The longest battle of the Alolan Championships finally reached it's final round. Both Lana and Caleb have delved deep into their bag of tricks desperately trying to outsmart the other. Like Day and Night one could not keep the other one down and out. When one rose up the other followed soon after.

The crowd has enjoyed every ounce of the battle unsure of who to favor. In the early going it seemed Caleb was the favorite. As the battle continued the cheers for Lana grew. It's as if the crowd is simply cheering for both because the battle has been that good.

Lana and Caleb are definitely the most confident trainers in Alola and it showed. Every order they gave to their Pokemon was resolute. There wasn't an ounce of second guessing.

As Caleb's Incineroar went up against Lana's Primarina it looked unlikely that Caleb would be victorious. However, something stood out about Caleb's demeanor. His confidence grew.

As the match was clearly winding down as Incineroar struggled to stand up one last time, Lana thanked Caleb for an excellent battle. She was sure she had won.

Caleb smirked back and said, "Don't count your eggs yet, Lana. This match is far from over."

"Primarina. Hydro Pump."

"Substitute and then Return."

The attacks come quickly as Primarina's hydro pump jets towards Incineroar. However, the attacks hits something other than Incineroar. Meanwhile, Incineroar connects with Primarina with a ferocity I have never seen.

The crowd gasps at the volley of attacks as Incineroar grabs Primarina and jumps high in the air.

"Escape now Primarina!" Lana yells showing the first crack in her confidence this match.

Caleb, smirking, keeps his eyes locked on the two Pokemon as they reach the apex of their flight.

I recall a moment on Melemele Island a couple weeks ago when I ran into Caleb training his Incineroar for the Tournament. Incineroar was wearing weights on it's ankles and arms. Caleb kept having him jump in the air trying to go higher and higher.

"What are you doing, Caleb?" I asked confused.

"Trying to see how high Incineroar can jump."

"Yes, but why?"

Caleb didn't take his eyes off Incineroar. "Imagine this Pokemon landing on other Pokemon. Could be devastation with the right attack combo."

I got to see the attack combo in person when he used it on a wild Primeape.

And now I was going to see it again.

"Incineroar. Now!"

Incineroar lets go of Primarina as they head straight to the ground. In mid-air Incineroar viciously swings his body and hits Primarina torpedoing it into the ground below. Then Incineroar crashed into the ground onto Primarina causing a massive pile of dirt to explode off the ground.

The crowd went silent. Lana looked bewildered as Caleb looked on tentatively.

When the cloud of dirt dissipated both Pokemon were on the ground. The judge on the field was unsure what to do. Technically, they would review the camera footage to see which Pokemon was the last to fall but it would be hard to tell because of the dirt. Therefore, a sudden death round would be necessary.

Just as the judge was about to call it both Primarina and Incineroar moved. After a few moments both of the Pokemon rose and stared at one another.

That's when Incineroar fell.

Primarina followed soon after. However, before both of them could hit the ground Incineroar slammed it's fists on the ground keeping itself from hitting the ground. Primarina connected with the ground and looked finished. Soon after, Incineroar also fell down.

"Primarina has fainted. Incineroar and Caleb Thatcher have won and will proceed to the next round," The judge proclaimed.

The crowd roared. Caleb looked up to me with a broad smile. I looked down at him with my heart bumping blood into my veins at an accelerated pace. As I smiled the reality of it all began to sink in. Caleb is the final roadblock on my way to be Champion. I continued to smile but something inside of me was bothering me.

Caleb was doing an interview with a reporter when he was asked, "What does this mean to you, going to the final round of this tournament?"

Caleb looked up at me and then his family and took a deep breath. "It means everything to me. I'm doing this for my brother"

"Right, of course," the reporter said nodding his head.

Caleb had never brought up Zach in a public interview. As I listened to the reporter and looked around at the crowd it dawned on me that what happened to Zach was well known around not just Melemele Island but Alola as a whole.

"He would've been here if he was alive, not me. No matter the result I know I will make him proud."

Caleb speaks of his brother with a thin smile on his face. He looks up at me every once and while as he speaks as if he gains the ability to speak about Zach from me.

"What about your opponent for tomorrow? How do you feel about going up against Cameron?"

"Um. Well, he is my biggest opponent yet. However, at the same time, he is my biggest proponent."

...

After settling down from the battle and getting food I'm left still feeling weird about the battle tomorrow. As I stand peering over the docks on the island Carl comes up to me and asks me what's wrong.

"Nothing."

Carl scoffs. "Don't you lie to me, Cam. I know you better than anybody, even your boyfriend. What's wrong?"

I keep looking out to see watching several water Pokemon swimming in the Alolan sea. I watch as a passenger boat from Melemele Island approached the port, when I get an idea. I don't respond to Carl, instead I walk towards the boat that has docked when Carl grabs my arm. "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry. I'm just going to Melemele Island. I need to do something important."

Carl wouldn't let go. "Then let me come with you."

"No. Absolutely not. I need to do this on my own. Plus, I need you to divert Caleb from me. Tell him I needed to go home for something but I'll be back later."

"But-" Carl says before I interrupt him.

"Please, Carl."

His shoulders slouch as he lets go of me. "Okay, Cam."

I wink at him and walk away. On the boat to Melemele Island I watch as the sun finally sets below the horizon as I contemplate what I am going to do.

When we docked at Melemele Island I do my best to lay low so people don't notice me. As I walk through Hau'oli City I am recognized by a couple of tourists enjoying the night life. After chatting with a few fans I was finally able to escape the city by heading up north.

As I proceed on the dirt road path I finally make it to my destination: Hau'oli Cemetery.

I approach the stone that belongs to Zach and kneel down.

"You're brother made it to the finals, Zach," I say wondering if he can actually hear me in the afterlife. "He was amazing and he did it for you."

I paused for a while.

"I don't want to beat him. I don't want to beat you. I want him to win. He deserves it."

I paused again. "But I can't. I can't let him win."

I stand up on my feet and place my hand on the stone. "Please forgive me, Zach."

I felt the knot in my chest dissipate as I exited the cemetery. With it gone I can finally mentally prepare myself for tomorrow's battle with Caleb.

It will be his 6 Pokemon versus my 6 Pokemon in what will be the toughest battle I'll compete in yet. Up until now I was unsure if I was ready for this battle. The possibility of us battling at the end was always there. Now it was a reality.

I was ready.

No matter the result, I've succeeded. I don't need to win to succeed. I'm just going to enjoy myself and give it my all.