Warning: Spoilers for Pokémon Horizons Episode #56
Summary
- Terapagos' past is now more intricate due to the Scarlet Book's connection.
- The show's version of events differs from the games, as Terapagos was not always in Area Zero.
- The book may unravel Terapagos' origins, hinting at a possible descent into Area Zero.
Pokémon Horizons has introduced a new wrinkle to the mysteries surrounding Terapagos with the inclusion of the Scarlet Book, a key item from Pokémon Scarlet that has a secret connection to the Pokémon. The only problem, however, is that Pokémon Horizons has already given Terapagos a radically different past than it had in the games, and this new information suggests that Terapagos' history is far more complex than it appeared.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, particularly the Indigo Disk DLC, the Scarlet (or Violet) Book is a travel log by an ancient adventurer known as Heath, which chronicles his descent into the mysterious area at the center of Paldea known as Area Zero. In the book is an image resembling Terapagos' true form, and the Pokémon is eventually found deep underground in Area Zero. However, in the anime, Terapagos was traveling with the ancient adventurer Lucius over a hundred years ago, and thus it couldn't have been underground in Area Zero the whole time, as it was in the games.
So, just how did Terapagos escape from Area Zero, and how will the Scarlet Book relate to Horizons' ongoing mystery surrounding Terapagos and Lucius?
Terapagos' Mystery Deepens With the Introduction of the Scarlet Book
Terapagos' Past Just Got a Lot More Complicated
In the Horizons anime, it's known that Terapagos traveled with Lucius, who was active over a hundred years ago, and ended up in a legendary paradise known as Laqua for some time. It then spent the intervening time until the present as a pendant stored in Liko's family attic. It only recently reverted to being a Pokémon again, as a result of the pendant coming into the proximity of Lucius's Ancient Poké Balls. These balls housed Pokémon known as the Six Heroes, Lucius' companions, and collecting them seems to be essential to unlocking the path to Laqua.
All of that would suggest that Terapagos hasn't been in Area Zero for at least a hundred years, meaning the effects of its presence seen in Scarlet and Violet shouldn't be there. Since the Scarlet Book ultimately reveals the Heath expedition's trip deep underground to discover Terapagos, it may shed some light on Terapagos' origins, but won't actually be leading them to Terapagos the way it does in the games. Could it be that Liko, Roy, and Friede might actually make a descent into Area Zero in hopes of learning more about the origins of Terapagos?
The introduction of the Scarlet Book to Pokémon Horizons is certainly an interesting turn of events, as it seemed as if the anime's origin for Terapagos was completely original. It will be fascinating to see exactly how the original backstory of Terapagos from Scarlet and Violet will be integrated into the anime's lore around Terapagos; perhaps Lucius adventured into Area Zero himself in the distant past, and met Terapagos there. Maybe Lucius was even a part of Heath's expedition. Regardless of the answers, the mysteries surrounding Terapagos in Pokémon Horizons have only grown deeper.
Pokémon Horizons is the sequel series to the 1997 original series. It follows the adventures of Liko and Roy, two aspiring Pokémon trainers from different backgrounds, as they explore the Paldea region. Equipped with new gadgets and strategies, they encounter a variety of Pokémon and face challenges that test their skills and courage. With each discovery and battle, Liko and Roy learn about the vast world of Pokémon and strive to make their mark in the Pokémon leagues.