#hoennpride

Precisely one Year later. 

Time really does fly when you’re not paying attention.

Especially to Steven, who had been working on attempting to dip his own feet into the business world under Devon Corporation’s massive industry. His father, he knew, was attempting to get him adjusted to the business side- which meant a lot less training compared to when he wasn’t devoted as a business boss. 

The feeling was like lead to Steven. He felt heavy. Depressed. Sad? 

Not that anyone else would’ve cared. A sad business man wouldn’t mean much to anyone in the real world compared to when he could be enjoying his time as Champion in Ever Grande. 

The feeling grew into more of a void as he tended to avoid most contact. Excuses dropped off from his tongue as he attempted to figure a way out of this situation. I’m too busy. Maybe another time. No, i’m not up for it. How about this instead? 

It only took a tap of a pen and a glance at someone wearing a white hat to reawaken his memory of the trainer that had done his utter best to defend Hoenn in all of his glory. 

Maybe it was the loneliness that was catching up to him that wanted to extend out and contact Brendan. Maybe it was the hope of finding someone that would remember how their journey was, and maybe even igniting the spark that was lost within him. 

The newly developed Poke’Nav was now as functional as ever, and even then Steven had already plugged in the numbers he had just in case he wanted to contact them again. One of which was Brendan’s, and he had pulled up the trainer’s name in order to hit the call button- 

“Mr. Stone. You’re needed.” 

Closing his eyes, sighing heavily, Steven snapped the PokeNav shut and went on with the board meeting his father assigned him to attend. A shame that he couldn’t enjoy one second alone without being dragged everywhere. 

Precisely a couple years later. 

He had regulated himself to be more stable with the company, even though he truly missed being at the league. He found himself staring at it from his window in Mossdeep, yearning to go back and relish in the memories that he was forced to leave behind. 

It’s lonely in this world- but he was but just a typical business man. No strings attached or anything, right? 

Hoenn had grown a little ever since that fateful day. Not only did Rustboro flourish and grow bigger, but the technologies that advanced in the weather institute and space center had begun to catch up at a surprising rate. The demand for more and more became the sole attention grabber for Steven, to the point where he had been planning for another business plan with the contest associates. 

“Alright so we have another meet up in the afternoon with our clients. We need to expand into this so that way we can catch wind of something new. Something to bring the company into greater heights. You can do that, can’t you Steven?” The elder Stone had questioned him- which he knew better than to decline, of course. Anything Joseph wanted, Steven was sure to at least try to help him out with. 

“Of course...” 

Stepping out of his office and fixing his jacket, the man turned and suddenly widened his eyes. 

Someone familiar had been standing just in front of the receptionist’s desk, making conversation with them as if they knew the place. No, it wasn’t because they were distracting their own receptionist, but because Steven felt a sudden click in his brain when he saw him. 

Those eyes, he recognized them anywhere. Despite how much he had grown, he still recognized the determination that were still in them. All of those years of being too busy to contact the other trainer now settled right in front of him, and Steven could even hear a pen drop at the sudden silence when Brendan glanced up and saw the familiar face. 

It had been so long. So long, that Steven felt a smile beam on his face when he suddenly walked forward to the familiar hero. The only one that had helped save Hoenn had returned. Maybe briefly, but to Steven, he had returned home. 

“Brendan...? You got taller!” 

They both chuckled, making small remarks here and there before suddenly a pokeball burst open and, right in front of them, was a Metagross...! The familiar form made Steven’s heart warm as the smile on his face widened even more. 

“This is the Beldum that wanted to come with you... i’m honestly surprised that you have them with you all this time...” He looks at them fondly, the happiness he had forgotten now coming back to him as he looks at Brendan. “So, Brendan. You’re planning on helping with a little advertising? You came to the right place then.”