All these parts that make me

What you want of me.

Riley tensed up, hearing Cyrus's voice. Lairon stopped moving. I could see the whites of Riley's dark eyes, the shaking of his thin, pale fingers. He drew a small, terrified breath.

Houndoom foamed white-hot flames at the mouth, and spit them out in a ball at Riley's back. I raised my freed paw and, in a panicked gesture, held it open.

A blue heart,

And ghostly soul.

The white ball of fire Houndoom spat out was stopped in mid-air, halfway to me and Riley. It glowed a ghostly blue at the edges, my willpower holding it steady.

Riley covered his mouth, and let out a choked sob. Tears had gathered in the corners of his tired eyes. He had been terrified.

Take your blood, full of lies

And love not mine.

I closed my opened paw, and the flames were extinguished.

"You will not hurt him!" I shouted. "I won't let you, not after all this shit you've done to me and Riolu! We're going to get out of here and turn you in, you son of a bitch, or die trying! There is nothing you can do to stop us!"

Torn apart,

But I'm in control...

Houndoom tried to fire another fireball, and I put that out just as easily. I hadn't had any ability to attack in months. I was ready to kick ass.

"Lairon! Keep eating the chains!" I ordered. "I'll protect the three of us! Go!"

I'm bulletproof, I'll fight for you!

Fire away, fire away...

Just as I asked, Lairon went about eating at the chain restricting my left paw. Every attack that Houndoom sent at us, I destroyed in midair. I refused to let anything get past.

Eventually, after a minute passed, Lairon had gobbled the iron chain cuff around my wrist. I pulled off the glove, and held my paws together in front of me.

Ricochet, I take my aim!

Fire away, fire away..

"Lairon! Use Protect!" A green forcefield sprung around us.

Finally, Riley came back to his senses. "Astro, what-what're you doing?!"

You brought me back,

But I'm so cold...

"They're blocking the only exit!" I told Riley. "If I charge a strong enough attack, I can..."

"Are you insane?! Astro, you always backf-!"

I am

Titanium.

"Do you trust me?!" I demanded. I was already charging the attack. "I can-I can do this, Riley! I know I can!"

After a moment's hesitation, Riley nodded. "...Okay, Astro."

You brought me back,

But I'm so cold...

Lairon held the protective shield up as I gathered all my strength for one attack. Riley looked distressed at how hard Houndoom barraged us.

"Astro, Lairon can't do this for much longer!" Riley warned me, terrified.

I am

Titanium.

"Just a little more!" I begged. "Please!"

Every fiber of my body felt alive, on fire with energy and power. I felt absolutely invincible. I knew I could do this. I could destroy Houndoom and Cyrus easily.

Cold heart,

Don't close.

"Astro, hurry up! Please! Lairon's almost done..."

"Lairon! Let go!"

Really, I am

Just alone...

I released the attack as Lairon let down the shield and Houndoom expelled a huge ball of fire. The fire and Force Palm energy met midair and exploded.

I knew the force of the impact was likely enough to kill all of us, but I kept the force of the energy stream flowing. I could move, couldn't speak, couldn't breathe-I could only attack. I felt ready to burst from the pressure within me.

Cold heart,

I might explode!

I remember seeing the explosion, and a surge of fire and light. And then, darkness. I heard Riley screaming bloody murder, then I didn't hear anything.

For days, I was certain I had died. Then I woke up in a Pokemon Center bed, both Amber's warm hands around my cold paw, and I knew that I was really alive.

AOF: Quick note, the song used in this chapter is Titanium, by Off-Broadway Aradia(also known as Lily Sevin). You can find her on Youtube or Tindeck, but most of her tracks are on Tindeck.

AOF: She mostly does Homestuck covers of songs and writes fansongs for the Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons fandom, and she has such a gorgeous voice. I've planned to use this song for this scene for the longest time.