AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank for the warm welcome back to this series, I am glad so many people like this story and the way is turning out. We start this one with Ruby talking with Rosa before checking in back on Lumiose with Roman chasing Murkrow. I am posting this one today to celebrate the release of Legends Arceus, hope those of you that get it will enjoy the game. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.

Chapter 32 – Birds of a Feather

In the Camphier town Pokemon center, Ruby and Rosa sat at one of the back tables with a cup of coffee each, "So, you're from another world called Remnant. Where the moon is shattered, people can have superpowers, and school teaches you how to kill evil monsters. Hmm…" She said with her hand on her chin, "Neat."

"That's your reaction, neat?" Ruby responded, "I don't weird you out now?"

"Nope, I thought something was up with the way you talked and Roman always cutting you off. It seems my hunch was right." Rosa said with a smile, "Besides, this doesn't weird me out, it means you're a lot more special than I thought." The energetic trainer said with a joyful expression, "Ruby, you're cool."

"Really? Thank you!" Ruby said with a smile as well, then slightly speaking to herself before taking a sip of her coffee, "Huh, is this how is Penny felt when I talked with her?" she then put the cup down to look back at Rosa, "Well, I'm glad to have finally told you, Roman has been trying to hide this for so long."

"I think I get why. Not many people are as accepting of this as I am." Rosa said with Ruby looking down at her cup in disarray, "You said he's a criminal in your world."

"Yeah, he's a bad guy," Ruby responded before looking back to Rosa with determination in her eyes, "And I need to stop him." She then sighed, "But right now, we are both stuck like this until we get back to our world."

"I see, I get the whole, 'stop evildoers' things. I've been there." Rosa said with Ruby having a slightly shocked expression. However, the energetic trainer looked down at her cup, "Still, you don't think your perspective of him has changed? I mean we have been on this journey now for a while."

"Well… he is a bit different than I first thought," Ruby responded, breaking eye contact. However, she shook her head before looking back to Rosa, "But he's a bad guy down to his bones and would admit it. He has done terrible things in Vale and doesn't regret one of them." She said before having a smile on her face, "My mother always read fairytales to me about heroes slaying monsters and defeating the bad guys." The red hooded trainer said as she looked back at the coffee and smiled, "It's why I wanted to be a huntress. To defeat the enemies of good so innocent people would not be harmed by evil." She said before looking back to Rosa, who had a look of worry in her expression, "What's wrong?"

"Ruby, you know people are not like they are in fairytales, right?" Rosa asked.

"Yeah, I know…" Ruby responded, slightly gripping her cup before taking a sip, "But, I don't get why you're looking at me like that?"

"Well, you say that Roman is a bad guy," Rosa said, "But you seem to be fighting to say it."

"I don't get what you mean," Ruby responded, "He's a wanted criminal who only cares about himself." She said before slightly breaking eye contact, "And that girl he was with when we all got eaten," the red hooded trainer said before putting her hand to her head, "Who…saved him when that thing appeared." She then shook her head, "No, he's a bad guy, he has to be!"

"Has to be, why?" Rosa asked.

"Because… That's who he is!" Ruby said, slightly raising her voice, "When I first meet him, he robbed an old man's store."

"And we just went to one where he paid for all the stones to evolve your Pokemon." Rosa countered with Ruby gritting her teeth, "Over time, you can understand a lot about people by getting to know them. I learned that on my journey. And it's what we're doing right now." The energetic trainer said with a smile as she looked down at her cup, "I've met a bunch of people who were a part of one of the most horrific events in my region. But they were led by an egomaniac who told them that their side would prevail. And when he lost, some realized the mistakes they made and went down a different path, while others remained loyal to that mad man." She then looked back to Ruby, "Eventfully, I stopped him in round-two attempt, but it was not without the help of those who saw the error of their ways before and wanted to make things right."

"So, you agree with me then. That man was bad and needed to be stopped." Ruby responded, "And I get that people who walk away from evil are actually good, that's the case with a couple of teammates even." She said, but was met with the same look, "Why, what's wrong with what I just said?"

"You still think people have to be good or evil. Almost like it has to be predestined like in a storybook where you know the ending." Rosa said with Ruby gasping, "I don't know Roman's whole life, but he has opened up a bit too." She said with a slight smile, "He's no saint, but I can't believe that he was always evil, nor that he is even all evil now." She said before reaching into her pocket, "Look, I know a guy who was manipulated by his father to led that organized but turned over a new leaf. Maybe I can give him a call and he can talk with you-"

"No!" Ruby slightly shouted, even standing up, "Why can't you let me have this!? I need this!" she said with her fists clenched, "I told you about Grimm, that they are nothing but negative emotions and only kill good people. And bad guys, they're the reason Grimm exists!"

"Ruby, calm down, it's okay." Rosa responded, "I understand, it must-"

"No, you don't understand," Ruby responded, tears starting to form in her eyes, "I lost my mom because of those monsters, because of bad people!" She then back away from the table, her hands on her head, "I have to stop them, I can't let it happen again… I can't lose anyone else."

Suddenly, she felt Rosa hugging her. "It's okay Ruby, I understand you. Now please, listen to me." Rosa spoke in a calming voice, "The worlds, both yours and mine, they aren't black and white." She said before pulling away from Ruby, pointing to the red hooded trainer's chest, "But your heart always knows what's right. That's the path you should choose, not what a book tells you." The energetic trainer said with a smile, "Promise me that's how you'll start seeing things, okay?"

"…Okay, I'll try." Ruby responded before wiping her tears, a smile returning to her face, "Thank you, Rosa." She said with the energetic trainer smiling back, "So, did you come up with that line there on the spot?"

"Well, it's from a song I like," Rosa responded with Ruby giggling. The two then heard a dinging sound over the intercom, "I think that means your Pokemon are healed up." She said before looking back to Ruby, "Let's get them and head back to Lumiose."

"Right," Ruby said before exhaling a deep breath, then walked forward with Rosa following.

Meanwhile.

In the middle of an alleyway, Staravia flew while scanning the ground below, "Star…Star…" he said before one of his eyes caught sight of the blackbird Pokemon, who was picking at some trash in an overturned can, "Staravia!"

"Mur?" Murkrow looked up at the starling Pokemon descending, "Mur." The blackbird Pokemon groaned.

"Staravia?" the starling Pokemon said with a head tilt, "Star?"

"Murkrow!" The blackbird Pokemon squawked, flapping his wings, "Mur Murkrow. Mur!"

"Staravia!" the starling Pokemon responded with a focused brow, pointing to himself with one wing, "Star!"

"Mur!" Murkrow responded, then looked down in disarray, "Mur…" The blackbird pokemon's mind then recalled his past.

In a forest, a hiker ran as a murder of Murkrows tormented him. He flailed his backpack before tossing it into the air, missing all the blackbird Pokemon with one diving for a peck to the forehead. The hiker recoiled in pain for before running off, leading to a Murkrow squawking in laughter. However, he turned to the others that swarmed around the backpack, which had opened with multiple dusk stones pouring out. As the other pecked at them, their bodies began to evolve. The Murkrow watched in awe as the others turned into large blackbirds, the head resembling a larger wide rim hat. The Murkrow had a look of joy as he went to the backpack, but as the evolve Pokemon turned, then swatted him away with their powerful wings. The Murkrow responded in disarray, but the evolved formed glared down at him. The Murkrow scowled, rushing to attack, but was replied with ease. The evolved Pokemon squawked in with each failed attempt, their glares growing more malicious. Eventfully, the Murkrow could not get back up, causing the evolved Pokemon to fly away, carrying the bag with them. The Murkrow watched on in sorrow before his eyes closed.

In recalling that memory, the blackbird Pokemon looked down in remorse, "Murkrow…"

"Star," Staravia responded, then reached out his wing to place on Murkrow's back.

However, the blackbird Pokemon flew up to a trashcan, "Mur! Murkrow! Mur!" Murkrow declared, pointing to himself with one wing, "Murkrow!" he then glared down at Staravia, "Mur!"

"Star!?" Staravia responded in shock, then turned to anger, "Staravia!"

"MURKROW!" the blackbird Pokemon squawked, "Mur-" Suddenly, Staravia flew up. With one wing glowing the steely aura, he smacked Murkrow across the beck. The blackbird Pokemon fell off the trashcan and onto the ground, with Staravia perched on the trashcan now.

"STARAVIA!" The starling Pokemon responded, puffing his chest out, "Star Staravia Star." he said before placing one wing on his chest, "Staravia!"

"Mur," Murkrow responded before spreading his wings, "Murkrow!"

"Star," Staravia said before doing the same, "Staravia!"

The two then dove towards the other for an attack but were then ensnared in a net. The two birds Pokemon flailed, but could not escape, "Hehehehe," they looked up to hear someone laughing, seeing a thug in a black leather jacket and jeans, "Who says you need stone to catch two birds?" he said before picking up the net, "These two should make the boss lady's pets very happy."

"Star Staravia!" Staravia cried out, trying to break the net with his steel wing attack, but could not breakthrough.

"Murkrow!" Murkrow tried to break it with his beck, but could not, "MURKROW!"

A short distance away, Roman turned his head to the sound of his pokemon's name, "There you are." He said before running towards the noise, "When I get my hands on you, I'm gonna-" he said before making it to the site. In looking around, nobody was seen. However, he knelt to pick up a couple of feathers on the ground, some black and some grey, "…" the orange-haired criminal did not say a word before clenching his fists. He then looked around again, discovering a trail of feathers.

Meanwhile.

Further down an alleyway, the thug with a net approached a guard at a red steel door, "Password." The guard asked.

"All hail The Princess." The thug with the net responded, causing the guard to nod before opening the door. Before he was a staircase leading to a basement. Upon reaching the bottom, a large open battle arena was seen, "Here you are, my Princess" The thug said as he tossed the net with the two Pokemon onto the floor.

Murkrow and Staravia recoiled in pain before looking up at a young woman in a white fur coat. Her hair was a dirty blond with a silver tiara on her head, "My, some snacks for darling kitties. You are too kind." The Princess spoke in a shrill voice, then took out two pokeballs, "Purugly, Persian, time to eat." She said while tossing out the Pokeball.

Emerging from one was an overweight grey and white cat whose coil tail latched onto its back. The other was a fully grey cat with a thinner body. However, its head was bulbous with a gem in the forehead, "Meow!" both feline Pokemon purred as they hit the battlefield.

"You can let them out," The Princess asked of the thug, "My kitties like to play with their food."

"As you wish," the thug responded as he pulled off the net, "Go get them!"

Murkrow and Staravia quickly took to the air, but Persian and Purugly leaped towards them. The blackbird Pokemon fired a Night Shade from his eyes, but the ghost-type attack did nothing to the overweight cat Pokemon. Purugly responded by reeling back her front right paw, which was shrouded in a black aura before slashing Murkrow.

Staravia's wings and Persian's claws glowed in a white aura as they clashed with one another in midair. However, the starling Pokemon flew back to switch to a steel wing attack. At the same time, the bulbous-head cat Pokemon sparked with yellow electricity, then stuck with a bolt of thunder. "STAR!" Staravia shrieked in pain before hitting the floor.

"Ohohoho!" The Princess laughed with her the back of her right palm near her mouth, "That one barely put up a fight."

"Meow," Persian said before walking up to Staravia, who struggled to move through paralysis. Just as the bulbous-head cat Pokemon was about to bite down, Murkrow dove in and pecked at the gem in the forehead, "Meow!" Persian recoiled in pain.

"Mur!" Murkrow said while spreading his wings, causing Staravia to look up in shock.

"How dare you!" The Princess gasped, then pointed, "Both of you, focus that bird now!" she ordered before Persian and Purugly rushed in.

"Mur," Murkrow said before using haze to create a misty battlefield. However, Purugly broke through the distraction and unleashed a fury of slashes, "Mur!" the blackbird Pokemon recoiled in pain as feathers flew from his body. Eventually, his body fell to his back on the ground. He tried to get up, but Purugly slammed his body onto the blackbird Pokemon, "MURRRR!" Murkrow screeched in agony.

"Meow." Purugly purred before licking her paw, then sneered as the claws jetted out, "Meow!" she was about to lang the final blow, but an energy wave ran through the area, "Meow-" the overweight cat Pokemon recoiled back, her body shaking from a sudden pain. Murkrow regain his breath to look over at the origin of the pulse wave, discovering it was Staravia's Endeavor.

"Star…" Staravia spoke but was still unable to stand up.

"Insolent little," The Princess said in rage before turning to the thug, "You, heal her right now!"

"Yes, my Princess." The thug said before taking out a potion, spraying it on the overweight cat Pokemon. Suddenly, Purugly regain its composure as it sneered back at Staravia. However, Murkrow moved between them with a scowl of his own.

"My, what a prideful bird," The Princess responded, then sneered "Too bad he won't be that much of a filling meal when all is said and done. Ohohoho-" She laughed, but was cut off by a loud crash, "What was that!?"

All eyes were on the staircase as someone appeared to be coming down. Reaching the bottom was the orange-haired criminal, "You need a stronger password." Roman said while cracking his knuckles.

"Who are you!?" The Priciness asked before gasping, "Wait, that orange hair, are you-" she said before gasping, "A member of Team Flare!?"

"I thought they disbanded long ago," the thug asked.

"Sorry, but I have no idea who they are." Roman responded with a smirk, "Now, you took something from me, and I want him back."

"Mur," Murkrow said as he looked back up to Roman in shock, bringing a tear to the blackbird pokemon's eye.

Roman smiled back, then noticed the familiar starling Pokemon, "… And I guess Red's bird as well."

"Star…" Staravia groaned as he lowered his head.

Roman turned back to his opponents, "Now, I think I'll even the odds a bit." He said while taking out two Pokeballs, "Golbat, Grapploct, let's have some fun!" he said tossing the balls into the air before they opened. The blue bat Pokemon emerged while flaring her fangs and expanded her wings. However, the blue octopus Pokemon turned around and bonded her trainer in love, "GAAAAA!" Roman screamed as his bones were crushed by the tentacles.

"Grapple," Grapploct said with hearts in her eyes.

"…" The others looked on with half-open eyes.

"Get off," Roman said as he tried to pry the blue octopus Pokemon off, then noticed the thug reaching for a Pokeball, "Here, you deal with that one!" The orange-haired criminal said as he pulled Grapploct off himself then tossed it at the thug. The thug gasped before his face was hugged by the tentacles, causing him to gasp for air before falling back. Roman turned back to the battle, "Okay Golbat, Air Cutter!" he declared with the blue bat Pokemon flapping his wings with razor winds.

Persian and Purugly recoiled in pain from the attack, but the bulbous-head cat pokemon's body sparked with electricity before unleashing the thunderbolt. Golbat's body was struck by the attack, struggling to stay in the air. The Princess smirked as she pointed, causing Purugly to leap into the air with the right claw encompassed by shadows.

However, Roman smirked back, "Poison Fang." He said with Gobat biting down on the overweight cat pokemon's body

"MEOW!" Purugly screeched in pain.

"Looks like you just let your Pokemon do whatever they want," Roman said with his arms crossed, "Some boss lady you're supposed to be."

"How dare you!" The Princess responded in shock, standing up from her seat, "Do you know who I am, I am The Princess!"

"You, a Princess? Ha!" Roman taunted, "I've met Ice Queens with more class than you?" he said with her gritting her teeth. The orange-haired criminal looked down at Murkrow with a smile, "How about we show her who's boss?"

"Mur," Murkrow responded before both looked back to Persian, "Murkrow!"

"Go, use Thief," Roman responded with the blackbird Pokemon swooping in, "And steal that tiara."

"What!?" The Princess responded before Murkrow passed by Persian and flew overhead. As she felt her accessory, she discovered it was missing and instead in the blackbird pokemon's beck, "You can't do that, what kind of trainer are you!?" The Princess shouted.

"I'm not a trainer, I'm a crook." Roman responded, his arms crossed, "Now, what are you going to do about it?"

"Tsk," The Princess snarled, "Persian, fry him with a Thunderbolt!"

"Meow," Persian said while charging for its attack, but then felt an odd pressure from behind. In turning its bulbous head, the blue octopus Pokemon was seen glaring down with eyes of hate. The Princess gasped as she looked over to her Thug, who was passed out with suction cup marks on his face.

"Brick Break," Roman spoke, causing Grapploct to bring one of his tentacles down on over Persian's bulbous head.

"Meow…" Persian spoke with swirled eyes as Grapploct was flexing his tentacles.

"Impossible," The Princess said before turning to another side of the battlefield, seeing Purugly fainted from poison while Golbat was perched over the body, her wings clocking the blue bat pokemon's body.

"It's over," Roman said as Murkrow flew by, dropping the tiara in his hand before perching on his hat, "You lose," he said before examining the tiara, "And this is fake." The orange-haired criminal said before tossing the tiara away, causing The Princess to fall to her knees, "We're leaving now. Work on your criminal game or get out of the business." He spoke while recalling Golbat to her Pokeball as Grapploct picked up Staravia. With them leaving, the Princess remained where she was, but gritted her teeth in a festering rage.

Walking up the stair, Murkrow had a look of remorse, "Mur," the blackbird Pokemon spoke.

"Is that supposed to be an apology, I don't speak bird." Roman responded with slight glare at Murkrow, then sighed, "I don't know why you hate evolving, but guess I don't need you to do so right now." He said before smirking, "Besides, if you got any bigger, I might get neck problems." The orange-haired criminal then had a focused gaze, "But you follow my orders and don't fly away like that ever again. Do we understand each other?"

"Mur!" Murkrow responded with a matching gaze.

"Good." Roman said upon getting to the surface, seeing the unconscious thug at the door he was guarding, "Better leave before the cops show up." He said before rushing down the alleyway. However, around the opposite corner, a person watched with a focused gaze before adjusting her black gloves.

AN: There you go, Ruby has an interesting talk with Rosa. While the other worlds conversation went smooth, you got to see a bit of the mental strain Ruby has put on herself with her own worldviews. This might be just me, but I always think this is Ruby's biggest character flaw. Forcing herself into seeing the world through a fairytale mindset. If you have read the official rwby manga, this version of her might make more sense. Murkrow and Staravia have a bit of a talk with a backstory of why the blackbird Pokemon didn't want to evolve, then the two were captured. Before the two could be cat food, Roman shows up to save day… not something you hear too often. The Princess was a nice one-off villain but may come back if I feel like it. In the end, Roman makes up with Murkrow as they head to meet up with Ruby and Rosa, but someone looks to be on his tail. You will see who that is next chapter, but she is one of my favorite designs in the Pokemon games. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.