Pokémon Heroes of Hoenn

Slateport City Meetings

I threw myself onto the couch in Slateport City's Pokémon Center lobby, throwing my head back and sighing roughly after plopping down.
“Seasickness sucks…” I groaned as Emerald handed me a glass of water to ease my flipping stomach.
“You'll live.” she stated teasingly. I groaned, attempting to shoot a glare at her but only managing a mildly annoyed look.
“Shut up…” I whined, taking a sip of the cool, clear liquid. I felt instant results as the water entered my system, calming my uneasy stomach and ridding me of the need to regurgitate. A sudden thought came to mind a moment later, peaking my curiosity of it. “Hey, where are Sapphire and Leaf?” I muttered out, taking a heavy breath.
“Leaf’s helping Sapphire catch a Pokémon to practice with for the Pokémon Contest. Apparently there's a Contest Hall here in Slateport City that's holding a Contest a few days from now.” Emerald explained, throwing her arms behind her head as she sat across from me on the other couch.
“Yeah, I still don't see the appeal in that.” I stated carelessly, crossing my arms as I leaned back and closed my eyes, trying to focus on resting my stomach.
“Oh, come on, Ruby. Everybody has different tastes. Besides, you've never even given Contests a shot!” Emerald exclaimed, sounding oddly like my mom.
“What's the point? It's a waste on the talents of Pokémon.” I sighed out, not really wanting to argue with Emerald right now, though that wish was clearly not going to come true.
“It is not! Contests are a way of expressing you and your Pokémon just like Gym battles!” Emerald exclaimed defensively, standing up swiftly as she did so. I could feel her glaring strongly at me as she spoke, but I didn't open my eyes to check. “Every trainer has a different way of expressing the strengths of themselves and their Pokémon! Most prefer Gym battles to express how physically strong they've grown, but others have different goals. Some pursue Pokémon Contests to express and show off the moves they've learned with their Pokémon in their own unique ways. There's plenty of other trainers too! Like what I pursue, to become a Pokémon Ranger! Trainers in the Ranger class use the Pokémon they've raised to defend wild Pokémon and catch poachers. You should at least try to be more open minded to trainers with different goals than you, Ruby.” Emerald argued, using an accusing tone in her last sentence. I sighed, rolling my eyes as I opened them and rose from my seat, turning to leave the Pokémon Center. I heard Emerald sigh regretfully before she decided to say one last thing.
“Ruby!” she called, causing me to stop in my tracks, though I didn't turn around. “Look, I know you're not as bad as you make yourself appear to be. That's just your demeanor. I know, even though you hide it for whatever reason, you're a really nice guy. I wish you'd just be you around us…. The real you.” Emerald said softly, almost too low for me to hear. But I heard her. I stood there and thought that over for a bit before continuing to exit the Pokémon Center.
How easy was it for her to tell? I know I'm not really like this, but… how would Emerald possibly know that? She barely knows me. To be honest… I've been using this cover up for so long I sort of forgot how to be me. What I am now, this short tempered jerk, I made myself into this. All the pain my parents caused me… I thought I could block it out with hate as a little kid, and so that's what I did. But I couldn't go back to innocent, cheerful little me if I wanted to. It's as if the real me is just…. gone.
And in all honesty, Emerald.... I really just want to get it back.
I lost my sense of direction as I thought to myself, letting my legs take me through the city on their own. I apparently lead myself straight to Sapphire and Leaf, spotting two men in the same, all too familiar outfit by the museum with them. I listened in as I approached cautiously, wondering what they could possibly want now.
“Give me back my Pokémon!” Sapphire exclaimed, trying to fight with one of the men only to be held back by the forehead.
“Oh, boo hoo, the poor little girl's gonna cry! Get outa here, kid!” the man exclaimed rudely, pushing Sapphire to the ground roughly. She cried out in pain as her back hit the concrete, holding herself up on her elbows as tears began to fill the corner of her eyes. Watching this scene sparked something within me. An all too familiar feeling, but not in the way I felt it currently. I can't remember a time when it was triggered like this. The pure rage that makes me grit my teeth and ball my fists, ready to pounce like an infuriated wild Pokémon.
Reacting on said emotion, I sprinted in front of Sapphire, glancing back at her before glaring right into the eyes of the man who shoved her.
“You give Sapphire her Pokémon back right now or so help me, you're gonna wish you did.” I warned in a dangerously low tone as I got right in that man's face.
“Psh, try me.” he stated with a smirk, probably thinking I was just being stupid.
“Suit yourself.” I stated calmly, taking a step to the left as Combusken landed a Double Kick into the thief's back, slamming his face into the ground. The other man yelped, jumping back in shock. I shot him a glare, causing him to flinch, dropping Sapphire’s Pokéball in the process. It rolled to my feet and stopped after hitting the inside of my sneaker. Picking it up calmly, I tossed it to Sapphire, earning a grateful nod. The other man stared passed me, a fearful look in his eyes. I turned to see a bigger man wearing an all black outfit approaching us. I had to admit, the guy looked pretty dang intimidating. He was much taller than me and with those sharp onyx eyes he had, who wouldn't be afraid of him?
Regardless of my slight fear, I stood in front of Sapphire defensively as she rose to her feet, ready to protect her if needed. Leaf did the same, standing beside me with an unsure look in his eyes. The man stopped before us, glaring down at us as he spotted the man Combusken kicked on the ground.
“What're you kids doing, meddling with Team Aqua?” the man asked in a low, raspy voice.
“What's Team Aqua doing, messing with us?” I asked defiantly, barely managing to keep my voice from wavering.
“Listen kid, I don't know who you are, but Team Aqua’s got big plans, so we don't have time to play with you.” The way this man spoke to me, like I was some baby, it was really starting to get under my skin.
“Clearly you do since you're little friends here just tried to steal my friend’s Pokémon!” I retorted, taking a step forward in full on defiance. The man took a deep breath, trying to keep from losing his cool with me.
“Alright, here's the deal. You've got some heart, squirt, to be able to stand up to me like that, so I'll let you off just this once. But know this, if you ever mess with my plans again, I won’t hesitate to crush you.” the man stated warningly, signaling his followers to come with him afterwards. As they left, the man stopped, smirking over his shoulder at me before he spoke. “By the way, the name's Archie.” he stated simply.
“Ruby.” I called back, shooting him a mild glare. Archie smirked, nodding before continuing to leave.
“I'll remember that name.” I heard him say to himself as they disappeared around the corner. I stared off in the distance for awhile before turning back to Sapphire and Leaf.
“Everything alright?” I questioned, noticing Sapphire staring at me in shock.
“Yeah, I think so. Thanks Ruby, you really got us out of some trouble.” Leaf stated shyly, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“Yeah, whatever. Let's just get back to the Pokémon Center.” I said dismissively, turning to do just that.
“Ruby, wait!” Sapphire called. I turned halfway to face her, slightly annoyed that I was stopped yet again. “You…. you called me…. your friend…” Sapphire murmured shyly, staring at me longingly. I froze, taking in what she had said in that moment.
I did say that…. I called Sapphire my friend right in front of her and Leaf… There wasn't even a sugarcoat, I just... let it right out.
My eyes widened for just a moment before I dropped my gaze to the ground.
“Yeah, well… don't think too much of it.” I muttered, turning to continue my way to the Pokémon Center. I immediately regretted saying those words. That was my chance to be truthful to both Sapphire and myself… and I blew it. The hurt look in Sapphire’s eye as I had said that scarred my mind as I forced myself to keep walking and the same two words kept repeating themselves in my head.
I'm sorry...
I'm sorry...
I'm sorry...
I sat in the lobby yet again, this time all alone as I held my head in my hands and leaned my elbows on my thighs. I slid my hands together, repeatedly tapping my lip with them as I stressed over what I had said to Sapphire.
"Hey, Ruby... are you okay?" Sapphire asked, actual concern evident in her tone as she came to my side.
Why do you have to show up now when I'm feeling guilty...
"No, no I am not." I stated bluntly.
"What's the matter?" Sapphire asked softly, taking a seat right beside me.
"It's... personal." I muttered, shifting my gaze in the opposite direction from Sapphire.
"Oh... okay. Well, Emerald, Leaf, and, I are headed down to the beach, want to come with us?" Sapphire asked hopefully. As much as I wanted to sit here and pull my hair out, I didn't want to see her pout again, so I agreed.
"Fine..." I muttered, standing and following her out as she cheered. The beach here in Slateport City was very beautiful, with rows of red, white and blue beach umbrellas everywhere. Towards the far right was the public port with a couple trees lining the end of it where the sand is.
Sapphire lead me in the direction of the port, Leaf running to our side as we stood in the shade of one of the trees. A boat had just pulled into the port, passengers rushing off of it and spreading in different directions. I was about to ask where Emerald was when I spotted her leaping over the heads of the last four passengers from the tree she had climbed up to the one we now stood under. One of the passengers, a raven haired girl with a red, black and white cap, watched in awe as Emerald bounded over her head, but that's when something strange happened. A beeping sound came out of nowhere as Emerald jumped over them, quieting down as she came to a stop by my side.
“What the heck is that sound?" I questioned as it started echoing around us. Sapphire, Emerald, Leaf, and I pulled out our Pokédexes, realizing that the sound was emitting from them. I was a bit shocked to see that Leaf had one, but I didn't think now was the time to question him about it.
I glanced up at the four passengers from before, noticing them all staring down at their own pockets. The raven haired girl pulled something out of her pocket and jolted around to face us in shock. She looked back down at the item in her hand before sprinting over to us, her friends following close behind.
"Hey!! Do you all happen to have Pokédexes?" the raven girl asked, a wide grin on her face. I glanced back down at the Pokédex in my hand, lifting it to show her as I stared at her in confusion. "You do!! I was right! So you're the Heroes of Hoenn! Wow, it sure is nice to meet ya!" she exclaimed cheerfully. Sapphire, Emerald, and I exchanged glances, while Leaf just stared at her in shock. We each turned back to her, dumbfounded looks playing on all of our faces besides Leaf's.

....Huh?....