Arceus, this was hard. Harder than practically anything else Navy had ever done. It was just visiting a grave site. Nothing too crazy, nothing too wild. He’d gotten into car chases, had to bust up some of the meanest fights on the scene, nearly had his jaw broken by bikers, but none of that had been hard. Navy had seen every one of those engagements as good fun – a challenge, even. A chance to have an adventure and make a Pokebuck while he did it.



Visiting Gabe’s grave was different. It was an acknowledgement that his brother was really gone. There was a finality to it that even his kid brother’s funeral hadn’t held for Navy. He’d gotten his flowers in from a shop in Petalburg Woods and now here he was. Navy got out of his truck, flipped the keys in his pocket, and walked through the graveyard.



The day was just a little cool. Some birds were still around, singing their merry tunes as they prepped for their flights south. The leaves were turning from green into a melody of brown, gold, and yellow. It was Gabe’s favorite time of year. That made it even harder.



The headstone read ‘Gabriel Navidson, Good Trainer. Beloved Brother’. As if those mere words could encapsulate his entire existence. There was a bench nearby. Navy put the flowers down gently, right next to the seven badges his brother had collected. The one missing was Josh Devlin ‘s quick badge. Navy resolved he’d start with Josh, just to honor Gabe’s memory. Well, that and he liked the guy. And liked racing with him.



“Arceus, it never gets any easier…” Navy said, pinching his nose and rubbing at his eyes. “I miss you, kid.” Words meant for a brother that could no longer hear them.



Something started stirring in the air. It was imperceptible at first. Leaves kicked across the ground, as it blown by the wind. There was that odd sort of silence seen right before terrible storms. Navy was too lost in thought to notice these things as his eyes gazed out at the country road going by the graveyard.