|
The Pokémon Acanthite story is intended to set the scene for the Gold and
Silver era of games. The story of this prequel takes place some months before
the events of Gold and Silver and it endeavours to explain the nature of the
rival character from those games (who shall be referred to as Kamon). Pokémon
Acanthite will attempt to explain Kamon’s seemingly evil and uncaring attitude
observed in the GSC series by revealing the series of events that made him the
way he is. How? You, the player, choose. Set in the fictional Merto region, the story of Pokémon Acanthite is split down multiple paths, determined by the choices you make as you progress. The inherent choices are between what is right and what is wrong, but the definition of each end of the spectrum is never wholly clear. Almost three years had passed since the fall of the once mighty Team Rocket at the hands of an emerging young Pokémon Trainer. The Rocket organisation, once devoted to crime and corruption, vanished without trace. The region of Kanto was at last free from the pollution of their evil and Team Rocket had become little more than a memory. However, even without the guiding hand of former boss Giovanni, there were whispers among former Rocket members about a revival. In secret, they began to reform under the leadership of Giovanni’s ruthless General, Argus. Feared and respected greatly among his peers, he assumed the mantle of Team Rocket Boss as they planned their comeback. Under his iron will, they were prepared to take the steps they needed to in order to regain the power they once held. --- In the town of Newbloom Bay, located by the east coast of the Merto region, Kamon was preparing himself for an important expedition. The renowned Professor Willow, a close associate of Kamon’s father, had invited him to accompany her to Sunrise Isle. Willow’s friend and study partner Professor Elm claimed to have discovered Pokémon indigenous solely to the island, and she was keen to investigate. She and Kamon were due to sail on board her boat, the vessel Serendipity, to the island in the east. After gathering his equipment, Kamon went downstairs to find his sister Kiren in the kitchen with her favorite Pokémon, Sympholy. Their father had already set off earlier that day for a conference in Mezereon City. He had close ties to Aspen Corporation and S.U.M., the Science Union of Merto, and funded a great many of their research and development projects. "Don't be late," Kiren said, "or the Professor may set off without you!" The Professor was already aboard Serendipity and was waiting for Kamon. As soon as he arrived, they set off for Sunrise Isle. When they landed, they headed to a research facility where they met Prof. Elm. Elm gave them instructions and very soon Kamon and Prof. Willow were in the forest, hunting for the New Fern Pokémon, Frondilo. Willow presented Kamon with a Poké Ball for the first time, explaining that he had to throw it at a Wild Pokémon in order to catch it. Once Frondilo was in their grasp, they proceeded to seek out Kindlejou, the Live Flame Pokémon, and Reptide, the Estuary Pokémon. With the three rare Pokémon in tow, Kamon and Willow sailed back to Newbloom Bay and Kamon headed home. As he approached the front door, however, a nasty surprise lay in wait. Two men dressed in black uniforms with a red “R” on the front emerged from the door, followed by a tall, cold figure, swathed in a black travelling cape. His mane of steel grey hair hung around his cold eyes as he surveyed the shocked figure of Kamon. The man demanded Kamon's name. "I see... My name? I am Argus." He paused. "I came by hoping that I might find your father here. It has taken us an unfortunately long time to trace him here, and typically he is absent. We have need of his services once again." Kamon was well aware of his father's old job. Recognising the red "R" on Argus' badge and his henchmen's uniforms, memories of his father's membership of the criminal organisation Team Rocket came flooding back. How could they not? Those years had caused his family so much agony before his father left the Team when they disbanded and Kamon's family fled the Kanto region to start a new life, a better life. Kamon's father had once been integral to Team Rocket's plans, but he had since vowed to live an honest life, funding beneficial research and partaking in S.U.M. related projects. How could it be that Argus had found them three years later? "You don't know where he is? A pity. I had hoped you would be far more helpful. Moreso than your dear sister anyway," he added with a sinister grin. "She was rather uncooperative. I am sure she now regrets her decision to stand up to us." Kamon's fists clenched. "You're thinking of taking me on too, boy?" Argus snarled in a chilling rasp of a voice. "How do you propose to do this without your own Pokémon? You could never hope to challenge me. Stand down before you regret it." Argus pushed Kamon aside and marched out of Newbloom Bay with his Rocket thugs, calling back to the angry boy he left in his wake, "I should hope our paths never cross again." As soon as Team Rocket were out of sight, Kamon hurried inside to find his sister weeping in the corner. "Sympholy..." she gasped between heavy sobs. "They... They took her. They hurt her." The realisation then hit the two of them. "Dad." Kamon hurried to get his PokéGear from upstairs. He brought it down so that Kiren could call their father who was completely unaware of the danger that would be headed his way. "Dad," Kiren blurted out as soon as he answered. "You need to run. Team Rocket... They were here. Looking for you." Their father understood. When he fled Team Rocket, he had taken the vital papers on their latest and biggest project, Project GEMININE. The outcome of this project would have resulted in Team Rocket having an unimaginable and terrifying amount of power, and only he had the research on how to advance. It was vital that he kept these plans away from his former comrades. He at once decided to hide out in the mountains of Merto, leaving his children with a warning to stay safe and to let Professor Willow watch over them. Kiren, however, had different ideas. They set off at once to Professor Willow's house, seeking protection. "Dad told us to come to you for help," she told the sympathetic Professor as she recounted their tale of Team Rocket's attack. Willow at once took them to Serendipity and allowed them to choose one of the Pokémon that Kamon had helped her catch. "These will be your partners and will allow you to defend yourself should Team Rocket come looking for you." Kamon and Kiren chose their Pokémon and made to head home. Outside, Kiren stopped her brother. "We can't just stand by and let them hunt our Dad. They may be here forever looking for him. What if he can't come home? Kamon, we have to help him." Leaving Newbloom Bay with a Pokémon in tow, they set out to destroy Team Rocket once and protect their father. However, what dark paths might this journey lead them down? What trials and impossible decisions may they have to face in order to reach their goals? You decide. |