Hello, everybody, Jack of Knaves here, and welcome to the next installment of my planned series, Tales From the Hisui Region of Old, And the Sinnoh Region of Today, more specifically, my novelization of Pokèmon Legends: Arceus! I pre-ordered the game, both physically and digitally so I could reap all the possible benefits, and I gotta admit, although it is a bit unpolished at times, something that I am sure will be patched up in time, it is very much a good time overall.
Now then, before we start, there are a few things I'd like to go over. First off, I intend to give Rei aka the male player character and the main protagonist of this story, all three Starter Pokèmon, since all I see the ones that the player doesn't pick doing in terms of "helping the professor with his research" is just sitting around. Plus, it isn't like the player character's counterpart picks one of them as they already have their own partner in the form of Pikachu. So, I figure, why have them sitting around doing nothing when they could be part of the team? As for the rest of Rei's team and/or teams, I plan on making that up as I go along.
Another thing I plan on doing is giving Rei a bit more character development and get into his headspace a bit more as he adjusts to life in the Hisui Region, as not only would being ripped away from your family, friends, and even the very world you knew and dumped into the ancient past certainly rattle anybody's cage, but honestly speaking, player characters in Pokèmon, unless of course it's the player character of the gender you DIDN'T pick, are essentially blank slates, and for me, that will simply not do for the purpose of this story.
Also, since I plan on shipping them together, I plan on giving Rei's female counterpart, Akari, a much more significant amount of screentime, as she will actually be joining Rei on his journey throughout the Hisui Region and the full course of the story as well. After all, she's supposed to be filling out the Pokèdex too, right? But, instead, all I've really seen her do outside of battling Rei and eating potato mochi is her going off to do her own thing, like exploring a Space-Time Distortion, with our character being the one doing all the dirty work, and as far as I can tell, that's about it. That ain't happening here. Akari and Rei will be a team working together to fill out the Pokèdex, and will ultimately become a romantic couple.
Also… regarding the choice of clans… well, I'll explain that in the end notes. Now, let's begin this short prologue!
Prologue
Rei Teru, a young man of fifteen years old with short black hair and platinum gray eyes wearing a white Pokèball t-shirt, black shorts, and flip-flops, floated in an empty black void, his eyes shut against the darkness, until a bright light among the darkness forced them open.
Looking around at his immediate surroundings, Rei couldn't help but utter a confused, "Where am I? What's happening?"
"Welcome, child…" a deep, reverberating voice echoed from the light at the center of the void, drawing Rei's attention to it. "Welcome, child, to my realm, which exists beyond both space and time. It is well that thou art here."
"Wha…? Who are you?" Rei asked, his confusion growing by the second.
"I have many names, child. God and Almighty Sinnoh are but two such names, although in ancient times, many referred to my twin sons, Palkia and Dialga, as the former, mistaking them for myself. However, my true name is Arceus," the light, Arceus, explained.
Rei frowned in confusion. "Aren't Dialga, Palkia, and Arceus the Pokèmon of the Sinnoh League Champion Lucas Kouki and his girlfriend?" he asked Arceus.
Arceus laughed. "That boy and his lover merely have mastery over aspects of myself and my sons. The power of time, space, and the almighty are far beyond the control of a mere pair of humans. But, that aside, I would like to know thy name, child," Arceus said.
"I… I'm Rei… Rei Teru…" Rei replied.
"Rei… yes, good… very good…" said Arceus with a nod. "Rei… soon thou will awaken and find thyself in a world of the ancient past that may seem very strange to thee, and far different from the world thou know. Find thy place within that world, seek out and learn all you can about all the Pokèmon who call that era home, and save that world from the impending devastation that threatens it," decreed Arceus. "Find the ancient Plates of Creation, obtain the Azure Flute, and thou will find me once more. And fear not, child. For I am always by your side…"
As soon as Arceus finished speaking, Rei caught sight of his blue Rotom Phone, which now looked as though it was lacking the Rotom that was supposed to be inside of it. Rei tried to make a grab for it, only for the device to float out of his reach and float toward the shimmering light in the center of the dark void.
Except now, Rei could make out a silhouette within the void that looked like… a Pokèmon? It certainly seemed like it, especially with the cry it let out as Rei's phone hovered in front of it. The phone became bathed in and enshrouded by what Rei could only assume was holy light as it floated back to him, and he cradled the orb his phone had become in his hands.
Suddenly, Rei's eyes began to feel extremely heavy and he couldn't resist the urge to close them and drift back to sleep. Before he did, however, Rei felt himself getting pulled into Arceus's soothing and comforting light as his body curled up into the fetal position.
And then, he knew no more.
And thus concludes the prologue! I know it was extremely short, but I felt it best that this part and Rei's rude awakening on Prelude Beach were two different chapters. But, moving on, what I was getting at in the opening notes about choosing which clan Rei joins. I leave that choice in your hands. Time? Or Space? Vintage Dialga? Or Vintage Palkia? Origin Forme Dialga? Or Origin Forme Palkia? Diamond Clan? Or Pearl Clan?
In short, I will be setting up a poll on my fanfiction profile, the results of which will determine if Rei joins the Diamond Clan or the Pearl Clan.
Well, with all that said, if you liked this brief glimpse that you saw here, then be sure to fave, follow, review, and join us next time for Rei's rude awakening on Prelude Beach!