Part 1

There was a whistle to the wind that made Aiden's ears sore. Where the hell was Grant anyway- the agreed meeting point was at the western edge of Striaton island at nine. Aiden thought of how it was stupid of him to arrive at the correct time anyway, knowing his best friend. Grant had never showed up on time for anything in his life.

The sun was setting in Aiden's eyes; the massive star was folding itself behind clouds a million miles from where Aiden sat at the edge of the sky island. He thought for a moment of what would happen if he fell off the edge. Well, he thought what would happen if he fell and the Sky Guards didn't catch him on their Pokémon. Would he fall and fall forever or would he hit ground beneath the clouds and die. Nobody knew the answer; everybody knew the 'legend' of how the cloud islands came to be, but no one really knew what was below the clouds.

"Hey Aiden!" Grant called as he ran up the hill to the edge of the island. He sat beside his friend and patted him on the back as he did. "What part of 'be at the edge by nine' do you not understand Grant?"

"Sorry bud," Grant said laughed, "Got distracted."

"Distracted?"

"You don't want to know buddy." Aiden left it at that, with Grant it could have been anything.

"So…" said Grant.

"So… are we really going to do this?" Aiden's voice sounded scared.

"Of course," Grant said, standing up and pulling Aiden up as he did.

"Are you sure they are trained enough?"

"Positive, now we jump on three ok?"

"Ok."

"One…" Aiden's looked over the edge of Striaton island, to the cream clouds below. "Two…" He looked back to Grant as he counted, a smile stretched wide across his face. "Three."

They jumped.

If Aiden's ears were sore before, then they were in hell now. Falling, the sky hit everything it had against Aiden, but he still broke through. He fell at a speed unimaginable to the boy before that moment. His body hurt like hell, but at the same time he was in heaven. There was no ground to hold him down, he couldn't tell if he was moving up or down for a second. It didn't feel like falling, it felt like flying.

"The whistle!" Grant called out to him. Aiden dared to open his eyes. He saw Grant falling head first, his face made unmovable by the force of the wind. Grant reached into his shirt and pulled out a whistle wrapped around his neck. He blew into the piece of carved wood, but the whistle wasn't designed for human ears. Aiden heard nothing.

Aiden did the same as Grant had done. His whistle was also tied around his neck. It was wooden, made by his father on his tenth birthday. Aiden had used it to call his Pokémon hundreds if not thousands of times, but this was the first time that it seriously mattered if his Pokémon came to his call or not.

The two teenagers fell for five seconds more before two feathered giants appeared from above, swooped underneath and carried them upwards. The boy's birds had heard there call and came to catch them.

This part was familiar to Aiden. He had flown his bird since his bird had let him on five years ago. He stroked the Pokémon's neck, under its feathers, and leant in against it.

"Thanks for catching me Fallon," he whispered into his braviary's ear. Fallon hawked back.

Aiden looked over to Grant and his talonflame named Burnly. They flew together back to the edge of the island, where the birds dropped the boys off.

"Woah," said Grant, his smile was far bigger than it had been before.

Aiden felt inside, he wanted to fall a hundred thousand times more.

…

Crumberly Castle was a beacon of light atop the hill where it sat wherever the Lord and Lady hosted a party. All nobility attended, occasionally even the royal family came. It was a rare event, but not an event to be missed. It was at these elegant events that Lord Cragspur showed of his impossibly rare Pokémon to his friends. The lugia, probably the last of its kind, was the main reason there parties were always a success. Everyone loved these events, apart from the Cragspur children.

Monica Cragspur, the oldest, hated these parties because it was at them that her mother and father tried to marry her off to Prince Makoll. Monica had no interest in marrying the prince. Sure he was hot, in a 'he is hot because he is totally rich' kind of way, but Monica had no intention of marrying for status or becoming princess or having anything to do with the princes grandfather the King.

Lily Cragspur, the youngest hated these events because she was never allowed to enjoy them. She was only ten years old, and always sent to her room before they begun. From her bedroom she could hear the party going on without her, and it sucked. Lily had once tried to sneak into one, but a guard had caught her and on every party night after that, guards stood in front of Lily's bedroom as punishment. It was kind of silly, guards to watch if a little girl stayed up past her bedtime, but Lord Cragspur was serious when it came to teaching lessons.

Brandon Cragspur, the middle child, hated them because of how much his parents changed and really how traditional the events had to be. They were normal everyday kind of people usually, but around the other nobility they changed into 'proper folk' and did everything by the book. Brandon of course had to follow in suit; he had to talk to people in the most absurd ways; he had to eat in using a million different utensils and he had dance a million dances with a million different girls because of the age old rule "an unmarried man can't leave the ballroom until he has danced with every unmarried maiden." The fact that he had to dance with girls in the first place appalled him, he would much rather be dancing with the boys. He really would just rather spend the night reading, or be at a party where traditions didn't have to be followed.

The ball was about to begin, the sun had almost faded and the first of the guests were soon to arrive. As per tradition, the hosting family was lined up before there stairs to welcome incoming guests. The Cragspur family stood in order of age with Lord Arron Cragspur furthest to the left, with his wife Lady Lillian Cragspur to his right. Eighteen year old Monica stood beside her mother with sixteen year old Brandon to her right. The youngest Lily was already in bed, much to her complaint.

Guards opened the doors as the first noble family walked in.

"That's Lord Valora, Lady Valora and their son Gregor Valora," Brandon whispered to his sister. She never remembered names of any noble families, while Brandon had a good memory for such things.

"I know who they are," Monica replied, "Who could forget a face like Gregor Valora's."

Monica was right: Gregor Valora was by far the most handsome little Lord (as sons of Lords were commonly called) Brandon knew of. He had deep hazel eyes that both siblings had stared longingly into on more than one occasion; short wavy jet black hair not unlike Brandon's and was extremely muscular.

"Did he not have a younger sister?" asked Monica, "Angela or something?"

"Agatha Valora, she has not been present at an party since the start of the year…"

"Oh yeah I remember talking to Harriet about that; she thinks she's was zoroark," Monica said a little too loud.

"Shh you two," their mother said, without moving her head. The Lord and Lady Valora approached. "Tonight is the big night."

Big night? Brandon couldn't think what his parents meant by that. Was there something special happening at this ball. His parents hadn't mentioned anything different.

The three nobles approached and then greeted each of the family in turn. Monica spent a little too long with Gregor, and their mothers noticed, pulling the two apart. Gregor smiled back as he with herded away by his father, and Brandon saw how his sister blushed at a wink from Gregor Valora.

"What's going on there?" Brandon whispered, as they awaited the next guests.

"Oh nothing," Monica giggled.

"Shh!"

…

Aiden arrived back at his home soon after ten o'clock. He tried to be quiet as he entered, know full well it was past when he was allowed out till on a school night.

His parents were sitting at the dining room table. His mother was filling in her work schedule and his father sat across from him, reading.

"Ah, the wanderer returns," his mother said laughing.

His father closed over his book. "So, is there a reason you are out so late son?" His father had a much more serious tone than his mother did. While she would be willing to joke about their son being slightly late home, her husband was not.

"Me and Grant were… hanging out in town," Aiden said. He hadn't thought up an excuse, hoping his parents would be asleep when he returned. He couldn't tell them he had been sky falling; it was his father's job to prevent people from doing so.

Aiden's father, Henry Beakel, was head of the King's Sky Guard for Striaton island and the seven surronding smaller islands, whose main roles was to stop those who fell from the side of sky islands. It wasn't a serious offence, but it was a common one. The amount of people who fell without a Pokémon to catch them was incredibly high according to Aiden's father's complaints.

Twenty watchmen were ever present on tiny islands below Striation, waiting for those who drop. If Aiden and Grant had fallen a few hundred metres more, they would've been caught by sky guards. Aiden was thankful they hadn't, his father would surely have heard if his son had been jumping off the side of the island, and Aiden was sure his father wouldn't be happy.

"In town?" his father questioned, "Alright then…" He got up from his seat, and with his book, went upstairs.

Aiden's mother waited for his father to close the bedroom door before she spoke.

"He knows…"

Aiden could feel his heart skip a beat.

"Knows what?"

"He knows that you threw yourself of the side of the island."

"Oh god," Aiden groaned. He felt crap. If he would have known that his father had known then he probably wouldn't have lied to his face. Embarrassment ate him alive; he folded his arms and rested his head between them never wanting to emerge.

"How does he know?" Aiden said, muffled as he still had his head in his hands.

"Fallon," he mother said. She sat down, opposite her son. "That bird has never taken flight so fast, so we knew you were in danger. Your father and I followed Fallon, and saw you and Grant jumping off the side of the island like maniacs. He was of course grumpy, as usual, but son you should know I was extremely proud of you."

Aiden raised his head, confused and embarrassed of his mother's admiration at the same time.

"Wh-what?"

"I was so proud of you; you were so brave to do that. I still remember ten year old you nervous to get on Fallon, your father catching you when you fell off. Tonight I saw you jump of the side of the world, with total faith in your Pokémon. How could I be anything but proud?"

Aiden was blushing. His mother outstretched her hands across the table, meeting her sons.

"Never mind what your dad thinks, but don't do that again, not before you get your licence at least ok?"

"Ok…" Aiden could easily agree to that.

"Now, off to bed. School at six tomorrow, come on."

…

Guests after guests after guests arrived to the party. Brandon's legs were sore from having to constantly stand up straight after around the fifteenth family.

The doors opened again.

"The childless Duke and Duchess of Inverkeep," Brandon whispered to his sister.

"Thanks," she said smirking, "I thought they were the Lord and Lady of Gyrahold."

"No, they couldn't come…"

"How come?"

"I'll tell you later. It's absolutely scandalous."

Brandon and Monica loved to gossip about other nobles. They always felt so excluded from it all; their family's island was far away from other sky islands, so they were usually excluded from the drama of the rest of the kingdom, much to their parents dismay. At any giving opportunity, Lillian and Arron Cragspur would be mingling with nobility or trying to marry off their children.

"Good evening, Duke Inverkeep," Lillian said, kissing the hand of the Duke, "It is a pleasure to have you attend."

"Oh I wouldn't miss one of these for the world. Your lugia is going to be doing a show, yes?"

"But of course," Lord Cragspur interjected, showing the silver whistle wrapped around his neck the lugia would be called with.

"Ah, the Duchess and I are very excited."

Brandon saw both of the adults before him, jumping like idiots. There was no way in hell that they would be here if his father didn't have a lugia on call. His family wasn't exactly high nobility. Sure they had titles of Lords and Ladys but they lived far from the main kingdom, and were excluded from many events.

The Duke and Duchess moved on into the main hall where Brandon could hear the party start. He would have done anything other than walk into the hall, like he knew he soon would have to do.

Brandon was awoken from his daydream by trumpets outside the castle.

"Oh god, it's the Royal family!" Lord Arron said startled, he moved to in front of his family to inspect them. "Children straighten up please."

Brandon and Monica both unwillingly straightened their backs. Brandon stood slightly taller over his sister. He remembered when they were younger, and Monica teased him about how much taller she was. Brandon stuck out his tongue to his sister, and she laughed as he did.

"Kids," the father said, far more seriously than usual, "This is serious time alright. This is the royal family. This is the time where we need to be smiling, straight backs and following all the rules."

"The rules," Brandon groaned to himself, "Kill me now."

The castle doors opened like before, but in a very different way than before. There was something in the air, even Brandon could feel it. The royal family had definitely arrived.

All six of them walked in a line. The eldest, the Sky King Oleg Culous and his wife, Queen of the Clouds Floria Culous stood in the middle with the princes and princesses to their left and right. Right of the King was his son, Prince Granill and right of him was his eldest daughter Princess Louisan. Left of the Queen was Prince Granill's other two children, Prince Makoll and Prince Boltan. The complete royal family all wore their family's colour, Sky White, and each walked with high confidence. It was as if they owned Crumberly Castle, and they kind of did. The Sky King had power over most of the known sky islands, including the tiny island Brandon's family had power over.

Brandon didn't dare whisper their names to his sister; he knew how his parents would react and he was pretty sure his sister knew who the royal family were.

"Your highness, it is an honour to have you attend," Brandon's father said, dropping to one knee and bowing his head to his king. His mother did the same, as did his sister reluctantly. Brandon did the same, he wouldn't dare mess this up for his parents. Brandon shared his sister's mentality of not caring for the royal family at all, but he knew how much it mattered to his parents so he bowed and said the same words as his father as the king passed him.

Each one of the royal family passed over Brandon, the princess petting his head as she did. After he had risen back up, with the rest of his family, the royals were stopped from walking into the hall by their patriarch.

The King turned back round, and everyone present crowded into a circle as the king made motions with his hands for his children and the Cragspur family to do so.

"I was going to announce it in the ball, but before I do I figured you should know beforehand Cragspur."

"Know what, your grace?" Brandon's father asked. His face showed concern, but also a hint of excitement.

"Know that I have thought long over your proposal, and that under the terms where your lugia is given to the queen's clouds, I will see that your daughter Lady Monica Cragspur marry my grandson, Prince Makoll Culous."

Brandon couldn't tell who was more shocked of his family. The royal family saw no shock in the announcement and turned to walk into the grand hall. Brandon first looked to his sister. From his face he could tell she knew nothing of this. Her face was in a state of absolute shock. He then looked to parents, both happier than he had ever seen them.

"Isn't this the best news!?"

…

Ok so this is a rework of two of my previous stories mixed into one. It follows three different teenagers living in the sky islands. In the next chapter I will be introducing the third main character and will be telling the legend of how the sky islands came to be.

I am looking for some OCs as side characters. The form will be on my profile soon after this story is uploaded and please leave a review if you are interested in submitting a character. Thanks for reading.