Story Notes:
... good stuff? But seriously, this is my entry for the contest, and will be based off the song Dani California. It will be three chapters, and hopefully you will enjoy it.
Epilouge
The news reporter shuffled through her papers. The news for the day was boring. She paused when she came to one sheet of paper in particular. THIS was a story, she thought. The camera man entered and the reporter called him over, casually gesturing with her hand.
"What is it Janice? We're on in ten minutes." He asked, annoyed by her request for a moment. Janice looked up at the anthro camera man standing above her. His tauros snout twitching with annoyance. Janice paused for a moment, marveling at his muscle under the white tank top he wore.
"It's this story... have you read it, Mike?" She pushed the papers in his nose, insisting he read. He gave a snort and snatched them from her hands. His eyes skimmed through the words quickly, widening at certain parts. After reading he shook his head sadly.
"It's a shame to lose such great heroes. Well, we're on in..." He walked back to his camera, "Five, four, three, two..." Mike pointed at Janice. She looked into lens smiling her camera smile.
"Hello Kanto, and welcome to Kanto's News Central. Recently we have a new League Champion," She looked down at her papers, "One Steven Ghall. Congratulations Steven!" She dropped her frown and stared seriously into the camera. "But tonight, we have some serious news. Everyone knew of HELL, the half-breed organization who were fighting for the rights of those who truly are not so different. They did everything and more, in their power to promote the integration of their species. Recently they have been robbing powerful banks to fund their movement, but this placed them high on a criminal top ten list. I have just learned that they are dead. It has been three weeks since their death and it was only just discovered.
"The corpse of one Paul Smith was found, hung from a cherry tree in a cemetery. The tree hung over four graves which are, according to a letter attached to the body, they are the graves of the members of HELL. The note continues to tell the tale of HELL's struggle, and clearly defines the rights and wrongs of half-breed segregation. The letter, however, focuses almost entirely on the life of Dani California, the daughter of Paul Smith and influential member of HELL. You may remember her from HEAL, a similar organization. She abandoned the hope of a peaceful connection between humans and half-breeds when her husband and unborn child were violently killed in a mauling in an open air market. Alongside this history of her life is a song, written by her supposed love, known as Donny, who is buried along side her.
"In response to these recent events, mobs and riots have sprung up across the nation, all in the name of HELL. From Pallet Town, to Lavender Town, the song titled 'Dani California' is being sung by the masses. Many cities are already passing laws to integrate morphs into our society. The largest mob, however, is outside the doors of the Elite Four, the unofficial government of our region. The people are demanding liberation. Half-breeds are out of hiding and on the rise, how will we respond? How will we react? Only time will tell. I'm Janice Long, and this has been Kanto's News Central." She kept her smile long enough for the camera to shut off. Tiredly she rose from behind the desk center stage and walked to Mike.
"Great story, Janice!" He said smiling. She looked into his eyes for a moment.
"Mike, we have known each other for nearly six years, call me Jane." He smiled and returned her gaze.
Nodding he said, "Jane, then." He turned to walk away, but stopped himself. Turning back around he dropped to one knee before Jane, "One more question, will you marry me?" Frozen at first, she quickly recovered herself and nodded eagerly yes. The two left the news building hand in hand, joining the rioting crowd marching to city hall.
*****
Small and large scale riots were not long in lasting. Soon the country of Kanto divided itself, those accepting of half-breeds, and those who weren't. The Pokemon League was hesitant to give a reply to the people's incessant calls for change. They settled in saying they would allow the separate cities and areas within Kanto decide among themselves. It was to be chosen by popular vote.
Unfortunately the people and half-breeds did not take kindly to this proposition. They knew as well as any that the city governments were corrupt to the point that any rich opposition leader could fund the votes single handedly.
Unrest soon turned to violence. Extremists began bombing the homes of those against change, and in the destruction many died. Hundreds of protestors were arrested under the suspicion of illegal activity. In response the half-breeds began fighting along side the radicalists, staging jail-breaks, and robbing banks, supposedly following the lead of Dani California and HELL.
The violence became so severe that the Pokemon League had to step in and apprehend nearly every morph in the region. The people saw this as the League siding against their cause and the attacks became more viscous. Members of the Elite Four and the Champion were targeted. Eventually they had to repel them using force, a choice not lightly picked.
Through retaliation, the League opened the doors to civil war. Opposing forces fought viciously, turning cities to rubble and battle zones. Those supporting the integration of morphs took the name of HELL as their own, in honor of the original team that took on the challenge. Fighting raged for fifteen years, in this time the population of half-breeds had increased by hundreds of percent. This new force was more than enough to overpower those still fighting.
Standing in the rubble of Saffron city, the League assembled, prepared to sign a peace treaty demanding the acceptance of all creatures of intelligence into modern day society. The opposing side agreed, believing it would stop the birth of half-breeds in general, but the treaty was worded such that it included the integration of pokemon as a whole. Though this angered the opposing forces, they were forced to relent under the influence of the League.
In the years after, peace was ensured. Other regions soon followed Kanto's example. Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn had similar events leading up to the freedom of those of two different species. In memorial of the momentous series of events, an enormous thirty-ton bronze statue was erected in every league entry hall. Smaller statues were to be distributed to the cities of every region.
The statues depicted the original HELL team. Strongarm, a bank vault door held over his head. Tania, sitting in a lounging chair, several objects floating around her, including her favored laptop. Donny, simply standing arms crossed, facing east and smiling. And Dani California, standing at the front of the team, pointing into the horizon. The statues were planted on a circular base. Inscribed into the metal was the complete history of every member of the team, the team itself, the war, and a complete list of casualties in that war. And at the end of it all, the final thing left from the lover of she who should always be remembered.
The song of Dani California.Chapter End Notes:Well, that's it. Leave your comments, and good luck to everyone in this competition
"What is it Janice? We're on in ten minutes." He asked, annoyed by her request for a moment. Janice looked up at the anthro camera man standing above her. His tauros snout twitching with annoyance. Janice paused for a moment, marveling at his muscle under the white tank top he wore.
"It's this story... have you read it, Mike?" She pushed the papers in his nose, insisting he read. He gave a snort and snatched them from her hands. His eyes skimmed through the words quickly, widening at certain parts. After reading he shook his head sadly.
"It's a shame to lose such great heroes. Well, we're on in..." He walked back to his camera, "Five, four, three, two..." Mike pointed at Janice. She looked into lens smiling her camera smile.
"Hello Kanto, and welcome to Kanto's News Central. Recently we have a new League Champion," She looked down at her papers, "One Steven Ghall. Congratulations Steven!" She dropped her frown and stared seriously into the camera. "But tonight, we have some serious news. Everyone knew of HELL, the half-breed organization who were fighting for the rights of those who truly are not so different. They did everything and more, in their power to promote the integration of their species. Recently they have been robbing powerful banks to fund their movement, but this placed them high on a criminal top ten list. I have just learned that they are dead. It has been three weeks since their death and it was only just discovered.
"The corpse of one Paul Smith was found, hung from a cherry tree in a cemetery. The tree hung over four graves which are, according to a letter attached to the body, they are the graves of the members of HELL. The note continues to tell the tale of HELL's struggle, and clearly defines the rights and wrongs of half-breed segregation. The letter, however, focuses almost entirely on the life of Dani California, the daughter of Paul Smith and influential member of HELL. You may remember her from HEAL, a similar organization. She abandoned the hope of a peaceful connection between humans and half-breeds when her husband and unborn child were violently killed in a mauling in an open air market. Alongside this history of her life is a song, written by her supposed love, known as Donny, who is buried along side her.
"In response to these recent events, mobs and riots have sprung up across the nation, all in the name of HELL. From Pallet Town, to Lavender Town, the song titled 'Dani California' is being sung by the masses. Many cities are already passing laws to integrate morphs into our society. The largest mob, however, is outside the doors of the Elite Four, the unofficial government of our region. The people are demanding liberation. Half-breeds are out of hiding and on the rise, how will we respond? How will we react? Only time will tell. I'm Janice Long, and this has been Kanto's News Central." She kept her smile long enough for the camera to shut off. Tiredly she rose from behind the desk center stage and walked to Mike.
"Great story, Janice!" He said smiling. She looked into his eyes for a moment.
"Mike, we have known each other for nearly six years, call me Jane." He smiled and returned her gaze.
Nodding he said, "Jane, then." He turned to walk away, but stopped himself. Turning back around he dropped to one knee before Jane, "One more question, will you marry me?" Frozen at first, she quickly recovered herself and nodded eagerly yes. The two left the news building hand in hand, joining the rioting crowd marching to city hall.
*****
Small and large scale riots were not long in lasting. Soon the country of Kanto divided itself, those accepting of half-breeds, and those who weren't. The Pokemon League was hesitant to give a reply to the people's incessant calls for change. They settled in saying they would allow the separate cities and areas within Kanto decide among themselves. It was to be chosen by popular vote.
Unfortunately the people and half-breeds did not take kindly to this proposition. They knew as well as any that the city governments were corrupt to the point that any rich opposition leader could fund the votes single handedly.
Unrest soon turned to violence. Extremists began bombing the homes of those against change, and in the destruction many died. Hundreds of protestors were arrested under the suspicion of illegal activity. In response the half-breeds began fighting along side the radicalists, staging jail-breaks, and robbing banks, supposedly following the lead of Dani California and HELL.
The violence became so severe that the Pokemon League had to step in and apprehend nearly every morph in the region. The people saw this as the League siding against their cause and the attacks became more viscous. Members of the Elite Four and the Champion were targeted. Eventually they had to repel them using force, a choice not lightly picked.
Through retaliation, the League opened the doors to civil war. Opposing forces fought viciously, turning cities to rubble and battle zones. Those supporting the integration of morphs took the name of HELL as their own, in honor of the original team that took on the challenge. Fighting raged for fifteen years, in this time the population of half-breeds had increased by hundreds of percent. This new force was more than enough to overpower those still fighting.
Standing in the rubble of Saffron city, the League assembled, prepared to sign a peace treaty demanding the acceptance of all creatures of intelligence into modern day society. The opposing side agreed, believing it would stop the birth of half-breeds in general, but the treaty was worded such that it included the integration of pokemon as a whole. Though this angered the opposing forces, they were forced to relent under the influence of the League.
In the years after, peace was ensured. Other regions soon followed Kanto's example. Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn had similar events leading up to the freedom of those of two different species. In memorial of the momentous series of events, an enormous thirty-ton bronze statue was erected in every league entry hall. Smaller statues were to be distributed to the cities of every region.
The statues depicted the original HELL team. Strongarm, a bank vault door held over his head. Tania, sitting in a lounging chair, several objects floating around her, including her favored laptop. Donny, simply standing arms crossed, facing east and smiling. And Dani California, standing at the front of the team, pointing into the horizon. The statues were planted on a circular base. Inscribed into the metal was the complete history of every member of the team, the team itself, the war, and a complete list of casualties in that war. And at the end of it all, the final thing left from the lover of she who should always be remembered.
The song of Dani California.Chapter End Notes:Well, that's it. Leave your comments, and good luck to everyone in this competition