The Earth the Sky and the Sea

Here is how the story goes:

In the beginning, there was water.

I want you to imagine- the largest lake you have ever seen. Picture that. But bigger. No, not enough, even larger. Is it engulfing your house yet? Your town? Mt Pyre? Then you have a starting idea of what I mean. Before any life started growing, before there were any land to speak of-

there was water.

In Kanto, where they only ever believe in the power of mathematics and the hard rule of science, here is what they say: all living beings come from a single, versatile creature, who evolved through time into the diversity we have today.

In Sinnoh, where live the pious and the believers, here is what they say: there was nothing, then there was an egg, and the egg hatched and molded the world as it wished with a thousand arms of words.

Hoenn is neither of those things. Hoenn is about matter, first and foremost. So here in Hoenn, here is what we say: at first there was water. Then the sea grew skin.

There were a lot of words, to describe this shape that was molded. Leviathan. Alpha. Abyss. But none of them were really enough. None of them encompassed it all- the raw, untamed fury of the waves, the freezing cold of the somber depths, the treachery of the seemingly calm ocean, the immensity of it.

The people made one up. If its exact meaning was forgotten by most, the word itself remained.

“Kyogre.”

Here is how the story goes:

In the end, there will be fire.

They don’t speak of that finishing line, elsewhere. Not in Sinnoh- some theorize a holy judgement, some whisper of distorted, mirrored lands of the dead, but none dare to speak out loud. Not in Johto- they speak of fire, too, but mostly of rebirth, as if there was no other way to be- as if the world was a circle, with no beginning and no end.

That is fair. No one likes to speak of death. But remember this: everything comes to a stop. Life, stars, gods. Nothing lasts forever.

Hoenn believes this: in the end, there will be fire. Look around you. Look at he buildings and the trees, at every spots of hope and wish humans has ever had.

One day, it will be gone. Completely. Utterly. It will go up in smoke, down to the last remaining dream of man.

From the moment the first island breached the sea surface, the world started marching to this doom.

The land grew skin, too, and became a creature of many names. Behemoth. Omega.

“Groudon.”

That is a name of many meaning, as well. It’s a name of dry rock, volcanoes and lava. Of quaking earth and roaring mountains. Of fire and sand, simply. 

It is the end of all things.

Time marches on. People forget. Languages change. But remember: those are powerful names. Thread carefully with them. A flick of the tail in their sleep is enough to shake the whole region. Do not wake them up.

“The stories speak of fight. Tell me about the strife.”

A simple feud, for them. A calamity, for the world. They are beings of teeth and claws like many others. But they are also so, so much more. They command over the earth and the sea the same way you would command your arm or your leg.

Can you imagine? A sun so hard it burns the skin, a pour so strong it leaves you dizzy? The land cracking and splitting, the waves raising and rolling, each devouring everything in their wake? A constant push and pull, to go back to a primordial sea or fall straight to a desolate land- and you, tiny bitty itty you, caught in this ancestral crossfire.

“Why so much violence? Why so much anger?”

You think they’re fighting out of hate?

You must think of them akin to human or pokemon. You’re not completely wrong on this regard. They are flesh and blood- as much as any pokemon. They can want and feel- as much as any human.

But these creatures- they come from a time much, much older- they are much rawer, much more primal than anything you will ever encounter. It would be a mistake, to imagine them functioning on our own set of morals and way of thinking.

They don’t fight because of any deep, personal reason. They fight because it's in their nature; they fight because the sea erodes the earth, because lava boils water. They fight because the world clings to how it used to be, and time rolls toward its end. They fight because there is no other relationship they can have.

You need to understand. They don’t realize - how much damage they cause. Everything changes so much between each of their awakening- it might as well have never existed. The only thing real to them, the only thing tangible, is each other.

You measure time, I am sure, by the rhythm of your heartbeat and the course of the Sun through the sky. They measure time by the periods between their battles.

“... that is… sad.”

You think so? Neither seem unhappy about it.

“Isn’t there any other way? Can’t they be shown- that there is so much more to life?”

And who would show them? Who would guide them? Through every experience Earth has to offer- walk them through a field of daisies, give them the first taste of a berry.

Me?

You?

You would need them to acknowledge your existence first. All they know is fighting. All their being is fighting. Can you face them, those monsters of forgotten times, and prove yourself real to them? Can you douse an eruption? Can you contain the raging sea?

Then again, you are human. Maybe that is something you would be able to do.

“...”

“You told me of the Earth and the Sea. Tell me a story about the Sky.”

Ah, the sky- winds and air and clouds, the sky, flying snake above it all, the sky, pacifier through the ages, Rayquaza?

Wipe any idea of nobility off your head. They’re made of the same cloth as the other two. Just because they don’t actively cause the world’s end doesn’t mean they actually care.

“Yet they quell the fighting.”

Of course they quell the fighting. Isn’t the sky the very place where sun rays and rain coexist? Their presence make all battling stop, because it is in their nature. And if you hear of them in other stories, it’s because the sky is their kingdom and they will not tolerate damages to it. Do not be fooled. The only reason they come down in the first place is because they are called.

“By humans?”

Yes, by humans.

That’s what it all comes down to, in the end, isn’t it? Humans. Those fascinating and terrifying creatures that are humans.

Even the smartest beast of this planet is but all too willing to go with the flow. Walk in the straight line of their life and be satisfied with it. Those old gods I’m telling stories about- they have been in this endless circle of strife and sleep for as long as they’ve existed.

But humans. Oh, humans.

Always pushing further, deeper, higher. Always trying to understand - how and why and what. Always trying to figure out how to use that to their advantage. Tell a human something is impossible, and they’ll find a way to go around it. Isn’t it what being a trainer is all about?

Mangriffs cannot breathe underwater, so they do not try. Humans made oxygen tanks and hidden machine, and befriended creatures who could swim. 

Humans cannot sculpt rock with their mind, or call forth the tides at will. They made machines of hard metals and orbs of fiery desires instead.

Humans cannot fight gods on their own, not head on. But they know someone who can, and they learned early how to climb.

Humans, humans- truly, a shining jewel of innovation. Capable of being oh so terrible- capable of being oh so great. Not-gods here to remind gods of their place. Legend-writers here to remind legend-fillers to not take their power for granted- humans can ascend, too, given time.

Ah, but I’m digressing, am I not? You asked for a story about the sky. That is all I know about it. As to why the divine snake bothers to come down at all when asked- that is something I do not know.

“I don’t believe it.”

You don’t? 

You would be right. I know a lot of things.

But I’m only willing to repeat to you things I have been told. Wrong or right- I’ll let you be the judge of that. Some truths are better kept from those who won’t figure them by themselves.

There are many legends about the divine snake. Nearly all of them are false.

Some say he's a benevolent god, here to maintain balance in the weather. He will not intervene on his own, for he is blind and deaf to the surface world’s state. But his intentions are good, and he will preserve life and health because he is the only one who can.

Some say she’s a possessive spirit, a greedy little thing who loves to bask in praises and offering. She comes to those who pray for her- and will fiercely defend them, against armies or illness or the very elements given shape. Because they are hers and hers alone, and because who will worship her, if all potential priests are dead?

Among the draconids, word goes around that it is actually nothing but a wurmple. When the sea and the earth first clashed, it was the only one brave enough to rise against them. It was gifted by its peers many things, everything- out of admiration, out of desperation. The mightyena gave its trusty jaws, to bite and mangle and scream loud enough to be heard. The pelipper gave its flight, to rise high enough to reach the other two. The salamance gave its scales, to resist pounding rain and scorching sun alike. The legend goes on for a while, until the wurmple becomes the venerated sky snake we all know today. And if it waits to be called- it’s simply because it wants to know if there is anything still worthy of being saved down there. For what use is there to save a world that won't even try to save itself? 

I even heard some claim, in the depths of the desert, the most unbelievable story- that they can’t and won’t act unprompted, for they used to  be a soldier under a forgotten monarchy, who was conditioned to follow orders and orders only without any initiative. That they can’t and won’t act unprompted, for they used to be human.

“Unlike you, right?”

…

Now now, what are you implying? These are not accusations you should wield lightly, child.

“I know. I weighed them. You’re not really blind either, are you?”

… 

You are one clever kid, aren’t you?

…

You flinched.

No, no, it’s alright. I’m not offended. They all do, when they see my eyes. Not many are used to slit pupils.

This is my last lesson for you, remember it well: do not uncover anyone you cannot afford to face.

I do not wish for my kin to wake up anytime during your lifetime, child. But if by any chance, they just happened to… you are welcome to climb my tower and wake me up anytime, human.

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