Pokemon's Canonical History 1/3 - The Origin Myth

This is the creation myth of Pokémon. As Arceus is a Mythical Pokémon and not actually seen, this could all be the belief system of the people in the world, and therefore not what actually happened. All information is taken from in-game lore within the canonical games, therefore is the best understanding we have of the actual history of the Pokémon universe without speculation or fan-theory. Footnotes below.

In the beginning, there was nothing. Then, there was an egg. When the egg hatched, Arceus, The Original One was born and was alone. Arceus had unfathomable power and, knowingly or otherwise, created into being three Pokémon in its image, each with a single purpose. Palkia held power over space, Diagla held power over time, and Giratina held power over Anti-matter. Palkia and Daigla worked together and wished all matter into being. The full extent of Giratina's power and what it created is unknown. However, Arceus then banished Giratina to the 'Distortion World' – an alternate dimension. After Diagla and Palkia had done their job of creation, they picked their respective dimension and slept.

Arceus then brought forth its power once more to create three more Pokemon to benefit the future of all life: Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit. Azelf gave willpower to life, so that it might act upon its own initiative. Uxie gave knowledge to life, so that it might make informed decisions with its willpower. And Mesprit gave emotions to life, so that life may feel things and give value into being. Together, they wished and created spirit. After giving these gifts to the future of Pokémon, these pixie Pokémon Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit retreated underground on a particular rock, that we know as the Pokémon world. All known life, henceforth, exists on this Pokémon world save for the alien Pokémon Deoxys. [1]

The Pokémon world, at its early stages, was important for two major reasons. Firstly, was that the Spear Pillar at Mt Coronet and some the surrounding landmass of the Sinnoh region likely already existed on the world before anything else, acting as a gateway between the dimensions where Palkia, Diagla, Giratina and Arceus lie dormant. Secondly, the conditions on this planet made it able to sustain life, and so three more beings of power came to inhabit the planet. [2]

First to exist was Rayquaza who was formed in the atmosphere and forever roamed the skies and was master over the other two. Kyogre was formed in the depths of the ocean, who had dominion over the seas, and could create intense rainfall to expand them. Groudon was formed in the magma under the earth and had dominion over land, and could scatter the clouds allowing the sun to dry up the seas. [3] They morphed the world in their vision as they went, changing everything in their path until eventually, and accidentally, they met; each unhappy that the other was undoing their work. Then, a great battle ensued as the rivals fought, throwing the world into chaos. In the midst of their age long battle, Rayquaza descended from the skies and calmed the primal pair. Sapping their energy into blue and red orbs, Rayquaza sent Kyogre to the sea depths and Groudon to below the earth's crust, and there they slept. Rayquaza then ascended to the skies and continued its journey across the very edges of the atmosphere.

Without Groudon, Kyogre and their battle over dominance of nature, the world found a kind of peace; and in this lesser state of flux came the colossus Pokémon, Regigigas. Regigigas had the power to physically shift tectonic plates and went forth to shape the continents and formed the now known regions of Unova, Kanto, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, etc., then, the colossus created three more Pokémon in its image. It created Regirock out of clay, Regiice out of ice, and Registeel out of Magma. The four of them roamed the land with significant power.

With this new and habitable world, life sprung into being in the form of Mew, the genome Pokémon. [4] Mew existed in great numbers and were capable of transforming into different forms entirely Some Mew transformed and stayed in their changed form, creating the first ancient Pokémon species. [5] Over the next millions of years, the population of Mew dwindled, as the original Pokémon made way for new species. The first and ancient Pokémon were vast in numbers. [6]

Part 2: The Ancient History

Footnotes.

1. Also, it is possible Lunatone came from space, and Clefairy and Clefable came from the moon. However, they now exist on earth, so these are only in-game theory.
2. It is unknown whether or not this was Arceus who created Rayquaza, Kyogre and Groudon due to accounts claiming he slept after creating Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit. As such, these three Pokémon did not necessarily come into being at the same time, it is possible they formed over millions of years apart.
3. It is speculated by some in the Pokémon world that Kyogre and Groudon initially created the seas and landmasses respectively, though this seems less likely than them simply having the power to control them, as matter was already created by Palkia and Daigla.
4. Though it is unknown exactly how life was created, or if Mew existed even before the battle of Kyogre and Groudon, it is possible that, given the appearance, Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit created Mew in their image, and is what was meant by their wishing of 'spirit' into being.
5. Mew likely made Pokémon Evolution possible as, rather than a subtle shift of adaptation and survivability over time, it was a transforming of individual Pokémon to incur survival for the race and a balance in their eco-system. The genetic capabilities to transform into other Pokémon eventually became the genetic capability for Pokémon to 'evolve'.
6. It is thought that all non-legendary Pokémon originated from Mew, that is all Pokémon capable of evolving, and / or reproducing. It is also worthy of note that the species Unknown may have existed at this time separately to Mew, as while little is known about the species, it neither reproduces nor evolves, yet is capable of ancient power.