User:Mezzopiano/Headcanon

Legendaries

• Legendaries are simply very rare, very powerful species. Many ancient peoples and some modern ones do worship them as gods. While some like the creation trio and Arceus may have godlike powers, they are not divine beings in the traditional sense.
• Legendary worship is especially common in Sinnoh, thanks to its particularly powerful legendary species.
• Legendaries have very long lifespans, but are not immortal.
• They can be caught, but only by those they consider worthy enough.
  • Most legendaries consider being caught making a pact with a human under the rules of The Vow, and can break this pact if they consider it no longer worthwhile. Most Pokémon share this sentiment toward the Vow, the difference being that legendaries possess the power to enforce it directly.
  • Attempts made to forcibly restrain a legendary, or to capture one without invoking The Vow, often end in disaster, as many groups with the word "Team" in their name have been made aware.
  • A caught legendary will usually outlive its trainer, and be returned to the wild after the trainer's death. Catching some legendares is regarded as blasphemy in some parts of the world.
• There are multiples of every species. Yes, even Arceus.
  • This includes multiples of artificially created legendaries Mewtwo, Genesect, and Type: Null. There have been multiple Mewtwo experiments, some of which resulted in the creation of Mewtwonites X and Y.
  • As mentioned in the Aether Foundation's database, there were originally three Type: Null specimens in the world. As a true chimera, it is unable to reproduce, and these were thought to be the only specimens in existence.
    • As mentioned in the Galar Pokédex, additional specimens have been created and smuggled into the Galar region since then.
• In the legend of the Burned Tower, the Pokémon that were caught in the fire and reborn as Raikou, Entei, and Suicune were a Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon respectively.
• Victini is not nuclear or radioactive. It is simply an extremely powerful Fire type, one strong enough that rumors began to spread that a trainer using one could never lose.
• Giratina are native to the Distortion World, but can cross over into this one through their own power. Doing so leaves them in altered form unless in the presence of a Griseous Orb.
  • Other Pokémon in the Distortion World exist, but only Giratina has the ability to cross between worlds.
• Unown and Rotom are not legendary. Phione is, being the infant form of Manaphy.
• Many legendary species consider themselves superior to humans due to having more innate power, longevity, and/or intellect. Despite this, they still abide to The Vow as all Pokémon do, with few exceptions.
  • Because of this, most legendaries will not breed in captivity. Manaphy is one of the few exceptions.
• Phione evolve into Manaphy, but the process takes many, many years due to the species' long lifespan.
  • Carbink evolve into Diancie through a similar method.
• Groudon and Kyogre are rival species similar to Zangoose and Seviper. Reshiram and Zekrom, along with Xerneas and Yveltal, share a similar relationship. Rayquaza, Kyurem, and Zygarde act as mediators between their respective pairs.
• Yveltal are predators that feed on the life energy of Pokémon through Oblivion Wing. Xerneas are their favored prey, due to the species' abundance of life energy.
• Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem are thought to originate from a single species considering the three's compatibility with each other.
  • It is rumored that it is possible to fuse all three together using DNA Splicers, but this has never been tested.
• Latios and Latias are the male and female of a single species, but were once thought to be separate species and classified as such in the Pokédex, similarly to Nidoran.
• Dialga and Celebi are both capable of time travel. Dialga can also send others through time.
• The holy symbols of most Xerneas, Yveltal, and/or Zygarde-worshipping religions are the letters X, Y, and Z respectively.
• The Ransei region was molded into its current shape by an Arceus who wished to create a land that reflected its own image.
  • A common myth in Ransei is that each of its nations has a Plate of its respective type hidden somewhere within it. This has never been confirmed.
• It is unknown exactly what condition decides whether a Cosmoem evolves into Solgaleo or Lunala. It was previously thought to depend on the time of day, but this has been confirmed false. The current hypothesis is that it depends on the Cosmoem's gender, yet researchers have found no way to tell the gender of any Cosmog line member, or if it even has one.
• Ultra Beasts are not considered legendary, and are fairly common within Ultra Space. It is highly likely that many more species than the known seven to cross into our world exist.
• Only one known Eternatus exists on the planet, though due to its extraterrestrial origin it is theorized that others exist somewhere in outer space.

Culture

• Most Pokédex entries are rumors and lore rather than scientific fact.
• Eevee and its evolutions are common household pets, but rare in the wild.
  • Related to the above, the wild Eevee found in Castelia City's garden are stray pets.
• Pikachu is also rare in the wild due to being a popular cultural icon.
• Nearly everyone is a Pokémon trainer to some degree, but most have other jobs apart from training and just participate in battles as a hobby.
• Beating an Elite Four and Champion does not make you the new champion, but just earns you a place in the Hall of Fame. Becoming the champion is a much more difficult endeavor.
• Being in a Hall of Fame is required to become a Gym Leader. Gym Leaders adjust their team according to the number of badges their challenger has.
• All gyms can be challenged in any order. The paths from the games are just the most recommended ones.
• Being a gym trainer is a full-time job, and also involves setting up the puzzles inside the gym.
• Most people don't own Pokédexes and can be tripped up by a species they've never seen before. Serious battlers tend to memorize type charts and common competitive species.
• Official starters are common for people starting out as trainers, but not required. If a prospective trainer has another Pokémon, as a pet or one they found and caught on their own, it can be used instead.
• The TCG exists in-universe both as a popular game and a teaching tool for prospective trainers. Several battle simulator video games exist for the same purposes, and often feature Gym Leaders, Elite Four, or Champions as playable characters.
• The Pokéball symbol predates the invention of the Poké Ball, and is believed to represent The Vow.
• Before Poké Balls were invented, trainers simply walked around with their mons by their side. Some trainers still continue this tradition.
• Transgender advocacy groups often take Milotic or Sylveon as symbols; Milotic being a beautiful, proud Pokémon evolving from a weak, ugly, helpless one and Sylveon being an extremely feminine Pokémon evolving from the mostly-male Eevee. In addition both are pale blue, pink, and white; the colors of the transgender pride flag.
• Hair dye is much more common and effective than in reality. Due to this, unusual hair colors are commonplace and rarely remarked on.
• Wedding ceremonies are concluded by a battle between the two to be wedded. The winner keeps their last name.
• Rock-paper-scissors is most often played using Grass, Fire, and Water types, or occasionally Fighting, Psychic, and Dark. Some variants expand this to include the entire type chart.
• The trend of "fad pets" also exists in the Pokéverse; some species will become more commonly caught and trained after making major pop culture appearances, or for competitive battlers, if a winner in a major competition uses one.

Biology

• Ditto reproduce by asexual division. They can also reproduce with all other species by transforming into a potential mate.
  • Mew are also capable of doing this, but like most legendaries, rarely breed in captivity.
• Fossil revival works by incorporating the rock from the fossil into the revived mon's body, hence why all are Rock type.
  • Team Plasma's method of reviving Genesect was a different process; if revived through standard fossil revival, it would be Bug/Rock.
  • Likewise, Galarian fossil revival uses a different process that involves piecing unrelated fossils together.
• Most genderless Pokémon do not have an identity within the gender binary. This also includes some legendaries, but for most their gender (if any) is simply not known.
• Before the discovery of the Fairy type, the Flabébé line was classified as Grass type due to its affinity for flowers. It was one of the first lines reclassified after the type was officially established, due to its differences from other Grass types. A small group still believes it should be properly classified as Grass/Fairy.
• Pokédex height for serpentine mons is length from head to tail. This is also true for Wailord. For flying mons, it is wingspan.
• All Eeveelutions can purr.
• Cryogonal can reform themselves from melting as stated in their Black 1 dex entry. They can also reform themselves if shattered.
• The only way to put out a Charmander line mon's tail flame is by killing the mon.
  • Cutting off the tail will cause the flame to ignite at the point where it was chopped off.
• Humans (and non-native Pokémon) can live within Ultra Space, though may suffer some long-term side effects from adjusting to its atmosphere. Likewise Ultra Beasts are capable of living within our universe.
• Some scientists believe the proper designation for Silvally should be Type: Full, but its official name is kept as Silvally in honor of Gladion.
• Cosmoem's Pokédex weight of 999.9kg is an estimate based on visual observation of its core, and the core's actual mass is thought to be much higher. As the core is suspended within the shell by unknown means, it is effectively light enough to be held by a human.
  • If the shell is fractured, any matter entering into its space would likely be pulled in by the core's gravity and absorbed into it.

Abilities

• Force Palm is not an Aura move. It is a forceful strike using the palm.
• Most Psychic types can speak to humans using telepathy. Most Auric mons can't.
• The majority of people calling themselves psychics are frauds who usually use a mon they own to do their tricks. A few with genuine powers do exist.
  • One such person is Inver, who uses his power to enable Inverse Battles.
• Dark types can't hear telepathy, with the exception of the Dark/Psychic types Inkay, Malamar, and Hoopa.
• Most Dark moves are based on the mon being sneaky and deceptive rather than adding Obscura to attacks. Likewise, most Fighting moves don't make use of Aura.
• Wild mons with weather moves/abilities are capable of influencing the climate of a region.
  • The area around Snowpoint City gets snow year-round due to the high population of Snover line mons living there.
  • Snowbelle City is in a similar state, thanks to a group of Abomasnow placed around the city by Wulfric.
• Ghost types can turn intangible at will. Foresight works by carefully observing the opponent and noticing when they become tangible again.
• Detect is not a shield. It works by predicting the opponent's next move and focusing on avoiding it.
• Ice types, when using Water moves, perform them using very cold water. This is also why they can't learn Scald, and tend not to handle being hit by it well.
• Pressure is caused by an intimidating presence, hence why many legendaries are capable of using it.
• Aura, psychic abilities, and Obscura all have clearly defined capabilities with little overlap. There is no Auric illusion, psychic vision, or Obscuric telepathy.
  • They are also not part of a spectrum. Each ability is distinct, though many mons proficient in one can learn some of the others (such as Psychic types being able to learn Shadow Ball and Focus Blast).
  • Obscura and psychic users are both capable of creating illusions, but do so in different ways. Psychic illusions are projected into the target(s)' mind, while Obscura illusions act more as a general disguise.
  • (borrowed from Every) Ghost type Obscura does not act as a shield to Fighting type Aura; it is only intangible to it.
• Lucario using Bone Rush is performed with bones, not with an Aura staff.
• Victims of a lethal Oblivion Wing turn into dry, brittle husks that crumble to dust when touched.
• The bond between trainer and Pokémon required to activate Mega Evolution is simply acceptance of a pact under The Vow. This is why it is possible to Mega Evolve a newly-caught mon.
• Many moves can vary in appearance depending on the mon using them. As an example, Aura moves are the color of the user's aura.
• When Hidden Power is used, it takes on the color of whatever type it manifests as.
• Fairy-type Hidden Power exists.
• Zorua and Zoroark do not change size when mimicking a larger or smaller species through Illusion. That's just part of the illusion.
  • They can also use Illusion to become invisible, but prefer disguising themselves as other species. This makes them extremely difficult to find in the wild.
• Many Pokémon, particularly those with no other apparent means of locomotion, have a limited form of levitation. This is not as effective as the Levitate ability and cannot reliably be used to avoid ground-based attacks.
• All Flying types can participate in Sky Battles. So can any Pokémon with Levitate and any that can learn Fly.
  • Archen is an exception, since it is unable to fly until it evolves.
• Any move learnable as an Egg Move can also be taught by a TM or move tutor, if one exists.
• (borrowed from Every) MtF Snorunt can evolve to Froslass. FtM Kirlia can evolve to Gallade. MtF Combee can evolve to Vespiquen.
• The metal coat that Scizor gains upon evolving makes it too heavy to fly.
• Thrown Bonemerangs fly close to the ground and are easy for Flying types and levitators to avoid.
• Most Pokémon that evolve at night evolve when exposed to moonlight, with the exception of Amaura, which evolves under the light of an aurora. In places where auroras do not appear naturally the move Aurora Beam can be used for this purpose.
• Likewise, most Pokémon that evolve during the day require sunlight as a catalyst for their evolution.
• Bulletproof Chespin are literally bulletproof. Some other mons, mainly Rock and Steel types or those with high defense, are as well.
• Aura Spheres home in on their target's aura signature, making them nearly impossible to avoid. Magical Leaves work through a similar method. Aerial Ace and Feint Attack focus on catching the opponent off-guard with speed and guile respectively.
• Hyper Beam and similar moves involve the user pushing itself to the point of exhaustion to deliver the most powerful attack possible.
• Roar of Time works by temporal displacement of the target, returning the target to its own time as the move ends. Spacial Rend creates a tear in space at the target's position.
• Posing is not strictly necessary to use Z-moves, but it helps with establishing a link between the trainer and Pokémon.

Items

• Used Gems recharge after a short period.
• Casteliacones are based on the Vanillite line, and come in Vanillite, Vanillish, and Vanilluxe sizes.
• Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs come in multiples. They do nothing on their own unless in the presence of a Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina respectively and simply amplify their holder's natural powers (and in the case of Giratina, allows it to exist in Origin Forme outside the Distortion World).
  • Griseous Orbs, like Giratina, are native to the Distortion World.
• Red and Blue Orbs also come in multiples and have similar effects. Each activates Primal Reversion for Groudon and Kyogre respectively, and each weakens the power of its respective counterpart.
• The meteorite swallowed by the Rayquaza in the Delta Episode is a Jade Orb. It is also a Mega Stone.
• Rainbow and Silver Wings are simply feathers from a Ho-oh or Lugia respectively. They can be used with the proper summoning ceremony to call one.
• Alakazites contain three extra spoons inside.
• Key Stones take time to recharge after each use, which is why they can only be used to Mega Evolve a Pokémon once per battle.
  • This is also true of Z-Rings and Dynamax Bands.
• Humans can be caught in Poké Balls. This is considered highly illegal in all human societies.
• Charizardite X is an artificially created Mega Stone created through the same manner as Mewtwonites X and Y.
  • Thus, Mega Charizard X is a human-created Mega Evolution, which is why it is significantly different than standard Charizard.
• Latiosite and Latiasite are two different names for the same Mega Stone, which works on Latii of both genders.
• Light and Dark Stones are the hibernating forms of Reshiram and Zekrom respectively. It is believed a similar form exists for Kyurem.
• The first set of Plates was created by a wild Arceus living in Sinnoh, as a means to test its own adaptability. Other Arceus, seeing the potential in these items, soon created their own sets afterward. It is believed that a full set exists for every Arceus currently living in the world.
• Gems are a crystallized form of the typed energy that Pokémon naturally produce. Z-crystals are a more refined form of the same gems.
  • The practice of making Z-crystals is an Alolan tradition, and has only recently begun being exported to other regions.
  • Creating Z-crystals for specific Pokémon is a similar but more specific process.
  • The original Z-crystals, and the stones used in Z-rings to activate them, are Necrozma shards. Study of these crystals allowed the Alolans to create replicas with the same function, which most Z-crystals today are.
• Wishing Stars are Eternatus fragments.
• Z-rings and Key Stones don't work properly in Dynamax energy fields, and as a result both are banned by the Galar League.

TMs and HMs

• Multi-use TMs were developed first, but were considered too prohibitively expensive to mass-produce and were for a long time reserved for moves used for transport or bypassing obstacles. These eventually became known as HMs, while the term TM became used for the cheaper single-use machines. With advances in technology, multi-use TMs became cheaper and are now standard issue, but the distinction between TMs and HMs remains as an artifact.
• TRs (Technical Records) are a deliberate throwback to the older single-use TM design, reintroduced under a new name.
• Gym Leaders occasionally develop their own TMs.
• Some TMs are made based on moves Pokémon perform naturally, while others are developed as human-taught moves. Some examples of the latter include Volt Switch, Frost Breath, Dazzling Gleam, and Snarl; the first three having been developed by Elesa, Brycen, and Valerie respectively.
• Move tutors act as unofficial TMs, teaching a Pokémon a new move through an older method that involves explaining to the mon and if possible, demonstrating what the tutor wants it to learn. Like TMs, they come in both natural and human-taught move varieties.
• When a TM is discontinued some people will take up move tutor positions to keep the move in circulation around leagues. Moves that fall under this position include the elemental punches, and for a while, Roost, Steel Wing, and Dark Pulse before TMs for them were reintroduced.
• The majority of HM moves are created by humans for the purpose of transport or breaking through obstacles. Some have ended up being useful in battle due to their side effects.
• Surf, Dive, Fly, and similar HMs do not teach Pokémon how to fly or swim. What they teach is specifically how to fly or swim holding a passenger.
• Curse was always a Ghost-type move. Due to a printing error, the first group of Curse TMs produced came without a type label, leading many to think that the move had no type or that its type was a mysterious unknown type. Since the TM was discontinued after its first distribution, this misconception persisted for a long time afterward.
  • It has also been the subject of many rumors saying that continued use would rob a Pokémon of its soul. These rumors are false, and the move has no long-term ill effects, even when used by Ghost types.
• Focus Blast was created in an attempt to make an Aura Sphere TM. While the TM's creators were successful in enabling many Pokémon to fire blasts of Aura, they were unable to replicate Aura Spheres' homing abilities and instead focused on making the blasts more powerful.
• Blast Burn, Frenzy Plant, and Hydro Cannon were created by humans specifically for the common starter species. All three were based on the move Hyper Beam. While it is theoretically possible to teach them to other Pokémon, it is considered a tradition among move tutors to only teach them to starters. The Pledge moves are in a similar state, and were created to promote synergy between different starters.
• Draco Meteor was created to be the most powerful move for what was at the time thought to be the most powerful type (though the discovery of the Fairy type has since challenged this perception). The meteors summoned by it are similar to Dragon Pulses in composition. The move's creators were unaware of Roar of Time at the time it was established, and attempts to replicate Dialga's unique abilities in other Dragon types have failed.
• For the above moves, most tutors will check to see if the trainer has a strong bond with the Pokémon in question before teaching it. This is to prevent misuse and ensure that a trainer is capable of handling a mon well before granting them an extremely powerful technique.
• Stealth Rock was a TM created by Roark, who discontinued production of it after protests from competitive battling communities. The move was ubiquitous for a time, and caused several wild Rock-type species to mimic it on their own. It was later reintroduced by move tutors in a counter-protest.

Individual People and Mons

• Shauntal writes fanfiction. She also ships N with the Black/White PC (of either gender).
• The Abomasnow in the Frost Cavern was previously owned by a trainer. It gives the X/Y PC the Abomasite it had, since without a trainer, it was unable to Mega Evolve.
• The Mewtwo in the Pokémon Village willingly allows itself to be caught in order to test its own Mega Evolution. This is why its Mega Stone is found immediately next to it.
• Po Town's current state is due to a prank pulled by the group that would later become known as Team Skull. The team gathered a large number of Pokémon and used a synchronized Rain Dance to cause a downpour. The trick worked too well, causing the area to fall under a perpetual rainstorm. The town was soon abandoned, and Team Skull claimed it as their own territory.

WAAPT Headcanon

• The J-Team is not the first group of its kind. In all likelihood many current and former Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Champions traveled in similar groups in their youth.
• Papillon and Anom's Beautifly are either one and the same, or related to each other somehow.
• There exists a universe in which Mezzo is the Black 1 protagonist and Felis is the Hero of Truth.
• If a pregnant person uses an Armband or is otherwise transformed into Pokéform, the fetus becomes a Pokémon egg.
• Move Tutors that are turned into Pokéform are able to use the moves they teach, should their species be able to learn it.
• Doduo, Zweilous, and Kangaskhan turn into two people when transformed into humans. Dodrio, Dugtrio, and Magneton turn into three. Other multiple mons such as Vanilluxe, Hydreigon, and Metagross turn into only one, as they have only one consciousness.
• The unnamed trainer in Post #761 is Pianis. The Vanilluxe is Yukikaze.
• Limit Breaks or similar moves of various characters IRP:
  • Xel'lotath: The Grip of Insanity from Eternal Darkness. Attempts to overload the target's mind with pure madness. Can possibly (but hopefully not) cause head explosions. (video)
  • Any member of Forte's team (sans Stella): Final Color Blaster from Sonic Colors: All team members gather together and use an attack of their own type for a combined move of all Eeveelution types. Sunny can participate too, if he's available. (video)
  • Stella: Perfect Defense: Similar to Final Color Blaster, but all team members use healing/protective moves instead (I can't believe this is actually canon now). Alternatively, The End from Final Fantasy: Instantly ends the battle nonviolently. (video)
  • Shiva: Her namesake's Diamond Dust from Final Fantasy X. (video)
  • Giri: Weavile's Sonic Slash from Pokkén. (video)
  • Lulu: Her namesake's version of Flare from Final Fantasy X. Of course, because this is Lulu, she uses it as often as possible. (video)
  • Fafnir: Hellfire from Final Fantasy XII. "DIE, INSECT!" optional. (video)
  • Everymon in the Pokémon Organization XIII: Their respective limit breaks from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, with some adjustments for their Pokémon forms (ex. Xaldin would use his wings rather than spears for his limit break). (video)
  • While empowered by Aurocalypse:
    • Pianis: Darkburst from Metroid Prime 2. (video)
    • Lily: ROAD ROLLER DA! (video)
    • Noelle: Last Resort from Final Fantasy XIII. Except a lot frillier, naturally. (video)
    • Forte: Death from Final Fantasy XIII. (video)