Legacy of Steven Stone

Granite Cave. 1:10pm.

Once a diamond mine, and now a place of pure exploration and attraction, there was not a single person who had visited here more often than Steven Stone. Often he would spent days at the time excavating and exploring the mysterious stones and crystals that formed deep inside the mists of Granite Cave. Using technology built by his father, Carlton Stone, from Devon Corporation, Steven steadily grew more obsessed with anything he found suspicious or different and his Pokemon team soon began to adapt to that. He had met his first Pokemon here, grown up here and now his memories would continue to echo throughout the walls forever. Now at the present day, Granite Cave was left abandoned with nobody daring to set foot inside with its perils and dangers within. Explorers and hikers looked the other way, bypassing it as thick tropical trees and plants had grown around with the absence of Steven Stone treating it and taking care of it. Ever since he died in Vermillion City, it was as if that cave had begun to disintegrate as well as it began to crack. It had lost its leader and protector, but there was always someone around attempting to recover what it still had left.

It was Emma who had reached the rocky outcrop first, noticing it from the beach down below as it jutted out from the ground facing the tropical forest that encompassed most of Dewford Island. Drawn to it, almost like a scent, she had left the two boys to train together on the beach as she wandered across with Eevee and Torchic at her side. Rod's newly captured Corphish had already enjoyed life its new friends with them already training it up for the battle against Brawly in the upcoming days, but Emma had other ideas of how to spend the day. She had been to this place before as memories reappeared into her mind of a young girl being taken out on family holidays, but they all seemed repressed with what had happened later in life.

Forced imprisonment by Devon Corporation and her father, the mother disappearing from the picture very quickly, and she became a technology tester under the wake of money and dull understanding from above. Technically a fugitive to the company now, Granite Cave seemed to draw her close as if a sense of aura had connected her to it, and she soon realised why. Brushing some of the overgrowth of tangled vines and seaweed, a small metallic disc appeared on the ground as the sun reflected off it to reveal her face staring back. Small, almost the size of a bottle cap, this was the badge given to Devon employees and members and so its logo illuminated from it as Emma moved it around in her palm before placing it into her pocket. Devon Corporation had been here, but she had already knew that.

Peering into the darkness of the cave and hearing the rustling of her own feet echo dangerously in all directions, the sunlight catching the view of various Zubat and Golbat high above resting in the darkness, Emma saw something glimmer far down below. A small stone illuminated instantly as she looked down and gasped in its beauty and awe as it shone bright blue releasing a cool mist to block its view from above. Steven Stone had been here before many times, and more memories of images and posters appeared from when she had stayed at the Devon Corporation building. The famous rock collector and rich son of the famous Devon Corporation creator, and Emma now remembered his face in almost every single news article in Hoenn until he had gone missing and then announced as dead. Muttering under her breath, Emma spoke, "Steven...what did you do here?"

A response echoed from behind her as she nearly fell into the deforming cave in front, darkness about to overwhelm her body before a strong hand held her back. Turning around, a female with blond hair and a long black coat responded, "Granite Cave was Steven Stone's everything. His life belonged here, and so his legacy stays on. I can't let you move on."

"W-who are you, and how do you know Steven?"

"My name is Cynthia, and Steven was the love of my life."

…

The stone had been placed there upon Steven's death, predicted by Granite Cave itself as it shivered and disintegrated in sadness. Pokemon from within attempted to repair the damage, but nature could not forget the love Steven had given to them. Living, breathing and saving the cave from the terrors of tourism and mass development, it continued to give back precious and valuable stones from evolution types to even fossils lodged for centuries at a time. Steven had seen the stone before, in a dream as he floated in a world of darkness as the bright blue spark from nothing peeked his curiosity.

Nothing he had ever seen before, but so beautiful.

However, every time he reached out for it, it seemed to move away, completely avoiding him like a cruel prank played by bullies and younger children. It shone brighter as well, but its contents and classification remained unknown and shrouded in the mists of granite cave. Every inch had been searched, but nothing was so beautiful as he reached out again and missed by a mere centremetre as it gazed back in all its beauty and elegance.

Steven muttered, desperate peeking out of his fallen body, "Come to me..."

Every call went begging, echoing into the world around him like another cruel taunt, was this what death really was? A cruel game? Steven leaned back as he floated in the reanimation of his own mind and allowed the small blue stone to float helplessly around him as a small tear fell from his eyes.

Then a voice filled this head as he glanced around, familiarity at last, but at the same time so unknown and so dark. Steven Stone knew nobody here and he would remain trapped and lost until the inevitable: true death..

Sunlight continued to filter down from the sky above as it sent vivid shadows spilling through the branches of the tropical flora that dotted around Granite Cave. Cynthia was still holding Emma's hand as she regained steadily balance and looked down at the deep darkness below as the small stone continued to glow menacingly. Rod and Forrest had told her about Cynthia when they had met on the S.S. Tidal, champion of Sinnoh but also in charge of a massive anti-terrorism corporation created to fight against Team Rocket. Her words had sent a sting to her own stomach, 'love of my life', could that possibly be true?

Cynthia's brown eyes sparkled in her wake as she continued, looking over at the beach where Rod and Forrest continued to battle, their attacks wildly exploding in all directions. "You are from Devon Corporation, aren't you?"

Surprised that she had already known her background, Emma nodded cautiously back, a surging will to call upon Rod and Forrest for assistance, Cynthia could literally push her into an early grave from her position, her voice aggressive and strong. "I-I am, Rod and Forrest are down there if you want them..."

"Only a Devon worker would have been drawn here, Steven made sure of that. But I cannot let you enter Granite Cave."

A cool breeze shook between them as Zubat immediately screeched and flew out of the cave as Emma ducked down in shock, feeling the cool rock underneath her hands. The Bat Pokemon all disappeared into the green abyss of nature in the tropical areas as Emma responded, forcing more confidence into her voice, "I just saw the stone down there...it looks pretty."

"But its not for you!" Angrily, Cynthia gripped Emma's hand hard, Torchic and Eevee immediately running from the situation behind as they ran back towards Rod and Forrest who had noticed something was wrong. Emma was thrown over the Sinnoh Champion, surprised at her strength despite her slim body, and landed painfully on the sand as she rolled away from Granite Cave. Yelling in pain, the world spinning in and out of view, Emma finally stopped with the splashing waves of the Hoenn seas nearby. Smell of seaweed and confusion took over as she coughed and shivered in the breeze still wondering what on earth had just happened.

Darkness flashed red around as Steven awoke from his placebo stun and attempted to cough, but his body remained dead whilst he mind stayed alive. He could only think instead of actually feel and see, his senses fading instantly upon the impact of death. But why would his mind send him back to Granite Cave? Red grew more bloodshot as he felt threatened and attempted to twist into no avail, the blue stone gone from sight within the fog and hostility. What had happened now? Was there someone in the cave? Why couldn't he see!

Screaming in his own mind, Steven began to run riot as he reached out towards the fog and dragged across to release his view, but no air existed in such a world. More fog, more red and more darkness now began to rain down as he continued to cry with fear. A blue spark appearing in a world so far away...reality and life, wonder what that felt like! Somebody had to take the stone, he couldn't live in peace without it gone, it was hurting him as he wanted it beyond anything at the moment, he wanted it gone, gone so his curiosities could lay to rest.

Cynthia had ran down to the beach, her blue tank top flailing in the increased wind as Rod and Forrest reacted in shock. Rod spluttered, as he returned his newly caught Corphish to its Pokeball, "Cynthia? What on earth are you doing here?"

The Sinnoh Champion looked enraged and angry as she approached a fallen Emma who attempted to get back up with Forrest blocking her way. Emma screamed and pushed herself away as she yelled, "What is wrong with you! I just want to explore the cave!"

Forrest had seen the whole event from the corner of his eye, but Cynthia being here was strange and suspicious as he blocked Cynthia's path, the champion angrily screeching, "That cave belongs to Steven! Never go near it, you all will never understand!"

Forrest shoved her backwards, there was no time for niceties now with so much damage being done, and Emma in pain was not something he wanted at all. Raising a finger, with Rod looking on from behind trying to help Emma back up and noticing a small cut on her arm, Forrest called, "Stay back Cynthia, Emma has done nothing wrong. What is up with you?"

Cynthia took a step back, tears bleaching her own make-up as she replied, her voice feral and high pitched in sadness and anger, "This is the last place Steven visited before he died! Do you even remember his death? He was turned into nothing! NOTHING!"

Scenes of that battle at Vermillion City flooded back into Rod's mind as he gripped his hands in anger in how Giovanni had completely destroyed a building and the man himself in one simply swipe of a hand. Steven had no chance, and seeing the former Hoenn Champion completely blackened and burned and then falling into a powder of what he once was had always sent a vivid uneasiness to Rod's body. Forrest remembered the same, they had all witnessed it before Rod blacked out and awoken on a crew ship to his apparent safety so far away. Forrest responded again, sternly as he pushed Cynthia back once again, "We remember what happened, and we all tried to prevent it. You really think we would forget something like that?"

"Then why are you here? This is Steven's place, Steven's house!"

"We didn't know!" Desperation and fear appeared from Emma as she squeaked back, still on the ground nursing her wounds. "We'll leave now, and you can stay here at... Steven's house."

Rod finally took his place as he walked in front of both of them and called, he didn't want his friends threatened even by a Sinnoh Champion. They hadn't spoken since Rustboro City over a couple weeks ago now where Gary Oak tracked him down and attacked before revelating the truth about the Thieves Guild and Team Rocket themselves and how they wanted him caught. Was this really the protection they had promised them all, a hyper-active Champion who would lose her control at any moment? Calling, Rod replied. "Steven died protecting us from Team Rocket, and we are all fighting against them now. You may think I am running, Cynthia, but I am growing stronger. We fight for Steven, inspire from what he has done. Don't you get that?"

"Leave them be...leave them be...please." Steven had finally saw a small image of the other side, a world where he wanted to be with, but could not as his body was lost, a spirit only remaining. Cynthia and three children, but why was she so angry...why wasn't she understanding he would always be here watching on. His mind called again, "Somebody please...tell her...tell her I am here, don't hurt them...protect them..."

For a second nothing moved apart from the fog, now burning red with fire all around his mind, but then a familiar blue shine appeared in front of him as Steven attempted to smile but could not. Thinking hard, forcing his emotions to control itself as the stone finally grew close enough to be analyzed. Nothing he had ever seen before, something new and unique that Granite Cave had no produced, but it couldn't stay there, it had to go! Breathing heavily, Steven commanded, raising an invisible hand from his mind to no avail, "Go to her...Go to her...she needs to understand. You are what she needs."

The stone reacted immediately as Steven disappeared once again, looking for light as the blue sparkle rose up above him. An invisible happiness filled Steven from somewhere, darkness was inevitable but he had finally taken its grasp. Final word s echoed around, as they would forever, "Cynthia...I love you.."

The Sinnoh Champion, Rod, Forrest and Emma had all heard something from behind as they glanced back at the rocky outcrop known as Granite Cave. Some small, blue and shimmering rose from the cave as it began to collapse around. A small stone as Rod gasped, confused, "What on earth...it's magic?"

Emma called, "Cynthia, its the stone! It's Steven's Stone!"

Cynthia released herself from Forrest's grasp as she wandered towards it, feeling a sense of aura within as she felt its cool touch and looked at it curiously. It was nothing she had ever seen before, but it had energy and power inside...empowerment at last from a heart so wounded and dark. Breathing heavily, Cynthia sank to the ground, holding it in both hands as her blond hair moved in the now inflowing breeze from around. Rod and his friends looked on in a mixture of confusion and finality as Cynthia began to break down and cry, tears and sobbing encompassed the entire area as they watched, unwilling to do anything.

Emma's watch ticked in the silence between them all as she glanced down at it.

1:30pm.

…

Deciding against it, Emma turned herself away from the temptations of Granite Cave as she continued to watch Rod and Forrest train for the upcoming Gym Battle against Brawly. His new Corphish looked strong and everything Rod had wanted from a Pokemon at this time with his lost to Chris that morning. The cave had an urge, wanting her to go and visit but she resisted the temptation as something felt wrong about it, as if she was not supposed to trespass. Noticing her slight discomfort, her Eevee wandered over and lay its soft head on her lap as she stroked the brown fur softly with Torchic running around with Shinx playfully in the sand as random Bubblebeam attacks exploded in all directions creating idyllic patterns of colour on the beach.

Rod noticed next, adjusting his headband as Corphish landed on the ground after another attack, sweat dripping down its crustacean like body, and called, "What's up, Emma? I'm sure we'll find a Pokemon for you catch soon!"

Smiling back, feeling her white tee shirt blow in the relaxing breeze, Emma replied, forcing the uncertainty out of her voice, "Just saw a cave up there, looked slightly familiar and I don't know why."

"Go and check it out, we will be down here." Forrest winked commanding his Shellos for another attack, the Sea Slug Pokemon unleashing a trademark Water Pulse with Corphish scrambling for safety under the small sand dunes.

"Don't worry, I think I'll just stay here..."

Both of the boys shrugged to each other as they continued battling, unaware of another figure watching them from the tropical tundra on top of the sandy beaches of Dewford Island. Cynthia sat against a tree watching carefully as she turned the bright blue stone over and over again in her hands feeling it resonate energy and wondering what its true purpose was. With a slight smile, she muttered, "I knew you'd never leave me Steven..."

Either it was from the wind, the ground or even the world amongst them including the after life, Steven's words appeared in her mind, "I'll never leave you Cynthia.."

Placing the stone safely into her bag and feeling a familiar round ball inside, she lifted it up and saw the Pokeball Professor Oak had given her back at Vermillion City in the wake of Steven's death. She still hadn't spoken to this Pokemon much, but she had taken care of it knowing it had lost its trainer and battling partner. Glancing back at the three trainers on the beach, Cynthia leaned back against the palm tree and wondered how it at all happened. The stone allowed her to contact Steven, but resonated power of legends, something she had never seen before, but it had assured that nobody would know the secrets of Granite Cave and what Steven was uncovering.

Nobody would ever know.

Finishing the battle, Rod scratched his head confused as he called out to his friends, "Do you guys feel as if we've done all this before already?"

"No idea what you're talking about, Rod!" Forrest laughed as he raised his shirt and ran into the ocean to relax as they all followed, their Pokemon splashing in the waves already. Emma stripped off into her swimsuit as she followed, placing her watch next to her brown back as it steadily ticked forwards.

1:05pm.