hates battling and prefers Pokémon Contests. Ruby is introduced as a vain and condescending young man but it is revealed that he does have a good heart. He arrives in Hoenn on his eleventh birthday, and runs away from his new home since he believes that his father Norman would not endorse his choice to be a Pokémon Coordinator. This is initially true, but Norman had decided to let Ruby become a Coordinator at this point. After running away, he met Sapphire, the daughter of Professor Birch. Sapphire challenges Ruby with the bet that is eighty days, they would both travel around Hoenn, each trying to achieve their respective goals (he would try to win every Contest and she would try to win all eight Hoenn Gym Badges). His first three Pokémon are Nana (a Poochyena), Kiki (a Skitty), and Rara (a Ralts). He lends Rara to Wally, but due to an earthquake which separates them, he does not get her back until much later. Ruby's other Pokémon are Feefee (a Feebas), Fofo (a Castform), and Mumu (a Mudkip). In Volume 22, it is revealed that Ruby also owns a Celebi that he came across in Johto. Ruby may dislike Pokémon Battles, but he is a capable Pokémon Trainer in his own right. At the age of six, he actually liked climbing trees and battling Pokémon. However, when he injured himself while protecting a girl from a Salamence, the girl became frightened and cried. Ruby assumed at the time that the reason the girl was scared was because he fought too fiercely. From that day onwards, he tried not to battle, only resorting to it when no one else was watching him or he has no other choice, focusing only on the beauty and non-combat qualities of his Pokémon. It is revealed in Volume 21 that Ruby likes Sapphire and she was the girl who Ruby had rescued, though neither of them recognized the other when they met at the beginning of the arc. Ruby realizes her identity when she reminisces the event, and reveals his identity to her by showing her a scar on his forehead, which he sustained while holding off the wild Salamence. Ruby is based on Brendan in the Pokémon video games, just like how Sapphire is based on May. However, unlike Brendan, Ruby is a Pokémon Coordinator and Brendan a Pokémon Trainer. In the Omega