Red, [I appreciate the fact you are honest with me about this.]
Ruby, "Someone has to keep you updated. Ash tries but he also does not want you all to worry either."
Red, [You cannot see it but I am sighing right now.]
Ruby snorted, "I can hear you sigh loud and clear though. Speaking of trouble, Absol has returned from the lab."
Red, [Ah yes, the good Professor requested his help before. What was that about?]
Ruby, "From what I understood the last storm left the area unsafe. So, he needed as many Absol as possible to watch out for landslide. It is Absol's first mission too."
Red, [Bet Ash is proud of his little boy.]
Ruby, "He is. In fact, let me send you a picture."
Red, [I would like that. I have to go. Tell Ash I will call him later tonight. It will still be evening for you guys.]
Ruby, "Done! Take care Red."
Red hung up, [You too.]
Ruby looked outside at where Ash was currently patting and praising a very proud looking Absol for a mission well done. Normally, Ash would not let his baby Pokemon out of his sight that easily but considering it was an emergency, Ash had reluctantly ley Absol go to the lab. It was a good thing the Gym battle was earlier to keep him distracted long enough from the matter. Honestly speaking, the raven haired teen was one of the most overprotective trainers Ruby had come across so far and he knew many overprotective trainers including that one Psyduck girl he met before. He decided to join Ash later as right now he had a meeting with Wattson, the main reason they were still in Mauville City. In fact, every Gym leader had decided to hold the Gym meetings depending on when Ruby would reach the next Gym. It was nice of them to take his travel break into consideration while doing so.
Gou, "Heading out?"
Ruby nodded, "Got a meeting."
Max, "Is this about Team Aqua and Team Magma?"
Ruby ruffled his hair, "Afraid so!"
Molly, "Umm.. Do we need to come along too?"
May nodded, "Good question, considering we have been involved with them more than once now."
Ruby, "I will ask for next time. At the moment the reports you gave me is enough."
Gou, "Is that why Ash is not going?"
Ruby, "Yes, and also because he has his hands full with a Legendary already. He has his own online meetings with the Kalos Champion and Gym Leaders to worry about."
May murmured, "That is true, I guess. He looks exhausted sometimes after those meetings as well."
Ruby smiled at her, "Yes, so I do not want him to worry about the meetings here for as long as possible."
Max sighed, "Being the parent of a Legendary is not so easy, is it?"
Molly, "Wasn't there that one guy Tobias who did it though?"
Gou, "I remember him, there was that huge battle between him and that one off shoot of Team Galactic called Team Ore or something?"
Ruby sighed at that, "Riley was pissed because of what that did to the Lucario kingdom in Sinnoh. I believe he personally placed bounties on the people involved. My ride is here, I will see you later."
Max, "Hey, am I the only one who felt followed the last few days?"
May, "I felt it too, mostly when I was with Ash though."
Molly, "Huh! You too? Should we tell Ash?"
Gou, "I think we should though I have a feeling he knows."
Max, "He does not look worried so I guess he knows."
Gou, "Let's talk to him either way. No time like the present."
May smiled, "And we can give Absol the congratulatory present too."
Ruby meanwhile entered the meeting room, "Wattson, everyone, good afternoon."
Norman, [Ruby, how are my kids doing?]
Ruby, "They are doing well, Norman. Do not worry. They are tougher than they look."
Norman looked relieved and proud, [I am so glad to hear it. I must confess my wife and I have been worried for them ever since they told us about their first encounter with the two teams.]
Tate scowled, [They are targeting beginners now?]
Liza, [What a low blow!]
Winona [You are all safe, yes?]
Ruby, "We are okay, do not worry."
Roxanne, [I do not see Ash with you.]
Ruby, "He has a meeting with Kalos Leaders so I did not want to stress him too much."
Wattson, "I suppose they were calling about their Princess. What does that make young Ash then? Queen Mother?"
Brawly sweat dropped, [I do not think young Ash would be happy to have that title.]
Ruby snorted, "It does not stop his Pokemon from calling him a mom though."
Juan, [Really?]
Ruby nodded, "Yes, they call him Meema which is apparently what Pokemon call their mothers and Poppa their fathers."
Winona, [Huh! You learn something new everyday.]
Tate, [Wait a minute Orion used to call you Meema too.]
Liza's eyes were wide, [I recall that too.]
Ruby smiled though his ears were pink, "Yes, and I am a proud Meema. Would not change it for anyone."
Flannery rushed in, [Sorry I am late.]
Roxanne, [It is alright. We were just settling in. Now, shall we start this meeting properly?]
Everyone answered a yes and the meeting began with Wattson reporting what happened almost a week ago. Team Magma had broken in while he was in the middle of a Pokemon battle with a challenger. They had tried to steal one of the mega generator's core, though the reason was still being investigated. The police officers involved it had something to do with the machinery that had gone missing almost a year ago from one of the space labs. The twin Gym leaders Tate and Liza scowled at the reminder of the burglary that happened right under their noses. Their Gym was built close to the space program of Hoenn, so most of the machines there were search and research based. Despite not being dangerous, those machines were important to the science community and Hoenn boasted of being the one region with most satellites launched followed by Kalos for a reason.
Ruby, "Are you two alright?"
Tate, [We are fine, Ruby. do not worry about us.]
Liza, [We are just salty someone actually managed to steal something from the base, despite all the human and Pokemon guards.]
Wattson sighed, "Please, do not blame yourselves young ones. It was not your fault."
Winona, [True, the Grand Festival was being held close to your area that time. No one would have suspected they would go for a machinery.]
Brawly nodded looking serious, [True, most of the time they go for the Pokemon taking part in the Grand Festival.]
Flannery agreed, [Besides, you were doing your job and responsibility flawlessly in my opinion. The festival went without a hitch, which is more than I could say for my City.]
Tate, [I still do not know what they want with a Rover. It needs a lot of energy and maintenance cost for it is not cheap either.]
Liza, [Which is why we are keeping an eye out for high cost maintenance bills that might pop up somewhere. So far it has not.]
Ruby, "We will keep an eye out too. Such a costly item will be flagged somewhere."
Wattson, "Agreed! Mew knows my tower requires a lot of funds to maintain."
Ruby, "I have a few people who offered to watch out for Team Aqua activities."
Norman, [Do we know them?]
Ruby, "No, I do not think so."
Winona, [You trust them though?]
Ruby, "Yes, they are very experienced in this."
Roxanne, [Fascinating! I would love to meet them at some point.]
Ruby, "I will inform them."
Flannery, [Has there been any news on them?]
Ruby pursed his lips, "Some news yes... You are not going to like it though."
Brawly, [Lay it out for us.]
Ruby, "They have found the red orb that can control Groudon."
[WHAT???]
Ruby sighed as everyone started to shout over another over the news. He wanted to keep this till the end but this was too important and serious to just not inform the rest about, considering who it involves. Wattson was sitting beside him with a grim look, and sharp eyes as he watched Ruby who was sitting back straight. He had a feeling the young lad, their youngest Champion, knew more than he was letting on. He decided to wait for everyone to calm down before questioning him. Winona, bless the young woman calmed everyone after recovering from her own shock. The Gym Leaders then started to question Ruby about the authenticity of his information. What he was saying was pretty blasphemous after all. Ruby took out a folder and showed them the photos that he had received from Ash who had received them from James. He was not telling them that though and watched as the Gym Leaders examined the photos with grim faces.
Wattson, "Are they being careful?"
Winona, [Yes, these were obviously taken very close to high security.]
Ruby, "They are professionals. Do not worry."
Norman ran his hand through his hair, [Fuck! I jut pray the kids do not run into any trouble.]
Ruby, "They are smart, Norman. Do not worry too much."
Roxanne, [Could I have copies of these photos? I would like to investigate this situation myself as well.]
Juan, [I think all of us would like to do that. What a worrying situation we have.]
Ash meanwhile was having a video call, "I promise everything is okay, Red."
Red, [I want to trust you but you have a habit of down playing everything that happens to you, Ash.]
Ash, "I do not. I take my therapy seriously you know that. Even yesterday I had a big session with my therapist."
Red, [Which is the only reason I am not coming down from the mountain to stalk you.]
Ash, "Please do not make such scary threats. It is more terrifying because I know you will do it."
Red, [Does that surprise you?]
Ash, "No, it does not. So, I promise I will be extra safe. Besides I cannot afford to cause an international incident. I am not loosing my baby."
Red nodded, [Good! Now, I heard certain friends of yours are snooping around.]
Ash, "Yes, they update Ruby and I about the two problems we have."
Red, [Does Lance know? Do we need to prepare to block our borders?]
Ash, "I think Ruby will talk about it during the Champion meeting later at night."
Red chuckled at that, [I do not regret leaving my Champion title behind at all.]
Ash snorted, "And you are asking me why I have not challenged a Champion yet."
Red, [Is that a confession?]
Ash, "I will neither confirm nor deny."
Red, [Okay, that was odd.... ]
Ash, "Huh?"
Red, [I thought I saw the air shimmering behind you.]
Ash laughed nervously, "Do not worry about that. Lucario has it handled."
Red narrowed his eyes, [Is that another Legendary?]
Ash, "No? Just a baby, I promise."
Red, [Ashwinder Ketchum, you will tell me the truth. Unless you want the entire family including your Pokemon here.]
Ash, "Okay, okay, calm down please. I promise he is not a danger."
Red, [Who is it, then?]
Ash sighed, "It is the Lugia, Silver's younger brother."
Red, [The one Ritchie is in charge of protecting. That one's younger sibling. Is that why Ritchie was blowing up the group chat with laughing emojis?]
Ash shrugged at that, "Kinda? I mean I had to cover y bases and figure out who this little guy is exactly. Little Silver confirmed his identity, Silver's mom however was not pleased he went missing and berated him over the call."
Red, [Yes, I can see that happening. You are safe, aren't you?]
Ash pat the air beside him feeling the tell tale head, "Always, Lucario was very adamant in making it clear the little guy cannot attack me unprovoked."
Lugia appeared then chirping at Red, "Aaaaa."
Red, [Well damn! You are explaining this to professor Oak and your mom.]