"Amazing." Nathan stepped onto the battlefield and returned Klingklang. Cheren met him halfway.
Dewott watched the two of them.
"How many discharges did it withstand?" Nathan asked. "That's crazy!" Cheren knelt beside Dewott.
Dewott chirped proudly. Cheren patted Dewott on the head.
"Incredible," Cheren said.
"The victor will remain on the stage. I will be there momentarily," Alder said. Nathan nodded at Cheren before leaving the battlefield. Dewott stood tall next to Cheren.
Cheren waited, listening to the buzz of the audience. Alder appeared at the entrance, he made his way onto the battlefield. Cheren watched as he approached.
"Alder, sir," Cheren greeted the champion.
Alder stopped a few feet away from Cheren. He folded his arms.
"You've won the tournament," Alder said. His voice carried through the speakers around the stadium. Cheren nodded.
"It was hard-fought," he said.
"The advertised reward was my endorsement. But I do have the right to deny you that reward."
"What?" Cheren snapped to attention. Alder shook his head.
"It takes a certain kind of trainer to conquer the pokemon league. I've been watching the battles in this tournament very closely. I don't believe anyone who participated here, is capable of pulling it off."
Cheren's stomach dropped.
"What did you say?"
"You should give up on being a pokemon trainer." Cheren's face was heating up. He clenched and unclenched his fists. Alder's eyes shifted to Dewott.
"My dad was in the elite four," Cheren said. He spoke slowly, his chest heaving. "He…"
"Oh, I think I know who you're talking about," Alder replied. He circled Dewott, inspecting it. "He wanted to beat me, so badly."
"I won the tournament." Cheren followed Alder with his eyes.
Dewott growled, matching his tone.
Alder's cold gray eyes met Cheren's. "You have to give me your endorsement."
"The tournament is over, you're free to leave."
"Battle me, then!" Cheren yelled.
Dewott perked up.
Alder's eyes flickered. In a swift motion, he sent out a Bouffalant. The audience surged.
"Knock out my Bouffalant," Alder said. "Maybe if you impress me, I'll give you my endorsement."
Cheren shared a long look with Dewott. He nodded.
"Fine." Cheren took a few steps back. "Dewott. Evolve."
Alder raised his eyebrows.
Dewott glowed, its body growing.
"What is this?" Dewott's light faded, revealing Samurott.
Samurott drew its blades, brandishing them proudly.
"I'd wished to beat Clay without Dewott evolving," Cheren explained. He ran a hand across Samurott's hide. "It was a way to prove our strength. So I had Dewott restrain itself to satisfy my pride."
Alder didn't respond. Cheren took a deep breath. His heart was pounding in his chest.
The Bouffalant stomped its hoof, the floor cracked under it. Alder uncrossed his arms.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Alder asked.
"Of course not!" Cheren snapped. "Samurott, razor shell!"
Samurott charged, raising its blades.
"Double team!" Alder ordered.
Bouffalant zipped around, leaving several afterimages. Samurott gave chase, slicing at Bouffalant's shadow.
"Look at the way you battle," Alder said. "Like a toddler swinging a large stick." He shook his head. "Swords dance!"
Bouffalant bellowed, rising onto its hind legs.
"Samurott, aqua jet! Hurry!" Samurott spun into a missile of water, chasing after Bouffalant.
"Wild charge, take it down." Bouffalant sparked, its body coated with lightning.
It rushed forward, meeting Samurott's charge.
The battle was over as quickly as it started. Bouffalant's attack knocked Samurott out.
Cheren stared at Samurott limp on the floor.
Alder returned Bouffalant and walked up to Cheren. His gray eyes narrowed.
"Give up." With that, Alder left the battlefield.
Cheren returned Samurott. Shouts were rising from the audience.
Cheren's head was spinning. He stumbled, making his way off the battlefield.
He ignored the nurse offering to heal his pokemon and left the stadium.
.
.
.
Alder found himself alone in a hallway. He found a chair and sat down.
He wiped his brow. Footsteps rang throughout the hallway.
Elesa appeared, approaching him. Kayle and Astril behind her. She looked him up and down, scowling.
"You have no right," Elesa hissed.
She grabbed onto his shirt, yanking him forward.
"You have no right!" Alder's head lolled to the side. He let out a long breath.
"What's wrong, Elesa?"
"You owe that boy your endorsement!"
"Eh."
"You can't change your mind at the last minute!" She shouted.
Alder grumbled.
Elsa shoved him and backed away.
"The audacity, to tell him to give up. I can't believe you'd…"
Elesa dropped into a chair on the other side of the hallway.
"I don't understand you. Are you trying to crush the next generation?"
Alder laughed.
"Crush?" His gray eyes shimmered. "Elesa. I watched every battle in this tournament with every intention of doing this."
"What?" Elesa met his gaze.
"They battled with such vigor and drive." He smiled. "With enough time, any one of those trainers could beat me in battle."
Elesa blinked.
"With what just happened. That blueberry especially will come after me. And he'll be more driven than ever before."
Elesa shook her head.
"You have a roundabout way of looking at things," she said dryly. Alder laughed again.
"I won't be the champion for much longer, that's for sure."