When I typed a question mark.
It wasn't that I had a problem. It was that I thought you had a problem.
When Heiduo heard Mila wanted to battle him, he'd assumed the kid had some trump card, some confidence that he could win.
But in the end...
This was it?
"I guess I expected too much..."
Heiduo looked at the devastated Mila, shook his head helplessly, then walked over and pulled him up from the ground.
"What, can't handle losing? Why are you just standing there like an idiot?"
Mila stared blankly at Heiduo. Three or four seconds later, he snorted and shook off Heiduo's hand.
"I was just distracted. Who can't handle losing? It was only one battle. It's just one wish."
That tone sounded less like an explanation and more like he was trying to convince himself.
Clearly, the battle with Heiduo had dealt a huge blow to a brat like Mila, someone who could say, "What I like is Pokémon battles, not Pokémon themselves."
So what exactly had happened?
Let's rewind fifteen minutes.
To when Heiduo and Mila had just begun their battle.
Since it was a three-on-three Single Battle, team composition was especially important. Defensive switching, coverage, offensive and support roles—everything had to be considered. A good team visibly raised one's odds of victory.
Mila had his own ideas about team building, and with Crystal and Professor Oak helping him, he certainly wasn't short on Pokémon options.
But Heiduo wasn't short on Pokémon either.
Having all of Mt. Silver backing him up was no joke.
He contacted Umbreon through the Pokémon Gear and had Gardevoir head to Mt. Silver to pick some candidates.
In less than ten minutes, the three Pokémon Heiduo wanted had arrived.
"Looks like you're ready. Then let's begin right away."
On