Longer chapter than usual, folks. Hope it's worth it :)
Being home has been refreshing. Although I haven't battled in the 3 days since I've arrived here, I feel pretty good. I have come to realize that the Island Challenge was putting some unobserved stress on my mind so when I was battling Olivia it kind of exploded.
Yesterday I talked with Carl about it.
"Cameron, I think maybe you expect too much from yourself. You are going to lose battles. You need to learn how to enjoy the moment and be okay with losing."
"Are you okay with losing?" I asked him.
His Grovyle was sitting in his hotel room meditating. However, it opened an eye when I asked the question.
"Yeah," Carl said softly. Grovyle's eyes widened and he actually scoffed at Carl. I laughed as Carl turned around and said, "Not a peep from you, jerk." Carl was chuckling as he turned in his seat to face his monitor.
I watched as Grovyle placed his finger to his eye and pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck out it's tongue. Carl rolled his eyes.
"I can see you in the screen, you know."
We both laughed.
Grovyle went back to meditating.
"Okay, I hate losing, but I enjoy the battle. I enjoy because I give it my all."
"But I didn't give it my all. I quit."
Carl tilted his head and sighed.
"Cam, you quit because you doubted yourself. You know, that thing you do all of the time."
Now I rolled my eyes at Carl. "Yeah cause I'll never be as good as my dad. I'll never be as good of a trainer."
Carl sighed again. "I thought you didn't want to be as good as him. I thought you wanted to make him proud. Also, I thought you, ultimately, wanted to be your own man."
I looked outside my window as if I was waiting for a Pikipek to deliver a response to me for Carl. I had nothing.
"Do you want to be as good as him or make him proud? You can't have both Cameron?"
Before I answered his question I began to ponder how tired he must be for always having to do this. It's like he's my therapist. It's so unfair.
"Why can't I be both?"
"How's it working out for you?" He raised his eyebrows as I looked down and sighed. "Exactly. Look at Aaron. He didn't try to be like your dad. He went out and did his thing. He won the Hoenn League. I remember how happy he and your father were when he did it."
"Yeah but Dad also won it."
"Okay and what happened when Aaron failed at the Battle Tower to get through the 40th trainer and took that defeat and became a record holder at other Frontier stadiums? Was your dad not happy?"
"He was."
"Exactly. Because Aaron became his own person. Now it's your turn."
I nodded in agreement, although I didn't completely agree. His words and my thoughts jockeyed for position in my mind causing the rest of our conversation to seem like background noise.
At sundown I went down to the Hau'oli beach with my Pokemon and watched them play in the sand and sea. Then Caleb came and we joined me on the steps leading to the sand. He too let his Pokemon out and we just sat there watching the sun set and our Pokemon play.
Watching our Pokemon play made me feel better than I ever have since being home. Even Skitty was running around and playing. He and Dartrix were playing around in the sand together. It was kinda precious watching Dartrix tease Skitty.
Meanwhile Grimer was eating food that people nearby had. They didn't appreciate that so I had to compensate them.
...
Tonight, my mom is holding a birthday party for me. It's nothing too big, but it'll be at our house. Caleb's family and Kukui will be coming. Mom did say she invite Hala but was unsure if he will be coming.
Before that though I have a pretty average day ahead of me. I'm currently going over to Caleb's house to help them with their garden. My mom is over there right now, but you know I just woke up so, uh yeah.
The garden in front of and to the side of Caleb's house has been radically changed. Instead of simple berries and flowers like there were before we left. Now there were just berries. Not simple berries like Rawst or Oran berries. No. There were Salac berries, more than I've ever seen here. There were also Micle and Kee berries here as well. These were rare berries being grown in this garden.
The reason for this is that my mom and Caleb's sister, Vanessa, have created a small business of sorts using the berry seeds my mom brought from Hoenn. The Salac berries have been a huge hit selling for 8,000 Pokedollars a piece.
Vanessa and my mom are currently working on the garden. Vanessa looks up towards me, with dirt all over her face, and tells me to go wake up Caleb.
So I walk into his home where Caleb's mom is making some Iced Tea. She tells me Caleb is in the shower just as I notice the sound of the shower running in the background. She serves me some Iced Tea as I sit at the kitchen table.
That is when I notice, for the first time, a picture on the fridge. It's of Caleb and his brother, Zachary. They had to be 7 or 8 years old in this picture where they are standing next to a Lapras. For all I know about this family is that they don't openly mention or show anything about Zachary so seeing this picture kind of surprises me.
"As he told you?" Mrs. Thatcher asks me as she places the pitcher of Iced Tea on the table.
I look at her and nod.
"Caleb took his death very poorly. Zach was his best friend, which is what you would expect from twins; they did everything together."
"Yeah, he said as much."
She smiled. "Of course he did, my dear." I heard the shower turn off as I took a sip of my iced tea. "I had so many reservations of Caleb going out on this Island Challenge. You've helped put them all to rest."
She placed her hand on my shoulder as the door to the bathroom opened.
"Thank you," she said as she walked away and out the front door.
Caleb appears in the kitchen and motions me to follow him.
I'm again catching myself stare a little too long at his body as he walks around shirtless. It's not exactly worrying me anymore but now I'm just trying not to get caught I guess.
I'm reminded of the scar on his back as I spot it. I still have no clue how he got it. Hm. Should I ask?
He turns to me and rubs his head. "Uh, am I going to have to give you another birthday gift?" His face turns a little red as he smiles.
"No, please. I don't even want this party."
His eyebrows shoot up. He walks over to me and sits down on the foot of the bed near me where I sit on his computer chair.
"Why not?"
I shrug. "I don't know. I never have. Guess I don't like attention."
He chuckled. "Meanwhile, all you bring to yourself is attention since I've known you." He chuckled again as I shoved his shoulder.
He was right, so I had nothing to say except for a simple "shut up."
"Zach and I used to love our birthday parties. I'm not really sure why, but I think it was just being able to celebrate it with each other." His eyes trailed away as his smile did the same.
"And what about now?" I ask nervously.
He looked at me and then down at the ground. He got up from his bed and dropped to the ground and reached under his bed. He pull out a small box and handed it to me. Then he sat back on the foot of the bed and nodded to me.
I opened the box exposing dozens of pictures. Pictures of Zachary and Taylor. Most of them are of birthday parties. They looked so happy. They looked so similar, really. Only Zachary's glasses differentiated them.
However, in one set of their photos, their 12th birthday, Zachary didn't have glasses on. The small cut and bruise under his right eye made me assume he had an accident causing his glasses to break. Caleb grabbed a picture from the set of his 12th birthday party. It was one of Zachary and him standing in bright blue shirts, smiling as they had their arms draped around the shoulder of one another.
"For him, I do."
I can see Caleb try and hide the tears with a smile so I get up and sit next to him with the box of pictures on my lap. Instinctively, I place my arm around him and say, "Love it for yourself, Caleb."
Caleb looked at me and smiled. He didn't say anything in response. Instead he got up and cleared his throat.
"Only if you promise me to start looking forward to your birthday parties."
His words struck a chord with me. I don't know if it was his intention but I thought about Zachary. He doesn't have a birthday party to look forward to. He's dead. If he were alive he would look forward to it. I don't look forward to them because I'll have them. I take it for granted because I'm alive.
How unfair is that? I think to myself causing guilt to bubble in my chest.
I hold my hand out and say, "I promise."
Caleb nods and shakes my hand. Then he brings me towards him into a hug, allowing to feel the heat of his bare chest, and whispers "Good."
...
Hala does show up, much to my mom's excitement and my surprise. The first thing he did was speak to me about my battle with Olivia. I sensed he understood my continuing trepidation on accepting the emblem but he too told me I deserved it.
I'm still not sure but I'm going to continue on my challenge anyways.
Aaron is here, understandably, even though I expected him to skip out. We haven't spoken much since I got back. He asked me how things were going on the challenge and I just told him everything was fine. That was it.
Kukui came over as well. He thanked me for all the Pokemon I have sent him as we ate dinner my mom prepped.
"My mom told me that I got them for you," I say trying to sound as if I'm reprimanding him.
"Oh, uh," he starts off nervously while chuckling. "Yes, I guess I should've told you that I was conducting research with them."
"Has it helped with your research" I ask pretending to be serious still.
"Oh yes, very much so."
I glare at Kukui who's smile fades away. I think he's starting to feel bad so I let out a smile and a chuckle. He shakes his head.
"Oh cousin, you almost had me going there. Don't do that to me again," he says laughing. Everyone else, even Aaron, laugh but my mom. She just smiles as she looks at me.
We hear a little wail from below and look at my Skitty bullying Happiny. Skitty is sliding Happiny's food away from her and now Happiny is crying.
"Skitty! Cut it out or I'll get Dartrix on you."
Skitty groans as he slides the food next to Happiny.
"He is such a bully sometimes," I say to the table as Happiny's cry diminishes.
Skitty jumps up on the table and steals some of my food causing the table to laugh. I look down at Skitty as he eats my food and sigh. But I smile too.
After eating dinner and delicious chocolate cake Caleb comes up to me and suggests something I was never expecting.
"We should battle. 3-on-3."
I chuckle at him thinking he is crazy. Kukui overhears us and says that it is a fantastic idea. Caleb's face shows me that he isn't kidding.
"Why? I will lose."
"You don't know that, Cam. Come on, it'll be fun. Just a nice, fun battle between two friends."
I look over to my mom who is video chatting with Carl's mom back in Hoenn. Then I look at Aaron who is feeding his Blaziken some food. Nothing.
"I think it's a grand idea, Cameron. You and Caleb could make for a very entertaining battle." Hala stood tall looking down at us with a smile. I looked back at Caleb and smiled.
Everyone gathered outside of my house for the battle. My mom told Carl's mom about the battle and is currently laying her tablet down to show her the battle. Carl's dad and sister are also watching. It felt off not to have Carl watching so I video called him as I approached my mom.
"Hey man, what's up?" He waves at the camera when he sees my mom wave.
"So you know how there's a party at my house, right?"
"Mhm, yeah."
"Well Caleb and I are going to battle. You family is watching through my mom's tablet so I thought maybe you should watch, too."
He smiles and says, "Sure, that'd be great."
I place the phone down on it's stand so he has a view of everything. Everyone from the party and even some of our neighbors are out here watching.
"Are you two ready?" Kukui asks as he officiates the battle.
"Yes," we both say at the same time.
We both pick a Pokeball and toss it at the same time. He sends out his Torracat and I send out Grimer.
We both stare at each other waiting for the other to make a move first.
"Double Team" Caleb calmly says instigating the first move.
I stand there watching his Torracat quickly move from spot to spot.
"Tackle!" Torracat jumps out from a spot and hits Grimer. Caleb orders his Torracat to use Double Team again.
Hmm. He's clearly using Olivia's tactic against me. Wise considering it worked so well against me.
But I have a plan.
Torracat hits Grimer again and then uses Double Team once more. I peak over to the house where Aaron stands and see him shake his head.
"Grimer, sludge attack to your right." The attack misses. Torracat connects again.
As Torrocat continues it's rinse and repeat tactic I tell Grimer to unleash another sludge attack to it's left and then towards Caleb which is to it's South. Torracat comes from the North and hits Grimer again. It hops over the sludge and goes back to Double Team.
Smiling I say, "Grimer, use sludge behind you now!" The Sludge attack hits Torracat stopping it in it's track. Some of the onlookers gasp at the hit they certainly believe to be luck. It's not.
I look down at the field below and see a large swath of sludge surrounding Grimer. I've turned the field into a home for Grimer.
Caleb smiles.
"Torracat, jump and use take down."
As Torracat hops over the sludge in front of it, I have it where I want it.
"Hide in the sludge, Grimer."
Grimer slides into the sludge and is no longer able to be seen. Meanwhile, Torracat lands in the small patch of grass in the middle of a sludge filled plain.
"Grimer, Pound attack!" Grimer appears near Torracat and slams into it. Torracat is knocked into the heavy sludge unable to move. "
"Poison Fang!" Grimer slides into the sludge again and appears next to Torracat. Grimer opens it's mouth wide as Caleb returns Torracat to his ball.
Caleb looks serious.
"Go Oranguru. Use Psychic on the sludge to create a ball of sludge."
Oranguru quickly combines the sludge into a ball causing my Grimer to be exposed.
"Now toss it at Grimer!"
The sludge bomb hits Grimer hard but Grimer is okay. Grimer then eats the sludge that exploded near him.
"That is gross," Vanessa says getting a chuckle from some of the kids now watching.
"Grimer, Acid Spray on Oranguru."
"Dodge and use Taunt."
Oranguru successfully dodges and taunts Grimer causing Grimer to become annoyed. Grimer continue to spray acid at Oranguru but misses.
"Zen Headbutt!"
Oranguru connects with Grimer in a devastating way. Grimer is finished.
Caleb has all 3 of his Pokemon left but I have seen 2 of his and I'm pretty sure I know who his final Pokemon will be if we make it that far. Hakamo-o.
"Go Mudbray! Use Double Team."
I quickly use tackle to keep Caleb from using an attack. I also have Mudbray use Double Team again. It's like what I did against Olivia. That means I know what Caleb will do next.
"Oranguru, close your eyes and focus on the sound Mudbray makes."
I don't tell Mudbray to attack. Instead I tell it to stop.
For the first time since the opening seconds of the battle Caleb's expression changes. He seems confused at first but then smiles.
"Oranguru, Zen Headbutt!"
Boom.
"Dodge it and use High Horsepower." Oranguru is hit hard and immediately faints.
"Go Torracat!"
Why won't he use his Hakamo-o? He would have the advantage. Now he is at a disadvantage.
Torracat quickly uses quick attack and hits Mudbray. It is clear from the onset that Torracat is slightly quicker than my Mudbray. They continue to trade blows in an never ending barrage of physical hits.
"Mudbray, High Horsepower."
"Iron Tail!" Caleb yells out to my surprise. I don't ever recall him teaching Torracat that attack.
Both attacks hit sending the Pokemon back. They both stand tall, heavily breathing, but then Mudbray falls to the ground. He tried to get up but I recall him.
"You're finished. Rest up, you did well," I say to the Pokeball.
I'm down to my final Pokemon, Dartrix. Torracat may have the type advantage but she is struggling to stand on all 4 of her legs.
"Dartrix, use Aerial Ace."
"Dodge and use ember," Caleb says.
Torracat musters the ability to dodge the attack and hits Dartrix. Dartrix responds frustratingly and quickly hits Torracat with a headbutt. Dartrix then grabs Torracat and jumps into the air with her. Then he slams Torracat down on the ground.
Torracat is finished.
Caleb smiles as he lifts the Pokeball holding his Hakamo-o. He tosses it and out it comes.
Dartrix and Hakamo-o stand tall in front of each other glaring. Caleb and I also lock eye contact. It's not nearly as serious as Hakamo-o and Dartrix but the meaning behind it is the same. We both want to win and have no plans on losing easily.
Caleb nods to me and I nod back.
The final round in the most exhilarating battle I have had is about to begin!