Note: This story is an alternative version to Pokemon 2000.
"Grandpaaaaa, do I have to go to bed already?" whined an eight year old girl as her grandpa was tucking her in.
"Yes, Melody it's late and we have a big day tomorrow," the old man replied, kissing her on the forehead.
"Aww… can you at least tell me a story then? Pretty please?"
The old man chuckled. It was already far past her bedtime and the both of them no doubt needed rest for the next day. The Shamouti festival held annually was to be kicked off. But how could he tell her no? 'I guess it's hard not to love your grandchildren,' he thought. The old man removed his glasses and took a seat next to the chair by the bedside. The warm summer breeze of Shamouti Island gently blew through the window, kissing his aged face. What he wouldn't give to be young again… "What kind of story do you want to hear?"
"A true story!" Melody squeaked in excitement. "How about the one about the festival every year that Mommy always tells me to ask you about?"
"That's a legendary story, very sacred. My grandpa used to tell me that one when I was a boy but I think that you're still a little young for that one."
"Nooooo… I'm a big girl, I wanna hear it!" Melody prodded on eagerly. "C'mon, every year before the party you say you'll tell me but you never do! Pleeeeeeeeeeease…?"
Her grandpa laughed softly. "Alright then, if that's what you want." He paused as Melody settled herself in bed and stared at him intently.
"A long time ago, a very long time ago, long before the days of trainers and Pokeballs, there stood two towers. Two gigantic towers; one in the east and one in the west. Atop each tower lived a gigantic bird Pokemon, and though they were polar opposites, they ruled over the lands in peace. Together, they maintained the balance of nature and Pokemon and human beings coexisted in harmony."
"Ooooo, what were the names of these Pokemon?" Melody piped up.
"The tower in the west was home to the water Pokemon Lugia, guardian of the sea. The tower in the east was the nest of the fire Pokemon Ho-Oh, guardian of the skies. Two magnificent and graceful Pokemon."
"So are they still there?"
"Goodness you're just a question machine," he chuckled. "How can I tell the story if you keep interrupting?"
"Sorry," she said, calming down."
"It's quite alright. As I was saying, the two Pokemon coexisted in harmony for centuries, until about a thousand years ago. In Ho-Oh's tower, the tin tower, there was an ancient treasure known as the Sacred Ash. Supposedly, it had the power to connect with the spirit world, capable of bringing the dead back to life. However, only Ho-Oh was capable of using it."
"One night, it disappeared, stolen by a thief who had no idea that the Ash was in fact useless to him. Ho-Oh was outraged when the Ash was discovered missing and this is when a rift grew between him, and Lugia. Ho-Oh believed that Lugia had become jealous and had had the Sacred Ash stolen. This was of course a lie, but Lugia was very proud and was angered at this accusation. Lugia's view of Ho-Oh changed forever after that and believed him to be a cocky, power-hungry tyrant. Before long, the two were waging war far above the land, often engaged in battle for days at a time."
Melody was silent; her eyes glued wide open, clearly focused on her grandfather's words.
"Eventually, Ho-Oh overpowered Lugia, wounding him badly," her grandpa went on. "Weakened and embarrassed, Lugia fled south, to the Orange Islands, and retreated to the bottom of the sea." He heard Melody gasp in wonder. "His tower was burned down in a fit of rage by Ho-Oh, thus creating the legendary dogs."
"Entei, Raikou, and Suicune!" Melody cheered.
"You like them don't you?"
Melody nodded excitedly. "I like the three birds too! How did they come to be?"
"Well you're in luck because that too is in this very story. Ho-Oh was fascinated by the power of the fire that burned down Lugia's tower. He manipulated the energy and shaped it into a Pokemon… Moltres, whom Ho-Oh proclaimed as his son. Deep beneath the ocean, in the undersea caverns, Lugia discovered solid water… ice. Fascinated by that in the same way Ho-Oh was with the fire, Lugia shaped the ice into a Pokemon… Articuno, the legendary bird of ice. Like Ho-Oh, Lugia thought of Articuno as his offspring, proclaiming her as his daughter."
"And… Zapdos?" Melody asked.
"You'd be surprised of how Zapdos was created," her grandfather said. "All in all… it came from love."
"Aw… that's so sweet!" Melody giggled. "But… how?"
"Moltres and Articuno ran into each other in the sky one day. And the two quickly fell in love. Of course this was forbidden by their parents, as the both of them hated the other. Then, one day, Ho-Oh finally discovered the true cause of the missing Sacred Ash, bringing the man before him and putting him to death. That is when Ho-Oh lost faith in humanity and absorbed the Sacred Ash into his own body, believing that humans could not be trusted with it."
"Shortly after this, Lugia returned to seek vengeance on Ho-Oh. When Lugia returned to Ho-Oh's tower, he found him in an apologetic state, asking for forgiveness. Still outraged by what his former friend had done to him, and his daughter's relationship with his son, Lugia released a power blast from his mouth, demolishing Ho-Oh's sacred tower and returning his foe to a hostile state. Simultaneously, they each released separate blasts of energy that exploded the moment their beams collided. The result of the explosion was Zapdos."
"Betrayed by both humans and Pokemon, Ho-Oh took off into the sky, but not before wiping the minds from both Moltres and Articuno as punishment. Furthermore, he sealed them each to an island, their bonds sealed inside a sacred treasure that they are bound to guard forever. The islands visible from our own island in fact." He pointed out the window to the faint outline of Ice Island.
"Fire Island, Ice Island, and Lightning Island," Melody counted off with her fingers.
"That's right. Ho-Oh still flies through the skies to this day, searching for a trainer pure of heart. This story is the reason why there are Pokemon trainers today; humans have to prove their worth by capturing them. Rumor has it that Ho-Oh reveals himself only to worthy trainers. But there have been no confirmed sightings in decades."
"What happened to Lugia?"
The old man's eyes twinkled. "Lugia returned to the bottom of the Ocean here in these islands, declaring himself protector of the three birds. According to the legend encrypted by the ancient tribes, if they are ever in any danger, Lugia will come to save them."
"I like Lugia," Melody giggled. "Lugia's brave and strong, I hope I get to meet him someday."
"Perhaps someday, if the legend comes to life, you will. Hopefully I'll still be alive to see the day."
"So, what exactly is the legend?" Melody asked confused. "Didn't you just tell me? The whole story about Ho-Oh I mean?"
"I told you the story behind it all, yes, but the actual legend was written by our own people after everything came to be. But perhaps that should wait for another night."
"Wait, don't stop now! What is the Legend?" Melody pleaded. "This is what I've been waiting for! Tell me and I'll go right to bed, I promise!"
"You don't quit do you?" The old man laughed. "Very Well." He paused, and took a deep breath. Melody was up on her knees in anticipation.
"Disturb not the harmony of Fire, Ice, or Lightning," he recited.
"Lest these Titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash.
Though the water's Great Guardian shall arise to quell the fighting,
Alone its song will fail. Thus the Earth shall turn to ash.
O, Chosen One, into thine hands bring together all three.
Their treasures combined, tame the Beast of the Sea.
From the trio of islands, ancient spheres shall you take,
For between life and death, all the diff'rence you'll make.
O, Chosen One, climb to the shrine to right what is wrong,
And the world will be healed by the Guardian's song."
Melody stared at her grandfather, awestruck. "Amazing… what does it all mean…?"
"I may be old but I certainly don't know everything," her grandfather chuckled. "It has a very deep meaning to it, but the ceremony we have is basically a celebration of our people. And this legend happens to be the core of it all. Every year someone is chosen to go to each island and retrieve the treasures of fire, ice, and lightning. This person is the said "Chosen One." When they bring it back to the shrine on Shamouti, there is a massive celebration, the ancient tribal song is played, and the treasures just… magically disappear. The festival is tomorrow you'll learn more soon enough."
"No, tell me more, MORE!" Melody cried. Her Grandfather had already gotten up and was standing at her bedroom door.
"Grandpa… is this legend… real?"
Her grandpa was smiling from ear to ear now, a curious look in his eyes. "Goodnight Melody," he said, turning her lights off.
This is my first Pokemon fic, let me know what you think!