I spent the last couple days of my trip to Hoenn searching for my Dad's Pokemon. I had made a decision to try and bring them all home with me where they belong. With Steven's help I got to see every single one of them.

In the end I only decided to bring back Absol and Wailord. Medicham and Gardevoir were helping Hoenn out. It made no sense to bring them home with me. As for Sceptile, I wasn't quite sure where it was. I hadn't seen it since that battle with Astor.

Speaking of Astor, what was left of his reputation was completely obliterated. Videos of our battle, along with his disgusting abandonment of his Sceptile, are all over the internet. Even the national and international news reported on it. In turn his family has been laying under the radar. Some people suggest that they actually have moved to Sinnoh but I honestly don't care to try and find out. What he did was egregious and will always weigh on me.

As for Sceptile, Caleb has been taking care of it. It isn't quite perfectly okay with the turmoil in its life but we're helping it out a lot. We are doing our best to make it feel as part of a family.

Before Caleb and I leave Steven wanted us and Carl to come to his home in Mossdeep City. He seemed pretty serious when he asked us to come, almost as if he didn't want to ask us. His attitude lightened up when we walked up to his home. His wife and children were outside playing with a ball. That's when he told me that his wife was pregnant with their 4th child, which will be a boy.

"We're hoping to name him after your dad, if that's okay by you."

"Of course," I said.

He nodded and walked into the house. We were taken to his office. Steven, sitting behind his desk, took a deep breath and pulled a small box from a drawer.

"17 years ago I became the Champion of Hoenn's Elite Four. I enjoyed competing against the best of Hoenn all of the time. Do you know why?"

"No," I respond to Steven.

"Your dad. He taught me how to enjoy competition. Everything about Pokemon battles I learned through him." There was a brief silence when Steven opened the box. Steven turned the box and slowly pushed it in front of me. "He was my best friend."

I looked down and saw a Heart Scale.

"Your dad gave this to me a long time ago. Maybe 17 years ago."

I truly had no clue how close Steven and my dad were. I mean it was clear that they were very good friends but for Steven to get a heart scale from my dad proves their friendship was special.

"It's been especially hard to move on from his death, as I'm sure you know." He took a brief pause before continuing. "But you are as happy as I ever. You have moved on. That is why I want you to have this."

I looked at Carl and then back at the Heart Scale. I pushed the box it was in back towards Steven.

"Not every memory of him has to be negative. It can be positive. You just have to allow it to be. It's why I wear this amulet that Caleb got me. It is why I am here and have enjoyed nearly every moment of my trip."

Steven looked down and smiled. "Hmph. You're right."

"I think you should take that heart scale out of the box and frame it. Keep it in view and stop hiding it. Hiding it is you hiding from your feelings. Can't ignore it forever," I say feeling very enlightened.

The last several months have obviously taught me a lot about life and living it. There are always going to be rough patches in your life. That's an absolute thing. What isn't absolute is getting through it. But not getting through also isn't an absolute thing. You have a choice in whether or not you can get through the rough patches or get lost in them. For a long time I was lost in them. Now I can confidently say that I have gotten through it. No doubt it has left a mark on who I am, but I am embracing it.

I'm left feeling satisfied as we head back to Petalburg city. That's when I see this young man, maybe Aaron's age, milling about in front of Carl's place. When I get closer I see that it is Emmery, Aaron's best friend.

He approaches me and shakes my hand. We make some small talk when he finally asks about Aaron.

"I have a feeling he's not doing as well as he makes it out to be."

Understanding Aaron will be mad with me I still tell Emmery the truth. Emmery looked bothered.

"I knew it. He's a terrible liar. Did you know he goes to the Battle Tree over there in Alola? It's how he keeps his mind preoccupied."

That's news to me.

"No. He told you that?"

"Yup. He has 41 wins in a row. He needs 30 more wins until he breaks the record and well you know him. He'll break it."

Man, how can I be so oblivious to the on-goings of my brother? I never actually went to the Battle Tree and I wonder if I did would I have seen him.

"Maybe you should come to Alola. Come and see Aaron. I think he would like that."

Emmery looked away. "I don't know. I guess it would be a good idea. You guys are having your Tournament in July, right?"

I nodded.

"Then maybe I'll come for that then."

"Good. I'm sure my mom would help with any travel expenses."

We shook hands and he departed going back to whatever it is that he does. Meanwhile, it was time for Caleb and I to leave.

This is where the hard part came. Saying goodbye to Carl. I will say this went a lot better than last time. Yeah tears were shed but it was different. When I left last time there was a very dark cloud over us. There was a feeling of dread between us. But this time? I'm going to see him in a few short months. I just spent the best few weeks with him that I've had in 16 months.

...

Before we were to leave to Alola I had to do some last minute shopping in Slateport City. While I was shopping I heard a few people begin to murmur. I turned around and saw my dad's Sceptile.

It stood there as if it owned the ground.

I reached into my backpack and grabbed his Pokeball.

"You can come home with me if you'd like." It locked eyes with me. I walked closer to it and kept my gaze on it. Sceptile slightly nodded giving me the okay to capture it in it's ball.

I felt an easing calmness flow throughout my body. It was as if I had accomplished everything I needed to do here. As I get on this plane back to Alola I spot the small mountain where the makeshift memorial still resides. I only went there once, not going back even to say goodbye. I didn't need to. I made my peace not when I went to see it 2 weeks ago, but when I yelled out to Hala in Melemele Island to begin my Island Challenge. It just took me some time to realize it, and now that I have I'm ready to obtain the legacy that has been left for me.