I. Psychic conduits
Psychic Aura is an odd sort of energy, in that is labelled as "occult" alongside Ghost, Dark, and Fairy Auras, not because of its elusiveness or because experts are still struggling to decipher its inner workings—in fact, scientists were able to decipher the limits and abilities of Psychic Aura almost immediately. Psychic was one of the fifteen original Aura Types recognized by the League Association*, but there is a single key difference between Psychic and the others. Psychic Aura functions in a multitude of different ways and varieties, the mechanics differentiating from species to species. As one example, a Gallade has Psychic circuits in its arms, while a Malamar has Psychic circuits "braided" with Dark circuits (a previously-thought impossibility). Psychic Aura even operates in a different fashion within non-Psychic-Typed.
One of these peculiarities is the formation of an external Aura circuit, usually taking some inanimate object and fashioning it into a conduit of Psychic ability. Examples include wands (Delphox line), pendulums (Hypno line), and spoons (Alakazam line), simply to name a few. Research reveals that, which it is not a necessity to create external Aura circuits, those that do are significantly stronger in terms of channeling Psychic Aura than those that do no form these external circuits. The case of the Delphox line is unique in that the circuit is formed in the Braixen stage, before a Psychic Typing is added, and thus the wand can utilize both Fire and, upon evolution, Psychic ability.
Other Pokémon are known to create similar Aura circuits out of external objects, such as Farfetch'd and their leek and Decidueye turning its feathers into arrows. This is thought to be an example of certain Pokémon species mirroring the mannerisms of other species.
*note: Dark, Steel, and Fairy Auras were still being learned about at the time of the League's establishment of battling regulations and the establishment of Trainer Schools; Dark and Steel would be added a few years after the establishment of the original Type-Effectiveness Template, and Fairy Aura remained an enigma for another five years until a revolution in Aura analysis technology.
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II. Gym Leader descendancy
It was during the aristocracy period of ancient Kalos that certain noble houses claimed power. There were eight of them, each one the richest family in a major city of the Kalosian provinces. They formed the Aristocrat Council, using their influence to unite Kalos officially in a way that the House Auberon had failed to during the Great War. Even after the aristocracy was overthrown, these families continued to have an abnormally large presence in Kalosian politics. These houses participated and practiced battling techniques, each one possessing a unique style of fighting that would later earn them fame. In contemporary history, these techniques are revered as the "Peerless Stratagems of Battle", a list of highly skilled battle styles developed in Kalos.
After the end of the Crimson War and the League system was instated, descendants of these houses were instated as the holders of the Gym Leader title, both to gain their support in the abolishment of the monarchy and of their specialized techniques. The notion of inheritance of the Gym Leader title is arguably archaic in Kalos, but its origins are rooted deeply in tradition and aristocracy. They eight "High Houses" as follows:
—Dupuis of Santalune—House Dupuis specializes in Bug-Types, which is justifiable given that Santalune City is located so close to an Old Forest. This house's specialization is a technique known as swarm, in which the Pokémon is taught to move with such agility and speed that they can instantaneously change direction and can attack from seemingly everywhere. Scholars have noted that those on the receiving end describing it as though they were "being attacked by multiple enemies at once". The current Gym Leader of the Dupuis line is Viola Dupuis.
—Paquin of Cyllage—House Paquin specializes in Rock-Types due to Cyllage being carved into the cliffside of the shore. The Gym itself was actually originally an obstacle course of some kind in which those of the Paquin house had to undergo at a certain age, as a rite of passage of some sort. This house's specialization is a technique known as sharpen, in which Pokémon are specialized to fight within the caves by narrowing their field of vision and emphasizing the use of their additional senses. The current Gym Leader of the Paquin line is Grant Paquin.
—Baillieu of Shalour—House Baillieu specializes in the Fighting-Type, and was the very first to emphasize the importance of "bonding" with Pokémon. In the early ages before the Blooming, Pokémon could not understand human speech, and were treated in the same manner as common animals, save for their capabilities in both combat and the aide of everyday life. Only the Baillieu house considered Pokémon to be intelligent at the time and worked to form an unbreakable bond, a "partnership", between Pokémon and Trainer. Their technique, therefore, is known as connexion. The current Gym Leader of the Baillieu line is Korrina Baillieu.
—Faucheux of Courmarine—House Faucheux is located in Courmarine, a town where the earth is fertile and crops are plentiful, so this house specializes in Grass-Types. The Faucheux technique is known as tilling, in which the battlefield is changed and shaped to better suit preferences of one side, something that is achieved through various status moves and evasive maneuvers. The current Gym Leader of the Faucheux line is Ramos Faucheux.
—Abadie of Lumiose—House Abadie is located in Lumiose and specialized in Normal-Types, originally developing the technique of versatility. It was the Abadie house that first discovered the vast capabilities of Normal-Types during the early ages, before TMs allowed for greater move diversity. Sadly, House Abadie lost control of the Lumiose Gym several decades ago when an immigrant from Sinnoh by the name Meyer Amos won the Gym and changed its specialty to Electric-Types. The Gym is currently managed by Meyer's children, following the tradition of inheritance, the twins Clemont and Bonnie Amos.
—Rouzet of Anistar—House Rouzet specialized in Ghost-Types during its height. Many speculate that this was due to the nearness of the Laverre Nature Trail (Route Fourteen) and Mélancolie Path (Route Sixteen), claiming that it was sacred land of some sort. These rumors were only reinforced when the Brun Hotel was eventually closed down (known today as "Lost Hotel"). Rouzet house developed a technique known as ailment, in which their Ghosts whittled down the opponent's endurance through various status conditions. However, Rouzet lost control of the Anistar Gym almost one hundred years ago when an Alolan immigrant won it and converted it to a Psychic-Type Gym. The current Gym Leader is Olympia Kapule.
—Blanchard of Snowbelle—House Blanchard was considered one of the most noble of the High Houses, which is a rather striking notion given that Blanchard specialized in Dark-Types. Their technique was known as pugilism, a specialized form of close-quarters combat that involves relentless attacking that gradually chips away at the opponent's endurance and adapts unorthodox methods in order to shake their opponent's confidence. The House Blanchard did not lose control of the Snowbelle Gym, per se, so much as it was passed down to another family when the heir, Amelie Blanchard, passed away unexpectedly before either of her daughters were ready to inherit it. Her spouse, who was a member of the Rousseau house, inherited the Gym and reformed it as an Ice-Type Gym. That man, Wulfric Rousseau, is still Gym Leader today.
—Perrin of Kiloude—House Perrin of Kiloude specialized in Fire-Types, something that arose from the arid climate of Southern Kalos. Perrin house created a technique that utilized the climate known as swelter, in which they would have their Pokémon raise the heat of the environment until the opponent lost the resolve to fight. In recent years, the Gym was converted to a Dark-Type institution by the current Gym Leader, Aliana Perrin.
—? of Laverre—Laverre, while recognized as such, is a Gym city in name only. There is no High House associated with it, nor does it receive any challengers on a regular basis, and as such is referred to as the "unofficial" Gym of the Kalos Circuit. The currently recognized Gym Leader, known only as "Valerie", is enigmatic and has not been in contact with the League since its founding. The technique developed in Laverre is tentatively listed under the Peerless Stratagems and is referred to as alchemy, consisting of an inventive and unorthodox way of utilizing attacks in a different function than their intended purpose. To date, no one holds the badge of the Laverre Gym.
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III. Pedigree breeding
Like Gym Leaders themselves, the Pokémon that serve in the Gyms often inherit their roles from their parents. Under the reign of the House Auberon, battling for sport was forbidden and powerful Pokémon were not to be owned by commoners save for those that assisted with craftsmen's work. Nobles, however, kept powerful Pokémon as both pets and guards, and were very selective of the type of Pokémon under their care. Pokémon were bred specifically for the purpose of fighting and defending the aristocrats.
This practice was limited during the age of the Aristocrat Council, after the High Houses rose to power, to the point where only particularly wealthy nobles could afford selective breeding. As such, it became common to breed only one species from their menageries, and in the case of the High Houses, this was often the species that was considered the "ace".
Gym Leaders today still conduct this process of selectively breeding their "ace" species. Dupuis breeds Vivillion of various wing patterns, Baillieu breeds Lucario, Gogoat for Faucheux, just to name some. Abadie used to breed Heliolisk before being usurped by the Amoses, and Blanchard was known for their Zoroark. Laverre is the only city in Kalos with a license to breed Fairy-Types. Another parallel can be seen in the Alolan practice of Trail Kapenas (or "Trial Captains") selectively breeding their "Totems", Pokémon that participate heavily in the Trial itself.
Starters, too, are also systematically bred, though they are usually done so in facilities rather than under the care of a Trainer or Gym Leader. In Kalos, this system was abolished just before the Legrand administration took over, but it is still a common practice in Unova, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. The ethics are still heavily disputed.
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VI. Division between wild and captivity-bred Pokémon
It is a known fact that Pokémon raised in captivity and Pokémon raised in the wild have a certain contempt for each other.
Many are baffled by the phenomenon, but research from Prof. Anderson Birch pointed out that this was a phenomenon that manifested in human behavior as well. He noted that, similarly to wild Pokémon, people who grew up in ghettos and faced poverty early on in life will have a general contempt for those who lived more privileged lives. In the same manner, those with privileged lives will tend to avoid associating with those from poverty, lest their bitterness spill over into more violent acts, or simply out of a general disdain.
Birch proposed that this avoidance might be a coping method of some kind in which Pokémon raised in activity refuse to acknowledge the hardship of the wild because that hardship scares them, and they cannot imagine themselves in that position. In the same manner, wild Pokémon develop stronger familial bonds and tend to avoid capture because they do not wish to betray the ideals of "survival" they have grown up with. Simply put, neither wants the life of the other, nor do they fully understand the life of the other, so they mutually despise what they do not understand. Again, Birch likened this to human behavior.
While the scientific community was initially dismissive of the notion that Pokémon could display human-like psychology, the theory has since become widely excepted.
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V. Famous figures in History
Legendary Trainers/Figures of Antiquity (Pre-League and in chronological order)
Kalos (3000 yrs ago)
King Azoth Auberon, "Le Roi Tragique"—the "Tragic King", he was sovereign of Kalos during the Blooming. It was said he was the one who constructed a weapon of mass destruction in order to annihilate the armies of the usurpers. This weapon has since been destroyed; it was called the Azoth Flower, or Fleur d'Azoth.
Prince Anselme Auberon—Azoth's younger brother, who sought to usurp the throne. After witnessing the Azoth Flower's destruction, he abdicated the throne and Kalos became an aristocracy. He dedicated the rest of his life to helping Kalos recover from the aftermath.
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Unova (approx. 3000 yrs ago)
King Shiraru Sikáápi, the White King*—the elder of the Twin Kings, referred to as the Protectress in Unovan mythology. She was banished after apparently conspiring to murder her brother and take the throne for herself. Some variations of legend say she was falsely accused. Legend has it she wielded the Flames That Reveal.
King Kuroga Sikáápi**, the Black King—the younger of the Twin Kings, referred to as the Conqueror in Unovan Mythology. After an assassination attempt on his life, he banished his sister and become the sole leader of the kingdom. He was famous for uniting the factions of Unova under one flag. Legend has it he wielded the Lightning That Subdues.
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Hoenn (3000 yrs ago)
Chloe the Gallant—the first Lorekeeper of the Draconid Tribe, who befriended the Ziz and saved Earth from a massive meteor strike. Though largely dismissed as a folk tale, the myth indicates that Transcendence existed before Aesith entered the scene (as the story makes no mention of the Aesith). In fact, some believe that she may be the first human being to ever utilize Transcendence, if the story holds true. Her ultimate fate is unknown.
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Kalos (approx. 3000 yrs ago)
Adélaïde Baillieu—a priestess of the Goddess and an ancestor of the Baillieu house. Some stories place her as leader of the early Aesith, others as the first Aesith. Most, however, postulate her as the first to achieve "safe" Transcendence with her partner, a Lucario. Some sources site her as a lover to Prince Anselme.
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Unova (approx. 2980 yrs ago)
Prince Kasato Sikáápi—the White Prince. After the war killed their parents, he was invited back to the throne by his cousin order to reunify the kingdom. The two of them fought away the Void. It is said that he commissioned an alchemist to create the Fusion Wedge.
Prince Arashei Sikáápi—the Black Prince. After the war killed their parents, she invited her cousin to rule jointly with her to reunify the kingdom. The two of them fought away the Void and, after the battle, she ultimately dissolved the monarchy to found the first Unova Republic.
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Sinnoh (approx. 1000 yrs ago)
Moriz—an ancient swordsman in Sinnoh mythology, rumored to, through greed and youthful carelessness, slaughtered many Pokémon needlessly. He repented for this, however, and his deep display of remorse was said to revive the hope of humanity in a disillusioned god.
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Johto (approx. 1000 yrs ago)
Nijika—an ancient Ecruteakan queen and the first Keeper***. In addition to founding the Kimono Girl sisterhood, she also created the Ecruteak Dance Hall for the entertainment of the public and commissioned the building of the original Bell Tower as a shrine to the Phoenix.
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Alola (approx. 500 yrs ago)
Hoku—the last king of Alola. Legend claims he "held the stars in his hands", and when war fell upon Alola, he rallied the Tapus to defend the islands from "invaders of the beyond". He was the founder of the island challenge and, if the legends are to be believed, he is the one who gave the region its name (prior to this, it was known colloquially as Erebus Isles).
Malama—an ancient heroine in Alolan legend. Many legends claim her to be a demigod of the stars, while others say she was simply human. The first to ever complete the island challenge, Malama was the first island champion and was said to have fought alongside the Tapus to cleanse Alola of darkness. She helped create the first Z-Ring.
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Kalos (40 yrs ago)
King Louis VIII, "Roi de la Folie"—the "Mad King" of Kalos who waged war on Kanto in the name of power. His campaign led to what would become the Crimson War as other regions joined the fray. The war ended when Kalos rose up in revolution and finally dismantled the monarchy. His beheading was broadcast all over the world, which inspired other regions (save for Unova) to similarly abolish their unjust governments.
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Kanto (35 yrs ago)
Masamoto Suishou—one of the three founders of the Indigo League, hailing from Cerulean City. A general during the war, Suishou's battalion stole the Indigo Plateau back from the Kalosians after they had created a stronghold there. The fort that was built during that time served as the place where leaders met to negotiate peace. Suishou served on the original Elite Four for five years before passing away.
Agatha Tsubaki—one of the three founders of the Indigo League, hailing from Lavender Town. Tsubaki was viewed as a town hero for many times defending Lavender from invasion, and founded the House of Memories. She also turned Lavender into a sanctuary for wounded soldiers, and was a good friend of Suishou. He personally requested that she become a member of the Elite Four and served for almost fifteen years, during which Johto and Kanto formed an alliance beneath the League. She was said to have a rivalry with Okido during their training days.
Yukinari Okido—one of the three founders of the Indigo League, hailing from Pallet Town, and inventor of the Poké Dex. Okido was a general during the war, but was a staunch advocator of martial pacifism. Unlike Suishou and Tsukabi, Okido never served as a member of the original Elite Four, rather acting as an "organizer" and public spokesman. It was said that Okido was originally the one who proposed the League system, as well as christened it "Indigo" (after the mixing of "cerulean" and "lavender", the names of the hometowns of the other two founders).
*in Unova, the terms "king", "queen", "prince", and "princess" were gender neutral. In fact, in the original old Unovan tongue, the terms were more akin to "sovereign" (often translated as king), "companion to the sovereign" (often translated as queen), "sovereign's firstborn" (often translated as prince), "sovereign's secondborn" (often translated as princess). There is no equivalent term in Common.
**The surname of the Unovan dynasty is a combination of the Native American Blackfoot tribe word for "white" (áápi) and "black" (sik), so the name literally translates to "blackwhite".
***a title given to the chosen of the Johtonese gods