A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been really sick lately, but I'm back and ready to write again. With no further ado, enjoy and review! All your feedback is inspiring!

Chapter 5

Amber was silent, much too stunned to talk. A rescue vehicle had come and picked both of them up. Amber was in one of the passenger seats. Leo was shirtless in the back part of the treatment bay, sitting on a small bench. He had bandages all across his upper shoulder and left side. Flare was asleep in his lap, snoring loudly. Amber couldn't bear to look at Leo for long, and guiltily returned her gaze to the path.

She was numb with disbelief. She logically knew she should be feeling something—maybe even crying about it-–but nothing came. That bothered her more than a little. What kind of monster can't feel anything for a friend?

"Hey. You okay?" Amber heard Leo ask from behind her, "You look kinda pale."

Yeah, maybe she was feeling kinda out of it. Leo couldn't know how she was feeling though. He'd had more than enough today without her adding to it. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"You're not a very good liar, Amber," Leo chided. "You aren't 'fine', are you?"

"It's nothing compared to your injuries," Amber turned further away and stared out the side window of the car instead, "I'll manage…"

"Amber…" The way he said her name made her feel even worse. And then Leo said, "Hey guys, can you keep an eye on her 'till Virbank? I'm as ok as I can get, but Amber's really worrying me. You guys don't think she's in shock or something?"

"We'll have her checked out too, just in case," one of the medics replied.

Amber's mood sank further. Now she had Leo and the medics worried. Great. Was she just making things worse somehow? It seemed like no matter what she did, Amber was just not helping matters at all.

"Riolu…" Amber suddenly snapped her attention from the road and looked down. Lulu was at her side, staring Amber right in the eyes expressionlessly.

"Oh, Lulu. Am I worrying you too?" She scooped the pup up.

"Lu-lu!" Lulu gleamed at Amber, making cute puppy-eyes at Amber.

Amber couldn't help hugging Lulu, a growing smile finally breaking through, "You're tough stuff you know that? You and Flare saved us. Thank you."

"Riolu~!" Lulu burst into a grin and flexed at Amber, this time making her chuckle.

Leo started laughing, waking up Flare. "Y'know, I heard once that Riolu are very sensitive to emotions and intent. She's really got your number, huh Amber?"

Amber nodded, petting Lulu's favorite spot on her ears. "Yeah, that'd explain it. Thanks again. I feel a bit better already."

"Rio!" Lulu hopped down from Amber's arms and trotted off to the back of the van, seeming to check on Leo next. Leo just smiled at her reassuringly, which seemed to satisfy the concerned Pokémon. She parked herself right between the two of them, arms folded across her knees.

Amber looked up from the puppy, now in a slightly better mood. It'd be a lie to claim she wasn't still feeling numb and disconnected. Lulu seemed to notice, and she wouldn't break eye-contact. Amber returned to staring at the road, this time trying to make out the approaching cityscape in the evening twilight. She soon became so focused on the road that she didn't even notice Leo staring worriedly after her.

"Am I really ready to become a trainer? Maybe Dad was right after all…"

"Second guessing yourself again, Amber?" Leo's reply made Amber realize she'd spoken out loud. She could only sputter before Leo cut her off, "Nobody could have foreseen what happened last night. Helluva way to start off, sure, but I know you wouldn't be satisfied being a lawyer. No way your old man's right."

Amber gave him a half-smile. "Yeah, you're right about that!"

Leo nodded, grinning at her encouragingly, "Atta girl. That's more like it." He shifted in his seat and pointed ahead, "Look, I think we're almost to Virbank. We can figure out what's next after a good nap. I dunno about you, but I slept like crap last night."

Amber tried her best to smile genuinely. Hearing Leo cheer her on made her feel a lot better. He's right, she thought, it'd be better to think about this after a nap. Truth be told, she doubted she could sleep like this. All she could focus on was the view out the window. Tomorrow, she will become stronger. For both of their sakes. She made a promise to herself that night, that no matter what, she'd never look back: always move forward. After all, the only thing awaiting her back in Aspertia was her overbearing, uncaring, money-obsessed father.

Returning to him, even after all this… Now that was out of the question!

-0-0-0-0-

Amber left the hospital, alone with nothing but her thoughts. The doctors discharged her after only a few hours, but Leo had to stay until the morning. The doctors wouldn't tell her much, and that irked her. Just who did they think she was anyway, a stranger!? Sighing to herself, she knew better than to argue. As for napping, fat chance that'd happen. She was much too wired after the night's events. Amber decided to go out and toughen up. There was only one way to not have last night happen again, and that was to become stronger.

Virbank was a much larger city than Aspertia; Amber was in awe of the vibrant night-life here. Her gaze fell to one neon light after another in wonder. To her continued amazement, she could even hear what sounded like a concert coming from the local gym. Perhaps she'd go and see a show when Leo was out of the hospital. Amber was very distracted by all the new sights here. She soon made her way to the edge of town. Amber shifted her backpack anxiously. This would be her first time training alone. She recalled how the Pokémon seemed to mostly know how to fight on their own. They just needed some guidance and strategizing every now and again.

That was it, right?

The cool evening air blew by gently, seeming to encourage Amber. She smiled lightly and proceeded to a grassy hill. Leo was gonna be in for a surprise when he saw how much she'd improved! She found a likely sparring partner not too far away. She recognized it as a Purrloin. The purple cat was grooming itself with a paw, looking her way with a smug smirk on its lips. Lulu started squirming in her Pokéball excitedly. Amber nodded confidently at her partner.

"Let's go, Lulu!" No sooner than she drew out the ball did Lulu pop out, already in a fighting stance. The eager pup was bouncing from foot to foot, fists up. Lulu sprang into action, walloping Purrloin with a flying kick. This knocked the cat silly, and it wobbled awkwardly towards Lulu. She easily dodged a swat from a forepaw, then countered with a roundhouse. The defeated cat ran away at full tilt, yowling into the grass as Lulu turned and beamed at Amber.

She shared her Pokémon's pleasure with a triumphant nod. "Atta girl! Let's keep it up and really surprise Leo!"

"Rio, Riolu!" Lulu seemed to be still full of energy.

Amber sighed in relief. This was going along well. Several hours passed in a similar fashion. Lulu wasn't taking much damage, in fact, she seemed to be having a very easy time with the Patrat and Purrloin in the area. By the time Lulu started to tire, so did Amber. She had no idea what time it was, but it had to be close to dawn. She decided to call it a night.

As Amber made her way back to Virbank, another rustle from the grass got her attention. She froze and looked its way. Something pink was crouched low, staring back at her. Amber burst into a big grin. This had to be an Audino! She'd heard they were a shy species that didn't show itself often. Amber's hand lingered on Lulu's ball before she let it drop. She didn't have any spare balls to catch this rare Pokémon. Just beating it up seemed pointless and unnecessary. With a resigned sigh, she turned away from the watching Pokémon.

She wasn't watching where she was walking. Amber stepped on something that shrieked at her in anger. Startled, she reeled back to find a Venipede in a foul mood. Amber froze in place, a cold sweat running down her face. She remembered her last encounter with one of these, and she did not want a repeat! Next time she might not be so lucky. Amber balled her fists and swallowed hard. Lulu was much stronger now. She unleashed her partner, resolved not to let this Venipede get the better of her this time!

She did have a type-advantage, right?

Before she could react further than that, Venipede rolled itself into a ball. Amber was a bit perplexed. It wasn't fighting back? Lulu didn't give its hesitation a second thought, booting the bug in the face with a roundhouse. It rolled to a stop, injured but not defeated. Venipede retaliated by revving up like a wheel and rolling at Lulu at speed! Lulu was caught off guard and knocked off her feet. Lulu wobbled to her feet, shaking off the ram and growling. Lulu kicked it again, but Venipede ricocheted off a rock adeptly and rushed Lulu again.

"LU!" Lulu tried to kick the balled-up bug again, but missed and whirled off-balance. She landed on her back, winded. Venipede uncoiled itself and loomed overhead with its stingers oozing venom. Amber couldn't restrain a gasp. Maybe she'd pushed her Pokémon too hard. However, Lulu wasn't ready to give up just yet. She rallied, and rolled out of Venipede's reach just as it descended for a sting. Amber watched in amazement as Lulu gave it one final kick to the side, knocking out the bug.

"Yeah!" Amber cheered as Lulu posed at her happily, "That's it girl!"

It felt so good to finally kick some butt. Lulu beat that Venipede good! Leo was gonna be so impressed! Now in a lighthearted mood, she turned and left for Virbank, a tired but happy Lulu trailing her. Now that she'd worked off her anxiety, she felt good about the future. At this rate, she'd become a trainer that even her dad could be proud of. She rode high on that idea for the rest of the short night as she made for the Pokémon Center, a perkiness to her stride and a smile on her lips.