The crowd was cheering loudly. Many were chanting. Flags waved throughout the stadium. The two veterans of the Championship seemed to be favorites of the event. It far more energetic than the first time they were here 12 years ago.

Both grown with wives and children, they never expected to be back into the competitive scene. But with the training they underwent in order to stop Team Zodiac, they wanted to release some excess pressure from their souls. A healthy way to do this was through standardized battles. However, this battle would be anything but standard.

Each stood at the very end of the arena, creating a huge space for their Pokemon to battle. They wore head-sets which were of an unknown use as of yet. They both just stood stoic and still, staring at each other across the arena, though they could barely make each other out across the large span.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" a voice echoed throughout the stadium. "Welcome to the Finals of the 3025 Hoenn Championship!"

The crowd roared with excitement. "And this is going to be a very unique battle indeed. For the first time in history, the Pokemon League has allowed these two trainers, childhood friends, and previous Champion and runner-up, to decide the format in which they will battle!" Cheers and screams of excitement filled the dome.

"They will even act as their own judges and referees. However, if you look on the back of the chair in front of you, there are two buttons, one red and one blue. Your votes for the trainer's Pokemon will also have an impact on who they decide is the winner among them!"

It was a relatively new function that took months to develop. It had yet to be used for a battle, proper, but many other events held in the stadium had utilized the function. The audience was clearly excited to be a part of the battle themselves, however minute.

"So...let's start the battle!

"In the blue square, we have Mitchell Honnings! In the red square is Forrest Johnson! Both from Oldale Town! Mitchell Honnings has two young children with his wife, Jane," they described while a live video capture of the three of them in the studio showed on the monitors across the dome. "And Forrest brought his own wife, Jeanne, with their four children." A similar display of their immediate families was shone.

The announcer went on to describe a short history for each, through they were mostly intertwined.

"Now, I'll hand it over to Forrest and Mitchell!"

"Thank you, Violet," Forrest's booming voice shook the stadium through the sound system. The crowd continued to screech and cheer with excitement. "As much as this is a serious battle, we're also going to make sure it's entertaining for you all. So we've decided match-ups to both test our own Pokemon but also so we can show off techniques we've developed."

"So first, we're going to be in the desert," Mitchell continued. The smooth tenor tone contrasting surprisingly to Forrest's. "Here is where Aggron and Flygon will prove who's power is greater over the other's defense or speed!"

Both pitched Pokeballs up high in the air, though both barely reached a quarter of the way across the arena. Each released their Pokemon at the same time, however, as if rehearsed. Aggron slammed into the ground and roared through his metal throat in a most intimidating manner. Flygon flung himself from his Pokeball and twisted through the air and arched his body into interesting forms before stopping straight and glared at Aggron with a glare and a short screech.

Mitchell added to this battle's rules so the audience would know what to expect. "There will be no switching of Pokemon. If a Pokemon is returned, the round is forfeit. We will also have certain stipulations about which to judge each round. In this first round, we're focusing on pure power and strength. These are our physically strongest and most resilient of Pokemon. They have had a rivalry against each other from the beginning. The last Pokemon standing will be the victor of this round."

They both touched their ears, adjusting the headsets to only be sent to each other instead of the stadium, itself. "You ready?" Mitchell asked.

Forrest grumbled in affirmation with a nod of his head which Mit couldn't distinguish from across the field.