The Champion Alder stepped out among the bright lights of the stadium with a pleased grin stretching his features and showcasing his wrinkles. He was a man in his early sixties but felt twenty years younger with his wild, flaming hair and traditional Unovian garments designated specifically for an important elder. His coal eyes remained steady as thousands and thousands of expecting orbs focused upon him and only him. He stepped out from the darkness and waved to his people, summoning roars of thunder in the chant of his name. His aged nose smelled the thick adrenaline in the air, making his pulse race and beads of sweat swelter on his distorted brow. The beams burned against his skin, the roars deafened his hearing, and his eyes grew magnetized to his archrival standing just yards in front of him.
Alder was the prestigious Champion of Unova and the oldest of the Pokemon Champions in the world. Almost fifty years ago, he started his journey—a long and winding one—with Slim—his innocent and loyal Snivy. Within blinks, days turned into weeks; weeks into months; months into years; and years into decades. Eventually, their time together came to a standstill. The aged Slim—now a mighty Serperior—caught ill and died soon from it. The toll impacted Alder greatly. He realized his faults and turned over a new leaf, starting with choosing Greil—a sturdy and disciplined Onix—as his second starter. Time passed and eventually Greil evolved into a mighty Steelix, then Alder collected more Pokémon and formed an unstoppable team named the Greil Mercenaries.
Recently, the Pokemon League called him back from his soul-searching travels to compete in the annual Trial of Champions as the final test for any challenger. He graciously accepted the offer, acknowledging the fact that he might enter. The event lasted for several weeks and hosted a string of festivals in the nearby city of Nimbasa. Millions gathered for this very event while more millions watched from the television within their homes. They watched in awe for their quasi-retired Champion as he greeted them for the first time in a decade.
Alder calmed his nerves just as the announcer broadcasted the introduction of the match. The crowd died down a bit, but to the Champion, it felt as if the roars drowned out completely. For he was there. A few yards ahead on the other side of the stadium, the slightly younger Ghetsis Harmonia glared back at him, his visible red eye making Alder sweat harder. His opponent was extremely formidable and very wise. Even the Greil Mercenaries were threatened by his tactics and team. The battle ahead was going to be arduous, draining, and epic.
"Medeus, take charge!" Ghetsis tossed a Dusk Ball into the arena and—from its confines—a mighty Hydriegon appeared in a great flash of white light. Medeus stretched his head back and roared viciously, baring his fangs to Alder and commanding his two lesser heads to chomp on thin air, spitting out acids that peck and gnawed at the smoothened paint of the concrete floor.
Ghetsis smirked—his prized Pokémon never failed in starting a battle successfully. His strategy was to intimidate his opponent with appearance then amplify that fear with swift and powerful attacks in wave after wave of each other until the prey is reduced to nothing. Medeus was the perfect starter for a brutal assault that left so many trainers in ruins within minutes.
But Alder remained steadfast and pensive for a few moments, analyzing the situation and staring down that Hydriegon. He was slightly intimidated by the dark dragon—he seemed bigger from the last battle Alder had against Ghetsis—but his aged hand steadily gripped onto the Heavy Ball clinging to a royal rope hanging from his neck.
The air was still with tension as his hand moved and froze upon that Pokeball. The crowd both in the stadium, outside in the streets, and the viewers at home held their breaths in anticipation of their Champion's first Pokemon. Eyes glued to the flaming-haired man, eyes that were piercing, judging, and eagerly noting even his tiniest twitch. He felt all of those eyes burn through his skin and into his old bones, sending waves of adrenaline straight to his brain.
With one swift movement, he detached the Heavy Ball from its place and tossed it into the field after pressing the small button of its core. "Come help me, Greil!" He called just before the Heavy Ball opened and released a thick blob of white light which formed into a massive golden Steelix. Greil proudly stood over his enemy, at a grand thirty feet in length, and roared while rotating his indestructible body. The rafters shook from his commanding bellow, causing Medeus and Ghetsis to recoil from Greil's massive height and power. His body shimmered golden from the lights reflecting off at marvelous angles, but upon closer inspection, one could see the endless scars, dings, and scrapes moving with his body from past, furious battle experiences. He slammed his massive jaws closed, creating shockwaves throughout the stadium. The crowd screamed their emotions upon the titanic glory of the Champion's second starter.
Ghetsis focused his glare to concentrate on his faulty strategy and mentally surpass the superior intimidation staring him down. "Ghetsis," He narrowed his eyes at Alder once the announcer ceased speaking, "I've learned much from our past battles. You did not expect me to use the Commander so suddenly, did you? Your intimidation tactics are worthless. Try fighting fairly this time." Greil prepared for his orders by shifting his weight to make himself lighter as Medeus began to exhale searing breath from his main head. Ghetsis, however, simply smirked at his opponent, catching Alder off guard and curious as to his true motives and tricks.
"My dear friend, Alder, I've expected this from the very beginning!" He outstretched his arms to his sides and grinned widely, a look of insanity in his visible eye. "Greil is nothing to sneeze at, but…I have a trump card. Once he falls, the rest will follow suit."
"Are you so sure about that? It will be no easy feat!"
"Enough talk! Command your Steelix to move so that I may take the first step to my glorious triumph!" He brushed his hair out of his face as Alder calmed his nerves and planned a series of steps to carry out the battle.
"Greil! Knock him down with your Iron Tail!" Greil charged forth with speeds matching a freight train as his tail turned white and acquired a radiant glow. He swung it forth with titanic force that shattered the air it cut, but Medeus dodged just in time and floated away from the snake's reach. The Iron Tail crashed into the earth, causing Ghetsis to brace himself for waves of tremors before giving orders to Medeus high above.