Home hadn't changed much since Goh had left a month ago.

It was still the same two story farmhouse, white paint peeling in some places, fading in others. A small vegetable garden filled with carrots, cabbages and tomatoes was set up on one side of the house, and a covered two car parking spot was propped up on the other, shielding his father's truck and his mother's SUV from the elements. A set of wooden steps led to a screen door and then an oak door fitted with a rectangular stained glass window along its length, as well as a porch with a swinging couch and a few potted plants. A cute little welcome mat sat right in front of the entrance, with a picture of a beautifly embroidered on it, the words welcome home patterned into its wings.

Despite the welcoming exterior, Goh knew what was on the inside: a spotless house with two very controlling parents on the inside. He'd have had several panic attacks by now if it weren't for a very cuddly if not heavy Arron in his arms, panting in the summer heat, and ash at his side making sure he didn't chicken out. A very determined Delilah Ketchum stood behind them, a hand on one of each of their shoulders.

"Why are we still waiting here, Mom? Shouldn't we go in?" Said Ash, restlessly shifting his body weight from one foot to the other.

She shook her head. "No, dear. We're waiting for Professor Cerise and Docter Chrysa to arrive. They're going to help."

"Doctor Cerise is coming as well? I didn't know he was going to help. I didn't think he'd want to go through the trouble."

Delilah slightly pushed his shoulder. "Nonsense, dear. He cares about both of you. You're his best students and a great addition to the Laboratory staff as a whole. He told me he would fight for you to stay if he had to."

"Right you are, Ms. Ketchum."

The three of them turned around to see the good Professor standing on the latter end of the driveway, hands in the pockets of his bleached white lab coat. Chrysa was close behind, having parked her car by the road just behind Cerise's.

"Hey, Professor Cerise. Thanks for coming," Said Goh glumly. "But I don't think there's much you can do."

"Stop it with the depressing thoughts, Goh, this'll work out. Just stay calm." Said Ash, giving him a very serious look. Even Arron had responded to Goh's change in mood, sitting up and licking his face. Goh couldn't help but giggle, and set Arron down on the gravel driveway, where he snuggled between his legs.

Professor Cerise's face lit up. "I heard from Ms. Ketchum that Arron had become more personable, but this is incredible. He seems very attached to your Goh, that's great!"

"Ash and his mother are Miracle workers! A few quick fixes and Arron had really calmed down. All it took was a spray from one of those repels you can get from the Pokeshop and he was calm enough for us to relax him. Now he's just incredible."

Ash scratched the back of his head with a sheepish look on his face. "I helped a little, but he really seems to like you, Goh."

Arron snuggled up against Goh's leg for a few extra brownie points and Delilah practically melted. "Aww, you're not so mean, you're just the cutest little thing, aren't you, Arron?" She reached down and scratched his head affectionately and he licked her hand. Professor Cerise walked over and knelt down next to Arron, examining his snout, then the rest of his body, running his fingers through the creature's mane and thick, furry and flat tail. Then he gave the bony plates on his body a tap, noticing that they weren't exactly bone. "Nurse Joy's report was fairly thorough, at least as far as I can tell. But I don't know why she called him a dog, he looks more like a badger/bear thing with some wolf-like features. Like a Linoone, but bigger and… tougher for lack of a better word."

Arron seemed to like that term. His chest puffed up in pride, which everyone found to be just adorable.

"Yeah, he does, doesn't he? Very muscular as well. I can't wait until your parents see him, Goh. Once they see how much he loves you, they're sure to reconsider." Said Chrysa. She rubbed Arron's tail. He nuzzled her hand and she smiled, scratching behind his ear.

"I hope so guys. I'm tired of freaking out about this, so let's just get it over with."

Professor Cerise nodded and he gestured for them to walk up the steps as he trailed behind them. Goh led the group up the steps and knocked on the door. It was silent for a moment before a few locks were unhinged and his mother, Camille, opened the door.

Camille had a smile on her face from seeing her son, but it quickly disappeared when she saw the guests he brought with him.

"Why is Professor Cerise here with you, Goh?"

Goh took a deep breath. "He wants to speak with you and dad, mom."

"Well, we want nothing to do with him."

"Just please hear him out, mom."

"Go to your room, Goh, and leave that wretched creature out there. I want nothing to do with the monster that harmed my son."

"But mom, please-"

"Go. To. Your. Room."

At first, Goh looked like he was about to relent. But after a moment, hisbeyes hardened and he looked his mother in the eyes. "No."

If looks could kill, the look Goh's mother gave him would have left a pile of bodies in its wake. She used her foot to prop the screen door open while she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Goh, I'm not going to ask again. Go to your room."

But Goh didn't back down. "Or what?"

Goh's mother seemed absolutely gobsmacked, unable to comprehend the fact that her son had just defied her in front of so many people. She grabbed him by the ear and yanked him into the house. "We are going to have a long talk when your father gets home."

But Arron wasn't having any of that. He stepped in front of the rest of the group, growling viciously at Camille as she tried to yank her son into the house. But Camille attempted to ignore Arron as she tried to wrangle a struggling Goh. "Stop resisting right now, young man, or your punishment will only grow."

"Mom, just talk to him. Be reasonable."

"I've tried to be reasonable, and I've apparently failed. Now I have to resort to force."

Camille finally succeeded in forcing Goh into the house, but that only set Arron off further, causing him to bark viciously. Camille gave him a dirty look. "I don't know of what Goh sees in this filthy creature; it's a violent beast"

Professor Cerise stepped between her and Arron, attempting to ease the situation. "He is only hostile because you are attacking his trainer, who he gets along with very well."

"It bit my boy's finger off!"

"That was a misunderstanding, Camille," said Delilah, attempting to defuse the situation.

"A misunderstanding? Most misunderstandings don't end with a child losing a finger. Go to your room, Goh. Now."

"Not until we talk, mom."

Camille groaned. "Fine, but not until Walker returns home. We make decisions together."

Camille had poured tea for everyone while they waited for Walker to return, and they had sat in silence since, sipping tea while they avoided eye contact with each other. Camille had wanted Arron to stay outside, but he had refused, insisting on sitting in Goh's lap, while Camille shot him dirty looks. They never broke eye contact for long, the two not trusting each other. Delilah had her arm wrapped around her son as she therapeutically tousled his hair, and Ash didn't even refuse. Pikachu napped in Ash's lap as he pet his favorite pokemon softly. Chrysa took notes of Arron's behavior with her miniature laptop while Cerise continued to examine the creature with exuberance.

That is, until Walker walked into the kitchen, seeing the group of unwelcome guests sipping tea with his wife. His eyes narrowed. "Camille, why did you let them inside the house, and why is that filthy little monster in my son's lap?"

Camille sipped her tea before responding. "They insisted, and the creature refused to part from my son, although I have no idea why. I told them we would discuss the situation when you returned."

Walker nodded and set his briefcase down next to the coat rack before removing his jacket and hanging it up, along with his fedora. He gave Cerise a dirty look, who seemed unfazed by Walker's ire.

"So, Walker, let's talk about your recent and very ill advised choice to remove your son from the internship program."

Walker groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Not this drivel again, Professor Cerise. I already told you that I wouldn't be changing my mind. I am removing my son from your program effective immediately. Your work is dangerous, the environment is unsafe and I do not want my son around someone who sees my child as a lab rat to be tested on."

"Yea, well, you of all people would know what a dangerous work environment is, wouldn't you? You do defend companies with very dangerous work environments all the time."

"That is not the point, Cerise, the point is that I don't want my son around you anymore: I don't want him in an environment where a lost finger is considered a routine sacrifice."

Cerise gestured towards Walker. "I'm not going to be lectured by a man who sweeps chemical accidents and the loss of limbs under the rug on workplace safety, Walker."

"Dammit, Cerise, stop tarnishing the morality of my profession!"

Cerise's expression didn't change, "then don't tarnish the morality of mine. I know that you've never liked me, that neither of you have ever liked me, but this isn't about me or the laboratory. This is about what Goh wants."

"Goh's a child, he doesn't know what he wants."

Goh stood up and slammed his hands on the table, Arron jumping from his lap and onto the floor underneath him. "I'm not a child, father. I'm twelve"

"You are still a child, and you are still my child."

"I'm practically a teenager, I'm not a little kid anymore!"

Walker scoffed. "Practically a teenager isn't much better. I'm still responsible for your safety, as is your mother, and leaving you with Professor Cerise is irresponsible."

Now it was Chrysa's turn to speak up. "If I may, Walker, Goh was not with Professor Cerise when he was injured, nor was he in the Cerise Laboratory. He was on a train traveling from Hoenn to Kanto, and Goh's own recklessness had caused the accident. By the way, Goh and Ash were sent there to study the migration of a Beautifly flock, not to capture the pokemon in question that you two resent so much. Professor Cerise has not violated any part of his agreed upon responsibilities. Furthermore, the accident was resolved and while Goh has lost a finger, not only is he healthy, but the pokemon in question has become cooperative and might I add, even very close to Goh in a matter of hours. You're a lawyer, Walker, you know that Professor Cerise did nothing wrong."

Before he could respond, Camille stood up, fuming. "I was never told that Goh's injury was not caused by Professor Cerise's negligence, Walker. Why?"

Now Walker was stammering. "It wasn't important, dear. I can handle this."

"No, you can't. You lied to me about the nature of my son's accident. I have so far villainized this innocent man because you left out a key detail involving Goh's injury. And I want to know why."

Walker sighed. "Because Goh can do so much better."

The moment those words left his mouth, Camille covered her face with her hands. "How could you? How could you do this, not just to me, not just to Professor Cerise, but to your own son? Not only were you willing to toss his dreams out the window, but you lied to me to do so. What an incredibly despicable act."

"I did this for him, honey, don't make me look like the bad guy here."

"You lied to me so you could pull your son out of the Internship Program, something he's wanted to do since he was six. All because of your damn ego."

"I did it for him, I want him to have a real future!"

"What, as a defense lawyer? Representing companies at your firm? He wants nothing to do with that! I only agreed to that because it would put Goh through private school."

"Honey, please-"

"No, Walker, just no. I don't want to hear it." She turned and tousled Goh's hair. "I'm sorry, honey. I should've listened to you, but I was just so angry that you had been injured that I let your father trick me. Go with Professor Cerise, I'll call you when I straighten this out with your father. "

Goh nodded and didn't hesitate to gather his things, but before he could, his mother knelt down in front of Arron, who had sat next to Goh. She hesitantly rubbed his head and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry about the mean things I said about you. You hurt my boy, but you also protected him. Just promise me you'll keep him safe."

Arron pressed into her hand, rubbing against her. She gave him a weak smile while her husband scowled. Goh packed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. His mother hugged him. "Now be good. And don't lose any more fingers."

Goh blushed. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on it."

"I know, honey. Just promise me you'll stay safe."

"I will, mom."

She nodded, tears in her eyes. While it seemed trivial, this was the hardest thing she had ever done. "You're going to have to stay away from home for a few weeks while I sort a lot of things out with your father. Do you have a place to stay? I can pay for a hotel."

Delilah put a hand on his shoulder. "He can stay with me, Camille. He and Ash are best friends after all."

"Thank you so much, Delilah."

Delilah nodded and whispered something into Camille's ear. Her face darkened, but she nodded and stood up. "I'll consider it, Delilah, but I have bigger fish to fry at the moment. Just take care of my boy." Delilah took Goh and Ash's hands and led them down the steps gracefully, Cerise and Chrysa close behind. They heard yelling coming from the house and both of Goh's parents fought. Goh didn't even try to make out what they were saying, he already had a sneaking suspicion that this wasn't the first time that his father had lied to his mother.

They stopped in front of Delilah's car as she searched for her keys in her bag. Professor Cerise approached them, twiddling his thumbs nervously.

"Well, that was… both the most awkward and relieving moment of my life. I think after the past two days of stress and worrying, we could all use a short break. Sadly, I still have some grant paperwork to fill out, but you two-'' Professor Cerise pointed at Ash and Goh, a goofy smile on his face, "-are going to follow up on your promise to take a week off. Chrysa and I need to find some new phenomenon for you two to look into anyway, so just spend some time with each other, let go of some of that pent up stress." Then looked down at Arron, who had been oddly quiet. "And you, little guy, you need to keep being good." He scratched behind Arron's ear one last time before taking a deep breath. "I have a feeling that you two can develop a deep bond, the kind of bond Ash and Pikachu have. But it will take time and effort, and you may hit some bumps along the way. Just know that true friends can be hard to come by."

Goh nodded, a bright smile on his face as he picked Arron up and he licked Goh's face. Goh giggled and held him close, leaning into Arron's furry mane. "I will, Professor. Thank you for your help, and thank you as well, Chrysa." Chrysa smiled. "It's no problem at all, Goh, I'm just glad you'll be staying with us for a bit longer. Cerise would be heartbroken if he lost his best investigator."

Cerise blushed ever so slightly and Chrysa cracked up at his expression, elated that she'd been able to break through his cool and collected exterior. "Yes, I would hate to see you leave, Goh."

Chrysa's watch shrieked, signaling an alarm. She checked the alert and her eyes widened. "Sir, look at the time! We have to get going." Professor nodded and they hurried to their respective cars before pulling into the dirt road and taking off. Delilah turned towards Ash and Goh, a bright smile on her face. "Now, who wants ice cream?"

The car ride home was deathly quiet even though a great weight had been lifted off of Goh's shoulders. After realizing that Ash and Goh had only eaten a donut for breakfast, and Arron most likely hadn't eaten since the day before, Delilah had let them know that she'd cook them an early lunch and they'd get ice cream the next day. So they were riding to Ash's home, a good hour away from Goh's, to unpack and relax for a while.

"Could you two stay at the house for the day? You two look exhausted. Besides, we need to get your finger checked out at the Pokemon center, just to make sure it isn't infected."

"Yes, Ms. Ketchum, well stay at the house.", Goh said, answering for Ash since he was asleep next to him, apparently not having slept much the night before. He snored lightly as Pikachu was curled up into his lap, napping.

"Thank you, Honey. I just know about all the traveling you two have been doing, along with the camping and sleeping in those small rooms at the pokemon centers you stop at. I just think you two need one day of recuperation. Besides, I have some spare collars at home, and I'd like to get Arron a tag."

Arron perked up, hearing every word. "I'll be damned if I let anyone collar me."

One of Pikachu's eyes cracked open. "You'll survive, you big baby."

"Shut up, you piss rat. I wasn't talking to you!" Arron snarled at Pikachu, but Goh began to pet him again to calm him down. Arron remembered the promise he had made, and decided to let Pikachu live… for now.

Pikachu however, obviously not valuing his life, kept talking. "Then who are you talking to? They can't understand you, and were the only pokemon outside our balls."

"It was a general statement, so shut up."

Pikachu rolled his eyes and curled back up. Arron sneered at him and did the same, facing the car door to avoid looking at the vile little lightning rat. Goh chuckled a bit before scratching his chin again, which Qrron really liked.

"Why do you hate Pikachu so much? He hadn't done anything to you."

"Because he's an arrogant little prick, that's why!"

Pikachu huffed. "They still can't understand you."

"Shut up!" Arron snarled back.

Goh kept distracting him with various forms of petting until he finally calmed down and left Pikachu alone. Goh sighed. "You two are going to have to learn to get along, especially if I'm going to be living with Ash for a week, Arron. We might have time to settle your differences here, but when we leave, me and Ash have goals, and we can't worry about you two hating each other."

Arron growled, but not in a threatening way, it was more of an annoyed growl. Goh chuckled. "You two will get along eventually… that reminds me, when we get back we have to officially introduce you to everyone else. I'm sure Riolu and Raboot will love you!"

Arron wracked his brain, trying to remember who those two names belonged to, but they didn't ring any bells. So far, he'd only met Pikachu, and they already hated each other, so he was sure that this would end very poorly. Most likely because Arron didn't take shit from anyone, except Goh of course, but he was just trying to make up for biting his finger off as well as help him out a little since his life seemed to be pretty shitty.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to do that now, because we're here!" Said Delilah. She opened the door and stepped out before sticking her head back inside the car. "Goh, could you wake Ash and get your things while I start on lunch?"

"Yes ma'am, I'll do it right away."

"Why thank you, Goh, you're such a polite young man."

Goh shook ash awake and they gathered their things, setting them down into Ash's room before coming back outside to handle introductions. They pulled put their pokeballs and threw them, unleashing the creatures within. First off was a blue dog thing. It was bipedal and very short, about the size of a toddler, with black fur covering it's chest, feet and a mask of fur surrounding his eyes, as well as its two… things hanging from it's head by its ears. It stretched for a moment before peering at Arron with it's inquisitive red eyes, unabashed by such frivolous things like manners. Yet it kept to itself, very still and quiet. Bony outcrops emerged from its two paw-like hands, which it fiddled with restlessly as it realized Arron was observing it as well.

The second was a rabbit-like creature with grey and red fur. A large, scarf-like mane was wrapped around its face and it's fur was shaded to mimic an outfit of sorts. It stared at Arron for a moment before rolling its eyes and kicking a pebble around like a soccer ball, completely unconcerned by Arron's presence.

"Alright, guys, this is Arron, our newest friend! We're going to be traveling together, so I want you guys to get to know each other."

The rabbit creature immediately sauntered off like an angsty teenager, dropping the rock in the process. Goh seemed discouraged by it's actions, and followed it. The blue dog.creature, however, was far more interested in Arron. It approached him cautiously before speaking.

"Hello"

Its voice was soft but gravelly, like that of a lap dog, if a lap dog's growl could somehow be granted the ability to speak words. It rubbed one of it's bone protrusions anxiously, obviously picking up on Arron's otherwise completely uninterested attitude.

"Who are you, kid?"

The dog creature winced at Arron's voice, obviously finding something unpleasant about it.

"I don't mean to be rude, but what's wrong with your voice? It sounds like you gargle broken glass before breakfast."

Arron actually found himself chuckling at the little creature's description. "No, I don't make a habit of gargling broken glass. I prefer to use gravel."

It's eyes widened for a second before narrowing. "Why would you say that?"

"Ask stupid questions and you will receive stupid answers."

The little creature's eyes only narrowed further. "No wonder Pikachu doesn't like you, you're kind of a jerk."

Arron's aloof expression didn't change. "I don't care what the little vermin thinks of me. Now, you didn't answer my question: who are you?"

The dog creature sat down, scowling. "I am Riolu."

"An odd name, but definitely better than Pikachu."

"You don't have to be so rude, you know. Pikachu isn't here." Said Riolu.

"I don't care if he's here or not, I don't like him either way. He's a little coward."

Riolu stood up and bared his teeth at Arron, snarling. "Pikachu has fought far worse than you. I'm sure he'd be able to beat you."

"Has he now? Somehow I doubt that. And I doubt you can back up the fire in your voice either."

Riolu was shaking with anger now, practically fuming. His little paws balled up into fists. It was actually kind of cute, like an angry, pouty toddler mad that he couldn't have ice cream before dinner. "I'm not a liar, and I'm not a coward, and neither is Pikachu. Why do you insist on being such a vile, negative creature?"

"Because I can."

"Then stop it! Nobody wants to hear your bemoaning." Shouted Riolu.

"I'm not the one who's bitching about someone's else's attitude."

"I said stop it!"

"What are you going to do if I don't?"

Riolu was quaking. "I'll… I'll… I"

"Go on, enlighten me; I'd love to hear what you have to say!"

But Riolu didn't speak again. Instead, he lunged forward, his little paw glowing with energy similar to a Bala. But Arron could sense the energy the little creature was using, and frankly he was quite disappointed. He didn't attempt to dodge or deflect the attack, choosing rather to allow Riolu to strike his carapace with all his might. Yet Arron didn't sway or move, not even an inch, sending dust and pebbles flying around them.

"That was disappointing."

Riolu's eyes widened in disbelief at Arron's nonchalant response, incredulous as to how Arron could have shrugged if a blow Riolu had considered powerful with such little effort. Taking advantage of the blue dog's surprise, Arron charged up energy around his tail, hardening it before he swung it directly into Riolu's left temple, sending him flying sideways and into the tree next to the house. Everyone, including the indifferent rabbit pokemon, turned their heads to the point of impact, seeing a large dust cloud that had formed settle and disperse, revealing an injured and angry Riolu. Ash rushed over to check on him, but before he reached him, Riolu got up and howled, rushing towards Arron with murderous intent. Arron's eyes sparkled with glee; finally, a fight. He had bored out his mind for the past day or so.

Right rapidly closed the distance between the two of them, but instead of attempting another melee attack, he charged two semi-opaque Balls of grey energy in his paws before launching both of the in quick succession, sending two destructive blurs of power ramming into Arron so fast that it kicked up dust and even sent him skidding back a few inches. But he only laughed at the attempt to harm him, his bone shell absorbing the impact before he even felt it.

When the dust settled once again, a look of disbelief was painted on Riolu's face. Arron's bloodlust only grew at his foe's expression, and he grinned maniacally. "Impressive, I almost felt your attack that time. Now, let me return the favor: I hope it's up to your standard."

Arron bit his tongue, tasting his own blood before gathering energy within his gullet. "This is my most powerful attack, my Gran Rey Cero. Enjoy the spectacle."

His blood fused with his growing attack, causing a firestorm of snow white energy to expel from his maw and into Riolu's general direction. He took a defensive stance, foolishly believing that he could reflect the attack before being engulfed by the white energy, screaming in agony as he was sent dozens of yards backwards. Riolu was slammed into a large boulder far behind the house, shattering it into smithereens before the energy dissipated, revealing a burnt and smoking pokemon, it's once blue fur now singed a coal black.

This time, when Ash rushed to Riolu's rescue, the pokemon didn't have the strength to stand. Ash was about to return him to his pokeball before Arron approached. Pikachu stood between him and his former foe, attempting to discourage Arron from coming any closer, but he was swiped away with a light Bala. Riolu was sobbing in pain as Arron stood over him, a disappointed look on his face.

"Do not cry, you'll garner no sympathy from me; in fact I have none to spare, the little I came here with was expended on another." Arron looked behind him and at a stunned Goh, Raboot standing next to him. He looked back at Riolu once again, the glee and bloodlust gone from his eyes, and replaced it with a quiet contemplation of Riolu's psyche. "To cry is a sign of weakness where I come from, to cry is to yield, to give up hope, to die like an animal. I can do no such thing, and neither should you, if you wish to be strong that is."

Riolu wiped his tears away, staring at Arron with hate filled eyes. Arron grinned again, seeing fire burn in the little pokemon's eyes.. "But hatred, hatred can make you strong. It can push you, I've seen it with my own eyes; I have seen foes rise up to impossible challenges only by hatred alone. But hatred is a fuel that burns quickly, it must be tempered with motivation to have a truly lasting impact. Remember that if you wish to defeat me one day, to humiliate me as I have to you."

And with that, Arron left for the house, ignoring the curious look Raboot was giving him and the hateful glare he received from Pikachu. Arron had a feeling he was going to receive a long lecture from multiple people before the end of the day.

"He was practically goading you, you know. I saw those same eyes when he was fighting the police in Verdanturf town."

Riolu grunted, ignoring Raboot as he was bandaged up by Ash's mother. "You received quite the beating, didn't you Riolu? And all from one attack? My… I've never heard of such a thing."

Riolu's scowl only deepened as he was babied by Ash's mother, but he put up with it, if only to be healed. Her gentle hands applied burn cream across one of his newly seared burns, and he winced.

"You can keep ignoring me Riolu, but that doesn't change the fact that you bit off more than you could chew. You knew what he was capable of, yet you decided to fight him anyway, and now you look like a burnt cashew."

Riolu growled at Raboot before returning to his deep scowl, crossing his arms and burying his snout between them to convey anger. Raboot didn't seem to care.

"He sullied my honor, Raboot, I have to defeat him now, I have no choice."

Raboot scoffed. "What honor? You hatched a month ago; it's not like you have street cred or something to uphold. Don't go picking fights you cannot win, it's basic logic."

"That doesn't matter now, Raboot, I have to fight him, there is no choice. I have to train to defeat him. Riolu sighed. But we're stuck here for a week and there's no one to train with but you and Pikachu, and I have a feeling that if he could defeat me, he could do the same with you." Riolu spit out the word 'defeat' with enough acid to melt a car.

Raboot shook his head. "What about Dragonite? She's strong. Stronger than us, anyways."

Riolu buried his head in his hands before regaining composure, obviously tickled by the idea of training with Dragonite. "Dragonite is wonderful… but she wouldn't hurt a fly unless she had too. She'd be too busy hugging everyone to actually help me train."

Reboot Gave Riolu a condescending look. "I Think you are underestimating her, just like you underestimated Arron. You need to stop being so full of yourself."

"I'm not full of myself! I'm just … I'm confident in my abilities."

Raboot snorted. "Yeah, and I'm a charizard. Stop being so arrogant, or it'll be the death of you."

Riolu didn't respond, listening to Ash and Goh telling off Arron outside, and garnering a smidge of satisfaction knowing that he was in hot water with the one person who held any sway over him. Yet Riolu knew that was temporary; Arron had a habit of ignoring what he was ordered to do, or at least that was what he was told by Pikachu. Apparently Arron had only behaved himself for the last day or so to benefit Goh, the only individual he had so far shown any liking too. Everyone else received either hostility or an indifferent attitude.

'Do not cry, you'll garner no sympathy from me; in fact I have none to spare, the little I came here with was expended upon another.' Arron's words reverberated inside Riolu's mind, holding a newfound meaning. Had he meant Goh? Pikachu had told him what happened with the boy's parents, but Riolu couldn't comprehend the vile ice pokemon hiding any sympathy in his heart. Riolu wanted to believe that it was all a clever ruse to gain trust before betraying them all, but traveling with Ash for a month had taught Riolu that the people who tried to cause harm towards Ash or those he cared about were not the brightest, and it was all too disconnected, it's not as if Arron had just walked up and allowed himself to be captured, and if his goal was to gain the trust of Ash and Goh, why bite Goh's finger off?

'To cry is a sign of weakness where I come from, to cry is to yield, to give up hope, to die like an animal.'

Then maybe Arron truly had very little sympathy to spare after all. He equated crying to weakness and death after all. Maybe where he came from was just harsher.

The place he came from must have been incredibly cruel to forge an individual like Arron, especially at his age. Arron looked no older than Riolu or Raboot: he was in his first evolution, Riolu could sense it. But that cruel world had made him incredibly strong.

Furthermore, Arron didn't seem motivated by love or compassion, but rather his base needs and the occasional bout of bloodlust or boredom. He was very antisocial, very self centered, and he seemed to view other pokemon as lesser for some reason, as if he was inherently more valuable.

Or maybe Riolu was thinking about this too hard. He had only known Arron for a day or so; all his evidence was anecdotes, most of them from Pikachu, which Riolu hated to say was an unreliable source. But Riolu had a strange urge to learn more about Arron.

Riolus and their Evolution Lucario had an innate attraction to strength, both physical and metaphysical. Those who were strong were much more endearing to his kind than those who were weak, even if they were bastards like Arron. Whether they were seen as a potential mate or a challenge to overcome, they were priorities that he, along with the rest of his species, would strive to complete. And Arron had somehow found a place in that nagging part of Riolu's mind, where he couldn't stop dissecting him mentally to uncover his true intentions and his true power.

Riolu hated to say it, but while he despised Arron with a passion, there was something mysteriously exhilarating about him, intoxicating even. Even as Arron was beating him within an inch of his life, he had never felt more alive, the thrill of feeling his adrenaline pumping through his veins and his body being pushed to its limits was an otherworldly experience that he could rarely savor. Arron had become his new priority, even more so than Ash, because while Ash was strong, Riolu couldn't exactly 'overcome' him. There was no defeating your trainer, not directly. So while Riolu was satisfied with being commanded by someone as strong as Ash, he was incomplete and would remain so until he had defeated Arron once and for all, then his next challenge would appear to motivate him to greater heights, until he could struggle no longer.

That was his goal, to defeat Arron so thoroughly that Arron could never challenge him again. Riolu wouldn't rest until his desire was put to rest.

"I know what you are thinking, Riolu, and it's a stupid idea."

Riolu's face soured again. "You know this isn't a choice for me, right? This is something hardwired into my very being; I will never be satisfied with myself until I defeat him."

Raboot didn't respond, instead choosing to look out the window, watching Arron bask in the sun, uncaring that he'd just been chewed out. "You have to admit, he's pretty unique."

Riolu shrugged, then winced in pain as a burn on his shoulder flared. "I wouldn't know, I haven't been around him that long. But you saw how he fought, right? Does he have more abilities?"

Raboot nodded. "Many more, most likely. I doubt we've seen all that he's capable of. This is his first stage of evolution after all. Imagine how strong he could become after evolving."

Riolu hadn't thought of that. It was easy to imagine enemies as static and unchanging, but that was probably because Riolu hadn't fought anyone memorable more than once. But the idea of Arron having evolutions complicated things. Riolu had a long way to go before he could beat Arron in his current form, much less to beat him in his evolved forms, and thus it may take years of rigorous training to successfully match him at his full power.

As Riolu was deep in thought, the door opened, revealing a very angry Ash and Goh and an Arron as apathetic as ever. But when he saw Delilah patching up Riolu, he grinned. "So, you're letting her patch you up, huh? You got your lollipop yet, squirt?"

Riolu shook with anger, knowing that if he attacked Arron now, he'd not only lose again but Arron would also look like the victim, allowing him to get away with his previous actions scot-free. But that wouldn't happen; Riolu wouldn't give Arron the satisfaction of watching him dig his own grave.

Arron's smile wavered for a moment, before returning even wider to compensate for his brief bout of surprise at Riolu's willpower, confirming his hunch. But Arron didn't seem fazed. "You're smarter than you look, I'll give you that. Breaking you will be challenging."

Riolu sneered at the crude statement, and Arron's smile only widened. "You're kinda cute when you're angry, cuter than that soulless neutral look you give everyone."

Riolu didn't respond, turning away from the ice pokemon and back to Raboot, who raised her hands defensively as if to say 'don't look at me, I want no part of this.' Riolu rolled his eyes as Arron was returned to his Pokeball by Goh, who was pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation.

"And here I thought he had changed, even just a little bit."

Delilah shook her head. "He was practically hostile towards Pikachu, so I don't know why you'd think he'd just change on a dime. Give him some time, he'll warm up to everyone."

Riolu snorted condescendingly and Delilah chastised him. "I know you don't like each other at the moment, but I'm sure that will change. Remember, you two have a week to patch things up, and I'll be very disappointed if you aren't at least civil with each other."

Riolu's eyes widened at Delilah's statement. There was no way for him to be Civil with Arron, he practically thrived off of conflict and chaos. So for Delilah to set an ultimatum like that, consequence or not, was a big issue.

"It seems the plot has thickened." Raboot said sarcastically as she swung her feet absent-mindedly from the granite countertop. Riolu gave her a look of disapproval, but she simply shrugged. "Ignore him and he'll stop, Riolu, unless your ego is too big for that."

Riolu practically shook with anger as Delilah applied another bandage. This was going to be a long week.