The War of Hawthorne

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A war that had been raging for 500 years had finally engulfed the Hawthorne region.

Upon the discovery of the God Pokémon, Arceus – a mere myth until that point – the Sinnoh region suddenly came under a great deal of international scrutiny. Jealousy had spread across the other regions, disheartened by the fact that the God Pokémon had not graced their lands.

During the time of the war, a young boy from Celestic Town had discovered an instrument in the ruins, before the cave paintings of the three legendary Pokémon: Azelf, Mesprit and Uxie. According to ancient folklore, the flute was said to be an "answer to many questions." He kept his findings a secret however, knowing that a boy of his age would not be allowed keep such a valuable artefact to himself. He later wrote in his diary, "The elders, they have searched for something so key to their beliefs... I knew that I would not be able to maintain this item, but all they ever do is bicker! I felt such a connection with the flute... I think it was my calling to find out what it was for. I knew from the moment I saw it that it was fate." And so, the boy took it upon himself to solve the mystery of this item. With nowhere else to go, the boy visited the newly opened Canalave Library, which held many myths, both true and untrue. The biggest challenge to the scholars and philosophers of the time, however, was being able to determine which was which.

Many years later, the boy grew up and become a man, and the man matured into an Elder. No one knows for sure when this epiphany occurred, but the Elder finally solved the flute's mystery in his later years. The flute was that of Azure: the Flute of God. And so, the Elder followed the paths that myths and legends had foretold. For the Azure Flute would, in the right hands, show the most likely place where Arceus would appear again. He travelled to the peak of Mt. Coronet, the mountain which divides Sinnoh in two. He played the Flute and, according to the Elder's writings, "a staircase descended from the heavens above", opening a plateau on top simply known as "The Hall of Origin". The more the elder shared his story – he now being one of the respected scholars he had hid the Flute from many years ago – the more it was passed on, and so word spread quickly throughout the land.

The Emperor of Sinnoh, who resided in what is now Snowpoint Temple, heard of this news and demanded that he and his most trusted men be taken to the Hall with the Elder and the Azure Flute. As before, that same staircase descended, and that same plateau appeared, but Arceus was not as courteous upon its arrival. In fact, the God Pokémon seemed enraged. Arceus shunned the Emperor and his minions; the Elder fled, and was never seen again.

The Emperor ordered for the Flute to be sent to the Hawthorne region: a place looked down upon by the larger, more powerful regions; an opportune place to dump what seemed to be quite a powerful liability. The reasons for this, however, remain unclear. The complete story of what had happened on the return to Mt. Coronet was never released, and is said to have defined the Emperor's actions ever since. Not even those who retold their story of defending the ruler could not recall what had happened in entirety, or so they said. And so, the Azure Flute was cast into the deepest lake in Hawthorne and has been irretrievable since.

The controversy over the Azure Flute is what led to conflict in Hawthorne. However, the region did not need much of an excuse to be pushed over the edge. It had been looked at internationally in an unflattering light for many years. The various districts – the Serene Lake district, the Peaks district, the Wilderness district, the Autumn district and the Sea district – felt too controlled by the King of Hawthorne. They felt that his power was too great and his army was too widespread. Tension had been growing thicker and thicker thanks to years of economic hardship. The King and his followers lived in a very secluded part of Hawthorne. An area once riveting with exquisite nature, beautiful gardens, and an immense castle surrounded by lush trees on top of a slowly climbing peak. However, with the arrival of the Azure Flute and the subsequent embarrassment it brought, the districts had had enough.

Each district independently assembled its own army, but all were united in a common goal of overthrowing the King. And so, a war began. The districts marched forward and battled upon the long strip of land between Aputuray Town and the King's Realm. This was a battle between thousands of extremely powerful Pokémon trainers and eventually led to total destruction of that which was once a beautiful dominion. The King was overthrown and neither he nor any of his officials survived the War.

As a consequence of victory, the districts no longer maintained much organization; Hawthorne split and became a much more divided, yet freer, region. No longer were there districts in the political sense, but towns and cities grew in their place. The strip of land where the battle took place is now commemorated by a building which hosts the Pokémon League of Hawthorne. The King's Realm, however, remains ultimately untouched.

The Azure Flute was quickly forgotten about. Despite many efforts, it was never found and has seldom been spoken about since. Hawthorne was never cursed with conflict ever again, until now... history has a funny way of repeating itself.