Suicune
[The Aurora Pokémon]
Suicune is a water type legendary pokémon introduced in the generation 2 gameboy colour games - Silver/Gold and Crystal. It is part of a legendary trio with Raikou and Entei, and is first encountered in the basement of the burned down Brass Tower in Ecruteak City (in the Johto Region). It is said to be a reincarnation of a pokémon that died when the Brass Tower was burned down.
Originally, this trio of pokémon were regular unknown 'mons, perishing because of a fire caused by a lightning strike to the tower. Because of the lightning, fire and tragedy of these nameless pokémon dying, the legendary rainbow pokémon, Ho-oh, came to save and revive them. Turning them into the legendary beasts.
My history with the games
The first Pokémon game I ever played as a child was Pokémon SoulSilver on the Nintendo DsLite. It had not long come out and I was really into dragons, my grandad picked it up for me thinking Lugia on the box was a dragon.
I also did end up getting Pokémon Diamond from the same gen - then other games later.
It was such a good introduction to the games that I have continued to be a fan well into adulthood.
Why this Pokémon?
I don't know what made me like this 'mon, but it probably came from playing the game with a friend of mine. I got really into Pokémon and read all those goofy "pokedex" books from those scholastic book fairs, Suicune always stood out to me - back when I called it "soo-ih-soon".
I learned how to pronounce it from the Pokémon 4Ever(2001) movie.
Even if I say another 'mon is my favourite, Suicune will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Suicune corresponds to the rain that put out the fire at the Brass Tower that its original form died in. At the same time Raikou represents the lightning that struck it, and Entei represents the fire that burned it.
It is also theorised that the unknown 'mons that originally perished in the fire were a Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon. This theory is made stronger by the depictions of the legendary pokémon's beta sprites.
Suicune is said to be inspired by Fūjin, the Shinto god of the wind and Quilin or Kirin, a creature from Chinese and East Asian legend that can walk on water. Its mane is also said to resemble an aurora and its twin tails as the wind.
The first one is the 2009 PokéDoll Suicune plush that I begged my grandad to buy off of Amazon for me all the way back in 2011. The og plush and the love of my life.
The second plush is the 2019 Sanei Suicune plush that I purchased in 2024, just because I wanted another plush, I love this one too as it fits with my other 'I Choose You' Pokémon plushies.
