[St. Queen]
The massive white cruise ship, St. Queen, glided across the calm blue sea toward the Sinnoh region. Warm sunlight reflected off the water while flocks of Wingull soared through the sky above.
Inside the ship, people laughed, dined, and crowded around games and attractions. Children pointed excitedly at the Wingull overhead, their faces glowing with wonder.
All except one.
A dark-skinned boy leaned quietly against the railing near the edge of the deck. His short white hair swayed gently with the ocean wind while his dark eyes remained dull and unreadable. He stared at the flying Pokémon with complete disinterest, resting his head lazily against his palm.
"Tyler!"
The boy glanced back.
An older man waved at him enthusiastically while making his way through the crowd. He shared Tyler's white hair and dark skin, though age showed through the white stubble growing along his chin. He wore sandals, shorts, an open beach shirt over a vest, and slightly crooked glasses that bounced whenever he moved.
"Found yah!" the man declared proudly, pointing at Tyler dramatically. "You've been avoiding me all week! No escape today! We are playing ball!"
He puffed out his chest like an angry Tauros preparing to charge.
Tyler sighed softly.
"Dad... give it a rest. I'm not in the mood."
"But you're never in the mood!" his father cried, clutching his chest in fake heartbreak. "This is the last time we'll get to spend time like this before you go to J.A.U... and we'll never see each other agaaain!"
He bit his lower lip dramatically while staring toward the sky.
"Dad, you're acting like I'm dying."
"You're leaving home! That's basically the same thing!"
Tyler scratched the back of his head.
"You can try all you want. I'm still not playing."
His father suddenly opened his eyes wide.
The look was devastating.
It was the exact same innocent expression a Pichu would use after landing a successful Charm attack.
Tyler immediately began sweating.
"T-Try all you want," he muttered nervously. "It won't work on me."
His father slowly leaned closer.
"Dad... you are a grown man. Please stop doing that."
The older man leaned even closer.
Tyler's composure cracked instantly.
A volleyball suddenly dropped from above.
Without thinking, Tyler stepped forward and smacked the ball back across the net with both hands.
His father grinned.
"Gotcha."
A short while later, the two were fully locked into a match.
Not long after, two younger children wandered over with their Marill, watching the game excitedly.
Tyler's father noticed them and smiled warmly.
"You kids wanna join?"
"Really?!" the children asked together, eyes sparkling.
Before he could respond-
YOU ARE READING
Pokémon Fate
ActionTyler Rill never wanted to stand out. Nervous, quiet, and completely unsure of his own future, the last thing he needed was to arrive at Jubilife Advanced University carrying one of the rarest Pokémon in the region - a Bulbasaur that barely tolerate...
