AstraliLunaris
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Author Foreword:
The Kanto Collection will be a series of short stories based in the region of Kanto to expand upon lore elements and characters that are relatively unexplored in the original narrative. This mainly exists as a writing prompt - a means for me to improve my personal work. I can build upon a world that already exists instead of writing one from scratch, making it a far less daunting and time-consuming means of practice. There is less potential for error and inconsistent logic in a world where most of its foundational ideas are already established. Additionally, I'd like to use this as a method to explore some more mature themes in a world that's overly sanitised, often to its detriment. Though nothing too scandalous.
So, a question I imagine occurring is, why Kanto? My reasoning is relatively simple. Kanto is essentially the very framework of this franchise. Despite us having visited it five times (and counting) by the current year, the region often gives off this dull and underutilised vibe. Aesthetically, it has a lot to explore and many loose ends to potentially tie-up. I think this idea that Kanto is boring often comes from Game Freak not elaborating on and exploring its more intriguing ideas, characters, locations and mythos.
Each story will focus on a different aspect of the region, and many will be told from the perspective of different narrators, though it will be made clear within the subtext who the narrator of a particular story is.
In doing this, I will also be implementing plot elements that heavily link Kanto to Johto and even somewhat to Hoenn culturally. A personal problem of mine with this franchise is that each region is connected on a very surface level - and given that we're under the assumption that every region prior to generation 5 is set in Japan, this would be an unlikely occurrence in real life. Even in generation 2, where the two regions are united via the ability to travel between them, the connection still feels loose, as if they're two entirely different plains of existence that don't interact beyond a few instances. I would like to attempt to bridge this gap with my work.
Each short story will end in a brief footnote, explaining why I wrote this and what I wanted to explore about Kanto in that body of text.
Lastly, I shouldn't have to write this. Still, due to negative experiences of uploading fan-fiction to Tumblr back in the day, it's something I have to enforce from the get-go: This is my interpretation. I'm not trying to claim it as a canon chain of events. Much of it is based on existing lore, though much has also been altered to fit my personal narrative. Any changes to canon in any way, such as altering events, changing in characters, etc., is done for the purpose of storytelling. You do not have to suspend your own disbelief and go by my theory of events - that is ultimately up to the reader to decide.
I have uploaded this to several other sites where I have different usernames. Don't worry, I'm not plagiarising myself.
Story #1 - The Beast Awakens
(Trigger Warnings: Death, Reference to War, Mild Abuse of Pokemon)
Our journey begins in the land of Johto, a place enhanced by its extensive cultural integration with folklore. Ancients recounted tales, invoking images of a winged beast laying dormant beneath the region's seas for centuries, only to be awoken by one who possesses an artefact known as the Silver Wing. The Silver Wing is a medallion, shaped like its namesake, handed throughout generations to various scholars of the region's mythos, and is said to have, enveloped beneath its metal casing, the very life essence of the monster itself. The scholars were very aware not to rouse the creature, fearing the potential destruction it should cause. As told, this bird had brought devastation to the land and those upon it in the past millennia.
However, were the Wing to get into the hands of a particularly evil, or on the contrary, clueless person, would they seek out that power? As it turned out, the answer to the posed question was soon to be discovered, and the perpetrator would be the latter. Was it the former, nevertheless, this tale would not play out far too differently, for controlling the creature's power would be far beyond the capabilities of any ordinary human.
The fool in question, who dared seek the lair of the monster, was a teenaged boy. Eusine, as he was named, called home to a very significant cultural town in the region of Johto, Ecruteak, a village where those who lived grew up on tales of the past, and folklore played particular importance to their culture. Ecruteak was home to many a temple and shrine, one encasing the aforementioned Silver Wing. Despite being so accessible, those within the town did not desire the Wing, nor did many visitors pass through. The townsfolk and those within the region who knew the Wing's powers feared the creature it would wake. However, what set Eusine apart from those individuals was his wish to seek out the legends' beasts. This attitude was viewed as senseless by the people of Ecruteak, and no single man took Eusine's dreams as anything more than a young boy's highly ambitious and active imagination. Therefore the townsfolk did not perceive Eusine's adventurous nature as a forewarning. So, it would not be to particular surprise to anyone outside of this culture that he took it in his own liberties to steal the Wing from the shrine where it was kept, during one particularly dark and stormy night.
Despite the treacherous weather, the reckless and impatient lad did not see fit to wait another day or two to search for the creature, nor did he have any idea how to find it beyond what he had read in books. The boy knew the monster lived in the oceans beneath the deadly Whirl Islands, whose whirlpools could kill a man who had no beast, nor magic if it did so exist within humans, capable of crossing them. In spite of this knowledge, the dim-witted boy had no experience traversing the ocean either by boat or by beast, and couldn't well swim so much as a lap around a pool, for Eusine did not live near the sea and had no means to learn these things. This was indeed an impossible and undoubtedly life-threatening mission. However, the boy seemingly lacked a sense of caution. He began his journey towards the ocean beyond the city of Olivine, attaching the Wing to a chain around his neck for safe-keeping.
Eusine passed by miles of usually bustling farmland, the only sign of life being the cries of cattle startled by the storm. Every so often, Eusine would see creatures taking refuge from the rain beneath trees, or for smaller beings, leaves, but the lack of people was uncomfortably eerie. Many times Eusine feared being struck by lightning, as he was often the highest thing off of the ground for miles and even had a close call a couple of times. Covered from the elements by just a plastic raincoat and a pair of rubber boots, Eusine made it to Olivine, unscathed albeit rather muddy.
Olivine itself was disturbingly empty too, the workers and tourists hiding in the various seaside houses lining the coast. With that said, it made it far easier for Eusine to then do what he did next - borrow a rickety boat from the dock. Borrow was a loose word here, as not only was Eusine fairly sure the vessel would not make it back in one piece, but obviously there was no one about to ask permission from - in which he was confident they'd deny his use of it regardless.
Into the boat, the boy lept. "Steering a boat is fairly straightforward," he thought to himself. "It's surely all just about the direction of the wind." Needless to say, the wind and the sea carried him and his ship off into its great depths, and his neckpiece flew off deep into the ocean. Eusine panicked, having lost his only gateway to fulfilling his desires. Sure his death would swiftly follow, he clung to his boat for dear life, which was barely held together for the sea's violent waves had taken a toll on the old girl.
Suddenly, a great glow filled the ocean beneath him, and a turbulent jet of water spat out the beast he sought. A bird-like creature lacking typical avian features such as talons and a beak, with silver and blue feathers of fantastical beauty.
"Lugia." Eusine's now raspy exasperated voice spoke this creature's name.
Lugia, not pleased to be awoken after centuries (as frankly, no one would be, beast or otherwise), erupted in a violent rage. The bird hurled wind and sea in every direction, worsening the already powerful storm and washing the now unconscious Eusine to the shores of the nearby Cianwood island, where he would be later found by its townsfolk.
The beast fled the region to seek three more slumbering birds of the elements, which Lugia itself was responsible for creating according to legend. These birds remained in hibernation on islands distantly off of the coast of Kanto, the Seviis, awaiting the thunderous return of their master. The first bird, Articuno, possessed an affinity for ice, taking hostage in a frozen cavern. The second was the bird of lightning, Zapdos, who slumbered in a cave due to not finding a suitable environment for its rest. Moltres was the last of the trio, a flaming hot user of firepower, who called home to a volcano. Lugia's cries alone were enough to awaken and alert the triplets of his presence. Lugia led the birds towards Kanto itself through the rough night skies.
Meanwhile, back in Johto, on this very same night, another unusual occurrence transpired. The storm had caused a forest fire close to Eusine's humble home of Ecruteak, and a nearby temple had caught ablaze. With hours passed and the flames going unnoticed by the townsfolk, the tower burnt down to a mere one floor, and out of the building rose a bird of many colours. What was remarkable about this event, though, is that the reason for this phenomenon lay within the tower itself: a tomb that had until now contained the corpse of a bird, which was just seen, by the name of Ho-Oh. A phoenix. As one may be aware, according to legend, a phoenix is a creature of extraordinary nature that can be reborn from its burning to ashes. Ho-Oh is a special kind of phoenix, with not only the capacity to resurrect itself but those around it, whilst granting them powers beyond what they were capable of in their previous life. And so, three large cats escaped into the night in a frenzied panic, a reflection on land of the elemental birds created by the phoenix's rival, Lugia - a panther of ice, a tiger of thunder and a lion of flame. Who were the three large cats, you ask? Some say an abandoned trio, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon, were taking shelter in the tower and happened to fall victim to the blaze. Though frankly, as no one saw, it is up to the imagination of those who hear this cautionary tale. It is said that the felines still traverse the region of Johto to this day, though no human has caught them. Ho-Oh, on the other hand, followed its rival Lugia to the Kanto region.
Upon the birds' historic arrival to dark skies above the region of Kanto, the fight amongst the five of them broke out instantaneously, awaking its citizens in a vast flurry of dazzling attacks and crashing noises. This conflict quickly escalated beneath the skies, into the land. The humans below panicked, many hiding in their basements or choosing to evacuate their houses completely as buildings collapsed in the confrontation. The birds battled on through the night, furthering the anxiety of the Kanto citizens before the bi-regional champion, Lance, announced an emergency gathering of the region's elites and academics to devise a plan to end the violence and destruction caused by the legendary beings.
In attendance at the meeting were the most influential people the region had to offer. Elite Four members, Gym Leaders, Silph Co. President, his assistant (a young Giovanni of later Team Rocket infamy) and the regional Professor, Oak. Most were on the side of quelling the birds to avoid further harm. However, the president of the Silph Company and his assistant, along with Gym Leader of Cinnabar, Blaine, offered up the idea of potentially harnessing the birds' powers for themselves. The teenaged Gym Leader Sabrina and elderly Elite Four Agatha suggested the destruction of the creatures, though of course, the rest called this out as unnecessarily cruel. Nevertheless, those in dissent from the crowd did not alter their outlook and left the meeting with the intent of creating a civilian army that aligned with their personal morals.
Professor Oak initially led the army whose intent was to calm the beasts and gathered up as many men as he could who abided by these values. Many had respect for these legendary beings and sided with him, though plenty of common folk who were personally affected by the birds' destruction did not. They wanted retribution for the harm done to their lives and joined Sabrina and Agatha, or the Silph Company, on their mission instead. The realisation that a civil war was about to break out, and friends would have to fight against each other for peace to be retained to Kanto, had just begun to hit.
A particularly feisty young Unovan immigrant, known synonymously as Surge for his affinity for all things electric, came to the side of Oak. Having prior military training, he knew he had the potential to lead Oak's army to victory. So Oak, one might say rather rashly, put his trust in this relatively unknown foreigner. An older man also offered help to Oak, a former friend of his, Fuji.
Fuji was previously a scientist who went to school alongside the professor, though he had long since abandoned his career. Instead, he now took shelter to many orphans - both Pokemon and children - due to his promise to become a better man. Like Eusine and the many scholars of Johto, Fuji had an interest in the mythical himself, a field of expertise not too prevalent in the region of Kanto. Whenever he could, Fuji would research past legends and how people lived in ancient times.
He had read about an ocarina with the ability to put the birds into a deep trance-like state and calm them when a particular tune was played. He continued on to tell Oak about how this instrument had quelled the beasts once before. It was said to lay in a tomb on the Sevii Islands, the archipelago where the elemental birds had rested for centuries.
With this new knowledge, Oak passed the expedition to find the ocarina onto three young and talented men - Bruno of the Elite Four, Gym Leader Koga, and lastly, Oak's own son, who at the time hailed as Vermillion City Gym Leader. Meanwhile, back on mainland Kanto, the civilian army, led by Surge, would take on their opponents and try to minimise damage caused by the soaring creatures. At this time, it had seemed like Silph and their followers had disappeared. Had they given up? Of course, this was a good thing for Surge's army, for they now only had one group of adversaries to overcome. That opposing group was led by the youngest Gym Leader Kanto had hired within its ranks and the longest-reigning Elite Four member in known history. Two very opposite people with very much the same goal.
Every ability thrown at the creatures was reflected, and yet the army led by them continued to hurl attacks mindlessly. Oak's squad tried with might to stop this conflict. Little did the people realise, the damage they were causing to themselves was far more significant than that done by the birds.
Sabrina, still a smug and self-aggrandising thirteen-year-old girl, thought herself capable of penetrating their barrier. However, her elder, Agatha began to have doubts and approached her former friend and rival Oak with a potential resolution. She proposed that if two of their men could beat her and Sabrina, with each person only using three Pokemon, they would command their army to stop the fighting at once. So Oak put his trust in Surge to fight Sabrina.
And so began Surge's battle against Sabrina. The psychic girl thought herself clever, starting with Mr Mime. Being her support Pokemon, he was her means to put up screens - barriers between her monsters and their opponents, reducing her entire party's damage received. However, Surge had a simple solution to this: an Electabuzz. This electrifying creature smashed down the walls Mr Mime had built.
"How? Why?" Cried out the young trainer, astonished by what had just happened. Though you see, it was all simple, for Surge's strange anthropomorphic bee-like creature had Brick Break, a move that breaks down any defensive fortifications. With a punch of thunder to the stomach, Mr Mime dropped to the ground in excruciating pain, unable to resume combat.
Frustrated, Sabrina returned her monster to its ball and sent out her spoon-bending powerhouse Alakazam, one of the strongest and most challenging to raise Pokemon the region had to offer. In response, Surge sent out his Electrode, a Pokeball-like mimic, which took a decent chunk of damage on the switch. The girl laughed at this switch, asking what a Pokeball would do to help him win this match. On the contrary, his solution to dealing with her Alakazam was simple. "Boom", the charming young soldier smiled and winked as his Pokemon combusted in a flash of gunpowder, downing both Pokemon on the field. Sabrina was taken aback. Did this man just kill his own Pokemon for the sake of a battle? But no, Surge said she could rest assured. Electrode has electromagnetic capabilities and would easily be able to repair itself.
Though blown away, quite literally, by this discovery, Sabrina was not yet ready to concede, still 1-2. Her last Pokemon was the psychic fox Espeon. Surge went for his Magneton. Upon attempting to attack Magneton, Sabrina found that no matter what she seemed to use, Psychic nor Signal Beam, could penetrate the body of this strange mechanical monster, who each time would return with massive damage through powerful metallic attacks until the lilac fox eventually fainted from exhaustion. Oak chimed in once the battle had concluded to help Sabrina come to terms with her confusion. Magneton was a Pokemon of a newly discovered type - Steel - with many resistances, including her speciality type, Psychic. The young girl sulked but moved to the side to let Agatha commence her fight.
Oak had offered himself up to fight ghost-type master. Though in an unexpected turn of events, she immediately conceded. She had expected Oak to want to take her down himself and was fully aware she could not beat him, so even trying felt like a waste of everyone's precious time during such catastrophe. Agatha had ordered her army to stop trying to attack the beasts and ask them to go home whilst the more knowledgeable members of the region figured a solution to the problem. Most listened to the old woman's pleas, though many continued to fight, to dire consequences for themselves.
Why was Agatha so scared of Oak, you ask? Well, Oak was, and likely still is, a true master of Pokemon. One who could use all the elements to a great degree of competency. Why is he not champion then? Why is that role taken by Lance? That's up for you to figure out. Why not go ask him yourself? I'm not sure his grandson must know too. But I digress.
And so at once, Oak's army had thought this was over. That now it was a matter of waiting for the arrival of the ocarina into the hands of Fuji.
That was before Blaine had finally shown his face, though the Silph Company was still nowhere to be seen. Blaine had brought with him a series of ever strange contraptions as a means to catch the beasts. Onlookers marvelled as he tried to swoop the birds up in large nets, grab them with a claw-like device on a drone, as well as various other remarkably unusual ways to attempt to score these creatures as his own. The crowd hollered at his many failed attempts whilst Oak recanted about how this man was once a genius with much potential in biological science. Over time, however, Blaine had been driven to madness, and now senility, by his megalomanic nature. Whilst he was definitely a competent trainer and not to be treaded lightly in that area, he was not the brilliant wizard-like mad scientist he thought himself, and therefore was not to be treated as much of a threat. Seeing all of his inventions fail, Blaine rode back through the land on his trusty steed Rapidash, eager to build something that actually functioned as intended this time.
Once again, peace was thought to have finally been brought and it was just a matter of waiting. Until The Silph Company finally had shown up in a large aircraft, splattered with their logo, with a strange metal box on its underbelly. The people crowded beneath were confused. Was Blaine not with them anymore? What was that whole charade about? Recklessly, the aircraft flew high above where the birds fought, and out of the odd metal case attached to the plane shot a beam or radar of sorts. The birds began to shriek and shudder in pain. Booing at the disgusting treatment of these creatures roared from the crowd.
Oak devised a plan. He whispered in the young Surge's ear and threw a ball containing a large fish. Or was it a dragon? Or maybe a serpent? This creature stunned the crowd, its blue scales reflecting in the light as it floated above them. The dragon put its head close to the ground, allowing for just Surge and Oak to climb on top before gliding into the atmosphere above. Looking as small as ants to Oak and Surge, the people on the ground cheered in amazement. The two men, now face-to-face with the plane, commanded their monsters to attack.
Oak screamed, "Gyarados, Hyper Beam", uncharacteristically loud for the old man, for he needed his dragon to hear amongst the commotion.
On the other hand, Surge threw his now revived ball-like creature, Electrode, at the box, where it exploded. The two attacks combined into a tremendous blast that destroyed the machine, and the birds dropped to the ground in agony. The Silph Company ship flew away before the men inside could be questioned, though the president later confessed this was Giovanni's plan all along. A plan to syphon the power from these beings. Despite The Silph Company receiving many accolades over the years for their work, I am not a personal believer in that story. The president is just as corrupt as any man with the money to create a monopoly would be. He's just better at hiding it than that old Rocket crook.
Now that the birds lay in a greatly weakened state, it bided time for the eventual return of the three men with the ocarina. And upon their triumphant return, two of the three men for sure in their hands had the mythical wind instrument.
However, they brought saddening news. The third of then men had slipped and fallen into the ocean during this perilous quest - this man being Oak's own son. This was a lot for the elderly professor to process. He decided to hand this mission from here on out to Surge and Fuji, whilst he headed back home to truly consider the weight of this situation, now that his only son was dead and his infant grandson and young granddaughter had no father.
Fuji played the ocarina. The soothing melody had an odd familiarity, though the people were sure they hadn't heard it before. The bird's wounds began to heal, and all 5 of them flew off into varying directions upon hearing its song. Having no home to return to, the phoenix Ho-Oh instead took shelter in Ecruteak's Bell Tower, not too far from its place of origin. Seabird Lugia flew to a more secure spot, which guaranteed only the most prepared adventurers would ever seek it out this time - the caves beneath the Whirl Islands. As for the three elemental birds, they chose to make Kanto their new home. Articuno, the bird of ice, took to Kanto's frozen caverns, the Seafoam Islands. The hazardous mountain path of Victory Road became the new home of Moltres, ensuring only the strongest of trainers could ever possibly come into contact with it.
However, like back on the Seviis, there was no electric cave in which Zapdos could call home, and so it took rest in the regions Power Plant, to the evident dismay of those who worked there. Conflict arose again about whether or not the bird should be forced to move, captured or defeated.
Blaine made his triumphant return in the heat of the commotion, now holding an invention, the Master Ball. He claimed it could catch any and all Pokemon; land, sea or sky. Many in the crowd asked if such a thing could exist, but Surge took the ball from him. Not standing a chance to fight back against this young combat-trained foreigner, he eased his grip. The blonde-haired soldier threw the ball at a simple Pikachu outside the Plant, who'd called the fields around this place home due to the amount of electrical energy it radiated. It seemed the ball worked, as the Pikachu was caught instantly. Blaine predictably was furious, to which Surge told the crowd:
"The Power Plant must be abandoned, and continued war over this creature only maintains pointless suffering. Humans can rebuild, but lives cannot be replaced - neither the lives of humans nor of these mythical creatures."
Or perhaps that is a paraphrase on my part, for I do not believe the man is capable of speaking so eloquently.
So the Power Plant was left undisturbed by people until it began to fall to ruin, and the three birds slept. You say the Power Plant has returned to its original state? Well, there's a young teenage boy. A student of Oak's, it must be added. The strongest trainer to ever exist, some say! He is to thank for that.
After this, Kanto remained at peace. Surge was accoladed for his valiant efforts in the war and his strife for Kanto's harmony. He was promoted to Kanto's lieutenant and given the title of Vermillion Gym Leader, previously belonging to Oak's now perished son. The Pikachu he caught within that first Master Ball is still with him to this day, having evolved into his most crucial partner, Raichu.
Blaine's Master Ball idea was stolen and patented by the notorious Silph Company and is currently in circulation to this date, though few are said to actually exist. As it turns out, Blaine and Silph had a disagreement over how to harness the birds power - Silph envisioning it as impossible to simple capture them, whereas Blaine remained determined to do so.
Many others spoken of in this tale have since matured, grown up, moved on, though nothing of particular note.
As for me, how did I end up with the Silver Wing? As a close friend of Mr Fuji, I can tell you this: it had apparently washed up on the docks of Vermillion city shortly after Lugia's arrival to the region. I absolutely don't believe this was a coincidence, for Vermillion is not a trivial distance from where Lugia arose. I was entrusted with this medallion's safety by Fuji and Lt. Surge, as no one would suspect I had it. Just a random senile man in Pewter City. Or so they believed. But as it seems, given you are questioning me about it, news must've gotten out somehow.
And how do I know all of this? Well, of course, I was there along with the rest of the crowd, cheering on Oak's cause. And how do I know what happened to Eusine? That man tells everyone his escapades, though with only a sliver of the truth. You have the Rainbow Wing, you say? Then who knows, maybe their combined forces have the means to capture and tame the beasts of Johto, but I wouldn't push my luck if I were you.
So young Gold, after hearing this more than a decade old tale, along with my advice, do you still wish to pursue the power of the Silver Wing?
Author's Notes:
So, I want to start off by saying this story has a lot of "telling instead of showing" elements that I'm not a fan of, but I wasn't sure how to implement them within subtext that would be understood by the reader. I would really appreciate any constructive criticism with this. It's definitely something I want to work on with future writing of mine. This will also probably be the longest of the short stories, as this delves more into the length of an entire chapter in a book and had many ideas to explore in a pretty compact amount of time.
With that said, the ideas portrayed in this story are pretty simple: an exploration of the war introduced in the characterisation of Lt. Surge and the mythos of the legendary birds and beasts.
I am personally of the (maybe somewhat controversial) opinion that themes such as war are just a reality and aren't something that needs to be hidden from children's eyes. And in fact, many famous pieces of children's fiction address it directly - such as The Chronicles of Narnia series. So Game Freak's choice to hint at things like this via Surge only to not actually build upon it reads as odd to me.
Moreover, this was to build upon Eusine's character as thrill-seeking yet incompetent. I plan to build upon Eusine more in this series, despite primarily being a Johto character, because it puts an intermingling link between the two regions. Though, honestly, I just love this character and think he's severely underutilised as a potential rival for Gold with character growth.
Anyway, I'm going to try to update every week. We'll see if I can actually stick to that. See ya for now.
The Kanto Collection will be a series of short stories based in the region of Kanto to expand upon lore elements and characters that are relatively unexplored in the original narrative. This mainly exists as a writing prompt - a means for me to improve my personal work. I can build upon a world that already exists instead of writing one from scratch, making it a far less daunting and time-consuming means of practice. There is less potential for error and inconsistent logic in a world where most of its foundational ideas are already established. Additionally, I'd like to use this as a method to explore some more mature themes in a world that's overly sanitised, often to its detriment. Though nothing too scandalous.
So, a question I imagine occurring is, why Kanto? My reasoning is relatively simple. Kanto is essentially the very framework of this franchise. Despite us having visited it five times (and counting) by the current year, the region often gives off this dull and underutilised vibe. Aesthetically, it has a lot to explore and many loose ends to potentially tie-up. I think this idea that Kanto is boring often comes from Game Freak not elaborating on and exploring its more intriguing ideas, characters, locations and mythos.
Each story will focus on a different aspect of the region, and many will be told from the perspective of different narrators, though it will be made clear within the subtext who the narrator of a particular story is.
In doing this, I will also be implementing plot elements that heavily link Kanto to Johto and even somewhat to Hoenn culturally. A personal problem of mine with this franchise is that each region is connected on a very surface level - and given that we're under the assumption that every region prior to generation 5 is set in Japan, this would be an unlikely occurrence in real life. Even in generation 2, where the two regions are united via the ability to travel between them, the connection still feels loose, as if they're two entirely different plains of existence that don't interact beyond a few instances. I would like to attempt to bridge this gap with my work.
Each short story will end in a brief footnote, explaining why I wrote this and what I wanted to explore about Kanto in that body of text.
Lastly, I shouldn't have to write this. Still, due to negative experiences of uploading fan-fiction to Tumblr back in the day, it's something I have to enforce from the get-go: This is my interpretation. I'm not trying to claim it as a canon chain of events. Much of it is based on existing lore, though much has also been altered to fit my personal narrative. Any changes to canon in any way, such as altering events, changing in characters, etc., is done for the purpose of storytelling. You do not have to suspend your own disbelief and go by my theory of events - that is ultimately up to the reader to decide.
I have uploaded this to several other sites where I have different usernames. Don't worry, I'm not plagiarising myself.
Story #1 - The Beast Awakens
(Trigger Warnings: Death, Reference to War, Mild Abuse of Pokemon)
Our journey begins in the land of Johto, a place enhanced by its extensive cultural integration with folklore. Ancients recounted tales, invoking images of a winged beast laying dormant beneath the region's seas for centuries, only to be awoken by one who possesses an artefact known as the Silver Wing. The Silver Wing is a medallion, shaped like its namesake, handed throughout generations to various scholars of the region's mythos, and is said to have, enveloped beneath its metal casing, the very life essence of the monster itself. The scholars were very aware not to rouse the creature, fearing the potential destruction it should cause. As told, this bird had brought devastation to the land and those upon it in the past millennia.
However, were the Wing to get into the hands of a particularly evil, or on the contrary, clueless person, would they seek out that power? As it turned out, the answer to the posed question was soon to be discovered, and the perpetrator would be the latter. Was it the former, nevertheless, this tale would not play out far too differently, for controlling the creature's power would be far beyond the capabilities of any ordinary human.
The fool in question, who dared seek the lair of the monster, was a teenaged boy. Eusine, as he was named, called home to a very significant cultural town in the region of Johto, Ecruteak, a village where those who lived grew up on tales of the past, and folklore played particular importance to their culture. Ecruteak was home to many a temple and shrine, one encasing the aforementioned Silver Wing. Despite being so accessible, those within the town did not desire the Wing, nor did many visitors pass through. The townsfolk and those within the region who knew the Wing's powers feared the creature it would wake. However, what set Eusine apart from those individuals was his wish to seek out the legends' beasts. This attitude was viewed as senseless by the people of Ecruteak, and no single man took Eusine's dreams as anything more than a young boy's highly ambitious and active imagination. Therefore the townsfolk did not perceive Eusine's adventurous nature as a forewarning. So, it would not be to particular surprise to anyone outside of this culture that he took it in his own liberties to steal the Wing from the shrine where it was kept, during one particularly dark and stormy night.
Despite the treacherous weather, the reckless and impatient lad did not see fit to wait another day or two to search for the creature, nor did he have any idea how to find it beyond what he had read in books. The boy knew the monster lived in the oceans beneath the deadly Whirl Islands, whose whirlpools could kill a man who had no beast, nor magic if it did so exist within humans, capable of crossing them. In spite of this knowledge, the dim-witted boy had no experience traversing the ocean either by boat or by beast, and couldn't well swim so much as a lap around a pool, for Eusine did not live near the sea and had no means to learn these things. This was indeed an impossible and undoubtedly life-threatening mission. However, the boy seemingly lacked a sense of caution. He began his journey towards the ocean beyond the city of Olivine, attaching the Wing to a chain around his neck for safe-keeping.
Eusine passed by miles of usually bustling farmland, the only sign of life being the cries of cattle startled by the storm. Every so often, Eusine would see creatures taking refuge from the rain beneath trees, or for smaller beings, leaves, but the lack of people was uncomfortably eerie. Many times Eusine feared being struck by lightning, as he was often the highest thing off of the ground for miles and even had a close call a couple of times. Covered from the elements by just a plastic raincoat and a pair of rubber boots, Eusine made it to Olivine, unscathed albeit rather muddy.
Olivine itself was disturbingly empty too, the workers and tourists hiding in the various seaside houses lining the coast. With that said, it made it far easier for Eusine to then do what he did next - borrow a rickety boat from the dock. Borrow was a loose word here, as not only was Eusine fairly sure the vessel would not make it back in one piece, but obviously there was no one about to ask permission from - in which he was confident they'd deny his use of it regardless.
Into the boat, the boy lept. "Steering a boat is fairly straightforward," he thought to himself. "It's surely all just about the direction of the wind." Needless to say, the wind and the sea carried him and his ship off into its great depths, and his neckpiece flew off deep into the ocean. Eusine panicked, having lost his only gateway to fulfilling his desires. Sure his death would swiftly follow, he clung to his boat for dear life, which was barely held together for the sea's violent waves had taken a toll on the old girl.
Suddenly, a great glow filled the ocean beneath him, and a turbulent jet of water spat out the beast he sought. A bird-like creature lacking typical avian features such as talons and a beak, with silver and blue feathers of fantastical beauty.
"Lugia." Eusine's now raspy exasperated voice spoke this creature's name.
Lugia, not pleased to be awoken after centuries (as frankly, no one would be, beast or otherwise), erupted in a violent rage. The bird hurled wind and sea in every direction, worsening the already powerful storm and washing the now unconscious Eusine to the shores of the nearby Cianwood island, where he would be later found by its townsfolk.
The beast fled the region to seek three more slumbering birds of the elements, which Lugia itself was responsible for creating according to legend. These birds remained in hibernation on islands distantly off of the coast of Kanto, the Seviis, awaiting the thunderous return of their master. The first bird, Articuno, possessed an affinity for ice, taking hostage in a frozen cavern. The second was the bird of lightning, Zapdos, who slumbered in a cave due to not finding a suitable environment for its rest. Moltres was the last of the trio, a flaming hot user of firepower, who called home to a volcano. Lugia's cries alone were enough to awaken and alert the triplets of his presence. Lugia led the birds towards Kanto itself through the rough night skies.
Meanwhile, back in Johto, on this very same night, another unusual occurrence transpired. The storm had caused a forest fire close to Eusine's humble home of Ecruteak, and a nearby temple had caught ablaze. With hours passed and the flames going unnoticed by the townsfolk, the tower burnt down to a mere one floor, and out of the building rose a bird of many colours. What was remarkable about this event, though, is that the reason for this phenomenon lay within the tower itself: a tomb that had until now contained the corpse of a bird, which was just seen, by the name of Ho-Oh. A phoenix. As one may be aware, according to legend, a phoenix is a creature of extraordinary nature that can be reborn from its burning to ashes. Ho-Oh is a special kind of phoenix, with not only the capacity to resurrect itself but those around it, whilst granting them powers beyond what they were capable of in their previous life. And so, three large cats escaped into the night in a frenzied panic, a reflection on land of the elemental birds created by the phoenix's rival, Lugia - a panther of ice, a tiger of thunder and a lion of flame. Who were the three large cats, you ask? Some say an abandoned trio, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon, were taking shelter in the tower and happened to fall victim to the blaze. Though frankly, as no one saw, it is up to the imagination of those who hear this cautionary tale. It is said that the felines still traverse the region of Johto to this day, though no human has caught them. Ho-Oh, on the other hand, followed its rival Lugia to the Kanto region.
Upon the birds' historic arrival to dark skies above the region of Kanto, the fight amongst the five of them broke out instantaneously, awaking its citizens in a vast flurry of dazzling attacks and crashing noises. This conflict quickly escalated beneath the skies, into the land. The humans below panicked, many hiding in their basements or choosing to evacuate their houses completely as buildings collapsed in the confrontation. The birds battled on through the night, furthering the anxiety of the Kanto citizens before the bi-regional champion, Lance, announced an emergency gathering of the region's elites and academics to devise a plan to end the violence and destruction caused by the legendary beings.
In attendance at the meeting were the most influential people the region had to offer. Elite Four members, Gym Leaders, Silph Co. President, his assistant (a young Giovanni of later Team Rocket infamy) and the regional Professor, Oak. Most were on the side of quelling the birds to avoid further harm. However, the president of the Silph Company and his assistant, along with Gym Leader of Cinnabar, Blaine, offered up the idea of potentially harnessing the birds' powers for themselves. The teenaged Gym Leader Sabrina and elderly Elite Four Agatha suggested the destruction of the creatures, though of course, the rest called this out as unnecessarily cruel. Nevertheless, those in dissent from the crowd did not alter their outlook and left the meeting with the intent of creating a civilian army that aligned with their personal morals.
Professor Oak initially led the army whose intent was to calm the beasts and gathered up as many men as he could who abided by these values. Many had respect for these legendary beings and sided with him, though plenty of common folk who were personally affected by the birds' destruction did not. They wanted retribution for the harm done to their lives and joined Sabrina and Agatha, or the Silph Company, on their mission instead. The realisation that a civil war was about to break out, and friends would have to fight against each other for peace to be retained to Kanto, had just begun to hit.
A particularly feisty young Unovan immigrant, known synonymously as Surge for his affinity for all things electric, came to the side of Oak. Having prior military training, he knew he had the potential to lead Oak's army to victory. So Oak, one might say rather rashly, put his trust in this relatively unknown foreigner. An older man also offered help to Oak, a former friend of his, Fuji.
Fuji was previously a scientist who went to school alongside the professor, though he had long since abandoned his career. Instead, he now took shelter to many orphans - both Pokemon and children - due to his promise to become a better man. Like Eusine and the many scholars of Johto, Fuji had an interest in the mythical himself, a field of expertise not too prevalent in the region of Kanto. Whenever he could, Fuji would research past legends and how people lived in ancient times.
He had read about an ocarina with the ability to put the birds into a deep trance-like state and calm them when a particular tune was played. He continued on to tell Oak about how this instrument had quelled the beasts once before. It was said to lay in a tomb on the Sevii Islands, the archipelago where the elemental birds had rested for centuries.
With this new knowledge, Oak passed the expedition to find the ocarina onto three young and talented men - Bruno of the Elite Four, Gym Leader Koga, and lastly, Oak's own son, who at the time hailed as Vermillion City Gym Leader. Meanwhile, back on mainland Kanto, the civilian army, led by Surge, would take on their opponents and try to minimise damage caused by the soaring creatures. At this time, it had seemed like Silph and their followers had disappeared. Had they given up? Of course, this was a good thing for Surge's army, for they now only had one group of adversaries to overcome. That opposing group was led by the youngest Gym Leader Kanto had hired within its ranks and the longest-reigning Elite Four member in known history. Two very opposite people with very much the same goal.
Every ability thrown at the creatures was reflected, and yet the army led by them continued to hurl attacks mindlessly. Oak's squad tried with might to stop this conflict. Little did the people realise, the damage they were causing to themselves was far more significant than that done by the birds.
Sabrina, still a smug and self-aggrandising thirteen-year-old girl, thought herself capable of penetrating their barrier. However, her elder, Agatha began to have doubts and approached her former friend and rival Oak with a potential resolution. She proposed that if two of their men could beat her and Sabrina, with each person only using three Pokemon, they would command their army to stop the fighting at once. So Oak put his trust in Surge to fight Sabrina.
And so began Surge's battle against Sabrina. The psychic girl thought herself clever, starting with Mr Mime. Being her support Pokemon, he was her means to put up screens - barriers between her monsters and their opponents, reducing her entire party's damage received. However, Surge had a simple solution to this: an Electabuzz. This electrifying creature smashed down the walls Mr Mime had built.
"How? Why?" Cried out the young trainer, astonished by what had just happened. Though you see, it was all simple, for Surge's strange anthropomorphic bee-like creature had Brick Break, a move that breaks down any defensive fortifications. With a punch of thunder to the stomach, Mr Mime dropped to the ground in excruciating pain, unable to resume combat.
Frustrated, Sabrina returned her monster to its ball and sent out her spoon-bending powerhouse Alakazam, one of the strongest and most challenging to raise Pokemon the region had to offer. In response, Surge sent out his Electrode, a Pokeball-like mimic, which took a decent chunk of damage on the switch. The girl laughed at this switch, asking what a Pokeball would do to help him win this match. On the contrary, his solution to dealing with her Alakazam was simple. "Boom", the charming young soldier smiled and winked as his Pokemon combusted in a flash of gunpowder, downing both Pokemon on the field. Sabrina was taken aback. Did this man just kill his own Pokemon for the sake of a battle? But no, Surge said she could rest assured. Electrode has electromagnetic capabilities and would easily be able to repair itself.
Though blown away, quite literally, by this discovery, Sabrina was not yet ready to concede, still 1-2. Her last Pokemon was the psychic fox Espeon. Surge went for his Magneton. Upon attempting to attack Magneton, Sabrina found that no matter what she seemed to use, Psychic nor Signal Beam, could penetrate the body of this strange mechanical monster, who each time would return with massive damage through powerful metallic attacks until the lilac fox eventually fainted from exhaustion. Oak chimed in once the battle had concluded to help Sabrina come to terms with her confusion. Magneton was a Pokemon of a newly discovered type - Steel - with many resistances, including her speciality type, Psychic. The young girl sulked but moved to the side to let Agatha commence her fight.
Oak had offered himself up to fight ghost-type master. Though in an unexpected turn of events, she immediately conceded. She had expected Oak to want to take her down himself and was fully aware she could not beat him, so even trying felt like a waste of everyone's precious time during such catastrophe. Agatha had ordered her army to stop trying to attack the beasts and ask them to go home whilst the more knowledgeable members of the region figured a solution to the problem. Most listened to the old woman's pleas, though many continued to fight, to dire consequences for themselves.
Why was Agatha so scared of Oak, you ask? Well, Oak was, and likely still is, a true master of Pokemon. One who could use all the elements to a great degree of competency. Why is he not champion then? Why is that role taken by Lance? That's up for you to figure out. Why not go ask him yourself? I'm not sure his grandson must know too. But I digress.
And so at once, Oak's army had thought this was over. That now it was a matter of waiting for the arrival of the ocarina into the hands of Fuji.
That was before Blaine had finally shown his face, though the Silph Company was still nowhere to be seen. Blaine had brought with him a series of ever strange contraptions as a means to catch the beasts. Onlookers marvelled as he tried to swoop the birds up in large nets, grab them with a claw-like device on a drone, as well as various other remarkably unusual ways to attempt to score these creatures as his own. The crowd hollered at his many failed attempts whilst Oak recanted about how this man was once a genius with much potential in biological science. Over time, however, Blaine had been driven to madness, and now senility, by his megalomanic nature. Whilst he was definitely a competent trainer and not to be treaded lightly in that area, he was not the brilliant wizard-like mad scientist he thought himself, and therefore was not to be treated as much of a threat. Seeing all of his inventions fail, Blaine rode back through the land on his trusty steed Rapidash, eager to build something that actually functioned as intended this time.
Once again, peace was thought to have finally been brought and it was just a matter of waiting. Until The Silph Company finally had shown up in a large aircraft, splattered with their logo, with a strange metal box on its underbelly. The people crowded beneath were confused. Was Blaine not with them anymore? What was that whole charade about? Recklessly, the aircraft flew high above where the birds fought, and out of the odd metal case attached to the plane shot a beam or radar of sorts. The birds began to shriek and shudder in pain. Booing at the disgusting treatment of these creatures roared from the crowd.
Oak devised a plan. He whispered in the young Surge's ear and threw a ball containing a large fish. Or was it a dragon? Or maybe a serpent? This creature stunned the crowd, its blue scales reflecting in the light as it floated above them. The dragon put its head close to the ground, allowing for just Surge and Oak to climb on top before gliding into the atmosphere above. Looking as small as ants to Oak and Surge, the people on the ground cheered in amazement. The two men, now face-to-face with the plane, commanded their monsters to attack.
Oak screamed, "Gyarados, Hyper Beam", uncharacteristically loud for the old man, for he needed his dragon to hear amongst the commotion.
On the other hand, Surge threw his now revived ball-like creature, Electrode, at the box, where it exploded. The two attacks combined into a tremendous blast that destroyed the machine, and the birds dropped to the ground in agony. The Silph Company ship flew away before the men inside could be questioned, though the president later confessed this was Giovanni's plan all along. A plan to syphon the power from these beings. Despite The Silph Company receiving many accolades over the years for their work, I am not a personal believer in that story. The president is just as corrupt as any man with the money to create a monopoly would be. He's just better at hiding it than that old Rocket crook.
Now that the birds lay in a greatly weakened state, it bided time for the eventual return of the three men with the ocarina. And upon their triumphant return, two of the three men for sure in their hands had the mythical wind instrument.
However, they brought saddening news. The third of then men had slipped and fallen into the ocean during this perilous quest - this man being Oak's own son. This was a lot for the elderly professor to process. He decided to hand this mission from here on out to Surge and Fuji, whilst he headed back home to truly consider the weight of this situation, now that his only son was dead and his infant grandson and young granddaughter had no father.
Fuji played the ocarina. The soothing melody had an odd familiarity, though the people were sure they hadn't heard it before. The bird's wounds began to heal, and all 5 of them flew off into varying directions upon hearing its song. Having no home to return to, the phoenix Ho-Oh instead took shelter in Ecruteak's Bell Tower, not too far from its place of origin. Seabird Lugia flew to a more secure spot, which guaranteed only the most prepared adventurers would ever seek it out this time - the caves beneath the Whirl Islands. As for the three elemental birds, they chose to make Kanto their new home. Articuno, the bird of ice, took to Kanto's frozen caverns, the Seafoam Islands. The hazardous mountain path of Victory Road became the new home of Moltres, ensuring only the strongest of trainers could ever possibly come into contact with it.
However, like back on the Seviis, there was no electric cave in which Zapdos could call home, and so it took rest in the regions Power Plant, to the evident dismay of those who worked there. Conflict arose again about whether or not the bird should be forced to move, captured or defeated.
Blaine made his triumphant return in the heat of the commotion, now holding an invention, the Master Ball. He claimed it could catch any and all Pokemon; land, sea or sky. Many in the crowd asked if such a thing could exist, but Surge took the ball from him. Not standing a chance to fight back against this young combat-trained foreigner, he eased his grip. The blonde-haired soldier threw the ball at a simple Pikachu outside the Plant, who'd called the fields around this place home due to the amount of electrical energy it radiated. It seemed the ball worked, as the Pikachu was caught instantly. Blaine predictably was furious, to which Surge told the crowd:
"The Power Plant must be abandoned, and continued war over this creature only maintains pointless suffering. Humans can rebuild, but lives cannot be replaced - neither the lives of humans nor of these mythical creatures."
Or perhaps that is a paraphrase on my part, for I do not believe the man is capable of speaking so eloquently.
So the Power Plant was left undisturbed by people until it began to fall to ruin, and the three birds slept. You say the Power Plant has returned to its original state? Well, there's a young teenage boy. A student of Oak's, it must be added. The strongest trainer to ever exist, some say! He is to thank for that.
After this, Kanto remained at peace. Surge was accoladed for his valiant efforts in the war and his strife for Kanto's harmony. He was promoted to Kanto's lieutenant and given the title of Vermillion Gym Leader, previously belonging to Oak's now perished son. The Pikachu he caught within that first Master Ball is still with him to this day, having evolved into his most crucial partner, Raichu.
Blaine's Master Ball idea was stolen and patented by the notorious Silph Company and is currently in circulation to this date, though few are said to actually exist. As it turns out, Blaine and Silph had a disagreement over how to harness the birds power - Silph envisioning it as impossible to simple capture them, whereas Blaine remained determined to do so.
Many others spoken of in this tale have since matured, grown up, moved on, though nothing of particular note.
As for me, how did I end up with the Silver Wing? As a close friend of Mr Fuji, I can tell you this: it had apparently washed up on the docks of Vermillion city shortly after Lugia's arrival to the region. I absolutely don't believe this was a coincidence, for Vermillion is not a trivial distance from where Lugia arose. I was entrusted with this medallion's safety by Fuji and Lt. Surge, as no one would suspect I had it. Just a random senile man in Pewter City. Or so they believed. But as it seems, given you are questioning me about it, news must've gotten out somehow.
And how do I know all of this? Well, of course, I was there along with the rest of the crowd, cheering on Oak's cause. And how do I know what happened to Eusine? That man tells everyone his escapades, though with only a sliver of the truth. You have the Rainbow Wing, you say? Then who knows, maybe their combined forces have the means to capture and tame the beasts of Johto, but I wouldn't push my luck if I were you.
So young Gold, after hearing this more than a decade old tale, along with my advice, do you still wish to pursue the power of the Silver Wing?
Author's Notes:
So, I want to start off by saying this story has a lot of "telling instead of showing" elements that I'm not a fan of, but I wasn't sure how to implement them within subtext that would be understood by the reader. I would really appreciate any constructive criticism with this. It's definitely something I want to work on with future writing of mine. This will also probably be the longest of the short stories, as this delves more into the length of an entire chapter in a book and had many ideas to explore in a pretty compact amount of time.
With that said, the ideas portrayed in this story are pretty simple: an exploration of the war introduced in the characterisation of Lt. Surge and the mythos of the legendary birds and beasts.
I am personally of the (maybe somewhat controversial) opinion that themes such as war are just a reality and aren't something that needs to be hidden from children's eyes. And in fact, many famous pieces of children's fiction address it directly - such as The Chronicles of Narnia series. So Game Freak's choice to hint at things like this via Surge only to not actually build upon it reads as odd to me.
Moreover, this was to build upon Eusine's character as thrill-seeking yet incompetent. I plan to build upon Eusine more in this series, despite primarily being a Johto character, because it puts an intermingling link between the two regions. Though, honestly, I just love this character and think he's severely underutilised as a potential rival for Gold with character growth.
Anyway, I'm going to try to update every week. We'll see if I can actually stick to that. See ya for now.
