For "Pokémon," things often come in threes. Three starters, three games per generation (up until Gen V, at least) and three legendaries. The three legendaries, or legendary trio as they're called, has been a staple ever since the original "Red" and "Blue," and it looks like that will be making a return in the upcoming "Pokémon Sun" and "Moon."
When this trend started back in "Red" and "Blue," the legendary trio always had some kind of lore attached to them, but they always kind of played second fiddle to the main legendary or legendaries of that generation. For example, Gen I had Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno, but the big bad of that generation was Mewtwo; likewise, Gen III had Regirock, Regice and Registeel, but the big bads of that generation were Groudon and Kyogre.
Along the way, however, this started to change. New legendaries began to get mixed in with the main ones that appear on the box cover. For example, Gen IV had Dialga and Palkia, but it also had Giratina; ikewise, Gen VI had Xerneas and Yveltal, but it also had Zygarde.
Now, thanks to another trademark made public thanks to some digging from YouTuber TyranitarTube, we have been alerted to the possibility of "Pokémon Sun" and "Moon" continuing this trend.
Using the ever-popular Trademark Bot account on Twitter, we can see that there is a tweet displaying a trademark for something referred to as "Marshadow." However, since the tweet is entirely in Japanese, this could be a restaurant for all we know. So, how can we be sure that this trademark refers to a Pokémon?
Well, we go through the same process as we did when we learned about the three alleged starters: Mokuroh, Ashimari and Nyabby. All three tweets with their alleged trademarks display the identification numbers 9, 14 and 16, the same ones that were confirmed to be the trademark for the Pokémon Chestnaught.
Upon doing this, we see, once again, that the trademark with the mysterious Marshadow has the same identification numbers - 9, 14 and 16 - as all the other trademarks did before it. Whatever this is, the trademark registers it under the same category as the three trademarks that came before it. Therefore, if those three are Pokémon, then there is little reason not to believe that this is a Pokémon, too.
So, if we're willing to take this leap of faith and declare that its a Pokémon, then what would it be? It's possible that this is the third legendary, completing the aforementioned legendary trio that has been so prominent in the series up to now. If Solgaleo is the sun legendary and Lunaala is the moon legendary, then Marshadow, as its name implies, has to do with shadow. Specifically, mar means to disfigure, impair or scar, while a shadow is an area of darkness caused when light is blocked by an object. Therefore, keeping in line with the theme of "Sun" and "Moon," Marshadow represents an eclipse and is most likely a dark or ghost type.
However, even if we assume that's the case, then what role would it have in the lore? For example, Rayquaza represents the sky and is there to calm Groudon and Kyogre when they go out of control, but Giratina simply represents an alternate dimension outside of space and time and simply exists. Will Marshadow's presence be directly linked to Solgaleo and Lunaala, or will its presence represent something greater in the Pokémon world?
These assumptions could be totally off base, but it's worth looking at. At the very least, since these are trademarks and not based on supposition, then this actually has some backbone to it. It's unclear when information about Marshadow may come, as well. There's the May 10 announcement and the the May issue of CoroCoro, but as the alleged third legendary, it's likely that information will be coming later rather than sooner.
In the meantime, check out a video about Marshadow below:
