Thanks goes out to Blue-Eyes White Knight-BEWK for helping to contribute to the creation of this chapter! Thanks so much!

Vs. Edgar

This was it; the final day of the Hoenn League has finally come to be. On this seventh day of the tournament, people began to file into the collsseum where they would see the two finalists of the this year's tournament commence battle, in order to see who would be crowned victor as the Hoenn League Champion and go on to test their skills against the Elite Four and try to win the title of Champion of Hoenn…

0o0o0o0o0o0

Within her bedroom, making final preparations for her finalist battle, Beka was standing in front of the full length mirror that was placed upon the door of the closet within the Center. She saw everything was top notched and cleaned, a perfect way to appear before the audience that awaited her in a few moments. However, the excitement of her battle seemed a little bit worrisome since it was not only a battle for the Hoenn League title, but a battle that would pit her against one of her best friends.

'I know we promised each other that we wouldn't go easy in this battle,' Beka thought, 'but yet, it's going to be hard to stare at Edgar straight in the eye and consider him my opponent…my rival…'

Beka sighed softly, but was soon replaced by a cunning smirk upon her face and a raised gloved fist up toward her chest as she thought:

'Well, we would have probably battled each other sooner or later…so I just wish for the best of luck for the both of us and may the best trainer win!'

Beka then walked over toward the dresser that rested nearby her bed and reached for the top of the piece of furniture. From the top, she took her belt, containing her Pokeballs that contained her six teammates, and wrapped the belt around her waist and fastened it on. Next, she slipped on her green fingered and white gloves upon her hands and then she placed on the final piece to her attire: the Latias pendent. Pulling up her red hair, which had now slightly lengthen about three inches from when she first came into the Pokemon World, with the backs of her hands, she slipped the pendent around her neck and clicked the backings together so it would stay around her neck. The small figure of the Latias rested upon her neck as she checked again to see if the piece of jewelry was straight on her. Beka then gingerly touched the pendent with her gloved fingers and thought:

'Steven…I hope to see you soon again…'

0o0o0o0o0o0

Sitting on his bed, Edgar held something deep within his mind; which shown deep in his sapphire-blue eyes. His gaze was adverted to the wooden floor and to the green shag rug that rested under his white sneakered feet that was beside his bed. With a deep sigh escaping his lips, a thought popped into his mind that told:

'So, I finally made it to the Hoenn League finals. I'm so happy that I made it this far, but yet…I'm going to have to face her…Beka…in the finals. I mean, we promised that if we did battle one another in this League, we would battle our very best and never give in to the pressure surrounding the situation.'

A faint smile perked from his lips as his eyes now began to gleam with a look of confidence.

'Yeah,' he thought, 'I'm going to keep my promise and I will battle with everything I got…both heart and soul.'

With that, Edgar got to his feet and walked over to the dresser on his desk; picking up his black fingerless gloves and slipping them onto his hands. He then picked up the green Pokeball cloth that Beka had given him as a good luck charm and tied it around his right wrist. After doing so, he then reached for something else that sat on his desk. It was a small velvet blue box that was about four inches in length on each side. He quietly took the box into his hand and placed it upon his left palm and then gently opened the box. Inside of it was a beautiful gold locket that was shaped into a heart. Edgar, with a bit of shakiness in his hand, gently took out the locket out of the box and walked back and sat on his bed. In a ginger hold across his hands, Edgar gently tapped on the locket's side and it opened up before him. Within the vessel of the locket rested a picture of two people who had bright smiles and joyous gleaming eyes; as they both held on another in each other's arms. One of the people was a tall man that had gleaming black hair and deep brown eyes while the other was a female of beautiful features with flowing golden blond hair and gleaming blue eyes. Soft tears began to fill Edgar's eyes as he stared at the picture of the couple, knowing who they were.

'Mom…Dad…' Edgar's thoughts echoed in his mind.

He then turned the locket over gently to see the engraving his father had written for his wife, which was of course, for the locket belonged to Edgar's mother. Carved upon the gold locket was the writing of:

"To my lovely wife Susan, who I will always love until the end of time."

Edgar gently closed his eyes shut; trying to hold back the river of tears that yearned to be sent free in the name of sadness, but Edgar couldn't help it. He brought his black gloved hands up to his face and buried his face into his palms, and his body began to shake in grief. A thought passed through his mind in a sorrowful tone, saying:

'Mom…Dad...how I miss you so much…If you can only see me now, I'm going to battle a friend of mine…her name is Beka and...I'll make you proud…I…I miss you both so much...'

Suddenly, a gentle knocking was heard at the door that lead into his room and caused him to immediately to bring his watery gaze up toward the door. He then heard someone's voice behind the door that called out:

"Hey Ed, can I come in?"

It was Misty's voice.

"Oh, uh," said Edgar, clasping the locket shut quickly in his palm grip and began wiping away thin tears from his eyes, "uh sure, c-come in Misty."

With the turning of the brass doorknob and with a slight bump inwards of the door, Misty, along with her Azurill cradled in her right arm, came into Edgar's room. She then closed the door behind her while Edgar placed on a fake smile and said:

"Hey, what's up Misty?"

"Oh, well," said Misty, walking over and stood beside her younger cousin, "I just came in to wish you good luck on today's battle and…"

Her sentence stopped when she noticed the thin gold chain dangling from Edgar's clutched fist. She then spoke:

"Edgar, is that…your mother's locket?"

"Yeah," said Edgar, reopening his fist to let his cousin see if her question was right, "it-its Mom's alright…"

Misty placed Azurill on the ground beside her and then wrapped her arms around Edgar in a supportive hug.

"Edgar," Misty said, "I know…and you know…that your mom and dad are both watching you from Heaven and are proud of you in all the things that you have done."

"Yeah…" said Edgar, trying to hold back fresh tears, "I know Mist… it is just that...it…it hurts…so much...I miss them and…"

This followed by heavy shaking of grief from the black haired trainer as he began to cry out his tears upon Misty's shoulder and hug his cousin as well.

Misty: "It's ok to cry Ed…" said Misty softly in Edgar's ears, "just let it all out…if you keep it bottled inside, you'll blow up like a piñata…"

"Heh..." was Edgar's response to Misty's comment, causing him to laugh, while Misty hugged him even tighter and laughed with him.

Misty had always been there for Edgar: from when he was little and she taught him how to swim, to helping him begin his Pokemon journey, and to also when his parents were both killed by Team Rocket, and she would always be there for him no matter what. The two then both let go, followed by Misty picking up Azurill from the floor and for Edgar to place his mother's locket around his neck and letting the necklace be covered up by his black shirt. By wearing the locket, Edgar felt like the presence of his parents where always with him and always watching and protecting him where ever he went. He placed his fingers up to the place where his locket hanged and thought:

'I will make you both proud of me…I promise…'

Edgar then turned his gaze toward Misty as she said:

"I made you laugh didn't I?"

This followed by a friendly wink.

"Yeah…" said Edgar, "…thanks Mist…I love you…"

This followed with Edgar giving Misty a small peck on her cheek.

"I love you too…" said Misty, who finished off with a giggle, "…my little Poliwag."

"Hey!" exclaimed Edgar, "Stop calling me that name huh?"

"I can't help it…" laughed Misty, with a bright smile on her face and then taking Azurill back into her arms.

"Well, I'm ready," said Edgar, getting up, "I guess I'll get this show on the road, right?"

"Yeah," Misty nodded and proceeded toward the door to leave the room, with Edgar just behind her to follow her lead.

Edgar then pulled out the locket out of his shirt and looked at the picture of his mom and dad inside. A soft smile perked upon his lips, followed by a signal tear that ran down his cheek and gently dropped upon the locket. Misty was right, his parents are always watching him and will always be with him until the end of time…

0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome one and all to the most exciting battle yet in the Hoenn League Competition…the Final Two!" rang the voice of Mrs. Destiny over the highly enthusiastic crowd, who were cheering for the long awaited battle to commence. "In this clash between the final opponents of the Hoenn League, one will be crowned this year's Hoenn League Champion and have the undivided privilege to test their skill and battle the Elite Four of Hoenn and the current Champion of Hoenn as well for a chance to also be crowned the Champion of Hoenn! So, without further or due, let's welcome our two finalists: Beka and Edgar!"

The cheers of the stadium grew into a monstrous roar as the two remaining finalists proceeded toward their respected trainer boxes on the battle field. However, before their advancements to their boxes, Edgar had called out:

"Hey Beka!"

Beka stopped and turned to see Edgar running up to her.

"Yes?" asked Beka, a little surprised about what Edgar wanted before their match.

Edgar stopped a short distance away from Beka and then slowly walked up to her; his right hand sticking out and saying:

"I just wanted to wish you the best of luck in this battle Beka. May the best trainer win today!"

Beka nodded and then stuck out her left hand and placed the green-fingered and white glove into Edgar's black-gloved grip. They both shook as Beka said:

"Yeah, same to you too Ed."

"Heh, look that them," said Ash from the stands with the others, "nothing like good sportsmanship before their most important battle, right?"

"Yeah," said Misty, "I just wish them both the best of luck…"

"So, who do you think will win?" asked Brendan to May, "Beka or Edgar? Want to make a bet May?"

"WHAT!" exclaimed May, "What kind of a friend are you to bet between your friends!"

This followed with a fist being hit on the side of his head by the female Hoenn trainer. Benen, who was sitting quietly beside the two teens, just shook his head at Brendan's comments and returned his gaze back upon the field.

The two trainers eventually let go and then continued to their sides of the battlefield. Beka stepped within the right trainer's box, her sneakers soft of kicking the white chalk of the lines as she passed into the marked area, while Edgar stepped into his box on the left side of the field. With one last look upon her opponent and excepting her fate, Beka took hold of one of her Pokeballs from her belt in her right hand, letting it expand in her hand, and then threw it out into the sky, calling out:

"Milotic, I choose you!"

The Pokeball popped opened its red and white exterior sphere shell and a dazzling flash of white light spilled out upon the battle field. Materialized upon the battlefield Beka's Milotic.

"Mi-lo-tic!" Milotic called out in its soft gentle voice that rang out like a harmonious song.

Edgar nodded, seeing and confirming the sight of the Water Element before him, and then pulled a Pokeball as well and threw it up to the sky, calling out as well:

"Well Beka, I promised you a Pokemon battle you'll never forget! Raiden, I choose you!"

The Pokeball popped opened and a flare of white light gushed out and danced upon the battlefield before Edgar; revealing Raiden.

"Man-ec-tric!" barked out Raiden.

'Nice choice...' thought Beka.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Milotic vs. Edgar's Manectric, Raiden

BATTLE BEGIN!

'I taught Raiden a new move, so when the time is right, I'll show Beka,' a thought filled Edgar's mind as a cunning smile filled his face, and this followed to the first command of:

"Raiden! Attack Milotic with Thunderbolt now!"

Raiden's body began to flash in a yellow aura and then followed by streams of electric current dancing its way toward the majestic Water Element.

"Milotic, use Mud-Slap!"

Raising up its fanned tail and splitting the pink, blue, and black designed fins, a mesh of thick mud came out from the splitted area of the tail. The Mud-Slap attack slammed into the Thunderbolt, deflecting off Thunderbolt and for it to make its way toward Raiden.

"Raiden! Avoid that Mud-Slap!"

Raiden, seeing the Ground-Element attack coming towards it from its ruby gaze, lowered itself upon its haunches and then bounded into the air; evading the oncoming Mud-Slap attack.

'Hmm…' thought Edgar, '…Milotic is a Water Element Pokemon... I think I got an idea on how to take it out…'

A smirk pressed against his face as he called out:

"Raiden, use Thunder!"

Another flash of yellow light flared around Raiden's blue and yellow colored body and then sent out an even more powerful blast of electric current out toward Milotic, striking the draconic serpent and for the Water Element to cry in pain in the tone of a perishing melody.

"Milotic!" exclaimed Beka, and then switching to thought: 'Oh man, how did I let this attack get by me? I have to think of something and...'

Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind and then immediately called out:

"Milotic, slice your tail into the ground!"

Hearing its trainer over the electrical cracklings that filled its head, Milotic struck its fanned tail into the ground. As it did, the Thunder attack began to absorb into the ground and let Milotic to quickly recover from the electric attack.

"Huh?" said Edgar, eyes widening to a surprised look.

"Good," said Beka, "now Milotic, use Hydro Pump!"

With its mouth opened, Milotic sent out a powerful surging blast of blue water toward Raiden and since it was still recovering from Thunder, sparks of the electric attack sparked within the flow of the Hydro Pump.

"Not so fast!" exclaimed Edgar, "Raiden, use Thunder Wave on Hydro Pump!"

Raiden's body began to glow in a pale blue light, filled with a sparkling flickering within the light, and then followed by a massive stream of bluish-white light that sliced through the Hydro Pump and began to make its way toward Milotic.

"Milotic, Safeguard!"

Milotic, beginning to hum a soft melody over its closed mouth, began to create a rainbow colored shield that surrounded its body and easily deflected off Thunder Wave, making the attack useless.

"Very clever Beka," smiled Edgar, "I'm impressed that you managed to stop Raiden's Thunder Wave attack, but next time, you won't be so lucky…"

"If you insist Ed..." smirked Beka.

"Now to get serious," said Edgar and then called out: "Raiden, use Thunder with all your might!"

Raiden's body once again began to glow in a bright yellow aura and then followed by a massive blast of blazing electric current that danced its way toward Milotic.

"Milotic, Protect!"

Releasing another harmony vibration deep in its throat, Milotic set up another barrier around its form; this one being of a golden light and for the Thunder attack to negate off.

"Dang it!" exclaimed Edgar, "I've go to improvise…Raiden, use Bite on Milotic now!"

Raiden then began to make a full power charge at Milotic, its teeth being bared and hinting to glow in a blackish aura.

"Milotic, use Attract!"

With its tail raised again and the fan-like fin splitting, a pink heart of light was sent out upon the battlefield and quietly danced its way toward the oncoming Manectric.

"Raiden, use Double Team!"

Raiden skidded to a halt at Edgar's words in the middle of the field. Seeing Attract coming towards it, Raiden's body glowed in a faint white light for a moment and soon, mirror images of itself surrounded Milotic. The Attract attack floated and hit one of the Manectric's illusions, seeing it was a fake, and it with the reflection it broke away into a thousand pieces of light and dissolved in the air.

'I didn't know Ed taught Raiden Double Team…' thought Beka, '…nice move…but since we are in the final battle of the Hoenn League, he has probably beefed up all his Pokemon with new moves…'

Beka then switched to speech with:

"Now Milotic, use Swift!"

Raising up its tail and splitting apart the fanned tip fin, Milotic sent out a barrage of golden stars of light upon the battle field; slicing through the illusions of the Electric Element and hitting the real Raiden which caused the illusions to disappear.

"Now Raiden, Bite Milotic's tail and use Thunder!"

With a large bound from its feet, Raiden made a powerful charge toward Milotic with its sharp white teeth bared and gleaming in a hint of black shadows.

"Milotic, use Iron Tail to stop Raiden!"

Milotic positioned itself for an attack and raised up its scaled tail over its head as it began to gleam in a metallic hue. Once Raiden leaped and aimed for Milotic, the Water Element threw its tail around and slammed the Steel Element attack into Raiden's right side. However, Raiden wasn't going to give up that easily and sent out Thunder, and with Iron Tail being a good conductor to electricity, Milotic received the powerful attack into its aquatic form, causing it to faint.

"Milotic is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Manectric is the winner!"

"Yes!" cheered Edgar, "Good boy Raiden!"

"Mane!" barked out Raiden, but suddenly winced from the Iron Tail blow to its right side and softly whimpered in a dog whine.

"You okay boy?" asked Edgar, who let Raiden come over to his trainer's box.

The Electric Element made another bark of reassurance that it was still willing to battle. With a bright smile upon his face, Edgar hugged his Manectric and said:

"I'm really proud of you boy!"

He then looked up to see Beka had gone out to the field to check on her Milotic. With a smirk, he said to her:

"One down and two to go Beka!"

"I'm very proud of you Milotic," said Beka, holding out Milotic's Pokeball, "take a nice long rest."

She recalled Milotic back into its Pokeball in a red beam of light and after hearing Edgar's comments, she laughed and said:

"See you outside the winner's circle Ed!"

She then pulled out her next Pokeball and threw it up into the air, calling out:

"Absol, I choose you!"

The Pokeball opened and in a flash of white light materialized Beka's Absol.

"Ab-sol," Absol called out in a deep low growl.

"Let's show Beka we mean business Raiden!" called out Edgar.

"Tric-ec!" barked out Raiden.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Absol vs. Edgar's Manectric, Raiden

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Raiden, use Quick Attack!"

Raiden began to charge at Absol with its Quick Attack, causing it to be surrounded in a stream of white light.

"Absol, use Bite!"

Thanks to Raiden's Quick Attack, the Electric Element was right in range of Absol so the Dark Element leaped at Raiden and landed its black aura Bite attack into Raiden; causing Raiden to flinch at the attack and return back to its side of the field.

"Raiden, use Double Team! While you're at it, use Thunderbolt!"

Raiden, recovering from Bite, glowed in a faint white aura and soon its illusions surrounded Absol in a circle. Then, all together, the Manectrics began to glow in a yellow hue and then sent out troves of Thunderbolt.

"Absol, use Aerial Ace!"

Absol suddenly from the spot it stood at in the middle of the battlefield and caused the Thunderbolts to hit an empty target in the middle of the circle. Then, Absol reappeared behind a certain Manectric and slammed into it, causing the real Raiden to yelp in surprisement and for its illusions to disappear from the field. This attack, being a critical hit, caused Raiden to faint.

"Manectric is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Absol is the winner!"

"Yes!" cheered Beka, "Great job Absol!"

"Ab!" Absol called out back to its trainer with a happy expression on its face.

"Raiden, return!" called out Edgar, holding out Raiden's Pokeball.

Raiden, transforming into a mesh of red light, returned into its Pokeball in the form of a red beam.

"You did well boy," praised Edgar, "I'm really proud of you."

Edgar then looked back out upon the field and pulled out his next Pokeball.

"All right!" called out Edgar, "Time to fire things up!"

He threw out his next Pokeball and called out:

"Inferno, come on out and help me out!"

In a flash of white light that melted out of the opened Pokeball appeared Edgar's Charizard, Inferno.

"Char-i-zard!" roared out Inferno in a draconic tone, followed by shooting out a blast of fire from its mouth to show it was ready to battle.

'Heh,' thought Beka, 'just like Salamence and its Dragonbreath…'

"Hey Ash," said Misty, "does that remind you of any other Charizards you know?"

Ash simply laughed as Pikachu sighed softly on his shoulder.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Absol vs. Edgar's Charizard, Inferno

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Inferno, Fly up high and then hit the ground hard with Earthquake!"

Spreading out its red and blue membrane wings, Inferno took flight to the blue sky. Then, positioning itself with its feet aimed toward the ground, Inferno came back down to Earth at an amazing rate of speed.

"Absol, use Razor Wind to kick up into the air!"

With its black scythe blade glowing in pale gray auras, three twisters began to form above the scythe and once they fully formed, Absol swung its blade down toward the ground, causing the force of the wind to blast back up and lift the Dark Element into the air. Inferno crashed back into the ground and sent out its Earthquake, but proved useless to the now aerial Absol.

"Grr…" Edgar growled, "…Inferno, use Flamethrower on Absol!"

Inferno craned its head and neck up toward the mid-air Absol and opened its mouth. From deep within its throat, a powerful blast of red, orange, and yellow flames melted and streamed out toward Absol, as if it was a flying disk.

"Absol, Water Pulse!"

With its scythe glowing in a watery blue light, Absol swung the blade down and sent out three powerful water rings toward Flamethrower and incinerating the Fire Element attack and coming toward Inferno.

"Inferno, evade Water Pulse!"

With a powerful blast of its wings, Inferno took to the sky and evaded the attack. Water Pulse continued down and slammed into the battlefield, causing the three rings to blast in the middle of the battlefield.

"Now Inferno, use…" with a smirk, Edgar ended with: "…Hyper Beam!"

Inferno opened its mouth again and a sphere of golden light began to form in its dragon mouth. Quickly, Beka called out:

"Absol, use Ice Beam to create a wall of ice!"

Having now landed back on its side of the field, Absol's scythe now glowed in a misty glow of white light and streams of icy-white light dance from the blade. The Ice Beam slammed into the battlefield and began to crawl up into the air in the form of an icy crystal wall which reached about thirty feet in height and twenty feet in length. From the opposite side of the ice, Beka saw the shifting form of Inferno release the golden blast of Hyper Beam. The hyperactive beam of golden light slammed into the wall and deflected off, but had caused the wall of ice to completely melt; exactly what Beka wanted to happen.

'No matter which attack Inferno uses,' thought Edgar, 'Beka just keeps on going on the defense…'

Edgar then called out:

"Inferno, use Blast Burn on the field!"

With its body glowing in a fiery hue, Inferno opened its mouth and a giant sphere of molten fire began to form and expand from within.

'Ed's trying to create a molten lava field!' an exclamatory thought passed through Beka's mind, 'Well, not if I can help it…'

She then called out:

"Absol, use Rain Dance!"

Absol's body began to glow in a pale blue and then it let out a powerful cry to the sky. As it did, black rain clouds surrounded the battlefield and a heavy down pour began to fall. As Rain Dance had began, Inferno had let out the powerful sphere of fire and as the fire fell, the rain got to it first and dissolved it before it hit the field.

"Dang it!" exclaimed Edgar, getting frustrated, "I can't beat Beka's Absol! Think Ed! How to defeat Absol…"

"Absol, use Thunder!"

Absol's body now began to glow in a yellow hue, followed by sparks beginning to dance around its scythe. With a powerful swing of its blade, powerful blasts of Thunder shot out into the sky and slammed into Inferno without fail.

"Inferno! Resist it!"

After the powerful Thunder hit, Inferno was willing to battle on and Beka could see that Absol's last attack angered the Fire/Flying Element.

"Inferno, use your ultimate attack! Use Rage!"

Inferno's flame on the tip of its tail began to burn brighter and bigger than normal, as it showed a deep look of anger deep in its sharp blue eyes. It then began to come down at Absol at a fast rate of speed.

'Now's Ed's Charizard is at a pitched rage…' thought Beka, '…but Absol and I will not get intimidated…'

Beka then called out:

"Now Absol, use Water Pulse!"

With another swing of its glowing blue blade, another series of supersonic water blasts were sent toward Inferno.

"Now Fly and avoid that Water Pulse!" called out Edgar.

Spreading out its wings, Inferno glided and shot back up into the sky, evading Water Pulse.

'Now's our chance…' thought Beka, and called out:

"Absol, use Thunder again!"

With a flash of electrical current toward its scythe, Absol sent out another Thunder toward the fleeing Charizard and strikes.

"Fire Blast now!" yelled out Edgar.

Twisting in the air with Thunder hitting it, Inferno sent out a powerful blast of fire toward Absol in the shape of a five pointed star and slammed into the Dark Element head on.

"Absol, Water Pulse!"

Cringing to withstand the Fire Blast, Absol heard its trainer's cry and then sent out another blast of its Water Pulse. The attack dissolved Fire Blast, but it left glowing orange burn marks around Absol's form.

"Inferno," called out Edgar, "can you battle pal?"

Inferno, who had landed back on its side of the field to regain itself back into the battle, nodded to Edgar.

"Okay," said Edgar, "now Fly up in the air and your aerial attacks!"

"How about you Absol?" asked Beka, who asked her Absol.

Absol's ruby's gaze pierced her hazel eyes and nodded, but Beka could see it was now inflicted with a Burn Status. Beka thanked her Absol in her heart for its courage to continue on. She then heard a battle cry and adverted her gaze to the cloudy sky. Inferno was now up in the sky and readying for an attack, which lead Beka to call out:

"Absol, Double Team!"

Absol, glowing in a faint white light, was soon surrounded by its illusions upon the battlefield.

"Inferno, use Flamethrower on all targets!"

With another blast of fiery streams of flames, Inferno unleashed its attack upon the field below.

"Absol, Protect!"

Just in time, Absol surrounded itself in a golden shield of light as the illusions disappeared. Flamethrower hit Protect and negated off.

"Gotcha!" said Edgar, "Now grab Absol and use Seismic Toss on it!"

With wings folded into its back, Inferno began to charge at Absol from the sky with its claws extended in hopes for a grab.

"Now Absol, Water Pulse again!"

Another powerful stream of Water Pulse shot out of the Absol's blade and toward Inferno.

"Use Hyper Beam now!" exclaimed Edgar.

The golden beam of hyperactive energy formed and slammed into the oncoming Water Pulse, causing a powerful explosion. Since both Pokemon were in close range, the forces of the attack sent them flying back to their own sides of the field and the power the two attacks unleashed had thus for them to faint.

"Both Absol and Charizard are unable to battle," called out the referee, "this round is a draw!"

Both of the trainers held out their Pokeballs and recalled their fallen partners. After thanks and praises were delivered to their Pokemon, Edgar then called out to Beka, with a beaming smile upon his face:

"Wow Beak, I gotta hand it to you; you are the toughest opponent I have ever faced!"

Beka, who was very surprised at Edgar's complement, said:

"Oh, well thank you! You are in fact the toughest trainer I had to square off as well!"

"Heh, thanks!" Edgar laughed with his bright smile, but then turned to a cunning smirk.

Beka looked toward Edgar's right hand where she saw the gleam of Edgar's last Pokeball, sending a chill down her spine. For you see, this Pokeball was…crystal…

"Now," said Edgar, "I'm going to summon my ultimate Pokemon!"

He threw the Crystal Ball and called out:

"Aurora, I choose you!"

The Crystal Ball opened and from the sphere spilled out a glowing show of the northern lights and then materialized, in all its glory, into the Legendary of the Northern Wind: Suicune.

"SUI-CUNE!" roared out Aurora to the sky, causing the clouds of Rain Dance to automatically vanquish from the sky, bringing back the crystal blue sky.

Everyone in the audience gasps at the sight of the beautiful Legendary, along with a few comments of how a trainer like Edgar could have captured or how they wanted it as well.

"WOW!" exclaimed Misty, with starry anime eyes "A Suicune! I gotta tell Ed to let me have it! OHH! I love Water Pokemon!"

As she was entering her dream world of the Water Elements, she was hugging Ash in a powerful crushing death grip.

"Hey Misty," said Brendan, "you're…uh…kind of killing him…"

Realizing that Brendan had spoken, she turned and saw Ash's head was about to pop from the lack of oxygen to his brain.

"Oh," said Misty, letting go of Ash and as he began to gasp for air, "sorry Ashykins…"

"Let's see how you can beat a Legendary Pokemon like my Suicune Beka," said Edgar, "I'm going to win and become a Pokemon Master!"

A long silence passed through Beka's mind. She felt everything disappear from around her, except for the trainer and Legendary before her. Her hazel gaze, now softening to a deep hued emerald, is set upon the Legendary's crimson-ruby eyes, which seemed to pierce into her mind like a dream becoming a reality. She then took her last Pokeball into her hand and held it up to her heart, and then from the deepest reaches of her mind, she speaks:

You are my last hope in this battle. I am so privileged to have gotten this far on my journey through Hoenn and you, being there for me since the beginning, along with the others have made this the best experience I have ever been swepted into in my entire life. And now, standing here in the final two of the Hoenn League, we will both battle, together in heart and soul, and for one…we will not go out empty handed!

With a powerful throw into the sky, Beka cried out with a powerful passion:

"BLAZIKEN, I CHOOSE YOU!"

The Pokeball flew high into sky and then popped opened, causing a flow of white light to pour out and take the form of Blaziken.

"Blaz-i-ken!" bellowed out Blaziken, clutching its fist and as it did, flames bursted forth from around its wrist.

'Edgar,' thought Beka, her emerald eyes piercing into his sapphire gaze, 'I wish you the best of luck…'

Battle Situation:

Beka's Blaziken vs. Edgar's Suicune, Aurora

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Ladies first," Edgar said with a smirk.

"Why thank you," said Beka, "Blaziken, begin with Swords Dance!"

Blaziken closed its blue/yellow eyes and opened up its clawed hands. From the hands, fire began to crackle and form out; taking the form of two long swords of fire that glowed in orange and golden hues. Then, as if an ancient battle ceremony was being to commence, Blaziken began to make steps and swings of its hands as the fire swords slashed through the air and caused fire to flicker and swirl around Blaziken's martial art's form. This beautiful spectacle, sort of showing the birth of a phoenix from its funeral pyre, helped to increased Blaziken's Attack Status.

'Uh-oh,' thought Edgar, 'not good…now Blaziken is using Swords Dance…its attacks will become stronger…'

"It's your move…" said Beka softly.

"Okay Aurora, use Rain Dance!"

Unlike Absol's Rain Dance move, Aurora conjured gray clouds that seemed to glow in faint hues of aurora light as the rain was more like flashes of rainbow light that fell upon the battlefield and when they hit the ground, faint blue ripples showed for a few seconds and disappeared into the ground.

"Now use Hydro Pump on Blaziken!"

Aurora opened its mouth and tiny blue spectacles began to form a blue sphere from inside. Aurora then sent out its Legendary's version of Hydro Pump as a beam of blue light with a watery reflection from inside was sent out toward Blaziken.

"Blaziken, Protect!"

Blaziken crossed its arms together in front of it, in a protective stance, and a golden shield veiled around it; protecting it from Hydro Pump as the Water attack negated off.

"Lucky shot…" Edgar said under his breath.

"Why thank you," Beka smiled.

"You know," said Edgar, with a cocky smirk, "you're at a disadvantage Beka, why don't you just give up?"

"Hmm…" said Beka, her emerald gaze glowing harder, "…that doesn't seem like the Ed I know…"

"Uh-oh," said Misty, "Ed is acting cocky…"

"Don't worry," said Brendan, "I got an idea…" The white haired trainer stood from his seat, clasped his gloved hands together over his mouth, and shouted out:

"HEY POLIWAG! OH, POLIWAG!"

Edgar, hearing his friend taunt him to quit being so cocky in this battle, turned and shouted with a death glare:

"BRENDAN! GRR!"

Seeing this chance to strike, Beka called out:

"Now Blaziken, use Sunny Day!"

Blaziken's body began to glow in a golden aura and then bellowed to the sky; breaking away Aurora's Rain Dance and for the sun to pour heavenly rays over the battle field.

"Oh no! Not good!" exclaimed Edgar, now starting to get nervous.

"Now Blaziken, use Bulk Up!"

Blaziken took in a deep breath of air and then exhaled, causing its Attack and Defense stats to rise and strengthen it further.

"Now use Slash Blaziken!"

With claws extended and glowing in a white hue, Blaziken began to charge at Aurora in hopes of striking the Legendary.

"Aurora, use Gust!"

Aurora threw its head back and unleashed its legendary cry through out the battlefield. As it did, a flicker of the wind began to twist and dance before Aurora, and soon it grew to a monstrous size; this being the biggest Gust that Beka had ever seen. The Gust then began to swirl and spin its way toward the oncoming Blaziken.

"Quick Blaziken, switch to Protect!"

Hearing its trainer's call, Blaziken stopped and proceeded back to its protective stance as Protect veiled itself over Blaziken again. When Gust hit the shield, its fell upon itself and calmed back into the surrounding atmosphere.

"Aurora, Bubblebeam!"

Aurora opened its mouth and sent out crystal spheres of fast move bubbles toward Blaziken, as they shined with tiny hues from within.

"Blaziken, Mirror Move!"

Blaziken scanned the oncoming Bubblebeam, tracing the move and imbedding the information of the attack into its brain, and then opened its mouth and unleashed the exact copy of Aurora's attack, legendary feature and all. The two Bubblebeams slammed into each other and countered each other, but a few bubbles from burst stream coming from Blaziken had passed Aurora's attack and headed toward the Legendary.

"Aurora, just stay put and receive the hit!"

The bubbles slammed into Aurora, causing nothing but light taps to the Suicune.

'Smart move…' thought Beka.

"This is one match that you won't win Beka," said Edgar, pointing to Beka, "you've battled many opponents, but this time…you've met your match! I'm going to be the one to end your winning streak!"

"You are powerful Ed," said Beka, "In fact, more powerful than Benen…but I won't let this battle intimidate me from victory!"

"And I'm going to give my all!" finished up Edgar, with confidence, and then called out: "Now Aurora, use Surf!"

Aurora, its body glowing in a blue aura, conjured up a wall of water that floated under its feet and, with the Legendary upon it, arose high into the air like an oncoming tidal wave.

"Blaziken, use Hyper Beam!"

Blaziken opened its beaked mouth, having golden particles form into a sphere of golden light, and shot out a golden blast of energy. The Hyper Beam, thanks to Swords Dance and Bulk Up, was more powerful than Beka expected and when it struck Surf, the Water attack instantly evaporated the wave in a matter of seconds. Aurora, who sensed the attack's power, had jumped off moments before and missed Hyper Beam, and was now awaiting word from Edgar on its side of the field.

"You're full of surprises Beka…" chuckled Edgar.

"Well," said Beka, "it takes good to use your time to study your own Pokemon and the possible moves they can learn…"

"True," said Edgar, "but it's when and how well you use the moves to your advantage…and I'll show you…use Mist Aurora!"

Thick, frosty Mist began to fill the battlefield, hiding the opponent and the Legendary from Beka's gaze.

'Now Aurora will be resisted to negative status change moves…' Beka thought.

"Now try to get near Blaziken and use Bubblebeam!" called out Edgar.

"Blaziken, when the moment's right, use Protect!"

Blaziken nodded and closed its blue/yellow eyes; as if building its next strategy by hearing its surroundings. Then, a soft padding noise filled Blaziken's hearing as well as the flow of bubbles. Immediately, Blaziken set up Protect and the Bubblebeam attack, which had slammed in from behind Blaziken, was negated off.

"You can't rely on Protect all the time Beka!" shouted Edgar from the thick surroundings, as if he was a sensei testing his student, "Sooner or later, Protect won't work if you use it every time…"

'He's right…' thought Beka, and then called out: "True, but that only if you use it continuously! Now Blaziken, use Flamethrower to blast away Mist!"

Blaziken opened its mouth and released its orange and golden hued flames across the battlefield; burning away Mist and revealing her opponents.

"Okay Aurora, use Double Team and surround Blaziken and when I give the word, use Hydro Pump!"

Aurora, unlike how a normal Double Team would have been performed, began to make its powerful and agile run around Blaziken, moving so fast that it seemed like a herd of Suicunes were surrounding the Fire/Flying Element.

"Blaziken, remain calm and detect the real Aurora!"

"Now, use Hydro Pump!" called out Edgar.

The numerous Suicunes, while still running, opened their mouths and unleashed the watery beam of Hydro Pump toward Blaziken.

"Blaziken, use Quick Attack to jump!"

Lowering itself upon its long, muscular legs and using Quick Attack as a power boost, Blaziken bounded high into the sky and evaded the Hydro Pumps.

"Use Hydro Pump again!" exclaimed Edgar.

Aurora raised its head up to the sky and sent out a power blast of blue light toward the aerial Blaziken.

"Blaziken, Overheat!"

Doing a twist mid-air, Blaziken turned faced the oncoming attack of Hydro Pump. Opening its beak, Blaziken let out a powerful orange and golden stream of twisting flames, with white flames that circled the stream to hold the attack together, down toward Hydro Pump. Overheat, although weak to Hydro Pump, was able to blast the attack away to vapors.

"Use Aurora Beam!" exclaimed Edgar.

Aurora opened its mouth and unleashed a stream of rainbow light out toward Blaziken, slamming the Ice Element attack into the fire bird's leg and making it lose balance in the air.

"Blaziken!" exclaimed Beka.

"Now use Gust!" called out Edgar.

Aurora roared again and created another twister of wind that danced its way toward the now falling Blaziken.

"Blaziken, use Protect!"

Hearing its trainer's call, Blaziken surrounded itself in a golden light. Gust caught Blaziken's fall and made the Fire/Fighting Element dance within its vortex; although not hurting it with its Flying Element factors.

'Wait for it…' thought Beka, hoping Protect will last through out Gust.

She watched as Blaziken was sent higher into the air as Gust began to die down.

"Too bad Blaziken can't fly…" smirked Edgar.

'That's it!' thought Beka, 'Flight!'

She then smiled and said:

"Thanks Ed for the suggestion!"

"Huh?" asked Edgar.

"Blaziken, Aerial Ace!"

Blaziken, doing a twist to steady itself in the air, suddenly disappeared in the sky.

"What the…!" exclaimed Edgar in shock, "Where did Blaziken go?"

Suddenly, Blaziken reappeared behind Aurora and slammed its aerial attack into the Legendary.

"NO!" exclaimed Edgar, "Aurora!"

"Now Blaziken, Thunderpunch!"

With its right wrist glowing and crackling in streams of electricity, Blaziken landed a super effective attack into Aurora and caused damage to the Legendary of the North Wind.

"Gotta think quick!" exclaimed Edgar, "Aurora, block that attack with Reflect!"

A thin orange shield began to form around Aurora in order to protect itself.

"Ed," Beka said, "that's only for PHYSICAL ATTACKS!"

After saying this, Thunderpunch was delivered in full force upon Aurora.

"Man!" exclaimed Edgar, "That was dumb!"

Blaziken then returned back to its side of the field and awaited for the next battle move. Taking off his league hat, Edgar rubbed his forehead against his left arm and thought:

'Way to go Ed! You messed up big time! It's a good thing Aurora didn't get paralyzed by Blaziken's Thunderpunch or I would've lost the match to Beka…'

'He's losing his cool…' thought Beka, her emerald eyes showing compassion for her opoonent, '…come on Ed, I know you can do better than this…'

"What's wrong with my little cousin?" asked Misty, "He never messed up before in a Pokemon battle…maybe the pressure is getting to him."

"It appears so…" May said softly.

"Ed has to focus," said Ash, "or else he'll lose to Beka…"

"Hey Ed!" shouted Brendan, "If you keep this attitude of yours going on through this battle, I'll torture you for life with your dreaded nickname!"

"Brendan please," said Benen, placing a finger in his right ear closest to Brendan.

Edgar, ignoring Brendan's comment, took out his mother's locket and stared at the golden heart as it shined softly in the sunlight. He then thought:

'I can't afford to make anymore mistakes, but the stakes are high. If I don't win, I'll lose and I'll be in shame in the memory of my mother and father…'

Beka noticed what Edgar was looking at and thought:

'A locket? But, it looks like a woman's…oh wait, it must have belonged to Ed's mom. Poor guy, his parents aren't here to see him battle and it must really eating him up inside…'

Edgar then closed his sapphire eyes and a memory swepted him away from the battle…

0o0o0o0o0o0

Flashback: Six years ago…

"Pikachu, use Tackle on Horsea!" came the cry of an eleven-year-old Edgar Knight as he was have a practice Pokemon battle against his thirteen-year-old cousin Misty.

Edgar's Pikachu began to charge at Misty's Horsea, a Water Element that looked like a baby seahorse with light blue scales, a cream-colored line of scales along its underbelly, a cream back fin, three blue points that poked from the sides of its horse-shaped head, a curled-in tail, a tubed mouth, and big bright red eyes.

"Horsea, use Bubblebeam!"

Horsea unleashed a stream of thick foamy bubbles at the oncoming Pikachu.

"Pikachu, dodge it!"

It was too late for Pikachu since it slammed into the Bubblebeam and caused it to faint.

"No!" exclaimed Edgar, and falling to his knees, "I lost again…"

"Hey," said Misty, walking up to Edgar, "it was a good try Ed, you did really well."

"I'll never win a Pokemon battle…" said Edgar, "…how can I win if I keep losing to you?"

Misty glances off to the side for a moment and says:

"Well…Edgar…it doesn't matter if you win or lose in a Pokemon battle, the important aspect is to keep trying and practicing. Someday, you will be in a battle where everything will lay on the line. When you do meet that day, you will be ready…just keep on trying more okay?"

Edgar looks up at Misty with a bright smile and says:

"'Kay Big Sister Misty! I promise I'll practice more and work harder and make you, Mommy, and Daddy proud!"

He runs up and gives Misty and big hug of affection and smiles while he says:

"I love you Misty!"

Misty smiles as well and hugs him, saying:

"I love you too Ed!"

"I'm gonna become a Pokemon Master!" said Edgar, giving a peace sign to Misty.

Misty laughs and says:

"And a good master you will be as well…"

End Flashback

0o0o0o0o0o0

Edgar then opened his eyes, with a new confidence filling him, and placed his cap back over his spiky black hair. He then turned back to the battlefield and at Beka. Putting on his game face, he stared deep into her emerald gaze and said:

"All right Beka, listen up! I've worked so hard to become a good Pokemon trainer and this is the moment where it all pays off! Beka, as much as I like you as a friend, I can't let you win! This is my destiny to win and to be one step closer to become a Pokemon Master! Aurora, let's show them what we're made of!"

"CUNE!" roared out Aurora.

With a bright smile upon her face, seeing her old friend now ready to battle, she called out:

"Alright! There's the Ed I know! And just like you, I will fight to the bitter end and prevail as Champion of the Hoenn League! Blaziken, let's do this!"

"BLAZE!" bellowed out Blaziken, fists glowing with fire.

"Aurora, use Quick Attack!"

Aurora began to blaze down the battlefield toward Blaziken with an incredible speed.

"Blaziken, Double Team!"

Blaziken, glowing for a brief moment in a white aura, surrounded Aurora with its many illusions. Aurora struck down a Blaziken, but it was only an illusion since it broke apart into a thousand pieces and disappeared into the air.

"Use Surf now!" exclaimed Edgar.

Aurora threw its head back and called out to the sky, with its body glowing in a blue aura. From Edgar's side of the field, Surf formed as the watery wall made its way toward the illusions.

"Blaziken, Protect!"

Blaziken, with arms crossed, set up another shield of golden light around it as the Surf swepted up Aurora to the top, and deflected off the real Blaziken and swepted away the illusions.

"Quick Aurora, Tackle it hard!"

Aurora, jumping off the now dying Surf, slammed its prism shaped head into the Protect shield and shattered it. Blaziken quickly evaded the oncoming Tackle and stood on its side of the field and awaited its next move from its trainer. Beka was shocked at what had happened, seeing that the Legendary was now serious in this battle, and thought:

'No way…'

"Oh yeah!" cheered Edgar, "Now to win this! Use Hydro Pump, full power!"

Aurora opened its mouth and sent out the blazing force of Hydro Pump toward Blaziken.

"It's now or never!" exclaimed Beka, "Blaziken, use Hyper Beam!"

Blaziken opened its mouth and sent out a powerful blaze of Hyper Beam out toward the oncoming Hydro Pump. The two attacks collide and an explosion occurred, filling smoke into the battlefield. With the thick smoke lifting, Beka and Edgar saw that both Blaziken and Aurora were still standing and awaiting the next move. A feeling of hyperactive excitement had filled Beka, so much that she couldn't help but smile and call out:

"Man, what a showdown this is!"

"Tell me about it!" called back Edgar.

"I am really enjoying this…and I mean it!" exclaimed Beka.

"Same here!" smiled Edgar.

"Okay Blaziken, let's use Hidden Power!"

Blaziken's body began to glow in a faint white hue and soon, tiny spheres of energy began to dance around its muscular, thin built. As the spheres rotated, they grew until they reach three times their normal size. Then, once fully prepared, Blaziken released Hidden Power upon the field toward Aurora.

"Use Double Team!" exclaimed Edgar.

Aurora, surrounding itself with its illusions, easily missed Hidden Power as each sphere hit only a mirror image.

"Now use your speed in a zigzag direction!" called out Edgar.

Aurora then began to run toward Blaziken in a zigzagging pattern that seemed more like the motion of waves upon the water.

"Blaziken, remain calm and let Aurora come to you!"

Blaziken nodded and watched Aurora's movements toward it.

"Aurora, stop!"

Aurora halted to a stop, keeping Blaziken and Beka on their toes for the next move.

"Now use Ice Beam on the field!" shouted Edgar.

Aurora opened its mouth and unleashed bright flashes of light upon the field, its own version of Ice Beam, and automatically froze the battlefield and caused Blaziken's feet to be frozen into the sheet of ice. Blaziken tried to break out of it, but it was useless.

"Blaziken!" exclaimed Beka, then switched to thought: 'Oh no…how do I get out of this predicament…think Beka, think…wait, that's it!' Switching back to speech: "Blaziken, use Metal Claw on the ice!"

"Use Ice Beam again!" called out Edgar.

Aurora sent out another flash of white light toward Blaziken, while Blaziken, with its claws glowing in a metallic hue, ripped down toward the ice and freed itself from its icy prison. The Fire/Fighting Element then made a ginat bound for the sky and evaded the oncoming Ice Element attack.

"Now Blaziken, use Sunny Day!"

Blaziken, golwing again in a gold light, called to the sky and let Sunny Day continue on; causing the ice to melt away.

"Use Rain Dance and then Bubblebeam Aurora!"

Aurora, glowing in an aurora light, called for the Legendary's rain clouds to return as well as its rain of aurora light. The Suicune then opened its mouth and unleashed another army of fast moving bubbles.

"Blaziken, use Swift!"

Blaziken opened its mouth and sent out a storm of golden stars out toward the field; bursting Bubblebeam and slicing their way toward Aurora, hitting the Legendary.

"Aurora, use Quick Attack again and this time, hit it hard!"

Aurora, recovering from Swift, began to charge at Blaziken in its blinding speed.

"Blaziken, evade with Aerial Ace!"

Blaziken, just in time disappeared from its spot from the field as Aurora blazed through an empty target. Beka saw Aurora coming at her fast and closed her eyes, waiting for impact. Nothing, however, came and she opened her eyes, to see Aurora had stopped right infront of her, just inches from her face. Beka was lost within the ruby gaze that gleamed into her emerald sight and then suddenly, Aurora bounded back from Beka about ten feet and continued to stare at her. Suddenly, Blaziken reappeared and slammed its aerial attack into the Legendary.

"That's what I wanted you to do!" exclaimed Edgar, "Aurora, grab Blaziken with Bite!"

Aurora then turned its head around and grabbed Blaziken's left fist, causing Blaziken to cry in pain.

"Blaziken, Sky Uppercut!"

With its right fist, Blaziken was able to pull the fist down and slam it under Aurora.

"Don't let go!" exclaimed Edgar.

Hearing its trainer, Aurora held on tighter as the force of Sky Uppercut sent both Pokemon into the air.

"Now Aurora! Use Blaziken's own weight and slam it to the ground!"

With a twist in the air, Aurora was able to get above Blaziken and then slammed its form into Blaziken's; as if to land a full blown aerial Tackle into the Fire/Fighting Element.

'I only got one shot at this…' thought Beka and then called out: "Blaziken, use Counter to deflect off the ground!"

Hearing its trainer, Blaziken's body began to glow in a burnt orange hue. As Blaziken was about to be pinned to the ground, Counter took affect and caused a powerful crash to cause a crater into the ground, but the force of the Normal Element attack slammed into Aurora and caused the Legendary to be sent back to its side of the field. With both Pokemon, shaking through the aftermath of Counter, which had effected them both greatly, they stood back to their feet.

"Aurora!" called out Edgar.

"Blaziken!" called out Beka.

The two titans of Fire and Water stood facing each other; both piercing into each others gazes in a stare that would shake even time itself. A wind passed through the standstill space of the battle, bring the reality of the upcoming results. Then, they both fell: Blaziken on its back and Aurora on its side. A gasp escaped from Beka's lips as Edgar staggered toward Aurora. They had both…fainted.

"Both Blaziken and Suicune are unable to battle!" called out the referee, "This match is a draw and there for, no winner has been declared!"

"No way!" exclaimed Beka.

"It's a draw!" exclaimed Edgar.

Confusion began to arise from the crowd as they wondered…how can a winner be found within a tie in the Hoenn League's Final Two battle? However, both Beka and Edgar ran to their Pokemon's sides; not caring about their title-ship battle but the welfare of their Pokemon.

"Hey Blaziken," asked Beka, "How are you doing?"

"Blaz!" said Blaziken; holding up a thumb's up to show it was going to be fine.

"Aurora," said Edgar, "Are you okay?"

"Cune," Aurora nodded, pressing its white muzzle against Edgar's cheek and rubbing it to show that it was okay.

"Hey Edgar," said Beka, who had now gotten up, along with Blaziken, and walked over to the male trainer, "how's Aurora?"

"It'll be fine," said Edgar, getting up along with Aurora, "how about Blaziken?"

"Same here," said Beka, smiling, "man…that was one amazing battle Edgar!"

"Yeah," said Edgar, "but, now what?"

The two trainers turned to hear the announcement Mrs. Destiny was about to deliver:

"Well…never in the Hoenn League's history has this ever happen. Please wait for the announcement of the future of the final two in a moment…"

She then left from an exit that rested beside the stadium and that lead up to a sky-box in area of the stadium where dark glass was built around it; as if to conceal something from the public. Beka and Edgar looked up and wondered…

0o0o0o0o0o0

From up within the sky-box, four figures were watching the battle between Edgar and Beka and they began to conversant amongst each other.

"So…" came the voice of a young man, "…a draw has been determined…interesting…"

"What should we do?" came the voice of a young female.

"Well," came another female's voice, who sounded a bit older than the other female's voice, "it's very simple…we decide on these two fates…"

"I say we let them battle and break the tie!" followed in the fourth voice of an older gentleman, sounding harsh like an ocean storm.

"Well," said the younger male voice, "they seem like both excellent trainers…I say we let them battle use together in a double battle."

"I agree!" chimed in the younger female's voice.

"Well, I don't think it's a good idea," came the older female's voice, "I agree for battling to break the tie."

"Looks like another tie I'm going to have to break," came in another voice of a male, who had just entered into the room.

"Huh?" came the older man's voice, "Oh, it's you…yes, we are split between the decision of these two's fate…what do you think?"

The man who just entered walked up to the tinted window and looked down at the field. A smile pressed against his face, seeing familiar faces below him.

"So?" asked the older male.

"I think I have a good idea for what is best…" the man who just entered said.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Moments later, Mrs. Destiny came running out of the way where she entered to and up to the podium. With gasps in her breath, she called out:

"Attention everyone! The results of the battle have just been known!"

Beka and Edgar, along with their Pokemon, looked up at Mrs. Destiny, awaiting word of the battle results. Everyone in the audience waited as well, wondering what the fate of these two trainers were.

"After much debate between higher hierarchies, it is decided that…BOTH are declared winners of the Hoenn League!"

Confusion again arose over the scene, wondering what should be debated. However, the moments of silence broke when Brendan, May, Benen, Ash, and Misty stood from their seats and began to applaud from their friends. Then, like an oncoming storm, more claps and cheers filled the stadium and soon, massive cries of congratulations filled the arena. Then, confetti, streamers, and other celebratory items began to flood the battlefield and over the trainers. Beka stood their in shook, wondering if this was true.

'Is…is this…' she thought, '…for real!'

"We won!" came Edgar's cry to Beka, "Beka! We both won!"

"Yeah," said Beka, now filling with excitement, "this is so awesome!"

Brendan, May, Benen, Ash, and Misty had gotten to the battlefield and ran out to congratulate their friends. Then, Beka and Edgar both hugged each other and suddenly, Beka felt Edgar give her a peck on her right cheek. With their eyes plastered to saucers, Brendan and May said in unison:

"OH MY…"

This filled Beka with a surprisement as she turned to Edgar, who was now blushing in a deep red hue. Realizing he got carried away, Edgar covered his hat over his face and turned away from Beka, saying:

"Um…I'm…s-s-s-sorry…"

Beka just simply laughed and said:

"Hey…it's okay!"

"But…I…I…" stuttered Edgar, "…k-k-k-kissed you!"

"Hey," said Beka, reassuring Edgar, "just a simple peck on the cheek right? I mean…some cultures consider it a sign of friendship…'

'Beka can be very dense sometimes…' thought Brendan, then switching to speech, told Edgar: "Cute Poliwag!"

"BIRCH!" exclaimed Edgar and began to chase after Brendan.

Misty simply giggled and said:

"I think my baby cousin likes you Beka…"

"Huh?" asked Beka, "Really…but…" Her thoughts were toward someone else, someone she longed to see again and then adverted her gaze toward the sky and thought: 'Steven…'

"He's lucky he ran…that chicken…" said Edgar, coming back to the group.

He then noticed Beka staring up to the sky and asked:

"Hey, is something wrong?"

"Huh?" said Beka, turning toward Edgar, "Oh, no…nothing at all…"

0o0o0o0o0o0

Later that night, the closing ceremonies of the Hoenn League commenced. It was there that a few final words were delivered by officals of the League, awards given out to all participants of the Hoenn League, special recognitions of certain trainers wer also given; including Vanessa and Jack awarding best of the Final Four in the League; and finally the trophy of the Hoenn League Championship Cup was given to both Beka and Edgar. The trophy was made out the purest of gold with a Pokeball having a pair of wings at the top of the cup, delicate vine-shaped handles along the sides, and the crest of the region of Hoenn implanted upon the cup's exterior. Both trainers held the trophy on each side and gazed at it and then finally lifting the cup up in the air as the crowd cheered for them. Finally, after awards and speeches had been made, the fire that burned during the week of the Hoenn League was put out; a symbol that what had occurred is done and that a new flame would burn in the new year of the Hoenn League. Beka couldn't help but let a soft tear trickle down from her hazel eyes as the dying embers of the flame vanished to become one with the winds of Hoenn.

0o0o0o0o0o0

And so…the battle within the Hoenn League has come to an end, but a new story will open up…

Next chapter, is Beka and Edgar's face off against the Elite Four with the first being Sidney.