Astro.

A Week Later.

"You are my sunshine...my only sunshine..."

I woke up in a Pokemon Center bed days later, Amber holding my right paw with both of her hands, but my groggy mind didn't register that. I heard Amber's voice singing softly, but an oxygen mask covered my snout and mouth, and there were tubes in my arms...

I assumed I was still in the Team Galactic HQ. My mind went into a panic. Had I just dreamed all that happened, with Riley and the explosion?!

"You make me happy...when skies are gray..."

I tried to move my arm, move my paw out of Amber's hands and take the mask off. She tightened her fingers around my paw.

"Astro...?! Azzy, no! It's okay! This is the Pokemon Center!"

I heard her speak to me, and I let my arm go limp. Maybe it wasn't a dream...

"Amber...?" I asked quietly. "Is it really...Amber?"

She was sitting in a chair next to my bed, and held my paw tight in her warm, shaking hands. Tears filled her honey-colored eyes, already rimmed red from crying, and naturally, my response was to reach up and wipe the tears off of her cheeks. I couldn't stand to see the girl cry, not after being away for so long. The fur on the paw she held was oddly black...

"Astro, thank God you're alright," She sobbed. "Oh my God, thank you...it's really you..."

I stared dumbly at her. Why wouldn't it be me? I looked to the edge of my bed, and saw my legs were much longer than I remembered...

"Am I...bigger...?" I asked blankly.

It was another minute before Amber could get a grip on herself. She sniffled, smiling.

"...You evolved into a Lucario." She spoke very quietly. "I wish I could have been there. Astro, I just...I'm so happy you're here, and you're okay..."

I didn't know how long I had been unconscious, or what had really happened at the Galactic building...or where Riley was.

"...Riley...?" I was still pretty groggy, so I could just sort of sort my thoughts out to speak.

She thought I wouldn't notice, but I noticed her smile just a little. "...He's in another room, but I think he's still asleep. Momma's sitting with him, and Lucian and Cynthia. Cynthia said they were traveling with him..."

It was very fulfilling to know that she put me ahead of her awkward Romeo, clad romantically in a dorky beanie and a baggy blue hoodie. I didn't know about the seperation or how they'd yelled at each other, so naturally I assumed they were still close.

No, shut up, Daisy, I was not jealous of Riley. You didn't catch her smartass comment, right, Kent?

[I don't think so, no. You're good.]

I wanted to asked if Riley was alright, but I didn't. My whole body was sore, and I wanted rest.

"Astro...Azzy bear, are you still tired?" There was a hint of worry in Amber's voice. Her palm rested gently on my forehead.

I nodded. "Sorry..."

"No, don't apologize...just get some more rest, alright? I'm gonna go look in at Riley and Momma, but I promise I'll be right back."

I laughed, and it hurt more than a little. "You don't have...to mother me..."

"I know, but I want to, you dork." Amber ruffled the fur on my head and quietly left the room. She was wearing a tank top and pajama pants. Did she stay the night? Was it even nighttime?

Riley.

I woke up shortly after Astro with three broken ribs, a fracture in my right leg, a broken wrist, and a splitting headache.

I didn't wake up knowing that exact information, but I sure as hell felt it. I groaned loudly, and probably added a cuss word to it, too.

"Riley?" There was a woman sitting next to my bed, but I couldn't place her. I opened my eyes and saw a tired woman, maybe in her thirties, with wavy dark blonde hair and blue eyes. I recognized her as Mrs. Daniels. She looked over at me from a book she had been reading.

I groaned again. "What...where'm I?"

Mrs. Daniels smiled. "You're in the Veilstone Pokemon Center, honey," She told me quietly. "Your friends were here, too, but they went to bed."

"Where's Amber?" I tried sitting up, and felt those broken ribs. I groaned again looked down and noticed the cast on my arm.

Amber's mother put her hand on my shoulder, and gently pushed me back down. "Hold on, Riley! You were hurt pretty badly. Amber's with Astro, but she's come in here and checked up on you a few times."

"Wh-what happened?" With the constant head and brain injuries I'd suffered in just under a year, I'd say I'm pretty damn lucky to still have my short-term memory as an adult.

I let myself relax against the pillows again, and waited for an answer.

Mrs. Daniels bit her lip. "Well..." She sighed. "According to what bastard husband said-excuse my language-Houndoom and Astro attacking each other caused an explosion, and it sent the whole building to topple to the ground. Thank God the three of you are okay, you were the only ones to get hurt."

The thought of Cyrus made me flinch. "Where...where is he...?"

"A different part of the Pokemon Center. After Cyrus recovers, he's going to be arrested and put in jail for all the crimes Team Galactic has done against trainers like you and my daughter."

It may have been my imagination, but I heard more than a little happiness in her voice. "Mr. Cyrus is gonna be arrested?"

"Yes. I can't believe it...Cyrus has always been a twisted man, but to be the leader of a bunch of crooks and thieves...it just makes me sick."

I nodded. "Is...is Amber upset about all this?"

"She's just about glad that Cyrus is being put away. Those two, always fighting...she's never been a daddy's girl." Mrs. Daniels still sounded happy.

Talking to Mrs. Daniels was a little awkward. I could hardly think of anything to say.

"Riley, are you still tired?" She asked. "I wouldn't feel insulted if you laid back down."

"No, I..." I blushed, and lowered my voice a little. "I-I wanna see Amber."

"It's getting pretty late, actually," She countered. "Get some more sleep before you see her, you look like a mess." In all actuality, I more accurately probably looked like a hobo. "I promise, she's been coming in first thing in the morning every day."

That probably translated to, "I'm taking Amber home, now." I sighed, and laid my head against the pillow under it.

"Al-alright..." I agreed. "Mrs. Daniels, um...thank you."

I closed my eyes, really feeling how tired I was. Something pressed against my temple, and Mrs. Daniels ruffled my tangled mass of hair. I blushed again, even redder, and buried my face into the pillow.

"Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well." On her way out, Mrs. Daniels turned the light out and closed the door behind her. It was pretty easy to guess who Amber inherited her motherly personality from.

That night, I didn't sleep very well. A week earlier, I had been halfway manipuated by a Riolu, my life had been violently threatened by my first crush's father, and an entire building had fallen in top of me. It was a wonder I didn't die.

It had been a shitty week. A really, incredibly shitty week.