After obtaining the last badge from Wulfric, the Ice-type Gym Leader of Snowbelle City, I made my way through Victory Road, and reached the Pokémon League. There, I've met the strongest Trainers in the region. Kalos' Elite Four!

Jude entered the first room, where his Simipour pitted against Malva's Talonflame.

"You're skilled, young Mathis." Malva said. "I can see how you managed to defeat Team Flare."

"It wasn't just me." Jude said. "I was only able to accomplish that because of the bonds I share with my Pokémon."

"I see. Then let's see how strong those bonds really are."

The two clashed and the screen shifted to Jude using Venasaur against Siebold's Barbaracle.

"Answer me this." Siebold said. "Do you consider Pokémon battling an art?"

"That's highly subjective matter, but in its own way, yes."

"A great answer." Siebold smiles at that. "You see, cooking is a type of art that disappears as soon as it's completed. Pokémon battles are not that different. Even memories of sweet victory soon fade after the battle ends. To devote yourself to such a life, made up of fleeting experiences-that is truly artful!"

The screen shifts again, now showing Jude's Garchomp facing Wikstrom's Aegislash.

"Your heart is pure and your strength is noble." Wikstrom said. "This will be a most honorable battle."

"I have a feeling I'll enjoy it as well."

"Then prepare yourself! En garde!"

The screen shifts again. This time, Jude's Abomasnow has just defeated Drasna's Noivern.

"So it seems I have lost." Drasna said. "You're a skilled Trainer, Jude."

"Well, I couldn't take all the credit." Jude said humbly.

"Well, regardless, you have defeated all four of us, that means all that's left is the Champion! I'll be rooting for you!"

Jude stepped into the glowing circle in the main hall, which transports him to the Champion's chamber, where he met Diantha.

"I kind of figured it would be you." Jude said.

"Indeed. I've grown an interest in you ever since we first met back in Lumiose City." Diantha said. "For you see, you have real potential, and not just from your spyrite research. You were the one who defeated Team Flare, after all. I couldn't thank you enough." Diantha gave a more determined look. "Now, show me what you and your Pokémon are capable of, now that I know exactly what it is you've done already!"

Jude nods and gets his first Pokémon ready.

{Cue- Pokémon X and Y- Battle! Diantha!}

"Go, Hawlucha!" Diantha called.

"Magneton!" Jude called.

"Flying Press!"

"Electro Ball!"

The battle raged on, with neither side giving the other any quarter, until Jude's Magneton was defeated by Diantha's Mega Gardevoir.

"I can see how you gained your Champion title." Jude said in modesty. "But this battle is not over yet." Jude gets out his last Pokémon.

"Down to your last one. Let's see if it holds up."

Jude nods and sends out Lucario, then Mega evolves it.

"It all comes down to this." Jude said as they both charge up for one last attack. Lucario fired an Aura Sphere and Gardevoir fired a Moonblast. When the two attacks collided, the smoke faded out after a few seconds to show the two Pokémon panting heavily. After a minute, Mega Gardevoir reverts and collapses.

"Witnessing the noble spirits of you and your Pokémon has touched my heart." Diantha said as she went to check on Gardevoir. After Gardevoir confirmed that she's alright, tears flow from Diantha's face. "I-I'm so choked up that it's hard to know what to say, but I... I... I'm just so glad that I was good enough to be the Champion... After all, it gave me the chance to meet and battle with you and your wonderful Pokémon! Now I understand just why dear Augustine-that's Professor Sycamore to you-said he had to get everything ready for the new Champion!"

"I do admit, it is a bit strange. From the very beginning, it was almost as though he knew that I would be here."

"He'll be waiting for us in Lumiose City, but before I take you there... My dear Jude, would you mind coming this way with me?" Diantha led Jude into a chamber with a console at the end of it. "Here we are! I'm so glad to welcome you in. This grand chamber is where you enter the Kalos region's Hall of Fame. This is where Pokémon Trainers will live on forever, remembered always for giving their all in the Pokémon League and for the glory and light that they shared with all. Come, Jude... Your love for your Pokémon… And the way that those Pokémon gave everything they had in battle for you… We'll record them all right here for eternity."

Jude placed the Pokeballs in the console and the picture showed him along with Magneton, Venasaur, Abomasnow, Simipour, Garchomp, and of course, Lucario.

A few days later, there was a parade in Lumiose City where Jude, Serena, Shauna, Trevor, and Tierno were honored as heroes for stopping Team Flare. During the festivities, a man known as AZ, whom Jude met earlier in the labs, walked up to him.

"Battle with me." AZ tells Jude. "I want to know what a "Trainer" is."

"If you say so." Jude said. "I hope you're ready!"

As Jude battled AZ, he thought back to the legend he was told back in the lab.

"Long ago, there was a man and a Pokemon he loved very much. However, when an age of war erupted, the man's dear Pokemon was sent to the battlefield. Years later, he was given a tiny box. No matter what it took, he wanted to bring his Pokemon back. So, he built a machine to give it life, and brought back his beloved Pokemon. The Pokemon returned to the living through the power of eternal life. However, the man had suffered too much, and his rage still had not subsided. He could not forgive the world that had hurt the Pokemon, so he took the machine and turned it into the Ultimate Weapon. The man became a bringer of destruction...and... he ended the war. The Pokemon that was given life must've known...that the lives of many Pokemon were taken to restore its life. The Pokemon that had returned to life left the man. And now he continues to wander eternally, still searching for his Pokemon."

Even as he battled him, Jude still couldn't believe AZ was the same man from that story. Jude's Abomasnow felt the final blow on AZ's Golurk, and he returned it to its Pokeball. "Thank you very much for battling with me. Now I finally feel free… Free from the part of me mired in sorrow-the part of me that built the ultimate weapon…"

"I'm glad I could be of help." Jude told him. "I have a friend of mine that's wracked in guilt for her actions, too." Jude was referring to Sectonia, and he hoped that she was alright.

"Well, I hope you can free her from her sorrow as well." A light shines on the two and a blue Floette with a red flower descends to AZ's hands as he sheds tears of happiness. "Oh, Floette... It's been 3,000 years..."

"So that Floette was the Pokemon that he sought after so long..." Jude thought out loud.

Professor Sycamore walked up to Jude. "His Pokemon was waiting all this time... Waiting for him to return to the man he was. The man who loved Pokémon with all his heart."

Jude smiled. "Well, I'm happy for him. And now thanks to him, I'm willing to help Sectonia defeat Dark Meta Knight and free her from her sorrow."

"Seems like a tall order, but I know you can do it."

"Thanks, Professor. That really means a lot."

After the parade has ended, Jude returns to the pod and heads off.

"AZ is a lot like Sectonia..." Jude mutters to himself. "He felt regret for what he had done. And now, I'll do what I can to help her." Jude looks up to the sky as he takes off, concerned for David and Leia, but he knows they'll be alright as he goes back to his thoughts on helping Sectonia with her plight. "When we face Dark Meta Knight, she'll need your strength more than ever, Ludger..."

A/N: Inspired by Jexi the Hunter and Hope the Victor