The Challenger had a feeling of great relief as he had just defeated the 4th and final member of the Elite Four. The Champion now stood in front of him in the large room where all of the battles had taken place. The very grand white hall had 5 seats all lined up together at the top of a set of stairs with an out of place grassy field in the middle of it.
The Champion walked down the stairs and said, "Those were some interesting battles. I've enjoyed watching you take on both Yasal Leagues. It is time now for me to battle you so you had better get ready to rumble!"
The Challenger said nothing and walked to his side of the arena and stood patiently while the Champion walked to his side after a slight delay.
The referee then said, "This battle will be a formal battle between the Champion and the Challenger. Each side will use six Pokemon. The first side where all Pokemon are unable to battle will be the side that loses. Both the Champion and the Challenger may substitute Pokemon as they see fit. The Champion will send out his Pokemon first and the Challenger will get the first move. Begin!"
The Champion said, "Golduck let's go!"
Golduck made a spectacular entrance and stood confidently on his side of the field standing in the middle of a whirlpool.
The Challenger said, "Venusaur you're up!"
Golduck and Venusaur stood at their respective sides of the field awaiting their trainers' orders.
The Challenger said, "Venusaur use Energy Ball!"
The Champion said, "Counter it with Whirlpool!"
The Whirlpool that the Golduck was standing on absorbed the Energy Ball and encircled Venusaur.
The Champion said, "Now use Focus Blast!"
Golduck jumped expertly over the Whirlpool and shot a Focus Blast at the struggling Venusaur and scored a direct hit.
The Challenger said, "Get out of there using Hidden Power!"
Venusaur's Hidden Power cleared the Whirlpool only to find Energy Ball hitting it back. Golduck then launched an Ice Beam automatically and Venusaur was defeated.
The referee said, "Venusaur is unable to battle, Golduck wins!"
The Challenger started worrying. If Venusaur hadn't even scored a hit on Golduck, then he was in trouble.
The Challenger said, "Hawlucha you're up!"
Hawlucha stood with its arms ready to block any attack from Golduck.
The Champion said, "Now use Whirlpool!"
Hawlucha dodged the Whirlpool automatically and the Challenger said, "Now use Flying Press!" Golduck wasn't ready for the attack so Golduck went flying backwards but landed gracefully on its feet.
The Champion said, "I'm impressed by the speed of that Flying Press. That doesn't mean that Golduck won't have an answer however. Golduck use Focus Blast followed by Ice Beam!" The Focus Blast now had a frosty aura surrounding it that seemed to make the Focus Blast even bigger. Hawlucha dodged it but was hit directly by it and was taken down in one hit.
The referee said, "Hawlucha is unable to battle, Golduck wins!"
The Champion said, "Golduck go ahead and take a break right now. I'm impressed by your Pokemon just how I was while watching you battle the Elite 4. You need to step up your game if you are to defeat me. Haryiama let's go!"
The Challenger thought about who to use, Hawlucha was taken down already and so was Venusaur. I think this Pokemon might be the best bet.
The Challenger said, "Scizor let's go!" Scizor floated slightly above the ground ready to combat against Hariyama. Hariyama seemed very calm and ready to battle with its hands held protectively in a similar stance to what Hawlucha was doing.
The Challenger said, "Scizor use Air Slash!" Air Slash hit Hariyama directly, but Hariyama remained in its same position because of the block that it had made with its massive hands.
The Champion said, "Hariyama use Payback!" Payback was an attack that Scizor wasn't ready for and Scizor took unnecessary damage.
The Challenger said, "Use Bullet Punch and get away quick!" Scizor's Bullet Punch made contact but Scizor's getaway was stopped when Hariyama grabbed its leg on its way out.
The Champion said, "Hariyama use Close Combat!" Hariyama sprung into action with a lot more speed than it had in the past. Hariyama hit Scizor all over with its hands and feet and Scizor was really tiring down by this point. The Champion said, "Your Scizor is very durable. You should be proud that Scizor is your Pokemon."
The Challenger was trying his best not to be distracted by the conversation even though he knew that the intent of the Champion wasn't to distract from the battle. The Challenger said, "Scizor use Giga Impact!" Scizor glowed and prepared for impact but was met again by Hariyama's hand.
The Champion said, "Finish this off with Vital Throw!" Vital Throw threw Scizor into the wall behind the Challenger. Scizor slid to the ground unable to battle further.
The referee said, "Scizor is unable to battle, Hariyama wins!"
It was at this point that the Challenger noticed the big screen above the match to his right. It showed the outline of Venusaur, Hawlucha, and Scizor on the side with his picture and it showed a faded but visible Golduck on the other side and a very bold Hariyama. Those meant that Venusaur, Hawlucha, and Scizor were out and that Golduck wasn't out right now, but was still able to battle and that Hariyama was currently being used in battle.
The Challenger was losing Pokemon a lot faster than he would have liked. He only had half of his team left and they generally didn't appreciate fighting types. He took a gamble and sent out his Crawdaunt. Simultaneously, the Champion returned his Hariyama and sent out his Staraptor. Crawdaunt opened and closed his claws a few times to get warmed up as Staraptor flew a couple laps.
The Challenger said, "Crawdaunt use Aqua Jet!"
Crawdaunt zoomed up into the air to meet Staraptor and the Champion said, "Counter it with Return!" Staraptor's Return was a more powerful attack and still had the speed to collide with Crawdaunt's Aqua Jet. After the impact, Crawdaunt went flying down straight to the ground but landed on its feet while Staraptor spun a few times in air but was able to get a hold of itself.
The Challenger said, "Crawdaunt try using Dark Pulse!" The Champion said, "Now use Brave Bird!" Dark Pulse seemed to not affect Staraptor as Brave Bird slammed into the now weakened Crawdaunt. Crawdaunt still managed to stay on its feet.
The Champion didn't waste any time and said, "Now use Close Combat!" Staraptor acted much the same way that Hariyama did with its Close Combat as Crawdaunt went flying to the exact same spot on the wall.
The referee said, "Crawdaunt is unable to battle, Staraptor wins!"
The Challenger recalled Staraptor and was getting really upset by this point. He was used to winning most of his Pokemon battles and struggling this much was very unusual for him. The Challenger then sent out his Glaceon. The Champion recalled Staraptor and sent out a Mightyena.
The Challenger said, "Glaceon use Ice Beam!" Ice Beam zoomed along and The Champion said, "Use Sucker Punch!" Mightyena moved around the Ice Beam with great speed and hit Glaceon directly. Glaceon was able to land softly. Glaceon didn't appreciate the attack and was now getting angrier with Mightyena.
The Challenger said, "Use Signal Beam on the ground!" The Champion said, "Sucker Punch again!"
Signal Beam bounced off of the ground and hit Mightyena in mid-attack. The Champion recalled Mightyena and said, "I might need you again later, so rest up. I have to say that I'm impressed that you are coming up with these attacks to counter my Pokemon. You won't have many clever strategies to stop Infernape however!" Infernape came out her Pokeball running really fast and stopped right in front of Glaceon's face.
The Challenger said, "Use Shadow Ball!" Infernape did perfect backwards somersaults to dodge and the Champion said, "Use Flare Blitz!" Flare Blitz hit Glaceon head on and sent Glaceon soaring back past the Challenger.
The referee said, "Glaceon is unable to battle, Infernape wins!"
The Challenger had his last Pokemon left, so he sent out his powerhouse. Garchomp stood angrily and glared at Infernape with an unusual look of contempt.
The Champion said, "Infernape use Mach Punch!" Garchomp used Iron Tail automatically and launched Infernape into the air and finished off Infernape with a Dragon Claw.
The referee said, "Infernape is unable to battle, Garchomp wins!"
The Champion said, "That's what I like to see. A Pokemon that can respond to attacks without having to listen to a command issued to it. Mightyena you're on again! Now use Play Rough!"
Mightyena charged straight for Garchomp and Garchomp stopped Mightyena short with an Earthquake that launched Mightyena up into the air and crashing into the ground.
The referee said, "Mightyena is unable to battle, Garchomp wins!"
The Champion said, "Your Garchomp truly is an impressive Pokemon. You better hope that Garchomp can keep up with this Pokemon. Go Jolteon!" Jolteon stood cautiously watching Garchomp awaiting Garchomp's actions.
The battle was a very unique battle in that neither Jolteon or Garchomp took any orders from their trainers. They battled in an amazing way that showed a real connection and a definite high I.Q. in terms of battling.
The Challenger saw that Garchomp was struggling slightly despite the massive type advantage. The Challenger said, "Garchomp use Earthquake!"
The Champion finally spoke and said, "Jolteon jump on Garchomp to avoid it!" Jolteon stood on Garchomp's head and looked around nervously at the Earthquake surrounding it.
The Challenger saw an opportunity and said, "Garchomp fall on your back!" Garchomp was swift but Jolteon was even faster. Before Garchomp could get up, Jolteon shot one last Signal Beam at Garchomp and Garchomp didn't get up again.
The referee said, "Garchomp is unable to battle, Jolteon is the winner which means that the Champion is the victor!" The Elite 4 clapped politely except for the cowboy-looking guy on the far left.
The Champion asked the Challenger, "Would you mind coming into my office for a few minutes. I really quite enjoyed our battle and I would like to talk to you for a few minutes about something."
The Challenger sighed. He had lost this battle that he had been preparing for for such a very long time. The disappointment was larger than he thought it would've been. He was glad that Garchomp had stopped him from looking like a complete failure.
The door to the office was behind the Champion's seat. The Champion's office had all sorts of awards and trophies in protective cases around the room. Several filing cabinets, a couple computers, a desk, and a couple of comfortable-looking sofas made up most of the room. A Typhlosion was sleeping lying down on one of the couches. The Champion scratched the Typhlosion on the head before he sat behind his desk. He said, "Go ahead and sit down." The Challenger did as he was told. It was really weird to be having an official conversation like this with somebody that wasn't much older than himself.
The Champion started, "I was rather impressed with all of your Pokemon today, especially Garchomp. I know that you are probably very disappointed with your loss and you are probably blaming yourself. You have to remember that I know the ins and outs of all Pokemon unlike most people out there. I would like to offer you a job as a special trainer in a facility that should be opening very soon. What do you say about that? You don't seem to talk very much."
The Challenger said, "I've just been very distracted and focused because of our battle. I don't think I'll take you up on that offer to be a special trainer however."
The Champion asked, "Why not?"
The Challenger said, "I lost a lot of self-esteem losing that battle today and I don't know if I'll be up for it. On top of that, I want to continue traveling with my Pokemon. I can see untapped potential within all of them and I know I can break through the veil."
The Champion said, "I totally understand. The position is ready for you if you ever want to come back and accept it. Since you are traveling however, I want to ask you for a favor."
The Challenger said, "Sure, what is it?"
The Champion said, "There is a man that I had to stop from conquering Johto a few years ago and he hasn't been seen since then. Recently he was seen here in the Yasal Islands which worries me. I want you to try and find out what you can about him and what he is planning to do here. I don't know how he got here because we don't let just anybody come here because of our process. Do you think you can do that?"
The Challenger said, "I think I'll be up for that. Are you sure that I'll be able to beat him?"
The Champion said, "I have a lot of confidence in you. Don't forget that you still managed to defeat the Elite 4 which is a huge feat on its own."
The Challenger said, "I'll go ahead and do that then. Is that everything?"
The Champion said, "Not quite. Here is the number to the hotline of the Pokemon League. Go ahead and have fun traveling with your Pokemon. You're welcome to come back and challenge the League anytime. You don't have to rematch the Elite 4 since you beat them so you get a free ride to me. Call me if you see any suspicious behavior on a larger scale."
The Challenger said nothing and waved on his way out the door. The Elite 4 watched him as he exited the grand white hall. The Champion walked out a minute later and the cowboy asked, "Did you ask him?"
The Champion didn't respond for a second and said, "I asked him, but he declined. He is feeling pretty bad about losing to me."
The Elite 4 seemed to understand as they got up and left the Hall as well. The Champion was left standing there all alone wondering if the Challenger would ever return or respond. He just hoped that a worthy challenger would come soon.
He turned around and went into his office. He sat in his desk chair and pressed a switch that was hidden inside the lamp on his desk. He turned around to see that the wall was replaced with rows of different kinds of Pokeballs. Five rows of six Pokeballs were inserted in different slots. Some were empty because of the Pokemon he was holding. He inserted the Pokemon he had leaving only one empty space. He sat down on the couch next to Typhlosion and started to pet him. He said to his Pokemon, "Well old friend, it looks like our first challenger has come and gone. I hope he'll come back some day."
He might as well have been talking to himself because Typhlosion continued snoozing on the couch. He said, "I think I won't accept any more challengers today. Would you be up for any battles?"
Typhlosion snapped awake after hearing battles and shook her head and went back to sleep. The Champion laughed and looked out of his office window. The great ocean lapped against the rocky base of the Island that he was on. This was the original island he had found 3 years previous and had built and declared a new region here. He returned to his set of Pokeballs and found the Masterball in the bottom right corner. He sent out his Pokemon and said, "Let's go for a fly." They flew off away from the Pokemon League into the sunset (literally). It was quite a strange sight to see such a massive Legendary flying majestically, but people were used to it.
On the next island over, there was a man and two women standing there watching him through binoculars. The man said, "There it is. That's the Pokemon that we've been seeking for years."