Notes:
- This is a repost of a story formerly known as Kalos: Land of the Fae. It's been edited to the point I felt it better suited the story to be reposted rather than updated.
- This fic will touch on some very dark aspects, but it's not a darkfic like other stories in the AU-verse.
- This fic uses the French names in dialogue for people, places, pokemon, and some attacks. English names are used within narration and translations will be provided at the end of the chapter, if it's not made clear within the narration.
- Pokemon heights, weights, behaviour, etc. are all personal headcanons. If you disagree, then by all means, tell me why.
- The characters are not speaking any language we on Earth would recognise; the 'random French' is treated as Old Kalosi unless otherwise noted. I do not know French, and all terms come from Bulbapedia or Google Translate. If you spot mistakes, please tell me.
- I am open to suggested pokemon for the heroes to catch, though I do have general ideas for the teams. I am also open to OCs to include, be it for battle or otherwise. Just send me a PM or review with them.
"Then, the Destructive Light blazed out from Cromlac'h and all in its path was destroyed."
"But we weren't!" A wheelchair-bound girl exclaimed, an inkay settled on her lap. "Why?"
"Because we alone were favoured by the Gods and Fae. They forged the Sacred Barrier around Kalos. It alone withstood the power of a thousand million pokemon souls."
"Souls?" Another child asked, wide-eyed as they stared at the Storyteller.
"Oui," the Storyteller nodded. "All kinds of pokemon were used to power it."
"Even... Even the passerouge and braisillon?" The same child asked, pointing to the wild fletchling and flechinder in the tree above them. The Storyteller nodded sadly. "Even them. The Blighted King used all sorts of pokemon to power the weapon. With it, he made something horrific: Infinity Energy. Had the Gods and Fae not favoured us, we too would have succumbed to the Weapon, just like the rest of the world."
"What happened to the King?" A third child spoke up, half-grown absol pressed against his side, shades of the juvenile's dark coat still visible in its fur.
"It's said the Blighted King faced off against the Gods, resolute in his actions. For this, he was cursed with immortality. He was to appear to age, but never die."
As one, the children asked: "Why?"
The Storyteller smiled kindly. "The Blighted King used it for a far crueller purpose."
"What did he do?" Another child asked, blue eyes peering out from behind the white tail of her hooded stunky.
"That is a tale for another time; it is the reason he was doomed to live until the Sun-Eye swallow the world, never to know a friend.
The children gasped in horror.
"Never to have a friend?" The boy with the absol whimpered as the pokemon lay across his lap, allowing him to slowly, methodically stroke its fur. Other children grabbed each other or closed in around the kids with pokemon, as if to shield them from an invisible, intangible threat.
"It's worse than the Fae sending you beyond the Barrier," a rather girly-girl teenager said, pushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear as she took in the group of children.
"Serena!" Several of the children called as they waved a hello. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," the teenager grinned. "Did you ask the most important question?"
"What's that?" One of the younger children asked.
"'Who cursed the King?'"
"The Gods!" Another younger girl said. "'cause he was mean."
"Well, yes," the Storyteller said with a chuckle as she nodded a greeting. "But Zygarde commanded it."
"Really?" Serena asked, even as she blinked at the z-pendent now visible, having fallen out from the Storyteller's shirt. It was likely from one of the monthly markets, or from the Spring Festival last week. Those festivals sold the high-quality pewter. Having one made of anything else was impossible; those pendants remained within families.
"So it is said. Yveltal wanted him dead, while Xerneas wished for mercy."
"Zygarde made both work!" The wheelchair-bound girl said, grinning widely when the Storyteller nodded. "But, Storyteller, if he was a meanie, then why are we still here?"
"Because," the Storyteller said as she glanced up at the gathering crowd of grandparents, parents and older siblings, petting the female meowstic on her lap. "The Gods in their wisdom gave us a chance to prove ourselves better than what came Before the Destruction."
"We are better!" Yet another child spoke up with convection in her voice. "Papa said so!"
"That we are," the Storyteller said with a smile. "Remember, your strength is only as strong as your bond with your pokemon partners."
"Yea!" The girl with the inkay said, the air-squid churring and wiggling in agreement. "Mummy said you treat a pokemon right and they'll always be loyal. The Fae take you if you don't."
"My mum says the same thing," Serena said with a grin.
"Really? Your mum's a Trainer?" A boy asked, peering up at the teenager.
"Sorta," the dark-haired teenager shook her head in amusement. "It is part of her work."
The Storyteller nodded. "Respect them and they will respect and defend you. But, I see many a guardian waiting for you. Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you more."
"OK!" The gathered children chorused, the few pokemon with them joining in.
Slowly the children dispersed towards the compact cars powered by green energy, and various styles of gigs and carriages pulled by sleek, well cared for pokemon. Draught rapidash and stocky gogoat were decked in shining black harnesses, alongside a lone ampharos, the hadrosaurid pokemon harnessed to a modified gig. It rested quadruped, munching on curbside grass while its owner checked straps and the strap on shoes that protected its hooves from the hard bitumen. Not far away was a small cart with a pair of sleek houndoom harassed to it, tails wrapped in cloth.
"Dagger-tipped...?" Serena murmured as she made her way over to the still seated Storyteller, making sure she crossed over to the side that was free of a sleeping sylveon. "I thought them rare?"
"Non," the Storyteller said with a shake of her head. "They are common as guards amongst farmers. My grandfather bred them as a hobby."
"Oh," Serena said, trying and failing to picture the former Anistar Gymleader having any kind of hobbies outside of battling. "Do you...?"
"No. My aunt took it over," the woman hummed. "I believe the owner of that pair is local."
"They'd have to be. Anyway, I'm done for the day," Serena said with a roll of her shoulders. "Mum wants to know if-"
"I am coming to dinner? Yes. I am."
"That's good," the black haired teen nodded, reaching out to scritch the psy-cat behind the ears. It elicited a purr. "I'll miss your stories, Astera."
"You are always welcome to visit, Serena," Olypmia's laugh was soft, gentle.
"I know, but Flusselles is half the world away from Croquis, and I'm not going to ask a psy-type to teleport me that far. It's cruel," Serena offered an apologetic smile. "But, if I can, I will. They've got a new type of aeroplane out soon. But, I'll be in Croquis for a while..."
"I suppose that makes sense..."
"Astera?" Serena asked, confused.
"You'll Journey soon," was the answer.
"I- Yes. I'm planning to..." Serena said slowly. "Why?"
"Will you allow me to impart upon you a piece of advice?" She waited until she received a nod of approval. "Do not be afraid. Trust in your partners and trust in those friends you make. They are important."
Serena nodded, even as confusion flickered across her face. "I- I think I understand."
Seers could be confusing.
"And-" The Seer reached up and unclasped the Z-necklace. She beckoned the teenager to bend down. Once Serena had, it was fastened around her neck. "Please, do not take this off, nor lose it."
Serena touched it, eyes widening in confusion. "This-"
Olympia's smile was enigmatic. "Will protect you."
Serena bit her lip, then nodded. "Thank you, Astera."
"Tell your mother I shall be there. Now, go. You'll miss the shu-bu otherwise."
"Ah! Ok. See you there!" Serena called as she hurried off towards the shuttle-bus stop that would take her home.
Anistar's Gymleader watched her go, eyes unreadable. Great things were to come with terrible costs and Serena was involved. How, she could not see, did not want to see.
"Liii?" A strange, flesh-like ribbon wrapped around her arm as the sylveon stood with a stretch, back arching before it settled. It was somewhat small for the fae-type at three feet to the shoulder, but she didn't mind. A sylveon's strength didn't come from their size but from the bonds of affection with it's human.
"I'm sorry. You know she doesn't like fae," Olympia said softly, nudging the yawning meowstic to transfer to the sylveon's back. Needle sharp teeth showed for a second before she curled up, tails wrapped daintily around her as one of the flesh-ribbons coiled loosely about, ensuring she wouldn't fall during her nap.
"Nna." Its eyes flashed as it looked in the direction of the Sundial. The massive glittering pink-purple crystal-stone was visible even a kilometre away as it towered over the country-city feel of the skyline, making it the landmark of the city alongside the lake in which it rested.
"You know I can't help what I see, Voli," Olympia stared into the distance, eyes half-shuttered against the glare of the late afternoon early spring sun. "But Kalos shall withstand."
"Nyaai." The sylveon nodded, gently leading her human towards their shared home beside the Gym. Of course Kalos would withstand. The Fae wouldn't allow their land to fall, and neither would the Immortals.
"Cromlac'h must withstand..." She muttered, even ad her gaze, and that of her pokemon, turned in the direction of Geosenge. She had calls to make after dinner and it would be a long night on the old-school rotary phones.
It would be worth it. Of that she was certain.
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