COME ONE, COME ALL! Welcome, my friends and readers, to Pokémon Opal + Garnet: the SERIES! For years now, I've wanted to make my own Pokémon series and join the Fanfiction archives, and now that opportunity has come at last. I just need to disclaim something before we get started: This was NOT intended to be a Digimon ripoff. The EvoPhone and Devolver don't work on every Pokémon, and TST is telepathical communication via recording, NOT actual speech. Also, this is NOT the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame crossed with Pokémon. Five of the characters are named after HOND characters and most share their personality, but one (Frollo) doesn't even like his namesake, and one (Phoebus) is his namesake's personality crossed with Clopin's. THIS WAS NOT INTENDED AS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ON ANYBODY. I DO NOT OWN POKEMON, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, DISNEY, OR ANY OF THE NON-ORIGINAL SONGS FEATURED IN THIS SERIES. I DO own the original Pokémon I created, their names and evolutions, the trainers and Gym Leaders I created, the Talking Spirits, Devolver, EvoPhone, and OB-1, and every ORIGINALsong SPECIFICALLY made for this series. Oh, and I also own the "close pawn" mnemonic (you'll find out what this is in Chapter 55).
With that, welcome to the region of Feluv (which I also own) and the prologue to POKEMON OPAL + GARNET! Enjoy! J
Prologue: How They Made the Devolver
The day was dawning in a Pokémon laboratory, far off in the region of Feluv. It was a place that contained all sorts of new Pokémon and, as far as Pokémon scientists knew, was extremely close to Kalos. In fact, you could actually take a bridge from Feluv's Medela City to Kalos's Lumiose City. For many years, scientists in this lab had created all sorts of new, industrial technology. They made the Talking Spirits, which were devices that could allow Pokémon speech to be translated. They made the EvoPhone, a music-playing device that could detect- and show new animations for- evolutions. And they made the Obstructive Binocular System One, or OB-1, which was an EvoPhone app that could allow you to get in touch with released Pokémon. Now, they were working to answer an age-old question: Why, after a Pokémon evolved, did it have to be stuck in its evolved form? The scientists wanted an answer to this question, as it would be critical to their research for a new device that would allow them to do the impossible.
They wanted to devolve a Pokémon.
However, it seemed as though there was no way it would ever be done. No matter how many tests they did, it merely looked impossible. Often, the scientists would find themselves wallowing in their sorrows over one of their failed tests. Still, no matter what happened, the scientists were optimistic. They kept on trying, always hoping that they would someday find a way to devolve a Pokémon.
One day, the scientists were hard at work, looking at DNA samples of Mega Evolved Pokémon in hopes of finding out why devolution was possible in them, but not in regular Pokémon. As the scientists were working, though, they suddenly heard a cry from across the room.
"I FOUND IT, GENTLEMEN! I FOUND IT!"
At this, the scientists in the room all stopped what they were doing and turned to see their chief executive running towards them. He stopped in the middle of the lab as the others crowded around him, curious.
"You found it?" asked one of them. "Found what?"
"The cause of non-devolution!" the scientist announced, waving papers he was holding up in the air. "I've been researching why Pokémon can't devolve for years now, and I believe that I have found the solution."
The other scientists in the lab gasped. This had been what they'd waited for for years. If this were true, then this would be a major scientific breakthrough.
"What is it?" one of them asked.
"Simple," the chief scientist explained. "The whole reason why a Pokémon can't devolve is because after evolution, its DNA changes completely." He handed the papers he was holding to another scientist, then continued: "I have recorded DNA samples from a Larvell and a Bellcoon, and as you can see, their DNA structure is entirely different. There can be only one solution."
"And that is…?"
"That is, we switch the DNA of the Bellcoon with the DNA of the Larvell. Once the Pokémon's complete DNA genetic combination has been restored, devolution will be an absolute guarantee." The chief scientist reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, which he then showed to all the other scientists. "I have scanned this card and have loaded the complete DNA structure of a Larvell. If all goes well, we will find the solution we have been searching for for 20 years. And now…"- he turned on his TST device- "for the test. Bellcoon, go!"
At those words, he threw a Master Ball onto the area that had been used for testing in past experiments. A blue light shot out of it, which then formed itself into a pink cocoon-like Pokemon resembling a small bell. On either side of its body were huge, yellow eyes that seemed to be constantly closed, as if it were in a deep slumber. Four lines connected the eyes. Underneath its bell-like body were two, yellow, much smaller bells. It seemed to float in mid-air, like some kind of bell-shaped alien spaceship. The Bellcoon looked around for a bit, confused as to where it was, it looked at the scientists, and automatically a monotone, female voice spoke out of the Talking Spirit device.
Okay, three things: where am I, why am I here, and what are you planning to do with me?
"Simple, my little Jean-Marie," the scientist replied, addressing the Bellcoon by its (or, rather, her) nickname. "I'm going to be using you for devolution testing."
You mean you're going to try and make me a Larvell again? Jean-Marie replied, a bit skeptical. She scoffed. Not possible.
"Ah, but it will be," the scientist corrected. "Assuming everything goes well, we'll have you back to being a Larvell in no time at all! Now… FOR THE TEST! DEVOLUTION ACTIVATE IN 3… 2… 1!"
He slashed his card. Instantly, a green light shot out of the card as it transferred the Larvell's DNA to Jean-Marie, who all of a sudden began to glow in a green light. Her body suddenly began to spin like a tornado, as the light grew brighter. DNA strands began flying everywhere as the scientists all looked on, hope and anxiety evident on their faces. Could this be the devolution they'd been waiting for? The light grew brighter still, and eventually got so blinding that the scientists had to cover their eyes. As this was happening, the green ball of light suddenly began to shake uncontrollably. Then, before any of the other scientists could make a move-
KA-BOOM!
The green ball of light exploded, covering the entire lab in smoke. The scientists coughed for a few minutes as the smoke cleared. When it finally did, the scientists looked around the room- and gasped as they saw that Jean-Marie was gone. Had she escaped, they wondered? Worried, the chief scientist began searching the lab, calling out his Pokémon's name.
"Jean-Marie! Oh, Jean-Marie! Where are you?"
Then- a signal. A high-pitched female voice spoke.
I'm under your desk! Wow, everything seems so big…
Hopeful, the chief executive looked under the table. But instead of seeing a Bellcoon, a different Pokémon caught his eye. This one was a caterpillar like Pokémon that was also pink and also had two yellow eyes. It didn't have real legs, per se, but it had bells for legs instead. This Pokémon was a Larvell, the pre-evolved form of Bellcoon. The chief scientist suddenly recognized this. His eyes were wide with shock as he began to fully comprehend what had happened.
"J-Jean-Marie?" He stammered. "Is it really you?!"
Yes, it's me, it's me! Jean-Marie cried cheerfully. I'm so happy to see you again!
The chief scientist's eyes filled up with tears as he realized it. He had accomplished the impossible. This was the same Jean-Marie that had been his test Bellcoon. He had actually devolved a Pokémon. Happily, he picked up the Larvell Jean-Marie and held her up in the air, crying out one word:
"SUCCESS!"
A major scientific breakthrough, indeed.
And that's it! What did you think of the new process of devolution? Let me know in the comments! See you next time with Chapter One: A Bell-Ringing Conscience!
PS: MY FIRST STORY! WOO-HOO!