AOF: Whole sentences in italics like this are meant as translated Pokespeak.

Astro.

That Night, After the Contest.

"That bastard threw such a cheap shot at Sneasel! Did you guys see it? Who the hell would use a Focus Punch on an ice AND dark type?"

"Oh, shut up, Dee," I grumbled. We entered the Pokenmon Center as a group. "At least Sneasel got to compete! I'm dying to fight someone! I'd even take on friggin' Pikachu again!"

The contest had been a disaster. Amber's Dig/ Flamethrower/Flame Wheel combo hadn't gone so well with the judges, and she hadn't even made it out of the appeals round. Dee and Sneasel had gotten their tails handed to them first battle of the battle round. By a Meditite, no less.

They sent Tess to bring Sneasel, Snorunt, and Chimchar to Nurse Joy. Volkner went to buy everyone drinks from a machine. Flint crawled into a lounge chair, and the girls onto a nearby couch. Amber put me in her lap.

"For what it's worth, I think you guys did great, either way," Flint offered. "I mean, you gotta lose some and win some, right?"

Dee scoffed. "Tell that to the showboating dick flaunting his first ribbon!" She pointed across the floor to the guy with the Meditite across the room, using his ribbon to hit on girls.

Amber shrugged. "I guess you're right, Flint..." She sighed. "Besides, it already happened, so...whatever."

They all kept talking. The other two returned, Volkner struggling with four bottles of soda and a can of lemonade.

But, I zoned out. There was a distinct change in the aura of the building. The bustling, happy atmosphere felt more...scared. Lonely. If I closed my eyes, I could see a distinct violet shape, aura-wise, which I had learned to associate with anxiety.

I opened my eyes, and I could see the Riolu I'd spotted in that resturant. Even then, I'd sensed it on him.

I squirmed in Amber's lap. I wanted to go meet that kid, I wanted to see why he was so afraid.

"Astro?" Amber lifted the arm she'd had wrapped around me. "What're you-?"

I jumped off her lap. "Be right back!"

The Riolu's trainer was walking up to the front desk, holding his pokemon's paw. I dashed head-on towards them, accidentally knocking straight into the Riolu.

"Hey-! Hey, watch it!"

I pulled myself up, and got him back on his feet, too. "Sorry," I grunted. I was fluent in Pokespeak, naturally.

"Astro!" Amber came up behind me, scooping me up in her arms. "I'm sorry. I don't-I don't know what came over him-"

"Hey." The other Riolu's trainer interrupted her. "You're that girl, with the Chimchar-Amber, right?"

Amber hesitated. "That wasn't my, er, Chimchar," She answered sheepishly. "I borrowed him. But, Chimchar did do great, didn't he?"

Riolu's trainer nodded, a lock of black hair bobbing up and down under his baseball cap. "Yeah...it was really a shame they didn't let you go on. I'd kill to see that Riolu of yours in action. My name's, uh, Riley."

"Cool...Riley."

They both seemed somewhat at-ease. I thought my hunch must have been right; I'd been drawn by their aura.

"Well, Astro is dying for a battle. Why don't you battle me yourself?"

His pale face flushed. "Uhh, me?"

"Yeah. You. You did say you wanted to see Astro in battle, right?"

Minutes Later.

Riley ended up accepting Amber's challenge. Amber gathered her friends, and we went to a small battlefield outside the Pokemon Center. Built for occasions like this, outfitted with the only patch of grass in the damned city.

"Alright!" Tess shouted. She was judge. "This'll be a standard one-on-one pokemon battle between Amber Daniels and Riley! The battle will be over when either pokemon is unable to battle. Begin!"

"Riolu, use Quick Attack!" Riley ordered.

Riolu hesitated, but then he broke out in a run towards me. I dodged effortlessly, and he caught himself before falling from his own momentum.

He's obviously not experienced like I am. Go easy, Azzy Boy, don't rough the kid up too bad.

"Astro, use Hidden Power!" Amber must have figured one good psychic-type Hidden Power would do the trick.

I planted my feet on the ground, but instead, I charged a less-powerful Force Palm. Amber didn't notice.

"Riolu, use Force Palm!"

Riolu sparked up some energy into his palm, then came running and slammed it into my stomach in one swift motion. I felt a burning sensation, and let out a cry.

In self-defense, I swept my foot and knocked Riolu off his feet. I went down with him, since we were so close, and lost my charge.

Completely unprompted, I charged up another Force Palm, and blasted Riolu before he could get up. I singed his fur, but he braved the attack.

Resilient, I thought. Maybe I don't have to ease up.

"Astro, use Hidden Power!" Amber sounded much more confident in herself. She understood which was the Alpha Riolu.

I skipped back a few steps, giving myself some breathing room as he got back up. I only kept going on adrenaline.

Riley was sweating bullets now. "Riolu! Riolu, get up!"

Riolu stood, but too late. I sent a shimmering pink ball of energy his way, and it exploded on contact. Riolu cried out, falling to his paws and knees.

"Finish him, Astro! Force Palm! Force Palm!"

I felt Amber's excitement. Taking slow strides towards Riolu, I charged up another Force Palm, until I practically held my palm against his face.

Everyone held a collective breath. I felt Amber's excitement, Flint's anticipation, Riley's worry...

But what hit me like a sledgehammer was Riolu's emotions. I could feel Riolu's terror materialize inside of me as I looked into his wide, terrified eyes. I couldn't do it.

I lowered my paw, letting go of the charge I'd held. Riolu inhaled slowly.

"No," I announced loudly. "I won't do it. I throw the battle. I won't attack the kid!"

Not a soul spoke a word. I turned around, and saw Amber fuming.

Finally, Flint responded. "Astro refuses to battle, so the winner is...Riley and his Riolu..." Even he was disapointed.

Amber was upset. Riley was, to say the least, shell-shocked. I had the feeling he wouldn't be the last.

"Did that Riolu just say 'no'? In English? That's a thing he can do?"

I held out my paw to Riolu. Everyone watched, carefully, especially him. As if I would explode on him.

"I won't hurt you," I promised. I flexed the digits of my paw. "Let me help you up. I won't attack you again."

Hesitantly, Riolu took my paw, and I pulled him up. I wanted to make him feel less anxious, if only to get rid of the uncomfortable coil of tension in my stomach.

That Riolu was so pitiful. I didn't think of it then, but now, I realize I only threw the battle because I pitied the kid. He reminded me of a kicked puppy, even though nothing I could scan about him even remotely signaled that Riley treated him bad.