Zygarde will clearly play an important role in the story ofPokémon Legends: Z-A, although little has been officially revealed about the game’s plot at present. However, I am sure that the Legendary Pokémon’s involvement actually means that Lumiose City is facing a catastrophe. Although the footage and details revealed so far present a positive feeling within the city, given the lore that surrounds Zygarde, it seems that this will not last long.
Thenew trailer forLegends: Z-Ahas revealed some interesting details about the game’s new mechanics, as well as confirming that it will be set in the modern era rather than the distant past of Kalos. The redevelopment that Lumiose City is undergoing is evidently designed to justify a large variety of Pokémon being found in the city, allowing it to serve asthe entire setting ofLegends Z-Aby itself. The trailer also indicates that Zygarde will be taking an interest in the city, something that both fits with its established lore and carries dire implications.
Zygarde Works To Protect The Pokémon World’s Ecosystem
It Splits Apart And Combines To Monitor And Combat Various Threats
As a Legendary Pokemon,Zygarde has a firmly established role as the guardian of the global ecosystem. Uniquely, it achieves this by being divided into Cores and Cells, tiny entities that can keep watch over the environment and then congregate in times of trouble. Depending on how many Cells gather around a Core (or Cores), they can create a Zygarde form of increasing power to combat any threat. Notably, 10% Forme, the least powerful of these, is the dog-like version of Zygarde seen in the recentLegends Z-Atrailer.
Due to its role as a Legendary, it makes sense that Zygarde would investigate Lumiose City givenwhat is already known aboutLegends: Z-A. The redevelopment led by the Quasartico company aims to create a more balanced environment for humans and Pokémon, and this presumably positive change to the ecosystem could easily attract Zygarde’s attention. On the other hand, Zygarde may also be investigating the presence of AZ and his Floette, who were rendered immortal by the Ultimate Weapon and therefore break the natural cycle of life and death.
The three major forms of Zygarde appear to be based on three of the children of Loki found in Norse mythology: the wolf Fenrir, serpent Jörmungandr and humanoid Hel.
Although Zygarde was initially introduced inPokémon X and Y, the bulk of its development (including the mechanics of Cores and Cells) instead debuted inPokémon Sun and Moon. The speculatedPokémon Zthat would have built directly uponPokémon X and Yand featured Zygarde as its mascot Legendary was never created. Therefore, in many ways,Legends: Z-Acould be treated like the upper versionPokémongame many have waited a decade for. However, this also means thatLegends: Z-A’s long-awaited use of Zygarde will arguably be underwhelming without a more serious problem for the Legendary to confront.
Lumiose City Could Soon Face An Ecological Disaster
A Threat To The Local Ecosystem Would Justify Zygarde’s Presence
Considering the circumstances in which Zygarde’s increasingly powerful forms canonically appear,10% Forme Zygarde looking down on Lumiose City seems to imply that an ecological problem is emerging in Lumiose City. Of course, this contradicts the goals of the city’s urban redevelopment, but not to the extent that it renders it impossible. Instead, the redevelopment could be hiding an underlying issue, or even secretly be a contributing factor. For example, it is possible that an element within Quasartico is secretly cutting corners or polluting the environment.
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It is worth noting that if some part of Quasaritco does operate in this way, perhaps as the result of a secret agenda held by Jett or Vinnie, thenit would not be the first time thatPokémonexplored the theme of a prominent company threatening a game’s setting.Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Macro Cosmos, under the leadership of Chairman Rose, fulfilled a similar capacity, with Rose himself being one ofPokémon’s most terrifying villains. With Quasartico’s own influence stretching across the entirety of Lumiose City, the company clearly has the ability to hide any number of dark secrets.
Ultimately, regardless of whether Quarsartico is involved, I am sure thatan unfolding ecological issue of immense proportions exists within Lumiose City. Even the supplementary promotional material available for the game supports this theory, such as the details of Zygarde provided on thePokémonwebsite’sLegends: Z-Apage. The profiles it provides of Zygarde’s various forms constantly highlight how it uses them to protect the environment. With this lore being so firmly reinforced, it would arguably be stranger if it did not become relevant to the plot of the game.
Zygarde May Try To Destroy Lumiose City In Legends: Z-A
A Wrathful Legendary Would Provide A Perfect Climactic Battle For The Game
In the most extreme, but still very fitting interpretation of this narrative, Zygarde may conclude that Lumiose City itself is the threat to the environment, and act accordingly.The prospect of fighting Zygarde’s enormous 100% Forme as the climactic battle of the game undoubtedly holds a lot of appeal, especially givenLegends Z-A’s new battle mechanics. Zygarde’s cores are able to manipulate and reshape its body at will, so a three-dimensional battle to defeat it could involve literally taking it apart piece by piece, with each section of Zygarde having its own attacks and even separate health bars.
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The final parts ofLegends: Arceusare incredibly impactful, with the two-stage battle against Giratina easily being one of the most memorable in the entire franchise. A desperate struggle to prevent Zygarde from destroying Lumiose, even as an ecological collapse threatens the city, would be a perfect dramatic follow-up to this. Although this is only speculation at present, I would not be surprised to eventually see Zygarde attempt to bring down Prism Tower or accomplish some other, similarly dramatic feat of destruction.
Although all seems well in Lumiose City, the long-established lore ofLegends: Z-A’s only confirmed Legendary Pokémon clearly indicates otherwise. Zygarde’s presence suggests that the inhabitants of Lumiose City will soon face an angry Legendary Pokémon determined to prevent an ecological disaster, no matter the cost. However, this promise of destruction only makes the narrative potential ofPokémon Legends: Z-Aall the more exciting, providing all the groundwork needed for a truly incredible climax.
