Astro.

The Next Morning.

"Welcome to the Eterna City gym!"

The next morning, the six of us went to watch Riley battle Aaron W. Little Aaron greeted us at the door.

The gym was a giant greenhouse. Just...overgrown, with trees and bushes and vines. Like a wilder Eterna Forest.

Aaron took Riley by the hand, and guided us through the gym. Now that I got a good look at him, he couldn't have been older than five.

He brought us to a battlefield in the center, where Aaron W. was waiting with Gardenia. There were two benches to the side, for spectators. Aaron W. was wearing glasses, unlike yesterday.

Aaron W. flashed a grin. "Hey, guys!" He waved. Gardenia waved, too. "Flint, Volk, Tess. I just got done telling Gardenia she's judging today's gym battles."

Tess smiled at him. "Hey, Aaron." Was that a blush coloring that paper-white face?

Riley nodded, and I saw him eye Gardenia with a bit of disbelief. "Alright, then. I...I'm the one challenging you today, Aaron."

Riolu was really excited about the gym battle. He'd been bubbling about it since we had left the Pokemon Center; Riley had challenged another gym between Canalave and Jubilife, a normal type gym, but had apparently swept the leader with only Aron.

"Alright. So, first challenger today is Riley." Aaron W. turned to Gardenia and Aaron, who had rejoined them. "Gard, Aar. Places. Aaron, bench." Obviously, this was rehearsed. Aaron went to go sit on a bench, while Gardenia went and stood at the edge of the battlefield, opposute side of the benches.

"You guys can go sit with him." It was more of an Aaron. As we went and sat, Aaron put two fingers in his mouth, and let out a sharp whistle.

Pokemon came out of the trees at Aaron's signal, waiting. I recognized Wurmples, Beautiflys, Caterpies...mostly bug types. I could guess at what his preferred type was.

Riley looked around, astonished. "Good God...are all these your pokemon?!"

Aaron W. laughed. "Of course not. Only a couple are actually mine; the rest just like it in here." He whistled again. "Paras! I need you!"

A small, orange pokemon came scuttling out of the woods. It grew red mushrooms on it back, and had pinchers. Riley pulled out his navy Pokedex, scanning it. I overheard the entry.

"Paras, the Mushroom Pokemon," It droned. Paras grows mushrooms on its back called tochukaso, and they grow along with Paras."

Riley and Aaron W. took their places on opppsite ends of the field, like during the battle round of a contest. They were using Riolu and Paras, apparently, because they each stood in front of their trainers.

I had never seen a gym battle before. I was interested to see how this would play out.

"Okay!" Gardenia shouted. "The official pokemon gym battle between the gym leader, Aaron Wilkerson, and the challenger, Riley, will now begin! Each trainer will use two pokemon, substitutions allowed on both sides, and the battle is over when both pokemon on either side is declared unable to battle! The challenger will be granted the first attack!" I assume Aaron had had her memorize that speech. "And, begin!"

"Riolu, use Force Palm!" Riley started off strong. He was probably hoping to pick Aaron's first pokemon off early. Riolu dashed at Paras, his paw glowing bright blue.

Aaron snapped his fingers. "Paras, defend." He literally yawned out the command.

Paras crossed his pinchers over his body as Riolu made contact, making them act like a shield. Riolu's attack did nothing to him.

"Scratch 'im." Paras slashed one pincher at Riolu, throwing him back.

"Hyaa!" Riolu cried out, landing on his back.

Aaron laughed. "Are you kidding me?" He taunted. "I'm a well-seasoned gym leader. You'll have to do better than that if you even want a prayer."

I could feel Riley's anger bubble up. "Riolu, use Quick Attack!"

"Fury Cutter." The reply rolled naturally out of Aaron's mouth.

Riolu got up, but a beat too soon. Paras' pincher glowed bright green as he slashed at Riolu mercilessly.

Riley bit his lip. There was nothing Riolu could do. He unclipped a pokeball from his belt, and brought it to its full size.

"Riolu, return." For the first time I'd ever seen, he returned Riolu to his pokeball.

For the most part, I was glad that he had returned Riolu to his pokeball. The poor guy was getting his crap kicked out of him. I almost felt pity for the kid.

Aaron laughed again. "Quittin' it so soon, kid?"

"Shut up!" Riley yelled. "Aron, I choose you!"

Riley sent Aron out onto the battlefield. I hadn't fully aquainted myself to the little steel-type yet, but he looked tough.

Aron stamped his foot. "Ar! Ar!" He yipped.

Gardenia noted the replacement. "Begin!"

"Paras, use Stun Spore," Aaron started, snapping his fingers again.

"Aron, use Headbutt!" Riley was mad from Aaron taunting him. Steaming mad. I sort of liked that side of him; he didn't really seem the kind for straight agression.

Paras let out a cloud of shimmering gold dust from its back in Aron's direction; even I instinctively drew a sharp breath. But, he pounded right through, ramming into Paras with his head. Paras was thrown back, almost all the way to his trainer.

Aaron's cocky-ass little smirk twitched. "Hmmm. Paras, get up."

Dee clapped her hands a few times. "Heh-haaa! Hell yeah, Riley, get some!"

There wasn't a response, but I saw Riley push his bangs behind his ear with a grin. "Headbutt again, Aron!"

Aaron grimaced. "Paras, use Dig. Don't let that kid get the upperhand!"

Paras dug his way under the battlefield, leaving Aron confused. He looked around, to find his opponent.

"Ar?" He sat down.

Riley tried to give another comnand, but I didn't hear it. I closed my eyes, and found that if I concentrated hard, I could see Paras under the ground...

No one on the bench spoke for a moment. "Amber..." I heard Flint whisper. "Look at Astro. What's he doing?"

The dangly little aura sensors at thecside of my head were lifted a little. I didn't mind Flint's comment. I focused on Paras.

He was twenty-five feet directly under Aron. Then twenty. Fifteen. Ten...

"Aron, don't just sit there! Find Paras!"

"Ar?"

I opened my eyes. Paras was within inches. My stomach muscules clenched.

"...Watch out," I murmured. Nobody heard me.

Paras struck Aron from under, throwing him about twenty feet in the air. It felt like a direct blow to me. I felt the impact in my stomach.

"...Astro?" Amber shook me. "Oh, m'God. Astro, are you okay? Azzy?"

"I'm fine." There was a thick metallic clang as Aron hit the ground, but by then it was over. I didn't feel that one.

"Ha!" I tuned back into the battle. "Got you there, didn't I? Paras, use Stun Spore again!"

Riley grit his teeth. "Don't you dare! Aron, Metal Claw! Double time!"

They were sort of following a pattern; one would make an order, then the other not a beat out of step. Almost a rhythem.

Paras released more golden dust, as Aron dashed towards him. For a clunky steel being, Aron was agile. One of his legs was glowing a bright silvery color.

Aron dashed straight through the dust, not even flinching, and scratched at Paras with his glowing leg. Paras squealed in pain.

Aaron groaned. "God dammit!" He swore. "Why isn't Stun Spore working? Aron isn't paralyzed at all!"

"Aron is covered in thick steel armor," Riley told him. "Stun Spore couldn't get through at all."

The gym leader grimaced. How could he be having so much trouble?

Finally, he pulled a pokeball from his belt. "Alright. Paras, return for now. I wasn't planning on this, but..."

Aaron threw out another pokemon, and I could hear Dee seethe.

"You've got to be {censored}in' kidding me..."

AOF: Yes, the normal-type gym Astro mentioned Riley challenging before is entirely fictional. But, this is set in the animeverse, so it could as easily be canon as noncanon.