A/N: I hoped you enjoyed the previous chapter to my new story. I do not own anything in this story, and I make no profit in this. Everything belongs to the rightful owner.

"Normal speaking out loud"

Dream

'Voice inside Ruby's head'

'Thinking'

Chapter 3: Shattering or Mending?

***Ruby's P.O.V.***

I unknowingly cried myself asleep, waking up in the middle of the night. I kept my Espeon out, preferring his company. Waking in the night left me slim options to occupy myself with. So I attempted to walk again. This time I managed to stand straight, and was able to walk.

Espeon followed beside me making sure he wouldn't need to get Steven's help. I quietly made my way through the bedroom, and then through the small living room. I slowly opened the door leading me outside. I then made my way to a bench just outside the bedroom I was in. I let my Arcanine along with Latios and Celebi. The Rayquaza I had with me was far too large to let out, and would attract more than enough of the much-unwanted attention. Swampert then was too loud to leave him out.

Arcanine sat himself down along side me on the ground. Latios hovered just barely off the ground to my right side of me. Celebi preferred to sit on my shoulder. On the other hand Espeon opted to lie on my lap curling himself into a small ball.

Despite my shattering heart, having several of my Pokemon out made me feel safe. The breeze outside wasn't cold nor was it too warm it was just right to relax in. Yet again I've fallen asleep without knowing it. This time I awoke to feeling rather stiff from lying in an uncomfortable position for too long.

Steven must have awakened before I did this time. Due to the fact that I was now covered up in a soft blanket. I then proceeded to wake up Celebi and Espeon to get them off of me.

"Espe...on." Espeon yawned, stretching himself out before jumping off my lap.

"Cel...bi." Celebi too yawned before the legendary flew into the air. I left Arcanine and Latios alone seeing as they couldn't come inside. I made my way inside to get out of the chilly morning air. As I walked in I was greeted by the smell of breakfast.

"I hoped you slept well outside." Steven said preparing the bacon and eggs.

"Sorry if I woke you up at all." I said sheepishly not completely sure what else to say.

"I did hear you, but I figured you would what space, so I left you alone." Steven said calmly choosing his words carefully. My heart began to race at the thought of Steven knowing what I said last night. I didn't want anyone to know how broken I feel right now. I absolutely didn't want anyone to know, not even my very own parents.

As my heart continued to accelerate more and more my breathing too began to increase. My head began to feel lightheaded, and my vision too got blurry. I looked at Steven in complete panic, fearing him knowing the brokenness I feel.

"Ruby!" Steven yelled in concern turning the oven off quickly not wanting to burn his house down.

"Stay away from me!" I yelled scared as I backed away from him. I wanted, no I needed to escape from this desperation I felt. I needed someone to keep me above the water. Otherwise, I truly believe that I would sink, and ultimately drown. I hated this feeling of being afraid of myself like this.

'You're weak!' The voice said to me as my ears started to ring. My breathing continued to accelerate, to the point where I was hyperventilating. I couldn't control this anxious feeling that made all my remaining nerves edgy.

"Ruby you need to calm down." Steven stated in a slightly urgent tone. However, the more he talked the more scared I'd become. Soon my vision became blotchy with black dots. I collapsed to my knees with a loud thud. Tears clouded my already hazy vision. I knew if I didn't calm down really soon, then I was going to pass out, but I couldn't do that.

My feelings of safety were once again threatened, making it twice this week now.

"Celebi bi cel." Celebi called out to me relaxing me some, but not enough to stop my hyperventilating. Then once more I heard the voice.

'How pathetic! Frightened over the fact that Steven is beginning to learn just how broken you are? Perhaps it's better that you're scared? This way everyone will know just how down right pitiful you really are!' The voice spat in complete mockery. The words stung like salt on an open wound.

'Am I really that pathetic?' I asked the voice

'You are more than just pathetic. You're down right worthless and stupid! No one wants you around!' The voice hissed shattering my already near broken heart.

The more the voice lowered my self esteem the more I started to believe what's its saying.

'Maybe I really was better off dead?' I thought to myself

'I really wish he wasn't born, honey.' I heard mother's voice say again.

'Should we just kill him?' Father's voice asked.

'Maybe we should next time he comes home.' Mother's voice said, shattering the last shard of my heart. I now felt completely and utterly broken to the core. I could just die and I wouldn't care anymore. Besides no one would mourn at my funeral anyways since no one want's me. No one would visit my grave, because no one wanted me alive. No one would put flowers on my grave, because no one would remember someone like me.

"No! Stop! Shut up!" I screamed, covering my ears with my hands as I sobbed my broken heart out. My screams came out uneven and broken betraying my attempts to hide it.

"Ruby." Steven said in a somber tone that annoyed me. I don't want his pity or his sympathy either.

"STOP!" I screamed at Steven furious at him.

"Ruby calm down." He begged

"You probably think that I'm bi-polar now don't you?" I hissed noting that I want from hyperventilating to screaming at him in anger in seconds. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought I was actually bi-polar.

"No I don't think that." Steven argued loosing his patience with me.

'Maybe now he'll kick me out of his house?'

'Maybe now he thinks I'm a burden to him?'

'Maybe now he regrets allowing me to stay?'

'I'm scared!' said the rational part of me inside.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled, standing up as I walked towards him. I walked towards him until we were now standing only a few inches way.

"Ruby please I'm sorry for setting you off, but you need to calm down before we do something you'll regret." Steven said calmly trying to calm me down along with himself.

"Ste...ven! Help...me...! Please I need help." the rational part of me broke through.

"Tell me what's wrong and I'll help you?" He asked as I steadily calmed down enough to talk. We sat down in the living room where we are completely forgetting about breakfast.

"I don't know if I'm shattering or if I'm mending anymore." I said honestly unsure which one it was. When I think I'm getting over May something happens to change it.

"I can't say unless you tell me what's bothering you Ruby." Steven repeated.

"It happened the day that I came here all drenched to the bone. Lately whenever May and I met up on our travels she always seemed so pissed. I finally had it with her attitude, so I asked her politely what was bothering her. She said..." I trailed off getting emotional over thinking about again.

"She said that she was tired of pretending to be my girlfriend. That she never truly had feelings for me. She also said that she only pretended to watch me break once she told me the truth. May to top it off said that the world would be better off without me." I explained not looking at the older man anymore as I talked.

'May said that because it's true' the voice in my head said in a sardonic manner.

"That bitch how dare she say that!" Steven hissed clutching his fists in complete anger. I've never seen Steven mad until this day.

'Why is he mad anyways?'

'He's only pretending in order to make you feel like someone actually cares about you.' The voice replied purring as I cringed at the idea of Steven lying to me. Then without thinking I spoke my inner most thoughts out loud in front of Steven. I never wanted Steven to know how shattered and utterly broken I was right now, but the voice inside of me spoke as my proxy against my will.

"Why do you care anyways Steven?" I spoke without wanting to

"I care because you're my friend, Ruby. Why shouldn't I care about my friends?" Steven argued back, taking aback by my sudden accusation.

"Because no one want's someone like me! No one want's an eye sore like me! No one want's a pathetic and worthless human like me around in their lives! That's why you shouldn't care about me! Because no one else cares, why should you be any different?" I screamed at him, my hidden despair that I have been trying to keep locked away inside of me.

"Ruby why do you think no one want's you? You're wrong anyways, I want you around, Ruby." Steven replied softly as he gently embraced me in his arms. While he held me close to him I for the first time in a long time I felt safe.

"Because May despises me now, and I hear this voice inside of my head telling me that I'm not wanted in life." I explained as I sobbed in his arms as he continued to hold me.

"Don't listen to either of them Ruby they're mistaken. You're not worthless or pathetic. Ruby you're not an eye sore or a burden either believe me. They must not see just how wrong they are." Steven spoke calmly melting away all my fears and sorrows.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry to my dear reader for not posting or updating any of my stories for so long. I haven't been getting any new ideas for any of them up till now. Please forgive me for taking so long. I hope chapter 2 & 3 of this story will help make it up to all of you guys.

So what do you think of Steven's relationship will this broken Ruby? I hope he isn't too out of character in this story. I don't really know his personality that well sorry. He seems like the kind of guy who would go out of his way to help a friend in need. Also sorry for all the May bashing I don't honestly like her character anyways.

Please tell me if something doesn't make sense to you please. As I said before this is my first Pokemon fanfiction so I might get a few things wrong.

So will Ruby listen to Steven by ignoring the voice inside his head, or will the voice continue to torment his already fragile state of mind? Will Steven be able to mend Ruby, who's just barely hanging on to his sanity?

You'll find out in the next chapter ^_^

Lastly who or what do you think the voice that Ruby keeps hearing really is? Review and tell me what you think the voice is.