EVERYONE: A bunch of prompts based around types and type of stuff, feat. Nori/Prema metaseries

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In a nutshell: Fairy
The fair folk! From the cute to the creepy, one of the biggest constants with these Pokemon is their love for fun. Some of their abilities are magical in nature. It's believed their whimsical attitude and lack of respect for strength is what renders them immune to Dragons, whose powers are based around exerting superiority.

They are very pure Pokemon, which is part of why their attacks are effective on Dark-types. Impurities are very harmful to them. It took a lot longer to be introduced into the aforementioned games simply because of developer bias.

Who's who of type experts: Sprig Acantha
The current Gym Leader of Celestic Town. Growing up, Sprig was often seen as a weird quiet boy. Even in a town like Celestic which was the birthplace of a faith that taught people and Pokemon to be accepting of others, he saw his share of bullying. Sprig had many feminine interests and liked cute Pokemon. This made him unpopular with boys, but girls liked him. Dealing with hate was never a problem for Sprig. There was nothing wrong with it, and it wasn't much more than you'd expect to see anyway. His life was pretty normal. Until one day when he was six years old, everything changed.

Pisti Acantha was Sprig's brother, about three years older. He was the opposite of his brother: loud and brash. Sprig was never that interested in religion, but Pisti often went to the Kannagi Shrine. He was very interested and became a close friend of the child of the shrine's Master. Sprig sometimes tagged along, but they weren't really friends. Then one day...well. It was a blur. Some of the details are a blur, and some he doesn't know. He does know he was playing a game at home in the afternoon after school. He even knows exactly where he was in the game. Then his father walked into the sideroom where the TV and games console was, delivering the news that his brother had passed away. It was a Pokemon attack. What's worse, the Master's child was with Pisti at the time.

Everything went to hell in a handbasket. Whatever had happened was so awful that Sprig couldn't see his brother one last time in the casket. His parents had many arguments. The grief ended up taking them both, his mother less than a year later and father around four years after that. Although his mother's friends sometimes visited after her passing, their visits became less frequent as time went on. Sprig had to step up in the house, learning to cook and clean.

One of the few consistent visitors was the Gym Leader of Celestic, Priest Warutsu Amaya. He was always there even though some in the shrine resented the Acantha family. And to be honest, part of Sprig resented the shrine as well - and Warutsu said, "That is okay, just do not let it consume you." When his father passed away, Warutsu all but formally adopted Sprig. It was then that Sprig learned what happened on the shrine's side. They almost lost their sole heir, who was severely traumatized by the incident. When regular therapy didn't word, they had to resort to hypnotherapy - also known as memory sealing - in order to help. Sprig is one of the few privy to this, but he wondered what happens if the memory sealing fails? It was a concern shared by Warutsu. He was against it: it was unlikely due to the strength, but if it ever failed (or was intentionally removed), things would be far worse. Not to mention the possible side effects and moral issues. Still, even one their most senior members was concerned that it may have been their only option to move forward.

His brother's friend, if you haven't figured it out by now, is Prema Kannagi.

Under Warutsu, Sprig's life began to improve, but there was always a void and lack of direction. Warutsu decided to nominate him as the successor to his Gym - after all, he had personally tutored Sprig. In Summer of 2015, he was accepted along with Roark as the newest two Gym Leaders of Sinnoh. He liked the Fairy-type most of all, so his type was an easy decision. He has no clear ace yet, but among his Pokemon are a Clefable, Azumarill, Ribombee, and Serawil. By the time he became Leader, time had healed most of the wounds of the past, so there were few complaints. Sprig is still figuring out his Leader title. He's been called the Fairy Boy by some (derogatorily or otherwise), but he doesn't want to embrace that one. He's never been too big on the "pride" part of "gay pride." That said, he's completely comfortable with his sexuality, only occasionally worrying about being too stereotypical. Same with his gender identity: why can't he be a boy who likes girly things? Sprig's main stress these days is self-doubt, wondering if he really deserves the Gym Leader position, but at least to the League and challengers, he's been living up to it so far.

Also irony: Ortega in SV basically ended up looking how I visualize him, just less dapper. Short pink hair with pink eyes and all that.

Pokemon commentary: Tinkaton and co
Highly popular and somewhat psychotic Pokemon. Holding a hammer is like a comfort to them. They gather whatever metals they can to create their weapons. Blacksmiths in medieval Europe were known to use them to help with their craft. Tinkatink can struggle to survive because they have trouble focusing without their weapons, which can be stolen by metal-eating Pokemon or even desperate other members of the species. This leaves them nearly defenseless against predators.

They grow stronger as they evolve and capable of wielding bigger hammers. For a Tinkatuff, a big hammer is a source of ego as much as any big body part would be for a human. They enjoy testing their metal against others, and will occasionally hunt in packs while splitting them apart. Tinkaton are often belligerent, in sort of a "I'LL SHOW THEM ALL" sort of way over grief suffered as a Tinkatink. They steal whatever they can just because they can, which can lead them into trouble if they bite off more than they can chew. Those raised in captivity are far more friendly, but maintain a sense of mischievousness and enjoy a good fight. While it is true they try to his Corviknights in flight with rocks, this does little more than annoy the birds. It's believed this is a pastime if not a sport. They magically attune themselves to their extremely heavy hammers so they can lift them without trouble. The species actually isn't very strong on their own, instead using skill and the weight of their hammer to compensate.

Their natural enemies are Probopass and Magnezone - anything magnetic, actually. While they are not predators, wild Tinks are extremely fearful of these Pokemon for being able to effortlessly disarm them. Some Steel-types in areas with Tinks have been known to work or gather with these Pokemon to protect themselves.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Prema Kannagi's Spritzee "Shu"
Shu, named for the term shigeki-shū (pungent odor) and sounding like a real name, was Prema's first Pokemon. He is a carefree and happy Pokemon who quickly became friends with Pachi. He has also been with Prema for years and is capable in a battle - the Kannagis do train Pokemon for bonding and protective reasons, after all. He enjoys being out of his Poke Ball, but this is sometimes sporadic because of his scents.

Shu wasn't privy to all the above, if you're wondering. He met Prema after, and was partially given to her as someone to bond with. Actually, behind-the-scenes on this since it's so major.

Spoiler

I always planned this backstory for Prema and I always planned Sprig. Being related to Prema's friend who was at the focal point of that incident was a means of tidying things up and tying things together. Him being Warutsu's adoptive son I also thought up on the spot while writing this, but it helped to better explain how he became a Gym Leader. Finally, I did have plans for Sprig to be more unstable, but I ditched those because Xing already fit that. If you're wondering why his sexuality is a footnote, that's because it is: he's just not defined by it in any way.

 

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What makes a Pokemon Legendary? Rarity? Power? A connection to the world? The truth of the matter is simple when you boil it down: it's a matter of belief. It is incredibly arbitrary to where the term can be considered worthless, really. Arcanine is one of the most famous examples of this. It was worshiped in Eastern cultures, most notably China, was even entitled the Legendary Pokemon which remains its classification.

It is well-known that there are multiple of every Pokemon out there, which sometimes clashes with the beliefs of some religious groups. This is sometimes explained by the theory of a "Prime" Legendary, explaining that there is a true one that is indeed as powerful as imagined and the lesser ones are simply to allow humanity a taste of their power. There is no evidence of these Prime Pokemon existing, but there are several examples of specific specimens standing out over the rest.

To this end, I will go over every Pokemon officially considered Legendary. Keep in mind, there's no one world religion in real life, so nor should there be in fictional worlds.

- Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres: This trio of birds are not often considered to be Legendary in modern times. They are just very powerful and very rare birds. Any stories about them being responsible for the weather were simply made up for the sake of drama. However, Articuno and especially Moltres are still highly revered Pokemon.
- Mewtwo/Silvally/Magerna: The original creators of Mewtwo consider it to be Legendary. Mews have called them abominations. They're strong, no matter what you say about them. There are multiple specimens due to stolen research notes. I'm grouping the last two here as well, as they're in the same boat, being based off of revered Pokemon.
- Raikou, Entei, Suicune: So, that "Prime" one? It was spawned from these. The original Pokemon that Ho-oh revived are given much reverence in Johto, but there are multiple across the world. Peoples' views on these differ wildly.
- Ho-oh: A true Legendary. Worshiped not only in Johtonese culture but in several other places as well; even faiths such as the Kannagis revere it. With its powers of resurrection, you'll find few who dispute its status.
- Lugia:[/b][/u] It's just a fat bird which can control ocean currents. Any stories about them being responsible for the three birds was simply made up for the sake of drama and people thinking there should be an analogue/counterpart.
- The Regis: The lesser ones are considered to be servants/creations of the true one, Regigigas. Because they're fairly common by comparison, few give them respect. Regigigas on the other hand, is anything from an artisan, to one who shaped the world, to even being part of the True Original One (I'll get into that later).
- Lati@s: An interesting case. While revered, it seems something has happened that lowered their power level - willingly, some suggest. The Soul Dew and evidence of one united form without a clear gender is evidence. They generally do qualify as a result despite their commonness.
- Groudon, Kyogre: Unlike most Pokemon which artificially simulate the weather, these two can change it. They are sometimes revered as deities of the sun and rain in certain cultures. However, in traditional Hoenn myth, they are instead seen as destroyers. Either way, they are Legendary Pokemon, especially when factoring in their sealed powers.
- Rayquaza: It's just a big dragon with an advanced Cloud Nine ability. This is still worshiped in Hoenn as an ancient savior.
- Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf: Called the Essences of the Soul by the Kannagis. It is a fact that the founders of the shrine, Yuku, Agnis, and Emu, were the first to bond with these Pokemon and were the source of their traditional Japanese name. The story goes when the Original One created the world, it gave spirit. Knowledge to grow, Emotion to express, and Willpower to act. In just about any non-monotheist culture, they get revered, and even in some of monotheist ones. But, is it true or not...?
- Dialga, Palkia, Giratina: Also universally Legendary. They are those that manage the world around us, ensuring that the dimensions:[/b][/u] Time, Space, and the imperceptible. The idea that Giratina is destructive was born because of a shallow-minded Ceutholic who equated it with their demon lord. This has unfortunately caught on, much to the big centipede's chagrin...
- Cresselia: It and Darkrai are both seen as Legendary in many cultures given their extensive dominion over dreams.
- Heatran: It's just some lava/metal beast that can control volcanoes. Rare and powerful, but not Legendary at all.
- The Muskedeers: Interesting case. They are revered in Pokemon culture as ancient leaders, but they were worthy opponents at best for humans.
- The Forces of Nature: Considered Legendary. The nature of the worship is dependent:[/b][/u] Eastern cultures knowing of all four saw them as harbingers of the seasons. Enamorus is particularly vain and picky and was the least seen. Sometimes individual Tornadus, etc. became revered.
- Taomons: Believed by some to be the shattered remnants of an invading Pokemon that was spared by God/The Original One.
- Xerneas, Yveltal: Anything from life/death reps to ancient calamities.
- Zygarde: Legendary. The "eyes" of the True Original One in that belief. Generally not-Legendary otherwise. Its relation to the above two is unknown, but some believe it stopped a conflict and is in the same boat as Rayquaza.
- Tapus: Of course they're worshiped in Hawaii/Alola. Respected by others for the same reason, as long as they respect other cultures.
- Solgaleo, Lunala: They evolved! They together exposed that the definition of Legendary was arbitrary and phased the term out of common use. Still worshiped in Hawaii.
- Necrozma: Presently an unknown...
- Weapon Wolves: I rewrite this to fit the themes better. There will be/is considerable debate about what's what. The truth? It was the bond between them and two humans that stopped the calamity. But are they Legendary? Probably not unique enough, no, except for THE two. More that points towards the "Prime" theory in that regard.
- Kubfu and Urshifu: It's just a kung-fu panda, or something. No one really sees this as Legendary.
- The King's steeds: They're just horses. Heck, the king rode any horse like Rapidash. These are the others believers in "Prime" Legendaries point to, since his two favored ones are much stronger. Science, whenever they've been observed, points to their lifespans being artificially extended and gaining a lot of power in their life.
- Calyrex: An example of faith being lost over time. While revered in his native island, centralized faiths such as Ceutholism started to take over. Calyrex lost power and influence over his followers as a result, and as mentioned, was kicked out by the Terror of Edinburgh. Fallen Legendary?
- Treasures of Ruin: Calamities given shape. Some believe them to be sins given form. These beliefs often have them as Legendary.
- Coverbikes: Unknown factors at this point.
- Loyal Three: Revered as Legendaries. Ha ha ha. Better late than never to mention that faith can give power, as alluded to with Calyrex.
- Ogerpon: Not Legendary, but one is infamous in Kitakami.
- Terapagos: Who knows at this point?

Actually, this was super disorganized, especially at the end, hm. I should probably use Mythic to go over the Kannagi faith and a few other related ones.

Pokemon Commentary: The Muskedeers
These Pokemon were known to have evolved or transmuted from an unknown source. Satellite imaging of their breeding habitats have revealed the presence of these Pokemon, who evolve into one of at least four different kinds. However, they do not allow any to get close besides nannies or mates. When human wars ravaged the land many centuries ago, a certain Cobalion, a Terrakion, and Virizion stepped up to defend their habitats. There has been some speculation they were created to defend the world. As usual, there are multiple instances of these Pokemon, but those three and their young companion are the most well known (and those who believe it point towards them being the "Prime" versions). The characters of a Kalosian tale were very loosely inspired by them. Hey, because sometimes, I have to go with that answer due to real-world timing.

Most Pokemon respect them. Some become ruthlessly isolationist or even believe the world would be better off if humans and Pokemon live separate, but this is mostly brought on by cynicism. They have been known to take the fight to humans and Pokemon who are a threat to their kind. However, modern weaponry outclasses them; thankfully the world is far more peaceful and respecting nature is far more prominent these days. SV DLC2 leak spoilers? If Paradoxes are indeed tied to imagination, these would be from people envisioning their adapting to futuristic weaponry.

As for Keldeo, the most famous one was practically a tagalong to the three most well known of them after their collective habitat was destroyed. They usually do not fight as young as the one commonly depicted in popular culture do. However, his resolve allowed him to temporarily manifest a horn. Young Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion similarly have much smaller horns. It's this youth that ironically allows them to unlock potential not seen in adult specimens.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: None
My fic is too low stakes to feature them, at least, at present. Even the first time they are they're still getting thrown onto the backburner. Naturally it wouldn't be good to give these to main characters unless they're supposed to be stupidly overpowered. Stupidly overpowered side-characters, on the other hand...and no, Morgan doesn't count here, since I downtune that Legendary appropriately.

 

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In a nutshell: Pseudo-Legendary
How do you make something from a fanmade term that has like no basis in anything canon? Oh, fine. Any Pokemon can be strong, but these have the rawest power without much effort. Many of these are Dragons, and can be even stronger than some commonly considered Legendary (without factoring in any special powers). Though it's worth noting that Pokemon such as Arcanine and Slaking have a ton of power too. Really, the whole thing's hard to define in anything but arbitrary game mechanics. There's no base stats here, just vague ideas loosely based off them.

Who's who of fanon term experts: Ryuki Daihino
Pride is synonymous with the Dragon Tamers of Blackthorn. Even the most humble among them believe in the superiority of Dragon-types, including humble ones such as Lance or the master of the shrine - a devout of the Kannagi faith who believes all Pokemon are to be revered.

Then there's this guy.

A self-styled rockstar with absurd fashion sense and a hair gel budget that could make your eyes bulge, Ryuki is eccentric at best and probably slightly insane at worst. With a voice that an Exploud would ask him to tone down and enough hot blood to pilot any giant robot, this young man took both the battling world and music world by storm. His hit single, "Fly to My Arms, Rayquaza!" went viral with over ten million views.

While he failed the Dragon's Den test miserably, mostly on a difference of ideals rather than any sort of negative behavior towards Pokemon, absolutely no one can deny his capacity for raising Dragons. He believes they are the strongest and trains the strongest of them all. He owns every "Pseudo-Legendary" he can get his hands on as long as they are a Dragon - a Dragonite, a Kommo-o, a Garchomp, a Beelzazel, you name it - and dreams of catching an actual Dragon-type Legendary some day. But his lack of foresight and attentiveness in his battles often get in the way of his success, and it doesn't look like that's going to change. Still, the fact that he does as well as he does anyway and the fact that he raised all these Pokemon to begin with is a testament to how good he is. If he ever straightens around, people speculate he might rise all the way to the top, especially if he full focuses on them and not just his music.

His real name is Kotaro Yamada. His SOUL name is a given name with "Ryu" in it, then combining the family name "火野" with "大" which also incidentally sounds like a corrupted "dino".

Pokemon commentary: Gnatong, Entyrid, Beelzazel
Because screw it, I may as well use the Pokemon I made for a r*mhack, since the theme here is fan content! Though they weren't really there, they were supposed to be very high-investment mons with absurd level evo requirements sabotaged by Gyarados being even higher BST for much less effort. Didn't get that decision. These are Pokemon based off the idea of a "dragon" fly. Unlike Flygon these actually are Bug/Dragon.

Gnatong are tiny Pokemon, comparable to the size of a Joltik. They are based off common houseflies. Many pseudo-legends come from humble beginnings but this takes it further. They are very weak Pokemon most comparable to Feebas in that its stats are just crummy with an okay movepool, and though they breed well, few survive to evolution in the wild. It's often those who are smart enough to know their limits that do. Their originally proposed name, Flyvern, was rejected in and out of universe for sounding too strong for what they were.

Seeing an Entyrid is considered good luck in many cultures. They eat common insects and plants. They usually do not go after smaller Bug-types, remembering their own struggles to survive. When forced to fight, they are calm and focused, deftly fluttering through the air while attacking with claws and bites. Because of how much effort it takes to gain the experience to evolve and their generally avoiding trouble, it is rare for see a Beelzazel in the wild. These large dragons are often proud of their power and eager demonstrate it to anyone. The skill they built as an Entyrid is complimented by strength. They can learn an impressive variety of physical moves thanks to their draconian heritage coming to the fore, but they most prefer going for weak spots and pressure points with deadly precision. While they are much larger, they retain their mobility and can even fly at speeds up to 60km/h. However, they cannot be fast and mobile at the same time. Despite the ominous sounding name, wild ones would rather incapacitate than kill (except prey) and are frequently recluse. They've been known to just sit and watch those that wander into their territory as long as they don't attack.

Also just a reminder that "Fakemon" is a dumb term that demeans all your work and why did it ever catch on? Anyway the sprites:

Spoiler

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Joe Stone's Salamence
Joe in Torchic's Facadeverse is based off Battle Revolution because of the hair color and is Steven's implicitly very abusive cousin. Joe in my metaseries has nothing to do with Battle Revolution and does nothing more than a bit of teasing, but is Steven's cousin. As a counterpart, I gave him the other PL of Hoenn. While it got wrecked by Kallisto's Raitora during his Gym qualifier via a makeshift Blizzard with Hyper Voice+Ice Fang because Kallisto is that good (and Volkner imposed a time limit when he tried stalling in the air), he qualified while the head Gym Trainer was away. The subsequent battle with Volkner was so much fun the Leader gave him a badge despite going to a draw with his Chatot. It didn't get a chance to show much personality, though since he was a two and half chapter character, it's for good reason.

 

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Like with Legendary, there is no clear consensus on what defines these. Because let's be honest, that's what they really are from an out-of-universe perspective, event-exclusives. More power to writers who can find a way to work with it and are willing to in the first place.

So I'll go over some things instead, as it's the best way.

Super brief summary
Mew: Yes, sometimes the "Mind" of the True Original One.
Celebi: Local deity, sometimes one blessed/chosen by Dialga.
Jirachi: Sometimes, god of wishes.
Deoxys: No, alien invader. Interesting for being a foreign Pokemon.
Manaphy and Phione: No, they're very common.
Darkrai: Yes, legendary over nightmares, see Cresselia.
Shaymin: Sometimes, god of flowers. Other times, just has standard Pokemon powers.
Arceus: Absolutely yes, but its name isn't as known as some throw around.
Victini: Yes, god of war and victory.
Keldeo: Not really, see Muskedeers. Legendary in-training to certain Pokemon?
Meloetta: Sometimes, deity of song and dance. Other times, too common.
Genesect: No, fossil restoration gone mad scientist.
Diancie: Sometimes, goddess of jewels. Other times, a Carbink relative: unknown evolution method?
Hoopa: Often not, it's powerful but few pantheons define it. Speculation: one blessed by Palkia.
Volcanion: No, what is this thing anyway? Were they even trying to make a cool Mythic here?
Magearna: No, mad scientist's creation based off another God-Fragment. Rarely yes for emulating it.
Marshadow: No, just exists.
Zeraora: No, they're just rare.
Meltan and Melmetal: No, just insanely rare.
Zarude: No, just an endangered species.

Monotheistic faiths
You're here, so you probably at least have an idea what this is. In the beginning, there was nothing, and all that. Religions that believe in a single God. These are commonly called Iseuan religions in my ficverse. Despite the name this encompasses all of the offshoots. The most commonly mentioned is Ceutholism. Most of these simply have them as the creators of everything. In these faiths, the Original One mentioned in other faiths is anything from a demiurge to a fragment of Him to actually being Him. However, the name comes from CEU being found on an ancient plate.

Pokemon also are generally monotheistic in the wild. The direct creations of the progenitor are the exception and will generally be revered, but not as much as the progenitor itself. Irreligion is not unknown.

The God-Fragment theory
This is a theory that the Pokemon known as Arceus is not the true form of the original one. It goes that it split itself into several pieces. This is also part of where the "Prime" theory comes from, especially since there are multiple Mews.

I've developed six so far that fit under this definition.

• Arceus: The avatar. The body, an empty husk like Kyurem.
• Mew: The mind. Possesses knowledge of all moves.
• Regigigas: The arms, or possibly the right arm. Shaped the world.
• Zygarde: The eyes. Watches over the world.
• ???: The heart. It's what Magearna is based on.
• ???: The ???, or possibly the left arm. This is why Orre is in such a sorry state.

The Kannagi faith
A central faith of which main protagonist Prema Kannagi is the heir to. It was founded by three siblings, Yuku, Agnis, and Emu. It was the basis for how humans treat Pokemon in modern times. Under the Kannagi faith, all Pokemon are respected and treated equal. However, there are several noteworthy that are seen as having a closer connection to the Original One than most. Even some Pokemon know and respect their name.

Out-of-universe, it is a pure Shinto analogue without any Buddhism influences. In this sense, there are many gods that are respected as shaping Pokemon, humanity, and the world around them. They have always been a progressive faith that has adapted with the times, which has lost them some practitioners. The downfall of the Kannagi Family was a gradual bleeding out sort of process where direct descendants left for their own reasons over the years. While more are going to monotheistic faiths or are non-exclusive, the family members are still highly respected for their abilities.

There are certainly more out there than the two shown in fic, Prema and her father Haruto. Whether or not they show depends on if the writing goes in that direction. Super endgame is probably the shrine once more rising to prominence.

The Kannagis have ranks denoting position for those who take an active role in the shrine's day-to-day efforts: Acolyte, Monk/Maiden, and Priest/Priestess. Family members are...should figure that out, heirs are called Lord/Lady, and the head is the Master.

The Mitsutri faith
Out-of-universe, they are Shinto with Buddhism. They branched off from the Kannagi Shrine at some point. One key difference is that the Kannagis are more loose in their teachings, whereas the Mitsutris went further with the influences from Gautama style religions. While they overtook the Kannagis in influence, this came crashing down on them in 1945.

Unbeknownst to just about everyone in the modern age, there was a friend who accompanied the Kannagi siblings, who bonded with a fourth Essence of the Soul. This green one resided in a certain fourth lake. Multiple things contributed to this one fading into obscurity, particularly the government wanting a connection with their Imperial Regalia. The names of Emrit and Agnome were also changed to cover for the ruse and the latter was instead said to represent willpower instead of thought. Will the being of want ever return?

Though they're religious rivals, the Mitsutris were never evil as a faith. They're doing just as poorly as the Kannagis these days. Still, they worship much of the same gods as each other and both even respect local ones like Celebi all the same.

Pokemon commentary: Jirachi
Highly rare Pokemon. They have minor reality bending powers. This does not mean they are able to grant any wish you write. The nature of a Jirachi's power is probability manipulation: if something can come true, they can make it more likely that it will. The wisher may still have to work at it in some cases; for example, a wish to be loved by someone will only make them receptive, it's up to the wisher to land and keep them. They can expend a lot of power at once to make miracles, like extinguishing a forest fire with a freak downpour. However, restoring the forest would be beyond their abilities.

It takes power to influence the world, and the greater the scope of the wish, the more power Jirachi will need to expend to make it happen. They will generally grant wishes without corrupting them, but they sometimes will refuse to grant a wish if it is destructive in nature. Their signature Doom Desire works by manifesting their power of wishes to attack their enemies. They use their third eye to see future possibilities. This can be used in battle, but the strain it puts on them is too much to bear for anything but a short burst.

Noteworthy future Pokemon in-fic: Priest Warutsu Amaya's Phione
One problem with the bond between humans and Pokemon is their differing lifespans. Indeed, many trainers have watched their beloved partners pass on before them, as has the opposite happened. In fact, Pokemon designated as starters are almost always those with long lifespans. While the Poke Ball can extend a Pokemon's life by putting them in a suspended status, this isn't always practiced and only does so much. It was a dark day for Warutsu indeed when the time came for his Bibarel to leave him.

Kodo-style funerals are very involved. Even for Pokemon, it is a lengthy and involved process. When they traveled to Route 208, where Bibarel was born to announce his passing, Warutsu caught sight of something floating listlessly near the waterfall. He wasted no time in going to the rescue. It was a heavily injured young Phione. Suddenly, their task to honor the deceased became a struggle to save another. When potions did not work, he had no choice but to capture Phione and get them treatment. The Pokemon Center was able to stabilize them, but it would be a long road to recovery.

Believing fate was at work, Warutsu took it upon himself to personally oversee Phione's recovery. He got to know the Pokemon over time, learning he was naturally born and thus much stronger. It took a little under two months before the wound, inflicted by a Sharmpage, was completely healed. It came time to release Phione back into the wild where such a rare Pokemon belonged. (They're not mythic in any way, but he was just being responsible). But Phione refused, idly floating on the water and shaking his form to say know.

The sea drifter telepathically communicated through use of Heart Swap: "I owe you my life, I cannot leave you," he said. Warutsu replied, "I cannot keep you here. I chose to save you that you may live a fruitful life. Now that task is done, and you must go." Phione countered, "Then it is my choice to stay with you, Priest of Kannagi. I can tell from the time we have already spent that my life with you will be fruitful."

It is the Kannagi way to respect Pokemon. Warutsu felt he had no choice but to accept the Pokemon's wishes. Make no mistake, he was happy. It just surprised him. He christened Phione Kurio. Warutsu would later hear of a member of the Kalos Elite Four who befriended a Manaphy in similar fashion. Duties have prevented them from meeting so far.

 

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In a nutshell: Original sin
I've made my feelings on this generational gimmick clear in the past, which are heretical to the fanbase's love of it. To repeat myself in a formal capacity here: I always felt too many of these should've been actual evolutions instead of a gimmick. That said, the designs are cool, so I implement many of them in anyway. Here's a partial list.

- Sablegis, Dymawile, Terronette, Pinnyen, Heracrush, Serawil, Houndeign, Soprodia, Sharmpage, Volcamel: These are all normal evolutions. Names aside from Sablegis are pending.
- Gyarados is what older, stronger Magikarp evolved into. Ampharos is also an older variant from when they were closer to their draconic roots. Beedrill is here too; individuals were stronger before swarm mentality kicked in. Aerodactyl's was its original form: fossil regeneration isn't perfect as discussed.
- Lopunny and Absol are regional variants from an African region. Manectric is from electricity-torn regions (Holon?) who grew larger spines to store more power but became slower as a result. Glalie is the same way, just icy and more frail. Aggron is a whole line of regional variants from regions where they can consume metal but not rocks.
- Steelix and Pidgeot are also regional, but haven't decided what circumstances.
- Kangaskhan's is a special ability. Lucario's is a form taken on by particularly strong or gifted specimens, also gaining an ability.
- Rayquaza's is primal reversion. Diancie is a special form. Mewtwos are the result of further genetic modification. Lati@s is speculated as to be their original form when they were a single one-gender species.
- I have an idea for Kanto starters, in short paradox imagination PokeGods, but it depends on what canon has to say on the leaked SV stuff. It's probably what Salamence will end up as if so. The Hoenn ones would be older or alternate forms.
- Slowbro, Alakazam, Gengar, Scizor, Tyranitar, Gardevoir, Gallade, Metagross, Garchomp: These ones are absolutely thrown out the window for various reasons. Might be able to work the pseudos if I get a good enough idea?

That said, I still write it in, albeit in a different capacity. The keyword behind it is "infinity". It's an unnatural form change that uses the power of unlimited potential to temporarily change a Pokemon's form or induce temporary evolution - hey, if PMD can pull that stuff, it should work in the normal world, right? This can be painful for the Pokemon, however. For example, a Houndoom that mega evolves has trouble maintaining its flames, but a Houndeign can perfectly control them. A Pinnyen that mega evolves might be overwhelmed by the urge to fly, but one that evolves normally will get over it soon enough. These unnatural changes also come with equally unnatural power boosts from the energy involved.

One problem with this is that it requires jewels that are attuned to each Pokemon, or fossilized portions, and whatnot. Some of these proper evolution methods are also very hard to come by. The Rocket remnants in Johto were experimenting with radio signals as a means to artificially induce evolution as a ways around both of these. One of the victims of this was the Red Gyarados, whose body did not properly change color and became very emotionally unstable as a result of the experience. She had to get treatment...

Pokemon commentary: Dymawile
The problem with being a trickster is that sooner or later, people (or in this case, Pokemon) are going to grow wise to your tricks. When this happens to a Mawile, they may either find a new place to take up residence, find a trainer (they're loved for their cuteness), or evolve into Dymawile. They need experience and victories for this.

These aggressive Pokemon drop all pretenses of trying to fool others and attack viciously with their jaw-like horns. Wild ones are particularly dangerous because they will not hesitate to attack anything they think they can take. Which can be everything. Ones that evolve in human captivity, however, tend to retain a lot of the behavior of a Mawile. Some will even completely embrace their cute side to where they rarely open their horn-jaws.

Noteworthy (future?) Pokemon in-fic: Sofie Shadden's Sablegis "Baubgoblin"
While Volkner had to train Nori as part of his test for Elite Four promotion, Flint was given this edgy girl from Jubilife who stopped some street violence. Sablegis, one of the few names I'm 100% sure is perfect, is certainly going to be one of her Pokemon. It was her newest capture and only actually seen as a Sableye, but she trained it well enough to be a match for Flint's Plusle in a training battle. Still lost, but the subject of its eventually evolution came up in conversation where Sofie dismissed Flint's constructive criticism that he wasn't taking advantage of Keen Eye because it loses it upon evolution. He had to concede that one.

 

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In a nutshell: Ultra Beasts and other worlds
It's well known that there's a multiverse out there. Some of these are more mundane, familiar yet unfamiliar. Others are stranger, like the world where Pokemon somehow became the dominant species (and have to kidnap/transform humans from other worlds to counter the startling amount of Pokemon-soul specific threats they face, often with a healthy amount of brainwashing to make them complicit). Then there's the world these things came from.

Ultra Space is a strange and surreal world, believed to have a connection to Giratina's realms or otherwise related to them. At times, portals linking the real world and Ultra Space appear. Pokemon occasionally drift through these portals, getting very frightened and confused in the process. It is believed this is either from the influence of a Pokemon native to the world or an experiment gone wrong in that world. Due to the unnatural way in which the Pokemon cross over, they become infused with power and become much stronger.

Experimentation with opening a portal to Ultra Space is underway. Unmanned probes have been sent into the world, revealing the existence of not only dozens of Pokemon native to the world but also humans. Attempts to contact them has been met with limited success due to language differences. Occasionally, people and Pokemon have fallen into the portals that periodically appear - the Alola region is a hotspot for some reason. They frequently return unable to recall much; this is not memory sealing but rather a case of trauma or being delirious during it. Psychic Pokemon have helped to unravel the memories in these instances; it appears that the power boosting goes both ways. It's something of a small miracle these portals infrequently appeared and haven't shown where they could cause serious damage. Yet. The Officials are keeping an eye on things and planning for the possibility of a crisis.

However different or strange they may look, these are still Pokemon. No alien types have been observed in them. The only problem with capture is that regular Poke Balls have trouble with recognition due to the residue energy from the portals interfering with them, causing the system allowing a Pokemon the chance to break out to be much more easily defeated.

Who's who of alien experts: Faba Schulze
The head of research at the Aether Foundation. He is a shrewd and gifted, yet somewhat amoral man. He's not a bad guy, though! Out-of-universe, he's mostly SM Faba. One of the foremost researchers into the Ultra Beasts.

Billionaires can spend their money just about any way they want. For the man who created the Aether Foundation, he spent it all creating a non-profit organization with a focus on preserving and protecting Pokemon. Any and all of them. The company and his values were passed down to his daughter, who fell in love with one of their scientists. One day, they happened upon a jellyfish-like Pokemon neither had seen personally. The scientist and his coworker - Faba - studied it. Faba made good strides into their mind with his Psychic Pokemon.

The Officials and governments had known about Ultra Beasts, and they didn't want the public knowing that Pokemon from other dimensions were creeping in periodically. It was Faba who acted as the middleman when the International Police attempted to intervene with Aether. Loyal to a fault, he threatened to expose them if the Pokemon was confiscated and destroyed. It was his job on the line, not to mention a life. Mutually assured destruction, as he called it. Eventually, when it became apparent that Aether was taking care of the UB codenamed the parasite, they reached an agreement where they could continue their research into the Pokemon. Maybe they could solve some of the mysteries about them.

They ultimately concluded they would be unable to create a suitable environment for it, so the decision was made to send it home. You know where this is going: the scientist vanished, leaving behind a grief-stricken wife who may have been infected with toxins. The company has since then continued with their research in absolute secret in cooperation with the Officials. Faba in particular has developed a Poke Ball attuned to their energy signatures to make capture easier and has even caught one himself; before then, Master Balls were the most reliable means and they were costly to manufacture (and seen as immoral by many). Always one to have his finger on the pulse, he was very unimpressed by Dr. Fuji's attempts to create an ultimate Pokemon and has been looking to create one of his own that could adapt to any situation to fight any Ultra Beast. He is growing increasingly concerned about the demands and mental state of the president, but he has a job and SCIENCE to do. Mysteries of the multiverse to solve! Why, he could even be among the famed greats some day...

Pokemon commentary: Poipole and Naganedal
Pokemon that resemble vaguely resemble draconic insects and exhibit much of the same behavior as Beedrills, Vespiquens, etc. Poipole is covered in a sticky fluid that seems to be some sort of honey, although it is highly toxic. Naganadel are hive leaders who defend their territory with large stingers. They seem to have a maniacal side to them. However, they do not have a swarm mentality. Poipole who pass through are actually quite timid, attacking out of desperation more than anything.

When communication with words failed, pictures were sent to the humans of Ultra Space. One of these was of new trainers with their starter Pokemon. The probe returned with pictures of young kids with a Poipole. This suggests it is considered a starter Pokemon in their world, or at least one that's commonly caught and raised.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Minor Official In-Training Twist Kallisto Keravnos' Xurkitree
Being a super popular trainer who's famous, talented, and even related to top-level trainers has its advantages. When one of these crossed over into the world and was successfully contained, the Officials gave it to one of the fastest-rising Electric-type masters in the world. It was part of their plan to gradually ease them into the public eye. Wanting Kallisto as a Champion, possibly multi-region one, might also have something to do with it. The only condition was to not say its exact origins; so Kallisto said they're a rare species on South Pacific islands, and this one was particularly unruly and needed a good trainer. Nori was a little suspicious, especially because rehabilitating Pokemon is his job. But the subject got dropped because of their battle. Besides there, it made a couple other appearances.

Why does he have one? Because he's Kallisto Keravnos. Why didn't Nori get it? Because Pokemon Rehabilitators only get those no one else can handle.

 

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In a nutshell: Banned from Smogon frame 1
Similar to Mega Evolution, I've definitively thrown out GMax. It's definitively regional in the plot anyway, besides the logistical headaches of anything being able to grow giant (except those that arbitrarily can't). Much like it however, using the forms themselves aren't necessarily off the table. In a similar capacity, I'd say the energy transmodifies them in addition to the big size gains seen in canon. Preliminary list:

- Butterfree: An older form from when the species was stronger. They shrank to better fly around in cramped forests.
- Copperajah: Alternate form.
- Orbeetle: Older form. Probably helped cultivated flying saucer sightings.
- Toxtricity: Alternate form?
- Kingler: Evolution.
- Drewnaw: Evolution.
- Lapras: Evolution of normal Lapras.
- Duraludon: Evolution, separate from Archaludon. Skyscraludon? Towaludon?
- Centiscorch: Evolution. Milli-something.
- Melmetal: Evolution.
- Alcremie: I could probably make this an evolution though smaller scale.
- Urushifu: I should probably do something with this, I dunno what.
- Flappletun: This is Dipplin; the GMax let them change their evolution temporarily. This might change because of SV DLC2, but basic idea is going to be, it's linked to Dipplin. I mean Max Tartness is literally like Supersweet Syrup in effect.
- Everything else: Probably yeeted.

But then there's G-Max moves. Well, I may as well go into the generational gimmick that wasn't covered in this list because they'd be related: Z-Moves.

There was a time back then where Pokemon were much stronger and maybe even more vicious. They ended up restraining their powers, being made weaker by the progenitor, or something else unknown - and yeah, this is just me settling on "it's supposed to be ambiguous, some ambiguity never hurt anyone". Max moves and Z-Moves are the manifestations of these times. However, they expend so much energy in one burst for a modern age Pokemon that they need a focus, special powers, or intense training to access them. Even then in the latter case, they'd require recharge time.

Similarly, I could probably just make some of the specific Z-Moves normal moves that can be overcharged in some way. I'd certainly say that Stoked Sparksurfer, Genesis Supernova, and Splintered Stormshards are normal moves in some capacity, maybe Light That Burns the Sky. Most others are really just superstrong versions of moves, or too weird to justify in Eevee's case. I haven't fully decided what I want to do with the generics. Maybe make my own based off them, or split them into a physical/special one. Given the recharge time idea however, they could easily all be Hyper Beam variants. And/or Draco Meteor variants.

Hm, may as well compile a list of Z-Moves and G-Max moves I would make actual ones, or notes on certain ones.

- Sparksurf: Would be A-Raichu's signature move.
- Genesis Supernova: Mew certainly deserves the signature.
- Splintershard: Lycanroc's signature that varies depending on its form.
- Foam Burst: Signature if it isn't a super Bubblebeam.
- Resonance: Maybe a signature?
- Malodor: Probably a signature with guaranteed poison chance plus some damage. Poison analog to Nuzzle?
- Volcalith: I'd just need to figure out the logic here.
- Stun Shock: Funny move that can Poison or Paralyze, a-la Tri Attack.
- Centiferno: Wrap x Fire Spin.
- Steelsurge: I mean with all these hazards what's Stealth Steel?
- Depletion: Probably as an analog signature Skyscraludon or whatever I'm calling it.

- Befuddle: Just all three status powders being used at once.
- Wind Rage: I'd just make this effect any strong wind move could use.
- Tartness/Sweetness: Just aspects of Dipplin or apples being weaponized.
- One Blow/Rapid Flow: Just their signatures boosted.

Still disorganized. Bleh.

Who's who of move experts: Kukui
I guess since he's canonically one? I don't know, really just keeping this up for a gimmick.

A researcher of dubious credentials who studies Pokemon moves by taking them himself. Humans in the Pokeverse are more durable than you'd expect, they're certainly not as frail as we are, but sometimes he's pushed it too hard. Possibly enjoys pain. He lives a double life as a wrestler who has had exhibition matches (in the ring and in Pokemon) with fellow masked wrestler Crasher Wake. Hard to line up his canon history with what I have, so I'd probably give him multiple journeys besides the Island Challenge and Kanto, probably to Johto to rectify the Lance thing and separating the Leagues. Then he later settled into the researcher role.

Pokemon commentary: Kingler's evo
These evolutions grow massive, powerful legs and are the entire reason why the entire line is capable of using Stomp. With their pointed tips, they're even capable of climbing cliffs or the walls in undersea caves. They encase themselves in foam-like bubbles in order to protect their bodies, which has a funny beard-like appearance. They release these if an enemy gets too close.

The one pincer grows even larger while the other remains proportionately the same. While it now has the strength to lift even this, its arms have also grown very long. Swinging the pincer is still difficult for that reason; they tend to try to punch instead. Or pinch - their crushing power is at least twice the power of Kingler's, so they're still dangerous. Spikes have grown on their arms and legs to protect them from mundane predators, but there are still plenty who can and know to target them.

Because of some of these traits, it's extremely uncommon to find these evolved in the wild. Those that do tend to be very cautious. It takes a while for them to get used to their new bodies, and skill/practice to know how to bend their arms and use their pincer accurately.

Noteworthy users in-fic: The Terror of Edinburgh, again
Just to show how insanely strong she is, she'll have access to the Ice-type variant of whatever I'm doing with these. Whenever she feels like using it. A diet of Max Mushrooms may be implied to have helped learn these and use them without transforming itself.

 

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In a nutshell: Snake! You can't do that!
Who'd have thunk that in the future Pokemon will be extinct and a mad scientist will create a bunch of robots? Or that prehistoric Pokemon have modern influences? That's the very definition of a paradox to me. Are they really from another time? From another universe? Or somewhere else? One thing is for certain, they exist and they're dangerous.

Working with both sets is a thing. Then again, I may be one of the few doing a variant Sapphire plot instead of Emerald when it comes time for Hoenn, so I'm no stranger to that. It just goes to show, you need to be creative! Version differences and potential paradoxes with no third version to lazily pull from anymore be damned. So let's be creative and try to figure this out. With the info we have before DLC2, of course.

Who's who of dubious book experts: Heath Cliffe
Area Zero is a giant crater in the Paldea region. It is known for its treacherous terrain and dangerous Pokemon. The ancient king of Paldea built a wall around it, forbidding commoners from entering. After all, he both needed to protect his people and prevent them from gaining the power to overthrow him. This was maintained up to and including the modern day, although more for the safety concerns, until a researcher with a doctorate in Pokemon Biology specializing in fossil research - that's this guy - gained approval to enter the crater. It would be the first explicitly permitted civilian entry into Area Zero in hundreds of years. Accompanying him would be several other scientists, two of the Officials' top trainers, a government worker in Paldea, and a reporter. They came to be known as the expedition team. The group became famous and renowned before even heading in. That all came crashing down when they returned from their trip, with one less member.

While the reports among everyone match up before heading into the depths, that's when accounts started to differ. What is generally accepted as fact is that what happened before and after was true. The common consensus in the scientific community is that hallucinogenic gases rising from the bottom of the crater caused the team to see ordinary Pokemon or weather balloons as warped, distorted versions of themselves. Heath himself had wandered from the group at one point, drawn by something. He was found unconscious, believed rescued by the Pokemon believed to be resting in the crater or some altruist Pokemon. That was the last straw, and they decided to turn back. Heath's personal recollection on the experience came to be known as the Scarlet Book.

It was derided for being outlandish and speculative. The surviving Official agreed to be subjected to a Psychic analysis; there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her memory. While the expedition team had their share of believers, Heath was effectively laughed out of the scientific community. He eventually disappeared from the public eye and adopted a pseudonym. One of the people who accompanied him, Jonathan "Jack" Gabbiani-Schrader, wrote a science fiction novel based around the team's experiences. This was much more warmly received. He instead reported seeing cybernetic Pokemon, driving in the point that no one could really agree what they saw that day. But the two most commonly accepted accounts among those who believe there is any truth are Heath's and Jack's. What's less known is that subsequent statellite imagery, unmanned probes, and investigation by Officials has actually shown signs of these Pokemon existing. But they're not about to go telling the public this.

In what looks to be history repeating itself, Paldea's "Professorial Power Couple" Turo and Sada Esente, have gotten permission by Paldean authorities to head into Area Zero to settle the truth once and for all. With the proper equipment and precautions this time, thank you very much. Time will tell how it turns out for them.

Pokemon commentary: amogus (Brute Bonnet)
To talk about this sus Pokemon, we must first talk about what it is supposedly a variant of. Pokemon know what Poke Balls are. They know they are the things trainers use to capture them. The modern red and white coloration was first used 800 years ago and became standardized during the Industrial Revolution when they started to become mass produced. Pokemon, most infamously Voltorb, have adapted over the ages to the evolution of Poke Balls, using their appearances to deceive predators (and lure in careless trainers who think they're similar to the common item ball). Galarian Stunfisk's maw also resemble these, and of course, there are Foongus and Amoongus.

It's unknown why these mushrooms adapted to look like Poke Balls. The rumor that the developer of the modern Poke Ball based their design off them has been quashed: older Voltorb and Electrode variants were using the color long beforehand. When they sense prey approaching, they kneel down and use their Poke Ball cap as a disguise. It's not reliable because they can be smelled, but they often fall back on releasing spores. Amoongus by contrast often try to lure prey by waving their arms. They have no hypnotic powers and it's obvious to even an untrained eye that they're part of its arms, so this is unsuccessful. (Out-of-universe, White and Violet dex entries blatantly contradict each other...) It's unknown why they even bother, other than to annoy inattentive humans. When asked, they have unanimously answered that they just do and that it does work sometimes and therefore it is worth it. To that end, they have been dubbed as not a very smart species - you know, the type that are not as smart as they think.

In this sense, Brute Bonnet is strictly an impossibility. They simply should not have existed in the prehistoric form that Heath speculates. There would be even less point to trying to fool Pokemon with something that wasn't yet invented. Yet as stated, they do exist. So what are they? The running theory is that they're some sort of unrecorded variant. Their maws point towards them being more carnivorous, and the leaves around their caps point toward a more tropical or forested disguise. From the limited research able to be performed, they have spores mostly as potent as their more well-known modern day variant and seem to have the same lack of intelligence. However, they prefer to attack with punches and bites. Their behavior has otherwise not been well-documented like many of these so-called Paradoxes, but that will hopefully change...

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Future mons that attacked Taiyoko in a ficfic
I put in an application to have Pokemon featured in "borrow characters" fic crossover on another site. Had to be Pokemon. So I nominated Taiyoko after some thought. She came in (likely from a portal Prema found that needed to be dealt with) as a voice of reason in a kooky group getting them to get their butts in motion. They met with a denizen of the world who asked them to help with an investigation. However, unbeknownst to them while setting out, a mad scientist was at work trying to revive ancient and future Pokemon. The gang split up and both were on a collision course with these Paradoxes.

Luckily for the fic's logic, she was part of the group that ended up with the future versions, coming face to face with an Iron Moth. It took her off guard, needless to say. She probably wouldn't be phased by an alleged ancient form (or know it was or wasn't true), so happy little accident there. It has interesting implications and directions I could go in given what I've established above. She knew about Ultra Beasts, but not these.

 

[System Error]

In a nutshell: Shadow
The thought of an artificial type had come up in conversation when creating Porygon. Although it was created to be able to alter its Type like how users of Camouflage could, making say a "Virtual" type was simply impossible at the time, and the Pokemon ended up Normal when all was said and done despite attempts to not give it anything. Then there's this.

This artificial type has a highly damaging effect on every Pokemon not inflicted with it. Those who are Shadow already are resistant. It is ultimately not a true type, since it's more corrupt energy that harms Pokemon's bodies, but Fairy types have been noted to be especially vulnerable anyway.

Who's who of corruption experts: Ein Schulze
The brainchild of Shadow Pokemon. Like his distant cousin Faba, he also had an interest in creating an Ultimate Pokemon. Unlike him, he chose to pursue other means to achieve this goal. Ein believes that all Pokemon have the potential for greatness. All they needed to do was get rid of their weaknesses. He thought of an artificial type with dominance over all others, inspired by moves like Forest's Curse. While he succeeded, the Pokemon's bodies eventually purged the injections. No, there needed to be a way to make it more permanent, and create moves of the type to use. One of the things he looked at was the gifts of sentience: the ability to learn, feel, think, and want. (He was very studious and knew the true four.) He also was well aware that it was possible to seal them. It was most prominent with hypnotherapy with memory, but the others could as well and more directly - there were rumors about the abilities of the three lake guardians, after all. After some horrific tests, partial emotion sealing and full thought sealing proved to be the most effective. He tested the new type injections, and they now held. He called this closing the door to a Pokemon's heart.

The result of these were mindless fighting machines. There were some side-effects: growth was stunted, which they couldn't find a way around. Also, positive treatment that would normally cause Pokemon to feel the emotions that were sealed could cause them to go into a berserker rage state as they subconsciously tried to break free. This only pleased his superiors. Full emotion sealing wasn't as effective anyway: they could weaponize hate, despair, etc. and they were unable to actually break free of the conditioning with the way he pulled it off - memory sealing even through Uxie was known to be defeatable by the subject, so that was the first thing he accounted for. Ein was fully on board with Cipher's plan to conquer the Orre region, one known for its instability and lack of coordinated governance, to see the fruits of his labor be recognized. They spread the Pokemon throughout the region and entered into a partnership with the local Team to steal powerful Pokemon to convert. From there, the plan would be to conquer the rest of America. The only things they didn't see coming was a turncoat in Snagem, and the gods intervening by allowing these Pokemon's minds to revert to an earlier state after their positive emotions had nearly broken through.

Ein's research notes were destroyed when much of Cipher fell. He was notably the only admin of the organization to be arrested with no chance of release due to his role and remorselessness. He has repeatedly refused offers of reduced sentencing if he cooperated with authorities. They even tried memory probing in desperation, normally very shady and last resortish, yet Ein was too strong of mind. But thanks to some reverse engineering by an infamous and amoral vagabond researcher (like the dude looks like an escaped mental patient with a mask!), the issue was sidestepped, and some understanding and countermeasures have been made in case their remnants return in the future. Or if they find a way to brainwash humans with it...

Pokemon commentary: XD000 "Shadow Mewtwo"
Ein was a smart man. He anticipated the possibility of finding a way to break the conditioning even with the countermeasures he took, and that the gods might not take kindly to what they were doing. Or simply that they could be overwhelmed early: while highly effective, creating a Shadow Pokemon was slow process. They needed something far stronger, something that could be immune to any attempts to heal it. Having obtained a sample of Mew DNA and the research notes, he set about creating his own take on the so-called Ultimate Pokemon, set to undergo a far more extreme and experimental version Shadow Pokemon treatment.

The project was codenamed Xtreme Darkness; being named after internet slang for laughing was purposeful so it could be used in potentially intercepted emails (same for its absurd name, it would be seen as a joke). Initial tests resulted in the death of the embryos involved. Then they decided to try another approach. They put the Shadow energy into a Dusk Stone and raised a newly born Mewtwo to bond with a young girl much like the first had. It worked to perfection: they had been gradually tampering with its gifts of sentience. The girl, Lovrina, managed to fool the Mewtwo and helped induce the grief they wanted, which is when they hit it with waves that triggered the stone's power while it held it. They finished the job while it was unconscious. There were many side effects. For one, the Mewtwo's body took on a dark shade. Second, it became too aggressive, not listening to commands, passively absorbing energy, and wanting to fight constantly. It went on a small rampage, but the four Cipher Admins eventually managed to incapacitate it with the Legendary Pokemon they had captured. No sooner had it recovered from its wounds did it want to fight again. They were forced to keep it in a Poke Ball most of the time.

The Pokemon called Shadow Mewtwo was powerful beyond imagination, but something had evidently gone horribly wrong during the process. Any ideas about converting the three beasts they had captured were immediately shelved. Regrettably as they would say, XD000's mental state quickly worsened. At first it wasn't eating or sleeping. They were able to get around that by nutrient injections and inducing sleep with moves. But one day it just stopped breathing. In the end, it was truly unable to think about anything but battling. Ultimately, it never did get never deployed on the field.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: None yet!
It certainly sounds like the premise for a fic where Prema would take center stage. Or both protagonists together. They've gotten an allusion once and have only otherwise featured in works out of this series.

One of my RP characters, a Ran Yakumo expy, went through it after being snagged and afflicted with an altered serum that prevented human interaction from being effective. It never finished, but canonically she broke free because the counterpart of the reverse engineer mentioned here developed it to let the Pokemon itself break free (the one who infected her didn't know and jumped the gun), then she got snagged right back. She multiverse hops with the Yukari expy so she'll cameo. Especially since (real spoiler) her Nori/Prema counterpart was killed by Nori's Pawniard

 

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In a nutshell: Pseudo and Nothing
It is known that Pokemon moves can have properties that are not tied to their typing. This manifests in having abilities that affect them, just like there are abilities that affect types. The most notable of these are sound moves, which gained a bizarre following among fiction writers who enjoy turning it into its own type. They will even cast aside established types such as Jigglypuff's Normal or Toxtricity's Electric to suit this. Few seem to like talking of the similarly hypothetical Punch, Dance, or Contact types as much, however.

This is not without scientific merit, at least. There has been speculation that these used to actually be types before they became consolidated into others. One of the biggest points of evidence against this comes from religion of all places, specifically, archaeology. It is known that there are plates attuned to different types which have a connection with the Pokemon species known as Arceus (frequently thought of as the progenitor or a part of it as discussed in the God-Fragment theory). Any Pokemon that holds these will have their moves of the matching type enhanced, but they can use them to change type. While multiple copies of these plates have been discovered scattered worldwide, they have not matched any hypothetical type. Various human-crafted held items based off these plates have been made since antiquity, but there remains very limited success in creating items that can boost a hypothetical type.

Oddly, a journal by a potential Kannagi heir from 1867 recounts catching sight of what looked to be Arceus with a dull green coloration not matching any type when she scaled Mt. Coronet during the conclusion of her rite to become worthy of ascending to the position of Master. It is hypothesized that this is a form without any type; typelessness can exist under unusual circumstances, such as a Pokemon of a single type suppressing it with a move. (The heir didn't make Master, she left after probably jealousy-induced harassment from relatives)

Who's who of type (?) experts: Evander Tyler and Fabio Starr
A pair of mercenaries from Unova and Paldea respectively. Tyler is an ex-boxer who was thrown out of the sport for his brutality. Fabio used to serve as a Pokador known for his signature claw before the sport was outlawed. They gained infamy for their connections with the organization called Team Ordershade and were even part of the group's Elite Four. The two never liked each other, but they were mutually betrayed, and in turn, assisted the International Police in helping stop the group's plans.

Tyler practiced boxing with his Pokemon, many of which have the Iron Fist ability. Starr preferred slicing moves and some of his Pokemon used their Sharpness to amplify them. Both are very talented trainers. There were offers from Leagues as usual for anyone of their skill level, but one thing they both could agree on (besides love for money) was not liking type specialization. Plus both kind of had problems with authority from their prior treatment.

They're currently just doing whatever. Tyler has been doing some bodyguard work. He even once worked with the Esente family. He even taught their son some exercises. It's otherwise been dull and there has been no chance of a boxing comeback, so he's been toughing it out in other places - martial arts and Pokemon. Starr was recently in the news for brutalizing Paldea's newest battle obsessed Champion in a battle. He humbled her badly, made her cry and everything. School aged kids in Mesagoza silently cheered for the masked fighter since she could be something of a bully. Handsome fighters never lose a battle!

Pokemon commentary: Dhelmise
Pseudo types often stand out because of abilities associated with them. But Dhelmise, while not technically having anything fitting the definition of these pseudo types, stands out anyway. Their one and only ability, at least before canon somehow contradicts me, is Steelworker. It is known that Pokemon of type can use moves of the type more effectively. Type dominance has been discussed before in the Dragon type post. One would think Dhelmise would be Steel, particularly given its connection to Anchorage and indeed being partially made out of metal, but it is not: instead, the Grass and Ghost types take dominance. Yet its ability lets it use Steel-type moves just as effectively as a Steel-type would. Hypothesis is that this is the Pokemon compensating for not having the type in a formal capacity, or that it's otherwise the third type manifesting a different way. Other such abilities exist (particularly on Bombirdier on occasion) but Dhelmise always has one without being of the type.

While they appear to be spirits possessing fallen boat anchors or similar metals, the actual soul is spread throughout the plants and seaweed encasing them. The wheel section is its main body. Decay gradually ravages their physical form, so they need to constantly gather materials to sustain themselves. The life force of other Pokemon is a delicacy that they can process to revitalize their seaweed instead of gathering more fresh stuff. They are particularly daring and like to test themselves by targeting large Pokemon. Oddly, smaller herbivores who eat seaweed are their greatest predators, which can destroy parts of their ectoplasm. Dhelmise has trouble targeting them if they get close; even if they land a Giga Drain, they may sustain permanent damage, and can be overwhelmed by groups. This is another reason why they enjoy the company of Anchorage, who can eat these small fish and Pokemon. They also get along with Skrelp for the same reason, who also help them find the seaweed they like to hide in. Dhelmise returns the favor with transport and protection.

If the seaweed they live in becomes unusable and the spirit cannot find more, it will quickly weaken. It cannot hold its anchor and thus simply becomes a helpless floating wheel. If it is not saved or eaten before then, the soul will eventually dissolve, ending its lifespan. To contrast if the anchor becomes unusable, it remains in a weakened but still capable state. However, it maintains its Steelworker ability in the meantime. This was eventually used for the theorem that types are embedded into Pokemon on a spiritual level more than they are a physical level.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Exploud??
Nothing yet actually. But I might give a certain future Exploud Cacophony and rework it as being similar to Punk Rock. That might be an interesting way to make use of unused content in a sensible way!

 

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In a nutshell: Holon Pokemon
Sometimes called Delta Species. Holon is a microregion in Japan with an unusual amount of magnetism and energy on the invisible spectrum. It is believed this is due to the presence of a powerful Pokemon; although ones such as a Mew are known to live in the region, they don't seem capable of creating so much energy. Holon Town is one of the few major settlements, which mostly functions as a base for research. The tower in the middle harnesses the waves to act as a beacon to search for Pokemon.

While there are only as many regional variants as you would expect to see in a region even like Holon, the massive electromagnetic energy in Holon stimulates even otherwise physically normal Pokemon brainwaves in strange ways. This results in them being able to use attacks they normally wouldn't, and conversely not be able to use some moves they can. It's been shown that just about every Pokemon can use every move, but aside from Mew, they do not have natural access. Moves like Metronome and Copycat trick a Pokemon's brain into manifesting a move not normally possible, and Smeargle's Sketch can imitate anything that doesn't require some sort of internal ability inherent in another Pokemon as another point of example.

Who's who of alteration experts: Professor Veneer
The head researcher in Holon, 61 years old. His wild hair and bushy mustache gets him comparisons to a mad scientist. And well, you'd have to be a little mad to go chasing Mew on a rumor. You'd have to be especially mad to want to go looking a Pokemon that may or may not even exist. Some people are worried about him, but so far, so good...

Veneer has no particular specialty as a Pokemon researcher, unless you count Holon itself. He is a driven and impassioned man with little frivolity to spare. He has a reputation of being a workaholic and a slave-driver who does not care about anything but results. The man himself has some standards. He'll give proper thanks. Destroying habitats is a no-no, for one. Experiments that cause permanent damage are another. As the de facto regional professor, the Japanese government turns to him for guiding the newest of new trainers. He takes a very hands-off approach to doing so, giving them the bare necessities and cutting them loose. This isn't out of apathy: instead, he strongly believes in allowing things to play out. Not everyone trainer in the world sees a professor when starting out, but he thinks any who come to one to do so must be serious enough to know what they'll be doing with their life. Watching how these people grow is actually something he enjoys.

Pokemon commentary: Holonese Shinx line
Some of the Pokemon in Holon adapt with metal plating in order to shield themselves from electromagnetic radiation. Even Electric-type aren't exempt from this. Ordinary members of Shinx line find it difficult to function in Holon due to their X-ray vision not working well.

They have a similar body shape to their normal versions, but their bodies are pure orange covered by gray armored plating on their heads, back, and legs. They compensate for the loss of their enhanced vision with a strong sense of smell. Even if they get separated from their pack or their friends, they can track them down as well as any canine. They are Steel/Normal types who strike with fangs and claws instead of electricity - in fact, aside from potentially absorbing it with an ability (although it's rare compared to Intimidate or Strong Jaw) or using Thunder Fang, they don't use it at all. Their armor makes them even more sluggish, but it makes them tougher.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Random challenger from Holon at Sunyshore Gym
Someone randomly mentioned in Month 4, Part 1 of Official In-Training for flavor. Also used the above. A Psychic-using Vileplume and Fire Punch-using Jynx were mentioned, but Nori was astounded by the firebreathing Seadra. How does that even work underwater? These ones were all based off cards. Actually out-of-universe if you don't know/haven't realized, that's just what Deltas are: Pokemon with different attacking types. They maintain the same weakness, so I took that to mean "same type".

 

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In a nutshell: Forms
Pokemon of the same species generally all look very similar to one another. There might be height/weight differences or slight color variations but generally speaking most will look the same. Except when not.

One of the common ones is the shiny gene. These bizarre pigmentations appear to be triggered by just the right alignment of recessive genes. Pokemon of this color are sometimes branded outcasts in their colonies, and are very popular targets among trainers for vanity purposes. They came to be known as shinies due to the effect accompanying them in the games rather than any special luster.

Some Pokemon have notable differences between in their gender. Usually these are minor; they don't pop up as much in the games for memory reasons. Kangaskhan, Oinkolonge, and Meowstic are particular cases where they aren't enough to be considered separate species, unlike the Nidos or Volbeat/Illumise. Others like Frillish and Pyroar do look very different between the genders but have no differing abilities. There are occasional explanations as to what makes these Pokemon different - such as the female Kangaskhan being stronger to protect their young - but others are still a mystery.

Regional variants are the big standouts; these are Pokemon which adapt to live in an environment their normal form wouldn't be able to or for some other reason. These typically offshoot from the original form over many years, or result from unexpected mutations like Alolan Grimer. Zigzagoon, for example, adapted to be more docile to be better accepted. This also had the side effect of losing their evolution. New evolutions can unexpectedly pop up from these variants. Evolution is one of Pokemon's biggest mysteries and that only makes it moreso - it appears there is no set number of Pokemon and new ones could appear from new variants out of nowhere.

Finally, some of these are simply Pokemon specific. Shellos/Gastrodon have been mentioned, Deerling/Sawsbuck change with the seasons, Flabebe attach themselves to different colored flowers, and so on. Again, many of these are just differences of appearance. It all depends on the Pokemon. Some just seem to be more special than others!

Who's who of form experts: Professor Rowan
The regional professor of Sinnoh who has done extensive research into Pokemon forms and their effects on evolution. He is one of the most respected Professors in all of Japan; just about everyone defers to him, even Oak. One time a traveling trainer and Champion who became fascinated at the mysteries of how his Pokemon changed and evolved. He spent much of his spare time researching, and was able to fully dedicate his time to it when he lost his title. Serious and stern, but he has a hidden goofy side.

Pokemon commentary: Burmy
One of the more notable Pokemon with form differences because they have been extensively studied as one of the first known. These tiny worms wrap themselves in materials. It does little except keep it warm and seems to be more as a means of feeling safe. They are neat freaks and will frequently rebuild them with whatever's handy if they even they they've been damaged. They will bind these with their silk.

They seem to be able to produce material from nowhere; the truth of this is, they can absorb the energy of the earth to rapidly grow a new cloak if materials are scarce. Their so-called trash cloaks are especially notable for this and have come about due to human influence. For whatever reason though they can come from any sort of dust, metals, and garbage, they resemble building insulation. There are three common types of cloaks, but there are unusual ones such as those made of snow or magnetic stones (first witnessed in Chargestone Cave in Unova).

While males shed it upon their evolution to Mothim, the females' current cloak at the moment of evolution into Wormadam becomes infused into their body and manifests into a new type. In the rare event they do not have a cloak, one will manifest from the environment anyway. Six different types have been recorded naturally: Grass, Ground, Steel, Ice, Poison, and Electric. A Rock cloak from solid stones that can't be broken down into dust has only been observed in laboratory testing; attempts to urge anything further has met with the Burmy rejecting the cloak or it turning into one of the common types.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Nori Carino's Sinnohian Qwilfish
The subject of the upcoming Abyssal Despair. With Hisui damned to fictionification and really, it being silly to restrict them to time travel nonsense (though Kitikami made a step in the right direction), they're just Sinnoh-based variants. A tragic Pokemon who accidentally kills a celebrity in a freak accident. tTe public is calling for blood, and one of our protagonists - a small celebrity in himself - is given her in a farcical attempt to save her. Nori Carino might be able to handle the hatred he gets, but his aquaphobia might be a bigger problem. After all, it takes training for an aquatic Pokemon to get used to being out of water (it's not game "they can do it end quote", but it's not hyper realistic "they're useless end quote"), and this one...seems to have trouble with it.

 

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In a nutshell: NEW!
There's the old/unused and betas too. But as I alluded to several times, adapting a running series can cause problems. Even read a fic that made some insane excuse about why the Fairy suddenly existed, via Xerneas spreading energy around. The author fully admitted it was clumsy and couldn't think of anything else. That was almost certainly the worst of it.

You may have noticed I've been attempting to explain some of this through various means: like how Toxic was widespread due to the Koga clan, explaining how Normal Clefable could exist, or even chalking up the lack of types early on to just being part of a poorly programmed game - I'll admit, the Fairy explanation was a bit flimsy there too. I also threw out Hisui entirely because it was 100% incompatible (and always felt like turning Arceus into more of a One God was someone's headcanon ascended). Sometimes you get thrown big curveballs in other ways, like the Faragiraf thing. I thought I was in the clear since they weren't really doing cross-gen evolutions without alternate forms anymore, but then they did. Not complaining too loudly because Dunsparce got one, but still. Going back, there wasn't even the odd evo method excuse there: it just learns a move. I had an out though because held items get used in my fics sometimes, and Tono absolutely makes use of them.

One of the weirder things to consider with new Pokemon, or bringing in beta ones, is their moveset. It's not just Dexit after all, moves got Thanos snapped too. But there shouldn't be a reason why say, Signal Beam shouldn't be around anymore. And those Pokemon shouldn't be excluded from learning those moves just because they came in too late. Or likewise, maybe that old Water Gun TM should be teachable to more Pokemon? And how about the unlucky mons who haven't seen the light of day in a while? Obviously there's some new moves they should be able to learn despite not being invited.

Or how about implementation? Due to the structure of the game releases, not everything is going to be everywhere. But there's already been precedent in GSC adding new Pokemon to odd locations, without any sort of dubious radio or radar. I go into all sorts of territory there: some trainers are traveled, sometimes I just accept those odd methods (like Eddie catching a Solrock in Mt. Coronet), but variety sometimes demands a bigger array than what's Officially Available In Your Region. You'll notice this a lot when designing Type experts, especially when Pokemon of the type are limited. Nintendo ran into it themselves with Flint (to where I just ran with it!). Another point, some people have been freaking out (or less) over Hisuian Pokemon being implemented into present day Paldea. That's again Nintendo themselves getting caught in the trap and realizing it might not be so great to restrict Pokemon to one game. I just made them SInnoh, etc. native.

Then there's other assorted kicks to canon. Like, did you know Lucario was the first Mega Evolved Pokemon? All hail the aural anthro! Except OOPS it was Rayquaza all hail this superlegendary! Will you go with one? Will you go with the other? Try to explain both? Or do your own thing? Or how about Legends which is a huge dumpster fire of these? Like a subway boss being kidnapped and thrown into the past. Particularly with Poke Balls - they're implied to be newish in that game which is like a hundred years ago or so. But Johto says they've been around for at least 400 years and maybe even longer than that. And if that wasn't bad enough, in White, Drayden says Poke Balls weren't around when he was young. Welcome to the world of Pokemon, where everything's made up and the facts don't matter!

Or as I mentioned in Paradox, what do you do about the multiple versions considering they stopped doing third versions (or in USUM's case made them totally different)? And with bigger version differences coming into play, there's some mutually exclusive stuff you'll have to figure out. Do you establish one, try to work both, or try to make a third version idea of your own? Heck like I said, you don't necessarily have to use the third version in the first place either in the case of the old.

There's many ways to tackle the NEW! Just hope they don't screw you over in an unavoidable way like the Fairy thing, and sometimes be prepared to take extreme measures like I did with Hisui or what that author did.

Who's who of newstuff experts: Jimmy Mackenburg
Head of the Special Trainers division of the Officials - a worldwide organization focusing on Pokemon - and Chief of their subdivision, the International Police. A slender fit man in his 50s, even if he doesn't look like it. He may seem a little kooky with his attitude more befitting an outgoing businessman, make no mistake. He rose up the ranks with his sharp mind and talents. He joined when he was just fifteen years of age.

While there are those who apply and work their way through the ranks, the Officials are always on the lookout for prospective trainers who could fit right in, especially who think differently from everyone else. NEW! also refers to new things developing as the world changes in universe, and the idea of a Pokemon Rehabilitator was his brainchild. There had always been issues with Pokemon that are considered dangers to society. Not every care facility or top level trainer can - or will - care for these. It's not like being strong and respected or having eight Gym Badges will work to make any Pokemon follow your every command. Of course, it was a very sensitive subject: some of these had to be put down because no one wanted to deal with them, and yet they're still sapient creatures. The infamous Demon of Veilstone was strongly being pointed towards being one of these Pokemon: she was assaulting trainers' Pokemon and even their trainers, specifically targeting them with intent to harm and get away with it. It was bad enough that the decision was made to hunt her down.

Then he heard some random kid boast it was possible to reform her, allowed the chance by Gasha Qian. "If he fails, we can always find her again." And he succeeded! Nori Carino clearly had the knack for Pokemon training, the nerve to go through with it, and a never-say-die attitude. Was it luck? Or maybe he just thought so differently that it was possible. So he offered the kid the chance to become a trainer who deals with these kinds of Pokemon, giving him the proper training and studies to become an Official. Nori was initially unsure, but at his mom's and even the Demon's approval, the rest is history.

Pokemon commentary: Archaludon
Really, can you think of anything better than a yet to be officially released Pokemon? Archaludon out-of-universe represents something unique, it was the first time they gave an evolution to something that didn't already have one but did have a faux one, that being GMax Archaludon. Plus the Dipplin thing especially with the Eviolite smoking gun.

Archaludon is one of the two evolutions of Duraludon, a Pokemon of the essence of building. Whereas the other evolution goes up, this one spans. Which form it takes depends on the evolution method used, but generally speaking, this form is better suited for raw endurance and special attack. They're capable of gathering electricity and firing it out. They get down on all fours to better defend themselves and use stronger moves. Archaludon are very much capable of absorbing electricity. The tradeoff is being more sluggish, which is shared with its counterpart.

Both evolutions are noteworthy for losing their weighted metal abilities upon evolution if they had one. They were made of lightweight metal to begin with, but the process of tempering and fashioning themselves into another form reduces all impurities. True to its defensive form, Archaludon either becomes Sturdy enough to shrug off damage that would pierce defenses or gains the Stamina to endure repeated attacks. Though many argue that one of the counterpart's abilities to reduce damage from Fire/Ground moves makes it more defensive...

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Some random Quaxly
I may have been the very first, or if not certainly one of the first to feature the duck in a fic. I didn't need to do or know anything as it just cameoed less than a day after it was announced. But I pushed that even further in the earlier Fritz Westmyn: I featured Sylveon before it had a name or even a color. It was charred horribly to sidestep the latter issue, but it was an Eeveelution as everyone guessed.

 

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In a nutshell: Pokemon Languages
In most of the writings I've seen, it's a given that Pokemon somehow all speak the same language, with exceptions being weird and uncommon. This is really only for the sake of convenience: how are you going to write about your furry (and scaly, etc) friends in their mysterious dungeon worlds (which usually don't have the dungeons) unless they can universally communicate? I decided, nah. We have different languages, even if I solved some of the issue of global communication with the idea of a universal common tongue. So it would make sense for Pokemon to have their own as well.

So what's stopping us from learning and pronouncing and vice versa? Well, not all of these have a written language for one. For two, it can be difficult to say and hear words in the language. Even Pokemon that grow up around humans might get an understanding of a language like a baby would, but they would still need to work to pronounce things. The question you might be asking then is how do Pokemon understand humans? Simple, they understand the heart's intent. Like if someone says "get the hell out", they will understand it's a rude/demanding request to leave. It's a mystery why they're even able to do this, but some of them say it's an ability given to them by the progenitor so they can live alongside humanity. It's also worth noting this capability does not work between them innately, so they have to rely on body language or other means. If a Pokemon spends a lot of time around another Pokemon speaking a different language however, they can sometimes develop a sense for it, just like certain attentive trainers who listen for speech patterns or syllables can. Pokemon are also expressive in their body language sometimes.

By the way, if you're wondering about names, Pokemon generally don't use them. This is because of their connection with humanity and their practice of giving names to Pokemon, so it's their way of not getting used to anything in case they get captured. They use titles and pronouns as a holdover until then. Pokemon that do give themselves names like the Terror of Edinburgh are thought of as egotistical. Exceptions are those mighty enough to entitle their species. This extends to species names as well, and indeed, many have different names in different languages. Name talking was always an anime kids thing anyway.

Who's who of languages experts: Empaths, priests, telepaths, etc.
There are many humans with the gift to understand Pokemon. To name a few: some such as the Healers of Tokiwa have powerful emphatic powers that function similarly to how Pokemon can understand humans. Prema Kannagi has exhibited a power where she can go into a somewhat taxing meditative state allowing any word to reach her - however, she heard untranslatable terms in their raw form. Telepaths can use their psychic powers. There also exist those who can simply hear the words of all Pokemon languages innately. These have thus far only been shown in the fic this was spun off from and haven't been elaborated on there yet.

It's worth noting that from a legal perspective, Pokemon testimony is generally not accepted in a court of law. This was implemented after a scandal with a Kannagi where it was later found the Pokemon lied, but not before his reputation was ruined. Adding to the potential issues of the translator lying or the Pokemon not understanding what they saw, there are extremely strict guidelines on these. Multiple translators are needed and it is only used as an absolute last resort.

Language commentary: What I have, most of it
The terrestrial language is the one I've put the most effort into and can also be thought of as the "common" Pokemon tongue. Most land based Pokemon will speak it, with many others able to speak at least a few words. It has many inspirations that I forgot to write down. But Klingon is one of them, so you know stuff is about to get crazy here.

It is a syllabic language much like Japanese. Words begin with a vowel or soft consonant, and are broken into pieces, which can be V, V-SC, V-HC, or V-SC-HC. Soft consonants on their own can only start a word, and hard consonants cannot start a word - although some Pokemon tribes will use it for titles. If a Pokemon species is incapable of pronouncing a hard or a soft consonant, or if they're using a human name that has such a sound at the beginning (like Nori or Prema), they can hold the opposite one phonetically in their speech. There are some sounds that don't have an equivalent in the language, like "th", so they use whatever's close in those instances.

Particles are an important part of the language. These are indicated by apostrophes and don't have to adhere to the rules above: for example t' is one that means to. One thing that might throw some humans off (but feel natural to others): sentence structure goes subject-object-verb. Adjectives always come after the subject or object. There is technically no formal written language, but because of subterrans and crossover with humans, one has been developed to express it in Latin characters. There is a distinction between uppercase and lowercase. The charts follow.

Some of the more important base words in the language are Akeresa (Pokemon), manh (human), mWsaf (me), Syl (you), mWSyl (us), and Furenadh (Friend. Important word in all Pokemon languages). "Syl A'ruKo umt?" is a common greeting with unfamiliar Pokemon. It means "Do you speak this language?" Not every Pokemon is fluent in the 'common' tongue. It has various responses and replies in turn that tells how simplistic or complex a conversation can be.

There's a lot more to this and a lot to be developed, but this should suffice for now. However as I mentioned, there are at least four other languages I have developed in much less detail. The notes on the rest are as follows.

Subterranean

• This was the original Pokemon language
• All lowercase letters with no accents and only sentence separating punctuation.
• Script is loosely based on Latin and was inspired by the Unown
• Sentence structure is subject–verb–object
• Words seem gibberish but some are similar to words. They can be compound and are always in SVO order, especially the ones that can't be translated.
• A harsh, cacophonous accent is a sign of a leader or independent Pokemon.
• Quite a few loanwords or similar ones.
• Two untranslatable words that have appeared laryeique (lar = humble, yei = to serve loyally, que = one is worthy, so it means "one who faithfully serves a worthy leader") and utmasbdokrul (ut = great, masb = master (in the 'by power' sense), dok = night, rul = leader, hence "great conquering night queen")

Undersea

• An uncommon language, generally only Pokemon like Shellos are fluent in it and some other language.
• Sentence structure goes object-verb-subject
• It's a kind of morse code
• There's no written language, but hieroglyphs get used sometimes.

Avian

• Short and terse
• Intended for air communication
• Not only is diction important, but timing is too: Kwa-kwa-kwa is not the same as kwa kwa kwa.
• Written language is something like chicken scratch

Old Terrestrial

• Consists of growls and other vocalizations. Very animalistic.
• Gave way to modern Terrestrial when interactions with humans and subterranean increased
• However, still sees use in the modern age.

Humanish

• Pokemon can learn the human languages, but their different mouths, tongues, and vocal chords can make speaking difficult. It's comparable to say, a Japanese person speaking English in the real world. They'll have a thick accent unless they practice it away.
• Certain Pokemon raised entirely by humans without interaction from other Pokemon can learn it like a baby would, subject to the above.

Others

• Some Pokemon are voiceless and use other means to communicate
• Others have their own unique language.

Noteworthy Pokemon in-fic: Nori Carino's Pokemon
In the upcoming Abyssal Despair, the language barrier between Pokemon plays a major role. Communicating with a Pokemon can always be difficult, but when not even your own Pokemon can talk, well. Your problems get much worse.