Hello, this is an idea I'm toying with. Smaller chapters, most not plot relevant, that build on how the other species interact with Humans and Pokemon. The idea of this story came from the Pokemon Evolutions episode on YouTube, this one focused on Ho-Oh instead of Lugia. The next update is gonna be an update to the Timeline chapter, fixing some issues that a commenter brought up, then it's gonna be the actual chapter 2 after that. If you got other small chapter ideas let me hear them.
Benezia had to admit, the architecture of this city was very pleasing on the eyes. Downtown Ecruteak City sparkled in the setting sunlight, its neon signs and bright lights flickering, enticing her to come and visit. That wasn't the destination of her group however, it seemed that their human guides were leading them to a more quaint part of the city, its buildings less packed together, the lights that supplied the district were floating red paper lanterns. It looked cozy, she assumed this was where their nighttime accommodations would be.
"If you look to your right you will see the pride of Ecruteak City, the Tin and Brass towers," Benezia looked and saw two starkly different wonders. At one end of the district stood a majestic tower of silver panels, its peak reaching the clouds where she could make out the faint shimmer of a golden bell. To its west however laid a sad sight, a ruin of what she supposed was the Brass tower. Its blackened wooden spikes seem to want to reach to the sky, as its twin was, the tarred and scorched paneling vaguing showing what she imagined would have been a brilliant gold in this setting sun. "These towers were built as shrines by the first settlers of Johto, dedicated to the worship of Johto's protectors Lugia and Ho-Oh, sadly about 180 years ago the Brass tower caught blaze during a thunderstorm while Lugia was away, it blazed for hours until finally Lugia arrived and ended the inferno."
Benezia looked at the tower intrigued, this was the former home of one of the Human's gods, a holy place by all accounts. Had this been a temple of Athame her people wouldn't dream of letting it be traversed by the citizens, it would be maintained by the Republic and preserved for study, "The Towers are why this district was chosen as the cultural center of Johto, you all arrived at a very fortunate time every year to celebrate the coming of the summer we throw of festival in honor of Ho-Oh, one of the biggest events of this festival is the concert by the Kimono Girls."
Benezia looked at her fellow diplomats a varied collection of Asari, Turian, Salarian and Volus, while they had learned much from traveling through Johto they hadn't learned the intimate parts of human culture, it seems this was about to change. She herself didn't buy that the Pokemon were as divine as the humans believed, perhaps very strong, natural biotics but that didn't hint at divinity otherwise nearly every Asari could boast such. She and her colleagues were let off the carriage pulled by the flaming horse creature that she recognized as being a Rapidash.
Part of her was still bitter that it was the Turians that initiated first contact with the Humans. There was so much potential in this species, as well as their pokemon companions, and Turian influence could easily shift them towards their more militarized instincts. Under Asari guidance they could have become one of the galaxy's bastions of culture and arts, a true beacon of what civilized species should reflect. Luckily Tevos saw fit to make sure Asari diplomats were some of the first, beside the Turians, to step on Human planets.
She was slightly concerned that she and her colleagues were walking so openly amongst the citizens, but to her surprise the humans that littered the streets smiled and gave friendly waves. They seemed so at ease interacting with a new species. Her guide smiled at her confusion.
"I know it must seem strange how easily our people are accepting aliens being in our midst huh," she gave a small chuckle as she looked at some of the stands selling sweets to a surprised Turian who was being led by a man and his two children, "We've had stranger occurrences in the last 40 years, people are just hoping for peace and stability, and are putting their best foot forward towards that goal." Benezia absorbed the words as she watched the same Turian take a candid bite of the sweet, getting a cheer from the child. She knew he would regret it later but she saw his mandibles twitch as he gave the Turian equivalent of a smile.
"Here we are, the Ecruteak Dance Theater!" Benezia looked at the red and orange building in awe, it was a beautiful structure even by Asari standards. The two story building felt so fantastical, the countless floating lanterns, the melodic cries of the bird pokemon, and the dress of its patrons just made the whole atmosphere feel so mysterious. The Salarians in her group animatedly chatted among themselves, pondering just what the significance of the 'kimono' style of dress was. "Come along, we must get seated, the show will start soon."
Sitting on her knees was an odd feeling, luckily the mats they were supplied with were rather comfortable. She looked at the collection of human and pokemon that she sat among, to see so many varied ages taking part in such a traditional activity was bizarre. Asari maidens would have scoffed at the idea of attending this theater, instead lusting for excitement and adventure. The young humans seemed to value their traditions much more deeply at a younger age than the Asari. The lights dimmed as a woman in a red kimono walked forward.
"Lets our voices rise up like the sun, call to the heavens where the rainbow lies," Benezia listened as her voice warbled its tune, the screen on stage showing the Tin tower, the clouds obscuring the golden bell atop it. She was then joined by four other women all dressed in different colored kimonos, "Now we implore you, flaming lord of the skies, grace is with your flight, bring us heavens light!" The screen shifted and showed a bird of some kinds, the likes of which she had yet to see. She noticed small embers floating in the air and small gusts of wind as the bird flew across the screen.
"Let our voices sing of grand rebirth, flame, rain, and lightning were brought back from the fall, now we implore, bring your sacred fires to all, grace us with your warmth, grace the sacred Earth, Ho-Oh!" All the women danced together as they harmonized, the twirling of color almost hypnotic. On the last call they each held a bell, chiming it at the name of the creature.
"Good evening, and may we once again welcome you to the Ecruteak Dance Theater, I am Zuki your hostess tonight." The woman and her Umbreon both bow to the crowd, "Tonight we once again gather to celebrate the summer solstice, and pay our respects to one of Ecruteak's great protectors, Ho-Oh." Benezia watched at the bird on the screen perched on the Tin tower, "Centuries ago our ancestors, the original inhabitants of Johto, founded Ecruteak and built the Tin Tower and the Brass Tower."
The second screen lit into a cool blue as a white bird-like creature perched on the Brass Tower, "Atop these 9 story shrines our great protectors stood vigil over our region, until 180 years ago." The lights dimmed as lightning flashed across the stage frightening many of the aliens in the building, "One night lightning struck the proud shrine of Lugia, and it caught a blaze." Benezia watched in awe as the Flareon spat flames, the heat sweeping over the crowd, embers becoming more plentiful in the air.
"The Flame soon became an inferno that threatened to take all of Ecruteak along with the Brass Tower," Benezia was surprised when a Totodile hopped near her head and filled it's maw with water, about to blast what it perceived as a dangerous fire, until it's trainer redirected the water dousing himself. He gave an apologetic smile to her as he pulled his sheepish pokemon back to its seat, "Lugia returned to her burning home and called for rain, and the rain came finally extinguishing the great flames." A Vaporeon blew a torrent of water at the Flareon, who spat its flames in return. The two battled shortly before the flames were overpowered, the Flareon and its trainer kneeling in their defeat.
"Lugia, overwhelmed by grief, retreated to the sea where she now waits for someone to restore her hope." The screen showed the Brass Tower reduced to its current state and Lugia flying off, "Ho-Oh then arrived at the burned tower, for she too sensed the tragedy, and her golden gaze swept across the ruin where she found a sight that broke her heart." She watched as the Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon all ceased moving, huddled together under the screen of the burned tower, Ho-Oh circling above them. "Three lives perished in the flames, and the villagers of Ecruteak we're blessed to witness the power of Ho-Oh, for she bathed the dead pokemon I'm her flames and they rose once more, avatars of the nights event, envoys of Ho-Oh." A whirlwind picked up as embers swirled around the three pokemon and a roar was heard through the theatre.
"Three souls were lost, and three souls reborn, from the ashes of destruction rose Suicune, Entei, and Raikou." A screech ranged as Ho-Oh flew off and on the screens stood three creatures, their power seeming to radiate even through this visage slightly unnerving Benezia. "The three Beast of Johto stood proudly amongst the soot and ash, but sadly this power struck fear into the hearts of Ecruteak's people, the beasts were scorned, blamed as the ones who drove Lugia away, now they roam the region, wary of humanity." She saw the beasts roar to the sky as they ran off into the sun, "To this day the great towers remain as a reminder of what was lost, and what will be again!" The women stopped their dance as they once again rang their bells, and bowed to the crowd. Benezia clapped along with the people of Ecruteak, even as she continued to watch the now swirling forms of Lugia and Ho-Oh as they seemingly chased each other.
"How interesting, a deity that can bring life, seems improbable, most likely is, but aura is a bizarre power source." One of the Salarian rattled off his observations.
"If true, why haven't humans harvested this ability, the ability to avoid death would be highly valuable to the Union." Benezia nearly rolled her eyes at that statement.
"Humanity sees this Ho-Oh as one of their gods, it's a being they wouldn't fight anymore that we would Athame should she ever show herself on Thessia, or a Turian fight one of their spirits." The Salarian frowned at that mumbling about religion hindering such a resource being foolish.
"This show could sell well on the extranet, I will have to talk to the theater director about streaming it live." one of the Volus spoke, trying to find the best ways to make credits off the humans.
Benezia was still pondering the story, she looked at the distant burned tower, trying to picture the majestic rainbow colored bird circling it. A part of her envied the humans, they still held their gods close to the bosom, a part of her wished she could find comfort in Athame as they did their pokemon. She was wrenched from her thoughts when she heard a shrill screech pierce through the peaceful nighttime ambience.
Many of the pedestrians also looked to the sky and Benezia witnessed something she would never forget. Its booming wingbeats could probably be heard in downtown Ecruteak, but she was sure no one could ignore the gleaming rainbow that streaked across the sky in its wake. Rainbow colored wings glide so effortlessly across the sky, she couldn't help but find its moniker of 'lord or the skies' fitting.
Countless humans began to give prayers, the kimono girls themselves coming out and kneeling also giving prayers. The golden eyes seemed to pass over everyone as it flew gracefully towards its tower, Benezia caught it's eyes for the briefest of moments and felt all her worries slip away. She could feel it in her soul, this creature isn't some biotic that humans mistaken as a god, no this being was truly divinely inspired.
'Welcome, child of Rayquaza's realm, to Earth' her heart nearly stopped as a soft voice seemed to speak in her mind, but just as fast as it was there it was gone. She watched as Ho-Oh flapped its wings once more and ascended to its perch, obscured by the clouds, but she knew just as all of Ecruteak did that the Lord of the Skies had returned.