Return to you
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokémon.
Chapter 13: Unanswered Suspicions
"…Ho-oh Festival?"
"Yes. It is a celebration held in Ecruteak City every autumn to honor to the Guardian of the Skies, Ho-oh." Lapis explained. Then he smiled at her and continued. "People dress up in yukatas, play games and eat food at the stalls, but the highlight would be the launching of the sky lanterns."
"... So why'd ya want me ta go with ya? Why don't ya ask yer girlfriend." Sapphire grumbled.
"It's kinda complicated…" The raven-haired boy frowned with a heavy sigh, but the next moment he returned to his cheery disposition. "…So I thought I'd ask you instead."
"I'm some sort of replacement, then?" Sapphire concluded with a hint of contempt.
"I know you wouldn't like it if I asked you out on a serious date." Lapis teased.
Sapphire bared her fangs. "Damn right! And I wouldn't go with ya even if ya got on yer knees and begged!"
"…But you'd go with me on this one, right?" The boy looked at her with eager expectation.
"…Fine. But it's not a date! I'm just payin' back for what I owe ya." Sapphire stood up and bent down to her bag that was lying on the foot of the bed. "And don't blame me if that girlfriend of yers beat ya up for cheating on her."
"Great! Then it's settled." Lapis got up as well and stretched his arms.
Sapphire put away the pokeball containing the Houndour. Then she rummaged through her bag, looking for her pokegear in order to call Norman. But the device was nowhere to be found.
Lapis leaned towards her. "If you're looking for your pokegear, I gave it to Gold so he could call Norman. I thought it would be best to contact him and tell him that you couldn't make it, rather than for me to carry you there, passed out and smelling of alcohol."
Sapphire flinched and immediately shifted her face towards the boy. "You knew that I was supposed ta stay at Ruby's old home? Just how long have ya been stalking me?!"
"Would you stop with the stalker thing? I-" Lapis turned around and slumped against the foot of the bed. He gave exhaled deeply and buried his head between his arms and knees.
"Hey, ya feelin' okay?" Sapphire crawled closer to him and reached out her hand, but Lapis spoke up before she could touch him.
"…Could you step out for a second?" He requested, almost in a mumbling manner as his face remained hidden from the girl's point of view.
Sapphire noticed there was a sudden hoarseness in his voice. It made her concerned but at the same time confused. "You were fine a second ago… What happened?"
"…Just do it." Lapis ignored her question.
Before Sapphire could utter another word, Azura burst out from her pokeball and stood between her trainer and the brown-haired teen. "It would be best if you just do as he says. We'll meet up with you downstairs." The blue Kirlia told the girl through telepathy.
Sapphire glanced back at Lapis who wasn't moving from his spot. Even up to that point, the boy remained as much as a mystery to her. She bit her lip and grabbed her belongings, excluding Momo who was sleeping soundly on the bed. After that she headed out the door. "I'm giving ya ten minutes. If ya don't come out by then, I'm calling Nurse Joy."
"Sure." Lapis chuckled weakly, and listened as the door shut before he raised his head.
Azura reached for Xylo's pokeball that was strapped on Lapis' belt. It was good that the room was big enough to support the tall stag-like pokemon. With a press of a button, a red light came out from the sphere and formed into a Sawsbuck.
Lapis extended his hand to stroke his pokemon. "Hey Xylo, mind giving me another dose of Aromatherapy?"
The Sawsbuck bent forward and illuminated his red and brown leaves with a golden light. Clouds of glittering powder were released, filling the room with a soothing smell. Lapis breathed in the healing scent and later stood up with some help from his two pokemon.
"I think it's getting erratic…" The raven-haired boy rubbed his temples to lessen his dizziness.
"You know, what I think? It's because you're going overboard." Azura communicated with the help of her psychic powers. Then she sighed deeply and her eyes softened. "But knowing you, you can't really help it."
Lapis smiled and patted the shiny Kirlia's head. "I'm sorry if I always make you worried. But I think you're right. The longer I stay close to her, the more I can't stop myself."
Azura sighed. "He warned you, didn't he?"
"You don't have to keep telling me that… I clearly remember what he told me." Lapis grew serious as he returned Xylo to his pokeball and sat back down on the bed while recalling important memory. A faint nausea still lingered but it was fading gradually.
"…Mincci?" Momo yawned and opened her eyes, having woken up due to the effects of Aromatherapy. She saw that her trainer was gone and Lapis was sitting down with his back turned. She hopped over and tugged on his sleeve, hoping to find answers as to where Sapphire was.
Lapis shifted his gaze to the furry chinchilla who was suddenly startled when he did. Momo's eyes widened and her ears and tail jolted up as she stared at the boy. That was when Lapis realized what had surprised her. "So you've noticed…"
Azura came over with her amber eyes faintly glowing red. "What should we do?"
Lapis gently stroked the Minccino's head and grinned with a slight chuckle. "…I have been meaning to give the little fella a piece of my mind since last night."
"MI?!"
Downstairs, Sapphire borrowed the phone from Nurse Joy. She called up Norman and told him that she was fine and how sorry she was about last night. Ruby's father accepted her apology but told her to be more careful next time. Prof. Birch left her in Norman's care after all, since they were together in the same city.
About their departure to Ecruteak City, it was decided that they would leave later that afternoon. Norman was invited to lunch by his former neighbors and Sapphire still had to get her pokegear back from Gold.
The call ended. Sapphire decided to check on Lapis. But when she turned around, the boy was already walking down the stairs with Azura behind him and Momo happily curling her tail around his neck.
"…Feelin' better?" questioned Sapphire with a hint of suspicion.
Lapis smiled brightly and replied, "Yeah."
"Minccino!" Momo squeaked and uncurled her tail to wag with enthusiasm.
"Momo's in high spirits…" Sapphire shifted her gaze to her Minccino who looked lively. She was thankful for that but what she couldn't put a finger on was that her pokemon was getting along well with Lapis.
"Sure is. She got a whiff of Xylo's Aromatherapy. Luckily, she didn't get drunk like last time." Lapis playfully ruffled the cheery chinchilla's head, delighting the Minccino who snuggled closer to him in return.
Sapphire couldn't understand why Momo was acting that way. The red-eyed chinchilla used to be on guard whenever Lapis was around but now she was totally attached to him. The brunette would have shrugged the matter off, but not this time. The events just kept piling and confusing her even more. Placing her hands on her hips, she decided to confront him. "Alright. Whaddya do ta Momo?"
Both the Minccino and the raven-haired boy looked at Sapphire with bewilderment and then at each other. Lapis shifted his attention back to the girl and smiled innocently. "Nothing... Why? Is it bad for me to be friendly with your pokemon?"
Once again, the boy raised another point, averting suspicion from the topic. Sapphire narrowed her eyes and called Momo back to her side. The Minccino did as it was told and leaped off Lapis' shoulder and hopped onto her trainer's. "I don't know what ya did. I also don't know if yer sick or something… But one way or another, I'll beat those answers outta've ya!"
"I got it…" Lapis' grin mellowed down and shifted the subject of their conversation. "So when are we leaving for Ecruteak City?"
"My boyfriend's father is flying me there on his Staraptor later this afternoon. I'm sure ya heard of him." Sapphire said, carefully studying his reaction.
"Norman of Petalburg City, correct?" Lapis was calm yet the Hoenn teen could detect a faint trembling of nervousness in his voice.
"Yeah. He has somewhere to be during lunch so I'll have ta introduce ya after that." Sapphire turned around and started to walk back to the phone.
"I'd rather not meet him…"
Lapis' words stopped the girl in her tracks and drew back her gaze. "And why not? Don't tell me yer scared of him?"
"I'm not afraid. It's just that I don't want to meet him face to face." The blue-eyed boy replied.
"I thought ya wanted ta travel with me? Ya can't possibly catch up to a flying pokemon on foot." Sapphire argued.
"Sure I'll be running a little behind even if I ride Xylo, but I'll arrive there nonetheless." Lapis presented his point. "Besides, we have a date, right?"
"IT'S NOT A DATE!" Sapphire exclaimed as a bright red hue exploded on her face.
The people in the pokemon center started murmuring and staring at them. Sapphire was ignorant to it but the attention was bothering Lapis. The boy apologized for the disturbance while Sapphire finally went over to the phone to call Gold to return her pokegear.
The Johto Dexholder said that he'd drop by the pokemon center in half an hour to give it back. Sapphire agreed to wait for him there and ended the conversation there. But just before she left the phone, an incoming long-distance call came in. Nurse Joy picked it up and learned that it was for Sapphire.
Lapis watched and listened from a seat, a good distance away as to not interrupt as the brunette answered it. Hearing from Nurse Joy about the call, he figured that it was from Hoenn. And he was right about that. A brown-haired man with a wide grin flashed through the monitor. It was Prof. Birch, Sapphire's father.
"Hiya Dad!" The blue-eyed girl greeted with a cheery expression. "It's nice ta hear from ya. What's up?"
"It's nice to hear from you too, Sapphire. You see…" Prof. Birch started. "We've got some news concerning Ruby, but I wouldn't—"
"What News?!" A beat skipped her heart as Sapphire yelled at the screen.
Prof Birch could see the anticipation written all over his daughter's face. "Just calm down for a second…"
"Ya except me to calm down of all times!" Sapphire grew agitated and shook the monitor, but then she stopped when Ruby's mom appeared in the monitor.
"Hello there, Sapphire." Caroline greeted with a kind voice and smile.
"Hi Auntie. So what's this about Ruby?" The azure-eyed lass settled down but remained ever eager to hear what they had to say.
"It's Ruru…" Caroline began with a sudden dampened expression.
"What about Ruby's Gardevoir? Did something happen to the egg?" Sapphire felt concerned.
"The egg's fine. It still hasn't hatch thought." Caroline answered. "It's just that Ruru…"
"Well, lately she's been sensing Ruby's emotions. She can't get a good hold on his location though she's been doing all she can, almost to the point of exhaustion." Birch continued for Caroline. "We had her rest for now. But because of her efforts, we now know that Ruby is alive."
"Of course he is!" Sapphire exclaimed as her hands trembled. Luckily, it wasn't visible to her father or Ruby's mom.
"Yes. I'm sorry." Prof Birch managed to let out a short chuckle before he went on. "This is just a researcher's point of view. I don't think that there's anything wrong with Ruru's abilities. I think it is more on Ruby's part. It is either he's somewhere far from Hoenn or he's deliberately trying to conceal his location."
"Why in Arceus' name would he be tryin' ta hide from everybody?! Doesn't he know how worried we are!?" Sapphire held back her tears and clenched her fists that still felt like they were trembling.
"I'm sure he's well-aware, Sapphire." Caroline said in a gentle tone. "But you know my son; he can be reckless at times."
Sapphire recalled how Ruby ran away from home when he just moved in, and how he went on to face Kyogre and Groudon after he left her trapped inside Wallace's flying car. "I know, auntie…"
"I've already told Norman about this. He said he's going to follow up with Morty at Ecruteak City." Prof Birch added.
Morty? The Mystic Seer? Sapphire felt renewed hope fill her heart once again. She knew about the Ecruteak gym leader's abilities and how they could help them find out where Ruby is.
"Another thing, Sapphire." Caroline interrupted.
"Yes, auntie?"
"Strangely, Ruby's sewing kit and first aid box have gone missing as well. I'm sure I haven't misplaced them." Caroline tried to remember where she last saw those items. Sadness in the form of tears began to form in her scarlet eyes. "My son's still missing and now his belongings are disappearing as well."
Prof. Birch tried to calm her down before she could faint. Then he directed his attention back on his daughter. "We'll do everything we can on our end. Just fill us in on the news with Morty's news."
"Yeah. I'll do that." Sapphire replied with a firm resolve.
Her father grinned once again. "Good luck on your journey too."
Sapphire nodded and smiled back before she ended the call. She pondered deeply on what Prof. Birch had said about Ruby as she stared at her reflection on the blank screen on the monitor. A few moments later, she saw an image of a Ruby standing behind her. But seeing the headband that he wore and the style of clothes, Sapphire knew that it was just Lapis.
"You okay?" The boy asked worriedly.
"…I don't get it." Sapphire asked out loud, but in a soft and trembling whisper.
"Hmmm?" Lapis grew even more concerned.
"If he's back, why doesn't he just show himself? Doesn't he know how worried we've all been?" Sapphire was on the verge of tears but she held back as best as she could.
Lapis could only see her face reflected on the black screen of the monitor, but the girl's voice was more than enough to let him know how much she was hurting. "…I'm sure he has his reasons."
"What reasons would that be!?" Sapphire turned around and shouted her pit up rage and emotions. "Just what could be so important that he'd take this long to be gone? Doesn't he care that we miss him? …I miss him." She couldn't refrain from crying any longer. Tears flowed from her eyes down to her cheeks.
"Of course he does!" Lapis raise in tone made the girl flinch. Sapphire looked up into his straightforward deep blue eyes as he stared at her unwaveringly. "Whatever reasons he has, I'm sure it has to the utmost importance. Otherwise, he'd come running back."
"Then, why's he taking so long?!" Sapphire shot back.
"He's doing his best… Don't you believe that?" Lapis' question made the girl flinch once again. "Don't you think he's feeling the same way you do? Do you really think that he'd want to stay away this long?"
Sapphire's head was in a whirl of emotions, but she knew that Lapis was right. She bit her lip and wiped away her tears that still continued to flow. Momo curled her tail around her neck and snuggled caringly against her. Lapis couldn't keep watching her in that state. He wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked the back of her head.
Normally, Sapphire would have pushed him back, but not that time. His warmth was like that of Ruby's as well as his touch. She couldn't bear to be away from it. It was that moment; she questioned herself again if whether or not Lapis was Ruby. Other than eye color, the resemblance was too much to shrug off as nothing but a coincidence. She still hasn't confirmed about the pair of scars on his head since Lapis wouldn't take off the headband. Even when she woke up that morning, the boy still wore the green band on his head.
"You two are getting really close, aren't you?" A familiar voice jolted them both and they broke away in a hurry. Sapphire turned and saw Gold looking at them with suspicion. "Did anything happen that yoursenior here should know about?"
"It's none of yer business!-" Sapphire was surprised by what she just said just now. Was she saying that there was? It would have been something like there was nothing between her and Lapis. Is it because she was comparing Ruby and him a while ago? Or her impulses were implying something else?
"So something did happen, eh?" Gold walked towards his junior.
Sapphire shook her head and bared her fangs. "Just hand over my pokegear!"
"Okay-okay! Sheesh." Gold backed off, not wanting to get involved in her fury like last time. "So you're finally leaving Goldenrod City?"
"Yeah. I'm heading to Ecruteak this afternoon." Sapphire held out her hand and her senior returned the communication device.
"I as in by yourself? Flower Boy isn't coming?" The raven-haired breeder raised a brown in Lapis' direction.
"I am, but we'll be going there separately," explained Lapis.
"So we will be meeting you guys there then." Gold grinned.
"We?" Lapis and Sapphire asked in unison.
"The Ho-oh Festival's coming up. I'm sure you've heard of it. Senior Red and the others will be arriving here tomorrow. Blue has this big plan to finally get Red and Yellow together. Thank Arceus for that. I don't know how dense Senior Red could get." Gold sighed and the continued. "The rest of the dexholders are in on it. Well, excluding Green and Emerald who aren't coming."
"Everyone's coming here, huh?" Sapphire muttered to herself.
"Doesn't that sound fun?" Lapis smiled cheerfully at the girl.
"I guess…" Sapphire stared at him, doubting his identity. If he can't show what was under his green headband, there was only one another way to tell. The answer awaited her in Ecruteak City.
Several minutes later, Gold headed back to the daycare center to finish off some last minute stuff before he would go to Ecruteak City himself. Lapis needed to leave as well. He had long ways to travel if he was going to reach the next city on Xylo. Sapphire bid them both goodbye and waited for Norman to meet up with her at the pokemon center.
All the while, she kept thinking about Lapis and Ruby. Her thoughts kept sticking to the idea that he really could be Ruby. Was it possible? How would she explain the eye color then? Every passing minute, she grew agitated asking herself over and over again. Is Lapis really Ruby?
Norman came in early that afternoon like he said. Sapphire readied her belongings and they departed. The sky was pale blue and smudged with thin snowy clouds. The aerial atmosphere was cooled by the strong winds but was warmed by the radiant sun. Sapphire looked down at the acres of wood below to see if she could spot Lapis, but only a field of verdant evergreens came into view.
Two hours later, their destination was upon them. Norman's Staraptor, Ruvi circled the breath-taking city to give his passengers a minute to take in the scenery. A tall tower stood in the distance. It was almost similar to the one in Violet City. The difference was that it was taller, rivaling the skyscrapers in Goldenrod. There was also another tower located in the east, or it at least it looked as if it was one. The structure was burned down but it became a valuable landmark. The rest of the buildings with their rooftops mirroring the colors of the autumn leaves, retained the traditional style that gave the city its historical feel.
"Greetings…"
The Staraptor hovered in the air as Norman and Sapphire directed their gaze to a blonde man riding a Drifblim. He wore a violet band on his head and a matching scarf with red jagged accents at the ends.
"You must be Morty. " Norman commented.
"Indeed, I am." The blonde answered with a small smile.
Sapphire merely stared in silence at the gym leader of Ecruteak and the man who most likely could answer her questions.
"You are the father of the boy I've been hearing so much about, correct?" Morty asked, but the expression on his face showed that he clearly knew the answer.
"Yes."
Morty glanced down and asked that they continue the conversation at the gym. Norman agreed and gestured to his Staraptor. Ruvi flew around and landed in a wide area in just between the pokemon center and the local gym. When they did, it was only then that Sapphire saw the peaceful city come alive with groups of bustling people preparing for the festival.
Norman recalled Ruvi to his pokeball and followed Morty to his gym. Sapphire felt as though she was in a passing dream, but she quickly snapped out of it to follow Ruby's father.
*crash*
Just when Sapphire ran to catch up with Norman, she bumped into a brown-haired trainer wearing a baseball cap, a blue-themed hoodie and black pants. "Ah! Sorry about that!" The boy quickly apologized and grinned widely.
"Black! Hurry up!" A young female voice echoed in the not so far-off distance.
"Coming Prez!" The boy yelled back in a loud voice. Then he returned his attention to Sapphire. "I'm kinda in a hurry, so sorry again!" As quick as their encounter, the boy bounded away to where a stage was being built. Sapphire couldn't even get a word out due to the rush. She shrugged it off and headed for the gym.
"Sorry, I'm late!" Black scratched the back of his head.
"Alright. No time to waste. Have your Emboar, Buoh carry the lanterns to the west side. Then I need you to help me hang up the decorations for the stage with Warr and Barbara." A blue-eyed girl with wavy brown hair instructed while holding a draft sketch of the planned outcome of the stage.
"Gotcha!" Black quickly sent out two of his pokemon.
One was a large bulky fire pig while the other was a red eagle-like pokemon. Buoh lifted the several paper lanterns, carefully as to not set them on fire while two bird pokemon, specifically a Braviary and a Mandibuzz flew above the stage carrying a long velvet curtain between them.
"We appreciate all your assistance, Ms. White." A girl in a gorgeous black kimono with a moon motif came over and bowed elegantly at the girl's direction.
"BW Agency is happy to be of service..." The brown-haired lass smiled brightly with her head leaning to the side. "So how's Sylvia doing? Miss?"
"Zuki. And your Sylveon is doing fine. She is a wondrous performer." The Kimono girl commented.
"That's good to hear." White felt relieved, hearing the news.
All was going well, until one of the staff working at the theatre came running towards them.
"Lady Zuki! We have a situation." The man sounded urgent.
"What is it?" Zuki faced him, hoping it was nothing too serious.
"Hikari, the one who was going to go on stage with the Sylveon sprained her ankle." The man informed. Everyone around him gasped and started murmuring.
"She won't be able to perform. That's terrible!" White was stressing out but she quickly gathered her thoughts to try and think of a solution.
Black came over after hearing the situation. "Isn't there anyone who could replace her?"
"But the show is tomorrow night." Some of the working staff said aloud.
Zuki pondered for a minute and turned to president of the BW Agency. "Miss White, would you be the one to replace Hikari?"
"M-ME?!" White was completely shocked. "I manage pokemon actors and actresses for commercials and performances. I-I've never been on stage personally."
"You synchronize best with Sylvia. She's your pokemon after all. And you've been watching us perform for the past few days. I've watched you memorize the rhythm and the steps. It can only be you. Please?" Zuki pleaded as she held White's hands.
"I know you can do it Prez! Plus, you'll look great in a Kimono!" Black exclaimed with absolute optimism.
White blushed and looked at everyone around her, waiting for her reply. Her hands trembled as she took a deep breath. "A-Alright. I-I'll do it."
Everybody cheered loudly but not as loud as Black. Zuki thanked White and dragged her off to practice.
Meanwhile at the gym, Morty led Norman and Sapphire to a room adjacent to the main part of the building. There he inspected Ruby's bag with the help of his two pokemon, a Gengar and a Mismagius. Both pokemon circled around him in an eerie manner as the Ecruteak gym leader closed his eyes and pressed two fingers on his forehead while concentrating deeply.
Sapphire and Norman stayed at the side, awaiting the result with great anticipation. They could feel the dark chill of energy being emitted by the two ghost-types. Each passing moment their expectancy grew. After a few minutes, Morty opened his eyes and walked back to them. He had a stoic expression on his face as he gave the bag back. Both Sapphire and Norman knew it couldn't be good but they already readied themselves for what would turn up.
"I apologize. It is the same as before. I cannot trace the boy's whereabouts or his belongings that were lost separate to his disappearance." Morty said with a faint feeling of being disheartened.
"We understand." Norman remained ever emotionless as he clutched his son's bag. Then he began to walk out without another word.
"Thanks for giving us some of your time." Sapphire expressed their gratitude in Norman's place as she followed suit.
"Excuse me." Morty interrupted the girl, stopping her in her tracks.
"Yeah?" Sapphire turned about, curious about what the blonde man had to say.
"I have a feeling that you also want me to do something for you…" Morty figured.
"You mean a gym battle?" Sapphire inquired.
"That and something else." Morty looked at her, suggesting that he knew something was on her mind.
"I'll come back when a friend of mine turns up." Sapphire knew that it was the best way to confirm for herself. Lapis must be present when Morty does it.
"Alright then." Morty nodded. "We'll have our gym battle after the festival. That's the day after tomorrow. That is, if it is fine with you…"
"Yeah, it is." Sapphire answered eagerly.
"Then, I hope you enjoy the Ho-oh festival."
End of Chapter 13
*phew* Sorry for the delay. There was a massive typhoon (Yolanda here in the Philippines) and a long blackout.
If any of you are wondering, nothing happened in my end.
Just a long blackout and the scary howls of the wind blowing outside my window.
To my fellow Pinoy, who are reading this. God Bless guys and Take care!
Anyway, back to the chapter. Since my loyal reviewers are wondering about Ruby, I wrote this chapter.
It will either give big clues or just mislead you. Hahah... I'm mean.
I'm excited for the Ho-oh festival! As well as the Surprise AgencyShipping!
The dexholders are coming back to get Red and Yellow together. Lol
I'm also preparing for an upcoming game for the dexholders that I want my readers/reviewers to participate.
It's gonna be fun.
Next chapter. I'll post how you guys can participate in the game. As well as Morty's prediction when Lapis is around,
The So-called not Date of Lapis and Sapphire, The matchmaking with Red and Yellow, The Performance of White.
Wew. So much to expect in the next chapter.
Review! 60 000 words so far in this story and 30 reviews!