"Say what?" I asked.
The butler, for lack of a better term, cleared his throat. "Young Edward Beddleman III would like for you to compete against him in an official pokémon sparring match to be held at four o'clock this evening."
I glanced back at Liam and Amanda. Amanda nodded. Liam had a thinking look on his face. "All right. I'll be there."
"Very well," the butler said. "Be at the gym precisely half an hour before. At that time, pokémon will be finalized and rules will be stated. Good day." He turned away before marching towards the shore.
"Dad?" Amanda asked.
"I wonder what angle he's playing," Liam mumbled. "Whatever the case, I'll be right behind you."
I nodded and said, "The match is still a while away, but I want to scope out the gym first."
"Agreed," Liam said.
"Let me get my bag," Amanda said. "I'll meet you there."
Amanda ran up the stairs as Liam and I walked out the door. I was eager to get moving. Liam shared my enthusiasm, but paused at the cry of a Flying-type. "Strange," Liam said. "That Braviary has been circling the island for a couple of days now."
"Why is that strange?" I asked.
"It's almost like he's looking for something," Liam replied.
"I have a battle soon," I said.
"Right," Liam said. As we headed for the shore, Liam glanced back at Braviary several more times. Something about that bird was bothering him, but I had my own worries at the moment to care.
The butler looked at his watch. Edward was five minutes late. When he finally walked into the gym, Edward looked around. "What?"
"We need to review the rules, and you are late," the butler said.
"That's why I was late," Edward said, "so you could've gone over the rules all ready and I'd start battling without all of the boring talk."
"Since this is an official sparring match," the butler said, "you have to be present for the rules. Now be quiet and listen."
"Not good," Liam mumbled. I flashed him a questioning look. Liam shook his head.
"There will be three sets of battles," the butler said. "During a set, you may not switch pokémon. Both the winning and losing pokémon will not be allowed to compete the rest of the competition. There will be no interference from trainers during the battle, such as attempting to enter the battle arena or using items such as potions. The trainer is allowed to issue commands and activate a pokémon's Mega Evolution."
"Simple enough," Edward said.
"Each trainer is also allowed assistants. The assistants are allowed to guide, but not control, the trainer's actions. Would either of you like to exercise your right to have assistants?"
"Yes," Edward said. "I don't battle without my team."
"Yes," I said.
"If there are no more questions, let us begin." The butler led us through a set of double doors. As I passed through the doors, I realized I was in over my head. The main drawing point was the arena, a large piece of hilly land surrounded by water. The arena was surrounded by cameras. There were several newscasters there as well, though they stayed far enough away from the trainer podiums to prevent an eavesdropping scheme.
The butler led Edward left, so I went right. The podiums were positioned in the middle of the arena, unlike the traditional spots at each end. Edward and I climbed onto our podiums, facing each other.
"Listen closely," Liam said. "Edward aims to humiliate you in front of an audience. Do not use Sylveon. This may be a sparring match, but there is still a loser."
"Right," I said.
"Breath mint?" Liam asked.
"What?" I whirled around. Liam was offering me a couple of mints. "My breath is fine, thank you very much!"
"That's not it," Liam chuckled. "I usually take a couple before a match. Helps me focus." To illustrate this point, he took the breath mints and popped them in his mouth. He didn't chew them. I suppose everyone has their own tricks.
Wait a second. "Did you say, before you battle?" I asked.
"Usually," Liam said with a little difficulty. "Official matches that I try to win, more so than sparring. By the way, there are cameras here. Put on a show."
"Choose your pokémon!" a rather unenthusiastic announcer said.
"Metang, go!" I yelled, throwing its pokéball.
"Metang!" The large pokémon landed with a thud.
"Go, Golem!" Edward sent out a pokémon targeting Metang's weakness. Ground may beat Steel, but Steel beats Rock.
"Begin," the announcer sighed.
"Bullet punch!" I yelled.
"Dig!" Edward yelled.
Golem was faster than I thought. Metang struck Golem, serving to only send it further into the ground. Golem was burrowing through the ground, looking for an opening.
"Get off the ground!" I ordered.
Metang floated up. I felt the disturbance as Metang used its psychic ability to find Golem. Satisfied, Metang was ready to strike.
Metang positioned itself at the perfect ambush location. Golem, thinking it was a mistake, erupted from the ground. Metang let loose the prepared meteor mash. Golem was blasted back, landing in the water.
"No fair!" Edward yelled at me. "You didn't tell it to do that!"
I guess Edward forgot that this was being broadcasted across the region. "He said I could give orders, not that I had to!" I yelled back.
"Pay attention," Liam whispered.
Fearing an attack, I looked at Metang. Instead of an attack, another Metang was floating next to it. "What's going on?" I asked.
"Evolution," Liam said.
The two Metangs hovered near each other before a blinding light erupted between them. I blocked out the light. When the light died down, a new pokémon floated where the two Metangs were moments before. "Metagross!"
Golem climbed out of the water. It seemed surprised its opponent changed. The two stared at each other. Equal in strength, and with a weakness to the other, this match was about to get interesting.
"Yell hammer arm," Amanda said, surprising both Liam and me. "I think Metagross knows that move by evolving."
"Hammer arm!" I yelled. Anything was worth a shot.
"Gross!" One of Metagross's legs started glowing. Metagross charged Golem, hitting it with incredible force. Golem was blasted back, barely managing to stay on dry land. The attack tired out Metagross though. An idea popped in my head.
"Metang, uh, Metagross!" I yelled. "Bullet punch, then hammer arm!" Metagross looked at me. I spun in a circle before punching one of my hands.
Metagross smiled. "Gross!" Metagross charged at Golem. Golem leapt back. Metang closed the distance, swinging at Golem, and missing. I saw the smile creep on Edwards face. I smiled right back. The plan wasn't to hit Golem with the first attack. Spinning rapidly, Metagross used hammer arm.
The hammer arm, combined with the rotation speed from bullet punch, blasted Golem into the wall with the force of a meteor. The arena shook in response. Golem didn't move from the crater in the wall. "Winner, Metagross!" the announcer yelled, suddenly full of excitement. "What an upset! With the technically legal change from Metang to Metagross, the young trainer Zoe wins round one."
Metang changed into Metagross. My eyes watered up. Breathing became difficult. I fell to my knees, hiccupping. Metang changed into Metagross. "Dad!" Amanda yelled. She sounded so far away. "Dad!"
I started sobbing. Amidst the hiccupping sobs, Liam looked me in the eye. He didn't say anything to me. I felt myself being lifted onto my feet and led out of the arena.
There was something causing an emotional breakdown, but I couldn't tell what. No, I knew exactly what. Metang changed into Metagross. Metang was my father's pokémon. Metagross wasn't. When Metang evolved, I lost the last remnant of my father.