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Background: Xine's peak. A misty mountain top, high above Zatao, one of it's tallest points. A layer of clouds obscures the view for all those below. What secrets did the crown of the rocky mass hold? Aloft the towering leviathan a secluded sanctuary, undisturbed for many years by humans. It was the domain of a god, the legendary Ho-oh, by the name of Xine. Once, long ago, he had a visitor. A humble cartographer, who did nothing to disturb the habitat, but merely there to add the location onto his new map. He learned the name of Xine, but told no one of the powerful being. The Ho-oh did not want any trouble on his mountaintop, though he was more than aware of the changes growing in Zatao. Humans were starting to arrive. He was intrigued by them more than anything. The citizens of the mountaintop, the largest bird population of Zatao, warned him of the humans treachery. Nasty beings, only wanting to capture and own the original inhabitants of their land, the pokemon.
Xine heeded their warnings, but promised them protection. He would be the judge of the humans coming to his land. No evil would touch the top of his mountain. The Ho-oh was a kind and benevolent leader, open minded, and playful with those closest to him. He wasn't a regal god, though mighty.
Eventually, trainers started to brave the trip to his mountaintop. A girl called Sienna was one of the first.

His loyal subjects alerted him to the intruder, "A human girl!" They cawed at him frantically. Though Xine was no king, the inhabitants of the mountaintop insisted upon forming him a royal guard. There were four Altaria to serve him, though he hardly needed it. Their loyalty impressed him however, and they became some of his closest friends. The Altaria's cloud-like wings blended in with the thick fog that guarded his mountaintop. "A human girl, with birds that do not fly, sir!" Another spoke, "How strange, how strange! We do not like it,"
Xine tilted his head in curiosity. A human, traveling with grounded birds, "How strange indeed!" He raised his regal head, stretching his large body slightly as he did so. His rainbow plumage glistened in the fresh rays of sunlight. The basking legendary rose from his resting spot on the ground. Curious, curious. He would like to meet the girl, he decided. "Help them up, if you would please. They are now our guests," He said excitedly. "But sir, humans are bad!" His guards protested with the same plea. "I have yet to meet one of these "bad" creatures. I will see the human female, if she is dangerous, we will send her and her strange flock on their way. Don't worry." The majestic master of rainbows stretched his impressive wings. "Please, go help them up the mountain. I do not wish to frighten them by presenting myself right away,"
"Yes sir!" They squawked in unison.

Tears streamed down the bird keeper's face as they made their way slowly up the mountain. The only sounds were the howling on the wind and the eerie lack of sound absorbed by the fog. Her birds trailed silently and solemnly behind her. They were almost there, but for what?
It felt as though her journey had been in vain, and almost selfish. What had been her goal, really? To make herself stronger, but that really was a self-centered wish. She hadn't taken into account the feelings of the birds that so willingly followed her. Sienna had dragged them across the region. For what? She kept asking herself.
The trip had starting out with yelling. She had yelled at her birds for being noisy, being unruly. Who was she to do that, anyway? She wasn't their master. They were her friends! She never should have gone through with this trip...Sienna would release all of them at the top, she decided. They'd be happier without her.

Like Enide.

A few days earlier, the troupe had been hiking toward the base of the mountain when something happened. Enide had never really gotten attached to Sienna, or the other members of the flock. She was always an oddball, seemingly just along for the ride rather than any real emotional attachment. Throughout the journey, however, she seemed to grow even more distance. Yet, none of her other team members or her trainer seemed to notice the change. She was growing restless. Why was she following around this featherbrained girl, anyway? What was keeping her here? She could do better. Yes, yes. The witch could do better, return home, make her own mismatched family as the girl had done here. This wasn’t enough anymore, she never really belonged. She belonged in the Howling Forest, with her spookier friends. Hm, hm.

And just like that, one night, she was gone.

The team slept at the base of the mountain, saving their strength for the journey to the top. When they woke up, the crow pokemon was nowhere to be found. They searched for hours, but Enide was long gone. Her ultra ball was still clipped to Sienna’s belt, but was empty. Where had she gone, why would she leave? Sienna told herself to get a grip. They would have to continue on without Enide. The rest of the team was shocked to hear this; this was all very unlike Sienna. Sullenly, they would follow her up the mountain. Sienna battled her emotions and the harsh conditions of the mountain top the whole way up. Why had she chosen to move onwards without Enide? The murkrow was distant, but that didn’t mean Sienna didn’t love her. The bird keeper had always assumed the crow liked her solitude and space. Being practically mute, the rest of the bird had similar thoughts about Enide. But to leave her behind? Frey thought maybe Sienna was starting to slip. Kipper was sad to see the shiny black bird go, and didn’t like climbing very much. Skylar peeped and cried the whole way up the mountain, he didn’t understand what was happening and he just wanted to ride on Sienna’s head. Akantha pushed forward, stronger in her recently evolved body, but had thoughts similar to her father’s.

Interrupting each bird’s thoughts were the sudden appearance of armored Altaria. They were a beautiful sight, until it looked like they were going to attack. Sienna gripped the mountainside. The path they were travelling on was very narrow, she didn’t want to look down, or worse, fall. The large, cloud-winged birds, grew nearer and in from all sides, as if to pin them in place. “” The captain, a shiny Altaria, called out. All four birds were surprised by this. Visitors? They weren’t hostile after all. Sienna was still confused and a bit scared, however, unable to understand the Altaria. “” He said, swooping down towards Sienna. She cowered against the rockside, expecting an attack, but found herself being swept up onto the Altaria’s back. “” He said to the other birds and began ascending.

“” Frey asked suspiciously, eyeing Sienna on the back of the golden Altaria. Kipper was hoisted onto the back of another Altaria, in a similar fashion. He missed his wings; since he had evolved he couldn’t fly anymore. “” The Golduck asked excitedly. “” Skylar asked timidly. Akantha remained quiet, listening to the conversation. “” The commander of the four Altaria scoffed. “” One of the other guards said enthusiastically.

The wind streamed past Sienna’s face as she was lifted high into the air. The steep angle of the bird underneath her made her uncomfortable, and she held on as tight as she could. They hit the layer of cloud that hid the top, moisture accumulating on her face and hair. Sunlight quickly warmed her now clammy skin, and the Altaria’s flight slowed. She sat up slightly, and looked around.

Her birds all burst out of the clouds after her, Kipper riding an Altaria as well. All of their feathers glinted beautifully in the strong sunlight. Everything here was beautiful, the peak was a paradise. There was a modest lake, surrounded by lush foliage. Hundreds of bird pokemon were roosting in the trees, many more of every shape, size, species, and coloration populated the air. Sienna was in awe, such a wonderful place! Her heart sank a little as she realized how perfect it was for her birds, and how she would have to let them go here.