Two days flew by in a blur.
Hau'oli City was as serene and idyllic as its reputation suggested—the perfect destination for a getaway. The air was thick with a relaxed, tropical vibe that made it impossible to stay stressed.
Down on the beach, Damian was reclined on a lounge chair, looking every bit the tourist in his sunglasses. He took a slow sip from a coconut through a straw, his eyes wandering over the crowds enjoying the surf.
Not too shabby, Damian mused. The Pokémon world certainly isn't lacking in beautiful girls.
"Hey! It's a beautiful day, isn't it? Care for a Pokémon battle, kid?"
A young man in swim trunks suddenly materialized in front of Damian, flashing a wide, toothy grin. He was a "Swimmer," a sight as common as the sand itself.
Damian simply tilted his head. He didn't say a word; he just stared at the man through his dark lenses.
One second passed. Then two. Then three.
The Swimmer's smile faltered, turning into an awkward twitch. Why was this kid just... staring?
"You're blocking my view," Damian said finally, his voice calm but cold. "Do you mind?"
As Damian smiled, the air behind him began to shimmer. A thick, dark purple haze rose like a physical weight, casting an ominous chill over the immediate area.
"I-I'm so sorry! I'll go!" The Swimmer bowed frantically and scrambled away. That boy was terrifying!
"Alright, Gengar, knock it off." Damian leaned back, and the spooky mist evaporated instantly.
"Gengar~"
A pair of crimson eyes glinted within the shadows on the sand. A round, purple hand darted out, snagging a slice of cake from the table with supernatural speed. The eyes narrowed into happy slits as the Pokémon savored the loot.
Damian reached for his treat, but his fingers met empty air.
"Where is my strawberry cake? Gengar!!"
Damian froze for a beat before glaring at the ground. "Gengar?"
Gengar rose halfway out of the shadow, spreading his stubby arms with a look of practiced innocence.
"You gluttonous spook..." Damian muttered, spotting the telltale cake crumbs clinging to the corner of Gengar's mouth.
"Go buy me a replacement. Now." Damian tossed his wallet toward the shadow.
"Gengar!" The Pokémon's eyes lit up. His round body rose into the air, and he took off toward the shops like a purple rocket.
Cake, my precious cake~
Damian let out a sharp, exasperated chuckle as he watched his partner vanish. That greedy ghost never moved faster than when food was on the line.
On the other side of the beach...
"Wow! The ocean is incredible!"
A girl in a flower-adorned hat cheered, her eyes sparkling with pure excitement.
"It really is. The waters in Alola are famously clear and gentle," a blonde girl in a white sundress added softly. "Selene, if you're going to travel through the islands, you absolutely have to try Mantine Surfing."
"Hmm..." Selene looked out at the people riding the waves on the backs of Pokémon. It looked exhilarating. "Okay! I'll do it—"
"Hey! It's a beautiful day! Care for a Pokémon battle, girl?"
The Swimmer from before jumped out again, giving the two girls a confident thumbs-up.
"You bet! I love a good battle!" Selene's face lit up.
"Then let's put some prize money on the line!"
The Swimmer blinked, confused. "Wait, kid, I don't actually have my wallet on me."
"Then bet your trunks! A real Trainer shouldn't let a little thing like that stop them! Let's go! Dratini, I choose you!"
"??!!"
The Swimmer felt like the universe was out to get him today. He just wanted a simple match. First, he gets threatened by a demon-child, and now he's facing a girl who looked like an angel but acted like a bandit.
Lillie watched the battle with a small, tired smile.
She had only known Selene for a few days. Selene had mentioned moving to Alola from Kanto to become a top-tier Trainer—a promise she had made to her boyfriend.
Lillie had never met the guy, but seeing the rare and precious Dratini he had gifted Selene, she knew he must care for her deeply.
A gust of wind caught Lillie's golden hair, and she reached up to steady her wide-brimmed hat. In that split second, her bag fell open. A small Pokémon, looking like a cluster of stars, popped out.
"Wait! Nebby, come back!" Lillie shouted, but the Pokémon ignored her and floated away curiously.
Lillie hurried after him. Nebby was a handful; every time he escaped, he ended up in some sort of trouble. If Selene hadn't stepped in the day they met, Lillie wasn't sure what would have happened.
She wove through the beach crowds, but within moments, she had lost sight of the little cloud. Panicked, she began asking bystanders if they had seen anything.
"Do you like this?"
"Pew~ Pew~"
Lillie froze. She recognized that sound. Turning toward the voice, she saw Nebby nestled comfortably in a boy's lap just a few yards away.
The boy was holding a piece of candy, offering it to Nebby with a gentle hand. Lillie let out a long, shaky breath of relief.
"What a sweet little thing you are."
Damian popped the candy into Nebby's mouth and stroked the Pokémon's head. Nebby closed his eyes, humming happily as he ate.
Lillie found herself momentarily paralyzed by the scene.
"The handsome boy sat on the sand. The sunlight shone on him, and he had a gentle smile. It looked just like a beautiful painting."
Sensing her presence, Damian looked up.
"Is this little one yours?" His voice was clear and calm, snapping Lillie back to reality.
"Ah! Yes. I am so sorry. Was Nebby bothering you?" Lillie stammered, bowing slightly.
"Not at all. He's very charming. But you should be careful; it would be a shame if he got lost for real."
Damian stood up, cradling Nebby, and handed him back to Lillie.
"Thank you so much," Lillie said as she took the Pokémon. "Nebby usually isn't this friendly with strangers. He seems to really like you."
"Maybe it's just my disposition," Damian said with a shrug. "Pokémon tend to naturally gravitate toward me."
Lillie tilted her head. An ability to be loved by Pokémon? Is that a real thing?
"By the way, this strawberry cake is excellent. Why don't you take some for the little guy?" Damian gestured toward the fresh cake on his table.
"Oh, no, we couldn't possibly—"
"Lillie! Lillie, where did you go?"
Selene's voice echoed from across the dunes. Lillie stopped mid-sentence and turned toward the sound.
"It sounds like your friend is looking for you," Damian said, his smile widening slightly as he glanced toward the approaching Selene. "Goodbye."
Before Lillie could say another word, Damian turned and began walking away, disappearing into the crowd just as Selene came into view.
Selene, we'll cross paths eventually, Damian thought. But not today. Your journey is far from over, and I can afford to be patient.
And I am very, very patient.