Riley.

Later, at the Pokemon Center.

"Riley Davis, this is kidnapping."

"Azz, no it is not. Amber herself handed you off to me."

"But I don't wanna!" Astro kicked limply at me, knobbly legs tapping my chest.

Volkner, Flint, and Tess had bailed and left while we were at the contest; Tess had called Dee shortly after Mark had beaten her, offering a rushed apology that Volkner wanted to keep moving ahead.

I carried Astro over my shoulder up to Lee's room, while Amber took a shower. Lee was still at the contest hall, but Mark was already there. Astro was so tired from the contest, he could hardly put up a token effort to fight back.

Firmly, I knocked twice on the door. "Mark." A couple seconds, and I knocked again. "Mark!"

"Christ, kid, I'm coming!" Mark growled. "Calm down..."

Probably wasn't me who needed to "calm down", but that was none of my business. Mark let me into the room, and I sat down on the empty bed, letting Astro scramble to the floor. He glared at me.

"You really disgust me," Astro grumbled. "You're damn lucky I can't reach the doorknob!"

It was only a few minutes until Lee returned, sighing heavily. He kicked off his tennis shoes next to the door.

"Ugh," He groaned. "Astro?"

"Yeah, that's my name," Astro answered irritatedly. "What?"

Before Lee could answer, Mark asked, "What happened?"

"Aw, nothing," Lee muttered. "Just got chewed out for being annoying. Nothing new." He peeled off his jacket. "Mary, mother of God, it's hot for November."

"What did you want from me?" Astro sounded strained. "I'm gettin' impatient."

Lee shook his head. "Just a minute, hell." He changed shirts, into one of Mark's green t-shirts. "Thanks!"

"Hey!" Mark glared at Lee. "At least put yours away!"

"Why? We're leaving, like, tomorrow."

"Leon!" Surprisingly, it wasn't Mark who shouted Lee's name. It was Astro.

Lee nodded. "I'm listening," He answered. How could he manage to be so nonchalant about everything?

Astro huffed, his legs dangling off the side of the bed. "You wanted me in here to talk to me. Are you that dense, you idiot?"

At Astro's insults, Lee laughed. "Oh, yeah." He cracked his knuckles. "So, you certainly did good today, huh?" He sat on the floor in front of Astro, on his knees.

Born of cold and winter air,

And mountain rain combining

"Yeah." Astro glanced away. "Well, better than usual, anyway. I used to be a fantastic battler, but-"

"But you are!" Lee patted Astro enthusiastically on the back, almost knocking him off the bed. "I've seen you in a couple of contests, and I'd honestly be scared shitless if you had to battle Shift again!"

This icy force, both foul and fair,

Has a frozen heart worth mining.

Astro's shoulders tensed. "R-really?" He sounded hesitant.

"Yeah! But why was today the first time in a while you had the stamina for even a whole battle?"

So, cut for the heart,

Cold and clear.

Oh, shit. Astro's tiny paws clenched into tight, furry fists.

"You said during the first battle that I oughta conserve my energy," He grumbled in a tense voice. "I did. I'm very open to changing how I battle-"

Strike for her love.

Strike for her fear.

"You make it sound like you don't even need a trainer," Lee pointed out. I slouched and chewed my bottom lip, trying not to stop him.

Astro shook his head. "Amber knows that I do what I want, when I need to," He explained. "And sometimes, I see things better than she can. My style's just...a lot different from hers."

There is beauty

And there's danger here.

Lee chuckled, smirking. "You're really independant, Astr-"

"I try to be." His voice was emotionless. "It usually works out best..."

Split the

Ice apart!

Lately, I had noticed Astro fall into some kind of a depression...he even started drawing away from Riolu. Obviously he had begun to do that before I noticed, but it looked pretty drastic.

Lee's smile faltered. "You're...very interesting, Astro," He said, slowly. "You always know what you want, when you want it...much more put together, in the head, than many humans I know."

And break the

Frozen heart...

Astro chuckled. "I'm not." Why would he not look at Lee?

"But you are," Lee insisted. "Honestly. I've never met a pokemon like you, especially a young one, and I'm just fascinated. You're intelligent, independant..."

Mark glared suspiciously at Lee. He sighed. "Lee, what are possibly trying to do?"

No answer. Mark sighed angrily. Astro pursed his lips.

"I don't have to tell you anything," Astro asserted. "Riley, I wanna go back to Amber. Right. Now."

Did I seriously had to be put on the spot like that? Lee glanced at me, a spark of curiosity sparking in the gray.

"Will you really, Riley?" It was a challenge. Lee was challenging me, to see who I'd listen to.

Naturally, I picked Astro up and supported him like a small child. "Sorry, I...if I don't, Amber, she'll..." I rushed for the door, mumbling incoherantly.

Astro rested his chin on my shoulder as I closed the door behind me, exhaling an exhausted sigh.

"Thank you, Riley..." He murmured. "I really...*yawn* I don't like Lee."

I took long strides towards the room I shared with the girls. "No problem, Astro...most people seem to find reasons not to like him."

"He's real creepy, Riley...and I dunno why he wanted to keep asking me questions...but I'mma hit him if he gets in my business again."

I felt really bad for Astro; he had seemed like a happy little bugger, if not too competetive, until we were in Veilstone City...

Tess.

Outside Mt. Coronet.

"You don't feel the least bit bad for leaving them? I wanted to see my sister perform!"

"Nope. Let's keep going."

Volkner had us leave during the contest, which I found pretty rude, considering I'd wanted to watch Dee perform. But, at least Madonna had granted me permission to call her.

Flint, Volkner, and I had changed into winter clothes before leaving; it was already early November, so the mountain wasn't going to be warm and friendly. Volkner wore a heavier blue hoodie and a knit yellow hat, while Flint wore a yellow parka with red earmuffs and a scarf to match Volkner's hat.

Me? All I needed was to change my red t-shirt to a fluffy red turtleneck. I love the cold; me and Dee both think winter is the best time of year.

"You're gonna catch pneumonia, Tess," Volkner grumbled as we trekked up the mountain path. "I swear it."

I laughed. "No, I'm not. I never catch cold." Me and Flint were trotting behind him as Volkner followed the map.

The weather really was starting to get cold. And windy, too; both Volkner's pale and Flint's tan faces were flushed red from the cold wind, so I'm sure mine was, too.

"I'm glad someone's having a nice time, at least," Flint grumbled. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his parka. "I'm friggin' freezing!"

"Carry Buneary in your arms," Volkner quickly suggested. "That fluffy fur can make a great space heater, when needed."

Took a second before we processed he was trying to make a joke. It had been a while since Volkner did that; ever since the run-in with Team Galactic, he had been in a completely foul mood.

Flint cracked a smirk. "Heh, sure." He let Buneary out, and cuddled her to his chest as we walked.

AOF: Did I just use a Frozen song? Hell yeah.