blinked as Aerodactyl then pulled a face at Charmeleon who pounded his feet angrily.

"Char Char Char-MEEE!" Suddenly its body began to glow bright white and I gasped.

"Hey! You're evolving! Ash take a look at this!" I yelled as Charmeleon began to grow in size and sprouted large wings. The Charizard lifted its great head and spread its wings, opened its mouth to roar then let out a powerful Flamethrower. Sweet! "Alright Charizard!" I cheered, leaping up and punching the air with Eevee still in my arms and she cheered too.

"Vee!"

"Charizard, you have to save Ash before Aerodactyl makes him his dinner!" I called to Charizard who looked down at me. "Now you have wings, let's see them in action!" Charizard roared in agreement then spread his wings, rising up with a powerful flap of his newly grown wings.

Hugging Eevee to me I watched with open motuh as Charizard rose up into the sky, soaring overhead then dove straight for Aerodactyl, who was looking down at Ash ready to gobble him up with some hot sauce.

"Vee?" She whined and I nuzzled into her.

"Ash will be okay Eevee, Charizard will rescue him." I assured her gently as Charizard used Flamethrower to try and strike Aerodactyl who rose up and began to avoid the attacks. "You can do it Charizard!" I cheered and just then, Charizard opened his powerful jaws and a plume of fire shot out, however, instead of hitting Aerodactyl, it swallowed Ash. Oops.

"Pika Pi!"

"Careful Ash!"

"Pretty soon Ash is going to be too overcooked for Aerodactyl to eat!" Brock watched the aerial fight whilst Misty ran forwards to turn on one of the lamps.

"Hurry Jigglypuff, sing us your slumber song!"

"Jiggly!" The little pink puffball bodded its head then turned out towards the people to sing.

"Charizard cover your ears!" I yelled then did the same for myself, Eevee using her little paws to flatten down her ears. Jigglypuff began to sing and it was a very pretty sound, very meresmatic and calming however I tried to push the sound out of my mind, focussing upwards.

Ash was the first to slump, falling asleep from the sound and tehn Aerodactyl began to lower its altitude, losing its focus. He'd better hurry and let go of Ash or this is just going to go from bad to worse. Slowly Aerodactyl's eyes closed and finally he let go of Ash, who dropped like a stone through the air.

I held my breath, watching with trepidation as Ash descended. Charizard suddenly swooped down, changing targets to catch Ash as Aerodactyl fell down through the air, asleep and unresponsive. It tumbled down through the crevasse which Team Rocket had created and after a few moments of it being in darkness, there was a mighty crash and the rocks slid once more to hide the gap. Good riddance.

Charizard landed and finally caved in to Jigglypuff's song, collapsing and falling asleep with Ash rolling off his back. Jigglypuff held out her last note and I let go of my ears, forcing myself to stay awake as it then opened its eyes and looked around. "Puff?"

"Yay! Go Jigglypuff!" I cheered then clapped my hand, putting my sleeping Eevee down on the ground for a moment. Applauding Jigglypuff she blinked then beamed proudly, holding up her arms then began to bow, a natural star. "You were amazing Jigglypuff, really!"

"Puff! Jigglypuff Puff!" She waved her hand in mock modestly, looking away then glared at everyone else. "Puff!" They were fast asleep on the ground, snoring or mumbling softly and I laughed.

"Don't mind them, Jigglypuff, they obviously can't appreciate a good concert when there's one right in front of them." Jigglypuff took off the cap to her microphone to reveal a pen and she hopped off her stand then went over to Ash and drew on his face.

I giggled, turning around as I watched her go from person to person and drew black markings on their faces. My foot nudged someone and I looked down, blinking when I found Gary, curled up like a baby on the ground.

Slowly lowering myself I giggled again at the markings on his face then took his arm to tuck it under his head as it was awkwardly twisted underneath him. I paused, looking down at him then sighed. Shaking my head then stood up, going back to Eevee then picked her up, letting her sleep in my arms.

One by one everyone awoke, blinking in confusion, speculating on what had happened. Had it been a dream? As everyone whispered and tried to figure out the truth, Jenny smartly stood up on a rock to seriously address the crowd, though I couldn't help but giggle at Jigglypuff's handiwork.

"Some of you are claiming that you saw a prehistoric Pokémon here in the canyon. That is ridiculous." She called out and everyone turned to look and listen. "Let me assure you it was only a dream caused by Jigglypuff's song. I must also announce that due to the danger of further cave collapses, no more digging will be permitted." At least that will keep the tourists away from the Pokémon down beneath our feet.

"That Aerodactyl sure didn't seem like a dream." Gary mused but then his cheerleaders chanted out.

"Gary dreams the best! Better than the rest! He's the best from east to west!" He paused then shrugged.

"Guess they're right." I face palmed, shaking my head. Was there no hope for the human race? Still I think it's time we started moving out. Turning around I smiled and nodded to the others as they wiped their faces.

"Hey, how come you didn't get drawn on?" Ash asked, pointing to my face and I smirked.

"Because I didn't fall asleep." I answered him then laughed quietly. "Besides, I'm used to my mom and dad listening to classical music all the time since I was little. It doesn't really send me to sleep anymore as it used to as I'm used to it." Stepping towards them I gave another bright smile. "Shall we get going?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here." Misty agreed. We turned and all began to walk away but I paused and looked back to Gary.

"Hey Gary?" He looked around to me, waiting for me to finish but I honestly didn't know what to say. Settling on a smile and a victory sign, I then turned and followed after the others. We got safely out of the canyon at Jenny's hurried direction then continued down our path towards Cinnabar Island.

"Hey, where did Jigglypuff go?" Ash asked, looking around.

"Don't tell me you were hoping for an encore?" Brock laughed and Ash turned back to us.

"It deserved to at least take a bow."

"Don't worry Ash." I grinned. "It took lots of bows whilst you were all sleeping." Ash grinned then looked up to the sky with a sigh.

"Jigglypuff and Charizard really saved the day this time." Misty lifted a finger with an impressed smile as she spoke.

"That Aerodactyl was one of a kind, it's too bad you didn't catch it Ash."

"I think Areodactly and the others would be happier just going back to sleep." I nodded my head in agreement as Misty also agreed with him.

"Maybe you're right."

"Hey I almost forgot!" Ash said then lifted a Pokémon egg out of his bag. "I found this when I woke up." Wow! That's amazing, wait, where did it come from? What was it doing out in the canyon?

"Are you sure it's alright for you to just take that?" Brock questioned and Ash blinked.

"What do you mean? Do you think I should have left it with Joy?" But Brock was already running forwards and took it from his hands, smiling excitedly.

"Okay Ash! I'll raise it for you!"

"But…" Ash spluttered. "I can raise it myself!" Misty slid between them with a mischievous look on her face as Eevee blinked then looked up at me in bewilderment.

"You would have dropped it and broken it anyway." This was true, Ash wasn't known for his grace and quite often tripped over his own feet.

"I would not!" Suddenly Brock and Misty were running so I hurred to run with them, laughing as Brock yelled over his shoulder.

"Don't worry Ash! I'll take good care of it!"

"Hey wait up! Give it back! Finders keepers!" This was going to be amazing, I couldn't wait to see what the egg will hatch into, also I couldn't wait to learn from Brock how to properly take care of it. If this egg had been abandoned then it looks like I will need to factor this in to my future plans. I'll need to introduce and incubation unit to keep eggs warm whilst the Pokémon inside was growing.

Still, this was something I just couldn't wait for!