Riley.

The Next Morning.

"Oh my God."

Tess and I both ogled the eight-foot behemoth of a pokemon Lee sent out. It looked like a big, blue crocodile, standing on two legs.

By the championship battle the next morning, Lee and I had made up. Lee swore he wouldn't send out Shift at all to battle, because she still wasn't 100% after battling Flint.

Lee grinned ear-to-ear. "Say hello to my first pokemon and my starter, you guys. Wave to the crowd, Fallon!"

Fallon lifted his arm, waving to the crowd of people. Some of them went nuts. Did Lee have fangirls? Is that what coordinators do?

I pulled out my Pokedex and scanned Fallon.

"Feraligatr, the Big Jaw pokemon. It is easy to be fooled by this pokemon's slow gait, but it becomes lightning fast when battling. Its powerful jaws can crunch almost anything in half."

Well, that was comforting to me, at least. Tess was practically shaking in her boots, her dark hair almost black against her colorless face.

Her partner Lucian, a guy with purple hair about Lee's age, smirked. "Impressive. But Tess and I won't be intimidated by brute strength, now, will we?"

Tess managed to somehow gain a little composure. She gulped. "O-of course not."

Lee cocked a grin, too. "Fancy talk don't make up for nothin'. Riley, I already told you, I ain't gonna carry you on my back. We divide and conquer, just as we always have."

"Got it."

Marian, standing on her platform at the back of the arena, clapped her hands.

"Good morning, everybody!" She tittered. "Today's the championship round of our annual Hearthome Tournament! Today, we'll be watching a four-on-four battle, between Riley, Lee, Tess, and Lucian! Is everybody ready?"

I glanced at Riolu, already poised to fight. He was standing parallel to Fallon, tiny fists at his side, glaring nervously at Sneasel. Lucian's Kadabra, his only pokemon used the entire tournament, frightened him.

"Yes, ma'am."

We all answered we were ready, and Marian clapped her hands again.

"Begin!" She announced.

Lucian pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Kadabra, use Psyshock on Riolu."

"Sneasel, help out with Fury Swipes!" Tess squeaked in.

Riolu tensed up as Kadabra gathered pieces of psychic energy in his spoon. Sneasel, brandishing claws sharp as needles, hurtled himself forward.

"Dodge!" I offered weakly. My brain faltered. I vaguely remembered Lee promising to teach me about aura if I would help him win. The pressure didn't help my brain fart

Lee frowned. "That's weak. Fallon, use Aqua Tail on Kadabra!"

Riolu narrowly dodged each time Sneasel tried to swipe at him. They were scary close in speed. Meanwhile, Fallon swung his tail around in the air, forming a whirlpool around the appendage. He used it to block Psyshock, then smashed Kadabra into the ground.

"Snea!" Sneasel turned his head for a second, to look. That was all Riolu needed.

I balled my hands into fists. "Riolu, use Force Palm! Hit 'im back!"

Riolu's right paw glowed bright green, and he shoved it at Sneasel's chest. The energy exploded, leaving the Sharp Claw pokemon coated in ash.

That didn't go over well with Sneasel. "Snea-SALL!" He shouted, swiping Riolu across the face.

Riolu staggered back. "Hyoh!" He howled.

I hated to see Riolu in pain. But, he shook it off.

"Good boy! Now use Quick Attack!"

While Riolu duked it out with Sneasel, I kept a close eye on Fallon and Kadabra. Fallon was must bigger, but Kadabra was quicker. They dodged each other's attacks, unable to make any contact.

I couldn't help thinking, if Riolu and Fallon tag-teamed Kadabra, they could take him down.

Lee, on the other hand, was sweating bullets, watching Fallon barely dodge Psyshock after Psyshock. There was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead and neck, and he was flushed.

"Double-time, Fallon!" He cheered trying to keep up morale. "C'mon! Use Crunch!"

Lucian frowned. "We won't have any of that. Kadabra, use Shock Wave."

Fallon opened his powerful jaws, chomping down on Kadabra's arm holding the spoon. Kadabra cried out, as he used the contact to shock Fallon with electricity.

"Noooo!" Lee howled. "Fallon, leggo! Save yourself!"

I had completely distracted myself. Riolu cried out, sliding backwards on his feet. Sneasel snickered, putting out the ice from his fist.

Tess giggled. "Daydreaming, Riley?" She called out teasingly. "Sneasel, use Ice Punch, again!"

"Snea!" Sneasel's claws glowed bright blue as he balled them back into a fist.

Riolu waited nervously for my command. I cleared my throat.

"Riolu, use Quick Attack on Kadabra. Help Fallon out."

Riolu hesitated for a moment, but dashed over to Kadabra and out of Sneasel's range. Sneasel punched a whole lot of air.

In a proud display, Riolu ran and smashed himself into Kadabra's midsection. The Psy pokemon fell back on his ass, spoon flying to the middle of the floor.

Fallon recomposed himself after Kadabra's Shock Wave attack. Lee sighed.

"Whew. Thanks, kid," Lee thanked me. "Fallon, use Shadow Claw on Kadabra!"

Fallon's left arm became enveloped in crackling black energy, and he swiped at Kadabra before the pokemon could even move.

"Kadabra!" Tess squeaked. "Sneasel, get in there and help him!"

"Kadabra, use Psychic, and recover your spoon!" Lucian ordered, frowning harshly. "Then, use Psychic on that Riolu!"

Kadabra reached out, and his spoon flew into his hand. He pointed the spoon at Riolu, and dragged it upward. Riolu rose into the air as Kadabra's spoon did.

"Fallon, do anything to break Kadabra's concentration!" Lee ordered. "Aqua Tail!"

Kadabra slammed his spoon to the ground, and Riolu smashed down just as hard.

"Hyunn!" He cried out. Riolu was really taking a beating.

Fallon swung his tail, then charged over to Kadabra and smashed him in the jaw with it. Kadabra flew to the side from the blow, smashing into Sneasel.

Riolu, back in the air, fell as Kadabra lost his concentration on him. Fallon dashed over, and caught him.

"Sneasel, Kadabra, get up!" Tess begged. "C'mon, you can do it!"

With a groan, Kadabra heaved himself off of Sneasel, and Sneasel got back up. Tess relaxed, grinning.

Lee frowned. "Fallon, keep them down! Use Hydro Cannon!"

Fallon set Riolu on the ground, shooing him behind. Fallon faced the still-dazed Kadabra and Sneasel, opening his mouth wide. After a second or two, a gigantic burst of water thrust out of Fallon's mouth, ready to kill.

"Oh, lord! Kadabra, use Prote-"

Lucian waited too late. The burst of water hit Sneasel and Kadabra with the force of ten Aqua Tails, and they were knocked out. Not to mention soaking wet.

"Both Sneasel and Kadabra are unable to battle!" Marian announced. "A double KO, from our favorite Top Coordinator!"

The crowd burst into applause again as Fallon stopped the attack. Lee grinned, still flushed.

"This is where it gets real good, Riley," He told me. Lee stripped off his leather jacket as Lucian and Tess sent out their next pokemon, and threw it to the ground behind him. "Riolu, Fallon, you guys are both doing great!"

He was wearing a black tank-top, so I saw Lee had a tattoo on his left shoulder, the one facing me. It was four letters in cursive print, first two on top of the others: "D.O. M.L."

"...Ready, Riles?"

Damn. I got distracted, again.

Tess had sent out a pokemon I saw often on Iron Island, a Machop. But I didn't recognize Lucian's pokemon, a big steel bell-shaped pokemon with arms, and I had no time for my pokedex.

"Begin!" Marian announced.

Lee snapped his fingers. "Fallon, use Aqua Tail on Bronzong! Don't give it reaction time!"

I must have been assigned Machop. Riolu stood a little shakily, and I wasn't sure how long he could hold up.

"Machop, use Karate Chop on Riolu!" Tess ordered. She was out for blood.

"Dodge, Riolu!" I was sure he couldn't do much except.

Machop chopped at Riolu with the side of his hand, but Riolu moved and dodged. Machop was much slower, but Riolu was getting worn down. I could see it.

"Hit him, Machop!" Tess squealed.

Riolu stumbled, catching himself. Machop swung his arm back, and chopped Riolu clean on the back.

"Hyahh!" Riolu lost his balance, falling on his face. I could practically feel how badly he hurt.

"Hit him again while he's down!" Tess ordered.

Machop lifted his arm high. "Ma-chaaaaaah!" He cried. He brought down his arm. "Machahp!"

He hit Riolu's back again. Riolu bit his lip, crying, "Hyunn...!"

Enough was enough. Riolu was getting brutally. I couldn't let it go it. Hands shaking, I grabbed Riolu's pokeball and pressed the center button to enlarge it.

"Riolu can't battle anymore," I shouted out. "C'mon back, buddy. You did great."

As I returned him to his pokeball, Riolu turned back and looked at me with a confused look.

"What's this?" Marian wondered. "Riley is withdrawing Riolu from battle!"

I grabbed my other pokeball. "Aron, I choose you! Use Headbutt on Machop, for Riolu!"

Aron came out running, having heard my command. He smashed his steel head into Machop's stomach.

Hopefully, Riolu had done something to wear down Machop.

Astro.

In the Waiting Room.

In the waiting room, it was a group divided.

Originally, all the participants in the tournament stayed in the waiting room, to watch the tournament on the flatscreen hanging in there. Eventually, that whittled down to just our group in there, and we actually split up on who we wanted to win.

Of course, me, Amber, and Cynthia rooted for Riley. Flint, Volkner, and Dee cheered for Dee's sister. Lee and Lucian meant nothing to us, even if they were carrying most of the battle. What Lee said about not carrying Riley was Tauros shit, I could smell it a mile away.

But, I was shocked by Riolu. Not by how hard he was fighting, because I knew he was a tough kid. But, when Machop had karate-chopped him the second time, he had...

Riolu had called out, "Astro". I was still a little shakily translating what he said, but I'm sure he'd said "Astro", because he always says "hyunn" when he means me. Even now, years later.

I tensed up, when he crumpled to the ground. Thankfully, Riley returned him before any serious damage could be dealt, but-

"Astro? Azzy, honey, you okay?" Amber shook my shoulder.

I brushed her hand off. "I-I'm fine, Amber, don't pay attention to me. Look, Aron's already kicking ass!"