Today was the day. Caleb and I were going to Akala Island. We were supposed to head out a couple days ago with Lana, but with recent events and my injuries we couldn't. Instead we helped rebuild what was damaged in Iki Town.

Lana went off on her own, because she is impatient. However, and thankfully, Kukui will be going to Akala Island so he is going to allow us to tag along.

Before leaving, I decided to go for a quick walk towards the beach to the South. There was something I needed to do.

I hung around on the grass just enjoying the salty sea breeze and somewhat oppressive sun for a bit. Waiting.

Then I heard it.

A Happiny.

I'd seen a Happiny around here before and I had wanted to catch it. I missed my chance then, but I won't now.

I was prepared to battle it when it walked up to me. It looked so happy that I didn't want to battle it. Hurting it seemed wrong.

I reached into my bag and pulled out a couple Poke beans and fed it to the Happiny. It made sounds of joy after it ate the beans. I rubbed it's head as Rowlet sized it up.

I pulled out a Pokeball and showed it to the Happiny. I simply placed it next to the Happiny and waited. It looked at the ball and then looked at me like it knew what I was doing it. It lightly tapped the ball with it's head and went into the Pokeball. It didn't resist. Happiny was mine.

Walking home was bittersweet. It was time for me to head to the port and leave. But first I needed to say goodbye to my mom. She was still apprehensive about me leaving but she knew I had to.

"I got you something," I say as I'm ready to walk back out and leave for Akala.

I sorta panicked when I walked in. Wasn't sure I had everything in my bag.

My mom looked at me, putting down the bowl she was using to mix ingredients. I grabbed a Pokeball and released Happiny. My mom glowed as she looked at Happiny.

My mom had a Chansey when she was a child. When she grew up and went off to Sinnoh she decided to leave her Chansey there to help at a Pokemon Center. She has never gone back to see it.

I tossed the Pokeball to my mom and said, "She's yours while I'm gone. She'll keep you company."

I was already leaving my Yungoos here. Professor Kukui said he'd utilize the Yungoos for his research and help it grow. I'll be setting out to Akala Island with Rowlet, Oricorio, Skitty, and my Grimer. Of course only 3 of them are part of my battle team. Skitty will be sightseeing.

"Thank you, Cameron."

In a rare moment for us she hugged me. Something she hasn't done much since Dad died. We used to be close, but, well, shit changed. We changed.

"Please stay safe, okay?"

"Okay mom."

"Go make your dad proud," she commanded me. With that I grabbed my bag and left. Iwas hoping to say goodbye to Aaron, but he is nowhere to be found. Shocking, I know.

I was relieved to leave home. After my dad died, being home felt like I added 20 pounds onto my shoulders. There was always this heavy presence. So it'll be good to be out and exploring this new region that I'm not accustomed to. Of course, it'll be better with Caleb by my side.

Speaking of Caleb, I'm going to stop by his home before heading off to Hau'oli City together. Plus, he told me to come just in case he overslept.

When I walked into his home, he was running around in a hectic craze. He wasn't even fully dressed. He had his pants on but no shirt.

He definitely overslept.

His mom looked at me and chuckled.

Caleb ran back and forth between his room and the family room before recognizing. When he did he rubbed the back of his head and smiled nervously at me.

"Sorry. I'll be ready in a couple minutes." He turned and began to run back but then he turned around and asked me to help him out.

I went to his room, normally clean and put together, and it was a disaster zone. It's like he held a Pokemon battle in here.

While he rummaged through his clothes I recognized a scar on his lower back. I hadn't recognized it before but it was fairly large. Maybe 4-6 inches long. Guess it was nothing worth talking about because Caleb hadn't mentioned it.

He grabbed a shirt and put it on as he shouted instructions to me. He was so distracted and hasty that he didn't realize the shirt was on backwards. I didn't tell him.

We needed to be at the port in 15 minutes. It took us 10 of those minutes to finish packing his bag. So much for a couple minutes.

Before we left he quickly went to the bathroom when Vanessa approached me. She had a concerned look on her face before she opened her mouth. She almost looked like she didn't want to say anything.

"Watch out for my little brother. He trusts you, Cameron."

It was vague but there was real weight behind the words. I wasn't sure if she was suggesting that I may hurt him or there is someone else she knows that would hurt him.

I couldn't ask for her to elaborate because Caleb came out of the bathroom and we had to run.

We arrived at the port with about a minute to spare. Kukui thought it was hysterical to let us know that the boat actually left in 10 minutes and that he lied cause he figured we'd be late. Jerk.

Skitty actually growled at Kukui because he had to run for no reason. A Poke Bean from Kukui shut Skitty up.

Kukui then turned to us and asked if we were ready. We nodded. Kukui, however, stared at Caleb and told him his shirt was backwards. I try to stifle my laugh but I can't help but burst into a chuckle.

"You knew!? You let me out here in public with my shirt on backwards?!" Caleb panicked to fix his shirt as if it was going to erase the fact that it was backwards from the minds of those who saw.

"You were in a rush," I try to say innocently.

"You are supposed to be on my side," he says to me. He can barely hold in his smile as he tries to feign anger.

I just look at him and grin as we walked onto the boat.

As we stood on the edge of the boat as it left the pier, I truly came to terms that I was actually going on a Pokemon Adventure. I was so happy and excited.

My dad completed the Hoenn league when he was 13. He even went on to take on Sinnoh when he was 15. He was a 5 time Hoenn League Champion. He never lost. He told me after the 5th time, he grew bored of it. It was as challenging as he wanted it to be. He also, was a two-time World Championship, winning when he was 15 and 19. When he was 21 he decided to go to Kanto.

He said losing in the championship round was the most devastating thing ever. He never competed in a Pokemon League Tournament again. He did take part in the Battle Frontier afterwards, but that was it. He wanted to battle for fun, not to prove he was the best.

Aaron won the Hoenn League too when he was 15. He didn't compete again because he felt he had nothing else to prove. He wanted to go to Sinnoh and Kanto like our father but, well, you know. When my dad died, Aaron's passion for Pokemon battles kinda died too.

He still trains his Pokemon, even here in Alola, but I haven't seen him in a Pokemon battle in months. He and his Blaziken were quite the force. I was always told by older folks about how he reminded them of my dad.

I clearly have some serious shoes to fill. I don't know how I felt about that but right now it really isn't something I'm thinking about. Maybe if I progress further to the Alolan League, I will, but right now I'm not.

We're approaching Akala Island when Caleb tells me to look in the direction he is pointing to. He is pointing towards Ula'Ula Island. It looks much larger than Akala Island. It has a much larger Mountain peak than the one on Akala too. Hell it actually looks like it's snowing up at it's peak.

"That's Mount Lanakila. It's where the Pokemon League has been held. Where trainers who completed the Island Challenge went and faced off against the 4 Kahunas in one last trial."

Caleb stared in amazement as he spoke. His eyes gave a look of focus and determination amongst the amazement. I couldn't help but think about the words his sister said to me.

Who would want to hurt him?

He looked at me and waved his hand in my face. "You alright?"

Dammit, I was staring.

"Um yeah. Sorry I was kinda lost."

He smiled and went back to looking up at Mount Lanakila.

Then Professor Kukui pointed towards the large construction site south of Akala and west of Ula'Ula Island. He went on to tell us that is where the new Pokemon League will take place. The Island is mostly man-made using sophisticated technology that I just don't have the brain capacity to understand. There was this large building, a stadium, being built in the middle, while several small buildings were either built or being built around it.

"It's our 5th island I guess you can say. Polū Island it'll be called. It'll be beautiful." His voice trailed off, clearly lost in his excitement. Kukui always smiles. He is one of the most positive people I know. The smile he is wearing right now, is broader than ever. Looking at the island, his idea(his baby), you can understand why.

I stared at the artificial island and a wave of warmth flowed throughout my body. I was determined to go there. I was determined to follow in the footsteps of my dad and brother.

I was determined to be the first real Champion of Alola.