Chapter 219: Tongue-Tied Kecleon [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Petalburg City – Wally's House]
Ruby takes Wally back home, where Wally's parents apologize. Wally's mother says, bowing her head slightly, saying in a thankful tone, "Wally's been very frail ever since he was a little boy. You know it's late, why don't you stay here for the night?"
Ruby, caught in the moment, rubs his head, replying in a sheepish tone, "Uh… okay! Thanks, I really appreciate it!"
*TUP*
Wally's parents nodded as they shut the door. Ruby, on the other hand, thought nervously, 'Sigh… I want to get out of town as fast as I can, though…'
But he turned to hear Wally's voice as he apologized to Ruby for causing so much trouble in a sickly tone, "Your name's Ruby, right…? I'm sorry?"
Ruby looked back, surprised as he said, "You're still awake?"
Sweating from his illness on his bed, Wally began to apologize as he shook in a weak voice, "My parents must have made Norman promise… not to let me have my own Pokémon. I'm gonna be moving to a new town… I don't know anything about it or anyone there… I'll forget about this place…"
Ruby gazes at Wally's eyes, slightly narrowing, feeling angered as he responds in a tangent, turning his back, "Hmm… Wally, remember how I told you my dream was to become a Pokémon contest champion? Well, my father is always telling me, 'Give up silly dreams like that and work on becoming a Pokémon Battle Master – Like me!'! That's how I ran away!"
Wally nodded slowly, muttering, "I see…"
Angered, Ruby decides to show Wally's parents just what their son can do and invites Wally in a passionate tone, "Parents worry… when they're kids want to try something new! I know…! Let's go to the place we were today, Wally!! Let's go and show the grown-ups what you can do!! This is my Ralts, Rara! But tonight… my Pokémon is your Pokémon!"
Ruby lends his Ralts, Rara, to Wally, making him happy, replying, "Thank you!!"
But stopped as Ruby also added cheekily, "Just don't get it dirty…"
Wally merely blinked, tilting his head in confusion. But otherwise, the two boys ran off to capture a Pokémon for Wally.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Outskirts of Peatlburg City]
Ruby and Wally are walking through the outskirts of Petalburg City, passing through Petalburg Woods. Ruby leads the way as he says confidently, "Okay, this is the spot… C'mon! Let's capture your first Pokémon!"
Wally followed behind but couldn't help but ask cautiously, "All right! But… are you sure it's safe for us to be out here at night?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow at Wally as he gestured in front of them cooly, "Too late to wonder now… the night has a unique beauty of its own… look!"
*PNK*
*PNK*
Wally's eyes widened in amazement as they admired the beautiful night. Ruby tries to recommend some for Wally to catch excitedly, "That Illumise! What beauty… Look over there, a Surskit! Those Pokémon are cute! And that Linoone looks smart! Wow, so many choices… which one are you going to go after, Wally? You've got an empty Poke Ball on you, right?"
*Rstl*
Hearing the rustling sound, Wally asked Ruby, alarmed, "Hey!! Look over here, Ruby!!!"
Wally notices a zigzag pattern floating in the air, so the two investigate it. Wally asked in a confused tone, "What's that? A strange zigzag mark… just floating there!!"
Ruby takes a step closer with Mumu out as he mutters equally as confused, "That's weird. Is it a Pokémon…?"
*SLAP*
The pattern attacks, alarming the two. Ruby quickly got into action, ordering, "Something invisible attacked it!! Stand back, Wally! Stop Mumu!! Don't go after it!!"
*DIGDIG*
*BLORP*
Mumu did a Mud-Slap on the ground as the dirt revealed a figure. This surprised the boys as it was revealed to be a wild Kecleon as Ruby yelled, "That's uh… Kecleon the Color Swap Pokémon!"
*FWAP*
Kecleon launches its tongue for a Lick attack as Ruby's eyes narrowed, yelling, "I get it! That invisible attack was its tongue!"
*KABWAM*
Mumu manages to fend it off, causing the Kecleon to run away. Wally yells, "Wait!"
Ruby runs next to Wally as he tries to dissuade him from going after Kecleon, gesturing for the other options in the forest in a friendly tone, "Wally! There's no need to rush. There are plenty of Pokémon to choose from."
Much to Ruby's horror, Wally decides that he wants to capture the Color Swap Pokémon and chases after it, declaring, "I… want… that one."
Ruby grabs Wally by the shoulder and starts to shake him as he asks, outraged, "That Pokémon? Are you sure, Wally?! You'll never be able to compete in contests with a Pokémon like that!!"
Being shaken by Ruby, Wally remained determined as he replied both following after the Wild Kecleon, "I don't want to compete. I think having a Pokémon that can disappear will be really cool!"
Ruby helplessly sighs as he says, heading towards Route 105, "Well… if you say so. I won't stand in your way."
/////
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Route 105 (Shore)]
They eventually reach Route 105, where Ruby is amazed by the sea's beauty, admiring the view, "Wow! What a view! I didn't know this side of Petalburg was on the seashore!!"
Wally nodded his head, informing Ruby in a happy tone while searching for Kecleon, "Uh-huh. That's the sea route 105. But there are big tsunamis now and then… so not a lot of people come here."
The two carefully looked for Kecleon as Wally found the Kecleon again with Ruby, encouraging his friend happily, "Oh! Over there! It's that Kecleon!! Go for it, Wally…! Call out Rara!! Now approach it gradually… using Rara's moves."
Wally nodded and battled it with Rara, hurling its Poke Ball, "Go, Rara!! Confusion!"
*Pop*
Rara comes out as its horn shines with psychic energy. Taking the chance, it shot waves of psychic blasts at the unguarded Kecleon.
*ZIM*
*ZIMZIMZIM*
Kecleon was down as Wally took his chance. Wally tries to capture it with a Poké Ball, only to fail, but he refuses to give up.
Despite his failure, Wally begins to enjoy the battle, causing Rara's horns to glow in response to his emotions. In thanks for helping him, Wally says happily, giving Ruby a gift, "Oh! Here to show my appreciation… I'd like you to have this! It's a Pokémon navigator or Pokenav for short. It's a new gadget for Pokémon trainers created by Devon Corp. You can check a Pokémon's condition with it too – it's perfect for you, Ruby!"
Ruby's eyes widened, grabbing it as he held onto the Pokenav. But mentally, he thought, 'I can't ruin this guy's thanks by saying I don't need it. My Rotom Phone has the Condition App to scan my Pokémon's condition. It's the latest update along with the Status App… but I can't break this guy's heart for being this kind…'
Ruby takes the Pokenav as thanks, sliding it into his bag. But returning to the battle, the Kecleon, tired from the attacks Rara used on it, decides to turn invisible to escape. Ruby and Wally pretend that they can't see it.
But they can see it because it can't turn its zigzag pattern invisible. The Kecleon runs away, but Wally successfully manages to throw the Poké Ball. It hurled at it, making a flash of light…
*BON*
… and soon the Kecleon was captured in a Poké Ball. Overjoyed that he caught his first Pokémon, Wally begins crying tears of joy, "I did it! I finally did it… for the first time… I've caught a Pokémon! Now I don't mind moving to Verdanturf Town. I have no regrets."
Ruby perked up, hearing this as he asked curiously, "Oh! You're moving to Verdanturf Town, Wally?!"
*RMBLRMBL*
Both Wally and Ruby began speaking about moving, but the sounds of rumbling got their attention. Wally moves out of the danger zone with Ralts as he said cautiously, "Might be an earthquake. We've had a lot of them lately. Well, we'd better hurry up and get back to town then!"
*RMBL*
*SMASH*
Suddenly, an earthquake begins tearing the ground apart, sending Ruby into the sea while Wally cries out, unable to help, "Ruby!!"
While Ruby is dragged into the sea by the waves, he orders Rara to listen, "Rara!! Take care of… Wally!!"
*SPLASH*
Wally shouted in concern, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Ruby!! RUBY!!!"
*Thud*
Having felt exhaustion from his sickness, Wally fainted soon after. Rara, seeing this, was concerned as it used its Confusion to lift Wally, "Raaaa!!"
Rara looked at the waves with concern in its eyes, seeing Ruby being taken into the sea. It bit its lips as it helped Wally as a few Wild Pokémon began to walk over to it.
Rara's eyes narrowed, seeing a Wild Nuzleaf grin wickedly. It was the same Nuzleaf that ambushed Ruby and came for payback, "Nuz – "
*Sssss*
But before it could do anything, a fireball was launched at it. Nuzleaf turned in horror as Rara's eyes widened, recognizing the voice, "Not on my watch! Vulpix! Agile Style! Ember!"
*BOOOM*
The Nuzleaf was launched further away from Rara and Wally. Rara's eyes widened, seeing a familiar figure. Azure appeared with his Ralts, crying out, 'There! See! I sensed that my friend was in trouble!'
*WOMWOM*
The horn on Azure's Ralts glowed, feeling Rara's distress. Azure, with his Vulpix, Pikachu, and Eevee out, saw Ruby's Rara as he asked calmly, holding Wally, "Your… Ruby's Rara, right? Where's Ruby?"
Rara pointed at the sea waves splashing violently. Then, checking Rara's horn, he smiled lightly as he said calmly, "Judging from your horn, your Trainer is still alive. That's good to hear at least… come on, let's get you out of here."
Rara slowly nodded as Wally woke up, too tired to move, as he asked tiredly, "Argh… who are you, mister… I have to help Ruby… cough…!"
Holding Wally on his back, Azure calmly replied, introducing himself in a cheeky voice, "I'm Azure Sky, pleasure to meet ya, kid. And as for your friend, I wouldn't worry much. His Ralts Rara horn is glowing, meaning his still alive."
Wally weakly looked at Rara, filled with hope, knowing his friend was still alive. But then asked Azure tiredly, "That's… good news, but… mister, can you not tell this to my folks… I don't want my friend… in trouble…"
Azure slyly smiled as he nodded, responding calmly, accomplishing Wally's wish, "Very well. I'm a friend of Ruby. My lips are sealed shut, and I say I only saw you try – "
Wally interrupts, holding Kecleon's Poké Ball with a happy smile, falling unconscious, "I caught a Pokémon…"
Wally then knocks himself out from his illness. Rara walks beside Azure's Ralts as he looks at her, asking curiously, "No worries, Rara, I'll make sure to take the kid home. But what about you? You wanna tag along till we meet Ruby again?"
Rara, hearing this, sees Wally but, knowing he'll be safe at home, thinks for a bit. Recalling its dreams with Ruby Rara, narrowed its eyes, giving her a cry, pointing at Azure, "Raaa! (I choose you, Azure!)"
Azure's Ralts translated, clasping her hands together excitedly. Azure simply nodded but couldn't help but think, 'Isn't this a bit wrong in your phrase, Rara?'
Azure sighs at this but then brings out his Sacred Ash from his [Sub-Space]. He smirked as he sprinkled some over Wally's head as a rainbow glow effect veiled his body…
*Shiii*
The rainbow glow ended as he was now perfectly healthy, without his illness, surprising his Pokémon. Azure smiled slyly. He thought happily, 'I suppose he could now technically start his journey as a Pokémon Trainer. A man's dream never dies, and I'm damn sure I'm fulfilling his once he wakes up. Besides… I need a worthy rival after all.'
Grinning slyly, he gestured his Pokémon and Rara back to Petalburg City. After dropping off Wally back at his place, explaining to his parents, he headed towards the Pokémon Center and rested up for the night using their rooms.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter! On a side note, do you guys want me to put down the days of Ruby and Sapphire's Bet as the days go by in the story?