My time here on Cinnabar Island was now over. I'd learned so much about Pokémon I had never realised I didn't know before and Blaine had even let me train and study his fire type Pokémon, helping me to understand them and taught me how to keep them all healthy.

I was full to the brim with knowledge and yet, I knew I had so much more to learn. With my bag packed and Eevee settled on my shoulder I stepped onto the blimp that was going to take me home. "You ready Eevee?" I questioned and she nodded her head.

"Vee!" Smiling I glanced back, looking at Kyle, Professor Dawson and Blaine as they all stood there, sending me off with a round of goodbyes. I waved to them, glad that I'd been able to study under them and that they had taken the time to let me be a fly on their side, asking questions twenty four seven. "Vee!" Eevee flicked her tail and wiggled her ears in farewell before I turned and walked onto the blimp.

"You know Eevee, I just can't wait." I said with a sigh as I head towards the lounge where we'd be afforded a great view of the skies. "I can't wait to battle, can't wait to learn, I just can't wait to see what fun is in store for us! You'll be with me through every bit of it, won't you?" I asked and Eevee nodded her head.

"Vee Vee."

"And our friends too, Pidgeotto, Charizard and Dratini. We'll always be a family, no matter where we are in the world, and that's all that really matters." I said then pulled out a photo album from my pack. I began to flick through the pages, looking at all the photos I had printed from the camera.

There were some earlier ones of myself and Pidgeotto when she was a Pidgey and also some of my parents, but the pages were gradually beginning to fill up with others. There were individual shots of myself with each of my Pokémon and then group photos with us playing or sparring. There were ones of Blaine and his fire Pokémon as we trained, ones of myself, Kyle and Professor Dawson as we researched either in the lab or out in the field and there were a lot of close ups on Eevee as she fiddled with the camera by accident, setting off the capture but the photos were so cute that I had printed them off anyway.

However, I think my favourite was the one of Gary's Pokémon and mine all standing together with us in the middle, smiling at the camera. There was another tucked behind it, one that I kept hidden with embarrassment, because although I liked it, I'd never admit I had it. It was a close up of Gary and I as he span me around, the both of us laughing and it had caught a perfect moment where he was just beginning to put me down and we were looking at one another. I don't know why I like it so much, I think it's because it's my proof that Gary Oaks isn't as bad as he pretended to be.

Well, at least I hope so. Tucking the album away I snuggled Eevee onto my lap and looked up to the sky where the clouds rolled past dreamily. "We're going places Eevee, we just have to follow the road and remember that the most important thing for us is doing our best to help both people and Pokémon. I think we've got a long journey ahead of us before we could even make a difference in the world…but I look forward to the day that we do."

The Pokémon League was amazing! It was huge, like a collaseum! Taking a deep breath I exited through the gates then head towards where the participants were being housed in the hope of finding Ash and the others.

What really played on the front of my mind, however, was the loss that Gary suffered just moments ago. He'd lost against some girl's Golem with his Nidoking and I just couldn't believe it. He'd actually lost, which meant he was now out of the lague competition. I felt bad for him, I know how badly he wanted to win this thing.

Eevee walked by my side, turning her ears to listen but then suddenly she stopped, lifted her head then gasped. "Vee!" Suddenly she shot off and I blinked.

"Hey Eevee, wait!" I called then chased after her, racing forwards as she bounded one all fours. "Eevee wait up! Where are you going?" When I looked up and ahead I saw exactly who she was running to.

"Vee! Vee!"

"Huh?" Gary turned around and looked as Eevee slowed down to stand in front of him then began to rub her head against him. "Oh hi Eevee, where's Ruby?" He asked, kneeling down to rub her head. "Did you bring her with you?"

"Sure she did." I answered, stopping my pace and placed my hands on my hips. "She's right here."

"Ruby!" Gary blinked, standing upright as he faced me. "Hey, when did you get here?" He asked and I shrugged.

"This morning." I answered then loosened up, letting my hands hang by my side. "That was a pretty amazing battle Gary, you should be proud of yourself and your Pokémon." Smiling as Eevee came back and sat beside me she nodded her head.

"Vee!"

"Ha, Eevee says she's proud of you." Glancing over to the car full of sobbing cheerleaders I sighed and rolled my eyes. Couldn't they at least hold a little self pride? Gary smiled and nodded his head.

"Yeah I guess so." He agreed but then we heard someone calling out his name.

"Hey Gary!" Both of us turned to see Ash running towards us, Pikachu perched on his shoulder. "Gary…" Gary instantly put on a façade, smirking simply as he crossed his arms in front of him.

"That trainer was lucky that I got distracted by all the girls cheering for me." He said and I rolled my eyes. He turned back and snapped his fingers as they continued to cry like big babies. "You'll get over it, won't you girls?" He questioned and in answer they wailed even louder than before.

"Maybe next time you won't bring them with you and you can actually focus more on training and battling rather than showing off." I answered, stooping down to pick up Eevee as I kept my eyes down away from Gary.

"Hey Ruby, I didn't think you were going to make it." Ash said to me so I smiled at him. "Where've you been?"

"Oh around and about. You know, doing more research, training, travelling, battling…earning eight badges." I smiled then winked at Ash as his jaw dropped.

"What?! You went around collecting badges? And you got eight?"

"Sure did. After a certain someone totalled the gym at Viridian I had to go to a smaller gym in a different town but I got it fine."

"Great! That's so awesome Ruby!" Ash cheered and I nodded my head.

"Why thank you Ash." I said to him then looked around to Gary. "Well, you'd better get going Gary. You've got a long road ahead of you before you get home." He nodded his head and turned to Ash.

"Good luck Ash, though your beginner's luck will soon run out." He said and I rolled my eyes again, giving him an unimpressed look.

"Can't you just be nice for one-" I was cut off when Gary leaned closer and kissed my cheek, shocking every nerve in my body and making me freeze in place.

"See you around Rubes." He winked as he pulled back then walked towards the car. Both Ash and I stared as he leaped into the seat and then drove down the path away from the Pokémon League as I remained rooted to the spot, unable to even think about what just happened.

"Did that…really just happen?" Ash questioned as I stood with my arms pinned to my sides.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just dreaming. Or having a horrible nightmare." I answered but I felt a tiny warmth in my chest. I guess it was kind of sweet of Gary to say goodbye like that, eventhough it was completely out of character. "Anyway, how are you feeling Ash? Are you nervous for your next battle? I've been watching you on TV as I came over here and I think you've really improved your strategy since I last saw you." Ash grinned, shaking himself out of his shock and turned around to face me with a confidence only Ash could have.

"I feel great, I know I can win this thing, right Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu answered then leaped from Ash's shoulder and into my arms with Eevee, greeting us by nuzzling my face. "Pika Pikachu!"

"Haha! Hey Pikachu, I missed you too!" I giggled, holding both Pokémon in my arms and hugged them close as Eevee rubbed her head into Pikachu.

"Vee! Vee!" Smiling I looked back up at Ash.

"So I'm starving, how about we find Brock and Misty then go get something to eat?" I suggested, moving Pikachu and Eevee back up to either shoulder so that I had my hands free.

"Sounds good to me! Come on, I'll show you the way." He said, stepping back with a wave of his hand so I followed, giving a smile to Pikachu and Eevee as they perched on my shoulders and had their own conversation over my hat. "So you got all eight badges since we left you in Cinnabar? You have to tell me all about it!" Ash said excitedly, fists clenched together as he walked with his anticipating grin. "Did you fight Blaine? And Sabrina? And what about your first two? Did you go back for a rematch to get new badges?"

"Well actually I was going to ask Brock and Misty if they still had mine from when I returned them." I said with a small shrug. "They were the first badges I won so I would like to have them back for keepsakes, but if not then yeah, I'll go back for rematches." I said to him then looked up to see two familiar people walking towards us. "Hey Brock! Misty!"

"Ruby! You made it!" Misty beamed, racing forwards with Togepi in her arms. "It's so good to see you again, how are you? Is Eevee okay?" She asked, laughing lightly as she reached out and rubbed Eevee's head.

"We're all fine. Great in fact." I answered as Brock caught up.

"Hey Ruby, it's good to see you." He said then looked at Eevee. "Wow! Eevee's coat looks so shiny! And her eyes are really bright and clear, you've obviously been taking great care of her Ruby." I nodded my head eagerly.

"Oh yeah, I've been working on the recipies you gave me for my Pokémon and whilst travelling, I found a Pokémon massagist who taught me how to give the best massage for any Pokémon. She even gave me a book with all the pressure points of each Pokémon and it teaches you how to help lower the stress levels of your Pokémon. I'll let you borrow it if you like, it's a great read."

"Thanks, that'll be great." He said as Togepi trilled happily, flapping her tiny little hands with a bright smile on her face.

"Hey there Togepi, how have you been?" I asked, reaching out and tickling her belly. "Not been getting into any trouble I hope?" Smiling I looked up at my three friends and couldn't help feeling overjoyed to be back with the gang. "So how about some dinner? I'm starving and I think my Pokémon could use with something too, it was a long flight." I said and everyone nodded their heads.

"Yeah, I've got some stew going back at the lodge, how about we go back and talk there?" Brock suggested. "We've got a lot of catching up to do and Ash needs to prepare for his next battle tomorrow."

"Great idea Brock, let's go!" I yelled happily then raced forwards, pulling everyone along with me until we were back at the lodge.

"Here Ruby, you can bunk with me." Misty said, gesturing upstairs. "Come on, let's get you settled in whilst the boys set up the table for dinner." She gave a pointed look to Ash who scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah…right." I followed Misty upstairs who smiled then opened the door for me. "Here you go."

"Thanks Misty." I smiled then watched as Eevee leaped from my shoulder and onto the bed, springing up and down into backflips as she cheered happily, playing on the bouncy matress. "Eevee be careful, don't fall off okay?" I said to her and she nodded her head.

"Vee!"

"So how was yourt travelling alone? Did you run into any trouble? What Pokémon did you see? Did you find any water Pokémon I don't know about?" She questioned and I laughed as I began to put my things away.

"I don't think there can be a single water Pokémon that you don't know about Misty so unfortunately I'll have to disappoint you." Sitting down on the bed Eevee bounded over then jumped into my lap, sitting down to look up at Misty with big round eyes. "But travelling alone with my Pokémon was such a great experience. We've really grown close, closer than ever before even and I can't wait to start putting them to the test again." Hugging Eevee as I stood up and looked to the door, sniffing the air as Brock's cooking wafted through. "That smells so great…let's go!"

"Yeah!" Misty agreed and raced after me as I bolted towards the kitchen. Everyone had already released their Pokémon so when I walked into the living room, I was faced with an entire hoard of Pokémon who called out with joy to see me.

"Bulba Bulbasaur!"

"Squirtle!" Both Squirtle and Bulbasaur were the first to leap at me, making me laugh as I knelt down and hugged them to me as Eevee quickly jumped out of me arms to go play with Togepi and Pikachu, happily chasing her tail as I greeted everyone.

"Hey guys! I missed you all so much!" I beamed, smiling I was then surrounded. Ash's Pidgeotto landed on my shoulder as Misty let out her Pokémon too.

"Come on out!" Staryu, Goldeen and Psyduck all appeared, though when Psyduck looked at me, he only looked confused.

"Psy?"

"Hey there Psyduck, remember me? It's Ruby." I said with a smile then reached behind me for my own Pokéballs. "I choose everyone!" I called, throwing three up into the air then caught them again as the Pokémon came out.

Dratini instantly dived in and began to say hello to everyone, playing with Togepi, Pikachu and Eevee whilst Pidgeotto flew up and greeted Ash's Pidgeotto rubbing heads before settling on a perch. When Charizard came forwards, though, everyone instantly gasped.

"It's Charizard!" Ash fell to the ground as Charizard lowered his head so that he didn't knock against the ceiling and looked at me, giving a soft growl of affection before settling down, curling up to take less room. "He came back?"

"Sure did. It all started when the Old Amber was reverted back to an Areodactyl. It started to go crazy when it woke up because it was so scared of its strange surroundings so it started a rampage." I then went onto explain everything about the encounter, how it had carried me away and Charizard had shown up to save me and I finished with me handing Areodactyl over to Gary.

"You what?!" Ash yelped, leaping up into the air and gripped his head. "Why'd you give it to Gary? Now he's going to be even stronger!"

"Cool it Ash." I said to him with a shrug. "It was the right thing to do."

"Exactly." Brock agreed from his cooking station, happily sporting a prink filly apron. "When a Pokémon connects or chooses a trainer then it's important not to get in their way because their's no stopping them once they've fixed themselves on someone." He explained as he stirred the soup. "Areodaactyl naturally responded better to Gary than he did to Ruby, though you did an amazing job calming it down the way you did and getting to terms with it." I smiled.

"Thanks Brock."

"But what about the way you did it?" Misty asked as she sat down next to her Pokémon. "The way you were able to feel and even see what Areodactyl and Charizard had felt. Did you talk to Professor Oak about it?"

"I tried to but he didn't have any answers. He was as stumped as I am." I sighed, looking down into my lap. "I just don't understand how I did it and every time I try, I just can't seem to be able to do it again. It's like it's been locked away somehow."

"Vee?" Eevee questioned as she sensed my distress but I smiled.

"I'm just worrying over nothing Eevee, it's okay." I assured her so she smiled happily then returned to playing with her friends.

"Maybe you're Psychic?" Brock suggested and everyone turned around to look at him.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked. "What's a Psychic?"

"A Psychic is someone who can control things with their mind. Like Sabrina could. I've heard that some are able to actually tap into the minds of other humans and Pokémon, so maybe that's what you are Ruby." I smiled at the thought but shook my head.

"No, I asked Sabrina when I visited her gym. She told me she couldn't sense any Psychic power from me but told me that there was defiantely something different. She said my inner strength and outer glow were something she had never witness before, though I don't have a clue what she was talking about." Misty hummed in thought, pursing her lips.

"Outer glow? Like an aura?"

"Beats me." I lifted my head and sniffed, sensing that the food was almost done.

"Okay, okay, I can see you Ruby. Don't worry, just a few more minutes." He promised. "How about you all start getting dinner ready for the Pokémon? By the time you finish ours will be done."

"Alright!" Ash and I both leaped up and darted around, getting everything ready. Brock's Pokémon Geodude and Zubat both followed me aroun as I carried their food and I giggled, looking up as Zubat landed on my head and its high pitched squeak focused on the food.

"Okay I get it, you're both hungry." I chuckled so I put down the food. "Here you go, enjoy." Instantly they began to devour everything down so I picked my way forwards over to Eevee and Dratini then sat down. Lifting my hand I rubbed Eevee's head as she looked up from eating. "That taste good? Better than what I used to whip up for you I bet." I said and she gave a soft smile before diving back down into the food Brock had made himself.

I settled back and relaxed a moment until finally, Brock called out. "Alright guys, grubs up!" Instantly I was on my feet and in the next second was sitting at the table, chopsticks in hand as I squirmed in my seat.

"Oh boy, I'm sure excited to taste your cooking again Brock! My food just doesn't have your finesse, so after a while my food just starting to taste a little bland after a while." I said as he brought over a huge bowl of noodle soup. Hey, it's duck and season vegetables, my favourite!

"Well I'm glad you called ahead to tell us you were coming so I could whip up your favourite." Brock answered as Misty and Ash joined me at the table. "Oh and by the way, Misty and I have a surprise for you." Brock looked at Misty then gave a small nod as he put the pot down. Putting down the towels he used to help carry the cooking pot then reached into his pocket. "Here."

When he extended his hand and unfolded his fingers, he held out two shiny objects. Instantly my eyes sparkled as Dratini and Eevee leaped onto my shoulders, looking down at both the Boulder and Cascade badge in the palm of his hand. "Since you're collecting again, Misty and I figured you deserved these again." He said as I reached out and picked them up. "And we all wish you luck Ruby in whatever challenge you come up against, we'll be rooting for you."

"Thanks you guys, you have…no idea how much this means to me." I murmured, looking down at my badges then picked up the Boulder badge, turning it up to the light to see how it shone. "My first badge…it's good to have this one back again." Smiling I held my hands together and tucked my badges against my heart, smiling as Dratini and Eevee cheered happily on my shoulders.

Brock served out dinner and we chowed down, enjoying the easy company of four friends and a lot of Pokémon, recalling past adventures, catching up on missed events and every detail we could think of until finally, after all the washing up was done, we camped out in the living room with the Pokémon, too exhausted to even find our own beds.