I dropped to the ground, hysterical. Someone finally lifted me off the floor, carrying me into a side room. I felt wood under me as the person gently set me down.
"Gallade!" It was faint, almost like a distant memory. Looking up through my tears, Amanda and Gallade blocked the entrance to the room. The people carrying cameras looked upset, but were unwilling to challenge the duo.
"Zoe, look at me," Liam said. "Zoe!" I looked at Liam. "What happened?"
"Metang," I whimpered, "isn't Metagross." I buried my head in my hands after saying it aloud.
Someone was talking to me, but I couldn't make it out. Old scars opened up, blocking everything but pain. The tears wouldn't stop. "Zoe, listen to me," Liam said. I could barely hear him over my sobs. "Evolution is a part of life."
"I didn't want Metang to change," I said coldly. Part of me didn't want to snap at Liam like that. The other part of me was in control, however.
"Why?" Liam asked, a hand on my shoulder.
"He was all I had left of my parents," I said. The words flowed out of me as tears blinded my eyes. "My parents died when a drunken teen slammed into their car. My uncle couldn't afford to take care of me, so he gave me Metang and sent me on my way." I took a deep breath. Somehow, I had calmed down. The tears stopped flowing. "The first night was the worst. Confused, alone, and afraid, I cried. A Mawile came over to investigate the sounds." I made a sound between a laugh and a sob. "Metang almost attacked the poor thing. The Mawile never left my side after that."
Mawile hugged my arm. "Mawile."
"Zoe, I have a plan," Liam said, a grin on his face. "You sit here, sulking, while I go get something to save the day."
I couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but after he teleported away, I decided to just sit here and continue sulking. Metagross hovered nearby. Sighing, I stood. The emotion weight threaten to hold me down. I was stronger than before. Metagross looked surprised as I stepped towards him. "I'm not upset about you growing," I said softly. "I just wasn't prepared to be on my own."
"Metagross!" He mocked insult.
"Mawile." She grabbed my hand.
I smiled. It felt alien. "You're right. I'm not alone."
"That's not sulking," Liam said. "Better?"
"Not really," I said, wiping the tears away.
"Presents help," Liam said, holding out a hand. He offered me a strange stone.
"It's no diamond," I mumbled, picking up the rock. The long cord hanging off it meant that it was a necklace. I tied it around my neck with little thought.
"It's better," Liam said, wrapping a bracelet around the base of Mawile's mouth-horns. "If Mawile ever gets into a bind, just touch the stone," Liam instructed.
"Okay," I said. I took a couple deep breaths, wiping my face with my shirt. "I'm ready.
"Listen up!" Amanda yelled through the door. "If I see any cameras outside this door in three seconds, Gallade will smash them!" Three seconds later, Amanda opened the door. "All clear!"
Liam and I entered the arena room. The damage caused by Metagross and Golem was repaired. "They certainly work fast," I said.
Liam helped me onto the podium and said, "No time to waste."
Edward smiled upon seeing me. "Are you done crying like a little girl?" he taunted.
I threw one of my pokéballs. "Hitmonlee!" He bounced from one foot to the next.
"Go, Staraptor!" Edward sent out a Flying-type. This was going to be an uphill battle.
Staraptor flew above Hitmonlee. "Keep it on the ground!" I yelled.
"Wing attack!" Edward yelled.
Staraptor flew around Hitmonlee, waiting for an opening. Hitmonlee presented one. Staraptor ignored the weak spot, instead charging Hitmonlee straight on. The boldness caught Hitmonlee off guard. Staraptor's wing launched Hitmonlee into the air. While in the air, Hitmonlee drop kicked Staraptor. They both hit the ground.
"Brave bird!" Edward commanded.
Hitmonlee was too close. Staraptor took flight, flying low and straight at Hitmonlee. Without proper time to dodge, Hitmonlee struck with a mega kick. Both pokémon were blasted back. Staraptor and Hitmonlee stared at each other. Staraptor was weakened by the recoil from brave bird, but Hitmonlee was suffering from the Flying-type weakness.
Hitmonlee took one step towards Staraptor before falling onto the ground. "Winner, Staraptor," the announcer said. As I returned Hitmonlee to his pokéball, Staraptor flapped its wings several times before fainting.
"Close one, Hitmonlee," I said to the pokéball in my hand.
"Are you going to cry again?" Edward asked. "At least you have a reason this time!"
"Mawile, get in there," I said.
"Mawile." She jumped into the ring, ready for a fight.
"Machamp, go!" Edward yelled, throwing a pokéball.
"Machamp!" Edward managed to evolve his Machoke. Fighting-types were weak to Fairy-type moves, but the only one Mawile knew was play rough, a physical attack. If Mawile got too close to Machamp however, then the fight would be over. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Don't get close!" I ordered. "Keep your distance!"
"Mawile!" I all ready knew Mawile was going to attempt something risky.
"Bullet punch!" Edward was moving to close the distance. Machamp was usually a slow pokémon with a fast punch. That move could close any distance in a moment's notice.
Mawile leapt into the air, preparing flamethrower. Machamp's fist entered Mawile's mouth-horns. The jaws clamped down, trapping Machamp as the flamethrower escaped through the small opening around Machamp's arm. Machamp swung its arm, sending Mawile airborne. Mawile fired off a flash cannon. Machamp took the blast directly.
"Bullet punch!" Edward ordered.
Mawile was still in the air. Machamp charged forward, striking Mawile. Mawile bounced off a wall before landing on the ground. As Mawile tried to get up, Machamp picked her up. Machamp grabbed each of Mawile's arms and held her mouth-horns closed.
"Mawile!" I yelled.
"It's a shame, really," Edward said. "You should learn to lose with dignity. Break her arms."
Mawile cried out in pain as Machamp slowly increased the pressure on Mawile's arms. I ran forward. Liam grabbed my arm, holding me back. "If you enter the ring, you lose."
"If I don't," I said, not wanting to finish the thought. Something thumped against my chest. Remembering the strange rock Liam gave me, I held it.
Beams of light shot out from the rock. Several more erupted from Mawile's rock. The lights met. It looked like Mawile was evolving, except she was glowing purple instead of white. There was a flash of light.
I stared at Mawile, though I hardly recognized her. Mawile was taller, and her legs were purple instead of yellow. The biggest change, of course, was her mouth-horns. They were larger, fiercer, and there were two sets. Machamp held only one set of mouth-horns shut. The second set seemed to glare at Machamp.
I shook off my awe. "Flamethrower!" I yelled.
Flame leaked out of the closed set of mouth-horns. The open set blasted Machamp in the face. Machamp covered its face with all four hands, inadvertently setting Mawile free. Mawile flexed her arms, then nodded at me. This fight wasn't over yet.
"What just happened?" Edward asked.
"Flamethrower!" I yelled.
Mawile blasted Machamp with fire from both sets of jaws. In the panic, Machamp's arms became tangled. Mawile, recognizing the opportunity to get close, jumped on Machamp. After a minute of playing rough with Machamp, Mawile put some distance between her and the Fighting-type.
Machamp staggered towards Mawile, exhausted and burned. "Bullet Punch!" Edward commanded. Machamp started running towards Mawile, but lost its balance and started falling. While attempting to stop its fall, Machamp tangled its arms again.
"Flash cannon," I said. There was no need to yell anymore.
Mawile opened both sets of jaws. The light enveloped Machamp. Afterwards, Machamp lay on the ground, unmoving.
"The winner, Mawile!" the announcer yelled.
I looked at the cameras positioned around the arena. They weren't focused on me, or Mawile, or even the announcer bouncing up and down in his seat. No, the cameras focused in on Edward arguing with his assistants. I wanted to yell a response, try to get a rise from the brat, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Let's get out of here," Liam said.
I glanced at Mawile. She started glowing purple again, before returning to her normal self. I waved her back, and she ran to my side. "Mawile!"
"That was awesome," I said, picking her up. "Are you okay?"
"Maw." She flexed her fingers, bent her elbows, and rotated her shoulders.
"That was amazing!" Amanda said. "Your first Mega evolution!"
"And I will find out exactly what that is, right?" I asked Liam.
"Uh, sure," Liam stuttered. "As soon as we get back home."
"I'm holding you to that," I said as we started leaving the gym.