A/N:
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Uh, this is awkward. I suppose I should begin everything with a simple explanation.
[Inserts simple explanation]
There, that'll work- pffthaha, who am I kidding?
So basically, earlier this year, I had the pleasure of getting to know the fabulous writer Skittlinq through her supremely awesome SYOC fic, 'Phantom's Crown: Crusade' - yes, I know, same title, but I implore you to read on, all will be explained in due time. Anyhow, all was fine and dandy, and I immensely enjoyed every chapter. I was then promoted to become her beta-reader, a job I enjoyed immensely, because I then got the privilege to brainstorm ideas with her for the next upcoming chapters of PC:C, and have long, deep, meaningful conversations on whatever was on our minds.
And then Skitt had to leave FF to focus on her examinations. I don't blame her; I'd struggle on exams myself, but idgaf and all that, so...yeah. I care way too little for myself sometimes.
Anyways, amidst the solemn farewells, the two of us agreed to let me take over PC:C in her stride; I saw too much potential in this story to let it off my mind, and so here I am. I'm writing/adapting/flat-out transferring/making up stuff as I go along with this story, and am using the pre-made OCs that were already submitted in advance to her story, so technically, this story is a standalone story, to be enjoyed with or without the knowledge that most, if not all of the characters featured are community-created.
Normally, I'd ask Skitt to say something about it all as well, but...eh. It's been so long since she's been around...I just wish she'd come back. ;-;
It's complicated. Just read on and enjoy the prologue for now, it'll save you half the hassle. Cheers.
Phantom's Crown: Crusade
Prologue
Foreword
The Canalave Library was home to many a book.
Alongside the obligatory texts and volumes detailing the history of the Pokémon world and its many myths, they had just recently opened up a new section in the east wing, dedicated to the many stories written by authors from all over the world. From a humble Ace Trainer's account of how he had successfully braved five nights in an abandoned restaurant with a bunch of Rotom, to Unova Elite Four member Shauntal's number-one best selling novel, 'Falkner and Morty Do Sexy things Sexily' (don't ask), the fiction was topnotch, and contained many genres suited to all manner of audiences.
However, due to its novelty, there weren't yet many visitors to this wing of the library. Sure, there were the inquisitive and bored sort, such as the local Elite Four member Lucian, who frequented it when he was looking for a new read, but most of the time, the section was empty.
"Order, order!"
Which, in effect, made it the perfect gathering place for a certain group of Pokémon on their days off.
"Yeah, I'll have a large pepperoni, deep dish!"
Now, one would think that, having existed for time immemorial, the Legendary Pokémon of the world would be going about their meetings maturely-
"Honey! Don't tread water over the carpeting!"
Evidently, that was not the case with the...shall we say, smaller ones.
"Waaaaaaaaaaah! You're no fun! Phione doesn't want to be your daughter no more!"
Azelf sighed, and rubbed his eyes with his fingertips. He'd dreaded having to come to the meet-up, since it always guaranteed he'd have a migraine before it was even halfway through, courtesy of his...associates. But alas, he had no choice - he was obliged to attend, as both the stenographer, and to chaperone his sisters-
"Mesprit, watch out!" "CRASH!"
Who had probably just toppled yet another tower of books, in their ever-increasing need to one-up each other at the ancient game of Tome-Stackers.
"I win! In your face, Uxie!"
By Azelf's side, Jirachi reached for his flask of self-refilling coffee. The two Pokémon had become fast friends, even before and after Jirachi had started dating his sister, and were the probable sanest duo left in the room, since Mew, Celebi, Meloetta and Victini were out on business.
Manaphy excused herself and her daughter Phione, citing 'temper tantrums' as her cause of leave, before the two entered the adjoining bathroom, presumably to return to the sea via the sewer system.
Okay, now, they were the sanest duo left in the room.
Speaking of Jirachi, he took a long gulp, before snapping his fingers. Immediately, the tower of books Mesprit had been stacking overturned itself, such that, by the end of it, Uxie's pile reigned supreme, as writing began to appear on the first of his wishtags.
"Hey! No fair cheating!" Mesprit pouted, as Uxie cheered for her boyfriend's actions.
"Cheating implies there were rules against it in the first place," Jirachi replied, placing his flask back on its holder, before he received a heavy tome straight to the back of the head.
"Oy vey! That hurt, you-...hold on, wait." Jirachi stopped his tirade to look at the book that had made a dent in his headdress.
The title of the tome read, 'Phantom's Crown: Crusade', and underneath it, inscribed in gold leaf, the words, 'Co-written by SDproductions and Skittlinq'.
"I...don't think I've seen this book here before...Must be a new one." Jirachi ventured a guess.
"Or maybe you just haven't read it yet." Shaymin mocked from her spot on the sofa. Gracidea withdrawal was wearing off on her, but she still retained her caustic attitude.
"No, that can't be. I've memorized every book in this establishment just so I can put them back in their rightful places whenever they're done stacking."
To prove his point, a divine wind rushed through the closed-window environment, swirling up the books that were strewn across the floor and across the round table in the middle of the room. Within seconds, the shelves were, well, shelved, with the books arranged by their respective places on the Dewgong Decimal System.
Except for that solitary tome, sitting pretty on the table.
"...Well, it looks interesting...Wanna read it?" Hoopa asked the others.
"Just a moment. I do not like reading stories without a preview of the characters. Uxie, do-"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it, Shaymin."
Coalescing her mental power into the heavy book, she began to broadcast what she could glean from a brief skim.
…A kiss under the gentle moonlight, with one party palming a Dusk Stone, and the other, a Lunar Bracelet…
...A figure leaps off a cliff, the Altaria on their back lifting them up into the sky…
...A duel between two Gallades commences, as a male with diamond-studded ears clashes swords against another male with dark green hair…
...A girl in black stands back-to-back with her Weavile, brandishing tri-bladed claws…
...A pale-skinned boy shoots two shuriken, thrown by a boy in a ski mask, out of the air, as their Lucario and Gabite fight on in the background…
...A humongous man punches the sunglasses off another man's face, a broken glaive and naginata by their feet...
...A dark-skinned woman and her Granbull leaps to the defense of another girl, whose Gardevoir is searching for a pulse…
...A battle couple, one wielding a dark-red bow, the other a large silver sword, ride into the fray atop their Arcanine and Skarmory…
...A girl defends herself with a knife, before her Mightyena tackles her aggressor away...
...A man swings a two-handed hammer towards a bearded man's face, as an Electivire restrains a Feraligatr…
…"Brother..." a man whispers, as he points his pistol towards a boy, who has his bow drawn, an arrow notched…
...A man wielding a barbed spear jabs at a boy carrying a long knife, while a Reuniclus and an Espeon engage in a mental battle…
...A boy on a Magnezone looks around in fear, as, unbeknownst to him, a man and his Mismagius watch him from the shadows…
...A girl atop her Talonflame fires a trio of arrows towards a woman, who barely reacts as her Aggron steps into their range, completely unaffected by the projectiles…
...A male throttles yet another male, who just so happens to look exactly like him...
...A man and his Castform approaches yet another man and his Metang on the bow of a ship…
...An exchange of rings between gloved hands, as a Mawile and Audino watch on in the background…
...And a frightened, auburn-haired girl, clutching a Vulpix close to her body, as their bodies race ever closer to the ground from a broken tower.
Uxie broke the connection. "And there you go. Satisfied, now?"
Shaymin stared at the tome, before turning to her underlings and holding out a thumbs-up. "Very well. I've given it the Shaymin seal of approval, so let's read. Azelf, Jirachi, I deign you two the official narrators, since you both can last the longest."
"In bed-Mmf, MMPH!"
Hoopa found her lips immediately sealed shut, as the second of Jirachi's wishtags immediately began to glow with writing. Satisfied that her wish was fulfilled, Uxie turned instead to hide her blushing face, something that had not gone unnoticed by her sister, who stared at her mischievously.
Oh, they were going to have words after this.
Shaymin, oblivious as ever, continued, "Entertain us."
In silent acquiescence, the two flipped the rather heavy tome to the front, and began to read aloud.
In the distant future, the Pokémon League has been overthrown, and a man has ordained himself as the King. But he is no wise monarch; instead, he rules with fear, invoking terror among the commonsfolk.
Pokéballs have been confiscated, Pokémon Centres and marts have been closed, and the sport of battling and taming Pokémon has been decreed illegal. Only the King's men are an exception to this law. The beasts that once co-existed with humans are now being used to keep the people submissive.
Anyone who dares rebel will answer to death.
The leading resistance group has acted. The first move has been made, and for the first time, the crown atop the King's head is at the risk of toppling. Will you add your strength to their cause, or will you defend the Crown?
The decision is yours. Make your choice, or have it be made for you. Just remember:
Et in Arcadia ego.
It is time to begin this epic tale. Welcome to the Crusade.
A/N:
If your name, past or present, is one of the following (and, most likely, your OC was featured in that smashing preview up there):
Skittlinq
Isetba
JJun
WereDragon EX
RedArrowCrasher
SentientPixel
RicePaddyHero
ZorialWater
PokeThatPokemon
Condor-K
Encendrel
Altomere
LuvCherice
Heart of the Anime
ZorialWater
emosewa-13
aleking74
reven228
666funtimes
PokeFreak45
TreblePlayer67
Seth98
Thegreatest777
ShadeZyro
The Misfit Shipper
We're All Okay
Magus Black
Vulkodlak
GreenSonic
Universal Lord Genghis Khan
ManCinoMan
CrimsonSkyTamer
Penumbro
SDproductions [Oh, right, that's me. :3]
Then congratulations! I've approved your OC through the snippets of the forms Skitt has shown me, and they will be playing a part in this rewrite, however big or small - and I promise you all of them will leave enough of an impact. Of course, up to half of them will die, but you already probably knew that. I will make a small request to you all, though - please re-send your full OC forms back to me, effective immediately. I made this prologue solely so that I could get in touch with you all, and I don't want to write out any mistakes or accidents with regards to your great characters - so please, if you're reading this, send, send, send!
If you're just an average reader stumbling across this story, fear not. You'll immensely enjoy this story, because each and every character is supremely awesome in their own way. Including both of mine, but I'm a biased individual, deal with it.
I don't believe I'll be reopening SYOC for this story, because, by my standards, we're already crossing the line of 'Loads and Loads of Characters', and I think I've received just enough diverse characters to play every niche. However, you are very much welcome to send in a revised OC form and/or any improvements/suggestions you want to apply to your character, or if you feel I may have mis-portrayed them in some way, including this preview (if I do, I sincerely apologize, because I really am not used to this whole thing quite yet). I also may be (and probably will be) approaching you at times to either double-confirm aspects of your characters, or pitching in what I plan to do with them and seek your approval at times.
Have mercy on me, dear readers, I'm an imperfect human being too. .-.
Irregardless, I hope you enjoy this rewrite for what it's worth, submitter or not. I hope this project goes the way I want it to, because I think I'll have big plans for it, but if I screw up halfway...um, well, we'll cross that bridge only when it happens. Till then, I'll just roll with it, I guess.
That's all from me for now. Hope to see you guys soon enough. Cheers!
...Oh, man, I am so royally screwed.