My parents and I stayed at the Big Riddle Inn but during the day, I dedicated my time to learning all about the Pokémon at the research centre. Occasionally I took a day off to spend with my parents and it was nice to go walking through the streets and totally binge shop with mom whilst dad took us to visit all the museums, art galleries and nature trails, which were his favourite parts.

Mom wasn't so big on the museums and art galleries but I loved them, as it gave me more time to learn about Pokémon and history as well as looking at amazing interpretations of artists' and how they cast their feelings into their work.

Kyle and I became close working pals, spending pretty much all our time together. He came with us several times on our trips, helping to carry mom's numerous bags and she'd pinch his cheek and call him a sweetheart each time he picked up another bag. It was quite a sport shopping with my mom, it was very hard to see her as an ex Battle Girl.

"So how long are your parenst staying?" Kyle asked on one of our rare days off with just the two of us. I took another lick of my ice cream before answering, seeing it was boiling hot and I was desperate to cool down.

"Well, I think they're leaving in three days and they're trying to get me to go with them which I'm beginning to think is a good idea." I said with a shrug. "I need to get back on my journey and continue training before I become a big ice cream loving softie." I grinned and he laughed, wiping his hands as he finished the strawberry ice cream he had selected.

"Vee!" Eevee put in, licking he lips so I giggled then shared some of my ice cream with her.

"Not too much now, it's really cold and I don't want you to get brain freeze." I warned her so she let me scoop some off with my finger and she licked it carefully, happily smiling as she did so. "Good girl." I beamed, tickling her chin when she was done. "How about we play some ball?"

"Vee!" Eevee instantly sprang off my shoulder and crouched down, ready to spring after the ball which I fished out of my bag.

"You joining in?" I asked Kyle but he shook his head.

"Nah, I'm not into childish games really." I blinked at him, slightly surprised but didn't comment on the tone that I didn't like him using. He sounded way to up himself. Besides, he's not that much older than I was, so he could still play games like every other kid on this beach!

"Oh…okay." I said then turned to Eevee. "Get ready Eevee, this is going to be a big one!" I called then flung the ball forwards after dropping my back onto Kyle's head after he had lay back on a deck chair, making him yell and fall out. "Take care of that for me!" I yelled then raced after Eevee as she hurtled after the ball.

"Vee! Vee! Vee!" She breathed as she ran with each bound, following after the ball before leaping up into the air. She opened her mouth and caught the ball with a swish of her tail, landing elegantly down on the sand then turned to face me, making me beam.

"Alright! Great catch Eevee, let's go again!" I threw it as far as I could back the other way, running with her to keep myself in shape. We played ball on the sand until I accidentally threw it into the water but Eevee sprang right after it, diving into the waves then paddled against them easily, making everyone coo and snap photos of her as she picked up the ball then swam back towards me.

Suddenly a large shape rose out of the water, lifting Eevee up onto the broad shell and I gasped as she called out with fear, staring at the Blastoise that appeared. "Blastoise!" It drawled, lifting his arms up high then swam forwards out of the water, carrying Eevee who suddenly beamed and sat down on Blastoise's shell.

"Vee!" Blastoise climbed out of the water and faced me as I stared up at it, shocked at how big these Pokémon actually were.

"Blaaaastoise." It greeted then blew a few bubbles in my face. I blinked in surprise before it clicked.

"Hey! It's you!" I beamed then flung my arms around its neck, making it smile and rub its head into me. "You've grown big little guy! Ha, Gary must have done some extra training since I last saw you, you look awesome!" I said, stepping back and caught Eevee as she jumped down from Blastoise and into my arms.

"Blaaast." Blastoise nodded his head, seemingly proud of himself as he then drew himself up to his full height. Chuckling I looked to Eevee then to Blastoise.

"How about you join in with the game?" I suggested and he looked down at me, cocking his head to the side curiously. "We'll play in the water and you can carry Eevee as I throw the ball around, how does that sound?" Blastoise instantly nodded his head.

"Blaaastoise!" He agreed and Eevee instantly climbed up his arm and settled on his shell as Blastoise turned and went back into the water.

"Alright! You ready?" I called and Blastoise spurted out a Water Gun attack towards me in answer, making me squeal with laughter as I leaped out the way. "Okay! Play ball go!" I shouted and flung it forwards with all my might. It went pretty far out into the ocean and Blastoise hurtled forwards, Eevee surfing on his back and she squealed with excitement, bouncing up and down.

Blastoise picked up the ball in his mouth then shot it back towards me with Water Gun, letting it fly through the air and I ran to catch it, springing over someone bathing in the sun before feeling the ball land squarely in my hand. "Nice try Blastoise, you'll have to do better than that!" I called back triumphantly. "Come on, I know you can go faster than that, let's try again!"

So we threw it back and forth between us, racing up and down the beach and causing quite a bit of havoc amongst the people as I was constantly leaping and jumping over people and sometimes Blastoise's Surf managed to spray a load of people nearby, though the kids loved it.

After a long play, I finally crashed down on the sand and gave out, gasping for breath. "Ugh…it's too hot to go on." I mumbled. Water suddenly crashed down on me and I leaped up with a yell, shielding my face from Blastoise's powerful water attack. "Okay! Okay thank you! That's more than enough!" I laughed and the spray stopped, though I couldn't hide the giggle. "That's just what I needed, thanks Blastoise." Though my clothes are now all completely soaked.

"Oh look girls, it's the sad little loser." Someone said and I turned to see Gary's cheerleaders all standing there in cute little bathing suits, looking at me with unimpressed expressions. "Look at those clothes, they're all totally washed out."

"And that hat, it's totally something not even my grandpa would wear." Another agreed and they all laughed. My cheeks flushed bright red and I turned away, lifting my hands to pick Eevee up off of Blastoise's back.

"Look at her hair! Its definately something out of a horror movie, there's more tangles and knots on her head than a Tangela!" Growling I spun around and faced them, holding Eevee in my arms as she glared at them too.

"Just because I might not be so prissy and fussy about my looks as you, doesn't give you the right to comment on it! You live the easy life but I've got to be out on the road and in the wild competing to get all my badges, so why don't you all back off and leave me alone?" The leader of them scoffed.

"You don't scare us. Your Pokémon aren't even all that tough or scary, so how far do you really expect to get? You got snatched up by that Areodactyl but no wonder it didn't eat you for lunch, I'd spit out something that disgusting too if you were served up to me." Hurt flashed through my face so I turned and began to walk away. "Coward!"

"Yeah, loser! Coward!" Tears began to spring to my eyes at their words. I am not a coward, or disgusting, or a loser! At least when Gary calls me names he does it just because I do and I know he never really means anything to hurt me. These girls were just being spiteful and malicious.

"Blastoise!" Blastoise moved to follow after me but he paused and looked to the girls. Pausing I looked back as he aimed his cannons at them.

"No Blastoise." I sniffed, giving a smile. "They're not worth it. You should go find Gary, he's bound to be worried about you." I turned around only to bump into someone. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you…" I trailed off when I saw who it was. "Oh it's just you."

"Well what do you know? It's the…have you been crying?" Gary's smug face instantly dropped to one of concern as he lifted his hands and rested them on my shoulders. "And you're soaked, what happened?"

"Nothing." I looked away but Blastoise came up behind me and began to point to the girls as they giggled and waved at Gary.

"Blastoise, Blaaast Blastoise!"

"Huh?" Gary listened then began to put two and two together.

"It's nothing." I quickly interjected, pulling my shoulders free and looked down so that Gary wouldn't be able to see me wiping away the tears as I was now pulling myself together. Get a grip Ruby, they're just little princesses who don't have any idea about anything. I shouldn't let their words hurt me.

"Were they hurting you? You can tell me Ruby." Gary said calmly, letting me have my space. "I'll tell them to stay away from you if you want?"

"No!" I glared at him. "I'm fine." With that I shoved past him and strode back to where Kyle was sunbathing in utter relaxation, Eevee trotting along at my heels though she looked up at me in concern.

"Vee?"

"I'm okay Eevee, I promise." I assured her, putting on a brave face. "Come on, we promised to meet mom and dad at that restaurant and we've only got ten minutes until we have to be there." I reminded her and she instantly brightened.

"Vee Vee!" Chuckling I grabbed my bag then prodded Kyle awake, making him grunt with a slight snort as he shot bolt upright.

"Wha…huh? Oh hey Ruby, what's up?"

"I've got to go now and meet my parents for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked and he nodded his head with a smile.

"Sure, I'll walk you over. Don't want you getting lost now do we?" I blushe a little with embarrassment. The last time I'd tried to navigate the island on my own ended up in a long trek through the night trying to find my way back only to end with me stuck on the wrong side of town and I had to call Kyle to get directions back.

"Thanks." I said to him, picking up Eevee after I'd slung on my backpack then followed him back into the city. "It's the Hot Rock restaurant in the main square." I informed him. "Do you know where you're going?"

"Sure, it's this way." He pointed ahead to so I followed without question. It was a pleasant walk, with plenty of people who said hello and I greeted them back. Everyone was so friendly here, it was nice. It didn't take long to get to the restaurant, however had I tried to get there on my own I bet it would have taken me at least an hour. There were so many stalls and streets it got confusing as to where you were.

"So this is it. Have a nice dinner, I'll see you tomorrow." Kyle said with a beaming smile so I smiled back.

"Thanks, you're a real life saver." He shrugged.

"Well…maybe. Goodnight Ruby." Giving a little wave he turned and walked away. I entered the restaurant and instantly spotted my mom. It was kinda hard not to, since she was wearing bright flamenco clothing and a large brimmed hat.

"Yoo hoo! Over here darling!"

"Oh great…" I muttered as Eevee pulled a confused face.

"Vee?" Shaking my head with a smile I then sighed.

"I don't know Eevee, I think she's just mad. Completely crazy." I told her and she beamed with a bright laugh.

"Vee!" I walked over to the table then quickly put Eevee down before mom could crush us both in a powerful hug.

"How has your day been? Oh and your date with that Kyle fellow, did that go well? I want to know all the details!" Mom instantly demanded, sitting down and putting her chin on her hands, looking expectantly at me as I hugged dad then sat down.

"It wasn't a date mom, we were just hanging out." I told her with a little flush to my cheeks. "We're just friends doing research together." She arched an eyebrow at me then chuckled.

"Well, it seems to me that you might have a little crush on him, you're blushing right now!"

"Am not!" I argued then looked imploringly at dad who cleared his throat quickly.

"Alright, shall we order?"

"Vee!" Eevee agreed so I laughed then settled her on my lap, tickling her chin before lifting the menu to see what there was to eat and what I fancied. "Vee Vee, Vee!" Eevee lifted a paw and scraped gently at a picture of spaghetti bolagnaise, one of her favourite meals so I giggled.

"Alright, we'll order that one." I decided and she squirmed in my lap in excitement.

"Vee!" Mom and dad chatted to me about their day and how they loved the spa treatments here, telling me that we should come back on a full vacation without me working also and I heartily agreed. This lavish life is something I could get used to. With all the facial treatments, hot spring baths, daily workouts and training, I was seriously beginning to get a physique to be proud of.

"Oh and I hope you don't mind sweetie, but I invited Gary here also." I almost leaped out of my seat in shock. What did she do that for? This was meant to be a family meal! Not with Gary Oaks breathing down my neck, and just after he'd seen me cry!

"But-but-but…why?" I stammered, glancing around. "Oh well, looks like he's a no show. How terrible." Mom rolled her eyes.

"He's over by the door, silly." Damn. Slowly I turned around and sure enough, there he stood, speaking to the waitress who pointed out our table and he looked up. Instantly I turned my head, not wanting to let him catch me watching him.

We were at a four seater table and the only spare seat was next to me. Just perfect. He approached with a smile and nodded to my parents. "Good evening Mr and Mrs Bates. Mrs Bates, you look very bright and lovely this evening." She giggled at his charm as he took the seat next to me.

"Oh you charmer, thank you very much Gary, but please call me Ceilia." Gary nodded his head then looked at the menu.

"I'm sorry I'm late, have we already ordered?"

"No, no my boy, we've been waiting for you. Please, take your time. The night is still young as you kids say." Dad answered then turned to me. "So, tell me about Areodactyl. How are you getting along with it?" Ah, about that…

"Okay I guess, we still have a few issues with obedience but I guess that's because I'm a little inexperienced myself. Though since his temperament is much like Charizard's used to be, it's not so hard to get him back onto my side." I explained and dad listened carefully whilst nodded, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "And he really loves to battle, so it's just working on communication really. The guys back at the lab love to study him, though he gets irritated if they crowd him too much. I think he's still a bit scared of them."

"You're doing wonderfully my girl. I always knew you were meant to be a great trainer. Perhaps you and Gary should have a battle, that would really test your skills." He suggested then looked at Gary who had lifted his head. "What do you think my boy?"

"I think it's a great idea sir, battling against me will really give Ruby some experience, seeing as I'm quite advanced myself." His voice and attitude was really beginning to bug me. "I don't have any issues with my Pokémon and they're all greatly experienced, so maybe a full on battle wouldn't be fair, seeing as one of Ruby's Pokémon is still recovering and two others are so tiny. Maybe a one on one battle would be better." I growled under my breath then slammed my hands on the table, making Eevee jump and blink up at me.

"My Pokémon can handle you, Gary Oaks, in fact, how about we make this a little interesting? You battle with one of my Pokémon and I'll battle with one of yours. That way we'll get to see who the better trainer really is." I challenged, glaring at him heartily as he rose to meet the challenge.

"You're on. How about tomorrow morning at eight? There's a quiet part of the beach we can use that I know of, we'll have plenty of room to get this settled."

"Done. I'll meet you there and you'd better be ready for a serious butt kicking!"

"Likewise Rubes." My skin turned a dark shade of red as my eyes narrowed but I swallowed down my anger in a large gulp, taking a deep breath before looking to the waitress who had just appeared.

"I'll have a spaghetti bolagnaise, please."