- N - = Nicky's part
- J - = my part
Chapter 020 - At the plaza
- J -
Amethyst was distracted with her lemonade but, however, she couldn't stop noticing, from time to time, how Stephanie and Riley were talking in a suspiciously low tone.
It seemed like Riley was in 'gossip mode' that day. First, Laelaps; then, Stephanie. Amethyst wondered if he would do the same with her while she took another sip of her lemonade.
Riley's expressions varied; they were mostly... awkward. However, the woman couldn't see the teen's face. The conversation ended soon, but there was something strange in the way Stephanie toned up her voice.
Oh, well. Whatever. Nothing of that would change Amethyst's plans anyway.
"We'll have lunch at the plaza. Money is no object, I'm sure Miss Brown and her Raticate would enjoy a nice three-course meal at a good restaurant after that battle this morning."
"Sure?" The chestnut-head asked. "Okay, then. I'm fine with that."
Seeing the blondie and Rodent so excited about shopping amused Amethyst, who was gladly taking Riley's hand as she stood up. She smiled at him and nodded, as saying "thank you".
A while later…
A few minutes later, they were already at the commercial zone in Oreburgh. The whistles of the miners around them were constant, and some of them even stared at them -both Stephanie and Amethyst- as angry wolves.
"Oh, my." Amethyst muttered, blushing, while Riley stepped near her. "This is so... awkward."
The tiny woman wasn't used to that kind of situations; she barely got compliments about her looks, after all. She looked away everytime a miner stared directly at her.
However, Stephanie seemed happier than ever.
"Ms. Brown, don't point up people, please." Amethyst muttered, still blushing. "It's kind of rude."
"Or that guy... Or that guy... Or that guy."
"Okay, I get it. I get it..." The purple-eyed woman sighed, uncomfortable.
She flinched as they discovered the pink-haired miner was actually Serena Joy, who seemed to be in a bad mood, as usually.
While Riley and Stephanie were surprised at Serena's hairstyle, Amethyst actually liked it.
"But you look pretty cute with that hairstyle." She told the Joy.
Maybe her clothes didn't really fit her, since they were probably Roark's, but it was refreshing seeing her with those two loops. Which wasn't so refreshing was seeing her fighting with Stephanie. It already seemed like a tradition.
Amethyst listened to Serena's explanation in silence.
"You'd better dress a little more conservatively, Amethyst. These guys on their lunch break are notorious flirts."
Amethyst looked down, ashamed. First, the miners whistling at her, now, Serena telling she dressed revealingly. Amethyst felt like a slut for a moment.
"Oh, sorry." The chestnut-head said. "I still had some of the heat from the mines in my body, so I didn't put my jacket-"
Amethyst shut her mouth when she suddenly noticed Riley putting his jacket around her shoulders. The woman's blush became more intense.
"Let's… start walking. Try to find the shop you need first, Amethyst."
Why was Riley acting like that, anyway? So he was already treating her like a younger sister -Amethyst thought, upset. Hadn't he told her she was too young, after all? Meh, just don't think about it too much.
She didn't move, listening to Serena and Stephanie's conversation, and surprised at the fact that they weren't arguing.
For the first time that day, the beautiful blue-eyed woman seemed interested in what had happened to them.
"We almost died in the mines. Riley and Amy got some waifu time together,"
"Really? What happened?"
"Oh- umh, well... a wild Onix appeared while we were training." Amethyst explained, kind of nervous. "It wanted to attack Ms. Brown, and Riley and I protected her..."
She then remembered how Riley had asked her to keep walking just a few minutes before, when he was covering her shoulders.
"Umh, can we... keep walking as we talk?" Amethyst asked, starting to walk again.
"So- well, mmh, Stephanie and Lucario managed to escape," She kept explaining as the group walked. "but Raticate, Riley and I were trapped amongst the rocks."
"Riley... protected me." Amethyst added, blushing. "I would have been smashed by a rock if he hadn't saved me."
"Raticate helped us to break through the rocks, and then," The purple-eyed woman looked at Stephanie. "Ms. Brown arrived along with Roark to take us out from the cave."
"Roark didn't seem very angry about the catastrophe but, anyway, we apologize for all the problems we caused."
Amethyst bowed, as apologizing to Serena. She lived with Roark, after all, so she could be bothered about the accident as well.
They got into the Poké Mart. Amethyst handed Stephanie some money and pointed at certain shelves.
"There." She pointed. "See the X-Defense? I already gave you a few full restores, so there's no need to buy potions... And look! There you can see the pink bow and the silk scarf, next to the storefront! Buy one of them if you want. However, I insist, they could be very useful."
"Serena, Riley and I will be waiting here."
- N -
"I don't know," Serena added dubiously, touching her hair, "I only keep it like this so the other Joys don't rat on me to my parents."
She looked shiftily from side to side, as if suspecting a distant cousin from the Joy clan to be hiding behind a pillar.
"My parents don't entirely approve of my life decisions," She mumbled low enough for Brown not to hear. "They'd rather I be like all of the other reindeer."
"Well I for one love Rudolph," Riley teased, keeping an arm protectively on his jacket, now firmly around Amethyst's shoulders. "You should be proud of your individuality,"
"Individuality isn't in their vocabulary – 'dissention' and 'stubborn' are."
She sighed, seemingly sinking deeper into the folds of Roark's too-big clothes as her misery wrapped itself around her. Eventually nothing but her long, straight nose stuck out from the collar of Roark's grey jacket.
Her blue eyes stared enraptured as Amy recounted the story of what happened before at the mine. She cast the occasional glance at Brown as Amy explained the Onyx's aggression to the blonde trainer.
She arched her brow, wondering just what the girl had done to earn the ire of her Audino and that Onyx. Maybe she was just plain annoying to both people and pokemon.
Serena watched the girl steal Riley's hat, balancing it on the tip of her nose, clapping and making 'urp, urp' noises like a Spheal. Eventually the fedora toppled off her face and onto the ground – Brown hastily picked it up and guiltily dusted it off before returning it, hopefully unnoticed, to the blue-haired man's head.
Oh, yes, Brown was annoying. It wasn't that hard to imagine.
As they walked past a bakery and then a boutique, Serena felt her cheeks burn at Amy and Riley's intimacy in the caverns. Arceus knew how many times she'd wanted Roark to do that to her…
She quickly snapped back to reality as she noticed the purple-eyed woman bowing to her.
"Roark didn't seem very angry about the catastrophe but, anyway, we apologize for all the problems we caused."
Serena nodded, wondering whether she was supposed to bow back. They certainly never did anything like this ins Unova. Oh, no, not when a simple handshake would suffice. She darted a sidelong glance at Brown and Riley, both of whom seemed perfectly comfortable with the gesture.
Stiffly, Serena bowed back.
"Uhh, it's no problem," She straightened. "If Roark's alright with it, it really isn't that big a deal. Besides, a cave-in might help stop people from going too deep in the mine tomorrow night. It's dangerous deep in the caverns."
"W-what's deeper in the caverns?" Brown looked about afraid.
"Wolves," Serena muttered, a hint of malice edging her voice, "Just the metaphorical kind," She added, noticing Riley stiffen.
They now reached the PokeMart, as Amy pointed out the items Brown needed. The girl looked hesitantly at the money in her hand.
"Miss Amy… I really can't accept this," She admitted. "I have my own money – my parents gave me a debit card. I really shouldn't be taking yours."
Eventually, the blonde wound her way around the shop, whistling to herself as she did. She picked up items like a farmer would his apples from the tree – with deliberation and thought, but never scrimping, quantity-wise.
While Riley remained close to Amy, Serena moved quietly to the back of the shop, where they kept the toys. She browsed through the collection of dolls, stopping at the Rampardos. With a sense of sentimentality, she picked up the doll, squeaking its rotund belly.
The sound snapped Brown's head towards her, and in seconds the Blonde was waltzing to Amy with a Rampardos toy of her own. Her arms were full of assorted X-Defenses and seeds for growing berries in Berry Pots, but her few remaining fingers held tight and brandished the doll.
"Hey, Amy," Brown bit her lip coyly, "look what I found?"
She squeaked the doll again. Riley raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"I wonder why they sell these in PokeMarts," Brown murmured, "what would a trainer need with a doll?"
"They're escape items, Stephanie," Riley answered. "Normally trainers use the one shaped like Clefairy to run away from wild Pokemon… or something of the sort… Amethyst can explain it better." He nodded to the item specialist.
"Serena seems awfully fond of the Rampardos ones." Brown looked at the toy in her hands. "Wonder what she'd be trying to run away from, though."
- J -
"Miss Amy… I really can't accept this, I have my own money – my parents gave me a debit card. I really shouldn't be taking yours."
"Oh, you're so lucky you have your VERY own debit card!" Amethyst exclaimed, shaking her long eyelashes. "It sucks that I have to rely on my brother..."
The purple-eyed woman took the money back from the teenager, silently thanking her for that because Amethyst was, actually, quite poor at the moment.
"Happy shopping, then."
Amethyst stayed near Riley, an awkward silence between the two of them as soon as Serena left to have a look at the toys.
"Should I tell him something?" She thought, nervous. "If so, what should I tell him?"
However, she didn't have to think for too long, since the squeak from Serena's toy caught her attention.
"Oh! Pokédolls!" Amethyst exclaimed, approaching Serena. "I had never seen a Rampardos one!"
Well, she had definitely seen one, but Amethyst was one to lie just to stay away from troubles and misunderstandings.
It didn't take long for Stephanie to come back with Amethyst with another toy.
"It's so cute!" The chestnut-head exclaimed, squeaking the toy's belly as soon as the teen handed it to her. "Oh, by the way, you should go pay those items first. You're too close to the exit and the shop assistant might think you want to steal them..."
...Or Amethyst might want to worry a bit less. Even she sometimes believed she worried too much.
"I wonder why they sell these in PokeMarts, what would a trainer need with a doll?"
"They're escape items, Stephanie. Normally trainers use the one shaped like Clefairy to run away from wild Pokemon… or something of the sort… Amethyst can explain it better."
Amethyst nodded.
"Yeah, they're called pokédolls." She explained to the brown-eyed girl. "The most popular ones were Clefairy-shaped, but because of all the popular demand... Well, that's not what interests you."
"If a trainer can't afford a battle against a wild pokémon, they can always use a pokédoll." Amethyst said. "Wild pokémon get distracted with pokédolls, and that gives the trainer a chance to escape -that's how they work!"
The short woman rubbed her head, snorting nostalgically.
"I've lost count of how MANY times I used pokédolls back when I was an unexperienced trainer." She added, smiling.
"Serena seems awfully fond of the Rampardos ones. Wonder what she'd be trying to run away from, though."
"Oh, I don't think is anything complicated." Amethyst said, always going for the most simple thing. "I just think... hehe, that they remind her of Roark, and that's why she loves Rampardos toys so much."
Anyway, she couldn't stop thinking about the Rampardos toy they'd seen back in the cavern... Then again, being Roark the Gym Leader of that town, Rampardos-related items should be very popular in Oreburgh, shouldn't they...?
"Now, just go to pay that stuff." Amethyst told the younger girl, pointing at the items she'd bought. "I want to get out from this shop, it's hot here."
"Specially... with this jacket." Amethyst added, referring to Riley's jacket over her shoulders.
Anyhow, she had chosen her softest tone just so Riley didn't get upset. Things were quite good (more or less) between them at the moment, and she didn't want to ruin it.
"Hey, Serena," Amethyst said to the woman near her. "well, first of all, sorry for dragging you into this, but it's very nice of you to accompany us."
"We're getting out of here now. Do you want to keep looking at the toys or will you go out with us?"
Deep inside her, Amethyst was worried that her excessive politeness could make Serena feel awkward...
The purple-eyed woman opened the PokéMart's door, unable to handle the heat inside the tiny shop. Just when she opened the door, she saw a girl with a Chingling on her head passing by the PokéMarket.
"Ah...!"
She was taller than Amethyst, but not so busty as Stephanie. Her body was thin and curvy, but it didn't seem rachitic and weak, like Amethyst's body did. And even though she had an elegant figure, her steps were determined, even kind of boyish.
"Morganite!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Long time no see!"
The girl's shifty, light blue eyes looked at Amethyst, her light silver hair with purple highlights shining elegantly.
"Amethyst? Amy?" Morganite asked. "How come you're not with your bro?"
"We parted ways." Amethyst answered. "We're old enough to have our own journeys, hehe."
Amethyst turned her head to Riley and the group, but her words were mostly adressed to Riley.
"Remember Pink?" She asked him. "Well, Morganite's her sister-in-law; yes, Kyanite's sister. You do remember him too, right?"
Morganite was staring at the group in silence. Serena Joy, dressed in men clothes, definitely caught her attention.
"Mmh, how come you're here in Sinnoh again, Amy?" The girl asked.
"Well, our previous visit was too rushed." Amethyst explained, remembering their visit to Sinnoh from eight years ago. "I wanted to enjoy this region better, now that my brother isn't with me."
"Haha, I see." Morganite laughed. "I had my own journey across Kanto two years ago. And, this year, it's time to cross MY own region! I've come to Oreburgh this week since the Miner's Dance is tomorrow."
"Oh! That's why I came to Oreburgh too!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Oh, and I'm joining the Dance too!"
Which reminded her that she didn't have a partner yet.
"And... have you already found... well, you know, a partner? Hehe" The chestnut-head asked, giggling.
It was then when Morganite realized that Amethyst hadn't change anything. She was still dumb when it came to love issues.
"Why, yes." The teenager nodded, serenely.
"Really? Whoa!"
"Why are you so worked up, anyway?" Morganite raised an eyebrow.
"Mmh, well... y' know... they say that your... partner will be your 'true love' ever, and-"
"That's bullshit!" Morganite interrupted the nervous woman. "I just want that guy for the Dance (I'd hate to go alone, duh), and that's it. And he thinks the same, so..."
"Eh, umh..." Amethyst stuttered. "But how could you...?"
"Sigh, Amethyst, you're still the same." The silver-head mumbled. "Don't act as if I was weird now. Pink was the same when she was my age, remember?"
The purple-eyed woman blinked, without knowing what to say.
"You're the weird one here, Amy." Morganite pointed at Amethyst. "Since the early age of 16, you started to waste your time clinging to ONLY one man. How could you waste your adolescence like that?"
That's it. Morganite knew Riley although they'd never met. But Pink and Kyanite had, and they'd told Morganite about Amethyst's infatuation on him.
"B-but..." Amethyst stuttered, her face bright red.
Riley was right behind her and he'd heard everything. EVERYTHING. That was the most embarrassing moment for Amethyst, definitely.
"I-I..." The chestnut-head kept suttering. "It's not... I just-"
"Meh, it's okay, don't force yourself." Morganite said, shaking her head in disapproval. "Well, I hafta go, guys. See ya at the Dance, I guess!"
Morganite left, and the next five seconds that followed her departure were filled with a tense silence.
Finally, Amethyst turned back to Riley and the group.
"Ummh, well…" She muttered. "Don't take her wrong, please… She's actually a nice girl, and she was adorable when she was younger, really…"