#pokespe is just such a great story and you can add so much more ideas and it makes it all the more better

[aqqleshiqqing-archive]

I swear I think I said this somewhere but I'll say it again lmao i think the highlight of my selfshipping self this year was that i really did come to adore my familials and how fun it is to come up with ideas for them. they're a special brand of being comfort character and it's honestly because of me reading pok.espe that made me come to appreciate family bonds

this is corny as hell sorry

[epicspheal]

Suppose DeNA ultimately incorporates the Let’s Go kids into Masters (Chase, Elaine, Trace, and maybe even Green). How would you go about incorporating them to exist alongside the FRLG Pallet trio?

Hi there @ether-gearhead!

Oooh this is a good and tough question! I feel like DeNA is going to likely pull a Johto where they just sort of combine FRLG and Let's Go together like they did with Crystal and HGSS. By that I mean Kris just exist alongside Ethan and Lyra's in the same universe and kind of having her own thing I will say it's a much easier task to do this with Kris because she has the benefeit of the Pokespe manga being able to inform some of her character since in Pokespe she works with Oak and we see her conversing with him a lot in Pokemas and she was searching for Suicune in the manga which again informed her partner for her Sygna Suit. Let's go isn't going to be as seamless of an addition because they truly exist in a different timeline as: 1) The first Kantrio female protagonist is named Green and not Leaf 2) The first Kantrio have a different starter and team composition 3) Chase/Elaine take the place of Red's role in Let's Go being the one to defeat Team Rocket and capture Mewtwo (if we add Origins into this) 4) Trace takes the place of Blue as the surprise champion who gets defeated soon after While Pokemon Masters is definitely a multiverse crossover (especially with the addition of Ash from the anime) I feel like Let's Go's cast is a little harder to integrate since from the PML league, various smaller stories, and the Kanto Villain arc they really hyped up Red as this living legend who defeated Team Rocket and became champion by taking down his true rival Blue. It gets referenced so much that I don't know if they'd be that eager to try a mulitversal counterpart for that scenario, especially when the reception of the Let's Go cast isn't as great unfortunately. And while I can see them adding Green to the mix, I feel like with Leaf already being shafted (she needs another alt I'm hoping she gets a Neo Champion one or something) it would just further hurt Leaf. All this to say (as a long aside)...this is Gamefreak's fault for being too chicken to just go all in on making Let's Go a true sequel and not this halfway reimagining/halfway sequel thing. Because the idea of Red, Blue and Green/Leaf being mentors to a younger squad of Pallet Town kids is fantastic. With a younger Mina appearing in Let's Go and Adult versions of Red and Blue appearing in SM/USUM I think it would've been wiser to just have had Adult Red and Blue with an adult female protagonist (doesn't matter if they name her Leaf or Green) appear in Let's Go as mentors and have Chase/Elaine and Trace take on a new story set in Kanto. Like center it on Meltan/Melmetal and Shadow Pokemon from remnants of Team Rocket (to tie in with Pokemon Go). Maybe since Trace shows that he's easily frightened, make him already a champion (like how they did Nemona) but his lack of courage and at times unwillingness to push his Pokemon in situations be the reason why Chase/Elaine have to step in...which ultimately ends in him losing the title. But since Red and Blue would be adults here, perhaps at some point they run into Kukui and learn about his dream for Alola and we see them decide to go be facility heads for the Battle Tree. And then in the post-game we see Blue handing the reigns of the Viridian City gym to Trace (who I think could be a good successor). They could even with this add more of a plot to the female protagonist. Maybe she decides to stay in Kanto to help the kids out...or maybe she teases traveling to some other region.

That, in my opinion, would've been a way better use of the new kids while giving the first Kantrio some time to shine. And most importantly, it would've made adding the Let's Go kids to Pokemon Masters way more seamless. And more lucrative for DeNA since a more original story would've enhanced the popularities of Trace, Elaine and Chase. But unfortunately that didn't happen I think if DeNA does add them, given what's actually canon for them, I think they may just focus more on Alolan/Kanto variants of Pokemon. Like an event where Alola and Kanto characters (mainly Let's Go) compare variants. Trace has the Marowak so they could have a battle with him and Kiawe and his Alolan Marowak. I could see them just combining Green's character into Leaf and giving her a Ninetales and then giving Lillie an Alola Ninetales (as a nod to the anime) and have them face off. They could then give Chase/Elaine Kantonian Golem and Dugtrio against Alolan Dugtrio (Molayne) and Alolan Golem (Sophocles). They could also use Meltan/Melmetal for a Let's Go event, but I could honestly see them doing an Ash Alt for that since he has Melmetal (if Ash does get more Alts, a Melmetal and Greninja alt are the most likely ones in my opinion). If they were to give it to the let's go kids I can see them doing it for any one of them honestly.

[electricprincess96]

That SWSH post blew my mind! You know how people assumed Leon was a villain? Imagine that as a red herring, where people were skeptical about Leon and spread malicious rumors about him. When you meet him, he's so nice! This foreshadows how he's a pawn for a bigger game. Heck, in PokeSpe, Sonia's gym challenge is a sore spot for her. Imagine her investigating the foul play along Legends, because at least it'll have Oleana will spy on her, and find the legendary for Rose to use in his boss battle.

It would have actually been such a better story than what we got.

Like we keep getting 2 conflicting opinions about Leon, maybe Sonia holds a grudge against him and her perspective of him isn't great but Hop seems to think he's so amazing. Marnie tells you she's heard rumours about him but Rihan won't hear anything against his greatest rival because he's places Leon on this unbeatable pedestal that if it turns out to all be a lie what does that make Rihan without his goal of defeating Leon?

Sonia can see in Hop the same naive love for Pokémon that young Leon had and she's worried the Gym Challenge will change him the way she perceives it to have changed Leon so rather than her taking to us and bouncing her research ideas off us she takes to Hop. She sees Hop getting too cocky as he breezes through the Gym Challenges due to the match fixing until he gets a reality check from Bede. But the Chairman doesn't like that, he doesn't want Hop losing, even to his own challenger so when Bede is told to leave Hop alone he worries he's going to be replaced and overhears Oleana wanting to learn more about the research Sonia is doing and that leads to him destroying the mural in Stow On Side and getting removed from the Gym Challenge. He's picked up by Opal cause truth be told Opal never liked the way Rose runs the Gym Challenge. Doesn't like the fact some trainers are clearly favoured and others aren't. And she sees a prime opportunity to finally maybe make a difference in this whole corrupt system.

Likewise Piers wants Marnie to take over the gym and quit the Gym Challenge cause he knows she won't win and he knows Chairman Rose will go to great lengths to try and stop her and anyone else from ruining his plans, that's the real reason he sent Team Yell out to cheer her on, they aren't just there to stop other challengers they are there to stop the League Staff from stopping Marnie (and anyone else for that matter). Like how cool would it be if they from the start actually showed the football hooligans are causing trouble with the League Staff but it turns out they're just trying to maintain a fair competition.

And as you said you bring thr Doggos into this by having Rose ultimately force one of the dogs to fight for him since he doesn't care about tradition or fairness he wants his way to remain the only way and we have to use the other doggo to save it an defeat Rose. Then Leon promises a completely fair finals which he ultimately loses and he announces he'll restart his Gym Challenge so that he can prove to himself and the region that he wasn't a complete fraud, and to prove to Sonia and Rihan that he was worthy of being their rival.

All while Hop is having to come to terms with 1. His brother wasn't this unbeatable champion and it was mostly fake and 2. He was almost swept up in the exact same scheme and if it hadn't been for Bede, Marnie and the player he absolutely would have been and 3. I'd add that maybe Hop admits he actually doesn't enjoy battling that much, he likes it but he only really wanted to be Champion cause of how much he looked up to Leon but over the course of his Gym Challenge he's came to really admire Sonia and her quick thinking and deep thirst for knowledge and the truth thus he wants to study to be a Pokémon Professor rather than a Pokémon Trainer now that he's finally able to see past his hero worship of Leon.

[contestconqueror-blog]

HEADCANON: (more like an analysis/ramble?)

Norman and Ruby. ft. the Weather Institute thing.

For those of you unfamiliar with pokespe/this arc, what you need to know is that Ruby has run away from home to pursue his dream of winning pokemon contests, he wants to prove to his ‘battle maniac’ dad, Gym Leader Norman, that contests are great. 

Pictures are worth a thousand words and all that, so this is going to be very image heavy and put under a cut (its very long plus the images show physical assault)-

Lets start with this:

Norman has tracked down Ruby, intending to bring him back home. Norman has just kicked/thrown/punched (we’re not shown which one it was) down some stairs, slamming Ruby into the wall. The ‘sound effect’ used was literally ‘SLAM!!’ on the previous panel. 

And look at Ruby. This is not new to him, he’s actually somewhat brushing over it, downplaying it as a simple quarrel (a violent one yes, but still). Clearly this sort of thing has happened before.

And here we have Norman holding up Ruby near the edge of a frickin building.

And there it is. Norman fully punched Ruby in the face. Why did Ruby run away from home? Because his dad is a dick. Norman, you know why he left. Ruby just wanted to follow his dream, he was too stifled at home, he was being pressured to follow in his fathers footsteps etc.

Ruby is down the stairs again due to the impact. The swimmer is scared shitless and is basically saying Ruby deserves to be beaten and shouldnt be so rebellious, he thinks that Ruby should go back with Norman out of fear.

Norman then proceeds to have his pokemon rip off the staircase and let Ruby dangle from it. And he didnt even let Ruby ‘voice his complaints’. He wants to use intimidation and violence in order to get Ruby to comply with him.

Now, I’m not completely closed minded. Norman was the one that initially helped Ruby with battling, he taught him moves and strategies, he knows what a good battler Ruby is (even if he’s been mostly absent from the kids life for 5 years). So perhaps Norman is going through such extremes to push Ruby and make him fight back, and he feels like its for Ruby’s own good. But that doesn’t make it okay. 

I was going to write a hc about it earlier (i might still later), but I view Norman has having ‘old fashioned’ ideals. Men/boys should do manly things and women/girls should do girly things. Men should fight for what they believe in and never give up. Maybe he wants Ruby to ‘man up’ and prove himself.

Anyway. They start to battle.

Maybe Norman is egging him on with this. Provoking him by telling him hes wasting his time. But anyway, the battle continues. Ruby gains the upper hand for a while but Normans pokemon is very strong and yet again rips off a staircase and results in this-

Ruby is on the edge of a staircase that is balancing on the edge of a building. He has nowhere to go. Norman still hasnt listened to what he wants and just tells him to stop being so stubborn. Norman is still trying to bully Ruby into doing what he wants.

Ruby doesnt want to give in. He prepares for a powerful attack but is interrupted by people nearby. This causes the staircase to be unbalance and both he and his dad start falling.

And then the next few panels/pages are literally just to make Norman look better. It shows Ruby’s mother.

So it blames Ruby for not reading the card, everything is Ruby’s fault. Of course the kid wouldn’t bother reading the damn card, he was pissed off. They moved region on his birthday without explaining why. Yes they wanted it to be a surprise, but surely it would be better to do that before going so he would be happy about the move.

She then reveals that Norman was going to give Ruby permission to do contests. Wow nice going, what a great dad, giving the kid permission to do something he had full rights to do anyway. We then see a flashback to a few months ago, of Norman deciding he would let Ruby make his own path. A few months ago. Ruby could have been a happy kid for those few months.

You know what though? I feel like this is just a hurried way to try redeem Normans character. But the fact is, Norman was still dismissing Ruby’s own interests ‘because hes a child’. Yes sometimes parents know best and sometimes dont let their kids do things because of that, but thats not the case this time, there was no harm in Ruby wanting to do contests. If Ruby had wanted to do battles, Norman would have fully supported it, in fact he did because he taught him and his pokemon things when Ruby was an even younger child.

And if Norman was already planning on letting Ruby take part in contests, why did he hunt him down? Because he was concerned for Ruby’s safety maybe? Thats what a good parent would do...but Normans first reaction to finding Ruby is to throw him down some stairs soooo...

but anyway

i feel like this was basically just a way to add to the tragedy/angst of the whole story and relationship.

Anyway, back to the scene...Norman and Ruby end up dangling from a pipe over a pile of sharp rumble caused by their fight. With Norman’s suggestion of using Ruby’s Running Shoes, they managed to get safely down, though there was a big impact.

Ruby feels a somewhat twisted sense of gratefulness to his dad because of the shoes and how they saved his life, apparently forgetting that it was his dads fault in the first place that they nearly died!

Norman gets up and is ready to continue the battle even tho his son is badly injured and can barely move. This brutality is only stopped by his phone ringing and the distraction of the fact hes needed elsewhere.

The fact he was going to continue is what makes me think that no, the whole fight wasn’t him trying to push Ruby to man up and prove himself. Ruby is nearly passed out here like cmon.

Instead of checking to see if Ruby is alive/not in critical condition, Norman calls him an idiot and basically disowns him. His line about what a man should do is one of the reasons I feel like he’s got those old fashioned ideas (but ill get more into that another time). Ruby is not allowed to go home. He has no home until he completes his goal. Thats a pretty sick motivator from Dad. Imagine the emotional impact that would have on Ruby, the pressure.

Here Norman says he knows nothing about contests. He knows nothing about something his son is so very very passionate about. He’s made no effort to learn. Ruby would have be so happy to teach him everything.

Norman then leaves his son lying there, just assuming that those people around will take care of the kid.

And here is the thing that really kicks me in the pants-

THESE PEOPLE ARE MOVED TO TEARS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF A ‘WONDERFUL FATHER’ NORMAN IS. And i remind you, this is after Norman has-

Repeatedly injured Ruby and tossed him twice down the stairs

Attacked him with pokemon and put him in very dangerous positions

Attempted to bully the kid into coming home with him

given him permission to do what he had the right to do anyway (plus making a big deal out of it even tho he had already decided months ago to give permission)

told the kid that he cant go home unless he wins all the contests

Wonderful father???

And for the final part-

RUBY IS THANKFUL!? why?? because he’s been lowkey craving for his dad to accept that there is some skill needed for contests and to let him pursue them. The boy is so deprived of fatherly support that even after his dad has attacked him multiple times, hes still thankful in the end. And hes thankful that Norman saved his life, but like i said before, he forgets that its his dads fault in the first place that they were in such a position.

THE END

PS. if anyone actually read all this. wow. and damn it felt good to get off my chest. The bottom line is, Ruby and Norman have a problematic relationship and we cant forget about that.

[nessadoodlin]

The Space Between Us

Fandom: PokeSpe/Pokemon Adventures

Pairing: RubyxSapphire (aka franticshipping/RuSa)

Word Count: 2809

Summary: What would have happened if Rayquaza hadn’t brought Ruby and Sapphire back home to Earth at the end of ORAS? (UA, Sapphire’s POV)

Notes: Hello everyone! So I hadn’t written a fic in years, and I just got this idea randomly one night, so I thought, “hey, why not try and write it out and see what happens?” Yeah, I’m not sorry for the angst again. 

(special thanks to these dorks for being my reviewers!! @disnerdpoketrainer @trimystic @blackspies12 @chocochan015 @brindillebon and there might have been a few more if I forgot you let me know I’m sorry but it’s late and I’m tired so I’m just gonna post this now hhhhhhhhh)

A brilliant show of falling meteorites flooded my vision as they descended towards Earth. The sight was so surreal, like a dream that I did not want to wake up from. The feeling was exhilarating, yet terrifying as the shards of space rock hurtled around us. Holding on tightly to Ruby’s hand, I softly gasped as I beheld the magnificent view before me. He was right, despite the danger this was definitely better than the meteor shower show we would have seen at Mossdeep.

After a few minutes, the remainder of the meteorites finally dove towards the Earth’s surface.The horizon cleared, and all that was left in sight was Ruby and myself. I turned towards him when I heard him mutter a soft “Wow” from the radio in my suit’s helmet.

“That was amazin’,” I mused back, unable to think of anything else to describe the spectacle.

Looking back at me, he remarked, “‘Amazing’ is an understatement. That was stunning.”

“‘Amazing’, ‘stunning’, same thing,” I retorted playfully. Ruby chuckled at that, and I followed with a small giggle of my own.

The moments after were silent, except for the sounds of our breathing, so I took that time to really take in our surroundings. Looking out, I can see the Earth, and the Moon if I turn my head a bit, but other than that, nothing. Absolutely nothing, save for the distant stars that speckled the dark blanket of the universe. In that moment, I had realized after all of the strife, battles, heartbreak and anxiety that had led up to this moment, after all of the fast paced action and decisions, it was all over and was now so... eerily quiet. The empty expanse of space suddenly consumed my being, and the frightful feeling of suddenly being entirely alone started to creep up my spine.

Impulsively, I gripped Ruby’s hand tighter. Noticing this, he turned towards me.

“Sapphire?” He tentatively began, “what’s wrong?”

I took a quick glance at him to meet his eyes, then turned back to the great expanse before answering, “Oh, nothing. It’s just… being out here like this, it kinda makes ya feel small, y’know? And there’s literally nothing out here except us... It’s a little scary if you think about it.”

Ruby then firmly gripped my hand and said, “Yeah, I guess with us being the only two people up here like this, it is really unnerving.” A few more seconds of silence passed before he stated. “Well, Sapphire, in that case, are you ready to go home?”

Taking one last glimpse at the Earth, I reply, “Yup, I’m ready to go home, Ruby.”

In unison, we both placed our opposing hands on the Link Cables attached to our suits, and waited to be teleported back to Earth.

…

However, after a few minutes, nothing happened. Alarmed, we both looked at each other in panic as we tried to put our hands over our Link Cables again. After a few more failed attempts, fear started to roll into my core and I began to tremble. I could feel Ruby shaking through his fingers in our joined hands, possibly feeling the same amount of terror that I must be feeling.

A few seconds later, Ruby called out into the radio, “Shoe Maker? Mr. Devon? Can anybody hear me?!”

We listened carefully for any sort of reply, but our cries for help were not heeded. My eyes darted around, searching for an answer as to why our calls were not being answered. I looked at Ruby’s suit, then back at mine, and realization struck me.

“R-Ruby…”

“What is it, Sapphire?’ he frantically replied.

“Our suits…” I muttered, gesturing to his chest.

Ruby looked down, and gasped in shock as he realized what I was referring to. The control panel on his chest, including the Link Cable, was smashed in. I looked down to my own panel, and I saw the destroyed Link Cable sitting there uselessly.

“They must have gotten damaged when that Pokemon from the meteor attacked us,” I mused, not being able to tear my eyes away from the carnage of my panel. My mind spun, trying to think of something, anything, that might be able to get us home. After thinking for a bit, I blurted out, “Wait, where’s Rayquaza?”

We both turned around, searching for the green serpentine-like Pokemon. As time passed, Ruby and I realized it seemed to have vanished, for it was nowhere to be found.

Ruby turned to me and stated, “Maybe since it figured it had finished its role in destroying the meteor and defeating that space Pokemon, it decided to go back…”

In disbelief, I exclaimed, “But didn’t we form a bond with it? What’s that all about then?!”

Ruby looked away from me as he said, “Maybe it was just up until it destroyed the meteor? I don’t know, Sapphire…”

Another pregnant silence fell between us. The pit of my stomach sank as I mumbled, “We’re alone out here then, with no way to get home…”

“There’s got to be something that we can do, there’s got to be a way!” Ruby cried, desperation laced in his voice. “Something…”

I try to think of something, but nothing comes to mind. I am cut out of my thoughts when I hear a sniffle from the radio, so I look over to Ruby. His bangs covered his eyes, and his fingers clutched onto mine.

“Father is going to really be mad at me for making Mom sad, isn't he?” He let out a small, sad chuckle, but immediately after he clenched his teeth. I could tell he trying to be strong.

Feeling my own tears welling up, I look down as I choke out, “It’ll be hard for my dad to live on his own… he's never had to before….”

“And Emerald and everybody else….” Ruby added mournfully.

It became too much to bear that the both of us turned into sobbing messes. I pulled him towards me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed, bringing us so close that our helmets bumped together. Ruby reciprocated with a tight grip around my suit around my waist. We just held each other desperately, clinging onto the other person with everything that we had. In this lonely, empty cosmos, we were all that we had left.

Even though our entire worlds were crashing, tumbling down into oblivion right before our eyes, in Ruby’s embrace I felt… safer. I felt as if our little bubble of space could freeze time, and we can stay like this, holding each other forever. Everything stood still for a moment, and an inkling of a thought of us being okay floated in the back of my mind. I found myself believing that as long as we stayed here together, something would present itself and everything would be fixed. I desperately hoped a solution would show itself.

Tightening his hold on me, Ruby sobbed, “I’m so sorry Sapphire, I promised that we would go back to Earth alive, yet…”

“No, don’t apologize Ruby, this isn’t yer fault… I followed ya here myself,” I murmured.

A few more sniffles between us passed before Ruby continued, “Heh, guess this really did turn out to be a self-sacrificing story, huh? Even though I said I would never give up my life for this…”

“Well, if it weren’t for us, everyone would’ve died, Ruby. And if we were gonna die anyways, might as well just be us, not the entire world.”

He hummed in response. Then, a tiny red light started to flash on one of the lights on our arms. A robotic voice cut in, repeating, “Oxygen levels low, oxygen levels low, oxygen levels low…”

Upon hearing that, time stopped. My heart plummeted as I looked into Ruby’s fear-filled eyes. In that moment, we both knew that our fates had been sealed in the message of the lights. Soon the warnings faded away, and we were suddenly thrown back again into harsh reality.

“Looks like we don’t have that much time left…”

Hearing that confirmation from him caused my voice to catch in my throat. I didn’t want to believe it. All that we’ve been through, all of our adventures, all of the time we shared was suddenly going to come to an end. I didn’t want to let all of that go. I wanted to go back home with Ruby, to Emerald, my dad, everyone. I didn’t want to die out here without seeing all of them again!

“Well, since it seems like we’re running out of time…” he started, “I should probably tell you this before it’s too late, Sapphire.”

His gaze pierced straight through me, looking sincerely yet desperately. His breath hitched, as if trying to find the right words to say. Then, after pausing, he says, “Before we… go, I want to tell you that I…,” he took a deep breath in, preparing himself for what he was about to say, “I like you, Sapphire.”

Before I had a chance to react, he shook his head, “W-wait, no. I love you, actually. I really, really do.”

Initially taken aback, my jaw drops. My face goes unbelievably red, but I shake it off. My intuition already kind of saw this coming a while ago. I look back into his eyes and reply, “I know, Ruby”.

Now his face takes on a red hue, and his eyes widen in shock. “You knew?! What do you mean? I’ve never said it to you before.”

The corner of my mouth raises a bit into a smile. “C’mon, the whole ‘I don’t wanna be separated you, so become Lore Keeper with me!’ speech you gave earlier? I kinda figured it out then, ya dork”.

Ruby averts his eyes away from me, clearly embarrassed. I let out a small chuckle, then I add, “But thank you for saying those words Ruby.” My face goes red again, as I consider my words, “A-and, I’ll confess to you again. I love you too, truly. If I were to die with someone, I’m glad I’m with you, until the very end.”

I bury my head into his chest, my cheeks against the rim of my helmet. He places his gloved hand on the top of my helmet, hugging me closer. “I’m glad I got to be with you too, Sapphire.”

Suddenly, another automated voice interrupted us. “Warning: five minutes worth of oxygen remaining.”

The world, or, the universe, is cruel I discovered. I had waited so long to be held by Ruby like this, to finally tell him my true feelings (again) and to live happily ever after. Sure, it’s finally happened, but… I won’t even be able to feel his touch anymore. I won’t be able to intertwine his hands in my own, to run my fingers through his hair, nor would he be able to run his through mine. I won’t be able to caress his cheeks, or lean my head on his chest to hear his heartbeat. Why did we have to confess right here and now, when I won’t even be able to reach him anymore? Why are we finally together now, when we won’t even have that much time left together anyways?

“I-it really stinks…”

“What, Sapphire?”

“I-I mean,” I stuttered, “we won’t be able to feel each other while in these suits…” I gulped, “No matter how much I may want to, we won’t even be able to...”

“To what?”

I splurted, not being able to get the words out right out of sheer embarrassment, “Y-y-you know…”

“Well, what?” Ruby prodded.

“Urghh.. D-don’t make me say it!” I cry out, burying myself into his chest more.

“How do you expect me to know what you're saying if you don't say it? Just say it, Sapphire.”

“To kiss, ya idiot! For goodness sake!”

Heat rushes into my cheeks, and I look down away from his gaze.

“Oh…”

“This is why the universe is so cruel. I really want to kiss you, but I can't… And, we’ll never be able to.” I sniffle, and a tear begin to fall. I make no move to try and hide it, as I know I can't even touch my own face to wipe it away.

Looking down to me, Ruby softly mumbles, “I’d love to kiss you too, Sapphire. Especially to make those tears of yours go away.”

We held each other again, internally lamenting what we couldn't reach. We were so close, yet far from reach. A few minutes later, the dreaded voice returned. “2 minutes of oxygen remaining…”

“You know, Sapphire, we still can. That is, if you want to.” Ruby stated in a low voice.

I released myself from his chest and looked at him in confusion. What did he mean? There was no way we could, since we had helmets in the way. What could he be thinking that could get around that obstacle?

“Whaddya mean? There’s no way we could with our helmets.” I looked into his eyes, searching for an answer to his claim. “The only way we could is if we…” Staring longer into his eyes, I realized what he had meant.

Oh.

I see now.

The idea kinda scared me, I’m not going to lie. I was contemplating it, however. But, was Ruby absolutely certain about that?

“Ruby… are you sure?” I questioned.

“We’re gonna die anyways, so I thought I might as well spend my last moments with you. So yes, I’m sure about it if you are.” Ruby said softly.

He did have a point. We had a little less than 2 minutes of oxygen, and our situation is looking hopeless at this point. Plus, I would probably find myself regretting spending the next few minutes not doing it, which would then turn to never. So I contemplated it for a few seconds, and came to a decision.

“We’re going to need two hands for that,” I stated.

“Oh, just wrap one of your legs around mine. Then when we’re done we can change back to using our hands.” he answered.

Following his suggestion, I intertwined my legs with his, establishing a firm hold on each other so we don’t float away. Giving his eyes a quick glance, we released our hands for the first time since we’ve been thrown out into space. Letting go of his hand made me realize that we were really about to do this, and I became a little scared. However, knowing that I’ll at least get to feel Ruby one more time before departing put my anxious heart a little at ease. I raised both of my hands to my helmet, grasping the base of it.

“Hey Ruby?”

“Hmm?”

“... Just in case you won’t be able to hear me after this, I just want to say that I love you.”

“I love you too, Sapphire, now and always.”

With that, I  breathe in one more time, then exhale. I then released my helmet, and the last thing I hear is the pressurized hiss of the remainder of my oxygen dissipate.

Immediately, everything started to hurt. My eyes and mouth felt as if they were boiling, to a point where it was excruciating. My vision began to blur, but I reached my hands for Ruby, and as soon as I felt him I swiftly pulled him towards me. I crashed my lips onto his, trying to cherish every precious second. I felt him placing a hand behind my neck, so I in return cup both of his cheeks with my hands. I bring his face closer to mine, deepening our lip lock. Despite not being able to breathe, fading out of consciousness, and my heartbeat slowing, I didn’t want this moment to end. I wanted to be able to be able to kiss Ruby again after this, I wanted to be able to tell him that I love him again, to maybe go on a date, have a future together. But this kiss is the closest thing I would ever get to any of that.

Feeling weaker by the second, we slowly pull away from each other. I start to get blotchy vision, barely being able to see Ruby’s swollen face. I see him starting to lose consciousness too, trying desperately to hang on just a few seconds more. The pain has become numbing at this point, and I know that our time has almost come. Weakly lowering my swollen, numb hands to his neck, I try and hang onto this feeling for as long as I can.

However, I feel my mind slip back to unconsciousness.

“I’m happy… that we could be together ‘til the last moment…”

I feebly say against his neck, although I’m not sure if he, let alone anyone, could hear me. Then, I fade completely into the darkness.