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DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokémon.

Chapter 6: Lasting Bonds

Sapphire and Momo were sent beneath the ruins after unknowingly triggering the mechanism by solving the Kabuto puzzle. Even though the Hoenn teen was caught by surprise, she managed to regain her balance and safely land on the ground while Momo, luckily, clung to her trainer in the nick of time.

"Sapphire! Are you alright?" Crystal peered through the dark opening and called for her junior. It was pitch-black so she couldn't see what had happened below.

"I'm okay!" Sapphire replied as her voice echoed throughout.

Crystal was relieved but she still had to help her get out. "Just stay there for a second. I'll come and find you."

Sapphire could hear her senior's speedy footsteps from above; indicating that Crystal had ran out. All that was left was to wait for her to come.

Looking around at the deep shadows, Sapphire felt the silent atmosphere becoming eerie. It was like there were several other presences near her. She sent out Moro to help shed some light and make the place more easing. The pink Mareep's tail lit up brightly with a yellow glow,

The basement looked the same as the room above them, expect for the fact that it was much wider. Sapphire couldn't help but be curious as to what pokemon lived there. She decided to scan the place a bit while she waited for Crystal to find her, much to Momo's disapproval. The Minccino found the place really creepy as well as dusty. In the end, she had no choice but to follow her trainer or else she'd risk getting left behind.

Under Moro's glowing guide, the three explored the bottom portion of the ruins. Ancient writings similar to the ones they saw were etched all across the walls. Sapphire still couldn't make out a single word when she tried to figure them out again. With a short sigh, she left the writings alone.

Seeing her trainer's futile efforts, Momo wanted to give it a go in an effort to help out. She stared intently at the hieroglyphics and tilted her head from side to side. Somehow, there was something oddly mystifying. The symbols seem to have eyes that followed her movements.

"…Mincci?" Momo thought she was just imagining things. Then she noticed her two companions were getting further away. She bounded back to them but instinctively gave a second glance to the walls. That was when she saw the eyes on the walls moved. They really were staring back at her. Momo's fur stood up and her face grew pale.

"MINCCINO!" She ran for her life and latched on tightly to Sapphire's leg, jolting the girl.

"What's with ya, Momo?!" An irritated Sapphire raised her leg and tried to pry off the panic-stricken Minccino, but Momo wouldn't let go. The more the girl forced her, the more tightly the gray chinchilla held on.

"Maa?" Moro wondered about her friend's behaviour. She nudged Momo and asked what was wrong.

"MINCCI! MINCCINO!" Momo frantically pointed at the walls as she stuck on to her trainer's leg like glue.

The shiny Mareep's tail grew brighter to light up more of the area and Sapphire took a minute to find out what had scared Momo. The girl stared intently at the inscriptions but found nothing worng. It looked absolutely the same as before.

"Momo, it was just yer imagination." Sapphire finally pulled the Minccino off and reassured it, but Momo was not contented. She kept gesturing to the hieroglyphics and desperately implying that she saw something.

Sapphire had enough. She picked up the Minccino and raised her to the wall to show that there was nothing to be afraid. "Ya see now, Momo?"

Momo was silent and unmoving. She was absolutely petrified at the sight. Sapphire turned to see why and noticed that the writings on the wall had mysteriously vanished, much to her surprise.

Then a faint noise made Momo's ear's twitch. She turned around cautiously and saw the weird letters with eyes hovering behind Sapphire. Fear took over. She squirmed away from her trainer and bolted in another direction.

"Momo!" Sapphire tried to call her Minccino back but her attention shifted when her Mareep released bolts of electricity. Moro saw the levitating entities and attacked, backing them away from her and Sapphire.

The blue-eyed trainer quickly got out her pokedex and identified them as pokemon called Unowns. They were fairly weak and Moro's electrical attacks sent most of them fleeing. But more and more of them began to come, attracted by the commotion.

"Sapphire! Duck!" Crystal's yell echoed. The Hoenn teen immediately grabbed her Mareep and dove down to the floor.

Suddenly, Razor leaves and pokeballs shot out of the shadows, subduing the Unowns. Crystal, along with her Meganium, rushed to Sapphire side. "Are you alright?" She picked her junior up from the ground as her starter released a calming aroma in the surroundings to settle down the rest of the symbol pokemon.

"Yeah, I'm okay." It was a relief to see her senior, but Sapphire still had a problem. Momo was missing.

The Minccino had gotten separated from her trainer. She only had herself to blame for her rash actions and that meant she also had to be responsible to find her own way back. Armed with her trusty mini fashion case, she hurriedly rummaged around to find the item she was looking for. It was hard to find it in the dark but she had her belongings well-organized.

Her mouth curved into a grin as she pulled out a mining helmet complete with a built-in flashlight. She placed it securely on her head and turned it on. Now it was a lot better for her to see.

And the first thing that came into view was someone wearing long white pants and moss green shoes. It definitely wasn't her trainer or that twin-tailed girl in a lab coat. Realizing that it was some stranger, Momo decided to make another break for it but she was stopped by the person's pokemon.

The Minccino found herself surrounded. There was no choice but to fight her way out but before she could, a pair of hands gently picked her up. Momo turned to the unknown person and just froze. "M-Mincci?"

"Hey now, you're not supposed to wander off by yourself. Sapphire will be really worried." The person smiled at the Minccino and gestured to the other pokemon. "Azura, let's head outside. I'm sure they'll be on their way there as well."

The pokemon nodded eagerly and shone a vivid orange light to guide the way.

Crystal recalled her Meganium and sent out her Arcanine, Arckee. With the large canine's strong sense of smell, the two dexholders hoped that they would locate the missing Minccino.

All of them ventured through the Ruins of Alph. The Unowns weren't being hostile anymore. Probably because of the tranquil aroma that was still circling the air. Arckee had his nose close to the ground as it deciphered the chinchilla's scent from the rest of the surroundings. Crystal followed behind, along with her junior from Hoenn and the pink Mareep.

"Don't worry, Sapphire. Arckee will find Momo." Crystal assured.

The brunette nodded and walked along anxiously through the long ancient halls. With the silence growing, she decided to strike up a conversation. "So, senior Crystal… Why're ya here? I mean... Is there any special reason for ya to come here?"

"Well, actually there is." The twin-tailed teen answered and smiled. "I've found that the ruins here and the Unown share some sort of link to a certain pokemon. I thought if I came here and investigated, I would see it again."

Sapphire saw eagerness flickering in her senior's eyes. "What pokemon is that?"

Crystal got out her own pokedex and presented a picture of a cerulean blue pokemon with a purple mane. The mere image made Sapphire awe.

"This is Suicune. It is one of the legendary beasts of Johto. Years back when a crisis befell the region, it fought alongside us. I tried capturing it before but I failed." Crystal was saddened for a moment at the recollection but then her mouth curved into a nostalgic grin. "In the end, we became friends, though we parted shortly after the battle."

Sapphire grabbed Crystal's wrist and shot a bright toothy smile. "I'm sure ya two will meet again!"

Crystal nodded happily in agreement. Her junior's optimism was infectious. "I'm sure we will."

Minutes later, Arckee lead them to the exit, where Sapphire's Minccino was founding sitting around, surrounded by various flavoured berries. Momo waved a Rawst at them and continued to chow down blissfully, oblivious to her trainer's dumbstruck expression and gaping mouth.

Sapphire was fuming with extreme agitation but Momo's happy aura remained undisturbed. The girl stomped angrily towards the carefree chinchilla and lifted her up. "Momo, ya Rattata-reject! Do ya have any idea how worried I was?!"

"Mi-Minccino." Momo continued to grin happily as she handed a berry to her trainer as well as one for Moro who was looking at her from below.

Sapphire's anger suddenly dispersed and was replaced with utmost relief. Unexpectedly, she hugged the furry gray chinchilla and muttered, "Don't go runnin' off again. I don't want to lose sight of ya too."

Momo dropped the berry and hugged her back as she realized how badly Sapphire felt when she went missing. Usually, the both of them acted like a Persian and a Rattata, but deep inside they really cared for each other; a relationship similar to Ruby and Sapphire. Momo reminded her trainer so much of the boy she loved. It was comforting but at the same time painful. That was partly the reason Sapphire wanted to leave the Minccino in Hoenn. The other being the fussy furball's antics but so far, those antics just made the girl's journey livelier.

Crystal smiled at the sight of the two. Then she glanced at her poketch and saw that the time was half past four. She knew Sapphire still had to make her way to Azalea Town to earn her next badge. In a way, she felt bad for eating up most her time so Crystal decided to offer her junior a lift on her Arcanine. But before she could, a swift blue blur caught her eye.

Crystal's eyes widened as she stared at the being that appeared above the cliff in front of them. "S-Suicune?"

Sapphire and Momo also turned their attention towards the entity standing before them and was awestruck at the magnificence of the aurora pokemon. Its clear blue body glistened like a pristine river and its purple mane mirrored the northern lights.

Suicune gave a small smile as it descended the cliff and bounded towards them. Crystal was unable to believe that the pokemon she was waiting so long to see was slowly coming towards her. She stretched out a hand and Suicune gently nestled its head against it.

"I guess Suicune missed ya too." Sapphire commented.

Crystal suddenly remembered what she had to do before the aurora pokemon appeared. "Sapphire, you still have to get to Azalea Town. I already used up so much of your time. I'll take you there on Arckee."

"It's okay, senior Crystal. The rest of us can manage on our own. I know ya have a lot of catchin' up ta do with Suicune." Sapphire recalled Moro back to her pokeball while Momo perched herself on the girl's shoulder, ready to set out again.

Crystal still felt bad for inconveniencing Sapphire but before she could say another word, Suicune stepped in between the two dexholders and held their wrists with its stream-like tails.

"A-Are you suggesting that you'd give us a ride?" Crystal inquired nervously. The aurora pokemon nodded with a smile and tugged on the Capturer's wrist.

"Why not?" Sapphire couldn't refuse an opportunity to ride a pokemon of legend. Momo also seemed eager as well. Crystal finally agreed. She returned her Arcanine to its pokeball and mounted on the aurora pokemon's back, followed by Sapphire and Momo.

Suicune was ready to go but then its attention shifted. It turned its head towards the forest and stared at it cautiously, worrying the dexholders on its back.

"What's the matter Suicune? Did you see something?" Crystal asked as she also shifted her gaze towards the thick woods. But so far, nothing stirred.

"Could it be that person is still followin' us?" Sapphire spoke up out loud.

"What person?" Crystal grew concerned about her junior. "Perhaps, it's a stalker? Sapphire, you should be wary of strangers. You don't know what they could be after."

"I know but so far everythin' that person did was a big help. I got an Apricorn box and a tasty breakfast…." Sapphire explained. She was unsure whether the Sprout Tower part was also part of that stranger's doing.

"Mincci! Minccino!" Momo interrupted and gestured to the ruins then back at herself.

"Did that person help ya out too, Momo? Is that how ya got out?"

The red-eyed Minccino nodded and did a quick game of charades. She described what she did after they got separated and how someone found her, but all the two dexholders could catch was how frightened the chinchilla was and the rest was repetitive nonsense chattering.

Seeing that none of them understood, Momo shrunk back to her trainer's shoulder and sulked. Sapphire decided to inquire better details from the Minccino later. Crystal patted Suicune's side and apologized for the slight delay. "There doesn't seem to be any danger. We should go now."

Suicune nodded and bounded towards Azalea Town with rapid speed, forcing Sapphire and Momo to hold on even tighter.

Meanwhile, a shadowy figure came out from the forest, along with two pokemon. They watched as the aurora pokemon disappeared into the distance and out of their sight. The individual scratched his head and sighed, "I didn't expect that to happen. Looks like we'll be running a little behind."

The person turned to one of the pokemon and mounted on its back. "We better start covering up some ground, right Xylo?"

The pokemon kept its gaze at the distance as it pounded the ground with its hoof. The second pokemon eagerly mounted on its teammate as well and sat comfortably in front of its trainer. And within moments, they headed towards Azalea Town.

The late afternoon sky glowed of a flaxen light as the sun began to descend in the western horizon. Pidgeys and Pidgeottos flew back to their nests and the sound of the owl pokemons gradually filled the air as well as the cold winds brought about by Suicune, making the atmosphere feel like it was already night.

The route to the next town was no easy task but they were no match for the legendary beast. It surged through them with ease and elegance like water flowing through a stream. On the way, they didn't pass through the Union Cave. Instead, they travelled above it by scaling the tall steep mountain.

With the aurora pokemon's assistance, Sapphire had arrived just before the sun fully set. At the outskirts of Azalea, the Hoenn trainer thanked Crystal and Suicune and bid them goodbye. The Johto dexholder warned her junior again about the stranger. It would have been better if the brunette had a traveling companion but she refused any of the dexholders. Sapphire promised that she'd be careful and with that her senior left on Suicune.

She counted the end of the second day of her 20-day quest. It was a good progress. Tomorrow, she'd be getting her new badge. Sapphire caught a glimpse of the town, just a short distance from where she stood. The roofs were made of hay excluding the pokemart, the pokemon center and the gym. The wild girl stuck her nose in the air and detected smoke, revealing to be coming from a chimney on one of the houses.

Darkness was settling in, so she decided to set up camp. Sapphire sent out the rest of their team so they could do their usual camping chores. Momo and Moro gathered dead branches and Toro lit them up while their trainer tied her hammock.

They sat around the fire and ate the berries that Momo had when she was found. Luckily, there were a lot and it was enough to fill their stomachs. While they were eating, Sapphire saw it was a good opportunity to get more info from the Minccino regarding the mystery helper. "Momo, could ya tell us about the person that's been helpin' us? Is he a boy or is she a girl?"

Momo stuffed the berry down her throat and went in front of the campfire to properly perform her little game of charades. And with her fashion case, she had the advantage of props. Her first get up as a mini white long-sleeve and a pink headband.

"So it's a girl wearing white clothes and a headband?"

The Minccino made an X mark with her arms and rapidly shook her head, indicating that Sapphire's judgement was wrong. The chinchilla went through her stuff once again, but she didn't have the right color for the headband so she picked up a few grasses and stuck them on the band, giving it a green color as well a ridiculous appeal.

"A boy then… with a …green headband?" Sapphire concluded. If she had time to mess around, she would have replied a male version of her cave girl appearance.

"Mincci!" Momo raised a thumbs up and cleaned away the leaves.

"A boy…" Sapphire recalled what Crystal had told her. What could he be after? Why is he helping me? Why doesn't he just show himself. Questions kept popping out without any answers. The girl turned to the Minccino again to ask further, "Hey, Momo—"

But Momo was fast asleep as were the rest of the girl's team and there were pink dopey-looking pokemon beside each of them. "…Slow-Slowpoke."

They didn't look hostile but they seemed to be the reason why Momo, Moro and Toro fell asleep. Sapphire backed away but was surrounded by them. "…What'd ya want?"

The band of Slowpoke stared blankly at the girl and yawned. Unconsciously, Sapphire also yawned. She was getting really drowsy. In a moment, she collapsed and fell asleep on the cold ground. The Slowpokes tilted their head in confusion and nudged the passed out girl.

● ~ • ~ ● ~

A soft but high-pitched whistle resonated in the wind. The Slowpokes yawned loudly and soon fell asleep as well. A silhouette walked out of the shadows and came over to Sapphire. "I can't believe this. I'm arrived just a little late and you'd already gotten yourself into trouble."

The boy gently scooped her up and carefully set her on the hammock. Afterwards, he wrapped a blanket over her to keep the girl warm. Then he directed his attention to the slumbering pokemon. He picked up Momo and Moro and placed them on the hammock with Sapphire. That was the easy part next problem was the Blaziken as well as the Slowpokes.

The boy's pokemon came out to assist him. One lifted Toro using telekinesis and set the blaze pokemon against the tree. Then it levitated the Slowpokes and laid them on the back of the other pokemon.

"Nice work, Azura." The boy calmly patted his pokemon and turned to his second one. "Xylo, just leave them by the well. They'll be fine."

The pokemon named Xylo did as it was told and headed for the rainmaker's well. The boy sighed deeply and glanced back at the girl and her three pokemon. "This is more of a handful than I thought."

"He warned you, didn't he?" Azura quoted telepathically.

"Well, I'm here now. There's no use regretting it." The boy replied in a hush tone. Then with a soft expression, he muttered under his breath. "…Not that I regret anything."

Sapphire found herself in her secret base, back in Hoenn. Nothing much had changed since she last saw it. The plushies were still adorning the shelves and mat and the mini skitty TV remained at the usual corner of the room.

Everything was as it was before Ruby had disappeared.

"Hey, Sapph. What took you so long?" a familiar smiling face came out from one of the adjacent quarters.

Unsurprised, Sapphire bit her lip and stared at the boy. "This is a dream. Ain't it?"

Ruby didn't reply. He just came over and wrapped his arms around her. "Sorry…"

Sapphire didn't move. She just lowered her head and whispered, "Where did ya go?"

"What are you talking about? I'm right here."

Sapphire was not amused. "I mean... out there, ya jerk."

Ruby gave a soft chuckle as he leaned against the girl's forehead. "Congratulations on your first Johto badge, by the way."

Sapphire clenched her fist and lightly punched the crimson-eyed boy in the gut. "Don'tcha go changing the damn subject."

Ruby broke away and clutched his stomach while smiling, obviously feigning the pain. "Maybe I'm just afraid to come out because you'll beat me up."

"I'll give ya somethin' ta be afraid of…" Sapphire cracked her knuckles and glared at him.

Ruby backed off and cowered. "Now, Sapph… This is a dream. Don't make it a nightmare for me."

Sapphire didn't listen. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt pulled Ruby towards her face. "Ya better find come home and congratulate me personally when I collect all of the badges."

*gulp* Ruby raised his hand and crossed his heart. "I-I promise…"

Sapphire's expression softened. "Good." Then she pressed her lips against his. Dream or not, she couldn't resist not kissing him, neither could Ruby. The boy returned the kiss and cupped her cheek as the blue-eyed girl loosened her hold on Ruby's shirt.

The imaginary warmth was comforting in a way. Perhaps it was just the boy's presence that Sapphire felt at ease. She missed him terribly.

Ruby slowly parted and whispered. "Good luck on your next badge."

The girl nodded with a small smile. Afterwards, the dream faded.

September 3rd

Morning came, Sapphire woke up to the smell of the bright dawn and the warmth of the sunbeams. She stretched out her arms and yawned. Her eyes opened and she was greeted by her two fuzzy pokemon. "G'morning guys…"

"Mincci!"

"Maa!"

Both Momo and Moro seemed concerned for some reason. That was when Sapphire remembered. She sat up abruptly, jolting the duo, and was surprised to find out that she had fallen asleep on the hammock and that there were no Slowpokes in sight.

The Hoenn teen scratched her head. "Did I just imagine it?"

Momo and Moro shook their heads in objection. Sapphire tried to put a finger on the events that just occurred. But then a mouth-watering smell cut off her trail of thought. It was there again; a black metal pot filled with delicious-looking curry, and at the side were bowls filled with rice balls.

"So that guy dropped by again…" Sapphire got up after her two pokemon hopped off. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, intently, for any signs of the mystery boy. It was the same. The guy displayed no signs of showing himself. That fact irritated Sapphire. "HEEY!"

Her sudden outburst made Moro and Momo flinch as well as wake Toro from her sleep. The birds and bug pokemon also scrambled away from the area.

"Come out already, ya freakin' stalker!" Sapphire exclaimed but alas, no one stepped forward. She huffed angrily and growled. "We're not eatin' any of yer stinkin' curry, if ya don't show up!"

"…Mi?"

Sapphire turned to her team and realized they were already sitting around the pot and holding bowls full of rice and curry. The girl's eyes narrowed as she stared the trio down. Toro and Moro quickly moved their bowls away from themselves and awaited further instructions while Momo refused to let a delicious warm bowl go to waste. She defiantly gobbled up every morsel down to the last grain and after tossing away the empty bowl; she stood bravely in front of the pot and dared her trainer to do her worse.

Sapphire emitted a deadly aura as she walked towards the Minccino. Momo could feel a cold chill running down her spine but she remained unyielding. She just bit her lip and forced her jelly-like legs to keep on standing.

"Mo-mo…" Sapphire stared menacingly the scarlet-eyed chinchilla and clutched the fur on Momo's back, lifting the petrified pokemon to her face. "Ya have some nerve…"

*rumble*

The scary atmosphere was shattered by the sound of Sapphire's stomach. The tables have turned. Momo was no longer afraid. She crossed her arms as her mouth curved into a wide grin as if to mock the girl.

Sapphire tried to restrain the blush of embarrassment in front of her pokemon, but it was no use doing that in front of the Minccino. She cursed under her breath and set the chinchilla down, admitting her defeat. "You win this round…"

Momo happily handed her two teammates their bowls back and also gave a bowlful of rice and curry to her trainer. Sapphire took it from her without making eye contact, and proceeded to eat her fill. The food was great as expected.

Sapphire's POV

While I ate, I couldn't help but recall my dream. I thought that I would be fine traveling Johto without him. After I saw him, I didn't realize how much I actually missed him and how much I wished that he was beside me.

I ran out of tears to shed and I don't plan to shed any in the near future. I already made my resolve to see this journey through. I won't falter. I won't…

Everyone has high hopes for me especially my seniors. And I know, he too, wants me to succeed. Even though they're elsewhere, in my heart, they give me strength.

Ruby, wherever you are right now, today, I'm gonna get my second badge.

End of Chapter 6

Wew. More and more details about the mystery guy.

Any guesses what his pokemon are? =D

Clues:

Azura means Blue

Xylo means Forest

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novaking2832 and facelessclocks!

It really makes me happy to know that people like reading my stories.
Sorry btw. for the typos. I've been scanning them for a few days now and I hope to correct them soon.

I hope to hear from the viewpoints of my other readers as well. ^_^