Ruby, "Okay, you already know Jessibell and Jameson her husband."
Cheryl, "James is here?"
Ruby nodded, "He landed when the contest was ongoing."
Cheryl, "I am happy I can see them again."
Carl the driver spoke up, "Young sir, I believe Miss Emerald will be there too."
Cheryl, "Really? It has been a whole year since I last saw her."
Ruby mused, "You two really hit it off with each other talking about your training methods and styles."
Carl hummed as he observed the young lass beside his young Master. She was a lovely girl indeed and despite the lack of information, a very impressive one. His eyes went to the Diance sitting on her lap and had to wonder how both his young Master and Miss Emerald knew her. Carl knew trainers met all kinds of people but did not realize they would meet the people each other knew. Before they knew it the limo had pulled up next to one of the fancy high end hotels that Ash only entered during big events. Ruby got out after Carl opened the door and raised his hand so Cheryl could take it. The moment Cheryl stepped outside bright flashes of the camera started to go off startling Diance who shrieked and threw rock throw at the camera. Cheryl calmed Diance down first and then gave a very sweet and menacing smile at the camera man who gulped and apologized.
Cheryl, "Let this be a lesson. Never startle a Pokemon. If Diance had been older, she would have asked for retribution as is her right as the Princess of the Pokemon kingdom."
A reporter chimed up, "Does that mean you are the Queen Mother?"
Cheryl, "Do not be foolish. I am the human mother."
Ruby, "We are getting late. Time to go. You okay Diance?"
Diance muttered as she nodded, "Um."
Cheryl sighed, "Maybe we should have entered through the back door?"
Ruby snorted as they entered the ball room, "It would not have worked sadly. There is always that one reporter that hang around there in the back waiting for a lucky shot."
Cheryl sighed looking around, "Of course there is."
A man with dark hair and red eyes approached them, "Ruby, my son, you are here."
Ruby, "Father, this is Cheryl. Cheryl this is my father Norman Stallinski."
Cheryl, "You know there is a... "
Norman raised his hand, "Yes, yes, a Gym leader shares my name. Sadly I am a businessman not an exciting Gym leader."
Cheryl giggled, "Sorry but it is hilarious."
Ruby stopped making a face at the act that Ash was so easily putting in front of him and his father. His strict and traditional father on the other hand seemed to be charmed by Cheryl or at least the personality that Cheryl had. Normally he looked down on trainers, even Emerald had to face his father's judgmental looks which resulted in her exclaiming she could never stand the man. The only reason she was attending these parties was to support her best friend nothing more nothing less so nobody better get ideas. That had stopped Ruby from telling her, he liked her more then a friend and decided to wait instead. Ruby's attention snapped back as Norman called for his mother Maria by her name to join them. Ruby's mother just like his father was very traditional in her opinions and he tensed as both his parents were now in front of them.
Ruby could feel eyes on them, "Good evening mother. You look lovely tonight. This is a very trusted partner of mine, Cheryl."
Maria looked the red headed teen up and down, "Is that Chavelone you are wearing?"
Cheryl smiled wistfully, "Yes, it is. I am surprised you noticed."
Maria sniffed, "As someone who is part of the top designer world it is imperative I stay on top of the latest trends."
Cheryl, "Thank sanity! I do not have to explain the style and the whys a second time."
Maria's lips twitched, "Interesting choice son. She has a sharp mouth."
Ruby, "Considering our line of work it is important to be quick witted."
Cheryl, "Especially when dealing with certain Hunters."
Ruby, "Were you being targeted again?"
Cheryl, "Something like that though they have been quiet lately. They are up to something and I am answering in kind."
Maria, "Would it not be safer if you stayed home?'
Cheryl raised an eyebrow, "Meaning?"
Maria, "You are the mother of Diance. Surely the League can set up security for you and a safe space."
Cheryl turned to Ruby, "I like how innocent your mother is. She believes a few security and safe houses are enough to protect us from hunters."
Ruby sighed, "Please do not mind. My parents are not trainers."
Cheryl giggled, "It is not a bad thing Ruby. It is actually very cute."
Maria covered her face with her fan, "You... You certainly picked an interesting one this time son. Perhaps she will fit in just fine with that sharp tongue of hers."
Cheryl simply smiled, 'I can't believe I said all that. That was so embarrassing. I guess reading all those blood dog drama novels paid off. Never again though."
Ruby, "Thank you mother, father. I see some of my friends around. I would like to introduce Cheryl to them."
Maria, "Of course dear."
Norman chuckled walking away with his wife, "Have a fun night son. Do not forget to use protection if you are planning to go far."
Ruby turned red, "Father no. Just no!"
Cheryl snorted, "Let's go say hello to our friends."
Ruby nodded, "Yeah, where did all that come from?"
Cheryl, "Instinct mostly I think. I can't believe I managed to get their approval."
Ruby, "Emerald will probably hound you for answers after this. She does not hate my family but can't stand their attitude either."
Cheryl softened as she murmured, "You like her."
Ruby gave a small nod, "Yeah, but I don't want to subject her to my parent's scrutiny so I have not told her anything."
Ash, "Makes sense. I see Jessie, James and Tomo."
Ruby, "Let's meet up with them."
Jessie, "If it isn't the couple of the hour."
Cheryl, "Not as popular as you two though."
James, "I am glad to see you are doing well despite everything that happened."
Tomo, "Big sister Cheryl. Big brother Ruby."
Cheryl hugged the young boy, "Tomo sweetheart, I missed you too."
Ruby, "how have you been, little man?"
Tomo, "Tomo received the toys big sister and big brother sent. They are really nice."
Cheryl, "I am happy you like them Tomo. Getting my hands on the Hogwarts train was something."
Ruby almost snorted, 'Something alright. You just received news the sets were sent to your home and you decided to gift them to Tomo.'
James, "We should meet later on to talk. I would like to know what has been happening directly."
Cheryl, "Sure! I would like that."
Jessibell, "Now, how about we pretty ones talk while the men do whatever they want to talk about."
Cheryl giggled, "Ruby says Emerald is here too. Let's go grab her and we can have fun."
Jessibell, "Perfect! I will see you later Jamesie."
Cheryl, "Let's have dessert together later."
Ruby, "Have fun. I see Emerald by the buffet actually."
Cheryl, "I see her."
Jessibell, "Let's go."
Cheryl, "Hello Miss Emerald."
Emerald turned, "Ah! Hello, sorry I was... "
Jessibell giggled, "Oh no! We came here to get something to eat too. It looks great."
Emerald beamed, "It is, you should try the steak daube. It is very juice and the sauce is very delicious too."
Cheryl, "Oh, that sounds heavenly ~"
Jessibell, "Are those wings with shallots and bacon? I love those. Here Cheryl try some."
Cheryl, "Okay, I will. They smell so good."
Emerald, "Hey, I saw your showdown with Ruby's parents. are you ok? They can be a bit much with their status."
Cheryl groaned, "Tell me about? I wanted to bury myself with all the uppity talk. It was so embarrassing. I am just glad no one else we know are here."
Emerald smirked, "Wallace and Steven took a break to control their laughter."
Cheryl, "No video so it never happened."
Jessibell, "James might have something to say about that."
Cheryl whined, "Don't tell me."
Emerald, "The ones who know probably already saw it by now."
Cheryl sighed biting onto a piece of the steak, "Guess I should have expected it."
Jessibell, "Come on! I see an empty table. Let's get comfy and share gossip."
Cheryl hummed as they sat comfortably and Jessibell started to gossip about the latest Jhoto - Kanto drama that was going on. Apparently while Cheryl and her Diance were creating shockwaves in Hoenn, in Kanto and Jhoto Gold had taken over as a Champion and would be initiated soon. Cheryl did not know it would be so soon though, last she chatted with Gold was a few weeks ago when he informed them he would be going off grid to focus on challenging the Elites and Champions of Jhoto and Kanto. Brock had offered to go as his emergency medic as only medical help was allowed though it was only before or after the fight was over. Still it was better then nothing and it would be great on Brock's resume when he becomes a Pokemon Doctor. The news had Emerald looking at Jessibell in interest, she was planning on challenging Ruby for the title of Hoenn Champion. The green eyed teen had been training really hard, especially her young Groudon and Kyogre to battle against Ruby's Rayquaza, Orion.
Emerald, "That is quiet the news Jessibell. What about you Cheryl? Aside from Diance has any other Legendary appeared?"
Cheryl took a deep breath, "It was not me but one of my friends became very attached to Jiraichi. Saying goodbye was painful as the little one needed to go into hibernation."
Jessibell, "A Jiraichi you say. Yes, once they fulfil your wish they go to sleep."
Emerald, "Did you run into one as well, Jessibell?"
Jessibell looked wistful, "Back when I was a starter. I never knew my parents and wished more then anything to know what happened to them."
Cheryl, "Were you satisfied by the answer you found?"
Jessibell chuckled at that, "It was not what I had expected to learn but what I needed to know. I am very grateful to know but sometimes I wonder about things. Ah well! That is enough sad stories. Have you seen the fifth Hogwarts Chronicles book?"
Emerald nodded, "I read it to my Pokemon. They absolutely adore listening to it. Can you imagine? A world where magic is a possibility and instead of just calling out attacks, we can fight beside them. The magic spells are curious though."
Cheryl had an amused look, "I think the politics part was the most interesting part. All of their laws and regulations revolve around magic."
Emerald's eyes were twinkling now, "Agreed! Instead of following the normal rules and regulations that the Leagues put, they have their own. I think my favourite are the protection laws for Pokemon familiars."
Jessibell, "Imagine having such a deep bond where the Pokemon's aura and a human's magic combine becoming one. I like to believe that I have a similar bond with my Pokemon."
Cheryl nodded, "Yes, but such a gift is also balanced by something terrible and evil. The villain is quiet the character."
Emerald, "Hey, I had to say it but I hate that Under Secretary more then the original villain."
Jessibell, "Well you know what they say. Not all heroes wear capes and not all villains do dramatic appearances."
Cheryl, "Yes, looks are not everything. People may look nice but they are opposite of nice."
Ruby, "Why do I feel like that was a pointed jab?"
Emerald, "It probably is. I noticed a few jabs in the book towards the League before."
Tomo, "Big sister, mama, I brought cake."
Cheryl, "Thank you sweety."
James, "Enjoying yourselves dear?"
Jessibell, "Of course honey. You know me."