//------------------------------// // Prologue: Death is Inevitable // Story: Pokémon: The Legends of Steel // by Frostbreath //------------------------------// The Galar Region. Known to many as one of the most advanced regions known to the world of Pokémon. Already using steam-powered inventions, both humans and Pokémon are able to live in harmony as they continued to thrive. Or, some were, at least... Deep within the Slumbering Weald were two young adults, roughly nineteen in age each - a boy and a girl. Normally, the forest was silent to respect the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta, but all could here the sound of panicked footsteps. “Hurry, Olivia! They’ve almost caught up to us!” Jayson Stonehenge cried, picking up the pace slightly as the sound of branches breaking could be heard growing closer. “I’m trying, Jay!” Olivia Fairclaw cried in fear, trying desperately to catch up to her newly- proposed fiancé. Eventually, they reached the monument of the legendary wolves, with nowhere else to turn. “Jayson? I’m scared,” Olivia whispered, holding onto her fiancé’s arm tightly. “Why do they want you dead? You’ve done so much good to the region.” “I don’t know, sweetie,” Jayson sighed. “I don’t - “ Suddenly, a grey creature popped from the bushes, it’s claws quickly fusing to become two daggers. “Perrsurker!” The creature cried, summoning forth two more of the same creatures and a man in a black trench coat. “You know running is inevitable, Stonehenge,” the man spoke calmly. “Surrender now, and we’ll make this easier for you.” “What do you want with him?” Olivia cried in fear. “Liv, this isn’t - “ “ANSWER ME!!!” she yelled, tears beginning to run down her face as she held Jayson tighter. “The King has his reasons,” the man answered. “Now - “ “There is no ruler over Galar,” Jayson spoke up. “The only one who over watches the region is Leon, and he’s not a king - He’s Champion.” The man sighed. “I will ask you one more time, Stonehenge - surrender now. I don’t want to make this anymore complicated.” “If you’re going to get him, you’ll have to go through me!” Olivia cried, tears now clearly running down her cheeks. The man looked at her - was that pity on his face? - and sighed, before snapping his fingers. Almost immediately, comes came down from the trees and caught Olivia, leaving her hanging helplessly as she tried to fight back. Looking around, Jayson saw the reason for this - A Trevenant was looming in the background, using his ablilites to control the trees. “No!” He cried, preparing to throw a Pokeball, but another vine came down and wrapped his arms, preventing him from getting help. “You can’t do this! Please!” “I warned you, Stonehenge, but you refused to listen.” The man turned to the first Perrsurker. “Use Metal Claw.” As fast as lightning, the Pokémon launched into the air, it’s claws entrapped in a metallic aura, only to be sliced into Olivia’s side. “NO!!!” Jayson cried in panic, trying to fight the vines off to help his fiancé. “PLEASE, SHE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!!” “Jayson...” Olivia whispered softly, her voice suddenly weak as her face paled. Looking at his love, he couldn’t help but begin to cry as the light in her eyes began to dim... “I love you...” Before fading to nothing. “NO!!!!” Jayson cried as he slumped to the ground, defeated as he began sobbing. “Maybe next time you should listen to - “ The man started, but stopped when suddenly two flashes of light - one cyan, the other magenta - appeared before then, the light fading to reveal... “Oh, shit...” Zacian and Zamazenta, even without their armor, were intimidating Pokémon, and their eyes were rage-filled as they glared at the man and his Pokémon. Howling, they began to charge the man, who immediately backpedaled away as he began to run out of the forest. Before long, the only sound that could be heard was the sobs and sniffs from Jayson as he continued to cry. Eventually, however, he rose of the ground and pulled out six Pokeballs. Throwing them into the air, he released his Pokémon- Noivern, Gardevoir, Lucario, Krookodile, Centiskorch, and his Starter, Lycanroc. Immediately, they saw Olivia’s dead body and began to comfort Jayson, who started crying all over again. That is, until a voice spoke: “Hoopa can help!” Jayson, confuses, looked up to see a strange creature before him. It was the size of a small child, with a lavender and magenta color scheme, and had two large horns, each having a ring on them. There was another ring across its waist, but what caught his attention was its eyes - those mischievous, jade-green eyes... “Have we met before?” The Pokémon giggled. “For a little. I’m Hoopa!” “Hoopa, huh? You said you could help me?” “Mhmm. Hoopa sees Jayson-San is sad. Hoopa can take Jayson-San away from here to a better place!” Almost immediately, Jayson’s Pokémon surrounded him protectively, leaving Hoopa in confusion before laughing. “Hoopa isn’t going to hurt Jayson-San!” He laughed. “Hoopa will just take you somewhere better!” “Are you sure it would help?” “Yep!” Hoopa replies as he launched a hoop of his horn, which grew to an unnatural size. “Ale Hoopa Ring!” He cried as the ring became a portal. “Have fun!” Hoops cried before the ring engulfed Jayson and his Pokémon. As he entered through the portal, the first thing he saw was a school almost directly below him, albeit smaller than expected. The second thing he saw was blue all around him, with white here and there. Third, he then saw a bird pass him, looking at them all with a strange expression. It was then he realized he was falling from the sky into a new world, which he then proceeded to scream his head off as they fell.