Hello folks, I'm back with a brand new story. This particular story takes place in Sinnoh and is somewhat of a Nuzlocke run-through. So a disclaimer to begin with, there may be deaths through the story. It is part of the challenge. So beware before you begin reading.
If you haven't read the first two installments of this series, not too worry overmuch. This story presents a new protagonist, new characters and a whole new story! However, there are references to the previous novels, so it's not a bad idea to start there first. Rise is volume one, followed by Legends.
Most of the rules of the run through are as follows:
1. May only catch one Pokemon per area. This rule has been bent somewhat, as for my own selfish reasons, I have included some Pokemon which may not be a first encounter for purposes of the story.
2. No healing items. Only way to heal up is to use a Pokemon centre.
3. If a Pokemon faints, it is 'dead'. Boxed for the rest of the game. If the entire team faints, I will simply be resetting to the last save point for the sake of the story.
4. Only allowed to use as many Pokemon as the gym leader/elite/champion.
That's pretty much it. If you do have any questions, please message me. Also, I really do appreciate reviews. I obviously have a biased opinion to my stories, so I love to hear back from you as the reader. As to team makeup, I'm still open to suggestions. That goes for team's in the future as well. Thank you for the support, and I hope you enjoy the adventure!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. That right is held by Nintendo and the Pokemon Company. I retain the right to OC's and character adaptations.
Prologue
Humans had such interesting notions of creation. Religions would spring up, then die. Through the ages debates raged. All were inconsequential. None were there to witness. No one was required to. Gods were simply a figment of imagination and faith. They were not the omnipotent beings that were represented in today's world. No, instead they were simply that which was given a representation in flesh. A corporeal essence rather than an undefined piece of matter. Yet they felt the need to impose their ideas of laws upon nature. They deceived themselves into creating false idols to explain the world around them. True, some was based in the actual facts but so much was simply a matter of blind faith.
But even in that, there was the need for opposites and balance. That was the ultimate secret though, wasn't it? Whist one slept, the other was eternally awake. Something had to be aware. One world was ruled by its guardians. But this one? No, it must remain vigilant. Forces were converging, as power drew upon power. It was the natural way of things. If it wasn't careful however, that power could shift, and this world could become aware. This was its world, the forever unwitnessed and unknown.
"Brother you seem disturbed."
"Should I not be?"
"I don't understand where your unease comes from. They are perfectly capable of controlling their power."
"This power is too vast brother. For any of us. Those two will be fighting before long, as their threads entwine and overlap."
"Why should they fight? They are working to the same goal!"
"Do not be naïve. Power comes at a cost. You of all should understand this principle. It may not happen now, but mark my words, it will. And then what? Will you step in to control them? Or worse, will something else, something more powerful assert its dominance?"
"There is nothing more powerful."
"Not yet, but we are only four." The first speaker looked down. Its two visions were taking shape, guardians of the two defining principles.
"We have created them…" it was cut off by the second voice.
"No brother, you created them. I am the anathema to you, remember?" There seemed to be no reaction from the former, but the later knew its 'brother' was thinking.
"They are separate from you, true, but you still hold a power over them. But we are the only ones. What can you imagine would be so powerful as to overtake us?"
"I cannot see that far into the future. But this power, it's too vast. To confine it and shape it, is to realize what potential could be unlocked."
"That is why we are conscious. Our spirits will drive our goals."
"I do not believe that brother. Our spirits could prove just as fallible."
"You would seek to undo this?"
"No, I will allow you to play master. I beg you only remember my words." The two locked eyes, an understanding of what they had done, but a broken relationship as well.
"I will miss you" the first said.
"And I you. But from this, there can be no turning back."
"Balance must be kept. I know." The second nodded and moved off to the open portal. The first looked on in sadness.
It was true, the two could not completely work in unison, but they made up for that by creating the laws and structure to which all matter adhered to. Would that they had not overreached.
Emotion. A natural instinctive state of mind. It could arise from ones mood, circumstances or even the relationships with others. And yet there is no true consensus on definition. Emotion was the primary driving force behind actions taken by humans and Pokemon alike, both positive and negative. It was the unseen force guiding all life.
Cyrus wanted it gone.
People were ruled by their emotions. They made decisions based off of them, without logical thinking. This world was a result of some of the more potent and powerful emotions such as greed, envy, lust. How could this place be filled with such contemptuous creatures? This world was being corrupted, but there was nothing anyone was doing about it. Cynthia and her league goonies were too busy playing at being trainers rather than solving real issues. Poverty and corruption were spreading at rates unprecedented. Politicians sat in their offices, going through every vice imaginable to man without recourse. The system was flawed.
Few seemed to understand this. Those who followed were blind to the real goal, as all they saw was an opportunity to flex power they had not actually worked to achieve to punish others. Power was its own driver for human corruption. And yet were Pokemon not also fallible to that lure? They searched out human partners to become stronger and more powerful. Such was the cycle of life.
This was the basis for the idea behind Team Galactic. Underlings from the business were hired and sent forth to do the grunt work. Cyrus had met with more powerful people, until finally he had found that which he needed to achieve his actual goal.
The business had begun years ago, as a young Cyrus made a name for himself by becoming something of a tycoon. Galactic industries shipped products to all different regions and were instrumental in procuring top of the line technology and electronics. All of this was possible thanks to the CEO's outlook. Business was one of the few things on this planet which viewed the world without emotion. Money was the bottom line, and the only care. People came and went, a simply flickering through the lens. But the logic underneath it all was infallible.
At 27, Cyrus was one of the youngest people to have a net worth over a billion dollars. But it wasn't enough. Everyone viewed the reclus as something of an enigma however. He barely spoke to the press, and there were some rumblings about people stating they worked for a team Galactic, people who were stealing others Pokemon. As the young business man grew older, he wondered what he was missing however. Everything he did never saw the light of day. Changes needed to be made and drastic ones. Inspiration came from the unlikeliest places.
A contest showed the strange beauty of Pokemon. Cyrus would have never went if it weren't for the business. A young woman showed him beauty previously unknown. Sure Pokemon had their uses. But what if there was something more powerful out there? What if Cyrus were able to harness the power of the creation gods? It was the first time excitement had poured through him in years. A nugget of information which could lead him to the change he so desperately desired.
His business contacts led him to another man of influence, one people knew even less about than Cyrus. Even his commanders in the field could not discern any motives for the self-styled collector. But he said he had information Cyrus wanted.
"You pursue the legends?" the man asked. He was wearing a simply attire of white pants and black turtleneck highlighting his silver hair and mint green eyes. His build was not physically imposing, nor was his height. Cyrus matched the cool confidence however in spades.
"I do. I was led to believe you may have information."
"I alas do not possess much more knowledge about the creation gods as you. All I am aware of is a link between them. However I have a man under my employ who may be able to help you. He has been researching ways of manifesting that link here in our dimension. I have not seen him make any breakthroughs in some time, however, I think that with you he just might."
"You would willingly part with one of your employees?" Cyrus asked. A man who knew of such things was rare indeed, and worth their weight in gold. The business man across from Cyrus gave a small smile.
"As I said, I have not the knowledge or design's to pursue that which he is so actively trying to achieve. Therefore, I can reasonably accept this, in trade perhaps." Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "I am interested in the legends. Should you create a link and uncover one, I would very much like to see it." Cyrus sat there thinking. Something told him not to trust this man, and yet, what he asked for, was completely within his grasp. Besides, he would have the power of a god behind him. There was no need to worry.
"Deal."
"Excellent." The two rose and shook hands. "Follow me then please. I shall take you down to the labs."
"Charon, I would like to introduce Cyrus. I believe you two have much to discuss" the businessman said, mediating the introduction.
"I appreciate your assistance in this matter" Cyrus said to the businessman.
"I'm just happy I was able to help." With a small bow and smile the man backed out of the room. That could not have gone any better for Lawrence even if he wanted it to. Cyrus would achieve what he had been hoping Charon would do for him in Sinnoh, allowing Lawrence and Rivers to focus their efforts elsewhere.
Cynthia backed out of the chamber, her grandmother not far behind her. The blonde was thinking hard. Three. There had always been three. A trifecta to create balance and hold it together. But that was shaky at best. Was there something else at the heart of all this? If so, what? And what about the bindings? The chamber wasn't entirely clear about that.
"You're telling me that there is some type of convergence point here in Sinnoh?" Cynthia finally asked of her grandmother.
"That is the only logical conclusion I can come to. Through our region, there is a point which allows us to gain access to those dimensions where things are completely different."
"And we're to believe Pokemon created all this?" Cynthia was skeptical. Where would they have come from?
"I do not believe so no. That isn't to say there couldn't be Pokemon out there who could control such things."
"What do you mean?" The champion asked.
"Come now Cynthia, look at your Pokemon? Are you telling me that they have no control over their environment? Yes it is different from ours. We must change the environment to suit us. Pokemon simply harness that energy. Which means it cannot be that difficult to imagine a Pokemon out there powerful enough to control the different aspects of our natural laws." Carolina was speaking as though to Cynthia as a young child, and right now the champion felt it. She was supposedly the most powerful trainer in all of Sinnoh, and yet there was the chance that there was something out there vastly more powerful.
"How do we protect against that which we have no knowledge of then?" Cynthia wondered aloud.
"We don't. We will simply be witness to its power should it chose to show it."
"I refuse to believe that grandmother." Cynthia glared at the smaller woman. It was her job to protect this region. Just look at what had happened to Johto and Kanto in recent years. Powerful trainers were out there for both sides. And then there was the warnings from Arthur about the legends in worried states about the balance of the world. There just had to be a way to protect those around her, regardless of what her grandmother thought.
"Cynthia these legends and myths persist for a reason. There are pieces of truth to them, and it even a fraction of what they say is true, then these are the most ancient of Pokemon. They are capable of untold power. The game you play is a dangerous one." Worry coated her grandmother's voice, and suddenly Cynthia realized why Carolina was so reserved about this subject. Her granddaughter's life was one the line.
"Someone has to be there grandmother. I know someone who will be, but he's only one person. And there's no way he'll be able to do it alone."