Steel (Poke)Ball Run
Chapter 1 – VS THE UNOVA NEWSPAPER
Welcome to the world of Pokemon!
This world is inhabited by mysterious creatures capable of utilising all the potentials of nature and beyond. Humans complement these creatures. They roam, untamed, but daring few pursue them; these bold many are coined as "Trainers". Over time, man and monster learned to be friends and partners from agriculture, to companionship, to honourable and dishonourable duels of blood thirst and powerful displays. Not much is known about these creatures termed Pocket Monsters, or "Pokemon" for sure but their loyalty, their bonds, are unbreaking like steel.
The year is 1890 and a most troublingly delicious proposition has been declared and Uova is salivating at the chance to redeem itself on the global plane. The Steel Ball Run championship has been unveiled and blessed by the beloved President Valentine. The brainchild of former soldier Stephen Steel, the epic race is due to commence quite shortly.
Everybody – no matter what: colour, creed, or criteria – was decreed eligible for a most valued position in Unova. A new position had sprung up and it would completely and utterly shake up how the Unovan Republic would fair as a governance of men… and monsters.
Following in the footsteps of the Kantonese, Johtoans, and Sinnohans so it was time for Unova to take up the mantle of a time honoured duel and formalise the procedure to, arguably, make it safer. Hence why anybody was considered eligible for this position but in truth?
Only the strong would be daring and bold enough to even try though.
Unova's cousin Alola had a system of Trials but Unova was more interested in the bureaucracy of the East. Alola may have been settled by Alola but it had been reclaimed most viciously by the the native peoples and those who settled were, eventually, familiarised with the land and people: became family, so to speak so Alola was mostly interested in maintaining tradition. After all, those traditions had left the people and Pokemon of that land all as equally tough as each other.
So it was now upon Unova to keep in pulse with the latest, globalising trends. Unova was forever following in its motherland's footsteps as Kalos had recently adopted the eastern practices as well.
Soon, all the notable regions of the world will be able to contend with each other on an even playing field and the right to rule by terse, unused power will be avaliable for all.
The Steel Ball Race will elect a single person - no matter what region of origin; even foreigners were permitted to enter this Unovan battle - to rise above all the man and monster and become the first Champion of Unova. From this, greatness will be born. Pride of that person; pride for the country.
The task is simple. Defeat eight specially selected masters of battle and the spoils will be granted to the victor.
Eight leaders, personally hand picked by the President, will be stationed around Unova and act as checkpoints. Those who encounter these eight will commence a duel - a battle - between themselves and their monsters. The victor, if the victor, if the challenger, will be permitted to take a token of their win: a badge. However, there is a limit on how many times a leader can be challenged: not just by a sole person, but by all persons in this race. Each leader can only gift one badge to a single battler. It ought to be noted that stealing and gambling badges is not against the rules of this race: only unlawful murder and theft. From there, only a member of the race with the most badges may be given the opportunity to defeat the acting Champion of this country: President Funny Valentine, himself.
Should the challenger emerge victorious from such a steeped in difficulty battle, then he will become the Champion of Unova. As Champion, he will be regarded as the most powerful Trainer in Unova and will be granted much wealth, fame, and power as well as the right to assemble his own elite squadron of four Trainers to become his vassals known as the "Elite Four".
With the Steel Ball Run not even a week away from commencing, last minute entries are drawing in fast. And with their partners by their side, it was time to choose: truth, ideals, or something transcendental? Such a choice would ripple through Unova and reach the furthest, most isolated realms upon this crazy, bizarre world.
And with the dawn of such a contest about to approach, the fates of five people - four Trainers and someone else - will spiral and merge into one journey with one destination. Of them, one will stand at the top: an unconventional blade by his side. His friends also. All of them being born for this quest.
The moment of that choice with the partner Pokémon that will accompany them on that cross-Unova journey, their story will truly begin. During this journey, they will meet many Pokémon and people with different personalities and points of view. They will find what is important to them in all of these travels…
That's right! Befriend new people and Pokémon and grow as a person. That is the most important goal for your journey: learn to stand on your own feet but also know when to lean upon the shoulders of those most loved.
Let's go visit the world of Pokémon!