Shadows of Time and Space
Prologue
It was almost unbearable: the steep gorge just beneath Steven threatened to disturb his precarious sense of balance, vertigo imminent and palpable against his every step on the short ledge. But this danger was part of the exhilarating thrill— this was part of why he went rock hunting, the hazard of being so near to the edge of his existence made him feel utterly and incontestably alive, to feel the brush of death against him just before defying it, as if to say Death, you shall not have me today. This affirmation was doubled by the fact when Steven successfully finished a rock hunting expedition: he would make off with his precious, newfound valuables and relish the hard, if not exciting, work that he bore as a result. And despite the long hours which had passed by today, and the long days which had passed by during this expedition amidst the confounding mountains — good heavens, what day was it now anyway? how long had he been on this particular journey? — this was what he told himself as he strove to endure even the most severe of rock hunting trials, such as now.
His aron seemed to fare better, however. Adrenalized by the hunt, the baby iron dinosaur eagerly bounced along the edge of the short ledge, his motions effortless against the gravity despite the precipitous drop next to him. The aron went along ahead of his master, confident that he would catch up in due time. Steven himself typically allowed his aron to hike ahead of him, knowing that the pokémon had an impressively keen sense of smell that granted them some of their finest rock hunting discoveries.
On this particular expedition in the famed Mt. Coronet Range of the Sinnoh region, the rock hunter was enthusiastic in searching for new treasures. The Mt. Coronet Range was known for its extreme hiking challenges to even the most seasoned of hikers, placing itself as having the highest peaks known in the pokémon world. Steven himself was determined to make sure that he would conquer the mountain range to the best of his ability, sure that the rewards would be all worthwhile in spite of the arduous efforts required of him.
Ahead of Steven, Aron barked enthusiastically. He quickly picked up his pace, wary of the gorge just next to his feet, and looked curiously at his pokémon. In response, Aron jumped once and indicated with insistent nods of his head the small crevice that he had discovered, found right at a sharp corner of the ledge they had been hiking along. Steven's eyes widened slightly as he saw the crevice: it was narrow but just enough for him to fit his own person inside it. The rock hunter saw his pokémon spring into the crevice. Aron had probably found something, Steven thought. He followed Aron, kneeling down as he came near the crevice and crawling as he walked in.
The crawl was cramped, Steven being confined by the dense layers of mountain rock above and around him. In the beginning, he was assisted only by the thin slice of light percolating through the crevice. The deeper he trudged into the cave, however, the darker it became. Struggling to adjust his vision to the dark, Steven pulled out a slim flashlight from his belt, flashing it on to aid his sight. A few meters ahead, he heard Aron give out another bark as if to confirm his location.
"I'm right behind, Aron," Steven called, hearing his voice reverberate in the tunnel. Judging by the distance the sound traveled across, the tunnel was rather long. His flashlight could not travel the same distance as his voice had. Intrigued by this phenomenon, Steven wondered where the tunnel would lead. Hopefully, he wouldn't disturb any hordes of wild pokémon residing in the cave he had just entered.
Aron's footsteps against the rocky floor echoed hastily ahead of him. After a few more minutes, as Steven continued squirming his way through the tight tunnel, he heard Aron release another bark. Yet, this time it seemed different. As far as Steven could tell, his bark echoed all across the space, as though he had come across a clearing of some sort. Finding the happening peculiar, Steven picked up his pace and endeavored to catch up to Aron. As if Aron had heard his master, Aron began barking several times more, the tip-taps of his footsteps scrambling around.
Soon enough, Steven caught up with Aron. Shining his flashlight across the clearing, Steven breathed in astonishment: before him was a large clearing indeed, as he had suspected. Standing at the far end of the clearing was an intimidating stone altar, its construction elaborated with primeval cave art in daring splashes of ochre. Upon closer inspection, as Steven squinted his eyes, he could make out the tiniest symbols harshly etched into the stone. Despite the apparent decay of the ruins, it still stood proud and tall, almost defiant against the weathering of time. In the very center of the altar lay two spherical objects, gleaming brilliantly as Steven cast his flashlight on them.
"Oh, my…"
Chapter 1
It was the discovery of the century: Steven Stone, rock hunter extraordinaire, had unearthed the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs while on a solitary expedition in the Mt. Coronet Range.
At first, it seemed unbelievable, as these relics were rumored to be nonexistent, almost the same way that the existence of Dialga and Palkia were met with heavy skepticism amongst many contemporary Sinnohans. Like the legendaries, the supposed existence of the orbs was obscure, dubious, and generally irrelevant to the ordinary and contemporary citizen. Perhaps they were real in the ancient world, as real as the belief in Dialga and Palkia, revered as evidence to account for the legendaries' extraordinary abilities to have created the universe as was known. Yet with the passing of centuries after centuries, the worship of these gods dwindled, their elaborate ceremonies of worship lost and forgotten, including the orbs so vital to these rituals. Dialga and Palkia nonetheless remained as household names across Sinnoh, but it was not uncommon to hear doubt expressed about their existence: when was the last time anyone had witnessed such creatures of supposedly incredible power to create time and bend space? And with this skepticism, the legendary creation dragons' respective orbs, too, were left in the ruins of the collective memory. Dialga, Palkia, and their orbs were only of serious discussion amongst scholars and the religious who were faithful to their beliefs— they were in the minority of those who were devoted to the study of ancient Sinnoh's mythical dragons. Suffice to say, the average person believed it was not pertinent to their lives.
That was why it came as a great surprise to all of Sinnoh when it was reported that Steven Stone, the ex-Champion of Hoenn and a Hoennian, supposedly had in his possession two compact and heavy orbs of significant interest. After what the rock hunter considered to be a solitary and an unusually lengthy expedition in the Mt. Coronet Range, he approached the Eterna Museum of Natural Science and History and requested to speak with the leading researchers of Sinnoh's ancient myths. Steven didn't get an immediate audience, having been told by the clerk upfront that he'd have to wait for a couple of hours before the researchers would finally speak with him. Conscious that he probably wouldn't have been taken so seriously as he made the nearly absurd claim that he had discovered the legendary artifacts, the rock hunter made a bold decision: he carefully drew out a small wooden box (a box Steven used to encase his most precious finds whenever he embarked on his rock hunting journeys), its interior lined in velvet, and opened it right there, the orbs visible, at the entrance of the museum for the public to see. It might have been seen as brazenly proud in that moment, but Steven was not the kind of man to show off. Rather, he wanted to make it clear and urgent that his matter needed attending to immediately.
Alarmed after quickly hearing of this, the scientists and historians available dropped their work and instantly went over to Steven, taking him into their private offices and research labs. Before their eyes, cautiously nestled in the velvet, were two orbs: one was multifaceted and ice-blue, like a spherical diamond; the other was opalescent and glossy, like an especially iridescent pearl. From then on, a tremendous uproar ignited amongst the scholars and academics standing before him. Many were astounded at the mind-boggling discovery, jaws having been dropped open, and just as many were harsh and critical, challenging Steven Stone if he was being sincere in his discovery. (Steven Stone, of course, was; he was not the kind of person to deceive as it was against his code of conduct. But he expected there would be a backlash of sorts, so Steven handled the scrutiny with all the decorum that he had.)
It didn't take much longer after that for the scientists and researchers to take Steven seriously: these orbs, on first blush, matched the descriptions in which they had been described as, corroborated by the ancient records on clay tablets and written records. For good measure, they used their latest state-of-the-art technology to examine the supposed age and material of the orbs: the results, too, corroborated with the age as calculated from their known records. It was concluded there could be no disputing it: these orbs were the real deal. To follow up, the very same scientists and researchers questioned Steven profusely about where and how he found them, to which Steven appropriately answered that he had simply stumbled across ancient ruins tucked deeply in the highest ranges of Mt. Coronet. Steven mentioned they looked as though they had been made by primitive, indigenous peoples, though he could not be too sure, given his lack of expertise on ancient Sinnoh history. His answer seemed plausible, nonetheless: Steven detailed a grueling account of being nearly lost in the midst of the Mt. Coronet Range, disoriented by the immense and dizzying canyons of the mountains. Still, when Steven was given a map of the Mt. Coronet Range to illustrate his journey, he traced with near perfection the exact route he took in finding the prehistoric artifacts. Rock hunter extraordinaire, indeed.
With this, it was official that Steven Stone had undoubtedly, irrevocably, and indisputably, discovered the genuine Adamant and Lustrous Orbs. And when this was announced, all of Sinnoh's newspapers and magazines and TV channels and radio stations went on excitedly clamoring about the finding, demanding interviews with Steven Stone and the researchers who confirmed its existence. Inundated with the impossible number of requests, it was collectively and hastily agreed among them that there was to be a gala held at Sinnoh's biggest museum, the Eterna Museum of Science and History. At this gala, there would be a celebration, complete with dinner and ballroom dancing, and a press conference, where all the media could question to their heart's content about the matter.
The gala, consequently, was no small affair. All who attended were required to dress in formal attire: it was a black-tie event. The attendees invited were of an elite class, including Sinnoh's foremost scholars, researchers, professors, journalists, religious figures, and members of the Sinnoh League. Even some of Sinnoh's highest business executives, like Cyrus, the CEO of the Galactic Energy Corporation, were invited. (However, Cyrus had a special obligation to be there, as he was a prominent donor to several historical and scientific research institutions, including the Eterna Museum.) It went without saying that Steven Stone would attend. There would also be a particularly special guest attending as well: Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh.
The Eterna Museum of Science and History was a magnificent building, having been dubbed as one of Sinnoh's most outstanding architectural works. It boasted a classic Romanesque revival facade, Doric columns standing tall by the entrance. Inside the museum, it was spacious: a grand dome arched over both the lobby and the main hall, pillars placed at the sides as if to hold the ceiling. Packed at almost full capacity, animated conversations filled the museum and echoed across the marble acoustics of the museum.
All of the artifacts normally on display in the main lobby were locked away to accommodate the event. In their place were several round banquet tables cloaked in cream-colored tablecloths, each encircled by plushly cushioned chairs. Adorned atop the tables were neatly arranged silverware and name cards in linen finish, their centerpieces bouquets of white carnations tied in satin ribbons and brightly burning beige candles. Impeccably dressed waiters and waitresses sauntered around the hall, each carrying silver trays of champagne flutes and appetizers. The center of the capacious space was clear of tables— this would be the makeshift ballroom for the dancing to be held later. Near the back on a raised platform, an orchestra led by a conductor performed classical music quietly. It was evident that every last detail had been so scrupulously planned for the event.
Cynthia absorbed the sight from a far corner of the main hall, watching the event in silence as she sipped champagne from her glass. This evening, she took great attention to dress herself. She had pinned her long, platinum blond hair in a simple and elegant messy bun, her long bangs gently framing her face. Cynthia was most pleased about her dress: she wore a midnight-blue strapless gown with subtle sparkles, the silhouette of the skirt folds curling into a sheath that accentuated her slender figure. A cream-white satin clutch, hung from a delicate chain, draped off of her right shoulder. To top off her ensemble, Cynthia applied makeup, something she typically never bothered herself with, wearing only enough to lightly bring out the best features of her face. She couldn't remember the last time she could dress so nicely to an event, and she certainly took considerable pleasure in preparing herself tonight.
Soon, she spotted Lucian making his way to her from a distance. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other in greeting. He held his champagne flute up slightly as if to wave hello as he walked over. Cynthia had to admit, however, Lucian didn't look much different from how he customarily did. His quotidian outfit was a stylish garnet pantsuit, but he opted for a charcoal gray pantsuit with a crimson necktie this evening, lending vivid color and gleam to his lavender hair.
"How are you this evening?" Lucian asked the moment he was within close distance to Cynthia.
"I'm well, thank you for asking. And you?"
"I'm well, also" Lucian replied, turning his head to look at the scene before him with the Sinnoh Champion. "This is terribly exciting, I must admit. I think I shall remember the event for the rest of my life."
Cynthia gave Lucian an easy smile. "You're telling me. I can't believe we're witnessing this in our lifetimes."
"You know, I must also confess I would have never guessed that someone foreign to Sinnoh would be the one to discover these mythical orbs."
"You're not the only one, Lucian," Cynthia agreed, sighing. "You would expect that it would be one of our finest archaeologists or historians, the ones who study these myths for a living and publish papers and the like. And yet…" Cynthia gave a sympathetic shrug.
This time, Lucian gave an easy smile to Cynthia. "Well, we as Sinnohans are now indebted to a Hoennian for unraveling this to us. Speaking of whom, have you come across Steven yet tonight?"
Cynthia shook her head. "No. I would expect that he's rather occupied, given his celebrity status right now. He outshines us all this evening."
"Mmm." Lucian concurred, nodding his head as he took a sip of his champagne. "Steven Stone is quite an admirable figure: sole heir of the Devon Corporation, ex-Champion of Hoenn, and now the foremost archaeologist of Sinnoh. Imagine having a reputation like that."
Cynthia looked at Lucian with a skeptical eye. "I have no intention of dismissing his achievements, but surely, we must recognize we're all occupied with a great number of things to do. You, for example, aside from being a full-time member of the Elite Four, are also a prominent book critic for the Sinnoh Times."
Lucian released a generous laugh at Cynthia's words, mirth glinting in his lilac eyes behind his tinted glasses. "Do I detect a bit of jealousy, Cynthia? Was it you who wanted to discover these orbs instead of Steven?"
"That is not at all my claim." Cynthia maintained her stance, not yielding at all to Lucian's provocation. "I'm merely pointing out that it is Steven's discovery which is worth the mention, not his person."
Lucian chuckled, letting Cynthia's reply slip by. As a psychic-type expert, his intuition was significantly sharper and stronger than the average human's. According to his judgment, Cynthia was, in fact, jealous, if ever just slightly so. Still, he would not gloat this in front of his dear colleague and friend.
Cynthia had to confess deep down that she was amazed, even impressed. Even so, however, there was a shred of jealousy lurking underneath her awe. Cynthia pretended it wasn't there, reasoning to herself that Steven Stone could have only discovered the orbs because he had retired from his full-time position as Hoenn Champion. In doing so, he became a wandering trainer, strengthening himself and his pokémon as he traveled around the world. And what better to use this opportunity to focus intensely on his passion for rock hunting? If Cynthia had retired from her full-time position as Sinnoh Champion, she, too, could roam the world as freely as she wished, spend her days training with her pokémon, reading books and studying all that she desired (Sinnoh myths and religions, ancient histories, and philosophies, primarily), even get to play the piano again… But no, she was tethered to the Sinnoh League because it was her job — or career if one wanted to put it more admirably — and she needed this job above all to keep her salary. It would be extremely irresponsible of Cynthia to suddenly retire and drop off the face of the earth for her own gains. Steven Stone was fortunate: being the son of a rich CEO, he could afford the luxury, free from the worries of money.
"Well, I think I'll get going. We are almost behind schedule and there are a couple of professors that I promised I would meet here tonight before the dinner begins." Lucian gave Cynthia a friendly, patient smile.
"Of course," Cynthia obliged, returning his smile. "Perhaps we may encounter each other later this evening."
"Absolutely," Lucian said, and before the man turned around to leave, there was a slight pause on his part. He shifted his eyes to Cynthia. "Cynthia?"
She looked at him curiously. "Yes?"
"You look lovely this evening."
Lucian was sincere, Cynthia discerned. This was not an attempt at flirting, but a genuine compliment from one colleague — no, one friend — to another.
The remark was unexpected, but Cynthia kept her composure. She gave Lucian a half-smile, one that read more vulnerability than she normally allowed herself to display. Lucian had earned it. "Thank you."
Lucian gave one last smile to the Sinnoh Champion before he left her alone once more. Cynthia laughed quietly to herself at the encounter. Lucian, while not her closest friend, was pleasant company.
Cynthia enjoyed another minute of silence to herself as she remained hidden in the back, sipping her champagne and listening to the orchestra's music. She would have to find her table in due time, she knew, as Lucian was right: there could only be a few minutes left before the official event commenced. Cynthia recounted the events for this evening: Kate Mori, the director of the Eterna Museum, would act as the hostess, guiding everyone appropriately along with the schedule. The dinner would occur first and last for an hour maximum; afterward would be another hour of ballroom dancing for gaiety's sake; and finally, the crowning event of the night would be the press conference, in which Steven Stone, along with several of Sinnoh's leading scholars in ancient history, would take the stage and answer questions from the media in their seats.
Cynthia gathered herself, starting from her place where she stood as she searched around for her table. She was sure she was told where her table was, but the space was almost confusing to navigate through with the crowds of people scattered throughout. The gala was due to start soon, but everyone seemed to act as though there was still plenty of time left.
Why aren't we starting anyway? Cynthia thought as she glanced around for her table. Isn't it almost time?
Just then, Cynthia heard a distinctly lively commotion coming from the museum lobby. There were cheers and applause erupting from the front, followed by spurts of bright flashing from photographers' cameras. Cynthia took a brief look, turning her head behind to see what was so deserving of the ovation.
Steven Stone had arrived. No wonder the commotion was so high. The ex-Hoenn Champion was smiling affably to the crowd before him, his demeanor courteous and gracious. His appearance was especially charming tonight, justifying the media's famous nickname for him: the silver-haired dreamboat. And he was a silver-haired dreamboat: tall and handsome, with a well-defined jawline and rich silver-blue eyes, his silvery hair slightly and perpetually mussed to the right, and perhaps needing just a small trim. It gave Steven a nonchalant, nearing devil-may-care attitude about him that was maddeningly attractive. Indeed, Steven Stone made a strong impression on those who saw him. Even now, as he addressed the audience around him, the man was swiftly adjusting the cobalt necktie of his dinner suit, the color complementing his hair and eyes rather nicely.
Satisfied at the understanding of what the commotion was about, Cynthia simply turned her back and resumed looking for her table. She supposed she would have to eventually introduce herself to Steven this evening, but perhaps he'd be far too busy to notice her. As she mentioned to Lucian earlier, Steven Stone would outshine everyone this evening, including Sinnoh's Elite Four and the Champion herself.
For Cynthia, it wasn't so significant that she had met him on previous occasions, namely at the Interregional Champions' Conference at Saffron for a couple of years before he resigned. When they first met, they were cordial with each other and nothing more. (However, Cynthia was denying herself of one vital fact when they first met: Steven had observed her longer than was necessary. Cynthia herself was accustomed to men looking at her for long periods of time, but she took it in stride, often ignoring or dismissing them as if they hadn't looked at her the way they did.)
They did, however, pique each others' interest when Steven had mentioned his reasons for retirement at the last meeting he had attended: he wanted to explore the world, simply put, not just for rock hunting, but also to study some of Hoenn's most esoteric myths. Hearing this, Cynthia couldn't hide her surprise: if Steven had perhaps made some progress in his endeavors into studying myths, would he, if it was possible on his part, update her on his research? She would be delighted at the idea of hearing about the latest from her colleague. At this point, Steven expressed his mutual surprise that another colleague of his would be interested in his scholarly pursuits. He promised he would do what he could for the next couple of years, and that if he had encountered anything, he would try to reach out to her in some manner.
Cynthia shook her head of these thoughts. Despite her asking Steven to share with her his investigations, he hadn't reached out to her at all since they had last seen each other. At first, Cynthia believed he was simply traveling and had come across nothing of notable interest. But now that he had uncovered the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs, well… Why wasn't she contacted? The thought hurt Cynthia slightly when she first heard of Steven's discovery, but she would not allow it to get the better of her: Steven was a colleague, not a friend. She would give him the benefit of the doubt: he probably forgot her request.
"Ah, there you are, Cynthia!" a familiar alto snapped the Sinnoh Champion out of her thoughts. The blonde turned around to find her grandmother, Professor Carolina, walking towards her. She was smartly dressed in a royal amethyst blouse paired with a velvet black skirt, a pearl necklace adorning her neck with matching pearl earrings, her gray hair pulled back in a tight bun. Despite her age, the woman strikingly remained as tall as her granddaughter, her aura of stern imposition sharpened by the stark edges of her angular face. She, like Cynthia, wore only enough makeup to accent her best features.
"Grandmother!" Cynthia greeted lovingly. "I was wondering when I would see you tonight."
"You look absolutely beautiful tonight, child," Professor Carolina remarked, giving her granddaughter a once-over glance of matronly approval. "I can hardly remember the last time I've seen you dressed so nicely."
Cynthia gave a graceful bow before her grandmother, feeling as though she were merely a little girl before her again. It didn't matter now that she was older and independent: family ties came first above all, and Cynthia was deeply deferential to her grandmother.
"Thank you, Grandmother," Cynthia said, smiling. "You look beautiful tonight as well."
"A much-appreciated sentiment, child," Professor Carolina accepted her granddaughter's remark graciously. Then, she drew closer to her granddaughter, speaking in a rather hushed voice. "Anyhow, I need to ask you one favor for me this evening before we all get settled tonight. We're already behind schedule now and we must get to our seats soon. I found out earlier that you'll be sitting at the same table with Stella and Steven Stone tonight, and I am asking that you keep an eye on Stella around Steven. That girl is too young for Steven, and you need to make sure your younger sister does not go after someone ten years her senior."
Cynthia blinked, unsure by her grandmother's request. "You mean to say…?"
Professor Carolina gave Cynthia a don't-act-like-you-don't-know-what-I'm-talking-about look. "You know just as well as I do that Steven Stone is a good-looking fellow. He has women at his heels, for heaven's sake," her grandmother clarified.
Cynthia considered her grandmother's words, blinking once as she gave a slight nod of her head. "I'm not surprised about Steven," Cynthia conceded in return. "But Stella? I'm surprised that she would even need babysitting tonight. She's almost eighteen, Grandmother. She can take care of herself."
Her grandmother lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. "Have you seen the way your little sister looked at Steven this evening?"
"Well… no," Cynthia admitted. Then, realizing that her grandmother was merely looking out for her grandchildren, Cynthia gave in. "Alright, Grandmother. I'll watch her. Even then, though, I'm sure if she started flirting, Steven would know she's too young for him." Cynthia was sure of that. Based on her previous interactions with Steven, she could say for sure that the ex-Hoenn Champion was above all respectful in his intentions.
Professor Carolina nodded half-heartedly as if deliberating Cynthia's words. "Yes, well, I've caught rumors just now that we're running behind schedule because Steven was flirting with a woman or two. I can't say it's true, so I take this with a grain of salt. But you surely realize that someone like Steven Stone simply oozes charisma. Even if you don't fall for his charms, it's a given that other women will. Stella is still a teenager, mind you."
As soon as Professor Carolina finished speaking, Steven Stone entered the main hall and observed his surroundings, the entourage behind him. Cynthia kept her eyes on her grandmother, refusing to give him another glance. However, this did not prevent Cynthia from noticing that various crowds of women were pointing and fawning over him from a distance. The blonde almost burst out laughing at this ridiculous spectacle, stifling it with a sip of her champagne.
"I get the point, Grandmother," Cynthia confirmed, hoping to set her grandmother at ease. "I'll pay attention to Stella and make sure nothing happens."
Professor Carolina nodded approvingly at her words. "Good. Just for safety's sake, child," her grandmother emphasized. "Now, we should head over to our tables. I suspect Kate will announce that dinner will start now."
Professor Carolina's words were perfect timing. At that moment, Kate Mori had walked to the podium on the raised platform, placed beside the orchestra, and tapped on the microphone to test it before speaking. "Good evening, everyone. We shall begin the events for this evening momentarily. I am asking that everyone please find their assigned tables with their name cards so we can begin our dinner shortly. Thank you."
At these words, Cynthia and Professor Carolina parted and made their way to their respective tables. Soon enough, Cynthia found her table, having located the name card with her name printed. Placing her champagne flute on the table, she pulled back her chair and sat down. Just as she did, she felt a pair of eyes on her. Startled at the feeling, the blonde turned to see who it was.
Steven Stone had arrived at the table, his silver-blue eyes looking into hers. As their eyes locked together, Cynthia detected a faint glimmer of mischief in them.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Author's Note: First, a proper word of thanks: Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter and perhaps may continue to read this fanfiction, Shadows of Space and Time. I hope this has been an engaging and entertaining read. Now for some notes...
There are multiple reasons why I wanted to write this fanfic. In regards to genre, I wanted to try my hand at writing a mystery, thriller, and romance all tied into one. This gives the writing a faster-edged pace and action-based movement than I'm normally accustomed to writing. Atmosphere-wise, it's a similar vein to the thrill one might see when watching Blacklist (an American FBI crime drama) or reading a James Patterson novel, and from what I recall, his novels usually tie all three genres together in some form. Typically, it goes something like this: protagonists team up together (and are already in love or have some relationship together) and fight the bad guys.
The different characterizations of Steven and Cynthia were also something I was keen to explore on. There isn't any real "character development," so to speak, at least not internally, whether emotional or psychological. Rather, the development is more external and focused on their relationship to each other as they fight against the assumed enemy. To make things more interesting, I depicted Steven with a bit of a flirtatious streak instead, though he is by no means flirtatious on purpose. Rather, in this fic, he is unintentionally flirtatious due to his lax, easygoing nature. However, he does find himself enjoying the attention from time to time. (Consequently, there are rumors of his supposedly flirtatious reputation and the media exacerbates this to no end.) Cynthia is almost the opposite, being uptight, quite organized, cool, and collected, with an attitude as piercing and as fierce as her garchomp's.
These depictions stem from one of many interpretations I drew out while playing the games, and became appealing to explore more deeply into those interpretations in particular. For example, Steven can be seen as pampered (rich boy) but not arrogant, so his nature is almost depicted with a naïvité and easygoing trustworthiness. On the other hand, Cynthia is far more reserved. Yes, she is compassionate in the games, and the prime representative of such sentiments in opposition to the self-destructive Cyrus. However, she is also selective and careful about how she presents herself, not wishing to look cheesy, for instance, when she talks about music when the player (in Platinum) obtains a piano in the villa: "It's not only my ears; my spirit hears the music it makes... ehehe, I made myself cringe saying that" (italics added).
Both of these characterizations are very different from what is normally used to seeing in the fandom pairing, from what I gather. I portray Steven differently in each of my darksteelshipping fan-fictions, such as having a darker twist or a somewhat fluffier twist. A popular portrayal of him is to have him be a polite, if not bashful, gentleman with nearly no flaws, but I must admit I find it not as compelling or convincing to me. It doesn't seem to ring true with how I see him in the games with the way he is so self-assured and confident— a bashful Steven in general conflicts with the more self-possessed and unperturbed Steven in ORAS, even being at stark odds with his dad. (And that creates interesting ramifications for speculation for their father-son relationship…)
As well for this particular pairing, I wanted to allow these two characters to bond over their scholarly interests. Both are fascinated with the lore of the pokémon world and study it throughout the games. This mutual interest is a significant reason why I pair these two so loyally, being intellectual and almost spiritual soulmates. While Steven is focused on the natural history of the earth, and has his interest even extend to outer space, Cynthia is focused on cosmology itself. They complement each other greatly in this manner.
Because this work is rated M, I should give the fair warning to the reader the sexual content and potential violence that is likely to occur in later chapters. In that event, I will post the appropriate labels accordingly.
Finally, this fic was born from an idea I had years ago from a simple question: What if Steven Stone, the rock enthusiast, was wandering around in Sinnoh and chanced upon the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs? And what would it be like if Cynthia herself met Steven under these circumstances? This fic was also born because I felt there was a severe lack of plot-driven, multi-chapter fanfic about Steven and Cynthia. While I wrote one plot-driven story titled "Their White Christmas" several years ago, I believed my characterization of both characters was not exactly faithful to the original game's rendition of them.
I endeavored to write a fanfiction about this years ago and felt it was inadequate due to my horrible plot-planning skills at the time as well as my cringe-worthy writing, frankly speaking. In a way, this fanfiction is a rewrite of the idea I had back then, and I think it's been boiling slowly in the back of my mind ever since. Now that I have published it, I intend to go forward with it as much as I can. Being a multi-chapter work, it may take a while for the romantic relationship between Steven and Cynthia to take flight, but I think it will be worthwhile.