Draco: Some of you may know about my attempt to write a Pokémon fanfic in under a year. In that fanfic, titled Pokémon Ranger: disOrder, I intended to include a book, by Cynthia of Celestic Town, that was used as a source for hero and dark-hearts alike when referring to Legendary Pokémon - as I, taking my video games far too seriously, make only rarest mention of Legendary Pokémon except in deific curses.

This is that book, and any Pokémon fanfic authors of similar authorial disposition are free to make mention of it in their own stories (assuming credit is given).

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo.

Foreword by Cynthia

My grandmother once recounted to me that the first injury I ever received was a paper cut from a book of Sinnahn myths. I have been fascinated with legends and the Pokémon therein for as long as I can remember, but to my knowledge I have never seen a legendary Pokémon because of my own actions - and after seeing the actions of certain people, part of me hopes I never will.

To my fortune, however, there are those who have met legendary Pokémon, who have earned their respect or companionship - and they have been willing to share with me their experiences. And so I have put it upon myself to compile the information they have been willing to share - for a Pokédex, once complete, is distributed only in limited function, and so few of us have the fortune to see Pokémon of legend firsthand.

And I am certain I am hardly the only one who is so fascinated by these Pokémon of legend.

Surely?

Draco: I should probably reiterate my "what is canon for Draco's original-story Pokémon fanfics" spiel. NEW EDIT Certain portions of the below quote have been altered to be up-to-date without being specifically noted as such for the sake of legibility. END NEW EDIT

[quote]Can you use the term 'is canon' when referring to game elements present in a fanfic? I don't want to describe it as 'my headcanon', because from my understanding a headcanon specifically refers to a fan theory. {sigh} The Pokémon games are so frickin' diverse and so frickin' interactive that you can't much say that something is 'canon'. Whatever. You guys get my point.

Fair warning: I have a thing against catching most legends. Also, all event legends have appeared at some point. I could probably figure out where the Unovans and the Kalosians could appear in-game with a little thinking if I could spare the time. The following happened prior to this fic:

Generation I and/or remakes: Yellow Version happened, possibly with some contortions to get the Sevii storyline from FRLG, by Red's hands. One hundred and fifty Pokémon caught, evolved into, and/or traded for. Complete Pokédex. Celebration in Pallet Town. Oolong tea when Red asks for a bourbon on the rocks. The works. Maybe something about a close encounter with Mew, all things considered. And then Leaf goes on a journey of her own, makes a lot of stupid decisions, and turns them all into a credible battle team.

If I do end up getting one of the Virtual Console versions of the Gen I games, I'm grabbing Yellow. You'd think my hating the anime would counteract that, but I want to see if I can get Red's HGSS team.

Generation II and/or remakes: HeartGold Version happened, with the original New Pokédex rather than the Johto Pokédex, by Ethan's hands. I have played SoulSilver version, and that scene with the Tidal Bell and Lugia is much less than the scene with the Clear Bell and Ho-Oh. Ho-Oh was not caught. The wolves may have been caught, but not as a permanent thing. Ethan has the nickname 'Gold', and the red-head thief is named 'Silver' because Giovanni wanted to give the kid an inferiority complex. The time travel event in Ilex happened, but Celebi was never in a Poké Ball at any time. Um... Cerulean Cave wasn't trashed, but Mewtwo wasn't down there when Gold arrived.

To my minor disgrace, I cannot yet defeat Red with a team of my own raising. I have an entire team of 100s (and one 80) that I GTS'd back when Pokétopia still had traffic. (I know I had a Bibarel in there, but he seems to have vanished. What the diable...?)

Generation III and/or remakes: This one is frickin' complicated. Some Distorted contortion of Emerald and the Omega/Alpha versions happened, by May's hands. Basically Emerald Version, plus Primal Reversions and Mega Rayquaza, and the... Magma Suit. Subtle clues about Zinnia being around and providing the Key Stone for the Mega Evolution in question. She made a trip to Faraway Island, but she did not catch Mew. She did encounter Mew, but she did not catch Mew. Delta Episode still happened afterward, where Zinnia confessed to the above. And lent May her Key Stone for the meteor-smashing. Deoxys was also not caught. Nor were Kyogre and Groudon. Rayquaza's assistance during the Delta Episode was voluntary, not via capture. Um... Latias was met friendly, Latios was the combatant on Southern Island. Latias as a teammate didn't last very long, but the Eon Flute works even if you release your Eon. In fact, it actually makes more sense if you release your Eon. Whatever the hell Hoopa is doing in those Mirage Spots didn't happen. And the first Ranger game happened, by Lunick's hands, and the Manaphy Egg was sent to Sinnoh. Colosseum and XD may also have happened.

I know that sounds convoluted and self-contradicting in a rush summary like this. It IS convoluted, but it's not contradictory. I have it pretty well thought out. I just... can't properly elaborate thereupon without writing a fanfic about it, and I learned my lesson about writing Pokémon fanfics.
Gonna be honest with you, the Omega/Alpha versions were kind of gratuitous. The Gen I/II remakes were kind of necessary because of the whole shakeup in Gen III, but ORAS was just a raw case of #RuleOfCool.

Generation IV: I LOVE Sinnoh, so I'm sorry if I ramble here. Platinum Version happened, by Dawn's hands. Giratina was not caught. In fact, Giratina was calmed by Dawn refusing to battle. The Regi ruins appeared, Dawn made some acquaintances, and Regigigas happened (I know that's backwards, shut up). She got a night in Harbour Inn and kicked Darkrai's ass. She didn't catch him. She walked down Seabreak Path and had a friendly encounter with Shaymin that in no way involved battle or empty Poké Balls. She did not go to the Hall of Origin. Dawn alternates between living in the Resort Area villa and staying with Johanna in Twinleaf Town, and she takes over the Champion's throne at the League when Cynthia vanishes to Unova or Johto. The Manaphy Egg arrived shortly after all things settled, and Dawn refused to raise it. Lucas accepted it, went on a journey for Gym Badges after Manaphy hatched, brought Monferno with him. Er... how do they define the Ranger Net missions again? All Special Missions happened, with the exception of that Deoxys one in Guardian Signs, and the Manaphy Egg ones there and in Shadows. Shadows of Almia happened, by Kellyn's hands. Kyle's Riolu and Darkrai were sent to Sinnoh, joined Lucas. Guardian Signs happened, by Summer's hands (except with Latios as her Eon sign). Heatran and Shaymin were sent to Sinnoh, joined Lucas. Dawn was at the League when Lucas made it there and fought him to a draw. The Extra Missions with Dialga and Palkia happened for Kellyn, but neither of the Extra Missions happened for Summer. And Summer ran the gauntlet on all... six? Cocona Plaza temples, with some interesting happenings to get Ben in there because single-player on the other end of that time travel is a frickin' Bad Dream Rising.

I am very tempted to say 'Lucas went to Pokétopia', but I cannot justify that unless I write a Pokétopia fic and I've decided against writing a Pokétopia fic. Seriously, I could write Generation IV until the Miltank came home.

Generation V: I am going to bring up as little about Unova as possible. Not because I don't like Unova - on the contrary, I loved everything about Unova except that unpleasant surprise about the changes to the Exp. system - but because Generation V doesn't have a neutral version. However, if all else fails, I do have a fallback. White Version happened, by Touko's hands, and she met Victini. Tornadus and Thundurus both happened. And then Landorus after she shut them both up. There was a friendly encounter with Keldeo in the Moor of Icirrus sometime after she met all three of the other Swords of Justice and after the Plasma incident. And a song may have been sung with Meloetta in Castelia City. Then White Version 2 happened (largely because that scene in the Giant Chasm just bugs me in Black Version 2), by Nate's hands. N ran into the scientist who made Genesect from the Jungle Hunter into the Steel Hunter, and Nate was there for the encounter. Touko caught Zekrom. Nate MAY have caught Reshiram and Kyurem. And N was wearing his Plasma King regalia during the final confrontation in Version 1 (because he should have been), and to confront Ghetsis in Version 2 (because the bastard is magnificent enough that he deserves to get confronted by a king). Conquest happened, but nothing could convince me that anything Ransean will become relevant for this fic.

I cannot call her 'Hilda'. I don't know why. That's been happening since before Skyward Sword was a thing, so I know A Link Between Worlds didn't have anything to do with it. I know, I must look so hypocritical after my rant about Aya-gozen during the Legend of Ransei, but I can't call her Hilda. I have no good reason for it. I can call him 'Hilbert', but I can't call her 'Hilda'.

Generation VI: Serena did it, and let's just say I have a whole neutral version as a personal headcanon. This was originally written back when I had no idea what the hell was going on with Zygarde.

Also, my rules for League challenges: Upon the defeat of the reigning Champion, the victor decides if they want to stay at the League and take challengers, or simply enter the Hall of Fame and continue their journeying. I'm sure this is hardly an original idea (I certainly hope this isn't an original idea), but I use it regardless.[/quote]

The above quote was written on February 20th and I still have no idea what the hell is going on with Zygarde.