Is there an actual explanation for why Raichu has an Alolan form? And no, I don’t believe in the pancake thing.

To be fair, have you ever had Alolan pancakes?

Granted, as someone who’s severely lactose intolerant and thus can only eat dairy-free pancakes, the one time I had left me with crippling stomach pains, but even I thought Alolan pancakes were transformative.

(In all seriousness, it’s likely that pikachu, who is actually an incredibly adaptable pokémon, is reacting to the higher levels of spiritual energy of the archipelago itself in addition to the energy released by a thunder stone.)