It was two weeks after my father's death. I was still struggling with the fact I didn't have him anymore. Our morning walks throughout town were no longer possible. Cooking food together were never going to happen again.
Aaron isolated himself in his room. When he did come out, he said nothing. Not even to me. That night I had come across the path, and ultimately where the rock slide took place, my dad took the day he died. I had never been there even though I wanted to.
The rubble at the bottom of the hill hadn't been removed. A memorial, immediately created hours after he died, had grown exponentially. I looked at every flower and every statue placed. There was more here than at his gravestone.
Something I left out previously was that this hill was now named after my father. I hate that. Even though I know it was out of respect it still feels weird and sorta wrong.
Anyways that night I came home a mess. Aaron was on the porch reading, trying to keep his mind preoccupied I assumed. I hesitated between going over to him or going into the house. The wall that had been built between us was still very foreign to me. It dug deep into my heart further than anything else.
I sat next to Aaron. I remember being so scared sitting next to him as if he was a stranger. His reaction verified my fear.
"What are you doing?" Aaron asked annoyed.
"I went to the memorial today."
"So what? What does that have to do with me?" I felt my eyes begin to well up, which further annoyed Aaron. "Gees. Don't start crying. I don't want to deal with that."
He slammed his book shut and rose to his feet as I started to cry. He looked at me and shook his head. "Get a grip," he said to me in the most downgrading way a brother could say it.
"Cameron!" I heard a voice yell out.
I shook my head and rattled the memory out of my head when I realized I was still in a battle. I looked straight ahead at Caleb, whom looked concerned. He mouthed, "You okay?" I gave him a thumbs up and we continued our battle.
Caleb started off with a couple confusion attacks. The attacks hurt Passimian quite a bit but I determined that was okay. I didn't tell Passimian to dodge on purpose as I had a plan. Before I could go through with this plan I had to keep Caleb's mind busy.
I had Passimian lay a flurry of tackle and take down attacks using it's speed to our advantage. Some attack hit Oranguru and some didn't.
"Psychic attack now Oranguru!" Caleb yelled.
"Hold your ground Passimian," I replied.
Caleb tilted his head ever so slightly, projecting his confusion. The attack, nevertheless, hit my Passimian and nearly knocked it out. Breathing heavily, Passimian was able to stay up.
When Caleb ordered another Psychic attack it gave me and Passimian the opportunity to attack.
"Dodge it and use Reversal!"
The attack is simple. When a Pokemon who is close to fainting uses Reversal the attack is at its strongest. It's essentially a last shot attack. Understanding it may faint my Pokemon, the goal is to make Oranguru faint or come close to it. I have the advantage in this battle, and if I have to sacrifice a Pokemon to keep my advantage up then I will do it.
Oranguru does faint. The attack devastated it. However, Passimian, too, fainted due to the all-out attack.
Caleb was down to his final 2 Pokemon, one of which is his Alolan Persian. I had 3 more including a somewhat tired Decidueye. With that said I knew I had the opportunity to finish this. I still had my 2nd best Pokemon fully healthy.
"Go Mudsdale!"
Caleb showed no emotion. He quickly sent out his Vikavolt, which I expected, and came out swinging first with a couple mud slap attacks and an Air Slash attack. The air slash attack did more damage than the mud slaps but Mudsdale was fine.
When Caleb attempted another Air Slash I took the opportunity, since both Pokemon would be in close proximity, to have Mudsdale use High Horsepower. Both Pokemon got their attacks off and connected.
Caleb repeated his air slash demand, so I repeated mine. However, Caleb yelled out to his Vikavolt to stop and use Bug Buzz. I tried to get Mudsdale to dodge but it takes a lot of effort to get out of a High Horsepower attack and then dodge.
"Air Slash!" Caleb yelled again. With Vikavolt quickly coming at Mudsdale I was unsure what to do.
"Double Kick!" I told Mudsdale.
"Stop and use agility!" Caleb yelled.
Mudsdale couldn't attack Vikavolt because it couldn't find it. When Caleb told Vikavolt to use Air Slash again, it hit. Vikavolt seemingly came out nowhere. Then Caleb went back to the attack, again. "Dammit," I said to myself before yelling "Counter!"
And of course Caleb stopped the attack, opting for a String Shot attack. Mudsdale was covered in a silky string, which would slow him down. It couldn't hit Vikavolt after it attacked again. Caleb repeated the process one more time. That is when Mudsdale nearly fell to the ground. It was tiring and hurt and I barely hit Vikavolt.
Vikavolt having air superiority was already an advantage. Mudsdale being hindered by the string shot gave it an insurmountable advantage. Knowing this I retired Mudsdale from the battle. It stood no chance hitting Vikavolt. It was just torture by the time I ended it.
So I sent out Oricorio. Admittedly, Oricorio is not my best Pokemon. However, I thought Oricorio could take down Vikavolt.
I was wrong.
Vikavolt's speed was just too much to overcome. Oricorio did get a couple hits off but I'm not sure it hurt Vikavolt, who put a thrashing on Oricorio.
In a mater of a couple minutes I was down to my last Pokemon, Decidueye.
I stood there staring as Decidueye recalling the memory of the worst thing my brother ever said. After he left me on the porch I began to cry uncontrollably. However, after a few seconds I could hear yelling inside the house between my mom and him. It had become a common occurrence but this was on another level.
"What is your problem, Aaron? He is your little brother. He needs you."
"Well I don't need him. And I don't want him."
The words shook me to my very core.
My mom didn't say anything to Aaron, but he did say something else, "He needs to get through this on his own. Nobody can help him. Nobody knows how to."
"I need to get through this on my own," I think to myself remembering those words.
I looked at Decidueye as it turned to look at me and said, "You're all I got left, buddy."
Decidueye nodded and quickly took off and hit Vikavolt taking everybody by surprise. Caleb quickly responded with a Zap Cannon attack. I told Decidueye to dodge but he didn't. He put his wing up and took the hit.
"Brave Bird," I said calmly. Decidueye didn't hesitate however, Vikavolt dodged it. With that said Decidueye wasn't going to let Vikavolt get away. He flew after Vikavolt.
Caleb had Vikavolt use thunderbolt to try and hit Decidueye but not a single attack hit as the two Pokemon flew around the stadium. Decidueye finally caught up to Vikavolt, surprising Caleb. Vikavolt was sent flying to the ground with Decidueye right behind picking up speed.
"Brave Bird!" I yelled hoping Decidueye could hear me.
He did.
He hit Vikavolt sending Caleb's Pokemon plummeting to the ground like a meteor. When Vikavolt hit the ground you could tell the impact was severe. Decidueye hovered over the cloud of dirt waiting to see if Vikavolt was finished or not.
When Vikavolt bolted out of the dirt cloud, a massive gasp was let out in the stadium. Decidueye swiftly dodged the attack only to hit Vikavolt back to the ground.
Vikavolt didn't get up after that crash into the ground.
Caleb sent out Persian to set up the final battle of this Championship bout. This was it. This was the coup de grâce.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment. I couldn't believe this was going to be the final battle of this tournament. I may lose or I may win, I don't know. What I do know is that this was a lot of fun. I opened my eyes and looked up at my box. My mom. Carl. Aaron. All three supporting me. And then there was Sceptile, looking on as I would expect my dad to look on.
Not gonna lie, but for that moment I allowed my mind to believe my dad was in Sceptile watching this battle right now. Heh.
As I looked around the stadium I noticed someone standing in the trainer's tunnel behind Caleb. It was Gladion. He came. He saw that I noticed him and lightly waved. I smiled.
I look forward at Caleb who is smiling at me and nod my head. He nods back and winks.
"Decidueye, Razor Leaf!"
The battle is not in my favor, I know that. Persian is a dark type. Decidueye is a ghost type. It matters not. I and Decidueye will give it all we got.
Persian is hit by the attack but shakes it off as it tackles Decidueye.
As the battle continues no Pokemon looks like it has any quit in it. However, I begin to wonder why Caleb is playing small ball with the attacks. He has yet to call on Persian to use its Dark Pulse attack.
Why?
"Brave Bird!"
I watch as Caleb doesn't order his Pokemon to do anything. "Stop!" I yell at Decidueye. Caleb quickly orders his Persian to use Night Slash.
Persian leaps out towards Decidueye but before it connects I tell Decidueye to use Leaf Blade. Both Pokemon connect and are sent flying in opposite directions. At first they both look like they took the attacks well but then Decidueye falls to one knee.
"Play Rough!" Caled yells.
The attack further hurts Decidueye. I swear I thought he was going to faint right then and there. That's when Decidueye took to the air and hit Persian.
Brave Bird.
Both Pokemon struggled to their feet. The crowd was silent, tension unbearable. Even between Caleb and I. Hell even Skitty was awake for this.
"Dark Pulse," Caleb says calmly.
"Dodge it Decidueye and use Synthesis!"
I knew Decidueye wouldn't have too much time to regain health, but the sun was strong. It was still being compounded by Incineroar's Sunny Day.
"Dammit," I heard Caleb say. "Persian, quick, use Night Slash!"
Persian quickly charged at Decidueye and leaped to attack. However, Decidueye slid to his right and turned hitting Persian as it leaped by.
"No!" Caleb yelled as Persian tumbled in the ground.
Feeling the end of the battle I told Decidueye to use Solar Beam. Persian struggled to it's feet as Decidueye powered up.
When Decidueye let out the massive beam I believed the battle was over. I watched as Persian stood there, barely standing, and then boom. The attack hit with ferocity. There was no way Persian survived that attack.
I looked over at Caleb who was staring at the cloud of dirt to his right. He looked so focused as if he was lost.
Then he did something that made me think he lost the plot.
"Dark Pulse, Persian," Caleb says in a monotone voice.
"What?" I say.
Out of the cloud came a dark aura. Before I or Decidueye could react the aura hit him. Decidueye was stunned by the critical attack, unable to move.
"I'm so sorry Cam. Persian, use Night Slash."
Persian leaped out of the cloud of dirt. I screamed for Decidueye to dodge, but it was pointless. Persian slashed at my already exhausted and injured Pokemon.
Decidueye fell to the ground.
A moment later he moved, keeping the referee from calling the match. Decidueye looked up and spotted Persian. When he leaped into the air the stadium let out another gasp, but when Decidueye fell to the ground before hitting Persian we knew it was over.
"Decidueye is unable to battle. Persian and Caleb Thatcher have won."
The crowd roars in excitement as I look down at my Decidueye. I walk over to it ignoring all of the noise around me and bend down to one knee. I take off my backpack and give Decidueye a Pokebean and rub its head. "You were amazing. Thank you."
Decidueye lifted his wing to my face and brushed away a tear from my face.
I took a deep breath and placed him back into his Pokeball. I kept looking down at the ground below where Decidueye was and watched as a shadow appeared.
Caleb.
He got down to the ground and immediately hugged me. I rested my head on his shoulder and watched the replay on the jumbotron. Persian was able to avoid the blast by jumping in the air at the last minute.
"I'm sorry Cam. I know how much this meant to you," he said as he rubbed my back.
I cleared my throat and pulled away from him. "It's okay. You won and you earned it. I gave it my all and it wasn't enough. I can't be upset with that."
I didn't feign a smile. I smiled and meant it. I got up to my feet and held my hand out for Caleb to grab. When he grabbed it I pulled him up and raised his hand in the air. The crowd was louder than it ever had been.
"Now that is what you want to see folks, sportsmanship and friendship of the highest degree," the announcer said.
I pulled Caleb arm down and towards me. When he turned to face me I kissed him. It felt like the perfect way to cap an amazing tournament. I may have lost, but Caleb completed his goal; to win for his brother, and I have the best boyfriend I could've ever asked for. It really couldn't get any better than this moment. One day I will win, but today wasn't my day and that's okay.