Contains: Franticshipping (Ruby X Sapphire)

Requested by: PKMNmianna

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Sometimes Sapphire gets busy training out in the fields with her pokemon, forgetting the weather and time, she gets lost in getting stronger and having fun outdoors in the forest behind her little tent (which she had set up as it was getting dark).

She laughs, walking back to their tent with Chic, Phado and Rono after a long session of improving their attacks and precision, all the while collecting firewood for night and edible mushrooms if they find them.

"How about you guys go sleep in the pokeball or the tent while I get our food ready?" She asks, pulling out their pokeballs and asking.

Not so surprisingly, the three didn't want to rest inside the pokeball just yet and rather were insisting to help Sapphire help around. She decided to let out her Gallade, Kirly so that there are as many hands, paws to help get their food ready.

Chic and Kirly take on the duty to set up a small fire pit by gathering the sticks and stones Phado and Rono had collected. Phado and Rono take turns in bringing the kitchen utensils to the campfire for Sapphire to cook.

Sapphire takes out the pokemon food containers, packed for her pokemons by a friend of hers.

"All right guys," She places the opened cans on the small makeshift table (that her Blaziken and Aron had made with much ease) and pulls out Tropius's pokeball, releasing Troppy, the big Sauropoda-like pokemon, making a happy noise at the back of his's throat as he nudges Sapphire with his snout. "It's time to fill your bellies."

She brings more cans and empties them all in separate plates for her pokemons to peacefully eat while she readies her little bowl of warm carrot and cabbage soup with pork onigiris.

Lovely how Nurse Joy at the previous Pokemon Centre had warmly given her the onigiris and a small meal-kit of three different soups to last her for her two days journey to the next City where she plans to meet Ruby.

After their little dinner, she packs up the empty cans and bottles in a small bag (which can be thrown in the recycling bin as soon as she steps foot in the Sootopolis City) get her pokemons back in their pokeballs and head to sleep.

The next morning rolls up quickly, blaring hot sun rays right through Sapphire's tent and onto her sleeping, blotchy face. She yawns, rubbing her eyes as slowly the sleep creeps away under the morning sun as she steps out to stretch.

"Let's get some breakfast in the stomach and quickly make our way!" With a punch to the sky, she hastily prepares a wobbly rice and ham sandwich and stuffs it inside her mouth, chewing on it slowly while she packs her bag and tent.

It takes almost three more hours for Sapphire to reach Sootopolis City, the light bustle of the city blooms a small smile on her face and suddenly Kirly pops out of his pokeball, making a bubbly noise as he tags alongside Sapphire. She pats his head in affection, a smile on her face as she looks for the Pokemon Centre.

Ruby did say that he was gonna be there at the Pokemon Centre of Sootopolis City. I hope I find the Centre soon.

"Um, hello," She stops in front of a random Clothes store and asks the lady at the counter, "Can you tell me the way to the Pokemon Centre?" Her Gallade standing beside her, eyeing the clothes in the store with an excited glint in his eyes.

"Oh yes, sure." The lady replies, pulling out a map from underneath and showing Sapphire the route to the Pokemon Centre.

"Thank you!"

And the two get on their feet, walking past shops and restaurants until they see the familiar Pokeball Logo over a building, Pokemons and their Holders walking in and out of the centre with smiles and newfound excitement.

Sapphire walks inside, hand holding her Gallade's arm and approaches Chancey who stands behind the counter, taking a look at injured Plusle and Minun and takes them inside a room to monitor them while Nurse Joy emerges out of the room next to it.

"Hello, how may I help you?" She asks, a hand reaching out to pat Gallade's head and he nuzzles into her palm as a response.

"I am here to meet a friend, although" Sapphire turns around to pull out her pokeballs belt and hands them to Nurse Joy, "I was wondering if you can give my pokemons a quick check-up while I meet my friend."

"Oh, sure, dear." Nurse Joy exclaims, taking Sapphire's pokemons on a tray and returning Gallade to his pokeball then taking them inside another room for a check-up. "You go ahead and meet your friend, I will take care of your buddies."

Sapphire waves the Nurse a small goodbye before taking a deep breath, looking around the Centre for Ruby who could be literally anywhere.

Aish, I wonder where he is now. She fishes out her pokedex, opening the message box and quickly typing in a quick message to Ruby.

Sapphire: Can I know where in the bubbles are you?

Sapphire: You did say that you would be at the lounge of the pokemon centre but I don't see your Should–Not–Get–Dirty ass anywhere on the lounge 😠😠

She waits for a while for Ruby's response and walks around the Lounge and Cafeteria area, hoping that maybe he is there in the cafeteria stuffing his mouth, when her pokedex vibrates.

It's a message from Ruby.

Ruby: I'm at the cafeteria, feeding Nana, Kiki and Fofo

Ruby: They were starved after our failed combination. Figured they could use some delicious Pokemon Centre food to get some energy and power back.

Ruby: I'm sitting at the third table, by the way.

Sapphire trudges towards the Cafeteria, shaking her head as soon as the familiar white beanie comes in view with the three pokemon eating gracefully, just like their coordinator. She huffs a laugh, hand covering her mouth before Ruby catches her watching him.

She sits down next to Fofo, the Castform pokemon and clucks her head, head leaning down to brush her cheek against Fofo's soft fluffy skin.

"So," she starts, "A failed combination?" and there's a teasing tone to her voice as Sapphire smirks.

Ruby snarls at the girl, biting on his steak angrily. He bites a reply back, "We were just tired. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to even drain too much energy to end up looking dirty and as if we were battling when all we were trying was a new combination attack."

"Uh-huh, sure."

"I could beat you and Kirly at a combination, don't start me."

"As if, I have seen you practice your combinations and everything so much, I would do it much better than you if I were to take part in Contests."

"Hah, you are so bad at coordinating a simple entrance, there is zero chance of you passing even the first stage."

"Like you could do gym battles, shut it, Beanie Gloves."

"THOSE GLOVES WERE MY MOM'S GIFT!"

And so, their bickering continues for an hour-long until Nurse Joy yells at their table, slamming a hand flat on the surface and it silences the whole cafeteria which in turn, looks at Sapphire and Ruby who faces were red and blotchy, sweating from so much yelling.

"Now you both shut your mouth up or I tell Machoke to throw you both out and send your pokemons to Professor Birch." The soft-looking nurse threatens the two with a firm voice and anger in her eyes.

"Sorry."

And then she leaves.

"Oh right," Ruby exclaims after when Nurse Joy leaves them (satisfied when the two apologize after when she pulled their ears), "I wanted to gift you something."

He reaches for his travelling bag, leaning over Nana, who was nicely wolfing down her third bowl of pokemon food, and pulling out a small paper-wrapped package. He smiles shyly, but Sapphire doesn't notice and hands the little package to her.

She holds it, confusion all over her face because why does Ruby want to gift her something, so out of the blue. She feels the package, pressing down on its top and sides with her fingers and palm.

Fairly squishy and seems like it's soft too.

"Uh, I think I have to leave—" Ruby abruptly stands up, taking the empty bowls and plates on the table and stacking them together, putting them on one side. He returns his pokemons quickly to their pokeball and hastily takes his travelling bag, slinging it over his shoulder and stepping out the booth.

"There's this, uh– a something— something that I have to do! Yes! So uh— bye? See you later?" He gabbles nervously, hands moving in gestures and just flying anywhere to help him ground as he waits for Sapphire's reply who is too busy inspecting the gift he gave her. He feels blood rush through his neck and ears very warmly and thinks that if Sapphire looked at him, he'd look exactly like a tomato.

He hopes she doesn't. And she doesn't.

"Well, if you are leaving," Sapphire starts, eyes elsewhere and fingers playing with an open end of the gift, "Take care and um, I hope you perfect your combination."

"Yeah," he breathes and Sapphire looks at him, her eyes just, looking at him and he feels his face heat up from the soft gaze. "Thanks, I hope you get the badge at your Gym Battle here."

She smiles at him, eyes slightly closing at the action and chirps thanks before Ruby finally decides to flee away before Sapphire opens the gift in front of her.

"Hm." Sapphire stays put on the booth, contemplating whether she should open the gift now or later. If she decides to open it later, after her Gym battle, she'd be too tired to send Ruby a response but then, it'd also be like a comfort to her, after the battle. But if she opens it now, maybe it can also be like a motivation? who knows.

And so, she rips apart the paper covering the gift and gasps when she sees what Ruby had gifted her.

A sky-blue and sea-green knit scarf, long enough that it reaches her knees with a tiny note attached at one of it's end. She reads it, Hope this keeps you warm whenever you feel sad or happy :D  — Beanie Gloves. And probably, by mistake, a squeaky squeal leaves her lips as she immediately takes out her pokedex to send a very excited, happy, loud message to Ruby.

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:D felt like redoing it and correct every mistake and probably just change the whole fucking plot.

i mean, this one doesn't seem so bad so like, i hope this one is better than the previous very cringy version :3

— ANCIENT