I was ready. I had trained my Pokémon so hard in Victory Road that they were more than ready. I walked into the Pokémon League building, bought some things I would need for this final stretch. After I stocked up on items, I marched up to the door leading to the Pokémon League challenge. There was an Ace Trainer standing in front of the doorway who asked to check each of my badges up to that point.

"Here. Let me see your Trainer Case. Now let's see...

Oreburgh City's Coal Badge.

Eterna City's Forest Badge.

Veilstone City's Cobble Badge.

Pastoria City's Fen Badge.

Hearthome City's Relic Badge.

Canalave City's Mine Badge.

Snowpoint City's Icicle Badge.

... and finally, Sunyshore City's Beacon Badge.

Well, you are officially qualified to challenge the Elite Four! So, be courageous and go for it! Good luck!" She stepped aside and I took a brave step forward.

The doors closed behind me and I stepped onto the elevator and walked down the path to the first room. I walked into the large room. It smelled like Eterna Forest. I had a flashback of Eterna Forest and reflected on my memories. I talked to the young man who was waiting to challenge me.

"Hello, trainer! Welcome to the Pokémon League! I'm Aaron of the Elite Four. It's very nice to meet you, challenger." He shook my hand.

"Call me Vinny."

"Okay. Nice to meet you, Vinny. You know me. Oh, I should explain, I'm a huge fan of Bug-type Pokémon. Bug-type Pokémon are nasty-mean, yet they're beautiful too... do you know why I take on challengers here?"

"Uh, no. Why do you?"

"It's because I want to become perfect, just like my bug Pokémon."

"Okay, I'll make you perfect! Go, Fearow!"

"Go, Yanmega!"

"Fearow, Fly!" Fearow flew up high so that Yanmega couldn't reach him.

"Yanmega, Double Team! Make it hard for Fearow to hit!" Yanmega moved quickly, creating clones of itself. The clones were almost perfect. I couldn't tell apart from the clones.

"Fearow! Remember your training! Dive down!" Fearow spiraled down and hit Yanmega with full force, KO'ing it.

"Yanmega, return! Go, Scizor!" He sent out his Scizor, which looked like no big deal.

"Alright, I'll take this one on! Hey Aaron, watch this!" I formed a Flame Ball in my hands and kept charging it, making it larger while dodging Scizor's attacks.

"Mega Flame Ball!" I fired the ball of fire right at Scizor, who was four times weak to my intense fire attack. Scizor fainted and was returned.

"Go, Vespiquen!" A large bee-like Pokémon appeared out of a ray of light.

"Alright, go Pikachu!" Pikachu came out of his ball with tremendous speed, making it impossible to track him. "Use Thunderbolt!" "Defend Order, Vespiquen!" A large amount of bees swarmed around Vespiquen, making a barrier. Pikachu jumped up in the air and unleashed a large beam of electricity on Vespiquen. However, Vespiquen wasn't done.

"Use Attack Order, Vespiquen!"

"Dodge, Pikachu! Use Quick Attack!" The swarm of bees chased Pikachu, but Pikachu was too fast for the bees and bashed Vespiquen in the side. Vespiquen fainted and returned.

"Go, Heracross!"

"Come on back out, Fearow!"

"Heracross! Use Stone Edge!" Heracross sent many sharp-edged stones flying at Fearow at high speed. Fearow was hit by the super effective attack, but didn't faint.

"Great job defending, Fearow! Use Drill Peck!" Fearow flew at Heracross and began pecking at it very fast. Heracross was four times weak to the super effective attack and fainted.

"This is my last Pokémon. Go, Drapion!"

"Fearow, Use Drill Peck again!" Fearow flew at Drapion at high speed. "Drapion! Use Ice Fang!" Drapion attacked Fearow first with icy jaws in which Fearow fainted.

"Dammit. Fine! Flare Burst!" A beam of fire shot out through my hands and hit Drapion. Drapion fainted under the force of the attack. I had won!

"Wow. That was amazing. I will now concede defeat. But do you now see how great Bug-type Pokémon can be?"

"Yeah. To be honest, I did think Bug-types were weak at first, but now I can see that I was wrong."

"Yes. I also hope you realize what you are up against in the Pokémon League. Battling is a deep and complex affair..."

"Yes, I can see that now."

He handed me prize money. "Welp, I lost with my beautiful Bug-type Pokémon, because I wasn't good enough... that's it! Back to training camp I go! Let's hear it from me... No, that was wrong of me. Ahem. Anyway, go to the next room." He waved me goodbye as I walked into the next room. I stepped on the elevator and walked down the hall to the next room of the Pokémon League. The next room was as big as the last room and was filled with rock formations and slabs of stone. It reminded me of the mountain range of Route 210. I had a flashback and reflected on my memories. In the middle of the stadium was a small, old woman. I assumed she used Rock or Ground-type Pokémon.

"Well, well. You're quite the adorable trainer, but you've also got a spine. Ahaha! I'm Bertha! And you are?"

"I'm Vinny."

"Well then, Vinny, I think you should know that I have a preference for Ground-type Pokémon." I knew it! said my inner-self. "Well then, would you show this old lady how much you've learned up to this point?"

"Okay! Let's do this! Go, Gyarados!"

"Go, Whiscash! Use Sandstorm!"

"Use Hydro Pump! Then Surf!" Gyarados shot out a blast of water at Whiscash and followed up by flooding the stadium with water and crashing down on Whiscash with his whole body. Yeah, I think Whiscash fainted.

"Whiscash, return! Go, Gliscor!" She sent out her Gliscor. "Use Waterfall!" "Gliscor, use Thunder Fang!" Gyarados shot a spray of water out of his mouth and slapped gliscor with his tail. Gliscor, before it fainted, gathered energy into its fangs and bit down of Gyarados' tail, knocking Gyarados out along with Gliscor.

"Come back, Gliscor!"

"You did well, Gyarados. Return!"

"Alright Hippowdon, You're up!"

"Titanium Fist!" My fist became harder than steel, resulting in Hippowdon not being in the stadium for long.

Next, Bertha sent out Golem. I used another Titanium Fist. Turns out, Golem didn't do so hot, either.

Finally, Bertha sent out her last Pokémon, a Rhyperior. Quickly, I fed a Revive to Gyarados and he seemed to have the energy to fight. He used Hydro Pump one more time and knocked out Rhyperior.

"Well child, I must say, that was most impressive. Your Pokémon believed in you and did their best to earn you the win. Even though I've lost, I find myself with this silly grin!" She handed me some prize money. "You know, you're quite something. I like how you and your Pokémon earned the win by working as one. That's what makes you so strong! Ahahaha! I think you can go as far as you want." I exited through the doors, stepped on the elevator and walked down the hall to the next room. The next room was filled with fire pits. It was warm and soothing. It reminded me of the warmth of the sun when I was flying on Fearow through the sky. I had a flashback and reflected on my memories. I walked up to Flint.

"Hey, I've been waitin' for you, trainer! Uh, Vinny, right? Yeah! Flint the master of fire is up next! By the way, I heard from Volkner what you did in Sunyshore. You managed to light a fire in that guy's heart again. How could you not look forward to facing me in battle?"

"You did tell me, 'See you at the Pokémon League.' so I was looking forward to defeating you in battle with my all-powerful Pokémon!"

"You must realize, battles are clashes of the burning spirit of Pokémon. Battles aren't about appearances of what's weak or strong. It all comes down to whether the combatants can burn hot and bright or not."

"Oh, don't worry! My spirit burns with my Pokémon as one! I'll give you an even more intense battle that I did with Volkner! Go! Tyranitar!" "Go, Houndoom!"

"Tyranitar, use Rock Slide!" "Houndoom, Sludge Bomb!" Houndoom spit out a large spray of poison and hit Tyranitar head-on. Tyranitar produced some mud balls from his body, hardened them, and dropped them down on Houndoom. Houndoom fainted from the attack and returned.

"Go, Flareon!"

"Alright, Gyarados, take care of this one!" I sent out Gyarados and gave him a Hyper Potion. "Alright, hit em' with a Hydro Pump!" "Giga Impact!" Flareon charged forward with full-force. Gyarados got out of the way just in time and hit Flareon with a blast of water. Flareon fainted and returned. Next, Flint sent out Rapidash. "Gyarados, Waterfall!" "Sunny Day!" Rapidash spewed out a blast of fire and started glowing extremely bright. Gyarados shot out a blast of water and slapped Rapidash with his tail. Rapidash stopped glowing, an indication that Rapidash was down. Rapidash was returned and Flint sent out an Infernape.

"Alright Gyarados, you up to fight this one?" Gyarados nodded. "Infernape, Thunderpunch!" Infernape's fist became a ball of lightning and it rushed towards Gyarados with amazing speed. "Gyarados, dodge it and put out his fire with Surf!" Gyarados barely missed the ball of electricity and flooded the stadium with water. Infernape was down. Finally, Flint sent out a Magmortar.

"Okay, Gyarados. Take out this one quickly before you get damaged!" "Thunderbolt, Magmortar!" Magmortar sent out a bolt of electricity at Gyarados, severely damaging him. So much for, 'before you get damaged'. "Hang in there, Gyarados!" Quickly thinking, I sprayed Gyarados with a Hyper Potion. "Now Hydro Pump!" Gyarados sprayed out a blast of water at Magmortar, and that was it. I had won again.

"...! I don't believe it! I lost! I didn't take you for granted, but I never expected you to win! I didn't even consider it!"

"Well now, that's almost insulting. You're calling me weak?"

"No, it's just that not many people can defeat me, let alone even get to me. You... you're amazing! I'm blown away by this! You and your Pokémon are hot stuff!"

So I moved on through the doorway behind Flint. I stepped on the elevator and down the hallway to the next room. In the next room, there were glowing white orbs in each corner of the room, but the rest of the room was rather dark and eerie and it reminded me of the darkness of the Distortion World. I had a flashback and reflected on my memories. I walked up to the next and last guy of the Elite Four.

"Ah, hello. You timed your arrival well. I've just finished reading a book, you see. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lucian of the Elite Four. I am the user of Psychic type Pokémon. I must say, you've already proven yourself to be outstanding by coming this far. But I will not be taken down so easily. They say I am the toughest of the Elite Four. However, I'm afraid I will have to go all out against you to live up to that reputation. Few have beaten me, but still, I will not hold back."

"Okay, then. In order to prove myself the strongest, I will defeat you! I'll defeat your Pokémon with my own power!"

"Your own power...? Are you perhaps a half-Pokémon?"

"That's right. I will become stronger by defeating you and becoming the champion of Sinnoh!"

Not saying anything else, Lucian sent out his first Pokémon.

"Go, Mr. Mime."

"Alright! Let's do this!"

"Show me what you've got. Psychic." Mr. Mime started controlling me with its psychic powers and gave me a massive headache.

"AAUUGH!" The pain was unbearable. It was about 50 times worse that using a TM. I focused my fire power into my feet and rushed at Mr. Mime. "Flame Kick!" I sent Mr. Mime flying back into the wall, KO'ing it.

"Mr. Mime, return! Go, Espeon!" Lucian sent out his next Pokémon. "Use Quick Attack!" The cat rushed at me with awesome speed, but it backfired with me using Mega Flame Ball.

"Espeon, return! Go, Bronzong!" Instantly, I used Flare Burst and knocked out Bronzong with my super effective attack.

"Arrgh, Go, Alakazam! Use Focus Blast!" Alakazam concentrated... and then, it let out a powerful attack. I quickly dodged and then used Titanium Fist. Alakazam flew across the room and possibly fainted. Nah, I don't think so. Not after a really powerful attack like that.

"Alakazam, return!"

"Well my friend, you have one Pokémon left. Are you gonna keep underestimating me?"

"... you're very strong. I'm no match for you. However! I mustn't give up, even if it means losing to a powerhouse like you! Go, Gallade! Use Stone Edge! I won't hold back, even if you're human." Gallade formed little stones and sent them flying at me at high speed. I shielded with my arms, which got cut in the process. Blood ran down my arms. Lucian looked away and whispered, "I'm sorry..."

"Heheh, don't be sorry. This, I *Ow* enjoy. It doesn't *Gasp* hurt at all." Blood was dripping out of my mouth now. "Now come on! Use your strongest attacks on me. After all, you were the one who said you weren't going to hold back. So come on. What are you waiting for?"

"Gallade! Use Drain Punch!" Gallade dashed at me and punched me with immense force. I caught its fist in my hand, but at the same time, I felt my energy being drained out of me"

"AAAARRRGGH! I can't take this... pain! Mega Flame Ball!" With my other hand, I hit Gallade across the face and sent it flying. Lucian returned Gallade and stood there, dumbfounded.

"Incredible! Your power is real. I understand now. Beating the other three was no fluke." Lucian walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Congratulations trainer-"

"Vinny."

"Congratulations, Vinny. You have now defeated the Elite Four. However, that doesn't mean you're done with the Pokémon League. Behind that door," He pointed to the door. "Remains the champion. I must warn you, defeating the champion is no walk in the park. She's stronger than all of us combined, and even some of the most skilled trainers who have defeated me could not defeat her. But, you may stand a chance. So, give it your all. Good luck, Vinny." Bravely, I walked through the door and took the elevator up. As I walked down the very long hallway, I reflected on my entire journey, all my training, all my power. I did have what it took.

I was ready to give it my all, to go beyond, and push beyond my limits.