47 21. Unexpected gift

As Robert's anticipation grew Margret slowly walked to her position in front of the other 17. it was hard to notice at first but as she walked over a strange pressure filled the Colosseum. it wasn't like Walter's overwhelming presence, it was more subtle, like chains of steel snaking their way around you. before you knew they were there you were already chained in place unable to do anything but await your fate.

"As I said before, I am Margret Chromium. I am the head instructor for Steel types." under Margret's pressure, her voice had an almost magnetic effect. like listening to her every word was the only option possible. She plucked a Pokéball from her hip and held it up where it popped open and erupted in light.

The light quickly coiled around her like a giant snake. After it faded a giant metallic grey form could be seen coiled where Margret Once stood. A giant head rose out from its coiling body. This Pokémon was easily the largest of the Pokémon shown so far. Soon it loomed over even the first few rows of seats and everyone noticed that standing on the beast's head was Margret Chromium.

"GGGGGRRrrroooowwwwllll" a deep and low growl escaped from the giant that caused the entire building to vibrate. The Pokémon Margret had brought out was a Steelix. The moment it lifted its head Robert felt like it locked eyes with him and everything else around him seemed to simply melt away.

He didn't notice the seat he was sitting on vibrating with the rest of the building or even Margret standing on Steelix head. He remained seated there frozen, staring into those huge red eyes that stared right back at him like a mountain made of iron.

Unlike Robert, the other kids were a little disappointed. They were all a little shocked at first by Steelix sheer size but other than that it didn't seem to be as strong as the Dragonite they just saw. What most of them didn't notice was that the instructors standing in the back were all sweating.

The kids couldn't feel anything, but they could. Unlike Walter and his Dragonite that overwhelmed them with the strength and pride common among dragons, the pressure they could feel from Steelix was far more subtle and also far more dangerous. The instructors were all battle-hardened and been through more than their share of dangers.

Walter and his Dragonite defiantly had an overwhelming presence, but they could still stand it, even though difficult. Margret and Steelix were vastly different, there was no room for resistance or defiance. Their will was law, there was no second option, no second choice or the very world around you would swallow you whole.

Joel and Kris were like the others and couldn't feel anything from Steelix but were still a little rigid because it seemed like it was staring at them. Joel turned to say something to Robert before he realised he was acting strange. He seemed oddly paralysed in place. Before Joel could shake him out of it three separate lights erupted from Robert's hip.

Before he or Kris could comprehend what was going on they were both pushed aside and on either side of Robert appeared Eevee and Vulpix while behind him appeared Gyrados. All three crouched protectively around Robert and let out low growls towards Steelix.

The seats around Robert were soon thrown into a commotion, after all, Gyrados was very similar in size to Steelix and took up a lot of space. The instructors were quick to react and quickly got all the kids who were close by far away.

Even with all this going on Robert remained frozen in place still staring into those huge eyes. Steelix also ignored Roberts Pokémon and those around it as it stared at the boy. Margret had long noticed her Steelix was acting strange but made no move to stop it. she had been with Steelix for the better part of her life, they shared a bond beyond words.

Even with Roberts Pokémon coming out of their balls because of Steelix she still made no move to interfere, the instructors and even the head instructors had no idea what was happening. They could only watch on as no one dared to interfere before Margret said so.

As Margret looked down at Steelix with a frown she suddenly seemed to realise something and looked at Robert in surprise. She then Mumbled under her breath, "it would appear you are more special than I realised. How interesting."

As soon as she finished speaking a bright light erupted from her neck hidden under her clothes, the same instant Steelix under her erupted into blinding light. Under that light Steelix grew even further, the protrusions from its serpentine body turned crystal and behind its head flying shards of metal circled it.

The light covering its form abruptly dispersed and revealed its new form, Steelix had mega evolved! Everyone was again shocked, why had Steelix suddenly Mega evolved. There were only two people in the whole Colosseum who weren't panicked, Margret and Robert. Margret calmly stood on her now Mega Steelix while Robert had come back to himself after Steelix mega evolved.

Robert looked up at Steelix and smiled, he wasn't sure what just happened but when he looked into Steelix eyes he went into a strange state. After he came back to himself, he felt a little different. Like a white noise that he didn't know was there constantly buzzing was silenced.

"""Grrrrrr""" he heard all three of his Pokémon growl again at Steelix. He didn't speak any words of comfort to them, he didn't need to anymore. He spoke to their very spirits with his own, "it's alright, calm down. Everything is fine."

His three Pokémon all looked at him confused at the same time. They heard him just now yet they were sure he didn't speak, not with his mouth at least. It wasn't just words they got either. They could feel his intentions, his will for them to calm. So, they did.

All three calmed down and lay down where they were. After they did Steelix lowered its head and Margret jumped off. It then raised its head again, this time higher than before. "GRRRROOOOOWWWWWW" as it faced the sky Steelix let out a titanic growl that echoed across the entire island.

As it did the shards of steel that spun around its neck spun faster until all that could be seen was a shimmering metallic ring. The ring moved past Steelix head and then started to shrink. Soon it shrank to about the size of a dinner plate. Finally, its roar faded and in front of it was a single gleaming piece of metal. The plate slowly lowered until it hovered in front of Robert, who gently stretched his hands out and took it.

Steelix then briefly erupted in light before reverting to its original form. Steelix and Robert shared one last look before Margret returned it to its ball. Everyone seemed to deflate a little after Steelix was returned to its ball. They didn't Have long to collect themselves before Margaret's voice rang out again. "That will be enough for your opening ceremony. Instructors, take your students to their dorms to get settled. Head instructors, return to your usual duties."

Margret then looked over to Robert. "As for you, return you're Pokémon and follow me to my office." Robert showed a wry smile as he returned his three Pokémon and walked down to Margret who simply turned on her heels and walked towards an exit.

Robert followed Margret out under the various gazes of the crowd. Even the head instructors were looking at him with various emotions. Robert couldn't help but sigh a little in relief after exiting from the colosseum. Seeing him so relieved to escape the crowd's gazes Margaret couldn't help teasing him a little, "I thought with all the incidents you cause you would be used to this by now."

"Hey, I don't cause most of those, they just seem to happen to me."

"Oh, so you not only admit that you cause some but that you are at the centre of the ones you don't."

Robert's mouth twitched a little, he had no response and decided to quietly follow her. Margret grinned slightly at her little victory. It took 15 minutes before they arrived at a large building that Margret walked straight into.

There was no reception and only a hall that extended to the left and right. Margret turned to the left and walked to the end of the hall. There was a large set of double doors that Margret pushed open and walked in. Robert quickly followed her in right after her.

As Robert looked around, he saw a large room with its entire back wall being glass, allowing you to see outside into the forest behind it. in front of the glass wall was a large wooden desk, in front of it were two lounges facing each other with a little table between them.

Margret walked over and sat on one of the lounges and motioned Robert to sit opposite her. After Robert sat Margret looked at the metal plate still in his hands. "I have a feeling you might already know what this is and that it wasn't me but Steelix itself that wanted to give that to you."

Robert nodded a little as he placed the plate on the table, "I wouldn't say I know but I have an idea what it is. This piece of metal is packed with the essence of steel from you're Steelix. I'm not sure why it mega evolved to give it to me though."

Margret nodded hearing this, "that's about what I expected. As I'm sure you know this can be used to raise the talent of any steel type Pokémon, in particular, because it made that while mega evolved that essence is not only in greater quantity but also quality. To put it simpler that plate is about the same value as the level 95 Gyrados heart used in the gem you got."

Robert's eyes widened in shock, he knew the plate would be valuable but not that much. Unfortunately, Robert had no idea what to do with it. he didn't currently have any steel types to use it on. He could probably trade it in for credits and probably wipe out his debt to Margret, but he felt that would be cheating Steelix that gave this to him.

Robert didn't doubt that there was some sort of cost for Steelix to make this, it had to at least be weakened for a period until it recovered the energy spent. Margret didn't say anything as she thoughtfully watched Robert struggle with his decision. She could more or less guess what he was thinking, and she knew his biggest hesitation with keeping the plate was that he didn't have any way to use it.

Margaret's eyes Flickered a little in thought before she spoke out, "what would you say if I had a way for one of your Pokémon to absorb the energy in that plate." Robert looked at Margret in surprise, "but none of them are a Steel type. wouldn't that be bad for them to absorb something not related to their type" This was indeed his biggest hang-up with keeping it. none of his current Pokémon could use it but it didn't feel right just letting something so valuable collect dust.

Margret continued to look at Robert thoughtfully before replying, "how much do you know about the Holon region and Delta Pokémon."