My eyes had awakened to a sky that was clear of all clouds. The ship's bow, had covered a point from where the sun sat as I lied prostrate on the ground. I turned to my left to see the S.S. Anne rearing parallel to the ocean in front of me. Not knowing how I got there or even how the ship itself ended up to where we were as of current.

Where am I? I thought with intent.

I couldn't remember a thing that happened. The last thing I remember was when we had entered Solress's portal to try and prevent Team Rocket from harming Pokémon in the other world. The question was this.

What happened in the other world?

My mind was so blank, I just wished that I could recall on whether we had successfully completed the mission or failed. It was disheartening, even for me to wonder whether or not we had successfully saved other Pokémon from getting hurt.

I sat up and steered my gaze toward my friends who were altogether spread out along the beach sand. They two were all seemingly zonked out like I was. The truth, it seemed, was that I was alone as I turned to face the creaking, abandoned ship before me. Something inside told me, someone had caused this ship to be placed there. After looking at it longingly, the ship had broken portholes and severe damage was done to the hull. It looked like everyone that was on board the ship had successfully escaped. Whatever it was that placed it there.

It was almost like we had been successful, could it be that Mewtwo free'd himself and escaped through the portal with us?

The likelihood of those scenarios were an assured possibility. The more I thought about it, there was a reason why the S.S. Anne was resting along the beach of Vermillion. Based on my observation; I was looking toward the South Sea. Then turned to face the city miles away towards the west. We were close to Vermillion based on how far the docks were from our current position.

This Mewtwo Pokémon used it's Psychic powers to lift the ship off shore and landed it here with the rest of us trainers. What was even stranger; he didn't seem like a threat, he made sure that we were saved from the ocean before drowning by our own enemies out to sea. Solress was quick to be rid of us because of his invention, based on that information alone. It looked like we had succeeded in stopping Solress's mission. But my memory of those events were still foggy at best.

I stood up above the beach, patting my skirt down from all the wet sand that rested alongside my outfit and with sharp surprise.

I turned to see a man who had a purple robe caped along his shoulders. Standing underneath the palm trees, the man was silhouetted from the shadows draping across his visage.

"Dad?"

I had to assume it was him, based on his height, his hair color. The man seemed to be watching me from afar and if I know my Dad, Autumn. He was currently trying to protect the region from the likes of Team Love and Team Rocket. It would only make sense that he would be here at this location to investigate what had happened. Based on the chaos that was construed out to sea. My father logically would be here to assess the damage.

"Dad, c'mon out, I know you're not dead."

The man walked out from the tree line and sure enough, my observations were correct. The man was war ridden. He had a scar laced across his cheek, his eyes looked like they had seen conflict more than a thousand times over. His hair longer and draped near his shoulders; he looked like a rocker but with more manly, chiseled features. As soon as he approached me near the clearing. All he could ever do was not hold back his smile.

"Leaf, It-It's been a while!" He yelped with excitement.

"Yes, yes, it has." I said with defeat in my voice.

"You've grown up it seems." He said with softness.

"I'm not that grown up!" I protested.

He couldn't help but laugh at my cute objection that he approached me further. Confidently encircling his large bulky arms around me. Dad did everything that he possibly could to try and hold back his emotions but it didn't seem like that was working out for the both of us.

"Oh, my-sweet daughter! I've missed you so much."

I could feel a lump come up toward my throat, my heart pounded with fervor. All this time I always thought he was gone, there was no one that could come back after what Ensign had done to him. The water in my eyes had begun to well up, I couldn't tell if this was salt from the ocean or my own emotions? But my voice started hiccuping after this fateful reunion. This feeling of overwhelming nostalgia filled a little hole within my soul.

I really thought for the longest time, that my father had been killed. That I would never see him again and here he was. In the flesh, I could feel his warmth and love enclose around my own. There was so much that I wanted to say to him, but we were in our embrace from what felt like forever. I didn't want to let him go, nor did he to me. He gently pulled up from my embrace and looked into my ocean blue eyes. His dark auburn eyes staring straight into mine with inquisitive curiosity.

"You have grown up so quickly that I almost forgot how small you were when I last left, Leaf."

I could hear his voice break up, his tears fell from his cheeks as he tried his best to hold back his guilt. I could feel from his voice that he regretted leaving me, alone, with my mother the day he was deployed to fight a War against Team Love. The man pitifully fell down toward his knees. Several inches of sand encased his legs as he sobbed with an uncontrollable fit.

"Dad-Dad? Whats wrong?" I asked while embracing him once again.

"I wasn't there for you Leaf, I-I regret leaving you."

"N-no, I-I am sorry." I said to him somberly.

"What do you mean?" He asked with a scratchy emotional voice like mine.

"I-I thought you'd never return. When I heard you were missing in action, when I was a little girl. I always thought you would never come back and-and when I heard you were gone I—

"Shhh, don't talk, have a seat next to me." He said as he gestured for me to sit. His emotional side, still getting the betterment of him.

Pulling his bulky left arm around my shoulders. Autumn pulled me in close as we both watched the sun set over the southwest side of the shoreline. This feeling, the warmth of love that my Dad showed to me after being gone for so long, was what I wanted, it was what I yearned for. The blessing of being in his arms and having his strength around me, proved how important this moment was to me.

Autumn showed affection even after being gone and I am sure this was not an easy task for him to do. Ensign had knocked him off a building and as he fell towards those flames, based on the story Ensign had told me; he somehow survived.

"Listen, Leaf, I am only asking you as a parent. Please, for your safety and for those around you. I want you to discontinue your Pokemon journey."

What?

I stood up from his embrace and gave him a stern look of objection.

What the heck does this mean, discontinue? I don't want to stop now, not after how far I've come!

"You know I of all people can't do that Dad. I'm very happy to see you, but this moment was all about you and not about me—

"I know, I know, I want what's best—

"But what, wondering if I'll ever get hurt or possibly harm others in the process? Dad I am not a child—

"I never said that you were a child, It's just, I risked my life to protect you. My biggest regret is losing you again, and losing your mom."

"Why did you come here Dad? To tell me that I should turn around. To only allow you to run the fight against the organization that kidnapped me? What they did to me was criminal, you know this, but because of this experience I can fight."

"It's too risky out there, that's why I came here tonight was to warn you. I can only do so much as one man. That you are correct on Leaf. But I can't risk losing someone precious in my life from someone as dangerous as him."

With every fiber of objection I could summon. I reached into my pack and pulled out a case that had two badges lined within. I pulled the lid of the case, showing my Dad the intent of my accomplishments. I wanted to prove to him, that my Journey was not all for nothing. The first badge was silver and looked like a rough diamond and next to that was the water droplet badge that I won in order to move forward as a Pokémon trainer.

"I didn't just win these so that I could turn around and go home. Dad, what Team Love did to me was wrong, but I want to get stronger so that they can pay the price for what they have done to us and to our family!"

"It doesn't work like that Leaf, these men and women are dangerous. They'll do everything in their power to harm you and to harm your friends if you are not strong. You have not gotten stronger and that scares me, because I can't always be there to protect you if something happens—

"Dad! I know you are scared of me getting hurt, but I can change, I can become a powerful Pokémon Trainer if you just let me!"

"No, like I told you before, if you continue on this path I can't be there to save you. Mom needs you to be there for her when I am not around."

"What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid that Ensign will destroy us? He has no power if you and I will work together. This is what you had hoped for, this is what you and Professor Oak have hoped for. A peaceful region, a peaceful world. Why are you shutting me out? Why can't I be apart of this fight if you won't let me!"

"You are too young! Understand? If they kill you, it will only be me and your mother that's left. I do not want that on my conscience. You are my world Leaf, you and your mom are my world!"

"You haven't seen my mom in years! What gives you the right to speak about what's best for her!"

The air was silent but my blood was thickening. I couldn't help but burst into tears from this, it was too unbearable. He doesn't get to run my life, I did, I knew what was best for myself and for others around me. He just wanted to shut me out, tell me I wasn't good enough. I've overcome my fear and have gotten stronger, but he just couldn't see it from my perspective.

Autumn relaxed his defiance towards me and took deep breaths. Trying his best not to be too serious or angry towards me; he decided it was best not to fight or argue over this and sat back down on the sand beneath him.

"leaf, I-I want to tell you a story about how it happened. About how I survived the War. Because you see me here, you now know that I exist, but you never saw me after all these years before I had protected you from him."

"Let me tell you how I struggled against Ensign for so long."

To Be Continued...

End Volume 4