Before anyone accuses me of stealing Hurricane's Quill's story of Golden Solrock in the Golden Sun sector, I'd like to state beforehand that as of now, Hurricane and I are co-authoring this crossover. In fact, before HQ had published his first chapter a year ago, I suggested some concepts and ideas for a Golden Sun/Pokémon crossover he planned on working on. With no updates for months, I offered to help him with his project, to his approval. This chapter is mostly identical to its original with some changes to the concepts and linguistic usage, but the subsequent chapter is written by yours truly, proofread and approved by Hurricane's Quill.
Now, on with the story...
Golden Solrock
Prologue
Secrets Unvaled
"Isaac, wake up!"
The boy named Isaac didn't stir. He was in the middle of a peaceful nap and hardly felt like being disturbed.
"Please dear, wake up!"
Isaac grunted something that sounded like, "Why should I?"
"The Mt. Aleph Boulder is going to fall!"
Isaac's eyes shot open at this as he made a quick survey of his surroundings. The house itself seemed to rumbling, a stark contrast to the peaceful environment he noticed before he slept. The lamps flickered and the roof shook as if something was threatening to rip it to shreds.
"Please, Isaac," pleaded his mother. "We have to go…now!"
Isaac flopped out of bed and grabbed a Pokéball that was on his nightstand. He looked at his mother, Dora, as he put it on his belt.
"Isaac," she said. "You forgot something."
Suddenly, Dora shut her eyes, creating an outstretched hand of energy that grabbed a tunic off the wall.
"It's pouring outside," she said. "Don't go without your tunic."
She quickly put it on him. The two headed out to the stairs heading down.
"Do you have everything you need?" asked Dora.
Isaac double-checked to see if the Poké Ball was there and nodded.
"Good for you, Isaac," nodded Dora. "A lost possession can be replaced, a lost life can't."
They nodded and headed downstairs, where Isaac's father, Kyle ran in from outside.
"Isaac, Dora, hurry!" he urged. "The Boulder to fall at any minute!"
Just as Dora and Isaac passed a lit candle, the said candle went out. Worried that it could be an ill omen, the two stared at it for a moment before following Kyle out the door.
It was indeed raining outside, heavily.
"Kyle," said Dora worriedly. "Will they be able to stop the Boulder?"
Kyle looked to the north.
"I don't think so," said Kyle grimly. "Not for long, anyway. You two go on ahead and take refuge in the plaza."
"What, aren't you coming?" Dora asked.
"I need to help evacuate to the other villagers," Kyle shook his head.
"Let me help you!" pleaded Dora.
"It's too dangerous," replied Kyle. "Just take care of Isaac!"
"Isaac's old enough to get to the plaza on his own," Dora insisted. "You do remember the way, right?"
"Sure," said Isaac. "Just head south."
"Right," said Dora, calling out her own Pokémon, which turned out to be a triplet of moles, each with a round pink nose. "Dugtrio," they chanted.
Kyle also released his Pokémon, a large brown bird with a long yellow plumage. "Pidgeot," it crooned.
"Be careful!" called Dora as she ran off.
For a moment, Isaac stood there, transfixed. Then he pulled out his Pokémon, a brown mouse.
"Come on, Sandshrew," he said. "We'd better get moving."
"Shrew," said the Sandshrew, nodding.
They turned to the south, only to find a large boulder in the way.
"Darn," said Isaac. "We're blocked. Let's try another way.
On their way, Isaac and Sandshrew saw a large redhead was pulling a large chest. Also tugging was a red chick with twin orange wings and three orange feathers on its head: a Torchic. The chest was nearly as big as the redhead, so it wasn't going anywhere. It took a few moments for Isaac to realise who the redhead was.
"Garet?" asked Isaac in disbelief.
"What do you want, Isaac?" asked Garet. "I'm trying to save my things!"
Isaac's Sandshrew tilted its head in confusion. So did Isaac.
"Garet, there's no time for that," said Isaac. "It'll take to long to get out of here with your stuff before the Boulder hits. We should evacuate while our heads are still on our shoulders."
"What, you think I should ditch my stuff and save my own life?" asked Garet as he and his Torchic gave another fruitless tug on the rope around the chest.
"Well, duh," said Isaac.
Garet stood there as his brain crunched the numbers.
"You know what," he said. "You're right! Torchic, let's get out of here!"
"Torchic tor," said Torchic.
The two of them ran off, crossing the bridge and barely started south when something crashed.
"Ahhh!" someone screamed. "The Boulder! It's falling!"
Isaac and Garet stopped cold. Near the northern edge of the village, four people and their Pokemon, all of them gray pokemon with four arms and a belt, held off the oncoming Boulder with all their might.
The Pokemon threw their weight against it while their Trainers used their Psynergy to hold it back. It looked like everyone was equally matched, but the Boulder was slowly gaining ground.
"Unh…urggh…we can't hold on!" said one of them. "It's too heavy!"
"If our Psynergy runs out," realized another. "Vale will be destroyed!"
"We just have to hold on until the villagers are safe!" said a third one.
The last stopped using his Psynergy for a moment and looked around. He spotted Isaac and Garet at the base of the mountain.
"Run, boys!" he called. "It's just a little farther!"
Garet nodded.
"We'd better run, Isaac," said Garet. "The Boulder is coming!"
They tore off down the road, only to be blocked again as a huge rock rolled right in front of them.
"Looks like we'll need to find another way," said Isaac.
They took the long way around, passing a house before coming across a man lying still next to a broken gate.
"Rockslide... destroyed fence..." he groaned. "Wild Pokémon everywhere..." Noticing the two boys, he began to wheeze. "I'm hurt pretty badly... Do you think I'll die?" Isaac quickly scanned the man's body from above. "Um, no..." Isaac answered. "You don't seem to be hurt at all!"
"This is awful. I'm left here for the Pokémon to..." The man stopped abruptly as he tried to move his limbs, with surprising success. Getting up, he remarked, "Wait... That's strange. I'm not hurt at all!"
"Geez," thought the two boys.
"But I'm serious about the monsters, so be careful on your way to the plaza!" he warned, before running towards said direction. Isaac and Garet continued to advance until they came across a small blue Pokemon, brandishing a stick.
"Wild Marill," realised Isaac. "Sandshrew! Scratch attack!"
Sandshrew obeyed, swinging its claws.
"You too, Torchic!" said Garet.
Torchic jumped into the air, talons bared. The wild Marill dropped to the ground before it could even land a hit.
"Now we finish you!" said Isaac, swinging a machete and snapping the Water-type's weapon in two. The Marill ran off, leaving some Coins behind. Instantly the two boys and their Pokemon felt a little stronger.
They continued on their way when a Zubat blocked their path. This time Garet took it out with one swing of his handy knife. Further on, they were ambushed by a pair of wild Shroomish.
"I'll handle the one on the left," said Isaac. "You get the other one."
"Got it," said Garet.
"Scratch attack!" they said in unison.
"Shrew!"
"Chic!"
Garet and Torchic took out the first one, but Isaac's attack missed, and the Shroomish came after Sandshrew. "Shroom shroom!" it yelled, launching itself into a Tackle.
"Defense Curl!" ordered Isaac. Sandshrew curled up in a ball, and the Shroomish bounced off the Mouse Pokémon's plated skin.
"Now, uncurl and Scratch!"
Sandshrew came out of its ball and attacked, and this time Isaac's attack was true, knocking out the second Shroomish. They faded away, leaving Coins and experience. Pausing only to grab their spoils, they continued down the path, just in time to hear a terrified scream.
"No! My brother!"
Isaac froze. That had come from Jenna, a friend of theirs. Garet must have heard it too, because he stopped too.
Jenna's older brother Felix was in the middle of a swirling river, holding grimly onto a pole. His parents, as well as Kyle and Dora, were also there.
"Hold on, Felix!" called Kyle.
Felix would've replied, but what words he would've said were swept away by the roar of the rain and river.
"Well, you heard him," said Dora. "Felix will be alright. We just have to…"
She was interrupted by the sound of a loud crack. Felix disappeared. Jenna burst into tears.
"Noooo!" she sobbed. "Felix!"
It was then that Felix's head popped up again. Horatio, Felix's father, tossed a length of rope at him, but it fell miserably short.
"The rope won't reach," said Horatio. "We should try Psynergy or Pokemon. Do you have any?"
Kyle shook his head at his exhausted Pidgeot.
"I'm drained from helping other villagers," he said. "And so's my Pidgeot. How about you?"
"Murkrow's empty," said Horatio, nodding at his Dark Pokemon. "And so am I."
Silence. Then…
"We have to find help," said Dora.
"Can Felix hold on long enough to get help?" asked Eileen, Felix's mother.
"Well, we can't do anything else for him, can we?" said Dora.
Horatio, Eileen, and Kyle looked at each other. There was no other alternative.
"Then go get help, quick as you can!" said Kyle, accepting the only decision.
"Can you go too, Jenna?" asked Eileen.
Jenna nodded and sped after Dora, who had just left. Jenna didn't have Pokemon yet, but Dora pulled out Dugtrio.
"I'll head north," Dora told Jenna. "You head for the plaza."
"Yes, ma'am," said Jenna, still keeping her polite manner despite the urgency of the situation. "We're looking for anyone with Psynergy or Pokemon, right?"
Dora nodded. Jenna took off to the south while Dora headed north, seeing Isaac and Garet on the way.
"Isaac! You saw what happened?" she asked.
"No," said Isaac. "But we sure heard it. What's going on?"
"I'm looking for someone to help Felix. He's fallen into the river."
Isaac and Garet looked at each other. Jenna and Felix were close to them…
"I don't suppose…could the two of you help me?" asked Dora.
"You got it!" said Isaac and Garet together, saluting.
"Good! Jenna's gone to the plaza for help. Go and help her."
They tore off down the road, meeting a wild Zubat and Marill as they crossed the bridge. This time, the battle wasn't as easy, and the boys took a couple of light hits. Still, it wasn't a situation they couldn't handle.
Soon enough, Isaac and Garet found themselves in the plaza, where much of the town had already taken refuge. Near the gates, an elderly man was conversing with two of the village protectors, both with a pair of light purple Pokemon with a similar belt the four people holding off the Boulder were. Jenna was also there. Isaac recognized the old man as the mayor of Vale, who was also Garet's grandpa.
"Go aid the elders!" the old man was telling the other two. "The Boulder is starting get through."
The two looked at each other.
"We can't let the Mt. Aleph Boulder destroy our village," said one. "Let's go help the others!"
"Right," said the other. "Let's go!"
"We're counting on you," said the old man.
Without further ado, the two departed.
"Grandpa! Jenna!" called Garet.
"Isaac, Garet," Jenna noticed them. "You came to help me?"
"Jenna told me about Felix. Is that why you're here?" asked Garet's grandpa.
Isaac nodded.
"Good boys," Garet's grandpa flashed them a smile. "Jenna could use a hand!"
As if on cue, there was a shout from the almost overflowing pond in the center of town.
"Great! We're all charged up!"
It was Conrad, one of Isaac's older friends who had been recently enrolled in the local police force. Next to him was a reptilian creature with a budding flower on its back: an Ivysaur.
"How are you?" asked Garet's grandpa. "Have you restored your Psynergy?"
"Thanks to the Psynergy Stone, we're all set to save Felix," said Condrad.
"Ivy saur!" agreed Ivysaur.
Garet's grandpa nodded his thanks, then turned to Isaac and Garet.
"The path may be blocked by fallen rocks," said Garet's grandpa. "You two can show them the way!"
Isaac nodded.
"Thank you, Isaac," said Jenna. Isaac could see the gratefulness in her eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes.
Isaac and Garet saluted, and then ran off back the way they came, Isaac and Sandshrew in the lead.
"Mom!" called Jenna. "Dad! We're back!"
"Is that you, Jenna?" asked Dora, who had just come back as well. "I couldn't find anyone who could help…how'd you fare?"
Everyone looked at Conrad, who stepped forward.
"You're just in time, Conrad," said Dora.
"Then my brother's still…" Jenna looked at her trapped brother.
"Felix is doing alright," said Dora. "He's hanging in there. Now get down here so we can save him!"
The group nodded and followed Conrad down the stairs.
"Ivysaur," commanded Conrad. "Use…"
CRASH.
"What was that?" asked Isaac.
CRASH.
"Uh oh," said Garet.
That's when the Boulder came, thundering down the hill like a juggernaut. Dora, Isaac, Sandshrew, Garet, Torchic, and Jenna were scrambling to get away. On the dock, Kyle, Horatio, Eileen, and on the ground, Conrad and Ivysaur were paralyzed as the Boulder loomed upon them…
CRUNCH.
The dock had vanished off the face of the earth. Conrad and Ivysaur were paralyzed with shock. So were Dora and Jenna.
"Mom," Jenna looked horrified. "Dad…Felix…please, don't leave me all alone…"
Dora, if such a thing was possible, was even more horrified.
"No…Kyle…it can't be…it all must be a dream…"
Isaac looked around. Sandshrew lay curled up in a ball.
"Sandshrew," he said. "We'd better get moving. The Boulder will probably flood the village if we don't get some help. Let's go."
Sandshrew uncurled and nodded, following Isaac away from the area. Garet and Torchic watched him go.
"Isaac…" said Garet. "Torchic, we can't let him go alone. It's time like these that we men have to stand together!"
"Torchic!" agreed Torchic.
And so, the pair followed them. Isaac had only taken about ten paces into the main village when he heard voices.
"Only the two of us survived…"
He stopped and flattened against the wall. Sandshrew did the same. Meanwhile, at the top of the ridge, a man dressed in blue carrying a long sword was waiting for a woman with blonde hair and a scythe to join him. The man had a Pokémon in the shape of the sun, and the woman had a white, feline Pokémon with a single black horn.
"How could we have anticipated Sol Sanctum would unleash such fury?" asked the woman.
"It's a miracle even the two of us were spared," said the man.
A beat.
"That switch…it must have been a trap."
"But to think it could conjure a spell this powerful!"
"…another demonstration of the powers of Alchemy."
"Regardless, we must not fail the next time we challenge Sol Sanctum."
Here, Isaac and Sandshrew looked at each other. Challenge Sol Sanctum next time?
"Next time, we shall certainly…"
"Isaac, wait!"
Isaac slapped his forehead. Two seconds from learning their plan, and Garet had to come bursting in. On top of that, the people he was listening in on had found him.
"Were you listening on our conversation?" asked the man.
"No," said Isaac innocently.
The pair looked at each other and held a whispered conversation.
"Isaac, they look scary," trembled Garet. "Are you sure you should be talking to them?"
The pair nodded.
"You must forget everything you heard," said the woman.
"Don't worry," said the man. "We'll help you forget!"
The pair leapt down at them.
"Absol, use Slash on the Sandshrew!" ordered the woman.
Absol charged at Sandshrew and clawed at him.
"Defense Curl, Sandshrew!" said Isaac.
Sandshrew had no time. The attack bulled it through the air and into the wall, knocking it out.
"Uh oh," said Isaac.
"Nova!" shouted the woman. Something exploded in a fiery mass, flinging the two boys aside. Garet managed to get up, but Isaac was knocked unconscious by the blow.
"Why, you..." Garet snarled through gritted teeth. "Torchic, use Scratch!"
Torchic scratched the Sun Pokémon, but didn't even leave a mark.
"Ha! You think you can penetrate Solrock's rock hard skin? Solrock, use Psybeam!" ordered the man.
Solrock shot a rainbow-colored beam at Torchic, knocking it into a nearby tree.
"Eruption!" said the man.
The ground crack beneath Garet as a pair of volcanic vents burst forth, blasting him with scorching fire. He was felled instantly.
The pair looked at each other, called back their Pokémon, and left as quickly as they had arrived…
Isaac, Garet, Sandshrew, and Torchic were not found by the others until the following morning. Many of the villagers were still alive after that day, but the boulder still took the lives of Isaac's father Kyle, as well as the father, mother, and brother of Jenna: Horatio, Eileen, and Felix.
However, our true story begins three years after the incident of the Mt. Aleph Boulder…