Return to you
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokémon.
Chapter 11: Decisions and Lies
Sapphire placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. "Well?"
"Y-You see…" Lapis was stuttering nervously. Then he paused and took a deep breath before speaking once again. "I moved away from Goldenrod City, years ago like Ruby."
"Then why did ya come back?" Sapphire continued to interrogate him with extreme discretion.
"Am I not allowed to visit my hometown once in a while?" Lapis' tried to be calm but his voice was trembling noticeably. "L-let's just head to the pokemon center for now. You have a gym battle to prepare, am I right?"
Sapphire watched Lapis enter the pokemon center and soon followed as well. She felt there something that he was hiding from her but it was like that since they first met. Though so far, the boy was able to conceal it behind that rarely flinching smile of his and the excuses he came up with. Another similarity he had with Ruby.
They had their respective pokemons checked and reserved two separate rooms which were thankfully available. Lapis went up to his quarters while Sapphire was talking to Nurse Joy. The brunette found out her package had finally arrived. It contained Friend Balls, Lure Balls and Heavy Balls.
After that, Sapphire sat down at the lobby and went over her battle strategy while waiting for her pokemon. She was going to go up against Normal types, the same type as Norman. The gym battle that time was the toughest she had faced and she was lucky that Ruby's father was still not in his prime form, having used much of his strength in controlling Rayquaza.
Several minutes later, Lapis came back and Nurse Joy returned their pokemon who were now hyped and battle-ready. They left and Sapphire proceeded to the gym while being led by Lapis who knew his way around the big city.
Upon entering, Sapphire almost gagged at the pink explosion of floor and walls. She attempted to turn around and leave, but Lapis grabbed her arm and dragged the girl further in the Clefairy-shaped maze, while doing his best to not to laugh.
Sapphire tried not to mind the flashy feminine décor or the fact that her matching outfit motif made her totally blend in. On the other hand, Momo was feeling the opposite. She was starry-eyed and aweing at the pretty patterns as she perched happily on her trainer's shoulder.
"Oh! What an adorable Minccino!" Without warning, a teenage girl with short chocolate hair and black eyes, bounded towards them with a wide grin. "So precious! What's her name?"
Sapphire was caught off guard but she still managed to reply. "M-Momo…"
"So CUTE!" The lass lifted up the little chinchilla and twirled on the spot.
Sapphire didn't know what to do in that sort of situation. The Gym of Goldenrod was the least of what she expected. Her carefully planned strategy was now drowned in shades of pink.
*click*
A sudden flash accompanied by a shutter sound shifted the Hoenn dexholder's attention. Her face darkened when she saw Lapis happily grinning while looking at his camera.
"That was good. But it would have been better if you smiled though." The boy commented.
"I'll give you somethin' ta smile about!" Sapphire growled and was about to stomp towards him but then a group of feminine trainers swarmed around Lapis.
"Hey cutie, wanna take a picture of me next?" One beauty curled her arm around Lapis'.
"Hey! I was first!" Another female trainer tugged the boy from the opposite side.
Girls were fawning all over the boy. Lapis struggled to break free but there were too many. He tried to ask help from Sapphire but she couldn't care less about the boy's predicament. Her mind was desperately trying to stay focus on the task at hand, getting her third badge.
"Alright gals, that's far enough." A pink-haired lady in a white shirt and blue shorts spoke up from a high platform. "We have a challenger so save it after the battle."
"Aww… C'mon Whitney!" the girls chorused.
"No buts!" Whitney jumped down and approached Sapphire. "I'm the Goldenrod City Gym leader, specializing in the cutest Normal types. I look forward to have good battle."
"Yeah, me too." Sapphire nodded.
After a short introduction, both trainers readied themselves at opposite sides of the battlefield. Each had an eager expression as they held a pokeball in each hand. The onlookers sat down at an elevated area as the gym battle was about to begin. Azura remained near Lapis who was still being crowded by girls. Even then the raven-haired boy could manage to move his hands enough to position his camera in preparation to take shots of Sapphire's battle.
"It'll be a one round double battle. The side, whose pokemon are unable to battle, loses." Whitney explained the rules and took out a second pokeball before sending her two pokemon into the arena. Sapphire also took out another and tossed both spheres into the air.
Four pokemon burst out and appeared on the battlefield. On Whitney's side was a Milktank and a Wigglytuff while on Sapphire's was a Riolu and a Flaaffy. The girls in the audience squealed at the sight of the four cute pokemon. Sapphire found it rather distracting especially when it was followed by clicking noises of Lapis' camera.
A second just before she could speak up, both noises stopped. Sapphire glanced to see what happened and saw that Lapis was once again fawned because of his camera. Whitney noticed it as well and giggled. "Looks like your boyfriend is really popular…"
"He's NOT my boyfriend!" Sapphire immediately shouted.
"Oh, really?" Whitney let out a girly laugh and thought of an idea. "So how about a little wager then? If I win, the girls could have him for the rest of the afternoon..." The female trainers cheered and squealed in unison at the suggestion. "…And if you win, I'll treat you both to a nice dessert shop here in Goldenrod."
"Even if I do win, you can do what ya want. Tie a ribbon and hang him up here as some gaudy chandelier, for all I care!"
"H-Hey now, that's a little mean, don't you think?" Lapis could hardly believe what he was hearing. "D-don't I get a say in all this?"
Whitney grinned happily, ignoring the boy's plea. "Alright then, it's a deal!"
The atmosphere grew serious as a female referee announced for the battle to commence.
Whitney was first to command her pokemon. "Milktank, Zen Headbutt on the Riolu. Wigglytuff, power up the attack up with Helping Hand!"
The pink balloon pokemon tapped her partner's side, enveloping the Milktank in a spectrum-colored energy before the milk cow pokemon charged forward with its head glowing vivid blue.
"Rilo, use Detect to dodge! And Moro follow up with Electro Ball on Wigglytuff!" Sapphire ordered.
Rilo's eyes glow green as he agilely moved out of the way of the impending attack. Then he and Moro dart to opposite sides and surged towards their other enemy. The Flaaffy closes in and conjures up a golden orb of electricity on her tail before finally flinging it toward the opponent. The Wigglytuff was hit but it shook off the attack and bounced into the air.
Whitney signalled her other pokemon. "Alright, Milktank! Use Rollout!"
The milk cow pokemon curled into a ball then rolled towards its enemies at tremendous speed. Moro managed to put up Cotton guard to lessen the impact but Rilo was struck hard, knocking him off his feet.
"Wigglytuff, let's cool down this battle with Blizzard!" The pink-haired gym leader added.
Floating above, the balloon pokemon took a deep breath and unleashed a massive snow storm upon the whole arena. Everyone braced against the strong chilly winds. Moro remained covered by her woolly barrier while Rilo struggled to stand up.
Sapphire shielded her head from the pounding snow, but forced her eyes to stay open and focus on the battle. In the midst of the hazy arena, she caught a glimpse of a round shadow coming towards her pokemon. "Rilo, use Counter and Moro, launch another Electro Ball at Wigglytuff!"
Rilo took on a firm stance as his body became outlined in orange while Moro created another golden sphere of electricity and threw it into the sky, striking down the balloon pokemon. Whitney's Milktank came back with another round of Rollout. Its revolution was even faster than before and its body was now coated in a thin layer of ice. Even then, Rilo stood unyielding in its way. The attack made contact but the Riolu held it back with unbelievable strength for his size. Both pokemon clashed in a battle of endurance. Rilo was desperately trying to push back the heavy assault. The frosty coating made it hard for him to get a good grip. He could feel his feet being forced back across the snow covered floor. On the other hand, the rotation speed of the Rollout was slowing down and the ice was steadily melting away. Heavily tensed seconds passed like minutes. Finally, Rilo clenched his teeth and summoned all the strength he could muster into a single moment. He grasped the Milktank, completely ceasing its onslaught, and knocked it back a great distance. Everyone in the audience gaped in shock, excluding Lapis who cheered and took couple of perfectly timed shots with his camera.
Rilo fell to his knees and huffed deeply to catch his breath. Moro rushed to his side and urged him to get up.
The battle was not over yet.
Whitney's pokemon stood up again with difficulty and eyed their opponents with fierce determination as did Sapphire's team. Rilo and Moro stood back to back and faced their enemies.
"Milktank, use Zen Headbutt again! And Wigglytuff, Flamethrower!" Whitney commanded, feeling the pressure of the battle.
The milk cow pokemon charged again with its head glowing radiant azure, and the pink balloon pokemon puffed her cheeks and released a fiery orange stream from its mouth, melting the snow in its way and causing a thick mist to form. Each attack struck the center of the battlefield but it was uncertain as to what had happened in the white shroud.
"Rilo, Force Palm! Moro, Iron Tail!" Sapphire shouted her instructions. A shadow rocketed above the cloudy mist. It was Rilo with Moro clinging on his back. At the peak of the jump, both pokemon split apart and lunged towards their respective opponents. Rilo held out a paw with a yellow light swiftly accumulating at the middle as he dove down towards the Milktank while Moro, increasing her speed with the momentum, flipped forward with her tail illuminating with brilliant white. Whitney's pokemon did not have the strength or the time to move out of the way. Both highly effective assaults hit in unison, completely knocking the two pokemon out.
All was silent until the referee declared Sapphire as the winner. While onlookers applauded, the Hoenn dexholder rushed to her team who were now both slumped unto the floor and gasping for air. But their exhausted faces lit up when they saw their trainer coming towards them with a wide fanged grin. Sapphire went to Rilo and Moro and wrapped them both in each arm before praising them over and over with absolute pride.
*click*
A camera flash and a shutter sound shifted the trio's attention.
"Sorry to disturb, but I just couldn't let such a good moment pass." Being satisfied with the last shot, Lapis put away his camera and extended his hand. "Congratulations, by the way."
Sapphire shook his hand with a smile still on her face. "Thanks…"
Lapis grinned back and chuckled at the fact that it was the first word of gratitude he heard her say to him. "How about you claim your badge while I'll get Azura to fix up your pokemon?" He suggested as his shiny Kirlia went to his side.
Sapphire glanced at Whitney who was crying on the floor while being surrounded by her two pokemon and the female trainers in the gym who were trying to calm her down. She agreed and went over to the Goldenrod gym leader.
Whitney had just wiped the last of her tears when Sapphire stood in front of her. "S-Sorry… It's a habit of mine every time I lose a gym battle. I still haven't grown out of it." She pulled out a small diamond-shaped item and handed it over. "This is the Plain Badge. You won it fair and square…"
Sapphire gladly received it and gazed proudly at the object, knowing she was another step closer to her goal.
"Oh, yeah before I forget!" Whitney took out a couple of dessert coupons and gave it to the blue-eyed brunette. "I also lost the bet so here are the free desserts that I promised."
Sapphire thanked her and looked back to see how Lapis was doing. The boy was gently patting Moro while Azura was healing Rilo. The emanation pokemon sat down with his head lowered so the Kirlia would not see his face blushing.
"You know, he reminds me of a boy who used to live here." Whitney spoke up, drawing Sapphire's attention. "But I can't quite recall his name…"
"…Ruby?"
"Yup! That's right! How'd you know?" Whitney inquired.
"W-well, he's my boyfriend." Sapphire replied, blushing noticeably. She didn't expect that she had to say those words again.
"Really?!" The pink-haired gym leader's eyes widened. But a second later, her expression dampened. "I heard of what happened… He hasn't turned up yet?"
Sapphire remained silent and merely shook her head.
"I see." Whitney held the dexholder's hands and smiled with encouragement. "He'll come back. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah…" Sapphire forced a small smile.
Whitney saw the sorrow flicker in the girl's azure eyes. She decided to change the subject to keep her mind off of Ruby. "So what's your relationship with that boy?" She gestured to the one beside the blue Kirlia.
"Him? I just met him on the way. He used ta live here like Ruby." Sapphire answered, giving a quick glance to Lapis.
"Really? I've never seen him around." One girl with short chocolate hair said. "I lived here my whole life but never once have I heard of someone named Lapis."
A couple more female trainers started murmuring the same thing. They all knew Ruby and could recall the names of people around their age that they grew up with, but none of them ever knew of a boy named Lapis. This caused Sapphire to raise her suspicion. Before, her doubts were lessened when Lapis proved he knew his way around the city but now, she was suspicious as ever. Later, she had to confront him about it.
After leaving the gym, Lapis and Sapphire headed to the dessert shop that Whitney had told them about. It was a simple place like a café. It had a small porch with three round silver tables. The walls were painted white with dark brown accents. They took a seat opposite of each other and ordered the desserts listed on the coupons; a couple of mocha-flavoured Moomoo milkshakes and two chocolate mousses with Bluk and Razz berry toppings. Lapis also ordered some assorted berry muffins and pokemon-shaped chocolate treats.
"It's been a long time since I came to this place." Lapis started the conversation. "They have a new line on the menu."
"When was the last time ya went here?" Sapphire asked, carefully studying the boy's expression and tone of voice.
"When I was still living here in Goldenrod City, of course." Lapis replied.
Sapphire didn't detect any proof that he was lying but his story doesn't add up to the things that the girls in the gym said. "How long ago was that?"
"I'd say about six years ago." Lapis answered. He felt kind of odd that the girl was asking him again about his life in Goldenrod City. Smiling suggestively, he popped a question. "Is there any reason that you're suddenly curious about me?"
Sapphire's face grew serious. "Did ya really live here before?"
Lapis was silent. Their food arrived and the waiter placed their orders neatly on the table. After he left, that was when the raven-haired boy spoke. "…Of course."
And again, Sapphire didn't feel like he was lying. It was either he was really telling the truth or he was an expert in telling lies. She pondered further as she sipped her cool mocha drink.
Lapis could tell that Sapphire was bothered about something but he didn't ask further. Instead, he fidgeted the straw on his milkshake then took a piece of a diglett-shaped bonbon and tossed it into his mouth. He smiled pleasurably as he savoured the taste of the slowly melting treat. "You know, the chocolates here are really good, but I had better."
Sapphire eyed the variety of pokemon-shaped sweets on the plate. There were Mareeps with a white icing coat for the wool, diglett bonbons like the one that Lapis ate, Voltorbs with a split pattern for white chocolate and dark chocolate, and the rest were modelled after baby pokemons like Azurill, Cleffas and Igglybuffs. All of it reminded the blue-eyed girl about something she didn't want to recall. She turned away from the plate and sighed.
"You have something against chocolates?" Lapis asked, noticing the sudden downward shift of the brunette's mood. "Have you ever made some for Ruby before?"
Sapphire flinched and Lapis realized he was spot-on. The Hoenn lass turned to him and grumbled under her breath. "Yeah, I did. But they didn't turn out well…"
"So you didn't give it to him?"
"Nah. He wouldn't have wanted those ugly little things." Sapphire stared blankly at her drink as she stirred it with a straw.
"How could you be so sure? I'm certain they weren't that bad…" Lapis tried to cheer her up with a bright smile.
"They looked like Geodudes run over by a herd of Donphan and burned by a Groudon's Fireblast."
"Looks don't matter. It's the taste that counts, in the end. Did you use dark chocolate, by chance? If so, then they only seemed burnt because of the color, since the shade is darker than the usual chocolate." Lapis pointed out with an optimistic attitude. "Even then…Ruby would have eaten it anyway."
Sapphire thought back around that time. She wondered how Ruby would have reacted if he did have a taste of her home-made chocolates. Would he have liked them?
"Any guy in their right mind would eat something their girlfriend worked hard to make." Lapis continued. "…I know I would."
"Ya have a girlfriend?" Sapphire questioned.
"I do."
The brunette was caught by surprise. "Where is she now?"
Lapis chuckled and took another sip of the moomoo milkshake. "She's traveling somewhere…"
"By herself? Then why didn't ya go with her instead of following' me around?" Sapphire grew irritated.
"I have my reasons…" Lapis trailed off.
"These so called reasons are more important than her?"
"Yes." The boy replied with his eyes flickering, a sense of seriousness.
Sapphire was taken aback by the straightforward reply. She redirected slightly redirected the topic. "She's not the jealous-type?"
"She is. She gets jealous way too easily." Lapis's face shifted from solemn to cheery. "I don't mind that though. It just goes to show how much she loves me."
Sapphire could tell how much Lapis cared for that girl, but his actions left the brunette in bewilderment. What was so important that he had to leave his girlfriend and follow her around like some stalker? The boy wouldn't elaborate his answers nor did he give any clear explanations.
Sapphire decided to ask the last question. "Whatcha plan on doing now?"
"My answer is obvious. I'll be tagging along with you… Whether you want me to or not."
"…Fine."
Lapis flinched, not expecting Sapphire to comply with what he said. He thought she'd call him an annoying stalker and drive him away. A smiled curved on his face. "I'm glad you finally accepted me as a traveling companion."
"I'm thankful that ya gave me Rilo, but don't push it." Sapphire furrowed her brows and finished up her cake and drink. "I still don't trust ya, but I see yer every move if yer out in the open and not hiding in the bushes somewhere."
"I see…" Lapis remained smiling under the threatening tone of the girl's voice. "So, are we headed to Ecruteak City tomorrow?"
"Yeah…"
"If I may make a quick suggestion, you should catch a dark-type pokemon before you face Morty." Lapis proposed. "You have a normal-type and a fighting-type which are both useless against ghost pokemon, leaving you with only Moro and Toro."
Sapphire saw his point and agreed that tomorrow they'll find a dark-type pokemon to use in the upcoming battle against Morty. She was eager to try out the special pokeballs that were crafted in Azalea.
The half of the afternoon they spent at the dessert shop and the rest they spent touring the Radio Tower and the underground. Every place they went made Sapphire felt she was in an unknown world. Goldenrod City was filled with sights very different from what she'd seen in Hoenn. Lilycove City was nothing compared to the bustling city of Ruby's hometown.
When the sun began to set, they returned to the pokemon center to have Sapphire's pokemon healed. They had dinner there and afterwards, they headed to their respective rooms to rest.
The visitor quarters were more luxurious than usual, almost like in a hotel. The atmosphere made Sapphire restless. She took a shower to cool her head while her pokemon were lounging in the room. Momo and Moro were rolling around on the soft bed while Rilo and Toro were quietly sitting down at the foot of it.
After coming out of the bathroom, Sapphire brushed her messed up locks with a towel before flopping unto the cushy bunk. She exhaled deeply and closed her eyes for a moment, not realizing that she had completely dozed off.
"So what do you think of Goldenrod?" a recognizable jolted her eyes open.
Sapphire found herself lying on a mat at the secret base. The sight of plushies adorning the gray cavern walls and familiar atmosphere was calming. She turned her head and saw Ruby lounging beside her with his hands behind his head as he smiled nostalgically.
"It's really …different." Sapphire replied.
"I wouldn't be surprised that you feel that way." Ruby chuckled in a way that it reminded the brunette about a certain blue-eyed, raven-haired boy.
"Hey, do ya know anyone named Lapis?"
Ruby pondered deeply. "I don't think so…"
"I see…"
"Then again, I'm just a dream. How would I know if I actually met that person in real life?" Ruby said, sarcastically with another chuckle afterwards.
When she realized it, Sapphire felt she was out of her mind to even ask him that question in the first place. She threw her hands in the air and sighed exasperatedly. "Talkin' to ya is useless!"
"If you think that, why did you come here in the first place?" Ruby shifted his head and asked her.
"I don't know so stop askin' me!" She turned away from him and grumbled.
Ruby glanced at her for a few moments then slapped a pink cushion on her head.
A vein popped on her forehead as Sapphire jerked the girly pillow away and sat up, angrily. "What was that for?!"
Ruby didn't flinch, instead he stared at her and said, "Your troubled face doesn't suit you. I like it better when you smile."
Sapphire calmed down a bit and flopped back unto the mat. "I guess I just really wanted to see Goldenrod City… with you. It's not the same."
Ruby noticed something by the tone of her voice. "You miss me… But you don't sound lonely."
"That's because Lapis is the one keeping me company…" Sapphire frowned even more at the memory of her stalker.
"Well, I'm glad…"
"Ya ain't jealous that I have some weird boy followin' me around?!" Sapphire exclaimed.
"I am jealous…" Ruby grumbled and turned away. "It's just that it's better to have someone watching over you in my place. I care more of what happens to you rather than my own personal feelings of who you travel with."
Sapphire tapped Ruby's shoulder, drawing his gaze back to her. Once their eyes met, the brunette smiled sincerely.
The crimson-eyed boy grinned back. "You're more beautiful when you smile."
Sapphire blushed at the word 'beautiful' coming out from the boy's lips. "…I'm happy we had this talk."
Ruby laughed. "You know where to find me when you miss me again."
Sapphire nodded and flashed a fanged grin as the scene slowly faded into white.
September 6th
Sapphire rose from her bed and stretched her arms, ready to face the new day. The warm sunbeams radiated from the windows as she stood up and turned to her pokemon who were either curled up on the bed or leaning against it. She giggled and got changed into the pink attire that she somewhat hated.
*knock* *knock*
"Hey, are you awake yet?" Lapis' voice sounded through the door.
"Yeah!" Sapphire replied with a sense of vigor.
"You seem in a good mood. I take it that you slept really well."
"You can say that." Sapphire tied back her hair with a short pink scarf.
"Good. I'll save you a seat downstairs for breakfast." And with that, he left. All that the Hoenn dexholder could hear was the tapping of footsteps descending.
Sapphire woke up her team and returned them to their respective pokeballs, except Momo. Then she bounded down to have her first meal of the day.
A few hours later, the two trainers along with Azura and Momo, strolled around Goldenrod City. Sapphire was looking through her pokedex to find a potential dark-type pokemon. Since she was unfamiliar with the territory, she had to ask Lapis for assistance in finding one. She handed him some extra Friend Balls in case.
"It's hard finding that type of pokemon during the day. They mostly come out at night." Lapis pointed out.
"Let's just think of what pokemon to catch. We'll worry about finding it later tonight." Sapphire fixated her gaze on the pokemon encyclopaedia and scanned further dark-types.
"Sapphire." A familiar male voice called out to her. It wasn't Lapis or Gold.
Sapphire jolted and turned towards it, in shock. She had no idea that she'd see him in Goldenrod City. "...Mr. Norman?"
End of Chapter 11
The gym battle was harder to write than I expected so it took a little longer.
Am I confusing you guys even more with Lapis? If so, then it'll be more confusing in the next chapter that I that Norman is in the mix. What's gonna happen?
Any guesses for a dark-type?
My new story is still sketchy (literally) I have to narrow down to the main storyline before I continue.
Anyways... review! =D