Some Way Too In-depth Headcanons About How Pokeballs Work
Legends Arceus has a line about how Pokeballs function that makes no sense, so I might as well offer my headcanons as a supplementary explanation.
So basically, the game says [paraphrasing] that Pokemon “shrink themselves down” to go into Pokeballs. That’s inherently contradictory with the gameplay; not only should every Pokemon know minimize if this were the case, but it doesn’t explain why a Pokemon goes into a Pokeball only to break out of it, or how they go into a Pokeball after they’re already fainted.
So my take on it is to go at the same idea in a different way. When a Pokemon evolves, it completely changes size and shape, and this is often accompanied by some form of light.
Basically, all Pokemon have the ability to convert themselves into energy/light like this. This is how they evolve, as well as reproduce. It’s not something they can do on command, however; it’s more of a reflex that triggers under specific circumstances. While in the form of energy like this, the amount of space the energy takes up can be condensed or expanded, which is how they change size upon evolving.
All a Pokeball does is provide an artificial trigger for this to occur. A cut and polished tumblestone’s (one of the items needed for crafting Pokeballs) presence automatically causes a Pokemon to revert to this energy form due to a chemical reaction. When the Pokemon comes into contact with a Pokeball, it transforms into energy due to the tumblestone; said energy is pulled towards the stone and condenses down to fit inside the apricorn. Once the Pokemon is in its energy form, it remains in that form in the Pokeball due to the tumblestone’s presence until it’s sent out. Older Pokeballs spit out excess energy from the catch in the form of “fireworks”; newer Pokeballs are more efficient and don’t need to do this.
All Pokemon can reduce their energy forms down to the same size, regardless of how big they are; however, the bigger the ‘mon, the more powerful the energy is when condensed, which makes it easier for them to break out during a catch. Likewise, the more powerful the Pokemon, the more energy needs to be contained. This is why different types of tumblestones are used for different types of Pokeballs, as the variations of the stone have varying degrees of strength.
Because this energy conversion normally happens during key moments in a Pokemon’s life, it gives them a rush of endorphins. This means that a Pokemon instinctively wants to go inside of a Pokeball and curl up there; they find the experience to be cozy. This behavior also helps them conserve energy and heal after a long battle (they don’t feel pain from injuries while in the ball, but they can still become weak and faint).
Modern day Pokeballs are capable of producing simulations for the Pokemon inside, giving them the illusion of being bigger on the inside. The environments vary based on the type of Pokeball used, and different types of environments can increase catch rates; for example, while regular Pokeballs use an open field, lure balls create an underwater environment that’s more appealing to aquatic species.
So Pokemon do possess the ability to shrink themselves down… after converting into energy. And Pokemon do shrink themselves down to go inside of Pokeballs… as an automatic reflex in response to the tumblestone. So nothing the professor says is actually wrong; it’s just oversimplified, probably intentionally to make it easier for the protag to understand.
This is also why humans can’t go into Pokeballs; while descended from Pokemon, human beings lost the ability to evolve and convert into energy years ago. Because the Pokeball requires the subject to be able to do this in order to function, they have no effect on people.
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