The last couple days since the night at the cemetery have been different. Not just for myself but for Caleb and I. We don't talk about that day, but it's there. It's there in the back of our heads every time we hang out together, which believe it or not is basically all of the time.

We're closer now. We understand each other a lot more and that is huge for someone like me who is unsure about a lot and worried about being trampled by people. I can relax my walls, so to speak, around him.

Not only do we understand each other in a way that we get why the other is how they are, but we understand the other's boundaries. I don't bring up his brother and he doesn't bring up my dad. However, that doesn't mean we don't talk about them.

Last night, he stayed over and saw the pictures I had of my dad. Naturally, I described the photos to him and told him about my dad. However, I didn't get sad about it. I was happy. It was like I was proud of the memories my dad left rather than sad. At first I thought it was strange because back home my friends, including Carl, were always afraid to remind me of my dad.

So maybe not being home is why I'm able to remember my dad in a different light.

Caleb doesn't know my dad. My friends did. So many in Hoenn did because of what he accomplished. I was able to do with Caleb what Carl wanted me to do at the Battle Frontier.

Caleb also indulged on spilling some stuff about his brother, Zachary. The Pokemon he wanted the most from Alola was a Jangmo-o. He said Treecko was his second favorite Pokemon. He thought Sceptile was "super cool looking" for a final evolution. That allowed me to tell him that my dad's first Pokemon was a Treecko.

Today I am going to complete Illima's trial. If I complete it successfully I will get to face off against Hala tomorrow evening.

As I'm about to leave my house my mom wishes me luck. Aaron just looks over at me and doesn't say anything. To be honest, even if he wished me good luck I'd probably feel like he wouldn't mean it anyways. So I'm glad he kept quiet as he ate breakfast.

Illima's trial was to take place at Verdant Cavern just off of Route 2. When we arrived only Illima was there. The trial was simple: defeat the Yungoos blocking the entrance to the Totem's Den and face the Totem Pokemon. Caleb wasn't allow to help me. All 3 of us walked in, but Illima and Caleb stayed back as I progressed.

The cave was dank and lightly lit by the cracks in the foliage and large tree branches above. There was a man up above where a large light peered into the cave. That must've been the entrance I need to get to.

As I made my way through the cave there were puzzles that needed to be completed. Simple puzzles like jigsaw or those small slide puzzles where tiles are number 1 to 15 and you have to put them in order.

I completed the puzzles and made my way to the top of the cave where a Yungoos growled at me. With my Rowlet out of his pokeball I battled and defeated the Yungoos easily. The man standing nearby nodded and waved at Illima and Caleb who made their way towards me.

"Congratulations," Illima said with a widened smile. "Now let's continue."

We walked outside into an enclosed area, the den. A large Gumshoos stood in the middle of the area. Behind him was this wooden structure with an object inside that glistened.

I turned around towards Illima and Caleb. Illima nodded and Caleb wished me luck as he stroked Skitty's head.

I took a deep breath and ordered Rowlet to attack Gumshoos with tackle. Gumshoos turned his body and swiped Rowlet away with his tail. Rowlet slammed into a rock but quickly recovered. A direct hit of Razor Leaf caused Gumshoos to be rattled. Rowlet tried to tackle him again but was sent flying into a rock again by another swipe of the tail.

Rowlet was becoming fatigued. I began to lose faith until an idea popped into my head.

"Tackle!" I yell. At the corner of my eye I see Illima look at Caleb as if he was confused. Caleb was focused on the battle.

Meanwhile, Gumshoos does what I expected him to do. He swiped Rowlet with his tail sending Rowlet flying towards the rock.

"Rowlet, look at the Rock. Redirect off it and use tackle again." Rowlet opens his eyes and sees the rock in front of him. He quickly redirects in mid-air hitting the rock with his feet. As Gumshoos turns back around to face Rowlet, Rowlet torpedoes himself square into Gumshoos' face.

Gumshoos falls to the ground and doesn't get back up. A horde of Yungoos come out from the walls and drags Gumshoos away.

I did it. I won. I walk over to my Rowlet and rub his head. I also hand him a biscuit as a reward.

Illima walks by me to the wooden pedestal and grabs the trinket inside. It's a small emblem that clips onto the Island Challenge emblem I have on my backpack.

"Congratulations, Cameron. You've completed my trial brilliantly. You can now face off against Hala, the Island Kahuna of Melemele Island."

I took the trinket and added it to my Island Challenge Amulet and felt a wave of passion fill my body. I was able to complete the first trial, the first step in the Alola Island Challenge.

I didn't embarrass my Father's legacy, today.

Illima walked Caleb and I out of the cave and congratulated me once again. Caleb and I left as Illima stayed behind to tend to Gumshoos.

As we entered Hau'oli City Caleb turns to me and says, "I told you that you would complete the trial." He smiled, clearly happy that I didn't prove him wrong. I just smiled back at him.

Before we entered Route 1 a girl behind us said, "So you finally completed your first trial, huh?"

It was Lana, the girl who teamed up with us against those Team Skull thugs.

"Um yeah," I respond back.

Her lips, covered in pink lipstick, stretched across her face as she smiled. "About time."

I look over at Caleb who shrugs at me. "Um what do you mean by that?"

She chuckles. "I just expected you to have completed the trial earlier based on how you and your Rowlet battled a few days ago."

I didn't know what to say.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Men." When I continued to stay silent she sighed heavily. She reached into her bag and threw a small brown bag my way. Then she just turned around and left.

So odd.

I opened the brown bag and saw Poke Beans inside. Why would she give me Poke Beans? She is just a stranger. Weird.

"I guess it was nice of her to give you Poke beans," Caleb said as he held out his hand for one. He was still holding Skitty because that cat is just so damn lazy and loves when Caleb holds him. Caleb is a sucker. I gave Caleb a bean and he fed it to Skitty.

I threw a bean up towards Rowlet who was on my shoulder.

When I arrived home with my amulet showing I completed the trial, my mom was happy. She was actually happy for me.

"Your dad would be so proud," she said with a slight smile on her face.

Aaron wasn't here. Thankfully.

I went off to my room with Rowlet and Skitty and threw myself on my bed. I was overcome with happiness and joy. So much so that I quickly got up and went to my PC to video call Carl.

Carl was in his kitchen cooking soup with his younger sister, Tammy.

"Hey, man!" he said with a broad smile. It was nice to see his face, his lightly freckled cheeks and black hair. His eyes were a light brown color, kinda like my hair.

"I completed the first trial today," I said still high on my success.

"That's awesome, Cam." He smiled as looked into the camera. Tammy, a rambunctious little girl saw my face and waved ecstatically.

"I miss you!" she squealed.

"I miss you too. I miss the both of you," I responded. Tammy grinned as Carl just looked at me with a short smile.

He told me how he completed just completed the gym at Petalburg, but that he is going to take a break and stay at home for a little while before continuing. When he continues he'll be away from home for a few weeks so he wants to spend time with Tammy and his family until then.

The Hoenn League Tournament will take place in April, a few months before the World Championships. Whereas the Alolan League Tournament will take place in June, 1 month before Worlds.

I fully expect to see him competing at Worlds.

"Carl, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything, Cam."

I took a deep breath before speaking. "Can you go to my Dad's grave and, um, tell him that I'm going to try and make him proud?"

He nodded and looked into the camera as if he were looking into my eyes. "You alright?"

I smile, "Yeah. I think I am." His eyes and lips perked up, happy to hear my response. We promised to talk later after he is done cooking and eating.

I know he'll go to my Dad's grave and do what I asked of him. Maybe it's a stupid request but it felt necessary for me. I've needed closure for so long, and for once I feel like I'm allowing myself to get it.

When I finally do get closure is when I will begin to truly succeed.