"It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them."
~Alfred Adler

The sun was still setting and the sky was bright orange, fitting together with the flaming hair of the challenger and the colors of the fall in the trees. The air was moist after the rain and easy to be breathed, luring out a couple villagers from their homes for their evening strolls and chores. A bunch of younger kids gathered around Alder's front yard to watch the battle that was about to start, chattering in excitement, whispering to each other in curiosity for the identity of the brunette that stood before their local hero.

Between the two stood another brunette, younger, who glanced at both trainers before stepping back, further away from the battlefield.
"I've never tried acting as a referee before", Kyohei murmured mostly to himself, then coughing to try and hide his hesitance. "S-so. As we agreed, the battle will be a 3-on-3. Each trainer will pick three pokemon to use for the battle and can send them out in any order they want. You'll follow the basic league rules; only the challenger, Touya, can switch pokemon in the battle. The last man standing is the winner."
Both Alder and Touya nodded shortly in approval. The older former champion smirked a little and stretched his arms. It was clear that he was just as excited as the kids watching nearby.
"I've been looking forward to battling you again, kid. Let's make this an enjoyable battle, shall we?" he cheerily stated to Touya. The brown-eyed boy sighed a little and smiled with slight nervousness.
"If I even can possibly enjoy a pokemon battle, that is", he muttered silently, glad that no one other than Kyohei heard him. "Let's get this over with."
Kyohei checked just once more if both trainers were ready before lifting his hands up. He shot an encouraging smile at Touya and then stated:
"You may begin the battle!"

Alder was the first one to react to the declaration. He reached his pocket for his first pokeball, calling out his first pokemon. Just seconds after, Touya did the same for his own pokemon. They both ended up throwing their pokeballs at the same time.
"Go, bouffalant!"
"Zweilous, I choose you!"
The two different pokemon materialized in front of their trainers with a flash. Before Touya stood a medium-sized dragon-type with two matching heads. It had long, black fur covering its eyes (if it even had any, that is) and some blue fur right under the black one. It two thin, black wings on its back as well but just the thought of the dragon flying with those wings seemed ridiculous. The pokemon in front of Alder was different though: it was a large pokemon with a puffy afro-like fur on its head and a pair of mean, yellow eyes glaring at Touya from under that fur. It had big horns growing from its head, ones with two golden rings on them and it stood on four gray hooves.

"...I wasn't expecting you to go with bouffalant", Touya admitted as he watched the two pokemon stare at each other, waiting for orders. Alder grinned and laughed out a little, then gesturing with his hand for his pokemon to move.
"Start off with Head Charge!"
The bouffalant let out a small yell of approval for its trainer before taking a couple steps backward in order to gain more speed. It then rushed forward, towards the zweilous standing still in front of it. It was still obediently waiting for orders.
"Scary Face!"
Hearing its first command, the dragon-type leaned its head towards a little, revealing its teeth at its opponent. It shot was could have been an intimidating glare at the buffalo pokemon, causing it to accelerate a little. However the bouffalant attacked nevertheless, hitting the zweilous with its head and pushing it backwards, leaving marks on the ground. It then backed off, shaking its head. It was clear that it had taken some damage as well despite its puffy afro softening the hit.

The zweilous was still standing tall and didn't even seem to mind the hit. Alder hummed in his thoughts at the sight and scratched his head.
"That's a tough dragon you have there, I give you that", he stated. "But that only means that I won't go easy on you! Head Charge again!"
"Dragon Rush!"
This time the zweilous was faster. A blue aura matching its fur surrounded it as it charged forward, attacking the normal-type bouffalant with a violent tackle. The afro-furred pokemon grunted at the pain and flinched, squinting its eyes shut. Touya tensed as he noticed this and a hint of victorious pride glinted in his chocolate eyes.
"Crunch!" he called out and his dragon-type listened, biting the buffalo's neck harshly with its sharp teeth. The normal-type screamed in agony, causing Alder to grit his teeth.
"Not so fast, kid! Bouffalant, Megahorn!"

With a bit of effort the fluffy-furred normal-type opened its eyes and glared at its opponent, then swinging its head towards the zweilous so that one of its horns hit the dragon-type's chest. It was the dragon's turn to scream in pain and worry its trainer. Touya, however, kept his cool and merely clenched his hands to fists.
"Hang in there, zweilous! Dragon Pulse!"
The half dark-type growled menacingly, anger in its whole being. It then faced its opponents, one of its heads directed towards the bouffalant. In a matter of seconds it opened its mouth, shooting a light blue shock wave straight at the normal-type. The power of the move pushed the bouffalant away from the zweilous and made it fall over. It no longer had strength to rise up. Kyohei lifted his right hand up, indicating that Touya had won this round.
"Bouffalant cannot go on! First round goes to Touya!"

There was a short pause as the brunette trainer rushed to his dragon-type. The zweilous cheerfully accepted the praises of its owner, nuzzling both of its head against the boy's chest and the side of his head.
"That Megahorn really scared me... but I'm glad you're okay. You did wonderful", Touya murmured to the pokemon and then called it back into its pokeball. Alder lifted his eyebrow at the deed and, having returned his bouffalant to rest, spoke:
"You're changing pokemon even though I haven't sent out mine yet?"
The words managed to form a smile on Touya's face, but just a brief one.
"I don't need the advantage", he replied.
The older trainer tilted his head a little and stretched his arms.
"Hm. It's always good to have a little pride..."
He then reached his next pokeball. As did Touya.
"Go, volcarona!"
"Swanna, time to roll!"

With another pair of white flashes the new choices appeared before the trainers. Touya's choice was a water- and flying-type pokemon, a swan with blue feathers on its chest shaped like a heart. The feathers on its head were shaped almost like a crown of sorts and the pokemon flapped its wings, happy for some long missed action. Alder's pokemon was a part bug- part fire-type, giving Touya a clear advantage. That advantage appeared to be out of pure luck though, seeing that Touya himself looked rather surprised about the situation.
"Are you trying to lose this intentionally, grandpa?" he laughed out and gained a scolding gaze from the older trainer.
"Now don't be hasty. I still have a chance... volcarona, use psychic!"

And with that the six-winged moth-like pokemon shot psychic waves towards its opponent. The swanna swayed a little where it was standing, shaking its head in order to try and get rid of the feeling caused by the attack.
"Air Slash!"
The flying-type forced its eyes opened and flapped it wings just once, rising above the volcarona. With another flap of wing it sent a powerful, slicing burst of air straight towards the bug-type. The said bug-type screamed in pain and now had some troubles trying to keep flying.
"You can do it, volcarona! Hang on! Quiver Dance!"
The moth then tried dancing clumsily mid-air to gain more power. It managed to do that somehow but only to be crushed another Air Slash. The volcarona fell on the ground unconscious.
"Volcarona has fainted! Second round for Touya!"

Alder returned his trusty bug-type in its pokeball, giving it a small kiss before doing so. He then turned to look at Touya, noting that the brunette was petting his swanna. He smiled at the sight.
"You're better than I thought", he admitted. Hearing this, the younger trainer lifted his head up and looked at the flame-haired man sternly.
"I've won already. Is it completely necessary for us to go on?" he asked. Alder sighed and looked around, seeing that there was now quite a crowd watching the battle. Crowd consisting with lots of children as well as a couple older people and a pair of adults.
"Do we want to disappoint the viewers?"
"So it's not necessary."

Without another word Touya returned his Swanna in its pokeball and put the ball in his bag. Kyohei raised his hand to announce the winner but didn't get to say a word before he already saw Touya hurrying away from the yard, pushing his way away through the crowd. The rookie shot a quick glance at Alder, biting his lip and mouthing the word "sorry". He then ran after Touya, making his way through the now confused crowd chased by his furry little eevee.

A/N: At first I was thinking that I'd make Touya and Kyo sleep over at Alder's place buuut... I think this is better. More dramatic. -shot-

I needed a bunch of info for this chapter. It nearly killed me. xDDD So I really do hope you liked it. 3

Soon, Hugh. Soon you may make your debut...

And soon: HOLIDAYS. Meaning I will have more time to write, yet less Internet connection to check possibly needed information. Shit. :3