This is a work of fiction. Any pokémon or anything pokémon related belongs to GameFreak and I do not intend to make a profit off this story.
The day began like any other. Sun rising over the horizon and casting its radiant glow upon the large grassy expanse many have come to know as the Brilliant Meadow and brilliant it was. Grass growing up to half a meter in height and extending as far as the eye could see. Trees growing healthily and en masse, sprouting flowers both common and rare. Small pokémon scurrying along joyfully while birds sang through the sky.
The eye-catch, however, was the path that branched off the meadow, flanked by a network of trees whose branches criss-crossed at the top. Beautiful flowers grew at the base of the trees the further along the path went, feet turning into meters which further turned into kilometers. The long road was currently inhabited by a Togekiss with two Togetic trailing behind it and each one of them were carrying some manner of parcel that hanged from their mouths. As they neared the end of the path, they were greeted by a mysterious but beckoning light. One they see every day of their lives and have long since gotten used to it.
Upon making it to the other side of the light, they were greeted with a different scene altogether. It was a settlement inhabited by a wide array of fairy type pokémon. From their vintage, they could view it in its entirety.
It appeared to be a large circular world, the waters of the ocean resting against its cliff side and extending far beyond the horizon. Its entire inner circumference lined with stone constructs, some of them were the homes of pokémon while others could be considered business set ups. In the center of the land was a plaza where many fairy type pokémon would get together in all kinds of activities. A little to the north of the plaza was a large semicircular building that acted as a training hold which groomed both the current and future generations of the realm's defenders. To the south of the plaza was another semi-circular construct, this one being a facility that educated the young minds of the realm. To the east and west, close to the plaza, were portable stands manned by various pokémon that served as convenience shops that sold all kinds of different things. They seemed to be popular, considering the crowds that were gathered there. The look was completed by the vibrant colors and grassy terrain. Apart from the marked paths there wasn't a single spot not decorated by trees, flowers or even simple grass. Everything flourished. This was their home. This was the Fairy Realm.
After taking in the view, the Togekiss and her Togetic flew down towards their destination; a building north-east of the plaza.
Reaching the ground level and flying through the open doorway, the building revealed itself to be a library. Pokémon were going back and forth between shelves and tables, all of them handling books. Some were workers with the others being visitors. The building was about four meters up to the roof. Bookshelves crammed with all sorts of reading material lined the side and rear walls and tables with corresponding chairs were set up around the room for pokémon to do their reading on.
The Togekiss stopped and hovered in front of a desk that was immediately adjacent to the entrance, now smiling at the librarian, a Floette with a blue flower, that smiled back at her.
"Jubilee." The Floette greeted her, "I see you're back from your errand. I trust things went well?"
The Togekiss now identified as 'Jubilee' nodded her head and dropped her parcel onto the desk, the other two Togetic doing the same. "The trip went off without a hitch. Here are the books you ordered, Miss Flora."
The Floette reached over and unwrapped the packages, revealing three new books, one of them catching Jubilee's eye.
"'History of the Legendary Pantheon'? I didn't think there were pokémon here interesting in reading such a thing."
Flora just gave the Togekiss another smile. "Neither did I actually. I had it specially ordered for one of my more frequent guests. Had an immediate interest in reading it from the moment I told her about it. Always reading, that one. Almost every time I see her. Sometimes she has me order books that were not originally written here, this being one of them." Flora motioned for two Spritzee to take the other two books away for shelving.
"And that's where we come in." Jubilee happily motioned to herself and the two Togetic currently with her. There were actually others. Many others in fact, though a large party wasn't needed for such a simple operation. With her Togetic, Jubilee ran a trade system between the Fairy Realm and the Pokémon Settlement located in the centre of the Pokémon World where all kinds of commerce was carried out. Whenever someone wanted something, they would pay her to make a requisition at the Pokémon Settlement and in a few days the order would come through. They did delivery too. It was a simple system that worked well.
"That's right and your help is greatly appreciated." Seriously, if Jubilee and her flock weren't there to get things done the way they do, things would have been gotten done at a rather slow rate. She had everyone's thanks.
"Think nothing of it. It is my job, after all." Funny, she wasn't modest a second ago... "So, if I may ask, who is the bookworm interested in the lore of legendary pokémon?"
The librarian smiled brightly and motioned behind Jubilee, "There she is now."
Jubilee and her company turned around to see a Kirlia walking into the library with a small bag draped over her left shoulder and hanging by her right hip. There were two things that separated her from other Kirlia, though. One was the cute red ribbon that was wrapped neatly around her left horn. The other more obvious one was her different coloration. She had blue legs, blue hair and had amber eyes and horns. She was what many would call a 'shiny' pokémon. The actual term was 'alternate colored' but no one calls it that.
The Kirlia stopped and bowed respectfully to the Togekiss and Floette. "Good morning, Miss Jubilee and Miss Flora." She spoke with a demure voice.
"Good morning Angel." The addressed pokémon chorused. "Feeling well this morning?" Jubilee continued.
"Fine, thank you." She replied before addressing Flora directly. "Um... Was the book I ordered able to come through?" She spoke with a reserved tone.
"Right here." Flora held up the brand new copy of 'History of the Legendary Pantheon'.
Upon seeing the book, the Kirlia's mood immediately brightened and she begun spinning around. "Yes, yes! That's it!" Angel quickly reached into her bag and pulled out a few colored shards. Valuable stones that could be used as currency. Angel then approached the desk and paid the borrowing fee for the week. "Thank you, Miss Flora!" Book now in hand, the Kirlia turned to make her leave before suddenly remembering something.
"Oh! Also many thanks to you, Miss Jubilee."
"You are most welcome, Angel. Please give my regards to your mother." The Togekiss replied with a smile. Angel spun around one last time and gave her a bright smile of her own before running out of the library, eager to begin reading her book.
Now just the four of them once again, Flora spoke, "I don't think I can recall anyone else that gets so excited over a book the way she does. It's good to know she keeps herself so educated."
"Indeed." Jubilee replied, still amused by the young Kirlia's antics. Motioning to her companions, she prepared to take her leave. "Be seeing you, Flora. Don't be shy to ask if you need anything else from us."
"Will do." Flora waved her goodbye.
Jubilee nodded back before exiting through the door and into the skies of the Fairy Realm, her small convoy right behind her.
With all the business over and done with, the Single Bloom Pokémon left her desk and went deeper into the library to help her colleagues, humming a tune along the way.
Angel was walking through the plaza, her new book now held firmly against her chest. She felt so happy. Last time she felt this happy was when she had gotten a new book last month. She loved books, if it wasn't already so obviously apparent. What she did not like were crowds. They always made her nervous or paranoid. Like someone was going to attack or steal something from her, no matter how far-fetched that sounded which is why she was actively looking for a more secluded place to do her reading.
It had been like that for as long as she can remember. When she wasn't making herself busy, she was usually found in her home under the care of her mother. A Gardevior and shiny just like her. Because of her anti-social nature, she chose to distance herself from other pokémon. Her mother appeared to be fine with that, although she wished she could open herself up a bit more and as a result chose to home-school Angel. She learned all manners of things directly from her mother. From simple knowledge all the way to battle tactics, her mother taught her and taught her well. Even though she lived sort of sheltered, she had a blessed life with her family and that's what mattered to her most.
Branching off the network of paths, she came across formation of flat rocks thirty centimiters high that were obscured by all the trees that grew in the realm. The trees provided her with shade while the rocks offered her a seat for her to rest on. Sometimes she overlooked the rocks and sat down on the spongy grass, whichever worked. This was her 'reading spot' or so she liked to call it.
Sighing with content, Angel approached one of the rocks and sat daintily upon it while placing her bag on the grass. Then she opened up the educational material and begun to read from it...
"Angel!"
"Ah!" Well she would have liked to... It appears one of her friends had found her. "Sylvia... You startled me." The shaken Kirlia lowered her head and put a hand over her rapidly beating chest.
"Did I? Sorry about that." Looking back up, Angel was greeted by the happy face of one of her friends; Sylvia. A Sylveon. She approached Angel while holding a bouquet of flowers in her ribbon-like feelers. She could guess what they were for.
"Tribute?" Angel asked, referring to the flowers.
"That's right! Aren't they amazing?" The Sylveon happily replied and brought the bouquet towards Angel. "Here. Take a whiff."
Shrugging, Angel complied, taking a long smell of the flowers, finding them to her liking. "Wow. What are these?"
Looking down at the white and pink colored flowers, Sylvia tried to recall what they were called. "Hmmm... I bought them from Miss Fleur. Said they were orc-kids or something like that."
"You mean orchids?"
"Ah yes, that's what they're called." Sylvia sheepishly replied.
"Honestly..." Angel smiled at the Sylveon. She was one of the very few pokémon Angel was actually comfortable to be around. She was always impulsive but very friendly. Her behavior also amused Angel by a good margin. A pokémon she would gladly call her friend. Their meeting was an interesting one. Sylvia, who was an Eevee at the time just approached her as a Ralts one day and kept talking and following her around until Angel eventually got used to her and her antics, finding her company to be rather refreshing and entertaining. Well, guess it wasn't that unique of a meeting. There were friends like this everywhere.
"By the way... What do you have there? New book?"
"Newest book." Angel held up the reading material high enough for Sylvia to read the title.
"'Legendary Pantheon', huh?" Sylvia sat in front of her friend. "I never thought such a thing could be considered as something desirable. We aren't allowed to leave our realm so learning about the happenings of the outside world never really crossed my mind."
"Which is why I like to read on stuff like this. I'd love to know what goes on beyond our border and this is the only way I can do it." Angel opened up the first page, skipping the head notes and getting to the good stuff. "May I?"
"Well I can't say I'm not curious." Sylvia laid on her stomach in a more comfortable position. "Read away."
"Alright... Mm-hmm... According to the table of contents, the first few pages appear to just be a summary of the pantheon while the later chapters go into more detail about the legendary pokémon. Let's start simple, shall we?" Sylvia nodded and with that, Angel begun reading.
"Herein lies the current Pantheon of the known Legendary Pokémon. More in depth descriptions to follow in future chapters:
Arceus - The creator of the pantheon and all pokémon. He keeps peace between Dialga and Palkia and banished Giratina to the Reverse World for its violent tendencies.
Mew - Holds no seat. Denied a part of the pantheon in favor of freedom. No one knows its whereabouts... Sounds like we have a rebel on our hands." Angel commented before continuing.
"Lugia - Co-Ruler of flying types alongside Ho-Oh. Takes up residence somewhere in the ocean and commands the elemental birds; Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.
Ho-Oh - Co-Ruler of flying types alongside Lugia. Rules the skies and commands the legendary beasts; Entei, Suicune and Raikou.
Celebi - Co-Rules alongside Shaymin and acts as a bridge between the grass types and psychic types. Lives in the large expanding meadows and forests of the realm of the grass types.
Groudon - Expanded the reach of the lands in order to accommodate rock and ground type pokémon and is currently in a state of deep slumber beyond the Earth Realm.
Kyogre - Expanded the reach of the ocean in order to accommodate water type pokémon and is currently in a state of deep slumber beyond the Water Realm.
Regirock, Regice & Registeel - Three elemental golems and protectors of the realm of normal types and under the command of Regigigas.
Jirachi - The long slumbering and coveted deity of the extremely durable steel types. Its time of awakening is unknown. It gets its protection from the steel types' great wall and formidable army. Trying to force a meeting with it is largely considered suicide.
Latias & Latios - Enforcers and protectors of the floating city of psychic types. They hold a great bond with one another and do everything in their power to keep each other, as well as their city, safe.
Rayquaza - Ruler of the great land of dragons. Though it holds jurisdiction over dragons, it prefers to live in the ozone layer and keep an eye on things from its perch. Said to occasionally visit the Sky Pillar.
Diagla & Palkia - Living in their respective dimensions of time and space, Dialga keeps time flowing while Palkia keeps space stable. Arceus himself keeps a watchful eye on them, should they conflict in some manner.
Giratina - A spectral dragon representing anti-matter that was banished to the Distortion World by Arceus for its violent behavior. There is a running theory that a portal to this world lies somewhere in the lands inhabited by ghost types where spiritual energy is highest.
Uxie, Mesprit & Azelf - Three sprites that are speculated to be the key to accessing the dimensions inhabited by Dialga and Palkia. For this reason, they keep themselves hidden from other pokémon, whether friend or foe.
Heatran - A legendary fire and steel type living somewhere in the Volcanic Summit located near the Fire Realm. It currently lies dormant.
Regigigas - The great and powerful ruler of the realm of normal types, it uses its might to keep its subjects safe. It created the legendary golems; Regirock, Regice and Registeel to further enforce protection over its fellow normal types. Though inhibited by its ability, it becomes unstoppable if given enough time in battle.
Manaphy & Phione - Two mysterious water types that keep the seas safe and their waters pure. Speculations to their actual whereabouts remain open.
Darkrai - Holds no jurisdiction and isolates itself on the far away New Moon Island in order to keep its power from causing unintentional harm... How noble...
Cresselia - Because of Mew's refusal of a seat on the pantheon, Cresselia was moved from her perch on Full Moon Island by Arceus' order in order to accommodate the psychic types. Using the combined power of the psychic types she leads as well as her own, she was able to lift the entire city of the psychics right out of the ocean and turn it into a floating fortress. Because of her power to cause sweet dreams, the psychic power of her subjects remain at an optimum level thanks to their clear and positive minds. She is held in high regard and sometimes referred to as their queen... Woah, that's amazing.
Shaymin - Co-Ruler of the grass realm alongside Celebi. It mostly protects its realm from threats and keeps it pristine by absorbing toxins, purifying them within its own body and expelling it as sunlight and water. It has a second powerful form that has something to do with the Gracidea flower... Gracidea flower?" Angel looked up at her Sylveon friend for any kind of explanation who just shrugged, not having a clue either. Oh well. Story for another day...
"Zekrom - Ruler of the stormy lands of thunder and lightning. It first appeared to have some sort of misunderstanding with Reshiram but the two were able to sort things out in order to keep the relationships between fire types and electric types stable.
Reshiram - Ruler of the burning hot and volcanic realm of fire types. It first appeared to have some sort of misunderstanding with Zekrom but the two were able to sort things out in order to keep the relationships between fire types and electric types stable. Hmmm... These two sound like they have an extensive history together. Hopefully I can find out about that later...
Kyurem - Feared ruler of the deathly cold Ice Realm. It has a mysterious past and appears to have some parts missing from its body. Though no one can confirm it, there is a malicious rumor that it sometimes cannibalizes on its fellow ice types that became lost in its blizzards.
The Swords of Justice - Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion and Keldeo collectively rule over the fierce and competitive hearts of the fighting types. Though Keldeo is only their apprentice, it's still very formidable in battle. All of them have zero tolerance of pokémon that extort from the weak. They are looked upon with much admiration by the fighting types they rule over.
Meloetta - Also resides in the realm of fighting types alongside the Swords of Justice. Using her Relic Song, she can change forms to be either a beautiful singer in her Aria Form or a graceful dancer in her Pirouette Form.
Tornadus and Thundurus - Two malevolent deities that love to cause harm to the various lands for their own amusement. Because of this, Arceus anointed Landorus in order to keep them in check.
Landorus - A benevolent earth deity that brings peace to the lands by keeping Tornadus and Thunurus in check. He also brings great harvest to those that pay tribute to him.
Xerneas - A great fairy resembling a deer mostly known for its vibrant and majestic rainbow colored antlers. Using its life granting power, it granted its fairy subjects - that would be us - a beautiful forested land for them to live on and transformed into a tree in order to replenish that lost power.
Yveltal - An extremely large and destructive avian known for its glowing red and black body. Its simple appearance boosts the power of its fellow dark types. Its power to automatically drain the life of all around it when killed caused it to retreat to an uncharted island to prevent any harm it may accidentally cause its subjects.
Zygarde - An otherworldly dragon currently lurking in parts unknown... It is said that it will appear when the ecosystem falls into disarray and reveal its power. This is all that is known about it... Hmm..."
Angel sighed and placed the bookmark accordingly before closing the book. Looking up at the Sylveon, she found, to her surprise, that her friend was being completely attentive. Normally, she would be snoring right about now. Perhaps she enjoyed it as much as she herself did?
Sylvia was silent for a while before finally speaking up. "Woah... To think that there's so little we know about the world. Now I really have an interest in the outside world. It's like what else don't we know, you know? I didn't even think so many legendary pokémon even existed before now and who knows how many undocumented ones are running around." Sylvia got back up and stretched a little. "Speaking of which, that Kyoorum guy sounds like a real creep. And those two, Tornados and Thunderos or whatever they're called sound like real jerks."
"What surprised me is that the Psychic Realm is actually a floating city. Legendary pokémon sure are amazing... I really hope I'd get to see it for myself someday." Angel hugged the book to her chest in thought.
"Hold on to that dream. It may yet become a reality." Sylvia winked at her friend and picked her flowers back up, using her ribbons to fasten them against her side. "Hey. Where are your flowers? Aren't you going to the Life Tree?"
"Went there yesterday with my mom." Angel got up off her perch and crammed her book into her bag which was full of other books. Sylvia saw this and rolled her eyes.
"Always getting things done ahead of time, huh? Well would you at least be so kind as to escort me?"
"Sure." Angel placed the strap of her bag over her head and back onto her left shoulder. "I'd love to escort-Ah!" Angel was once again surprised by her friend who had suddenly maneuvered her body underneath the Kirlia and rose up so she was now straddling her back.
"Great stuff! Let's go!"
"Wh-what!? I-"
"Hold on tight and don't yank the ribbons!" With that, the energetic Sylveon took off from the secluded area and into a more open path. Dodging fellow pokémon as well as other obstacles, she made a Beedrill line for the northern-most road that will take her to the Fairy Realm's Life Tree.
"Syl! Via! Please! Slow down! You're going too fast!" Angel complained from her spot on top of her friend, holding on for dear life.
"What's that? Sorry I can't hear you over all this fun!"
Sylvia kept on charging ahead, finally making it to the long road lined with trees more magnificent than the ones at the entrance of the realm. These ones had an assorted color of leaves. Even pink leaves!
Angel kept her arms wrapped around her friend's neck, fearing a painful fall should she let go. Unlike her friend, Sylvia was having the time of her life. She sometimes went off the path so she could navigate and dodge around the multitude of trees and rocks, suddenly changing direction or leaping over just before it looked like she was going to crash into some of them. Nearing a low hanging branch, she observed that its elevation was just high enough that the Sylveon would be able to pass right under it but low enough that it would cause harm to her friend if she tried. Smirking mischievously, she used one of her ribbon-feelers to loosen her friend's grip on the front of her body and then bucked upwards, sending the surprised, wide-eyed Kirlia into the air and over the branch only to be caught by the Sylveon on the other side seconds later.
"Sylvia!"
"Cool, right?" Now at the end of the road, Sylvia rejoined the main path and begun to slow down before skidding to a complete stop. "We're here! Angel? Hey, Angel!" She used her feelers to poke at her friend who still had her arms wrapped around her with her eyes shut tight and wasn't budging.
Shrugging, Sylvia proceeded forward and the path opened up to a large garden. A huge garden. A garden bigger than any pokémon could ever behold in their lives. It had to be like one hundred meters in diameter. Every kind of flower that could be grown on land decorated the place and that was no exaggeration. Orchids, roses, sunflowers, you name it, this place had it. The beauty of it all was further enhanced by the morning sun that cast its brilliant glow upon the area, making it look ethereal. The only part of the grand garden not riddled with the magnificent floral display was a single narrow route that lead to a large, stark white, leafless tree in the center of it all. This was what the fairies called their very reason for living: The Life Tree. Their patron legendary and lord, Xerneas.
Sylvia carefully approached the mysterious tree. It gave off a warm glow and she could not even begin to describe how good it felt. Stopping right in front of it, Sylvia bowed her head and bared her flowers, using her long ribbons to set them at the base of the tree along with the other flowers that had been placed there by many other pokémon. It actually wasn't a requirement to pay tribute to the Life Tree like this. It was just something the pokémon of the realm liked to do to show their undying gratitude. "For you, lord Xerneas. May your very presence continue to grant our realm peace and tranquillity. Say hi to lord Xerneas, Angel."
"H-h-h-h-h..."
"Angel says hi but I guess you know that considering you already spoke yesterday." Sylvia bowed one last time before making her leave from the Life Tree. "Until next time, lord Xerneas."
Sylvia turned around, Angel still on her back and began making her way back to the main part of the realm but stopped upon seeing the a small group of Flabébé and Floette led by a Florges coming up the path.
"Oh! Miss Fleur! Good morning!" The Sylveon bowed respectfully to the Florges in front of her.
"Good morning, my dear Sylvia. I see you put those orchids to good use?" She spoke with a most enchanting voice. Fleur de Lis. That was her name and she was the single pokémon responsible for all the types of flowers blooming in the garden. When it came to knowledge of flowers and how to take care of them, no one had her beat. With the right environment, she could grow any kind of flower in the world... And she did. She is the red flower variety of Florges.
Sylvia smiled brightly at the elder pokémon. "Sure did! Thank you for the help. Say hi to Miss Fleur, Angel." The Kirlia finally looked up to see the Garden Pokémon smiling at her and greeted her with a barely audible "Hello."
"Hello, Angel." Fleur replied all the same. "Already made your tribute?"
"Yes ma'am." Sylvia answered for the both of them. "We will be taking our leave now."
"Yes of course." The Florges watched as the Sylveon walked around her and made her way to the exit. "Have a good day now." Parting with those words, Fleur and her entourage continued into the garden to tend to the many flowers."
"You two ma'am!" Sylvia called back behind her, finally making her way to the same road that will take them back home. "Ready for round two, Angel?"
Angel just looked at her friend, confused. What could she mean by... Uh oh... "Wait! S-surely you jest!?"
"Nnnnnnope. I in fact do not 'jest'." Sylvia replied, zooming back up the path at top speed and being rewarded with a fresh batch of Angel's panicked noises.
"Sy... Sylvia, please!"
The fun-happy Sylveon just laughed. "The day has only just begun, Angel!"