So, what is Norse Mythology?
Norse Mythology is the fabled idea that the earth was not round, but instead a flat disc. This disc, sits in the branches or something called ‘The World Tree’, known as the Yggdrasil. At the base of the Yggdrasil is Midgard, the realm of men, which is home to many Stags, each with particular colour stones within their long antlers. At the opposite end of the Yggdrasil, at the top is Asgard, realm of the gods which is looked over by the blind eagle. Then deep under the roots of the Yggdrasil is said to be a trapped serpent-like dragon known as Niohoggr who is near the realms of the dead.
SERPENT-DRAGON POKÉMON
We’ll start with the obvious one which we’ve already mentioned – the serpent dragon, Niohoggr. This particular beast has been compared to a potential Giratina by many Pokémon fans, based upon the mythology, Niohoggr lives deep within the roots of the Yggdrasil and is a dark creature who wanders the realm of the dead.The roots of Yggdrasil is obviously a remote location that is not ventured to by many, which could be compared to Giratina’s distortion world. X&Y may well introduce us to this Pokémon along with an alternate location for method of its capture.
MONSTROUS WOLF POKÉMON
North Mythology speaks of the wolf, Fenrir – who is foretold to have killed the God, Odin. Fenrir was raised by the gods which adds controversy to the murder of the God Odin and sets Fenrir as being a treacherous personality. Could we see a Monsterous Wolf Pokémon in X&Y? Perhaps it killed its trainer in the past and has become bitter and evil over time?.. Slightly violent for the Pokémon series, maybe! But I’m sure a less brutal version of the story could be
told.
THE SQUIRREL POKÉMON
Running up and down Yggdrasil is said to be a Squirrel named Ratatoskr. It is said that Ratatoskr carries messages between the blind Eagle at the top of Yggdrasil and Niohoggr (the serpent-like dragon) at the roots of Yggdrasil. The name Ratatoskr typically means ‘drill-tooth’, and folklore states that Ratatoskr gnaws away at the trunk of Yggdrasil. If this were to be a Pokémon, it could be that this squirrel is an instigator of a feud between two others, causing situations between two other powerful legendaries through lies and stretching of the truth. To further speculate on theory, maybe this squirrel is taking order from an evil organisation who have a goal in mind at world destruction, or who are sought after the capture of the feuding legendaries.
THE RAVEN DUO POKÉMON
Huginn and Muninn are a pair of Ravens who fly all over the world. They bring information of the world to the God, Odin. Similar to Ratatoskr, the Squirrel – this pair of Ravens could be perceived as ‘spies’ – capable of causing trouble through ill-informed information and understanding of situations in which they witness. Maybe in a true Pokémon story telling, these birds could be rivals? One the representation of good, and one the representation of evil.
THE GIANT TRIO/ORIGINAL GIANT POKÉMON
In Norse Mythology, the Jotun – also known as ‘the giants’, are often opposed to the gods, they are strong creatures who even though referred to as ‘giants’ are said to be slightly bigger than human beings. They are said to have separated into factions over the years, with some giants being larger than others. These larger giants are different types of Giants in terms of elemental status – fire, frost and mountain. Maybe this could be our next trio legendary line up?.
Norse Mythology also says that the entire world of men was born from the flesh of Ymir, who was a Giant of cosmic proportion and one of the original Giants. Perhaps if these two factions were brought into the Pokémon world, we could have a group of Pokémon similar to the Regis. The original giant being the equivalent to Regigigas.
