A/N: Well, hello there! If you've read my other story, Pokeville, then you should know me. If you don't... Well then I'll re-introduce myself. My name is gl1m0, and this is a story that I came up with alongside the other one I'm currently writing. So now, I'll be writing chapters for both stories in an alternating fashion, so that way it's even. Now about the story, it's called Bond of Steel: Soto Legends, and it is a typical adventure story but with a completely new region, new Pokemon, and more. ^_^ I'll try to be as descriptive as I can about the new Pokemon, but someday I'll show you some art and whatnot and maybe that will help you get a feel for them. But for now, try to make do without it. This first few chapters are mostly just intros and prologue and bleck, but I promise things will start ramping up once those are out of the way. Well, enough of my babbling, just enjoy the story! :)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon. The Pokemon trademark belongs to Nintendo Co, GameFreak, and any other people it may be associated with. The new region (Soto), new Pokemon, and certain characters of the story were conceived by either me or close friends. Any similarities to existing assets (characters, locations, events, etc.) are not intended and entirely coincidental.
Soto. A region unlike any other. The casual observer may notice right away that the region is heavily mountainous, and very underdeveloped when compared to other regions, matched only in its desolation by the arid and rocky neighboring region Orre. The only obvious area of civilization is the majestic Amethyst City, a shining jewel nestled in the center of the region.
But if you were to look very closely, you would also see a tiny town, almost overcome by the wilderness surrounding it. And in this town lives a small boy, of no more than 5 years of age. He would not realize it yet, but his story is only now beginning. And the fact that his story, is our story.
"C'mon daddy!" Joey squealed, "Can you please?"
Joey's father sighed and shook his head. "It's way past your bedtime sport!" He said, "Your mom will have a fit if you don't get enough sleep."
Joey started to plead, "But I can't sleep! Just one more story, PLEASE?"
"Sigh... Alright, just one more, okay?" Joey's father said.
"Yay!" Joey cheered happily.
"Now... Which one do you want me to read?" Joey's father said, walking over to the nearby bookcase.
"Ooh! Ooh! How about the Soto Legands one?" Joey said, still excited.
"Haha, you mean Soto Legends? Sure, why not. Now come on and get into bed so I can read it to you!"
Joey rushed over to his bed and climbed on it, before burying himself under the covers. His father came to the bedside and sat on the end, book in hand.
Joey started bouncing up and down in excitement. "This story is my most favoritest! Read it now! Go-go-go-go-go-go-"
"Now hold up there Joey," his father said, "Calm down sport, I can't read it if you're bouncing around like that."
Joey stopped bouncing and slid himself under the covers some more, still brimming with excitement.
His father opened the book to the chapter 'The Original One', cleared his throat, and began reading.
"Eons ago, in a land far away, there was a place, where the ground was green with grass, and the mountains that tower above it were capped with bright white snow. The land was lived in by Humans and Pokémon, who all lived in peace and harmony. They worshiped a Pokémon that had created this land, many millennium ago. The Pokémon was known as the ORIGINAL ONE, and was revered as a god by the Humans and Pokémon of this peaceful landscape."
"But one day, a terrible disaster befell the land. The ORIGINAL ONE's enemy, a Pokémon known as the DARK ONE, unleashed a fury of fire to the land. Upon the fires touching of the ground, the land was burned away to cinders. And yet, the DARK ONE felt this was not enough to torment Humanity, and sent a great meteor to ravage the land. But the ORIGINAL ONE knew of the meteor, and set out to destroy it to save Human and Pokémon alike. He managed to stop the meteor, just above Ceres Island off of the waters edge."
"A dear cost it was. The ORIGINAL ONE was greatly injured from the meteor, and a portion of Ceres Island was destroyed. But the land had survived, although ravaged. The ORIGINAL ONE's injuries were very severe, and it seemed He would perish from them. The Humans and Pokémon, in eternal generosity of being saved, helped the ORIGINAL ONE recover from His injuries. The ORIGINAL ONE was impressed at their caring and sacrifice, and so decided to appear before them."
"The ORIGINAL ONE bestowed a magical orb to Humans and Pokémon, which He told them that the land the land would be healed with it. 'Take this ORB OF LIFE and keep it safe,' He said. 'As long as you possess it the land will be green once more.' The Humans and Pokémon obeyed His direction, and built a temple to the ORIGINAL ONE, storing the Orb within. A miracle occurred, the land once again became green with grass, and Human and Pokémon alike were eternally grateful. To this day, the region remains green and peaceful. May it forever be so. The End."
Joey's father closed the book and sighed. "Okay, there you go. Are you satisfied now?" He said with a smile.
"Yes daddy." Joey said, giggling a bit, " I'm feeling pretty much sleepy now..."
Joey's dad laughed. "Of course you are, Joey. Now get some rest now, will you?"
Joey yawned. "Okay daddy, wherever you say."
"Heheheh... That's better. Now listen, I'm gonna go with your friend John's dad off on a little 'adventure', okay?"
"An adventure?" Joey said, rising up from his bed a bit, "You're goin' on an adventure! Oh, I wish I can come too..."
"Don't worry, don't worry Joey," Dad said reassuringly, "One day, when you're older, I'll take you on an adventure, okay? And you'll get to see what kind of cool stuff is out there, alrighty?"
Joey sighed with slight disappointment but smiled and said, "Okay daddy, I'll wait."
Dad nodded. "Right then, it's a promise. Now, good night then. I'll be gone for a while, but I'll be back soon, okay?"
Joey lay back onto the bed, then said, "I'll miss you daddy..."
Dad breathed deeply. "I'll miss you too, Joey."
He walked across the room to the staircase, then started walking down it. Dad looked behind him at Joey in his bed. "Good night Joey, I'll see you later." "'Night daddy... See you later..."
"..."
"... I love you..."
"... I do too, Joey. I really do. And so does your Mom."
Joey's dad headed down the stairs in their little country home, into the kitchen area where Mom and John's father (who had just entered) were.
"Hey, Bill." Joey's father said to their visitor.
"Evenin', Jason." Bill said in response.
Jason nodded. "So, are you ready to head out, then?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, boy."
"You sure Bill? Said goodbye to the missus and all that?"
"Already done and done. I also packed all them supplies we'll need."
Jason nodded in understanding, "Good then." He then turned to his wife, "Honey, we're ready to leave now. Please take care of everything while we're gone, won't you please sweetie?"
"Oh Dear..." Mom said, hugging Jason. "Please be careful, okay?"
"Don't worry, it's only a simple expedition, won't take anything more than a week or two. Maybe a month at the very most. And we'll be together the whole way, so you have got nothing to worry about."
"I know, I know... But... I can't shake that nagging feeling that... that... something bad will happen..."
"It'll be okay, I'll call often, okay? Will that make you feel better?"
Mom smiled. "Yes... yes that would. I'm sure little Joey will appreciate it too."
"Okay then, it's a deal. No... it's a promise." Jason said, and smiled back.
They both exchanged a quick kiss, then Jason and Bill left out through the front door, waving goodbye.
"Bye honey, I love you." Jason said as he left.
"Love you too honey... And good luck..." Mom replied right as the front door was shut.
Jason and Bill walked out the front yard of the house, before walking out onto the main road that ran through the small and quiet village known as Littlebud Town.
"Y'know Bill, I'm really wonderin' about whether or not we'll find that supposed 'treasure of legend'. I mean, it is just a story, so..."
"Jason, ya really have to stop being so naïve. I mean, we found proof, didn't we? That there amulet we found in the cove proves it!"
"I suppose you're right," Jason replied, as he took said amulet out of his pocket. It was a slightly tarnished circle-shaped amulet of silver... or was it steel? He could not tell. In the center was a cut-in symbol that resembled a large A. It was the ancient symbol of Alpha. "This amulet had to have been made. By the ancient monks of Soto perhaps."
"Hey, speakin' of which, they say there's another one of those out there like this, but it has the letter Omega instead of Alpha. Do ya think they're connected?"
"Maybe not... maybe so..." Jason replied, as he stuffed the amulet in his pocket, and continued on his journey with Bill.
As they left, Joey watched out his window as his dad and John's dad left Littlebud Town.
"Bye dad... I hope you come back soon..." He said quietly, then crawled into his bed and went to sleep.
A/N: The prologue is done! But what is the meaning of the amulets? The story of 'Soto Legends'? And where are Jason and Bill going? It's anyone's guess at this point. Bond of Steel: Soto Legends will hold many mysteries, and this is actually just one of them. The next chapter will take a bit of a fast-forward, but I will be sure to explain what happens after Joey's father leaves in the future. Not now, but soon, when it becomes clear that it's connected to the story in a huge way. Until next time... When Chapter 2 comes...
Fare thee well!
-gl1m0
