As the figure of our opponent lumbered through the tree line, Blaze shifted, ready to take on the attack. "Ursa!" Bellowed the large normal type, puting its head down and charging at us with a double-edge attack. "Fly up and use Flamethrower!" Blaze easily launched himself over the ursine pokemon, redirecting himself midair and letting loose a breath of fire directly on top of Ursaring. It roared in pain and raised its paws up and charged at Blaze with a Night Slash. "Counter it with Dragon Claw!" Claws being covered in a blue energy, Blaze and the Ursaring start trading blows, mostly parrying eachother, but occasionally each landing a hit. Finally the bear pokemon let its guard down and Blaze hit it straight in the jaw sending it flying into the rock cliff. Accepting defeat the normal type pokemon got up walked over to me and kind of smirked, gave slight roar and retreated back into the forest to lick its wounds.I walked over to my partner and scratched the spot between his wings. "Good job bud. Looks like were not losing anything in our old age." Me and my starter may not have travelled very far but we've been through quite alot. This is apparent to anyone who takes a gander at the dragon-like pokemon. He was larger than most of his kind, standing at about 6'2. His wingspan being almost double that, makes him seem even more massive. From what professor Oak told me when i first met Blaze he was bred from two Charizards from the Charicific Valley in Johto. I had heard of the place and was amazed at the fact that was his heritage. I got brought back to my senses when blaze tripped me with his long tail. "Alright alright, lets go you asshole." I swung my leg over his back and as soon as i was stable, he jetted off of the ground towards the horizon. As we soar through the sky back towards Cerulean i get the oddest feeling im forgetting something. "Hey lets stop by the market i need to get a few things." As we descend towards the city, the idea i forgot something starts to really bother me. Once we land i called Blaze back into his ball (Normally i wouldn't but the last time we went inside the mart together his tail caught an entire aisle on fire. The owners were not to happy with us to say the least.) Anyways, as i start picking my way through the many different assortments of potions,pokeballs, and toys the news caught my eye. Two men sitting at a table in what seems to be a large battling arena. The first man, obviously a reporter, wore a plain brown trenchcoat, a black shirt, and dress pants. The man across from him was what caught my attention. Looming over the table, this very thin and pale man sat with his hands an all black suit with a white tie and a large silver ring with what looks like a dusk stone centered in the middle. His eyes sunken, sockets deep and skin stretched taught over them. Like that of a corpse, wasting away. Normally when people saw the champion of their region they are excited, overwhelmed even. But the sight of this man sent chills down my spine.
"Today marks the 10th straight year that Marcus has been our champion, While many have tried, all have failed to take him and his ferocious dark type team down. Anything for the fans back home Mister Champion?" Looking at the reporter on the otherside of the table the pale man spoke, softly, almost a whisper "I have been at this for a long time. Longer than most any other previous champion. Its been even longer than that since i fought an opponent who interested me. Ive taken on all challengers for the last decade and have yet to be bested. So here is a message for "the fans back home". I want a challenge. I am here and now challenging anyone who dares call themselves a trainer. If i am beaten not only will you be granted the title of champion. I shall also relinquish to you my home here on , and my wide array of evolutionary stones i have collected over my many years of journeying." The reporter looked at Marcus slack-jawed. "Surely sir you must be joking?" asked the journalist dumbfounded that anyone would offer such a brazen prize. The withered man looked his interviewer and said "Do i look like a man to be taken lightheartedly? Or one who would joke about such things?" After he said that he stood from the table and started to walk away. "This interview is over. My challenge still stands." And with that the man vanished without a trace.