~Wally~

Well he blew through the door like TNT… to say the least.

An hour of vigorous flight had left both me and my pokemon exhausted, and then there was this suddenly high, horrific demand for attention as we entered the smog filled repulsion that was Mauville City. I stumbled along the crowds, tripping on stray feet out of place and garbage that littered the floor around trashcans posted at every other streetlamp. I didn't understand why it was so hard for city folk to make their garbage IN the can, but I couldn't let it bother me.

They are different here… that was all I could keep telling myself.

"Ruby!"

"RUBY!"

Howling began as my favorite traveling partner of franticness raced down the streets, taking his chances rather than flying in with his pokemon that apparently didn't land well in crowded areas. He called Flygon back into his ball a moment after I had left Salamence take his rest, and then we started running.

And let me tell you, running was not a fun thing for me. Especially not here. I was rasping, gasping, choking on my own breath while I strained to keep pace with Ruby. He was like a miniature tank when people tried to approach him, much too determined to beat the afternoon before it would take Sapphire away. The sun was already high in the sky, and the heat wasn't helping anyone's attitude. I could barely keep up, and it seemed like every other second I was considering stopping.

Ruby or my health? What was more important to me? I didn't even know, so I kept following him, hoping that he would give me a reason to have picked him. I would die for him, but then again… I would probably give my life to even the most oblivious stranger if I saw the chance. I was raised believing you always put others before yourself, but I was also raised never to take chances like this. Not with my illnesses.

So what was I supposed to do?

My breaking point was becoming faster and harder to avoid. It was like my throat was slowly closing, and I started to feel lightheaded, and my heart started to splutter in agony, and everything just seemed to blur and spin. My eyes must have lolled once, because for a whole split second I couldn't see anything but the back of my head.

And then Ruby grabbed me by the wrist and hauled me back to reality. My legs stung for not being used to such activity, and I could tell I was on the verge of a shin split. I wanted to beg Ruby to stop, to let me have some air—if there was any at all between the dust and the smog. I needed it. I had to stop… I couldn't—

A terribly frightening and familiar feeling shook me like a hurricane. My steps started to slow, and between the doubles, triples, quadruples of everything around me, swarming like a herd of beedrill, I knew I was losing it. My throat close and locked shut, leaving me desperately clutching at my chest for air. My inhaler would help… I had to reach it though.

That's when we blew through the doors of some big time production company, into what seemed to be a back entrance with guards around. I didn't know how they let us through so fast, but I could hear Ruby's name being called, and then just as frantically Sapphires. The lights of cameras flashed and snapped and I was pretty sure a microphone hit me in the face at one point.

I tried to yell for Ruby, to make any sound at all that would be louder than the people screaming around. Flocks of gear covered men and makeup artists came pouring through the rooms that lined the hallway we ran through.

"Sapphire!" I heard Ruby wail, and I hated it. I hated it with all my might. I wanted to cry I hated it so much. How could he love someone that was obviously so wrong for him? I didn't care how long he knew this girl, if she had the nerve to break up with him so quickly without respecting his decisions… well then she was the pitiful one. She would be sorry for not seeing what she had right in her hands. She was wrong for him.

Dizziness swarmed me like a tornado, ringing in my ears making me teeter back and forth. I needed air… I needed—nee—

"Wally!"

Ruby? I wanted to answer that voice, while the ground spun closer to me and my eyes closed not a moment before, but a whole lifetime. I was falling for what felt like a century, and when I finally reached the ground, I fell some more.

"Medics!" the voices sounded like gurgling in my ears, throbbing, beginning to drowned.

Ruby—no… you—C—P—

"Ruby!"

Another…? Who was—?

Blackness…

~Ruby~

I was the worst friend in the entire world.

I was both spineless and selfish and utterly stupid. If I wasn't… I would have followed the ambulance to the hospital and made sure that Wally was ok. Sure he had woken up before they even loaded him in, but something else was serious enough for them to want to take him. It may be because he didn't come from this city, and they wanted to make sure he wouldn't be seriously injured here, but whatever the case, I should have been there.

I shouldn't have escaped with flashbacks in my head of the first time. I shouldn't have been so concerned with the asshole Sapphire was going out with that I couldn't think straight. I shouldn't have been so selfish. Or stupid. Or pathetic.

It was my entire fault… to think that I could have possibly made it back in time to see Sapphire before she left for her date. It was my stupid mistake, the voices in my head telling me if I wanted it bad enough it would happen. What was I thinking?

I wanted it alright… but it certainly wasn't worth it now.

The studio was under the influence that I hadn't more than a simple acquaintance with Wally—if that—and they hadn't bothered to ask me anything vital about him. It was almost as if I was more important to them that the choking figure before their feet. I was absolutely disgusted with the sluggish pace they worked. Everything seemed to move in slow motion in that particular moment.

We were running down the corridor to the main studio, passing familiar broom closets that smelt of bleach and Windex when it happened. Wally's arm had gone limp in my grasp, and before I could realize what happened, a dead weight had ripped him away from me. The ground seemed to pull him under like a wave, and his head was suddenly magnetic to the grey plastered walls. Camera crews had been chasing us, as well as persistent fans screaming my name, but it all seemed to fade in that moment.

I yelled for the medic, though not dropping to his side like I should have. Had I frozen in panic, lost in a horrible memory of blood and mucus and chest compressions. That night over three weeks ago had come flooding back, and all I wanted was to forget about it and move on.

For once selfish second I had damned that boy to hell for being the way he was—which wasn't his fault—and then I realized just what I was doing. Reverting back to the way I was in the studios before I left. Cocky, arrogant, and by all means a jerk. I wouldn't have given a second passing glance to someone like Wally before I got out of this town. It was as if Mauville had a curse that turned you into a monster. Or maybe there was a bubble around it injected with asshole gas, and anytime you came here you got converted to the insolence.

Wally must be immune to such horribly behavior patters of the city, because no matter how bad things got out there he was still by my side. Paparazzi had been shoving him, yelling, demanded, and he stayed on my heels the whole time. I wished I could make it up to him… I wished I could apologize before things got any worse. I sad voice was telling me I wished I would have never taken him with me in the first place…

But that was a lie. I didn't regret Wally coming with me at all. I had enjoyed his company much more than I thought I would. He had proven a worthy traveling companion, and not only that… but a great friend. I expected him to fall short from the start, but never once had he complained. He had been there for me the last few nights, listening to me talk and hearing me sing. He had gotten me to open up to him as well as gotten me to open my eyes about some things.

For the first time in a long time I really truly hated myself for what I did to him. Left him in his time of need… he would never do something like that to me.

I remembered the way his Aunt had been before we left a couple days ago. She had cried with worry, afraid that her baby—though not by birth obviously—would get hurt out there. She had entrusted me with hope and I knew now I let her down. She expected me to take care of Wally… and I had done the opposite. I brought him to a place where the air itself was a hazard, and then I left him when he got really sick.

He was now in everyone else's hands but my own, and I was too stupid to realize this until I was halfway to Sapphires favorite restaurant, thinking that maybe if I could find that guy with her, I could take my guilt out on him through a fist.

I had taken my hat off, LEFT my ripped up torn clothes on from our journey here, and hid my eyes with a pair of glasses I never wore when I was supposed to. No one on the streets would recognize me now, so I had the time to think peacefully while I dragged myself miserably to where I thought Sapphire could be.

In the back of my mind though, my feet were going the other way. It was about sunset now, and I knew Wally would be settled in the hospital, thinking that I had abandoned him when he needed it most. Misery tugged at my heart and I was covering my face thinking frantically, trying to grasp just what was making me do this.

Was it the fact that Sapphire and I had known each other much much longer than me and Wally had? Or was it because I was suddenly very afraid of what Wally would have to say to me? I couldn't picture him mad, but more so extremely disappointed—or worse—hurt. I shuddered at the thought, pushing up my glasses on the bridge of my nose with a sniff.

I had to turn back… I couldn't just let this go as if it was nothing… I had to see Wally and make sure he was still alive, at the least. Or I had to see if he still had enough kindness in his heart for me to let me apologize. I didn't even expect forgiveness from him… I just had to tell him that I was sorry.

Arceus I had to tell so many people I was sorry…

My mother, Sapphire, fans, producers, managers, everyone and now even the one person that really proved there for me. There was no one it seemed, that had missed out on the destruction I created. All I did was hurt people and ruin their lives. It was a terrible thing to believe about yourself, but it was the truth. If I wasn't so selfish… maybe I could have spared some people some pain. Maybe Wally wouldn't be in the hospital right now—maybe I wouldn't be out looking for my ex girlfriend that was obviously so hurt she had to resort to this kind of behavior.

With my head low I slunk into the large doors of the seat-yourself restaurant with more decorations than a baby shower. The lights were low as they always were at this time of day, and I could see through the opposite end of the enormous cube of a building, that the patio out back was full of twirling and swift couples. I scanned the area thoroughly for a long moment, looking for any sign of a green bandanna or a short skirt.

Sort Sapphire out first… apologize to Wally second…

I hated that things ended up in that order, I really did… but it was too late now.

"Excuse me sir." A felt a sudden, soft tap on my shoulder from behind. I jumped slightly to see a wide eyed and round faced girl with a casual pink hat and ponytail that hung down to her waist. Obviously she wasn't from around here, judging by her clothes. She held the hand of a very tall and goofy looking man with equally as long green hair. He on the other hand, was wearing a full on tuxedo. I blinked in confusion. Out of all the people in the world there had to be another greenette here? Really? Just to remind me of Wally even more. I fought the urge to glare.

"You are Ruby… right?" The girl asked, a slight smile forming on her lips. "The handler?"

No. no no no no no! I turned my head and shook it vigorously. "No, you're mistaking." It took a world of effort to look even remotely uninterested in them. I turned away, fighting the nightmare.

"Ruby, I have a question." The jolly green giant asked in a muted voice. "You are nice to the pokemon you perform with… right?"

"Babe…" The girl scolded softly and I caught a glimpse of her shaking her head in a silent 'no'. I didn't understand her worries. "Of course they are treated nicely." She whispered to him.

"No really… you've got the wrong guy." I insisted and turned to flee. Crazy couple… they weren't about to ruin a night like this for me—not any more than it already was. I heard a faint call after me, but was already storming through the crowded restaurant, muttering to myself and hiding my face from the world.

I walked around the outside of a huge median set to divide booths from one another, using the plush fake flower arrangements as cover. Customers didn't walk this way, so I was subject to get caught by the kitchen workers and told to walk around, but luckily it didn't happen. I swept by quickly to the large glass doors leading to the outside patio.

A sunset of gold and orange was lined in a sorbert pink and glittered with the faintest traces of the streetlights behind them. It was a balcony, hidden by immaculate bushes, cut into shapes of pokemon and unnaturally too green. The city planting was nothing like the wild, free weedy land that Wally and I had seen on our way over here. I realized just how much I hated it this in comparison.

I had to get back to him… I had to set this straight. Why was it so hard though? I couldn't figure it out in my head, so I just had to put my eggs in another basket. I turned and peered through the glass doors, looking through the crowds with a nausea rising in my stomach. I couldn't see it at first, but a strange feeling of knowing came.

I blinked once, twice, took off my glasses and narrowed me eyes, put them back on and huffed under my breath before realizing what I was missing. Sapphire was not in her usual attire. She was silk wrapped in a dress of black color and no straps. Hair strewn up in a bun with curled pieces tickling her chin, her face was concealed with makeup as well, flushed an unnatural pink and dotted with sparkles. Her slim shoulders were twinkling as well, and a tiny silver necklace threw rays in the low sunlight. I stared in wonder.

Sapphire hated everything that had to do with what she was doing right now. Her biggest pet peeve was heels for Arceus sake! And oh look, she was wearing fucking heels. She claimed she hated makeup because she always had to wear it for the shows. And that dress she was wearing barely covered her ass—what the hell was she thinking?

But it was not all this that bothered me, it was the fact that it was all this and more. She was not only looking more beautiful than I had ever seen her before, but she was clutching the neck of someone broad and confident. Shoulders back, face framed in such a way that he could whisper in her ear, and the most heart wrenching hand placement. He was gripping her sides, just below her breasts with a tenderness I had never even felt before.

Everything around me seemed to fade as I watched my childhood best friend, my first girlfriend, my world before three weeks ago… laughing and smiling and hugging this guy that looked so much like me (but with better clothes). My heart raced in my chest, and for a moment I felt like everything I had decided on in the last twenty four hours was completely ruined. I wished Sapphire wouldn't have answered the phone when I called her this morning. I wish I would have decided on my own that she really didn't care.

It all would have been less painful than this. My fingers trembled as I set my hand against the chocolate brown wallpaper and used it for support. A swelling grew inside me, and I felt tears starting to rise from what I never thought they would. Sapphire was my rock—my anchor at one point in time, and now…

I took a shaky breath and watched my girl dance with the look-a-like me. She seemed to be having the time of her life, and no matter how much I wanted to go out there and present myself to her—dirty clothes, no hat, scar and glasses—I suddenly found the strength drained from my legs. I gripped the wall for support as the smell of food made my stomach snarl with even more repulsion.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse Sapphire turned, swirled with the music, and lifted herself onto her tiptoes before my very eyes. I stared, aching with a sharp persistent pain that couldn't be filled by any amount of violence.

Sapphire kissed him. Whoever he was, she kissed him and she enjoyed it. I could tell by the look on her face, as she gave away what was meant to be our moment… that she was utterly thrilled with the feeling.

I was shocked by how much emotions had been stored into me in the last day, and even more surprised by how suddenly it all came rushing out. I ripped the glasses from my face and scrubbed my hand over my eyes quickly before shoving them back on and whirling around. If Sapphire wanted to be with him than fine!

I forced my way out of the restaurant with snarling accusations and threats. No one dared face me head on in such a state of panic and hysteria, so I managed quickly, but found myself stumbling out onto the sidewalk with a sob. I coughed once, shoved against the concrete and started running.

I wasn't sure what I was running from of course, but I was running. Thinking to myself that I had lost everything important to me I called out Cattivo and scrambled on quickly. Bystanders gasped in shock of such a dragon pokemon, but I ignored them completely. The flashes are what bothered me, because cameras had started to show up and news reporters were investigating. I grit my teeth and ordered Cattivo up with a bark.

Tears poured like rain down my face, and it was all I could do to flip off the crowds below. Everyone looked wide eyed and shocked at their favorite run-away handler, but I just added it to my list of more things to drive me crazy. This was why I left this town. This was why I went to Verdanturf and found Wally. This was the driving force that had broken me and Sapphire.

I flipped them off… I flipped them all off as we rose to the sky and hovered above the restaurant. The patio was gazing in shock from below, and a particular pair of wide blue eyes was peering up at me. Whatever compelled me at that moment would surely only cause more problems, but I couldn't control myself. Her lips had touched someone else's right in front of me and I was hurting. I was selfish and hurting and angry.

I flipped her off too, letting my tears fall and drop like rain onto the crowds.

"Let's get out of here Cattivo." I hiccupped and sniveled, feeling far too much like a weak child and hating it. Where did all this come from so suddenly? My girlfriend making out with someone that looked just like me? My best friend in the hospital because of me…

I had to escape, just like the last time when I was pushed to my limits, I had to get the hell out of here before something else went horribly wrong. I steered Flygon in the direction of the mountains beyond the city. I didn't need a lot… just a night to clear my head. Everything would feel batter after a good night's sleep and irrational conversation with myself… right?

It had to work… I had nothing else. Not even Wally could help ease the pain of this particular calamity.