The History of the Pokémon World · Chapter VIII
Most of this history is legend even inside the games: told by elders, carved on ruins, sung by minstrels or written in old books. Every line below is quoted from a game or retold closely, and each one says where it comes from. Legends are captioned as legends, a character's guess as speculation, and where the games disagree with each other, the page says so.
The games rarely give dates, so the chapters run roughly from the oldest stories to the most recent, each placed by its main story. A chapter without a stated date says so. Quotes from older games are shown in modern capitalisation.
VIIIJohtoLegend
The Burned Tower
1,500 to 150 years ago · The Ruins of Alph are about 1,500 years old; the towers rose 700 years ago; the fire came about 150 years ago.
The Ruins of Alph, about 1,500 years old. Two towers built 700 years ago. About 150 years ago lightning sets one ablaze for three days, and Ho-Oh revives three Pokémon that died in it.
Johto's oldest ruins are older still.
“The ruins are about 1500 years old. But it's not known why they were built—or by whom.”
Pokémon Crystal · A scientist at the Ruins of Alph Research Center
Ecruteak's sages keep the story of its two towers.
“The two towers are said to have been built to foster friendship and hope between Pokémon and people. That was 700 years ago...”
LegendPokémon Crystal · A sage in the Tin Tower, 1F
“At the time, an immense, silver-colored Pokémon was said to make its roost atop the Brass Tower.”
LegendPokémon Crystal · Sage Masa, the Wise Trio's room, Ecruteak City
“About 150 years ago, a lightning bolt struck one of the towers. It was engulfed in flames that raged for three days. A sudden downpour finally put out the blaze.”
Pokémon Crystal · Sage Masa, the Wise Trio's room, Ecruteak City
“Three nameless Pokémon perished in it. A rainbow-colored Pokémon descended from the sky and resurrected them...”
LegendPokémon Crystal · An elder in Ecruteak City: “a legend that has been passed down by Ecruteak Gym Leaders”
“Ho-Oh descended from the sky and gave new life to the three Pokémon. They are... Suicune, Entei and Raikou.”
LegendPokémon Crystal · A sage in the Tin Tower, 1F
“The legendary Pokémon are said to embody three powers... The lightning that struck the tower. The fire that burned the tower. And the rain that put out the fire...”
LegendPokémon Crystal · A sage in the Tin Tower, 1F
“Two towers... Two Pokémon... But when one burned down, both Pokémon flew away, never to return.”
LegendPokémon Crystal · The Tin Tower entrance, Ecruteak City
Sources
- Pokémon Crystal · A scientist at the Ruins of Alph Research Center
- Pokémon Crystal · A sage in the Tin Tower, 1F
- Pokémon Crystal · Sage Masa, the Wise Trio's room, Ecruteak City
- Pokémon Crystal · An elder in Ecruteak City: “a legend that has been passed down by Ecruteak Gym Leaders”
- Pokémon Crystal · The Tin Tower entrance, Ecruteak City
Ho-Oh
Lugia
Raikou
Entei
SuicuneThe rest of the history
- I · Sinnoh · In the beginningThe Original OneSinnoh's creation myth: a churning chaos, an Egg, and the Original One that made time, space and spirit, then slept.
- II · Sinnoh and Hoenn · Long agoThe Giant Who Moved ContinentsPokédex legends say Regigigas towed the continents with ropes and shaped Regirock, Regice and Registeel. In Hoenn, an ancient people sealed them away because they feared them.
- III · Hoenn · Thousands of years agoThe Primal ClashPrimal Groudon and Primal Kyogre clash until Rayquaza descends. A thousand years later a meteor makes Sootopolis, and Rayquaza Mega Evolves for the first time.
- IV · Kalos · 3,000 years agoThe Ultimate WeaponA war three thousand years ago. A king builds a machine to bring his Floette back, turns it into the ultimate weapon to end the war, and Floette leaves him.
- V · Galar · Long agoThe Darkest DayA meteorite falls on Galar 20,000 years ago. Long ago, the Darkest Day: a black storm ended by two young heroes whose sword and shield were really Pokémon. And Calyrex, a king of plentiful harvests.
- VI · Unova · UndatedTruth and IdealsOne dragon and the twin heroes found Unova. The brothers quarrel over truth and ideals, the dragon splits in two, and their sons' battle destroys Unova.
- VII · Kitakami · A long, long time agoThe Ogre's True StoryKitakami honours three heroes who fought an ogre. The mask maker's family kept the true story: the three stole the ogre's masks, and the ogre was Ogerpon.
- IX · Hisui · A long-gone eraAlmighty SinnohSinnoh when it was called Hisui. Two clans worship “almighty Sinnoh”, each meaning a different deity, until a space-time rift opens; afterwards the land is renamed Sinnoh.
- X · Alola · Long agoThe Blinding OneUltra Megalopolis's ancestors tried to control Necrozma's light, and it stole all the light it could find. Long ago it also battled the tapu in Alola.
- XI · Kanto · No year givenThe Mansion JournalsJournals in Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Mansion: a new Pokémon found deep in a jungle in Guyana, named Mew, and the newborn named Mewtwo.
- XII · Paldea · From about 2,000 years agoArea ZeroAn empire that sought the treasure of Area Zero, a nation unified 800 years ago, Heath's expedition 200 years ago, and a time machine that draws Pokémon from the past or the future.
A separate continuity
Anime & Movies
The anime and the films are a separate continuity. These stories are not part of the games' history above, and some contradict it. They are summaries of the films, not game text.
- Pokémon: The First MovieMewtwo is a clone, made by scientists from a fossilized eyelash of Mew.
- Lucario and the Mystery of MewSir Aaron seals Lucario inside his staff and gives his life to stop a war.
- Arceus and the Jewel of LifeArceus lends the Jewel of Life to Damos, and is betrayed.
- Hoopa and the Clash of AgesHoopa Unbound once ran rampant, and was sealed away in the Prison Bottle.