The Chronicles of Steven Stone

Chapter 1 - Runaway

Joseph Stone stroked his beard with a concerned look on his face, staring out his office's window. A large, beautiful room, with an even grander view, overlooking Rustboro City's old town. Beautifully designed buildings were organized neatly, like monoliths, across the neighborhood's lengths.

There he stood, on top of the world. More specifically, at the top floor of his office building, which conveniently doubled as housing for him and Vera, and their boy Steven. His own father, Devon Stone, started the company with zilch. Little did Devon realize just how far his little leap of faith would carry him. Or perhaps he did. It was ingenuity and science. The company began as a mining corporation, selling ores on a small scale. The Hoenn region was, by Devon Stone and several key colleagues' assessments, ripe for geological exploitation. Decades had passed, and Joseph had only boosted the company to near regional dominance. He couldn't count on his two hands how many competitors and small businesses had been outsourced and made obsolete by his company's scientific devotion. And any real obstruction to his progress was either immediately quashed or deemed too insignificant to deal with urgently.

It was all so simple in his head. Really, anybody with half a mind for the art of negotiation and business could see it. Everyone saw something negative in the crime war but him. All Joseph could see was opportunity. The kind of opportunity that led to him getting a beefier profit. And that was priority number one. To make, to take, and the intelligence to know when and where was an opportunity to do so.

After all, that kind of wisdom came with the job.

Joseph heard a knock at his door. It was probably his assistant, Matty. He sat down at his desk and spoke.

"Come in." Joseph's voice boomed, and he barely had to raise it. Important vocal training from his own father. Matty entered without hesitation.

"Sir, I was in the lab with the team. They seem pretty damn excited about the import. Apparently, it's quite rare even amongst its own species. A rare coloring."

"So the Unova Geological Community told me. I look forward to see it in action."

"Oh, believe me, sir. You won't be disappointed. This--Beldum--is a powerful little thing."

"I am well-aware of it. Come Matty, have a seat." Joseph invited his assistant into his office. Matty obeyed and sat across from Joseph, who rose from his seat to a cabinet on the wall further from the desk. The cabinet was protected by glass, but remained firm into the wall by some sleek wood brought in from Fortree City. Joseph extracted a bottle of Vintage Rustboro Magost 1959. Matty was aware that Joseph's father was quite the avid brewer, and this was a batch he'd made a few years before his death. He was genuinely surprised Joseph would so casually flaunt the quality liquor.

It probably meant the man had something of true importance to discussed.

"My good Matthew...I believe it to be time you started training my Steven." Joseph dropped this bomb with almost excessive calmness, pouring the liquor into two glasses.

"Sir...I hardly believe I'm ready--or even capable, to train an heir!" Matty hushed once he detected his voice rising at the end of his sentence. He didn't like to appear meek before his employer.

"Someone has to do it. And you and I both know full well how busy I am. I've hardly the time to bring little Steven up to speed....and I'm sure you also know of how tied up I am right now, with the Pyre fellows and the CPP needing more, more, more... I have no time to myself, let alone Steven. You, my friend, have patience, and time in spades. So I decide."

The assistant had little idea of how to respond. He made an attempt to, however; "I can't do this, sir. It's beyond my capabilities."

"No, it's not." Joseph spoke with a firm finality and an almost indisputable confidence. It was why he was so highly respected amongst the world's leaders. "You underestimate yourself. I've taught you most of what I know." He gave a wry smile. Emphasis on the most.