Captured

Suspicious Slumber Party

Tourmaline~

I filed into the cold tile front hallway, sparsely decorated with a small table and a coat rack. Oak's grandson shut the door behind us, none too quietly, and leaned against it. All of us stood in the entryway, unwilling to break the silence. Well, I was, at least.

"We might as well introduce ourselves," Ruby said, very cheerfully, considering. "I'm Ruby, Hoenn Beauty Contest champion."

"Wow! I've never met one of those before. I'm Red, by the way," the guy with the hat said. He winked. "Kanto Pokemon League champion."

"Hey, I hearda you!" Sapphire grinned hugely. "I'm Sapphire Birch, and you're the kid whose record I beat!"

"Eight gyms in 80 days, right? Pretty sure I've heard of you, too." He grinned back. "I guess I oughta be upset with you for outdoing me like that, but I have to say I'm pretty impressed!"

"We should have a battle! I would love ta see what you're made of."

Red opened his mouth, but I beat him to it. "It's a little late, you two. As great as that sounds, maybe wait until morning?"

"Yes. Please do not have an all-out pokemon battle in the dark," the cold one agreed. 

We side-eyed each other, renewing my sense of hostility.

"Well, I guess that's fair. Tomorrow though?" Red asked hopefully.

"We have some... things to do tomorrow," his friend cut in.

"And we have traveling to do," I added.

"Please?" Sapphire asked, her eyes big. "I'd really love ta crush this guy!"

Both of the boys' eyes widened slightly. I couldn't prevent a small smile.

"We'll see about that!" Red laughed, challenge glinting in his eyes.

"They're too competitive. It's no use trying to stop them," I sighed, feigning reluctance. In all honesty, I was very interested in watching them battle. I hadn't seen any fight that was actually good in a long time. And Pallet Town wasn't that far away.

The taller one looked at me again, eyes narrow. "You have yet to introduce yourself."

"I'm Tourmaline, their babysitter," I replied, matching his biting tone.

"Our FRIEND," Ruby reminded me. I sighed.

"Their friend. I'm taking them to meet up with Sapphire's father, Professor Birch, who is currently with Professor Oak right now."

"Mhm. And what business do you have with them?"

"If you must know, I am consulting them in regards to a severely injured pokemon."

"Injured how?" Red cut in. Both guys shared a significant look, then turned back to me, significantly more interested.

What was that about?

"Its a sableye she found. Someone cut out his eyes," Sapphire said, her eyes downcast at the reminder. The boys shared another look, but didn't comment.

"He's in tremendous amounts of pain, but the people at the Pokecenter haven't been able to do anything. I was hoping to find someone more specialized to help out."

"Hmm."

"I'm sure the scientists at the research center can help you somehow," Red said. "But if they can't... we do have a friend with healing abilities that might be able to fix him. You know, once she wakes up." 

His face fell.

"Your friend in a coma." My hostility towards one boy couldn't prevent sympathy for the other.