CHRIS

"What's there to think about?" asked Hector, the fisherman's son, a young man of eighteen. "She's cute, and a princess, besides."

"Seems like a no-brainer," added Ryan.

It was getting late outside, the lights of Slateport's navy shimmered in the distance as the three companions sat on the beach. Maybe his friends were right. Maybe Chris shouldn't think about agreeing to the marriage. Everyone seems to think that it should just be a done deal. Even mother, the Prince of Slateport thought.

The three spirit Pokémon were playing in the evening surf. Marshtomp and Ryan's Marrill were trying to leap up out of the water to grab Wingull, but Hector's bird was too fast and agile. If only we were like our Spirit Pokémon. Then these stupid marriages wouldn't even matter.

"It's not that I don't want to marry her," Chris finally said to his companions. "It's that I don't want anyone to decide these kinds of things for me. I mean, maybe if I would have met her on my own I wouldn't feel this way."

Hector slapped Prince Chris on the back. "Come on, man. The rest of us have to meet girls on our own. You're a Prince, stupid. You get a cute one that just falls right into your lap, and you're having second thoughts?"

Ryan was more reserved. At twenty-two years old, he had trained like his father to be a member of Slateport's royal guard, and he already showed tact and skill at sea battles. "You can't just be stubborn and say no right off the bat. That would not be good for inter-kingdom relations. Whether you like it or not, Chris Marsh, you're a Prince, and a Prince must do what is best for his Kingdom. Maybe you should get to know her first, and make a decision based on that."

That was the hardest part of it. If Chris grew to like or even love this girl that was forced on him so suddenly, then there was no problem. However, if he entertained the notion and later went back on it, not only would he hurt Princess Sarah Spark's feelings, but he might lose a vital ally in the Central Mauville Alliance.

Just as Chris was about to plead his case to his friends again, he heard a sound. He looked back up at Ryan, whose training as a soldier had heightened his own physical senses. They nodded to each other simultaneously.

Ryan leapt up from the sand, short sword in hand glowing a pale blue in the moonlight. Prince Chris stood behind him with his own sword. Hector tried to stand up as well, but Chris pushed him back down. A fisherman's son had no business playing at fighting, after all. The two spirit Pokémon Marshtomp and Marrill rushed to their human partners' sides as Wingull soared in circles ahead, keeping a watchful eye on Hector.

"A good bodyguard you have there, m'boy," said a booming, jolly voice that carried across the water. "A fine soldier he will make one day. I'm sorry to disappoint, I didn't come to spar."

King Spark's Manectric walked faithfully by its partner's side. Chris smiled and said, "I know, it seems Ryan here thought you were coming here for a shave."

"Ha!" boomed the King of Mauville as he reached up to stroke his beard approvingly. "Quick of wit, you are, just like your father. Stay here," he said to two of the Mauville Guards he had brought with him. The jolly King walked up through the sand right up next to Chris. He was shorter than our Prince, but lighter of skin and hair. "Your friends can leave us now. We have Kingly matters to discuss."

Ryan silently put his short sword back through the belt of his tight aquatic shorts. Hector stood up and respectfully bowed to the King as he disappeared into the clear Slateport night. Chris Marsh didn't want them to leave him alone with his dead father's best friend.

King Spark was still beaming up into Prince Chris's eyes. "Yes, I see it in you, there's no doubt. You are your father's son, to be sure... yet you're Spirit Pokémon isn't as grim as old Swampert was."

Marshtomp didn't know what to make of the statement, and cocked his head to one side. The Water and Ground type Pokémon walked up and locked eyes with Manectric, who stood unblinking. Marshtomp even poked the King's spirit Pokémon right on the nose, and received no reaction, much to the Water Pokemon's disappointment.

"A battle or seven will change a Pokémon, and his Human," said King Spark, his voice lowered to seriousness with a hint of remembrance. "Sit, boy, let's talk man-to-man, like your father and I used to."

King Spark and Prince Marsh sat together gazing out towards the sea. The moon was hovering just above the water, casting a ghostly reflection upon the open harbor. Black shapes with tiny square lights were seen in the distance, the silhouettes of Slateport's finest ships.

"I know this is a lot to ask of you, boy, and I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your friends... your mother... your whole tribe of Slateport." Chris snorted in laughter, at least the bearded King of Mauville wasn't oblivious.

"It's only that I felt that I should propose it to be as grand as if your father was there listening. He liked this place, too. This was where he went to think." Marcus Spark gestured towards the whole beach. Manectric still stood gazing at the moon.

"We often came here to talk, he and I," the King continued. "About this proposal, even. Ah, how could I be so dull, Manectric?" he stroked the diamond-shaped mane.

Chris stayed silent. What was he supposed to say? All Prince Chris could remember about his father were his mistakes. Chris vowed to himself that he would never make those same mistakes. Yet how was he supposed to great his father's closest friend and best ally? All his history lessons couldn't have prepared him for this.

"I remember it plain as if it was yesterday, your father said to me, 'I don't seek a marriage to help you rid your lands of the Brightfires. Only your continued friendship.' He was a great man, King Sam Marsh." Marcus Spark placed his hand on Chris's shoulder. "He saved my life more times than I can count. I'm sorry I wasn't able to save his."

Chris didn't feel anything. Why don't I feel sad, or angry at this man? Deep down, his logic overruled his feelings. There was nothing King Spark could have done to save his father. It was an arrow in the dark; a sucker punch after the battle had ended. Even in his dying moments Sam Marsh had called for peace, and his son was proud of that.

Marshtomp finally gave up on trying to get Manectric to move or acknowledge him, Chris saw. The old king sighed through his bushy beard. "Do you ever wonder why some of the Spirit Families are Kings and some are shipbuilders, or fishermen, or even filth collectors?"

The subject change sparked Chris's interest. He gazed into King Spark's eyes, a lively electricity flowing through them. Prince Chris Marsh shook his head. "Because the law says so."

"We get to be Kings with greater power because that's where our tribesmen believe it should be. Whether right or wrong, we get the chance to make a difference, to keep the peace, to fight for what we believe in, because our citizens and Chieftains believe in us, in the power of our spirit bonds with our Pokémon."

Was it Deja-vu? Chris could have sworn he had heard those words before, but in a different voice. They were his father's words. King Marcus had his undivided attention now.

"I'm not asking for a yes or a no right now," said the King as he skipped a smooth stone eight times across the water. Chris felt the beginnings of a smile play on his face. "Aye, I was a young man once too, with naught but peach fuzz on my upper lip. What I'm trying to say is, just give my Sarah a chance. She is the joy of my life, and has been since she was born. Go with me back to Mauville and spend some time with her. She's feisty, I tell ya. Independent, not unlike you from what I've heard from your tribesman. She could shoot the pearl right off of a Spoink's head with her bow and arrow." The old king moved in for a whisper. "And she rides on her Manectric faster than my old partner can run these days."

Chris snorted out another laugh. He couldn't help but like this man. It was like he was with one of his friends, only King Spark was old enough to be his father.

"If I go with you for a fortnight," replied Chris, "can I bring my friends?"

Marcus Spark clapped him on the back and laughed his booming laugh once more. "Bring the whole town for all I care!"

"What if I go and decide Sarah is not right for me?"

The King was noticeably uncomfortable with the concept, but understanding all the same. "Then I still pledge my undying loyalty for your Kingdom, Chris Marsh. Like I said, your father saved my life. If you turn down dear Sarah, I'll still be indebted to your family. So what say you? Shall we leave tomorrow?"

Chris looked at Marshtomp, and he could tell that his Spirit Pokémon was itching for adventure. "You said Sarah's good with a bow. How is she with a spear?"

King Spark laughed again and pulled Chris to his feet. They walked back towards the great hall, with the bearded king's hand on the taller Prince of Slateport's shoulder. "That, my boy, is something you might have to teach her."