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It had been a long trip up to Mt. Pyre, but now it was time to return back home. Or rather, back to her campsite for the time being. She couldn't stay out of hotels forever, besides, camping out in nature just felt so much more enjoyable. The peace and quiet, nature all around, the Pokemon in their own natural habitats, it was enjoyable in so many ways.

And yet, Ruby, currently, was more confused than anything. Her recent meditation session atop the mountain was fruitless in helping her work through her problems. Perhaps location really meant nothing in the end, she was falling prey to the idea of the aesthetic, hoping that it would somehow bring some divine solution to help her work through her problems.

However, it seemed some of her solutions were going to be more man-made than divine in nature. Off in the distance was a strange man, who she almost didn't recognize at first. However, Whisper at her side who had been keeping her company certainly did. Especially with the way her eyes narrowed, her claw stretching out a bit in annoyance. It was only after Ruby recognized it as Balder, did Whisper surprisingly calm down a bit. Confused over her Pokemon's strange actions, especially towards a man who had given Whisper relatively every reason to hate them, Ruby turned to silently question her pokemon.

Unfortunately, Whisper was not a great communicator. All she could tell was that Balder was, for a lack of better understanding, not aggressive. Determined to solve the problem herself, Ruby gave her Pokemon a quick peck on the cheek before returning her to her Pokeball and quietly began to make her way towards the Alolan man.

He was sitting over the ledge of a cliff, and Ruby felt quite hesitant to break the silence. Especially as he just sat and stared out at the ocean. She wasn't the brightest individual, but she liked to feel like she was quite used to reading others after so long. He was thinking. She could only assume what, but perhaps it might be wrong to even try. Regardless, it just truly began to feel wrong to even attempt to break the silence.

Pausing for a moment, Ruby finally acted on instinct rather than sitting back and coming up with a full plan. Giving up any pretense at being stealthy, Ruby simply walked right up beside him, only to carefully slip down to sit on the edge of the cliff as well. There was no talking, nor was there even a greeting. She simply trusted that he wouldn't mind her intrusion as she stared out across the sea as well. Perhaps he would eventually speak, but Ruby was content to let him remain silent for as long as he wanted.

Heaven knows everyone could use a bit more time to just think in their lives anyways. And if he truly was thinking about something that hurt, than maybe the company would help.

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She allowed the silence to go on as long as she could. Or at least, until Balder suddenly spoke himself. She didn't even turn to look at him at first, just listening to his words. Just hearing what he had to say really did reveal how much she had changed in just a few short months. In under a year, she had somehow cemented herself as not only a figure of importance but grown emotionally. She was no longer that crying girl who stood in the streets of Sootoolis, the one who struggled to even speak. She had found her voice, even if that voice was quiet. When she actually had words to say nowadays, people listened.

However, when he began to speak of himself, Ruby couldn't help but frown softly. This man truly felt like he lost everything. He lost his gym, the respect of the populace, and apparently, even the legendary Pokemon from Alola that had chosen him. She didn't know much about it, or why that might have happened, but she did believe that everything happened for a reason. With a quiet sigh, Ruby finally began to speak.

"You're not a waste, Balder." She'd let the statement hang in the air for a few moments before continuing. "If there is one thing that I've learned, is that your heart and the intent behind what you do often matters just as much the outcome. You have a good heart, one that is visible to me even without the help of my psychic pokemon."

She'd finally turn her head to look at him, a soft, encouraging smile on her face. "I don't know why things happen the way they do, and I'll never pretend to understand. But I do know, that stewing in self-doubt is a one way trip to losing yourself."

Her eyes turned back to glance at the ocean, staring out across its vast, nigh-endless seas. "You might have lost those things you valued... but there are still things to gain. I don't know much about Avatars and Legendary Pokemon... but you were chosen because you have potential, right? Potential doesn't simply vanish. It's always inside you, and that never fades away."

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Ruby was quiet as Balder began to talk once more. He had doubt in his soul. He didn't believe he had potential, he didn't believe that he was a good guy, he doubted he could even make the right decisions. He wanted revenge... And while the saying was that revenge was a dish best served cold, she knew it was best not being served at all. It didn't sound like he would be happy, even after he got his revenge. He'd be lost.

Ruby let out a quiet sigh, looking away as she glanced out across the sea. There was so much to the world... So many powerful beings, mysterious circumstances, and things simply beyond their comprehension. It wasn't easy to handle it all, especially when he was so wracked with guilt and an obvious self-deprecating mindset. Closing her eyes, Ruby finally spoke.

"You're wrong, Balder. For the fact alone that you are now able to see the darkness inside of you is what means you have a good heart." She allowed that to sit for a bit before continuing. "I'm sorry for what happened, and I know it isn't easy. It's a hard road to walk. But, it's even harder to think that you can do it by yourself. While you have already made your decisions, you clearly understand what you did. Learning and accepting what you did wrong is the first step, the next is simply learning how to forgive yourself and make amends."

The young woman slowly turned to look at him, a soft smile on her face. "I can't say that I understand why things happen the way they do, but it is not what the world says about us or does to us that defines us. What matters most is how we react to it. We all have flaws, but we should never stop striving to better ourselves. And if you struggle to do it on your own... Just reach out." And with that, Ruby casually began to hand over her phone, intent on sharing numbers.

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Perhaps she should have clarified even more. This was a man who was distraught, but even he could see where she had left a few words out. However, at his refusal to stay in contact, Ruby regretfully had to nod and put away her phone. If he wanted to be alone, thought he needed to be alone, there wasn't much she was going to be able to do to change him.

"I meant to imply, that learning your flaws is the first step to overcoming them. Because you have a good heart, and you can still see the darkness that lives within, means that you are wiser for it. You understand what you will do, and what it means to be you. I apologize, I'm not... exactly a public speaker, or therapist or anything. Sometimes words are just dumb." She sighed softly, her eyes slowly glancing out across the horizon. How many times have they watched the sunset just like any ordinary day? How many times has time passed them by without even a second thought about what the future might hold? Too many times.

With a quiet voice, Ruby spoke up once more. Her eyes still staring away. "I know that your reputation is spotty. That people don't trust you the same way they used to. But..." She'd pause, ever so slowly moving to stand up a bit from her position. "But there are still ways to move on and grow. You can still inspire people."

She'd continue to look out over the cliff, her eyes just slowly searching the waves as if they'd somehow magically show her what to say. After another few moments of silence, Ruby simply decided to just speak her mind and go with what she felt right to say.

"New Years, I was a little girl. I came here on a trip, to see a new land. But instead, I find struggles right away. People hurting, pokemon fighting..." Her eyes close slowly, finding it oddly comforting to not have to see his reaction as she proceeded. "The attack on Slateport was a mess, and it hurt so many people... But you. You literally shined as a beacon of hope, for just a moment. A bright light within the heavy rains and flames burning, fighting with everything you had. And anyone who puts their own self aside for others like that is someone I would be honored to consider a friend."

Ruby lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding as she continues speaking. "I was scared, hurt, and desperate. I didn't know what was going on. But people like you are the reason me, and so many others are still alive today." Her eyes would finally open, intentionally looking down at Balder. "The only reason I even became the Saint of Slateport, had the courage to act instead of simply react, is because I saw people fighting with everything they had, for the sake of others. I don't care what the League thinks, you have a good heart inside you. And that's all that matters to me."
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Laughter. It was certainly a pleasant sound to hear, especially with the serious topics they've been discussing. Honestly, she thought the whole name and title were absolutely silly. She understood it though, people needed someone to look to as an example when almost everyone else was either caring about themselves or fighting amongst themselves.

"It was... uh, Miss Abbiati, actually I think? The councilwoman back then. Honestly, I still don't know much about her and quite frankly I'm not sure I need to. All I know is that giving me that title kind of, changed my life." For the better? She honestly could only hope so. She had changed so many lives and helped so many people and there was no denying that, but there was definitely the obvious realization that she was forced to mature quite rapidly whether she really wanted to or not. She didn't exactly feel like a carefree child anymore.

Regardless, she wasn't about to express her own worries towards Balder as his own seemed to be getting better. At least, a little bit. Slowly reaching over, Ruby placed a gentle hand atop his shoulder. "You don't need anything else to be a beacon of hope, Balder. You just need to be yourself and head out with that mindset. To do what is right, regardless of anything else. Everything else will fall into place over time, I promise." With a gentle smile, the young girl would squeeze his shoulder for a second before slowly stepping back.

"I should probably head back to my campsite before it gets too dark." Her eyes drift back over to the setting sun, nodding her head. "But, please don't forget anything I've said tonight, alright? Keep shining bright, no matter what."

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