Author's Note: Well! It's finally up! I'm currently working on chapter 6 for this story, and I won't post the next chapter until I'm finished with that one, and so on so forth. This is a collab story between me and Starwarrior4ever on DeviantART, so we both hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Wish

"Freak!" a boy named Josh taunted, pushing me back. I fell against a locker, falling to the ground in front of it.

I looked up at the bully with glowering eyes.

"You're the freak of the school! An abomination of nature!" he snickered, elbowing one of his buddies.

"Dude, you're like Shakespeare!" one of his buds guffawed. "Is there anything about 'stupid robots' in Hamlet, you think?"

Josh looked at him with blank eyes. "What's Shakespeare?" he asked, and his buddy face-palmed.

I tried to hold back a laugh. However, Josh kicked me in the stomach. "Shut up, stupid robot."

"You know," I wheezed, holding my stomach, "you're not being very nice."

"Why should I be nice to the likes of you?" he growled, glaring down at me. "You're a robot."

"I also saved the city," I grumbled.

"Oh, you saved the city!" Josh laughed again. "We could have done it without you! A soldier could have shot the Blue Core into that Peacekeeper instead of you heroically 'dying' to save the city!"

"I also saved your sorry butt," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

Josh laughed in my face. "A robot sassing back! Guys! Take a note!" One of his friends actually took out a pad of paper and a pencil to mock me, and I frowned.

"I didn't know your friend knew how to write," I retorted. The guy holding the notebook went red in the face, putting it behind his back.

Josh stormed up to me and clutched the front of my red t-shirt. "Listen here, robot," he hissed. "I don't want you makin' stupid jokes at my buds, got me?" When I didn't answer, he jostled me back and forth. "I said…got me?"

I looked away from his glare. "Whatever," I hissed through clenched teeth.

Josh dropped me back on the ground, laughing and walking away to class with his buddies. I picked myself off the ground and dusted myself off. This whole bullying thing was becoming more frequent with every passing day. It had only been a few months since I had saved everyone from the Peacekeeper, and a few months since everyone started treating me like I was nothing. I hadn't seen Cora ever since the battle, and I had thought to myself that maybe her parents were keeping her inside, home-schooling her, because they didn't like me.

Or because they don't want her out of their sight again…

I sighed to myself, picking my bag up off the floor, beginning towards my homeroom. No one ever talked to me, besides Josh and his 'helpers'. Besides them, no one ever did. It was like if they talked to me, they'd contract some sort of disease.

Sometimes I really hated being a robot. I mean, all the powers were cool, I guess, but…there was still something missing. I just wasn't…human. Well, duh, I thought. Robots can't ever be humans… They—we're—man-made. It's not like we had a choice in the matter, either, I thought, kicking at the ground a little as I walked. But even if I am a robot, I still shouldn't be treated like this, I thought, frowning. I saved them from the Peacekeeper…from Stone…

Turning a corner, I looked up. A door loomed in front of me with the words 'Mr. Mustachio' written on the door. I looked back down and headed inside, the door opening automatically.

"Sorry I'm late," I mumbled, keeping my head low.

Mustachio smiled. "Actually you're right on time. Have a seat, To—I mean, Astro."

"Okay." I walked to my seat at the back of the class, ignoring the kids that were giving me a weird look. They always gave me weird looks… I thought as I tried keeping my head low, setting my bag next to me on the floor.

I turned on my screen on the desk as Mustachio started the lecture about physics. The screen read, 'Good morning, Toby Tenma'. I sighed. It always scanned your DNA when you sat down and turned it on, and when it said that, it always reminded me that I would never be Toby again.

"Now, who can tell me the answer to this scientific equation?" Mustachio asked, gesturing to the giant screen behind him.

I raised my hand, but one of the students cut me off just as I was about to give the answer.

"That's no fair!" said one of the students. "He's a robot—he's got the answer programmed in him already!"

I put my hand down. "I don't have anything but memories programmed in my brain…?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"No difference!" the student growled. "Your memories are different than our memories—"

"That's enough, Bryan!" Mustachio said sternly. "If you can't say anything nice about your classmates, then don't say anything at all! Got it?"

"Got it…" Bryan said forcefully, and then added in a low whisper, "But it wasn't my choice to have a robot as my classmate…"

It seemed strange to me, but I had just noticed he spoke to me – although in a rude manner. Like I said before, if someone talked to me, it was like they were going to either contract some disease, or just because they want to be mean or rude.

"Astro, would you still like to answer the question?" Mustachio asked, pointing at the screen.

I nodded. "Sure. The answer is 498 kilometers per mile."

"Good job, Astro," he praised.

I looked around the room with a smile on my face as the answer I had given was correct, but I noticed that everyone was whispering to their buddies in hushed voices, like they were talking about me. My smile faded and I slumped back in my seat. Every single day, everyone did this to me. I knew they were talking about me, because when I zoned in onto their conversations, they always seemed to say my name.

No one respects me at all… I thought, looking at my feet. It's like I was just some house robot given orders that it won't obey. I sighed, leaning the palm of my hand on the side of my face. I just wish that they wouldn't hate me so much…

Hours passed by as I went through my daily school day. Ever since my father had re-enrolled me back at Metro High, it's when it all happened. He went back to work, I went back to school, he didn't have time for me as usual, and whenever I tried to tell him about what happened to me at school, he'd always brush me off to go to bed. It was as if he hated me again, like when I had just learned that I was a robot, programmed with the memories of the real Toby Tenma. I was not who I thought I was, and everything about me was a fluke, some sort of lie.

The last period of the day came up, and I began to dread it. It was gym class, and Josh and all his buddies were in the same class I was. Being the youngest in my school, it wasn't that easy to get along with anyone. The only real people I had gotten along with were Cora and the others back on the Surface, but I haven't seen any of them since the day I had stopped that alien from destroying the city any more than the Peacekeeper had.

As I walked between the double doors that led to the huge gymnasium, I was instantly greeted by Josh and his cronies. "Hey, Astro!" Josh said, smiling. "Guess what we're playing today?"

I looked away from his green stare. "What?"

"Dodgeball!" he laughed snidely. "And I was picked as a team captain. Guess where you're not going? On this guy's team!" he exclaimed, pointing a thumb at his chest. His buddies laughed.

"Good! I wouldn't want to be on your team anyway! You always lose," I remarked, walking past them.

Josh gaped at me, but hurried after me with fire in his eyes. He grabbed me by the shoulders and whipped me around, but I kept my eyes level to the ground. "We always lose because you're a robot! And it's not fair that you have super strength."

"Josh, quit harassing Astro!" the teacher called from across the room. "Go stand in line so I can call role."

Josh growled to himself, turning back to me. "You got off lucky this time, robot." With that, he pushed me away and headed over to the line, followed closely by his two buddies.

After a moment or two, I shrugged and headed over to my usual spot on the line, next to a really tall kid named Chris, and a short girl named Hannibelle. It was always in alphabetical order, so you could guess where I was, right?

"Riley?" the teacher called out.

"Present!"

"Josh?"

"Yo, yo!" he called out, laughing.

The teacher shook his head with a frown, but continued taking roles. I began to zone out, the teacher's voice becoming a background noise that—to me—didn't seem to be there. What would it take for everyone to actually respect me? I wondered, looking towards the doors in the distance. Would I have to do something extraordinary besides what I've already done? Would I have to save someone's life? Maybe the most popular kid in school? My eyes lowered to the ground in front of me. But that would be nearly impossible for him to be in danger. He's always surrounded by a lot of kids, and it wouldn't be easy. A thought occurred to me and I looked back up at the door. Maybe I could... I swallowed nervously. Maybe I could...pretend he was in danger and then 'save' him from it?

"Astro!" the teacher shouted.

I snapped back to the present, shaking my head back and forth. "Here!" I called, raising my hand high.

"Answer when I call your name," he growled, continuing to take role once again.

Even the teacher hates me... I thought, sighing. Everyone hates me, but why? I didn't even do anything to them... Maybe it's because they fear me? Fear what I can do? Fear that if they don't give me hatred, I'll hurt them? But...that doesn't make any sense... My thoughts wandered off again, and I had missed the end of the role call. When I finally realized it, a loud whistle sounded in the room, and my face was instantly greeted by several dodgeballs.

"AHHH!" I shouted, immediately dodging them all. Yet another was thrown at me, and I caught it in my hands, throwing it at someone in front of me. The girl turned around.

"Hey! I'm on your team!" she pouted.

"Friendly?" I chuckled nervously. She harrumphed and ran away from the opposite team's flying projectiles.

The gym battle went on until there was only me and Josh left on the field. He smiled at me evilly, holding up balls in both of his hands. I rolled my eyes. "You honestly think that's gonna get me out?" I snorted, crossing my arms.

"No, but I can try," he replied snottily.

In your dreams, I thought as he chucked the first ball. I dodged it easily, it smacking against the wall behind me and rolling away. "Is that the best you've got?" I asked.

Growling to himself, Josh chucked the other ball at me. It came straight for my head, and I ducked just in time to miss the impact. "Stupid robot!" he muttered, looking around for more balls, but realized that they were all on my side.

"Ooookay! Looks like Astro's team wins," the teacher called.

"Hey! No, no, no! I want him to go down!" Josh whined.

I laughed to myself and turned towards the teacher. "Give him another chance. Who knows? Maybe he'll win."

"But how? All the dodgeballs are on your side, smart one!" Josh hissed.

I scoffed, walking over to each individual ball and kicking it towards the middle. Once they were all in the middle, I kicked them all onto his side. "Have at it," I taunted, crossing my arms.

Josh grabbed a ball, the whites of his knuckles showing through his fists as he gripped the ball tightly. "It's still not fair…" he muttered.

"I'll even do it with my hands tied behind my back!" I replied, gripping my wrist with my other hand behind my back. I motioned my head towards the balls on the ground. "Well? What're you waiting for?"

With an angry shout, Josh threw the first ball at me. I ducked. He threw. I jumped to the right. It went on and on like this for about two minutes, before he was down to one ball. "Any last words, Astro Boy?" he sneered, gripping the ball tightly.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Josh," I sighed, shrugging. "Just get it over with and be humiliated."

"Astro, you're a wimp!" Josh's buddy, Trevyr, shouted from the bench, elbowing his other friend.

Distracted, I was caught off guard by a ball knocking me to the ground. I landed with an "Oof!" Laughter soon erupted in the whole room, and even the teacher was laughing at me.

"You should've seen his face when he was hit!" a girl guffawed. "Priceless!"

"HAHA! 'I'll even do it with my hands tied behind my back', he says!" another boy snorted. "What a loser!"

I frowned, lying there on the ground on my back, watching as everyone just sat there and laughed at me. "Robots are so dumb!" Josh laughed, going over to his buddies.

A tear slid down my cheek as I sat up, looking away from everyone. Great. I just humiliated myself in front of everyone! I thought as I stood up, my head hung low. Now I'll never be respected as one of them!

"Awww, is the robot crying?" Josh sneered. "Oh, wait! That's right! They can't cry! It's artificial, like he is!"

The laughter erupted louder, and more tears streamed down my face. I couldn't take the pressure, wanting to just run away and never look back. I gave in to my fear, running out the double doors with tears streaming down my face as everyone's laughter trailed with me all the way outside.

I burst into the air, away from the school. I couldn't take it anymore…couldn't take everyone's hatred of me… I needed to get away. Away from it all. Maybe I wasn't cut out for things like this… Maybe school wasn't the right place for me. Maybe I just needed to keep being home-schooled like before… I looked to the left, seeing the sun as it began its afternoon descent into the horizon line down on the Surface.

Should I go home? …No, I thought. Not right now, anyway. I just needed to fly right now. Flying helped me calm down, sometimes…

I banked left and zoomed higher into the air, closing my eyes as I felt the wind on my face. I flew up and up, high into the puffy white clouds that slowly drifted over Metro City. Bursting through the middle of one of the clouds, I began to calm down. The feeling of the wispy, wet clouds made me feel so free, like I didn't have a care in the world.

But reality suddenly came rushing back as I looked down at Metro City. The whole city hated me…or nearly the whole city. Why does being a robot have to be so…difficult? I wondered, my eyes wandering over the city. Why must everyone hate me? Why is it? I frowned. It's not as if saving the city immediately makes everyone hate you. I mean, after I had saved everyone from the Peacekeeper, they were all happy and excited… I broke off, sighing.

It's because I'm so different, I realized. Is it because I'm not…real? Fake? Artificial? Gah, what is it? I knocked my knuckles on the sides of my head in frustration. Even my head didn't feel real. It was all fake, like a hoax, some sort of bad dream. It makes me wish it were a bad dream, I thought glumly, looking away from the city. I just wish…things were different… That everyone would love me for who I was… I hung my head with shame, another tear sliding down my cheek.

I sat on the rooftop curve of my father's apartment building that he owned. He made money off of it by letting other people rent out the rooms below ours in the penthouse at the very top. I sniffled, wiping a tear from my eye. I looked at my hand, the tear wrapping around my finger as I twirled it around to examine it.

Maybe Josh was right. Are my tears…artificial? I wondered, snapping it away, letting it fall off the edge of the building. But I do have feelings…which no one really understands.

But no one will ever accept me for who I am… I thought, looking up at the night sky and at the stars. Because…I'm not real… I frowned. I wish I were real! I thought, determined. I looked up at a really bright star in the sky, my eyes twinkling from the wetness and the light from the star. I wish…I were human… Just so people could accept me for who I was…which is one of them.

The star suddenly flashed a bright blue, and I rose an eyebrow in confusion. What was that? I wondered, standing up and staring at it. It flashed once, and then it was gone…

I stared intently at the star, wondering if it would do the same thing again or not. After a few minutes of nothing, I stepped back and scratched the back of my head. "Weird…" I murmured.

"Astro, come inside! It's time for bed!" my father called out to me from the porch down below.

"Coming!" I shouted back, taking one last peek at the star before I floated down to the porch, and inside the room.

Dad was in the living room, and gave me a smile when I entered. "Have a good night's sleep, son," he said.

I paused, swallowing nervously. "Um…Dad?" I asked. "Could…you hire a tutor for me?"

Dad blanched, caught off guard with my question. "What?" he asked, surprised. "Why? What's wrong with your school?"

"It…it's just that…" I broke off and swallowed again, glancing away from his stare. "Well, everyone in school kinda hates me…and—"

"No one hates you!" he replied, laughing.

I stomped my foot in frustration. "YES THEY DO!" I shouted, but then immediately backed down, apologetic. "S-sorry, Dad, it's just… No one talks to me. They avoid me, and if they do say something to me, it's in a rude way, and I'm being constantly bullied by Josh and his cronies…"

"Bullied?" he blanched, blinking his eyes. "Why would anyone bully you? You're the hero of Metro City!"

"I'm also a robot, and a lot of them hate me because of it!" I argued, my eyes blazing. As he stared at me with a dark expression, I sighed. "I-I'm sorry… I'll just go to bed now…" Without another word, I hurried up to my room, ignoring the sounds of utter disbelief coming from my father's mouth.

This was exactly why I didn't usually come to him in the first place. He just didn't understand these things. I sighed to myself as I took off my shirt and pants from the day and climbed into bed. Through the window, I saw some clouds begin to block the starry sky from my view. I sighed, closing my eyes for the night.

A strange feeling suddenly entered my chest…a warm feeling…but it had vanished almost as soon as it came as I slowly fell asleep.

Author's Note: Well? What did you think? I think this chapter was pretty informal...don't you? Leave reviews! Faves and follows would be much appreciated. I love to see people enjoying my stories. :3