Earlier this week, Game Freak was hit by a massive data breach which reportedly included internal design materials for several classic Pokemon games.

Following the leak, the Pokemon Gold/Silver Fire-Type starter Pokemon Typhlosion has gone viral on social media. The reason for this is because of a leaked lore story that never made it into the actual games. This story, written similarly to a local legend or myth, features a Typhlosion that disguises itself as a human and sires a child with a human girl, causing a great deal of disturbing tragedy and drama in the process.

Typhlosion’s “legend” is one of several leaked lore stories involving Pokemon that came from the leak, many of which also feature violence, gore, and other decidedly non-family friendly themes. It is believed by some fans that these materials were written as part of development for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl‘s Canalave Library, which includes a book titles “Sinnoh Folk Stories” containing passages about how Pokemon could be eaten, as well as a time when the lines between Pokemon and Human were blurred. It is possible that the prototype Pokemon folk stories were eventually toned down to the current form present in the main games.

Others have commented that these Pokemon folk stories seem to draw inspiration from real-life folk tales about Japanese Yokai, which often shapeshift into humans to cause mayhem. The Typhlosion story specifically may have been based on the myth of the Mujina, a shapeshifting badger that sometimes took human form to seduce men. Mujina may also have been the inspiration for Hisuian Typhlosion, which commands ghostly fire similar to the mythical Yokai.

At the time of this writing, Game Freak or The Pokemon Company have yet to comment on this matter, although it is unlikely that they ever will.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.