Chapter 21 Ruby Emotions vs Resolute Tabitha had been gone for a while, Ruby didn’t know how many days she had been gone, but she had been gone long enough for the Vulpix to start missing her. She didn’t like the fact that Tabitha was nowhere to be found over the past few days, no letter or message to say that she was ok, nor had she come home to let the others know that she was alive. Granted if she was dead Ruby and the others would know it, a shift in the natural balance always signaled when a legendary Pokemon passed away. And someone as powerful as her would not die that easily, and her death would be something so great even the normal Pokemon would be able to feel it. The Pokemon of Life was a big deal. When Neoral returned from his search he told the girls that he didn’t find anything and Tabitha and he had split up to cover more ground, with him taking the eastern part of the forest while Tabitha took the west. Ruby expected the Deerling to return for lunch, but she never did and finally she didn’t return for dinner which really upset Radiance who had made a special meal for the Deerling to celebrate her returning. Then she didn’t return all day after that and that was when Radiance had begun becoming worried enough to go out looking for her. “She is family Ruby, we do not leave family behind.” Radiance spoke on the morning of the third day of Tabitha missing. Ruby didn’t want to go out looking for her, it was cold and nasty outside this morning. Ruby was a fire type, which one would think would make her more resistant to the cold, but in fact it was the opposite, she felt worst in the cold. There was a reason fire types did not live out in the cold, they felt it worse than any other type. Ruby was thinking of changing into a Glaceon or at least something that didn’t mind the cold that much, though she wondered if she could. Placing a paw on her collar she remembered what Radiance had done to her, sealing her transform ability with this collar. It was the reason she fought Dynamo as a Vulpix, it was because of this collar she lost that fight, that he could hurt her and her family. If she could use her Mew powers, she could destroy that stupid pony. “You know that I removed the seal on that collar.” Radiance spoke as they slowly were walking across the cold forest in search of Tabitha. Radiance’s strange collar glowed as she used its powers to help her track the missing Deerling’s power. Ruby was able to feel her fellow legendry’s power, the Vulpix’s eyes glowed from time to time helping to keep her on the proper trail. Neoral brought up the rear, the Jirachi floated just above them keeping an eye out for anything out of the norm. “Are you reading my thoughts?” Ruby asked, she hated when her mate read her thoughts. Radiance brushed up against her. “You like to broadcast your thoughts too much Ruby, it’s not stealing your thoughts if you give them out for free. You should learn to make your psychic powers.” “I am the most powerful psychic type in the world.” Ruby said, her pride a little hurt from Radiance’s comments. Ruby felt Radiance press up closer to her, their body heat being shared between them. Radiance’s collar glowed brightly as they reached the stream that ran through the woods splitting both the north and south sections. Ruby stopped and looked around, the area was filled with the presence of something powerful. “You feel that?” Ruby asked, the Vulpix began panting, she felt like something was pressing down on her, the air felt heavy, so heavy that it was becoming hard to breath. Radiance picked up what Ruby was feeling, though she didn’t seem as affected by it. Neoral was unphased. “Yes, someone powerful…like Dynamo has been here.” Radiance’s gold necklace shined, the gems on it were flashing. “Dynamo is not the only one that has been here, I can sense Karis.” “Yes.” Neoral spoke the Jirachi floats just over the frozen stream. His wish tags flapped in the air, a cold breeze blew again them. The group heard something moving towards them in the snow. The familiar feeling of something strong coming their way made Ruby start sweating. She never uses to sweat before, why start now. It was so cold outside, and she was physically feeling cold, but deep down she was feeling hot, and…scared. No, no…she can’t be scared, she was Ruby, the High General of Arceus, she was undefeatable! There was nothing to be afraid of when you were powerful. The only Pokemon that she knew for a fact in this world that could defeat her was standing next to her, and there never would be a reason in today’s time for Radiance to lift a paw against her. “There sure are a lot of Pokemon coming here now and days.” A deep voice spoke. Radiance got in front of Ruby. “I will protect you Ruby.” “I don’t need your protection.” Ruby couldn’t help but sound upset, the Vulpix wanted to shove her mate out of the way. She wasn’t some kit that needed to be protected by her mother, she was most powerful Pokemon in the world. “Go away!” Ruby shoved Radiance. The Eevee barely moved. “Now is not the time for that Ruby.” “Girls stop it.” Neoral created a barrier between them, the fox girls looked at the Jirachi who floated above them. “He’s here.” “Yes, I am here.” A red ringed Umbreon stepped out of the forest and into the area. Ruby growled. “Ruby, Radiance and of course Neoral…my all of my old friends are coming out to see me.” The Umbreon chuckled. “When did I become so popular?” “Oh, it’s just Karis…” Radiance sighed. “And here I thought someone worth worrying about was here.” “WHAT!” The Umbreon falls over into the snow. Ruby could feel that burn from where she stood. Neoral burst out laughing, his laughter seemed worse than any insult that Ruby could come up with. She noticed Radiance looking completely bored, the Eevee even let out a disrespectful yawn. “What are you doing here Karis? We’re not students that you can mess with.” “I-I came down here to greet you…” The bre pulls himself out of the snow. “How dare you insult me! Do you not know who I am? I am Karis, master of darkness, Commander of Deception. My very presence makes Pokemon tremble in fear. Why I---” “YYYYAAAAAWWWWNNNN!!!!” Radiance was as loud as she could be, the Eevee didn’t care one bit for what the dark type was saying. She rubbed her eyes with a paw. Ruby couldn’t understand why her mate was acting this way. “How can you treat me like this, I am your superior?” “Radiance what are you doing?” Ruby asked, the Vulpix had to finally speak up as things were getting out of paw. She didn’t want to get in a fight against Karis if she didn’t have too. “I mean he’s no push over, and from what I can tell I feel like he has a handle on his Umbreon form, more than enough to use a mixture of his legendary powers and Umbreon powers.” That was a lot more than she could say for herself, and from what happened last time Radiance didn’t seem to have a full handle on her powers as well. Ruby felt that they were in a nasty situation. Neoral was at a type disadvantage as well so they couldn’t depend on him in this fight. The best thing to do was to hear Karis out and then try to ask him if he saw Dynamo. But as Ruby thought about these things Radiance continued to be well…Radiance. “If you’re looking for a fight little shadow, why not go elsewhere. I am not in the mood for wasting my energy on you right now.” “RADIANCE!” Neoral and Ruby spoke. “I’m not in the mood.” Radiance yawned. “I just wanted to talk, but now you pissed me off.” Karis raised a paw; dark energy began gathering into a ball. “I didn’t feel like fighting but…” Laughs. “Knocking around the likes of you will be more than enough fun. Get a load of this!” Karis throws the Shadow Ball at them. The next moment was a blur to Ruby, all she remembered was pushing Radiance out of the way and rolling in the snow to escape the attack. Neoral was blown back a few feet the Jirachi wasn’t fast enough to dodge the move, but thanks to his barrier he didn’t take as much damage as he should have. “Great job Radiance, you made him mad.” Ruby dodged a few Shadow Balls, the Vulpix nimbly dodged left and right as she approached the Umbreon. Once close enough lets off a stream of fire at the waiting bre who casually brushes the attack away. Karis was unfazed by the attack. Ruby felt something grab hold of her hindleg, a shadowy hand had a grip on her. Ruby tried to burn the shadowy hand off but her attack only went through it. Karis chuckles as he blasted Ruby away with another Shadow Ball, the Vulpix landed in a snow pile several feet away, dazed but not too badly harmed. Radiance moved up beside her, the Eevee seemed a little bit more awake than before. “Are you hurt?” “Oh, now your concerned about my wellbeing, before you couldn’t help but yawn and piss off the Commander of Darkness like he was some street fighter.” Picking herself out of the snow the pix shook her fur dry. “You ladies convinced yet that I am not some scrub you can push around?” Karis asked from across the clearing. “Let me lay it on him! One good hit is all I need.” Ruby snarled. “If only I could use my Mew powers—” “I told you that you can.” Radiance spoke. “I released the seal on that collar weeks ago.” “You—yo---you did? What when…wasn’t I there?” Ruby asked feeling completely confused. “Yes, you were silly. I kissed you and told you that you were free, I wasn’t going to hold you back anymore.” Radiance gives Ruby a long kiss on her maw, the pair enjoyed the other’s warmth before being interrupted by Karis who yet again seemed to be forgotten. “Hey…I thought we were fighting?” Karis’s sulked. “You started it.” “One moment.” Radiance holds up a paw in between their kisses. Ruby giggled, her mate was so sassy when she wanted to be. “I’m giving my wife some encouragement.” “I don’t care.” Ruby noticed Karis pouting like a little fox. He was kind of cute when he wasn’t trying to be such a try hard. Yes, that was the perfect name for it, try hard. They knew he was talented, power, and was a issue for them to fight, they didn’t need him trying to prove it over and over again. Ruby felt something building up inside of her, like a spiritual for that was just begging to be unleashed. She hadn’t felt this power for a little bit, but she knew what it was, oh yes she knew what this power was that was. And soon Karis was too as Ruby hugged her wife once more before moved in front of her. “What’s my name Karis?” Ruby asked as a pinkish aura began to surround her, the Vulpix felt her spiritual energy rising by the second. It was a wonderful feeling that she hadn’t felt in what has felt like such a long time. “What’s my name.” “It’s Ruby.” Karis looked nervous. That was a good thing, Ruby wanted him to be scared. “What’s my title?” Ruby stepped forward, the snow melted where she walked, the vixen’s power continued rise. She wasn’t’ channeling her power for a fire attack, nope…it was time to remind Karis and the world just who she was. More importantly she needs to remind herself who she was. “Your…your Ruby…Commander…I mean…General of Emotions.” Karis looked behind himself, most likely looking for a way out. But just as fast as he looked behind himself Ruby blocked his escape, a solid barrier cut him off. He wasn’t going anywhere. But that barrier wasn’t just for him, no…there was another reason for it as well. Ruby’s tails glowed as the aura became more vibrate, the pink of it could been seen from across the stream and into the forest behind them. “That I am Karis, and how strong am I?” Ruby asked, the Vulpix kept her eyes on the Umbreon that wanted to mess around with her and her mate. She wasn’t going to kill him, just remind him who she was. Karis gulped and dropped onto his stomach, bowing and pleading with Ruby. “Oh, Giratini don’t kill me, I give, I give.” Karis was shivering, the bre looked pathetic and Ruby rolled her eyes. Just a moment ago he was big talk and some game, now here he was cowering before her just because she was channeling her aura. If you are going to start a fight at least be willing to see it through. Looking back at Radiance the Eevee was laying down in the snow, balled up and pretending to take a nap. Did he really bore her that much? Ruby decided to let loose her attack at least as she fired a pink Aura Sphere past Karis and into the barrier shattering it. The blast blew the Umbreon towards her and Ruby stepped to the side letting the dark eon fly right by Radiance, landing only a foot away from her. Radiance opened an eye, puts a paw on his head. “Do you have any tea back at your place little shadow?” “There is something wrong with you two…please for the love of all that is good, do not breed together.” Karis looked completely shocked by what just happened, he was still shivering, a strong fear scent came from him that was so strong that Ruby could smell it from where she was. She sighed. His request for them to not breed together…that was going to be hard to keep. “The world is not ready for what you two might create.” “Shut up.” Ruby protested. Neoral floated over the Jirachi recovered from Karis’s first attacked. Ruby rolled her eyes at him; he was so useless sometimes. “And where have you been?” “I got the wind knocked out of me.” “Don’t worry, we didn’t need you anyway. It was just a Vulpix and a Eevee fighting a Umbreon, no biggie. I’m pretty sure if Karis here was offering to fuck your sorry little ass you would be up in no time. Tell me I’m wrong.” “I hate you so much sometimes.” Neoral said sounding upset. Ruby could care less, what if they really had gotten into some trouble and needed Neoral. He should have gotten his lazy butt up and got into the fight. He knew that they were not at full strength, but he was and they needed him. Ruby could just punch the little Jirachi’s light out sometimes. “If you hate me so much then do something about it.” Ruby pushed Neoral. Normally Neoral would fall back and that would be the end of it. Though…this wasn’t one of those times and just as fast as Ruby pushed on Neoral he pushed back knocking Ruby into the snow. Ruby quickly got out but she felt something hard slam against her jaw…and the next thing she saw was just darkness. Cold, unforgiving darkness….