The next day was a bit rough for me. The whole day I only had finding Shinji on my mind so I can ask him why he and mom split up. I went out to go see if I could find him in Flowdai.
Dartrix followed me as I wondered aimlessly. She was still worried about yesterday. Snivy and Cinfawn also followed behind. The three of them seemed extremely worried.
•Four Years Ago...•
"So your entire goal is to find your dad huh?" Gladion asked as we stood on the beach with Lillie, Aurora, and our Team Skull friend.
"I've always wondered what he was like. Mom tells me he's a powerful trainer so I'm hoping that I can battle him one day and sees who's stronger between the two." I smiled.
Lillie smiled and looked at me. "I hope you succeed! Nothing is a better feeling than reuniting with the ones you love!"
I nodded and smiled. "The Ideal of finding him. I can feel it. He's so close, yet so far away."
"Well the three of us can help you find him, right Fae?" Aurora said and smiled at Fae.
Fae held her Slowbro in her arms and nodded. "We're together until the end."
I smiled at Aurora and Fae. "Yeah."
•A Week Before Battling Vain...•
"Your dad? So you want to know more about him?" Mom said and leaned against the counter. "Well I can say that he was a strong trainer with his Ace, Rhyperior. I can't say he was stronger than most Rock Type Masters, but he's on par with some like Brock, Roxanne, Grant, or even Olivia."
"Wow, a Rhyperior? That's actually pretty cool! Tsunami, we have to get stronger so we can defeat our dad one day!" I said excitedly to Samurott.
He nodded and looked determined.
•The Battle against Professor Kukui•
"Here it is, champ." Kukui smiled at me and his Incineroar stood beside him. "The battle to test your true capabilities. You were a top student in my class, it's always nice to see some of my best make it this far. Tell me, how was your journey? What all did you learn?"
"My journey...it was great for the most part, but..." I said and looked at Samurott's Pokeball. "It had it's ups and downs. I spent most of my time wanting to find my father, just to be met with disappointment. The Ideal of finding him seemed amazing on paper, but in Truth..."
Kukui gave me a genuine smile and placed his hand in his lab coat pocket. "Axel. I know your mother well as we are good friends. She tells me about how you want to find him, and as your teacher and friend...I want to tell you that one day you will find him. I believe in you greatly."
I looked at Kukui then looked at the Pokeball for Tapu Koko. I smiled and nodded. I held the Pokeball containing Tapu Koko out toward Kukui. "Yeah! I will find him! Once I know who he is, the rest will be simple!"
Kukui nodded and adjusted his hat. "Now that's the fire I love to see in my students and opponents! Let's get this battle underway! May the best trainer win!"
•Present Time•
"He was in front of me that entire time...He was right there..!" I said to myself and felt my heart racing. I gripped my hair and grunted.
"Axel..?" A voice spoke toward me.
I looked up and noticed Bianca and Cheren. They noticed how destroyed I looked. They offered me to join them at the Flow Stadium and I agreed and walked with them.
"What's got you all down? I've never seen you look so...hurt." Bianca said and walked beside me.
Cheren walked on the other side of me and looked at me. "Yeah, you look like you've had a painful realization.."
"That's because I did..." I said and held my arms. I felt my body tensing and closed my eyes. "I did have a painful realization that the man I wanted to find, isn't the man I thought he'd be.."
"What do you mean?" Bianca asked. She seemed worried and concerned.
"It's just that I wanted to find my father...all those years and being excited to actually meet him. The Ideal of being able to spend time with him and tell him about my journeys...it isn't Truth. It was just hopefully thinking...A foolish goal.." I said.
Cheren looked at me then looked out into the scenery. "That's how it goes sometimes. Sometimes certain Ideals and Truths don't mix. Sometimes one can't just focus on either a truth or an ideal, you'll have to find a gray line that mixes both."
"I felt like I could if I found out, but all I'm left with is disappointment. My whole goal was to find him, I did...but not in the way I wanted. I feel like I wasted my time. Even coming here, I still hadn't given up on finding him. The thought rested in my head. The thought of us just crossing paths...and it did in Jinka Creek City.." I said.
Bianca gave a soft smile and looked out into the scenery as well. "This might sound out of my character, but sometimes you have to just accept the Truth, but don't let it control you. The Truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow, heck sometimes people can't swallow the truth at all and it just leaves a lump in your throat. I was one of those who couldn't accept the truth in my time as a trainer a one point..."
"Sometimes you have to plan for the idea that maybe what you're striving for isn't the best Ideal. From what you've told, it seems like you were missing the signs in front of you." Cheren said.
I stopped walking and my eyes widened.
•A Year Ago...•
I rushed home and smiled. Rowlet flew behind me and hooted. I noticed Mom wasn't home and she had left a note telling me where she was going to be.
I smiled and set the note back down and looked at a few pictures that were on the wall and noticed a picture that was ripped. I picked it up and looked at it. I noticed another picture that had scribblings on it, trying to scratch someone out. I gave it no thought and just assumed either she didn't like one of her friends anymore or they were something I did when I was a kid.
•A week before taking on the Final Trial•
"You and your team has grown so strong! I'm so proud of you I could cry!" Mom said in glee as she talked to me over the phone.
"I can't believe I made it this far either, but I have you and Professor Kukui and all my friends to thank. When I become champion, I know when I find Dad, he's gonna be proud!" I chuckled.
Mom chuckled softly on the phone. "Hey, sweetheart?"
"Yeah?" I asked.
"From this point on, I want you to only focus on you and your Pokemon. I don't want you to lose focus because in all honesty...I don't think you can find him. I don't want you to be hurt when you learn the Truth. I love you too much to see you devastated.." Mom said.
"Come on, Mom. I won't be devastated because if I don't ever find him, I'll have the closure I need...but I have high hopes that he's still out there. Somewhere. I know he's on a journey like I am, becoming champion elsewhere and getting stronger. Our battle will be one for the books!" I said with determination.
Mom made a soft sound and just chuckled. "Okay, sweetheart...Just know I'm always going to be here for you. No matter what. I love you."
"I love you too, Mom.." I said.
•Present Day...•
The signs were always there, but I ignored them all. I came up with excuses for each time I found evidence that he wasn't around anymore. The battle with Midori was the breaking point for me.
Bianca heard a soft sniffle coming from me. She walked over to me and held my arm, gently. "Axel...Let it out.."
The truth does wonders to people. The truth can make people happy, it can make them mad, the truth can make people cry...like it did to me. The truth can be rewarding, and it can be devastating at the same time.
I was devastated...just as Mom predicted I would be if I found out. I felt like my entire world had shattered. I was back where I started and even lower.
Bianca and Cheren comforted me and took me to a place where I could just sit down and let out my emotions. Dartrix, Snivy, and Cinfawn all comforted me as well.
A few minutes go by and I had finally let everything out. The bond with Cheren and Bianca grew as they listened to me and helped me get better.
"Midori was right...The consequences of me finding out who my father is was fatal, but...if I never knew, I would never accept the Truth and would still strive for the foolish Ideals I had.." I said.
"In some cases I would agree with Midori, some things aren't meant to be told before it's time...but I don't agree on everyone keeping it from you for so long. At least you know now." Cheren said and gently pat my shoulder.
"If you want, we can still go see the show. I'm sure it's gonna be a lot of fun." Bianca smiled.
I nodded and smiled. "I want to.."
Bianca nodded and stood up then grabbed my hand. "Let's go then!"
~~~~~
Bianca, Cheren, and I spent an hour with each other watching the Flowdai Show and just hanging out with one another. They seemed to admire the fact that Rowlet had evolved into Dartrix.
Cheren had given me some tips on how to keep Dartrix clean and happy since Dartrix has been seen to preen more often and be more arrogant about her appearance. Bianca gave me tips on how to keep Snivy clean and happy as well.
"Who are your aces? I'm sure when you were journeying, your aces were pretty powerful." I said.
"My Ace is actually Emboar. He's been there for me every step of the way in my journey." Bianca answered.
"I actually have two Aces. Stoutland, and a Samurott. I actually brought something from Unova, and I think you should have him." Cheren smiled and brought up a digital screen and summoned a Pokeball in his hand. He handed it to me.
I took it and looked at it. "What Pokemon is it?"
"An Oshawott. I was training him for a while, but he needs a trainer that's gonna bring out his full Potential." Cheren said.
My eyes lit up and I looked at the Pokeball and called out Oshawott from his Pokeball. He looked up at me and tilted his head. He looked at Cheren.
"Oshawott, we've spent a lot of time together. I've done all I've could to bring you to your full power. I found a trainer that can bring you to your maximum potential." Cheren said and looked at me.
Oshawott looked back at me and waddled toward me.
[Would you like to give Oshawott a nickname?]
I pressed 'Yes' on the digital screen and began to give Oshawott a nickname. "Neptune."
Oshawott looked at me happily and let out a happy cry. He went over to meet his new friends and allies.
"I can already sense a great bond between you two. If you do well in the future, I will reward you with a Tepig. He's shiny also so it's even more special." Bianca smiled at me.
I nodded at Bianca and smiled. "I'll be looking forward to it. I will keep working hard and push through this stage of my life. I still have another goal to complete and I can't do it without my allies. From here on out, I will focus on the now instead of the past."
Cheren and Bianca smiled at me and nodded. We continued to hang out with each other and watched our Pokemon play with one another.