Riley.

The Next Morning.

"Riley! Dude, get up! Lee and some dude are battling two gym leaders outside!"

I groaned as Astro jumped up and down on my bed. No battle could possibly be so important.

We arrived in Veilstone City the night Volkner was at that meeting, having left the Moomoo Inn pretty hastily. Thank God, there were no more Stunky incidents.

Astro managed to drag me out of bed and slip me into my tennis shoes, still in my pajamas.

"C'mon!" He urged. "C'mon, Riley! The girls are already outside with Riolu!"

Astro lead me downstairs and outside, to a little battlefield attached to the Pokemon Center. Lee really was in a double battle, teamed with a dude with orange hair.

Their opponents were Aaron Wilkerson, and some dude with purple hair. They must have been the gym leaders. It was a Staravia and a leafy-looking pokemon against Lee's Shift and a pokemon that looked like a cracked acorn with legs.

"Leafeon, use Leaf Blade on Shift!" Aaron called out. "Keep her away from Staravia!"

"Staravia, use Aerial Ace on Nuzleaf!" Aaron's partner ordered.

I looked around the field for Amber. More than a few spectators had gathered to watch. She was watching on the other side, holding a young blonde boy's hand. He was jumping up and down like a maniac, shouting, "Reggie!"

"Who's that boy?" I asked.

Astro hit me in the leg. "Shut up!"

Lee didn't bother issuing a counterattack on Leafeon. Leafeon jumped up and slashed at Shift with her leafy tail, but Shift dodged it effortlessly. Nuzleaf did the same with Staravia.

"Did you think I won all those contests sitting on my ass, kid?" Lee challenged. "Shift, use Dark Pulse on Staravia!"

Lee's partner nodded. "Alright, Nuzleaf! Finish Leafeon off with a Quick Attack, big guy!"

Nuzleaf dashed out at Leafeon, arms trailing behind it. It jumped up and landed on Leafeon, using its arms and legs to beat on the poor thing.

"Nuz!" It grunted harshly, landing a final blow. Leafeon went down with grace, and Aaron dutifully returned her.

Shift's target was tricky. Staravia dodged each blast of dark energy from Shift's mouth, coming back in and pecking at Shift mockingly.

Staravia's trainer, Reggie, laughed. "Atta boy! Now use Brave Bird!"

Lee tensed up. He glared accusingly at his partner.

"What?" The orange-haired guy asked.

"Don't just sit back on your ass, Mark!" Lee barked at him. "Get Nuzleaf in there and help Shift!"

Meanwhile, Staravia rose higher in the air, glowing blue. It would only be another few seconds.

"Look out!" I warned Lee.

The boy with Amber bounced even more excitedly, chanting even louder, "Reg-gie! Reg-gie!" He was really excited over Reggie.

Staravia dove, the blue energy bursting into red flames. Staravia aimed for Nuzleaf.

"Nuzleaf, get outta the wa-!"

Shift took action before Mark spoke. Shift headbutted Nuzleaf away, Staravia crashing directly into her left side.

"Ummmbre!" Shift cried out, in pain. One of her front legs buckled, but she got back up, breathing hard.

Lee gasped. Reggie began another command, but Lee ran out onto the field. He leaned over Shift and put his arms around her, blocking another attack.

"Stop!" Lee hollered. "Stop the battle!"

The crowd, plus Aaron and Astro, groaned.

"Why stop?" Reggie asked.

Lee glared at him. "I'm all for a friend battle, bub." He hefted Shift up into his arms, grunting. "But, not at Shift's expense. She's through."

Another group groan. Mark chuckled under his breath, and held out a pokeball.

"Well, Lee says when it ends," He muttered, amused.

Reggie hesitated, but offered a weak grin. "...Alright." He returned his Staravia.

The crowd went away, with the battle over. Lee pulled his friend Mark off, not having even seen me.

Amber lead the little blonde boy over towards me, a smile on her face. A different boy(quieter, with longer lavender hair) walked towards Reggie.

"Riley!" Amber greeted me happily. "Riley, I've gotta introduce you to-!"

"Amber, why is Aaron here?" I asked. "And who was that dude with Lee?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Anyway, this-"

The blonde boy with her beat her to it, puffing out his chest proudly. "My name is Maxwell Daniels!" He announced proudly. "I'm almost eight years old, so I'm almost a grown up like Reggie!"

Amber giggled. Astro tugged at my hand. "Play along."

I leaned down, so I was about on level with Max. "Um...hi? My name's Riley, Maxwell," I introduced myself. "You're Amber's little brother, aren't you?"

Max nodded. "Uh-huh! I also got a little sister." Max grabbed Amber's hand, and Astro's paw. "C'mon! I gotta take you home and show you my new friend!"

Amber laughed as Max tried to tug her along. "Max, could you hang on one second? Riley isn't even dressed!"

"Forget him! I gotta show you right now!" Max cried out.

Amber sighed. "You're really a brat, Max."

As we followed Max, Amber filled me in on what he had told her: her family had just moved to Veilstone City to stay near her dad, the president of the Galactic Company.

"The same company that funded the Sinnoh extension of Pokegears?"

"Mmm'hm."

Max lead us to a cozy looking little yellow house, just big enough to house five people. He barged right through the front door, kicking off his shoes.

"Moooooom!" Max yelled.

"I'm bathing Mitchie, honey," A lady's voice answered.

"I brought home a big surprise, Mom! Call Reggie and tell him I left without him an' Paul!"

"That's nice, honey."

Max turned, and grinned at his sister. "Well? Go say hi to Mom!"

Amber.

When Max took me home, there was nothing I wanted to do more than see my mom.

I headed into the hall. "Momma?" I wasn't sure if she was mad at me, or had even been worried. All the weeks I had been on the road, not once did Momma ever try to call me. Max was the only call I had gotten.

"Hm? In the bathroom." I could hear Michelle playing around in the bathtub. "Michelle, don't splash Mommy." She was too distracted to recognize my voice.

I broke out in a run, to the door down the hall with a light on inside it. Momma was kneeled beside the tub, rinsing shampoo out of Michelle's hair.

"...Momma?" My voice was soft.

She paused. Then, Momma slowly turned around. "My God. Amber, honey?" She saw me, and stood up.

Michelle giggled her baby giggle. "Ammy! Ammy!" She chanted happily.

I practically tackled Momma into the tub with a hug. "Momma! Momma, it's me, Amber!"

Momma laughed. "Well, it is!" She wrapped her wet, soapy arms around me and returned the hug.

I had missed my mom, so much.

Momma pulled away, holding me at arm's length. "I've seen your contests on TV," She told me, smiling. "Look at you, look at my baby girl! You've grown so much, Amber!"

I laughed. "Th-thanks."

Michelle jumped up and down in the tub. "Shelly wansa hug!" She insisted. "Shelly wansa hug!"

Momma chuckled. "Go out in the living room, sit down. I'll finish with her. Where are the twins?"

"Around town. I'll call them." My heart was fluttering excitedly. "I brought a new friend here with me. His name is Riley."

"Oh, Amber..." Momma sighed, rolling her eyes. "Your father will kill you for bringing a boy home."

"Well, I ignored the last time Daddy said no to me, didn't I?"

AOF: Sorry if this chapter seems rushed. Sometimes, I get a little more excited for some chapters than others.