Saphiria woke up in bed. She hadn't even noticed she had fallen asleep. She slowly sat up and looked at Riku who was fast asleep in bed. It was night time again, the clock said midnight. Saphiria pressed her hand to her forehead to feel a bandage. Riku must have called a doctor or something, considering she had been muttering like that. It wasn't a concussion, more like a living nightmare. She was seeing something scary and talking about it. Like sleep talking while awake. It was someone getting hurt, badly, and bleeding all over the place. When Riku held her the image became him. It was Riku dying. It scared her so badly she was muttering about it out of fear. By her luck it was only a dream. She heard rustling and looked over to see Riku looking at her.

"Hey, you're awake," he muttered, still half asleep. Saphiria nodded and crossed her legs.

"Sorry about worrying you like that, I didn't mean to," she apologised. Riku propped himself up against the wall.

"We called a doctor and he said you'd be fine with rest. But what I want to know is what you were muttering about," Riku told her. Saphiria drew her knees up to her face and took a deep breath.

"I was having a nightmare, that's all," she told him. Though she was awake that was the best explanation she could muster. It wasn't a flash back, she never knew Riku, and no one can see the future. Riku sighed and slid back down onto the bed.

"Alright, if you say so. Get some more rest, you'll need it. Tomorrow I'll be looking for a way to make some money and you'll have to defend yourself from Alex," Riku murmured drifting off to sleep. Saphiria smiled and curled up under the covers. She placed her head on the pillow and drifted off to a silent slumber.

Riku woke up and stretched. He sat up and looked at his arms.

"I wonder," he muttered. He began unravelling the bandages on his arms and round the beak cuts had healed over and were just barely visible. He smiled knowing now he'd have no trouble finding a job. The cuts could have been a good reason for people not to hire him. He climbed out of bed and saw Saphiria still asleep. He quietly crept over to the door and slipped out without her noticing. He turned around to see Alex leaning against the door of the room opposite to Riku's room.

"How is she?" Alex asked. Riku looked at him.

"Fine, she said she was having a nightmare, that's why she was muttering," Riku replied. Alex lifted his head slightly.

"And do you believe her?" he asked. Riku rubbed his head with the heel of his hand and sighed.

"It's the best explanation for it, I can't think of any other reason," Riku responded. Alex shrugged and opened the door to his room.

"She's your room mate, so it's up to you to find out," he concluded walking in. Riku began walking down the hall, thinking of what might have really happened, and what Saphiria had seen.

Saphiria woke up and looked around. Her Eeveelutions were at her feet and Riku's bed was empty. She bolted up and began looking around frantically, wondering where Riku had gone. Maybe he left her, thinking she was crazy, maybe he was hurt or kidnapped! Or maybe worse!

"Riku!" she called thinking maybe he was hiding. After no response she got out of bed and began searching the room. She heard the door open and whipped around to see Riku standing in it. He was holding two boxes.

"What are you doing?" he asked. Saphiria ran over to him.

"Where did you go? I thought something bad had happened!" Saphiria whimpered. Riku handed her one of the boxes.

"I was getting breakfast. It came with the room and since you were asleep I went and got it for you," Riku explained. Saphiria looked at the box and sighed in relief. "That nightmare's really got you spooked." Saphiria walked over to the bed and sat down.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Riku sat down beside her.

"It's ok, I'm sure it was mostly trauma from seeing your own blood," Riku told her. Saphiria opened the box and looked at the breakfast. It was a muffin, juice and some yogurt. She picked up the muffin and began nibbling. Riku looked at her before opening his box and eating the yogurt. The silence was awkward and the pokemon were fast asleep. They ate silently and once done, Riku stood up. He looked around and then his face went white.

"What's wrong?" Saphiria asked. Riku smacked his forehead.

"I was so busy worrying about you I forgot... forgot..." Riku bit his bottom lip.

"Forgot what?" Saphiria questioned.

"SANDSHREW!" Riku shrieked. Saphiria cocked her head to the side.

"Where'd you leave him?" she asked. Riku began pacing, trying to remember. Last he had him was on the bus. Was he still on the bus? Maybe he was waiting on the bus for Riku to come back. Or maybe he got off the bus; he was smart enough to know that. That would mean he would be wondering around the city trying to find Riku. Riku sat down and sighed.

"I don't know," he moaned. Saphiria stood up and walked over to the door.

"Well, let's go look for him!" she cheered. Riku smiled and stood up. He approached her and she opened the door. They went down the hall and out into town to start looking.

"Maybe while out we should go get your trainer card, it should be done by now," Riku suggested. Saphiria nodded and they began heading to the Registration Tower. They found it and entered and Saphiria was surprised to see how empty it was.

"It's early in the morning so most people won't be here," Riku explained. Saphiria nodded in understanding and walked over to an open booth. It was a guy working there this time.

"Hello, how may I help you?" he asked. Riku was surprised; it was the same greeting the other girl had given. What was it, a default greeting?

"I'm here to get my trainer card," Saphiria replied.

"Alright, can I get your name?" the guy asked.

"Saphiria." The man pulled open a drawer and began digging through the papers. He pulled out a folder with Saphiria's name on it. He handed it to her.

"There you go ma'am, have a good day," he told her. Saphiria nodded and skipped over to Riku.

"Alright, let's go find Sandshrew," she told him. Riku nodded in agreement and left the building. They began searching the town, asking around to see if anyone had seen Sandshrew. Since they weren't native to the area they would have no chance of finding just some random Sandshrew. After several hours of searching Riku was losing hope.

"How could I have left him behind like that?" he asked, mostly himself. He plopped down on a nearby bench and Saphiria sat beside him. "Even if I do find him he'll be so angry at me," Riku added. Saphiria looked at Riku and frowned. She looked around.

"We'll find him, I know we will," she cooed. Riku wasn't so sure of that. He stood up and sighed. He began walking but stopped when he heard the sound of a motorcycle. He leapt out of the way and watched the motorcycle fly past him. It was the boy from that time. He was recognizable by his blond hair and deep brown eyes. He stopped his motorcycle and looked at Riku with narrow eyes.

"You're that boy!" he exclaimed. Riku was irritated just looking at him. He was soon distracted by a squeaking sound. He looked down to see a cage hanging off the motorcycle, with his Sandshrew inside.

"Hey! That's my Sandshrew!" Riku barked. The boy smiled and laughed.

"I know, I want to finish that fight we were rudely interrupted in. I found this guy and knew you had to have been around. I hate leaving things hanging so I thought if I had this little guy then it would be a good driver for a one on one fight, mono eh mono," the boy sneered. Riku bit his lip.

"Who are you anyways?" Riku asked. The boy smirked and dismounted himself.

"They call me Steel, the toughest, fastest rider in the whole region. What about you, scardy," the boy questioned. Riku resisted the urge to yell at him for calling him scardy.

"I'm Riku," he replied. Steel smiled and walked over to Riku.

"Alright, I'll give you a choice. Fight me or fight my pokemon," Steel offered "If you win, you get back your Sandshrew, if I win... Well let's not worry about that." Riku knew that Steel was taunting him, trying to make him chicken out, but he couldn't leave Sandshrew. Riku took a deep breath.

"I'll fight you," Riku decided. He thought he would have a better chance than against a Pokemon. Steel grinned wildly.

"Alright, on the count of three we'll start," He warned. Riku nodded, scared. "One, Two, Three!" on three Steel punch Riku across the face. Riku was flung to the ground by the force of the punch. He carefully sat up, feeling blood trickle down the corner of his mouth. He quickly whipped it away and stood up. Saphiria watched, her heart throbbing with fear. What if this was the situation she saw, maybe Riku would get killed. She prayed it wouldn't happen.

Steel swung at Riku who ducked. Steel went to kick him and he rolled out of the way. He swung his foot around and Riku quickly got up so the foot wouldn't his face. Instead it collided with his hip making him stumble. He caught his footing and pressed his hand on his hip. Steel smirked.

"They don't call me Steel for nothing. When I hit, it's like being hit with Steel!" he boasted. Riku straightened himself out. He'd have to dodge as much as possible and wait for an opening. Steel swung at Riku who quickly leapt back to avoid the punch. Steel swung his leg across Riku's legs and tripped him. Saphiria felt her heart leap.

"Stop it!" she shrieked. Riku sat up and Steel stepped on his leg, slowly applying more pressure. Riku winced and tried to pull free. "I said stop!" Saphiria exclaimed. She was nearly in tears. Her Eeveelutions ran out ready to attack Steel. Steel released his Dodrio, a Wartortle, a Quagsire, a Tauros, a Goldbat and a Muk. The Eeveelutions stopped at hissed and growled at the new Pokemon.

"Stay out of this!" Steel hissed. He turned around just in time for Riku to kick his across the face. Steel stumbled back a bit and Riku carefully stood up.

"Don't look away," he growled. He had to end this quickly before Saphiria had a panic attack. He was at a greater disadvantage now. His leg was killing him; by luck he hadn't broken anything. Steel was fuming mad now. Riku felt a brush a fear sweep over him. He had officially casted his demise. Steel ran over to Riku and punched him across the face, throwing him back onto the ground. Steel then grabbed Riku by the collar of his shirt. Riku tried to pull himself free as Steel swung back his fist. Riku closed his eyes ready for the hit.

"That's enough! Stop this right now!" barked an extremely agitated voice. It wasn't Saphiria's this time. Riku opened his eyes careful to see Alex storm over to them. Steel released Riku and stood up.

"Stop interfering," Steel huffed.

"How about an exchange, you against me, same stakes apply," Alex offered rolling up his sleeves. Riku was surprised; Alex didn't even know the stakes. Steel smiled and ran at Alex. He prepared to swing his fist when Alex stuck out his arm and grabbed Steel by the throat. He hit him in the back and pushed him into the ground.

"We done now?" Alex asked nonchalantly. Steel nodded to the best of his ability with Alex's hand still clasped around his neck. Alex released him and he scurried to his feet. He ran over to his motorcycle and opened the cage. Sandshrew hopped out and scurried over to Riku. Steel hopped onto his motorcycle and drove away. His pokemon ran after him. Saphiria stood up and ran over to Riku.

"You ok?" she asked. Riku nodded and picked up Sandshrew. He hugged Sandshrew tightly; glad to have found his friend. Alex unrolled his sleeves and looked at Riku.

"Let's head back to the hotel," Alex suggested. Riku carefully stood up, careful of his aching leg. Saphiria stood close to him, ready to help him if necessary. Alex spun around and began walking to the hotel. He kept at a steady, slow pace so Riku wouldn't fall behind. Sandshrew crawled onto Riku's shoulder and sat down, satisfied. Riku smiled and looked at Saphiria who was watching the ground. He felt bad, having scared her like that. He scared more than just her, he scared himself. The feel of Steels hits were painful but the threat of being hospitalized was even more so. By his luck Alex was there to save him.

Soon they arrived at the hotel. Alex lead them back to their room and Riku opened the door. He walked in and sat down on the bed. He was happy to get off his feet and onto a soft bed. Saphiria sat down in the adjacent bed and Alex closed the door. He approached Riku with a fierce look on his face.

"Are you crazy?" he barked. Riku flinched, surprised by the bitterness Alex's voice could hold. "You could have gotten seriously hurt if I didn't show up!"

"I had to, it was fo-"

"No you didn't! You could have called the police! He stole your pokemon, there is no need to fight about it," Alex interrupted. Riku stared at the ground and Alex sighed. "His name isn't really Steel, he just calls himself that. His real name is Joseph, he use to live in Viamoth. He has always been stronger at fist fights then Pokemon battles. He wanted to be the best trainer when he was younger but I guess he changed his mind."

"How do you know him so well?" Saphiria asked. Alex leaned against the nearby wall.

"I wasn't yet a gym leader at that time, but was the top ranking trainer. He came to me and told me he wanted to be the best trainer ever. I battled him, going easy since he wasn't even old enough to be a trainer. He was terrible, all about the offence never the defence. I told him that he would need to train more if he was to be the best, but he said I was wrong. I guess he never did learn," he sighed. Riku flopped down on the bed and Sandshrew bounded off his shoulder. He landed on the bed and ran to the pillow. The room was filled with an awkward silence as Riku regretted his fight, Alex remembered Joseph "Steel"'s youthful days and Saphiria began thinking of her own troubles.