Steven's Aggron hit the ground with a thump. As Steven recalled his pokemon, he looked 
into the black eyes at the other end of the stadium, partly obscured by a shock of wild 
blue hair. The 15 year-old boy, in a black t-shirt with blue jeans and trainers was recalling 
his Roselia. It was hard to believe that someone so young was such an experienced trainer 
already. But as the boy looked up into Steven's eyes, Steven saw something else there. 
Not happiness, or relief, but pain, suffering, and a grim determination to get what he 
wanted. Steven realized that within that youthful exterior, Kyle was as much of a man as 
he was.
 
"Congratulations, Kyle," Steven said. "Here is the official Pokemon League Champion's 
badge. You have proved yourself more than worthy of it."
Kyle took the badge with a strange feeling of happiness. One he had not felt in eight 
years. As he pinned the badge onto the inside of his bag strap, he thanked Steven, which 
was another strange sensation. "Follow me into the Elite Four's headquarters. The other 
members will want to meet you, after all, you defeated their pokemon as well."

After walking down a long corridor, Steven and Kyle reached a room filled with 
tapestries portraying pokemon and people. A large oak table ran down the middle of the 
room, and the Elite Four were seated around it. Phoebe was meditating, Sidney was 
juggling with his pokeballs, Glacia was fiddling with her hair. Drake was doing nothing 
physically, just staring at Kyle. He saw the same things there Steven did, as well as his 
potential to become the greatest pokemon trainer of all time. Kyle flinched under his 
scrutiny and looked away.

At 1:00 in the morning, after all the other members of the elite four had gone to sleep, 
Drake and Steven stayed up talking.
"So, what do you think of the new champion, Steven?" Drake asked.
"I don't know…I have learned, from experience, that Kyle is a very talented pokemon 
trainer, but…"
"I know." Drake cut in. "I saw the same things in his eyes that you did. The boy may only 
be 15, but in maturity and experience, he is as old as you or I."
"Well," Steven said, "perhaps not as old as you."
Drake smiled at the friendly jibe, and looked out the window to see Kyle training with his 
pokemon.
"Well, whatever he is," Drake observed, "He's certainly something special."