Hoenn

Her aged eyes had seen many things in their lifetime. They had seen friends, come and gone. Love, found and loss. Lives, here and passed on. Children, age over. Not once, but twice. She was an old woman, one who was soon to knock on Heaven's door. To her, it wasn't a bittersweet ending. She had lived for a longer time than she thought she ever would, and had seen many things because of it. It was a life worth living, and one she'd gladly relive thousands of times before. She'd love to live through the ups and downs, once, twice, thrice even. Her life may have not been perfect, but it was her life. It was perfect enough for her.

The wind within the air began to pick up, ruffling the edges of her long dress. Finally, she brought her eyes away from the horizon, and instead to the pedestals below. On the three pedestals, were three shining orbs. One was blue, another red, and the last being green. The old woman found a smile spread across her lips, as she enjoyed the shines of these spheres. Once more, the gust blew, ruffling now her long grey hairs.

An old man stepped up behind her, his hands behind his backs. He too, had seen many things in his age. He was much like her; they were the same age, ya'know. Man and woman, husband and wife. They held hands as they stood side by side, while their eyes fell upon the pedestals. Together, they breathed in and out. When would death come to claim them? They could only sit and wonder.

The old man suddenly tapped his wife on the shoulder, making her turn to face him. They smiled at one another, and then turned to head down the mountainside. As they traveled down the staircase, they eventually vanished within the mountain's many crevices. They seemingly failed to notice the way the orbs shined.

…

The wheels road over the multiple hills. The ride was silent sometimes, while bumpy other times. Up and down, the vehicle would bounce, bothering the boxes and beings within. They would shake, wobble, slide, left and right. Despite their expert stacking, many of them came close to falling and toppling over. But her hands would hold them into place, and stop them from falling. It wasn't her alone who did this, however. Her younger brother stood behind her, and he drew attention to the boxes as well. Whenever one came close to falling over, he would call and point, to which his sister would quickly zip over and stop it.

But once the boxes had finally been quelled, and they no longer shook, the siblings sat beside one another. She rested a brown blanket over the two, where it covered them up to their necks. It was so dark in this moving vehicle, and no light came through, save for the small amount which existed beneath the metal shutters. Maybe this was why they huddled together. The older girl, and her younger brother. Their eyes slowly started to close, as they began to drift off to sleep.

The hours of drive finally came to a stop. The vehicle jerked to a sudden death, knocking the young girl on her chest. She groaned whilst rubbing her back, before getting to her knees. The metal shutters that held the siblings in the vehicle suddenly slid open. She and her younger brother covered their eyes, as the piercing sunlight came inside. They had gone so long without sunlight, it actually hurt.

Yet she still gazed first. As her vision slowly began to lose its blur, her hands tied down the red bandana which sat on her head. Outside, she noticed the green blades of grass, and the brown walls of buildings. She felt her chest rise and lower, before she herself rose to her feet. Walking closer and closer, the twelve-year-old girl leaped out of the truck's trunk.

Landing on the grass outside felt like a fresh change of pace. She could hear the wind brush through the trees, and it sent shivers down her spine. Her nose quivered, as she took in the smells of the land around her. It all felt so natural, so different, so new. Her home, well, old home was nothing like this. The bustling cities were gone, now being replaced by a natural and country hue. If there was anything that broke this forest hue, it were the various moving vehicles which were parked around this one vehicle.

So this was her new home. Before now, she only dreamed of this place within her mind. But now she was here, thrown into a world never seen before. Her blue eyes eventually traveled to the door home beside her. The front door suddenly flew open, and a woman stepped out. She walked over with her blue eyes shining, and her brown hair bouncing in the wind. The twelve-year-old girl gazed up to this woman, while she smiled a reassuring smile. The woman eventually placed her hands upon the girl's shoulders, where her smile grew even greater. Then her eyes traveled up to the boy who still stood in the moving vehicle's trunk, and she started to gesture him out.

"Max!" the woman called to the boy first, before shifting her gaze down, "May! We're here honeys!" the young boy with blue hair eventually leaped out of the truck, in order to stand by his sister's side, "It must be tiring riding with our things in the moving truck," their mother said, as she took a regretful, yet cheery, visage. She then turned around next, whilst spinning with her arms around, "Well! This is Littleroot Town!" she announced gleefully, "How do you like it?" she then stopped and faced them again, "This is our new home!"

"New home?" Max groaned from behind his sister, as she fiddled with his heavy glasses, "This is it?" he really couldn't believe it, honestly, "This small little village in the forest?" then he faced his mother again, "No, no, no! This can't be it! It's sooooo much smaller than Goldenrod!"

"Huh wha?" their mother replied as she scratched the side of her head, "It has a quaint feel, but it seems to be an easy place to live, don't you think?" she then faced her daughter, May, "And, you May," she shook her finger whilst smiling, "You get your own room!"

"What?" Max replied when he heard that statement, "What about me?"

"Let's go inside!" their mother said instead, as if to brush off her son's words.

She slipped into the home, while he started to make his situation on things known. But May remained outside. Unlike her eight-year-old brother, she was more accepting of this small quaint town. It was so much different from their home in Goldenrod, and she liked that. Even though she knew she'd miss the rustle and bustle city of gold, she knew this place wouldn't be so bad.

After all, she now had her own room. The twelve-year-old licked her lips, as a smile spread on her face. Before heading inside, she made sure to wretch her bandana further down upon her head. Things felt so good right about now; May couldn't wait to get a move on. Walking toward the door, she pushed it open.

"See, Max?" May's mother said as she walked into the home, "Isn't it nice in here, too?"

"So you say..." Max replied, with an annoyed eye, "The mover's Pokémon do all the work of moving us in and cleaning up after."

"I know!" his mother said ecstatically, "Isn't that so convenient!?"

She was practically gushing with excitement. But after a few seconds, she calmed down. Turning around, she laid her eyes on her daughter, who was just stepping into the home. May's eyes traveled around the small home; this was so different from their apartment in Goldenrod. Gone were the pristine panels, instead being replaced by hardwood flooring. May felt her nose quiver as she took in just how natural it all felt.

"Oh May!" her mother suddenly called, "Your room is upstairs," she smiled as she waved her hand, "Why don't you go check it out, dear? I'm pretty sure you'll like it!" May nodded; she really couldn't wait to see her own bedroom, "Dad brought you a new clock to mark our move here. Don't forget to set it!"

"What!? Dad bought May a new clock!? What about me!?" Max groaned.

May playfully patted her brother on the head, as if to say 'Hah, hah!' Then her blue eyes fell upon the staircase, which surely lead to her home. Walking toward it, the twelve-year-old found her eyes traveling toward the mover's Pokémon. They were tall and gruff Pokémon, one's which muscular physiques and bodies. They easily dwarfed her in size and power; she'd hate to find herself inside one of their grips.

"Gyao, gyao gyaoh..." the various Superpower Pokémon remarked as they lifted the family's heavy items.

May playfully teased one of the Machoke's, by poking one in his pulsating thigh. The Superpower Pokémon felt the touch, then turned to face the girl. She had already whisked herself away however, leaving him to work once more.

May's foot stepped down on even more wood, while her hands fell upon the doorway's edge. She gazed hard and deep into the home, seeing an empty and unfurnished room. Two objects sat within the room. A desk, and a mirror beside the desk. On top of said desk was a red clock. How lovely; her father sure did know her favorite color. May picked up the clock, and began to fiddle with its hands. It was around six am when they left the airport, and it sure felt like a long time since. But what time was it exactly? Gazing out toward the windows, May found her answer fly into her mind.

Forty-two minutes pass the afternoon. Don't ask how she knew it. Just don't.

With clock in hand, May moved the two hands around to their correct place. She roamed around the home, before stopping in front of the mirror. It was full body, allowing her to see herself. She was a shining example of a twelve-year-old girl, though some could confuse her for being older. The way she stood and carried herself, it was as if she was trying to be older than she actually was. Her brown hair flowed from her bandana, and curled in around her face. She wore a red shirt, which had a zipper running from the bottom to the collar. There was a white shirt beneath her red one, a white shirt which stretched slightly over the black shorts she wore underneath.

May felt her hands grasp at something that wasn't there. Other than her red bandana, which always sat on her head, May was known for wearing a belt around her waist. She tried to grab the imaginary article of clothing, but it wasn't there of course. She gained a face of displeasure, as she realized the belt was possibly inside one of those many boxes. Now, she could only pray one of those Machokes didn't get brutish with her items.

There was a nail in the hole beside her door. May walked over to said nail, and stood as best she could on her tippy-toes. Then she placed her red clock upon it. Her fingers poked and prodded the device briefly, before pulling back. All the numbers were perfectly set in place, no need to get fussy with it now. May stepped back, and watched as the device began to tick. And it brought a smile to her face.

"May!" her mother called, "May!" she suddenly appeared at the doorway, where she gave her daughter a smile, "May, how do you like your new room?" she stared toward the empty chamber, where she once again took that playful face of regret, "I know it hasn't been furnished yet, but give the Machoke's some time! Everything's put away neatly downstairs, any way!" she then put her hands together and swung them around, "Aren't Pokémon movers so convenient!?"

The matriarch laughed and giggled, before those very same Pokémon movers started muscle pass her. The Machokes carried their boxes, and started to furnish May's very own room. She and her mother quickly removed themselves from the room, and stepped out to the hallway. The Superpower Pokémon could be heard inside, grunting and groaning as they put objects left and right. May eyed her door for a while, before her mother pulled her away toward the hall's staircase. When she turned around, her parent was already walking downstairs.

The twelve-year-old walked over to the stairs, though her eyes remained on her own door. Deep down inside, she couldn't help but to wonder. Were those Pokémon in there anything like the Pokémon her father trained? She couldn't help but to compare. Her father was a Gym Leader, after all.

"Oh! May, May! Quick! Come quickly!" her mother called from downstairs.

"Coming May!" she answered, before giggling. Those were her first words in the magnificent region of Hoenn.

The twelve-year-old quickly made way downstairs, just as her mother requested. Running along the wood, she skidded to a halt upon realizing her mother and brother were staring toward the television screen.

"Look! It's Petalburg Gym!" Max cried, "Maybe Dad will be on!"

Petalburg Gym? That's the Gym her father was instated at! Oh, May couldn't wait to see it. She could only imagine how strong her father looked with his Pokémon in front of all those other trainers. She heard there were many other trainers who were stronger than him, but she didn't agree. No one was stronger than her father.

May ran toward the television screen, practically knocking her brother and mother out-of-the-way. She didn't see her father on the television screen, but she saw an interviewer, and the Petalburg city Gym. So that meant her father had to be nearby!

"... We brought you this report from in front of Petalburg Gym," the interviewer claimed, "When we come back after these messages, we'll join Jon Dearling outside Mossdeep Gym to speak with Tate and Liz!"

The images suddenly shifted, in order to show some dairy product or something. Moo Moo Milk, yeah, that was it. May didn't care. In fact, she was slightly heartbroken by this. Who the heck were Tate and Liz? The twelve-year-old didn't care about them! She wanted to hear about her father! But it looked like that wasn't the case here.

"Oh... it's over..." May's mother claimed.

"I think Dad was on," Max said soon after, he too crestfallen by the sound of his voice, "But we missed him. To bad."

May and her brother shared the same sentiments. They wanted to see their father; he was the whole reason why they were here, after all. Just a month ago, they learned their father had been accepted to be the Gym Leader of Petalburg. He left a week before they did, in order to square everything away with their living arrangements and his job. It was obvious by their demeanor that his children missed him.

"Oh yes!" their mother suddenly said to lift everyone's spirits, "One of your father's friends lives in town!" she said with a swing of her arm, "Professor Birch is his name... I think..." she appeared to be unsure, though she tried not to show it, "He lives right next door, so you should go over and introduce yourself, May!"

"Hey!" Max cried from behind, "What about me?"

"Just stay here and help mommy square everything away, Max!" his mother claimed as she grabbed his small hands, "I need your help putting all the china away!"

"Oh! I hate the china!" he groaned.

May stood behind as she watched her mother pull her brother away. Smiling, the twelve-year-old could help but to stare toward the door. The Machoke's above were still furnishing her room, meaning she couldn't head back up there any time soon. Maybe she should go next door and meet this Professor Birch person, or whatever his name was. Before she left her home, May took a last look at her brother and mother. They were trying to sort through the boxes of fine china, in order to set them up appropriately within the stain-glass cabinet. May tied down her bandana even harder, then exited her home.

Stepping foot in Littleroot Town sent yet another shiver up her spine. The feel of the grass bending beneath her toes sent rumbles through her. There were various homes around, all belonging to various people, of course. But she was only supposed to go to one of them. The one immediately next door; it wasn't a large distance away. She playfully skipped over to the home, and lifted her hand. Before knocking on the door, she gazed at her naked hand. Once again, it felt wrong. It took her a moment to remember why.

May put her hands into her pockets, then withdrew a pair of white and black gloves. Sliding them upon her hand, finally felt whole. Well, almost whole. May really needed her belt. But shaking the thought of it out of her mind, she began knocking on the door. Three knocks of course, as the usual. Placing her hands behind her back, she jovially bounced up and down as she waited for an answer. The girl eventually got it.

A woman opened the door, a nice looking one at that. She stared down upon May with an inquisitive eye, before gaining a small smile.

"Oh, hello," the woman said, "And you are?" May opened her mouth to speak, but the woman shook her head, "No, no, wait! I got it!" the woman mumbled to herself as she thought for a few seconds, "Oh! You're May, our new neighbor! Right? Hi!"

She grabbed May's hands to pull her in for a hug, an action which took the child off guard. It seemed as if the people in Hoenn were extremely friendly.

"We have a son about the same age as you," the woman claimed, "To be honest, he was excited about making a new friend," stepping out-of-the-way, the woman allowed May access to her home, "He's actually upstairs... I think..." then she laughed to herself, "You know boys; always trying to find adventure."

Really? That's what boys did? The only boy May had constant interaction with was her brother, Max. And he was too busy being a bookworm to go on any adventures. Maybe her father was adventurous when he was young; that's what her mother said, anyway. Whatever the case may be, May stepped into the home pass the woman. In comparison to her home, this house was a warmer feel to it. Maybe it's because this was a real house, as in someone lived here for years. She had just moved into her home after spending years in an apartment, after all.

But, oh right, this boy. She was poised to meet him. He would be the first friend she made in this region. After leaving Johto, the thought of a friend was a good one. As friendly and outgoing as she was, May didn't really have many friends. Not even at home in Johto. Upon her departure, she was sure no one would miss her when she left. It didn't matter; things were better this way.

May made way for this home's staircase. She figured this boy's room was upstairs, much like her own. The twelve-year-old walked up the stairs, where she came to yet another hallway. One door was opened, and she could hear talking within. It seemed to be only one way, unfortunately. May trekked to the open door, then nudged it silently open. Just as she intended, there was a boy, around her age, sitting at a desk in the corner. His eyes were into a journal, and he was talking to himself. Creepy.

"Alright!" she heard him state, "Pokémon fully restored! Items ready, and... Hey!?" he suddenly turned around and faced the twelve-year-old girl who gazed at him, "Uh... You... who are you?"

Once more, May opened her mouth to speak, only to be over talked by someone else.

"Her name is May Ruby!" his mother called from downstairs.

"Oh, so you're May!" the boy exclaimed with a smile, "Moved in next door, right?" he actually started to laugh, which made May cock her head, "I didn't know you were a girl," when he started laughing again, which now made May feel belittled, "Dad, that's Professor Birch to you, said our new next-door neighbor is a Gym Leader's kid, so I assumed you'd be a guy!"

So, what? Girls couldn't be strong Pokémon Trainers too? This kid was a jerk! How dare he think she was a girl because her father was a Gym Leader! How does that even make sense? Besides, Whitney was the Gym Leader in May's home city of Goldenrod, and she was a strong leader! She'd smack the face off this arrogant jerk!

"My name's Brendan. So..." he suddenly blushed in embarrassment, making May cock her head, "So, hi, neighbor!"

Unlike his touchy-feely mother, Brendan was much less embraceful. Instead of hugging the person he had just met, he shook May's hand in a respectful manner. Some how, this mature action made her feel like Brendan wasn't as big a jerk as he was before. Though, that notion still existed.

"Hey May, you have a Pokémon?"

His sudden inquisition made May feel slightly embarrassed. She was the daughter of a Gym Leader, and as such, it was expected of her to have a Pokémon. But even in Johto, she never got one to call her own. In fact, she never really left the city without her parents, both of which were already trainers. May didn't want to admit to this fact, because she thought it would prove Brendan right. Like, somehow, girls weren't as good as boys when it came to Pokémon and such. Still, she had to shake her head in a 'no' manner.

"Do you want me to go catch you one?" he suddenly asked, making May look up to him.

Honestly, she'd like that very much, though she wouldn't admit it. She could get her own Pokémon, after all.

"Aw Darn, I forgot..." Brendan claimed as he picked up and closed his journal, "I'm supposed to go help my dad catch some wild Pokémon," when he finished checking his provisions, he gave one last smile to May, "Some other time, okay?"

And then, just like that, he ran off. Right out of his own room, one would think it was May's room. The twelve-year-old exited Brendan's room, while a certain air of disappointment took over. As that really the person she would have to call friend in this small little town? Some boy who thought he was a better trainer than girls? And one who obviously looked like he couldn't stand still. No, no, there had to be other kids her age she could convene with.

"Oh what, did my son run off again?" Mrs. Birch said as she threw up her arms in disappointment, "Sorry about that, little miss May. He's always doing that."

It was okay, May didn't mind. She was kind of used to having other children run out on her like that. But of course she wouldn't admit to it. With a smile, she waved goodbye to Brendan's mother, and exited the home. May walked through the small town of Littleroot with her hands behind her back. There really wasn't much else to do now, other than to go home. It looked as if the mover vans were gone, and with them the Pokémon as well.

Things were bound to get better, right? This was only her first day in Hoenn, after all, and it wasn't even over yet. Yeah, it'll get better. Right now, May was going to go home and see how her fully outfitted room looked. She couldn't wait to see how it was.

So with a smile, May ran off for her home. If anything, she could always annoy Max, that was so much fun.

"Hey May!" her mother called as she neared her home, "Look what I found!"

Within the matriarch's hands, May's coveted belt. Yeah. It wasn't going to be a bad first day.

…

The refrigerator door slid open, expelling light into the dark room. The twelve-year-old girl who opened the freezer door, yawned as she pulled back the carton of milk within. She yawned, while her blue eyes seemingly shook. From head to toe, she was wearing some puffy red nightwear. It was just something warm to keep her well protected against the cold air wind.

Right now, rest was what she wanted, but she didn't have it. May Ruby found herself waking up randomly in the middle of the night, for seemingly no reason. Maturity would say she was merely adjusting to this new home. But her twelve-year-old mind thought it was some ghost-type Pokémon. Which, in this world, that was a really valid belief. From a young age, she was taught the best way to get rid of a ghost-type Pokémon, was drink a warm cup of Moo Moo Milk.

May placed a cup of milk into the microwave and waited for ten seconds. Once it was nice and warm, she took the cup with her to her room. The twelve-year-old placed it down upon her desk, while she sat down near it. Her blue eyes would briefly move to her bed, then her window, the clock, and back to her cup again. Bringing the warm white liquid to her lips, she took a few sips. It made her body feel lax and weak, which made her bed seem alluring in sight. She couldn't wait to lay down.

May collapsed, face first, into her bed. After rolling around a bit, she shuffled herself under her covers. Tomorrow, she prayed her time in Hoenn would pick up. Hopefully they'd head to Petalburg City, and meet her father. She really did miss her old man. The thought of seeing him in the morning made her heart thump.

"HELP!"

Weird. Was her dreams starting up.

"HELP!"

Boy. This dream was going to be weird.

"FOR THE LOVE OF REGIGIGAS! PLEASE HELP!"

May pulled her body up as she gazed toward the window. That scream was coming from outside, but how far? May fell from her bed, landing hard on her back. Struggling to her toes, she wobbled over to the window of her room. Opening up, she found the scream get louder.

"PLEASE! HELP!"

How odd. Someone was getting attacked by someone. Yup, just another dream. May began climbing her bed.

"NICE POOCHYENA! NICE POOCHYENA!"

Poochyena? Nope. This wasn't a dream. May's only dreamed about Johto Pokémon, never Hoenn Pokémon. Wait. Pokémon! Someone out there was being attacked by a Pokémon! May suddenly felt re-energized, as she got to her feet. Looking left and right, she quickly ran for her bed. But the twelve-year-old stopped herself from moving any further. Stepping back, she eyed her desk. Thanks to her, somewhat lazy, nature, her bandana, gloves, and belt sat upon the hard wood table. With one mighty swipe, May procured the items.

Not even a minute later, she was out the front door of her home. The teen year old girl ran through the tiny town of Littleroot, in nothing but her pajamas and shoes. She pulled her gloves down on her hands, before wrapping her belt around her waist. Lastly, she tied her bandana hard down upon her head, covering her frizzy brown hair.

Wow. She couldn't be seen like this! There was no way she'd let her first encounter with a Hoenn Pokémon be marred by terrible hair. She withdrew a brush from her belt and dragged it through her hair, clearing out the forest she dared call her hair. Before long, she made those long curls she was known for, and then picked up speed.

The screams had grown louder the further she got from her home. There was a few people who also stood in their pajamas, their eyes aiming toward the city's exit. May found herself hiding behind these people, as she wondered what had everyone so tense. She could hear them all speaking among themselves.

"I heard screaming..." someone said.

"Was that Birch?" another one commented.

"I'm trying to get some sleep! What's going on out here?"

May wasn't too keen on just sitting to figure these things out. She was always a doer, and as such, she was going to do. If that made sense, of course. After tightening her bandanna further down on her head, May nudged between the adults around her. She must have been small and out of sight, because none seemed to notice. Of course if they did, they would have stopped her from plunging into danger.

May ran down the forest groves toward the wailing voice. The twelve-year-old found her eyes falling upon a single bag. It just sat there in the forest clearing, untouched by anything. The twelve-year-old stopped near the bag, her blue eyes picking and prodding at it. She walked closer and closer to the satchel, with her fingers poised to disturb it. Wait. Wasn't there someone screaming just a few moments ago?

Suddenly, a grown man leaped out from the bushes of the forest. May watched him run with a frantic face, for seemingly no reason. Only a second later, a black dog leaped out toward the man. The old man in the lab clothing grew wide-eyed at the sight of the canine chasing him, and as such started running again. He ran in circles with that dog hot on his heels. May watched in horror, wondering what was going to happen. To her surprise, the man ran face first into a tree.

He fell back, where his eyes eventually fell on the dog which chased him. He quickly launched up, and began walking back as he lost his vigor from before. Now, the man was much too tired to keep running, while the dog hadn't lost its spirit.

"Uh... n-n-n-nice, Poochyena," he said, as if to quell the beast, "Nice Poochyena!"

"Pooochyyyy!" the Bite Pokémon snarled.

"H-help me!" the man yelled with his eyes falling upon May, "Hello! You over there! Please! Help! In my bag! There's a Poké Ball!"

"Pooochy!" the Poochyena barked.

"A... Poké Ball?" May commented to herself, while her blue eyes fell onto the bag.

Now wasn't the time to move so slow, though that didn't stop May from doing so. The twelve-year-old slowly got on her knees near the satchel, while the man was pushed even further into a corner by the Poochyena. May slid her hand into the man's bag, feeling about for a Poké Ball. She eventually felt her fingers slide pass something smooth and spherical. Grabbing the object, she pulled it out quickly.

Wow. A Poké Ball. May couldn't help but to think that thought, as she held the capsule device in her hand. What lied within the Poké Ball? What Pokémon was living and breathing inside of the red and white capsule. May was so enamored by the thought of it, she almost forgot why she were here.

"Hello!" the man yelled, snapping her back into reality, "You! Hurry up here! This Poochyena's getting angry!"

Oh, yeah, that's right! She needed to save that man. May prepared the Poké Ball in hand, taking a pose that befitted the trainer's she idolized so. She readied the capsule device in hand, pulled it back, then yelled out,

"I choose you! Go!"

And she released.

Maverick Talks!

Well. I've been thinking about this for a while. I just wanted to write a novelization of Ruby for a while now. I began re-playing it, and thought I'd write it out in story format. My other novelization, that one being for DKC3, is going well, so I figured I'd try this next. Besides, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are coming out later this year, I need to start now.

So this is the first chapter of Ruby. Let's see how deep we get.

Maverick Kay Prime.