For the blog post link, click here.
Quick note: many of these headcanons are extrapolations of Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO rather than the Gamecube games (though, a couple of things are taken from the Gamecube games). This is because I never played nor cared to play the GCN games. If you do and you have a Shadow muse, then we can adapt things to that.
Shadow Energy
Shadow Energy is the basis of Shadow Pokémon. It is Infinity Energy that has been corrupted and is the embodiment of pain, suffering, and insecurity. Shadow Energy is everywhere in miniscule quantities, but even the miniscule quantities are enough to corrupt the energy around it if manipulated by Shadow Pokémon and Shadow Moves. In addition, Shadow Pokémon passively radiate this energy, which allows Pokémon sensitive to aura about to feel it. Whenever there is more Shadow Energy in the world than usual and is not channeled into something like a move, the Shadow Energy is dissipated into normal Infinity Energy until the area is at equilibrium.
Shadow Pokémon are in perpetual pain that is constantly inflicted by the Shadow Energy. The more energy within them, the more pain it inflicts. The normal levels of pain is why Shadow Pokémon lose their emotions and why they’re generally difficult to control. The heightened level of pain by channeling the Shadow Energy through Shadow Moves or even passively is why they’re completely uncontrollable and would even attack their trainer. Every species of Pokémon and individuals within the species has a different capacity of tolerance of Shadow Energy, and each interacts with the Shadow Energy in a different way.
Passive Shadow Energy pain is a little different than usual. The pain inflicted by passive Shadow Energy does cause pain, but it also preys on your insecurities and anxieties, gnawing at them until they close their heart to the world.
Purified Energy
Purified Energy is energy that has been cleansed and purified naturally within a Purified Pokémon. Purified Energy is a healing energy that boosts the power of healing moves like Heal Pulse and allied Pollen Puff.
No one quite knows how Purified Energy works. Maybe it’s the true form of Shadow Energy. Maybe it’s a corruption of the energy in a weird, reverse way. More research must be done to determine the truth.
Shadow Pokémon
In both Gaia (Lauren’s home world) and Elysium (the main world), Shadow Pokémon didn’t exist in the same way. While Shadow Energy operates the same as before, there was no Team Cipher or Team GO Rocket native to the two worlds. Instead, Shadow Pokémon were fairy tales: tales of especially powerful Pokémon that closed their hearts to the outside world and performed terrible deeds. They were tall tales to teach small children to love and care for Pokémon, but eventually were left up to that: mere tales.
However, since the Aether Incident and as more worlds began to interact with Elysium, there have been an increasing number of reports and news stories about Shadow Pokémon roaming the world and attacking trainers. Whether the reports are widespread or substantiated are yet to be seen.
What is known among the Legendary Pokémon is that there is a single ongoing Shadow Pokémon: XD001, The Gale of Darkness. The Lugia from Heidi’s home world, Aegir turned into a Shadow Pokémon a very long time ago. She now lives in a reinforced room within Heidi’s Hall of Origin, where Heidi keeps her to keep everyone safe and so others can visit her like Melony and Heidi herself. Both Heidi and XD001 agreed to have it this way.
When a Shadow Pokémon performs a move, whether a Shadow move or a standard move, they instinctively channel Shadow Energy in them, making the standard moves stronger than what they usually would be and Shadow Moves hit non-Shadow Pokémon for super-effective damage (unless they are either typeless or have the RKS Neuter ability). However, when a Shadow Pokémon is purified, this channel changes, causing Shadow Energy to be cleansed into Purified Energy within the Pokémon. Because of this, Purified Pokémon are immune to turning into a Shadow Pokémon once again.
Under most circumstances, there are only a few ways for a Shadow Pokémon. For most Pokémon, deepening a bond between it and a trainer that desires for the Pokémon to return to normal will purify most Pokémon over time; however, a trainer who does not wish for the Pokémon to be purified will instead further corrupt the Pokémon with Shadow Energy, granting it more pain and more power in the process. It is not known if this corruption will continue indefinitely, or the side-effects for the Pokémon involved. In addition, an encounter with Celebi will also instantly purify almost every Pokémon.
Shadow Lugia, The Gale of Darkness, is immune to the previous purification methods, as its heart has been corrupted beyond redemption. Shadow Lacey is also immune to the purification methods, simply due to the fact that she has split from her former self.
There are rumors of a way to create a purification chamber that can purify any Pokémon, but such proof has never surfaced.