Blackthorn City – home of the Dragon masters since time immemorial. Although a famous location in the Johto region, the settlement is all but cut off from the outside world; surrounded by daunting mountains on all sides, access is gained almost exclusively through the Ice Path. Only experienced Pokémon trainers are daring enough to attempt such a treacherous hike, however, in order to challenge Blackthorn's incumbent Gym Leader - Clair.
In this seclusion, members of the Dragon clan practice the difficult art of raising their mighty Pokémon, watched over by the elders of the Dragon's Den. Most of them hope one day to attain a level of skill that enables them to take the Pokémon League challenge and battle Lance, Blackthorn's most famous resident, and Champion of the Indigo Plateau. On this night, however, all of the Dragon trainers were distracted from their training.
It started without warning – a purple Shadow Ball shot from the side of a mountain, piercing the roof of the Pokémon Centre. Then, almost immediately afterwards, a SolarBeam from another mountainside destroyed one of the traditional wooden houses in which all of the city's inhabitants lived. Soon, attacks of every conceivable element rained down upon the city, sending most of the residents running in sheer terror for the refuge of the Dragon's Den. A few of the town's most experienced trainers – Lady Claire herself, along with her apprentices – flew to the mountains on their Pokémon to try and detain whoever or whatever was attacking the city, but to no avail; wherever they arrived, an attack was thrown at the city from another mountain.
After about 5 minutes, the assault ended, as suddenly as it had begun. Blackthorn City was in flames; not a single building was left standing, even the fortress-like Gym. The search began immediately for the missing. The wounded, both humans and Pokémon, were carried to the remains of the Pokémon Centre in hopes of treatment.
From the highest peak of the mountains surrounding the destroyed city, a cloaked figure watched the ensuing chaos. As the first rays of dawn light shone over the mountains, however, it flew down into the valley beyond and away from the ruined city.
Only hours later did the residents notice, above the entrance to the Dragon's Den, a black R scorched into the grey rock of the mountainside.