The Reaper and the Paladin

Prologue

The region of Kalos was once the land of history's most terrible wars.

Zygarde, the overseer of order, laid judgment upon the king Azoth. Is sacrificing thousands of lives just for one fair? Perhaps, his beloved partner Pokémon abandoning him gave him a lesson to learn—eternity is not worth the death of many.

After Azoth's death, it then gathered Xerneas and Yveltal and decreed for their respective domains—life and death—to have separate caretakers. By handpicking the worthy, the decision was made in the hopes for no one such as the last king to use their powers for seflishness again. Truly, its own avatars were each to entrust one human to hold a fraction of their ability while they sleep, all in an effort to keep Zygarde's peace and order.

And so began the history of the Paladins, Xerneas's chosen knights to protect life, and the Reapers, Yveltal's chosen guides to cross its end.

Once upon a time, the Paladin and the Reaper were two coworkers uncovering the truth about Mega Evolution, a phenomenon brought about by the weapon Azoth used. Augustine Sycamore, the Paladin, was chosen for his kindness and mercifulness. The other, Lysandre, was the Reaper, chosen for his strictness and orderliness. The two were friends ever since Augustine began pursuing a new life in science. One of them was among the most prominent Pokémon professors and the other was among the greatest inventors.

Over the years, Yveltal was a feared creature as it caused destruction in wars across history, and this fear of it also made people fear its Reapers. But that man—Lysandre—was able to tell tales of the Reapers and how Yveltal was merely a creature whose uncontrollable fate was to create destruction. He told stories of how much Yveltal would banish itself for eternity if it could due to its guilt in being the source of power for the last king's weapon. He recounted the stories of Yveltal singing the dead lullabies rather than enthusiastically devouring their lives. By then, historians began to question themselves, but many others still hold themselves from believing his words.

Additionally, his scientific contributions made nearly half the region treat him like a king and let him influence people's views of the Reaper and Yveltal, and his friendship with the Paladin only strengthened this.

The Reaper helps the Paladin. Together, they can create order.

And this order would be achieved. Soon.

The two were walking through an underground hallway in Geosenge Town, a place riddled with stones. Lysandre would not simply let a possible discovery slip from his grasp. He had immediately invited Augustine to help investigate and to provide insight.

Lysandre had conjured a floating flame wisp using fire magic to light the path as he tread on. The hall itself was paved with stones from its ceilings, floors, and walls, but they were weathered and worn. Soil occasionally sifted through gaps from those above. Each step they took made an echo that resonated throughout the hall.

"What a long walk. Are you sure that this will help you achieve your dream? The whole talk about resources you kept saying?" Augustine casually asked while they passed the hallway. "What is this place anyway?"

"Hm. I suspect it to be Zygarde's old domain," Lysandre answered. "It may have answers hidden away in this long forgotten."

"Ah!" The professor flashed him a charming smile. "Progress in the search, I see?"

Lysandre chuckled. "Indeed, but that's just an assumption I made. Let's see if it will be confirmed."

A few more minutes worth of walking and they reached a massive stone double door more than thrice Lysandre's height. The Reaper raised his arm to the side in the Paladin's way, making him stop.