Pokemon: Scarlet Flare

In the far off region of Arcana, once every fifteen years, an anomaly

with the moon can be observed. The moon becomes a crimson color

and from the mysterious aura it emits, humans and Pokémon

become immeasurably powerful and aggressively violent towards

one another. Many scientists and studious members of society have

hoped to discover what it was the set off these changes within, only

to succumb to the power of the moon and be forever changed

themselves.

One such man was one of Arcana's most revered scientists,

Professor Balthazar Aced, head of Pokémon Research in the region.

Together with his lifelong friend and Champion of the Arcana Region,

James Kingston, Balthazar hoped to find a cure for the maddening

"Crimson Fury" and allow both people and Pokémon to go out and

live their lives without fear of becoming unstoppable killing machines.

According to legend, however, the Professor was corrupted by the

power of the moon and sought to use it to dominate over all of the

region. James was forced to turn his back on his closest compatriot

and bring an end to Balthazar's studies, permanently. While

Balthazar was stopped and his reputation ruined in Arcana, this

made a powerful enemy of the people in his equally ambitious son,

Elezar. Continuing his father's research in a remote location, Elezar

and his own colleague in outcast Dr. Cassius Sinclair sought to find a

way to make the effects of the "Crimson Fury" permanent. Knowing

that James would seek to destroy their research if word leaked to the

rest of the region, the son of Balthazar would enlist the aid of a group

of miscreants from the Hoenn Region to cause the long dormant

volcano of Mt. Heatmor, not far from the village of Parlor Town, to

erupt. James hurried to rescue his family from the wrath of the

molten lava, but was unable to save himself in the process and he

and his Pokémon were forever fossilized in the caverns of the

volcano.

With his main detractor out of the way, Elezar Aced would be free to

continue his research until they could find a way to weaponize the

power of the Crimson Moon for themselves. They found, through

their work, that the Crimson Moon seemed to most affect humans

and Pokémon that possessed strong bonds with one another and

had virtually no effect on those who abused or neglected their

counterparts. Using a piece of fallen meteorite that had been

discovered and studied by his father, he and Cassius would discover

that simply being exposed to what they had coined to be the

"Crimson Stone" would cause the outbreak of aggression and rage

within those exposed to it. Direct contact was even more successful

for them and the two agreed that they would need a subject to

officially complete their work. While they continued their

experimentation, the two would also form the organization known as

The Syndicate, with which they would drastically enhance both their

financial and political power over all of Arcana. The Syndicate would

soon recruit many from around the world who hoped to advance their

own agendas forward using the power of the "Crimson Fury" and

build up an army of supporters. While they enlarged their numbers

and became more powerful, they waited in the shadows of Arcana,

hoping to find the perfect specimen to experiment on.

After the passing of James, the Kingston Family found themselves

unable to keep peace and order in the land. The Pokémon League,

with which James had once ruled justly and fairly, now became a

dangerous place where uncouth and dangerous trainers would rise

to power. Even James's children were more interested in bickering

amongst themselves over titles and inheritance instead of acting on

their father's knowledge and fears. But hope did lay in the next

generation of the Kingston family, the grandchildren of James and

his wife Bonnie. The eldest of this new generation were Jon, Victoria,

Katrina, Michael, Madeline, Christopher, Jenna, Renee, Cameron

and Billy. Each set off from their family's estate lands surrounding

either Parlor Town or Terra Town with their Starter Pokémon (each

was given an Eevee) and followed their own paths. Many showed

potential to be nurses, breeders, bakers and even Gym Leaders, but

only three truly showed the potential to be champion that no

Kingston had had since James: Michael, Chris and Cameron. The

three would travel together, along with Michael's best friend and

neighbor, Julia Pines, taming any challenge that came their way.

Michael in particular mowed his way through Arcana's Gym Leaders

with his trusted Espeon by his side and was soon taken under the

wing of the beautiful champion of Arcana, Giselle Odelia (much to

Julia's jealousy). Giselle and Michael would soon join forces to quell

a rising danger in Arcana that could be posed by the gangs that had

sprung up in Arcana after James's death.

But after Michael had obtained the final Gym Badge he needed to

qualify for the Arcana Pokémon League, Giselle revealed herself to

be one of the Syndicate's top Snatchers and and kidnapped him to

be used as the prime subject in Elezar and Cassius's experiment.

While their prisoner, Michael was exposed to the power of the

Crimson Stone, ultimately branded with it to become the first super

soldier for Elezar's planned conquest of all of Arcana. With the

immeasurable courage and bravery of his Espeon named Icarus,

Michael was able to escape their clutches, but would forever be

under the influence of the Crimson Stone thanks to his branding.

Icarus, who had been mortally wounded in it's attempt to save his

master and friend, soon died in Michael's arm. Under the influence of

the "Crimson Fury", Michael and his Dragonite obliterated the Elezar

and Cassius's laboratory, though the two had managed to escape.

But when he returned to his family after days of being missing, he

found himself charged with the crimes of destroying private property

and even the death of those in the facility he and his Dragonite had

destroyed. When he tried to tell everyone what had happened, no

one was willing to believe him about the Syndicate or Elezar. Unable

to defend her grandson from the laws of the land, Bonnie is

compelled by Giselle and the evidence against Michael to find him

guilty and banish him from Arcana. Devastated by his own ordeals

and now his family betrayal, Michael took what little belongings he

had and left Arcana behind, with even Julia doubting him. With

Michael gone and the Kingston Family torn apart by his exile, Giselle

took the opportunity to take complete control of Arcana for the

Syndicate, making the Kingston Family essentially puppets to her

regime and giving Elezar and Cassius the opportunity to experiment

freely and without consequence. Soon, Giselle was the uncontested

ruler of Arcana, outlawing the Pokémon League and contests in the

process.

Michael would spend the next few years wandering around the

regions of the world, unable to find himself welcome or at home

anywhere he went. One day, he found himself in the Kanto Region,

where a new champion named Mark had just been crowned. The

two would ultimately take part in a Pokémon Battle, where Michael

soon fell under the influence of his "Crimson Fury" and trounced the

new champion. Ashamed of his actions, Michael ran off with his

Pokémon, prompting Mark to pursue him, as he was determined to

rival him. However, once the two had gotten to know each other

better, Mark put aside his rivalry and the two became friends. After

helping Mark save the Mythical Pokémon Mew from the clutches of

the remnants of Team Rocket, Michael departed from Kanto, unable

to find himself home in this new region. Mark would resign his title as

Champion and follow his new friend to the Hoenn Region. There, the

two became embroiled in a complicated plot involving a poacher

named Hunter and another Mythical Pokémon named Jirachi. Hunter

raided and burned down a Pokémon Day Care Center in pursuit of

Jirachi, killing one of the caretakers in the process. Determined to

keep her family's legacy alive and protect Jirachi, the caretaker's

granddaughter Lizzie insisted on joining Mark and Michael in their

pursuit of Hunter. Eventually, the three would defeat Hunter with the

help of League Champion Steven Stone and recovered Jirachi.

Lizzie was soon appointed as the protector of Jirachi and she and

the others returned home to celebrate their victory. Despite wanting

to join in the festivities with his new friends, the feelings of love and

family he saw from Lizzie and her loved ones tore at Michael from

within and he would soon depart on his own once more. Confused

as to his abrupt departure, Mark and Lizzie would set off in search of

their friend.

Four years after Michael's exile, Julia Pines found herself, her

grandmother Professor Pines, and her cousin Piper as the only three

people who were intent on fighting the tyrannical reign of Giselle. On

the verge of giving up their pursuit of justice, Julia soon found

evidence corroborating what Michael had claimed happened to him.

She quickly took the news to her Grandmother, hoping she would be

able to spread the word that Giselle and the Syndicate had

organized a coup and taken over Arcana. But Professor Pines is

soon arrested by the Syndicate for her treasonous actions and Julia

and her younger cousin were placed under surveillance. The two

would escape their house arrest and find sanctuary at the home of

Chris and Cameron Kingston. Their stepmother, a former Gym

Leader and paralegal, learns that even though Giselle had outlawed

the Pokémon League, anyone who still had an active entry pass

could not be refused a challenge of the Champion and encourages

Julia to seek out a trainer somewhere who was strong enough to

oppose Giselle. Leaving Piper in the Kingston's care, Julia leaves

her home on the back of her Altaria in pursuit of someone who could

save her grandmother and her region. Chris and Cameron soon

agree to join her, hoping to increase her chances by traveling as a

team once more.

Alone once more, Michael soon finds himself in the desolate region

of Orre, which was cleaning itself up from a violent clash between a

lone hero and a group of thugs that had been artificially sealing the

hearts of Pokémon in order to make them fighting machines.

Wondering if there was a correlation between his condition and what

these Pokémon had been put through, he seeks out the hero Wes,

but finds himself unable to find him. He is soon pointed in the

direction of Agate Village, where he was said to take the "Shadow

Pokémon" he had rescued to save them. He ultimately tracks Wes

and his friend Rui down to the home of Rui's grandfather, Eagun.

While Wes and Rui are puzzled by his dilemma, Eagun takes

Michael to see their fabled Relic Stone, which Wes had been using

to purify the many tainted Pokémon he came across on his journey.

He touches the Relic Stone and soon begins to feel his dark and

depressing thoughts fading away from him. Eagun suggests Michael

remain in Agate Village until he feels cleansed of his foreboding

feelings of aggression and pain and Michael ultimately agrees. Over

the next several weeks, he spends most of his time around the Relic

Stone, trying to push all of his dark thoughts and hopeless feelings

away. One day, to his utter shock and joy, he reunites with Julia and

his cousins, who had finally come to Orre in pursuit of a trainer who

could topple Giselle. Despite the sincerest apologies and pleas they

could muster, Michael doubts himself and cannot bring himself to

return with them. Dejected, Chris and Cameron decide to return

home with their search a failure. Julia, however, unable to lose her

best friend again, chooses to stay with Michael, revealing her

feelings for him. She also decides to accompany Michael in one of

his sessions with the Relic Stone. But when the two arrived there,

they found the Mythical Pokémon Celebi waiting for them. The green

sprite flies around the two, surrounding them with a mysterious light.

The small green Pokémon then kisses Michael on his forehead and

lands in his hands, smiling up at the trainer. Eagun is surprised to

learn that Celebi appeared before a trainer and suggests that Celebi

could be the key to helping Michael recover from his trauma. Celebi

agrees to leave the Relic Stone to be with Michael and continue to

help heal him. As the Mythical Pokémon shows him a light he had

never seen in himself before, Michael surprises everyone by

deciding he had to go back and face Giselle once and for all. Before

he could leave, Mark and Lizzie catch up to their friend after weeks

of searching for him and promise to fight by his side. The four

trainers then hop aboard their Flying Pokémon and set off for

Arcana.

Michael returns to Arcana to find the land deathly quiet, as Giselle

had enacted strict curfews and allowed only her thugs to catch Wild

Pokémon. Knowing now what he would have to do, Michael heads

for the Arcana Colosseum to show that he was a valid challenger (as

he had never technically registered in the Pokémon League. Despite

him being signed up, the clerk warns Giselle of Michael's return to

Arcana. Giselle is stunned that Michael was not only still alive, but

back in Arcana. She plays down his return as him eager to cause

more trouble for their region and reminds others of his crimes.

However, the Kingston Family chooses to defy Giselle's orders for

Michael's arrest and stand beside him. Giselle decides to accept

Michael's challenge, but reveals that she has Julia's grandmother as

a hostage and threatens to kill her if Michael doesn't immediately

surrender. Upon learning that Michael had returned, Chris and

Cameron had uploaded their knowledge of Giselle and the

Syndicate's plot to all of the internet. Realizing her grip on control

was fleeting, Giselle orders that Professor Pines be killed. The

Syndicate and the Kingston Family soon clash in Titanio City as Julia

desperately tries to find her grandmother and Michael chases Giselle

through the city. Giselle contacts Elezar and Cassius to assist her,

but they abandon her and leave her to hold her crumbling regime

together. Michael and Giselle finally have their colossal battle in the

skies above the city on the backs of their Pokémon. Using the power

of the "Crimson Fury" to his advantage, Michael defeated Giselle

and had her imprisoned in Klefki Prison, never to torment anyone

ever again.

Despite Giselle's defeat and the Syndicate's evil being revealed to

the world, Michael is still deeply hurt by his family's actions towards

him and tries to leave Arcana once more. But his victory over Giselle

prompts many in Arcana to call on him to become the next

Champion. As over a million people across Arcana call for him to

succeed Giselle and his Grandfather as the Champion of the Arcana

Pokemon League, Michael cannot help but accept their nomination.

With Julia, Chris, Cameron and his new friends by his side, Michael

sets about to correct the years of mistakes made and restore Arcana

to it's former glory. Even as he succeeds in restoring the Pokemon

League and the Contests, he cannot help but fear that so long as

Elezar and Cassius were on the loose, that his war with the "Crimson

Fury" was far from over…