The truth is, I didn't always dislike pokemon or the idea of an adventure. In fact, I used to think that my tenth birthday couldn't come soon enough.

But that changed one day.

I sat on the floor scribbling out a picture, adding the final details to dad's mustache with my crayons. My work was complete, a perfect depiction of my childhood view on life. My mom, dad, and I all were holding hands with dad's pokemon and a few others whirling around in a rainbow of colors. It came out better than my usual drawings, and I couldn't keep it cooped up any longer.

I ran to mom in the kitchen, showing her my pride and joy as an artist.

She dried her hands and knelt down to give me her full attention. Those dirty dishes could wait, I was the star of this show. "What a pretty picture! Look at that, you even drew the Wingulls instead of v's! Why don't you go hang it on the fridge?"

Elated at mother's approval, I ran to the refrigerator door and slammed my masterpiece upon it, for the world to see.

As the days went on, however, that picture started having an effect on me. Everyday I would look at it, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I knew that mom saw this. Mothers see everything. The feelings of pride became slowly replaced with doubt and sadness. I always could see dad standing right there on my fridge, but when was the next time that he would see me?

The burning question within couldn't stay inside anymore. I just had to know.

"Mommy, why is daddy never home?"

She must've knew that the question was coming, but can you really prepare yourself to answer that sort of thing? She put down her fork and looked at me, forcing a small smile. "Your daddy is a very important man, and he just can't always make it home."

"But mommy, he's never home."

"I know dear, he's been awfully busy with his job. I'm sure that he'll be back before soon."

I hoped that she was right, and accepted it, looking forward to everyday, each new chance for him to return home.

Time passed, and he still never came back, but the little me didn't give up on his refrigerator hero.

That was shattered one day when I was watching TV. "And don't we have a special battle for you today?! The challenger, the youth who is sweeping the nation with his steel type team, Steven Stone!" The crowded roared within the box. "And the one who stands in his way, none other than--"

The TV switched off as soon as I got a glimpse of my father's face. Mom dropped the remote. The damage was done.

Did I see him smiling? Was he enjoying being away from home?! Did he really not care about me or mom?!

I ran into the kitchen, ripped my illustration from the wall, and bolted upstairs to my room, locking the door behind me. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I sat staring at the paper in my hand. I could hear mother come right up to the door, but she didn't try to come in.

It's all because of pokemon! Pokemon are why daddy never wants to come home! I hate pokemon!!! I tore up my image of my happy family. I'm never going to be a trainer! I'm never going to leave behind my family!

-----

I'd seen the man standing in front of me many times. In magazines, TV interviews, battle broadcasts, you name it. Even though I had always been able to see his face, I hadn't seen him with my own two eyes since I was incredibly little. The man's greying mustache and sailor-like outfit made him indistinguishable.

Yes, standing before me was my father: Drake of the Elite Four.

His pupils shrunk. The other two disappeared from our minds. The only other person I could see was him, and him me.

"Elron... Is that you?"

I nodded. A cold sweat broke out over my body. The man with the power to decimate other trainers and his own familiar bonds recognized me.

"I see... Come with me." He made his way to the door.

I nodded, not knowing what else to do. We made our way out the door, leaving the other two in shock of the intensity of our encounter.

He pulled out a pokeball, then released from it a red winged dragon. He hopped on his Salamence, then motioned for me to join him on it. No way in heck was I going to do that, and I startled back. The pokemon lifted itself into the air, flapping its huge wings and stirring up the vegetation underneath. "You know what must be done," he said to his ride.

Out of nowhere, the pokemon charged at me, and picked me up in its mouth by my shirt. I flailed, but the grip was too strong. I let out a yell, and I'm pretty sure Flora did too.

Up, up, up into the sky I was carried. I was terrified. Was my shirt going to break?! What if I fall?! I shut my eyes and hoped for the best.

The Salamence stopped rising into the air and slowed down, leaving only a slight rush of wind in my ears. "Open your eyes," commanded my father.

I slowly opened them up. We were so high up! I could see Lilycove City from here! I'd never imagined the beauty of the region before. I was still terrified, but I was now exhilarated as well.

I must've smiled, because father spoke up. "Beautiful, isn't it? I remember when I first came up this high. I was awestruck, and never wanted to come down."

We just drifted along, looking around at the landscape from a bird's eye view. As long as I knew I wasn't going to fall, I'm not sure that I would want to go down either.

"Okay, bring us back down."

I had a sinking feeling as I lost the wonderful sight of Hoenn from above. We landed in a clearing, with our only companions being the trees around us and a few wild pokemon. Father leaned against a tree and I took a seat on the ground. We both stared at the ground.

"I suppose you're mad, aren't you?"

"I suppose you can say that."

"I didn't expect any different... I would be too if I were you."

My gaze fell upon his face, and I stood up quickly, taking my stance against injustice. "Then why'd you do it?! Don't you realize what you've put mom and I through?!"

"...It's not like I didn't want to return home..."

"Let me guess, you couldn't because of your stupid job as an Elite Four?!"

"That's not why."

"Then because pokemon are so much better than your own family then?!"

"Not that either."

"Then what could it possibly be?!"

Guilt filled his face, and he turned down his hat to hide it, then he sat down, not taking a single glance at me. "...It's true that I was often too busy to visit, but eventually it got to the point that I simply couldn't bring myself to do it."

"Huh? Why not?!"

"Because the way you're acting right now!" He stood up and turned his body to face mine directly. For the first time since before I can remember, he looked me in the eyes. "As a father, I couldn't bare the thought of the disappointment and resentment that I was sure you'd have for me!"

I just wanted to punch him. I ran at him, and almost did, but I stopped short, ending in a light tap on his chest. The sudden eye contact made me divert my attention once again to the dirt. I could now feel the tears on my face, and could see them hit the ground. "What were you thinking?! I would've been happy just to see you."

Neither of us moved. Instead, we held the same awkward position. What were these emotions coursing through my body? Those of sadness? Those of anger? Or maybe were they feelings of gladness that I could talk face to face with my dad at last?

Dad spoke up first. "Elron. No, son. You're going to make a great trainer. Probably even better than me."

"Why on Earth would you say that in this situation?!" I looked back up. Even in his manly face, I could see a few tears in his eyes.

"Because in this moment, where I feel we have finally connected after all this time, I could really see just the sort of person that you are. You really, truly are my son. And you're surely too stubborn to let your old man beat you."

"You bet I'm stubborn! I picked it up from my father who was too stubborn to consider that maybe all we wanted was to see him again, no matter what kept him away."

A huge grin filled his face. "Hi stubborn, I'm dad!"

I laughed. "You definitely set me up for that."

He joined in the laughter. "Of course I did, I am deprived of over a decade of dad jokes."

"Wow, that's quite the long name. Nice to meet you deprived-of-over-a-decade-of-dad-jokes!"

"You should specialize in fighting types, because that was quite the Reversal!"

I hadn't laughed like I did at that moment for ages, and I don't think he had either. A laugh of pure happiness. That's what that was.

-----

"It's okay Briney, I'll take it from here."

"Whatever you say Drake, though I'm pretty sure Peeko is disappointed that she can' sail with you again."

The Wingull racing around the room crowed in approval.

Flora tugged on my shirt. "Is it true that we get to ride on a Salamence?! And get to stay at home tonight?!"

She was excited, almost bouncing off the walls, and I couldn't blame her. "Yeah. Dad is finally coming home. I can't wait to see mom's face when he walks in the door with me. She'll not see either coming."

Her eyes lit up. "Wait, I get to see my parents again already! Maybe we should get both families together and have a big dinner!"

"I think that's a great idea," said Drake, "now are we going to fly home or not?" He brought back out his Salamence, which roared in happiness of being able to stretch its wings once again.

"Yes sir!"

"All right, you can ride behind me. Hold on tight!"

They hopped onto its back, and there didn't look to be much room for me. "What about me?!"

The dragon pokemon lifted into the air once more, then just like a broken record did the exact same thing as last time and swooped in, grabbing me by my collar.

"This isn't funny!!!"

They both laughed, and soon I caught the laughter too.

-----

"Mom! I'm home!" I pushed open the door and stepped in. Mom was reading a scrapbook, and jumped up in surprise.

"Oh, hi dear! I didn't expect you to get home so soon. Did something happen between you and Flora?"

Flora walked in behind me. "Like what?"

"Oh! You brought Flora too."

"Not just her," I said. We sidestepped, and dad walked in between us.

Mom ran towards him. His return was a critical hit.

"I'm so sorry. So sorry to have been gone so long..." They embraced right then and there.

Flora and I gave each other a smile.

-----

That night we had a glorious feast. Both families pitched in, and we made ourselves a giant picnic, since we could only fit so many pokemon inside and everyone else insisted on including them. Even Professor Aspen dropped by.

The pokemon ran around, having a great time. Our parents chatted up a storm, apparently catching up on everything. Flora and I sat down on the grass, watching the pokemon run back and forth. Little Aaron tried staying by Flora, but she told him to go play with the others, so he obeyed. I don't know if I had actually seen him have fun, but if I had then it was right then, as he learned to play with the others.

It was no doubt that Flora had caught onto what had happened between my dad and I, and I think she was rather happy to see that I had a softer side. I think this because she grabbed my hand and yanked me off my feet, then pulled me to where the pokemon were playing. This time she was willingly holding my hand.

"Come on, let's join in on the fun!"

"Only if you insist!"

Much to a certain steel pokemon's delight, we played with the pokemon for a while, and may or may not have almost been trampled by dad's dragons a few times. The parents watched gleefully. Now this, I thought, this is what family is supposed to look like.