The Final Battle - Pokemon

The crowds are roaring, but I hear nothing. The only sound is the echoing beat of my heart thumping in my chest.

The final battle. It's finally here.

I have defeated the Pokemon Leagues of many regions, becoming the Champion in each.

It is time to begin. My opponent and I stand in the center of the arena. I look straight into his eyes as we shake hands.

I have defeated 32 Gym Leaders, and eight more Frontier Brains.

They are the eyes of my equal.

I have saved the world from numerous attempts at world domination, conquering many criminal organizations along the way.

I stand back, and so does he. I don't even look at my belt to see which Pokeball my hands rest on. I know each one by their place, their feel.

I have gained the powers of fire, ice and lightning from capturing the deities of each.

I send out my Pokemon, and he sends out his. Within moments we are given the signal to begin, and attacks of fire and lightning clash in bright explosions.

I have befriended man's worst enemy – their own creation, a being made by the DNA of the world's first Pokemon.

My Pokemon falls. It is hurt and has near to no fight left. I have it return and send out my next Pokemon. A burst of flame is sent hurling towards it but it ducks, and upon my command shoots water from its mouth.

I have gone to a dimension reverse to our own. I have tamed the near immortal masters of time and space.

I see the look on my opponent's face as I defeat his first Pokemon; frustration, irritation, disgust. He sends another.

I have overcome my rivals.

One by one, our Pokemon fall. The crowd continues to cheer. They have never seen such a match before. The end of the battle draws near; I have two Pokemon left, and he has one.

I have seen the light in a Pokemon made from darkness.

We fight. Sweat rolls down my forehead. I wipe it away. I cannot lose. I must win.

I have completed the Pokedex and have helped advance Pokemon research to an extensive degree.

It is just one-on-one now. My weakest Pokemon, saved for last in the hopes that it would not have to be used. My weakest, but my first and most loved of my team.

I have defeated the creator of this world.

My Pokemon falls. A collective gasp goes across the audience. Silently I hope with all my might that it can stand once more.

But above all these, I have learned lessons not taught in any school…

No response. No movement at all; even a fainted Pokemon can usually lift up its head. I don't care about the battle anymore. I just want my Pokemon to be ok. There is complete silence as I walk out to my Pokemon and kneel beside it. I cradle it in my arms.

After a moment, it opens its eyes. A look of a mutual bond and understanding pass between us; no words need to be spoken. I knew we had lost. So did it.

…and I have earned the greatest power of all…

Cheers erupt in the crowd as I stand, my Pokemon still in my arms. Across the arena is my opponent. He stands and takes off his hat in a movement of respect to me.

…the friendship of my Pokemon partners.

The final battle. It is over. In technical terms, I may have lost, but in the truest sense I have won. I am the victor.

My journey as a Pokemon Trainer ends here, but that doesn't mean it's the end forever.

In fact, it's just a new beginning.