The events of this Pokémon story began over 150 years ago in the city of Ecruteak . . .

Two nine-tier towers were built opposite of one another and were symbols to foster a friendship and hope between the human world and Pokémon. Looking out over the towers, people and Pokémon could see a breathtaking view together. The eastern tower was named the Bell Tower (or Tin Tower to some) and was said to have the power to awaken any Pokémon. The western tower was named the Brass Tower and would be a place where Pokémon could rest in peace.

The great phoenix Pokémon Ho-oh roosted at the top of Bell Tower where loyal sages protected the nest and played as ambassadors to the human world. This was considered a golden age for humans and Pokémon alike where both walked as equals and contraptions like pokeballs were not needed. With humans, Pokémon were able to reach their full potential while assisting the young species and guiding them to the advances they have to this day.

While the majority of interaction between human and Pokémon were positive, something stirred deep in human hearts. With the lust for power and control over nature, humans have corrupted the relationship some of them and Pokémon had and thus the two grew distain for each other secretly. Even with this hidden contempt, both hated nothing more than the close ties that had been cemented because of those towers.

One day, a plan was hatched by a very dark hearted human and the people that followed him along with several Pokémon. Using the Pokémon's powers to create a large lightning storm as cover, the group of humans attacked the two towers with their Pokémon partners. For three full days, the towers were swallowed up in despair and war. Fire ignited the western tower and burned it until a sudden downpour extinguished the flames. The eastern tower was damaged heavily by the assault as human weapons and Pokémon attacks tore the building apart. Many lives, both people and Pokémon, were lost.

Among the Pokémon that perished were 3 that took great stride in opening human hearts and defended the towers with their lives. Even when their human allies had fallen, they refused to leave their side even as the tower burned around them. Ho-oh, seeing their self-sacrifice, appeared from the skies and used its power to resurrect them. It was at this time that the dark hearted man struck and his allies assaulted Ho-oh.

Ho-oh was barraged with arrows, boulders and attacks from Pokémon who betrayed their own hearts and fell to the darkness. Ho-oh was weakened but the legendary bird could never truly die because of its nature. The dark hearted leader knew this and constructed a device that would allow him to capture and control such a power. The device resembled a sort of pokeball that is used today but was inlaid with obsidian glass and several rare gems to reflect Ho-oh's power. The ball was launched at the apex of battle but the man did not realize that Ho-oh's heart would not permit it to be caught by such a tainted human.

With a final display of sacred fire, the phoenix cried out and exploded in a ball of heavenly flames as the shock waves rippled through the city. The device to catch Ho-oh was destroyed. The remaining citizens of the city repaired the eastern tower in hope that Ho-oh would return one day.

Without Ho-oh, the people of Johto recovered slowly but the memories of those days remained fresh in the mind of old Pokémon. Some sought to repair the bond that had been broken while others shunned human companionship and went into seclusion. On occasion, Pokémon and humans have reported seeing Ho-oh fly over the skies but any attempt of communication is met with no response. Some say the mighty bird has turned his back on both Pokémon and humans while others say it is only a manifestation of his power that lingers in this world today. Even a few doubts their eyes consider it the sun playing tricks.

In the present day, the bond that humans and Pokémon shared in the past is but a shadow of its former glory. While Pokémon still work, play and battle beside humans, darkness still resonates in some human hearts. There are still people out there who use Pokémon for evil acts and enslave them to benefit themselves. While the faces and names change, those who use Pokémon with kind hearts battle those with dark and clash in battlefields remain constant. History will always repeat itself to those who do not learn from it.

There is always a glimmer of hope in each generation. Those humans with pure hearts rise above their station to become strong trainers. Some lose their way and never return, using their gifts for evil. Some will use their gift for good and assist their fellow trainers to strengthen the bonds that they and their Pokémon share. Finally there are a few rare individuals who are destined to meet and walk with legends. This story is about one of those individuals and the people that join her in an attempt to recover what was destroyed so long ago.