#Nemea the Shinx

[hot-footed-heir]

Well then, I completely forgot to mention that I was heading out for the gym challenge.

<Zzt. I mentioned it, but you didn't respond, zzt.>

Let's just say I was focused.

<Zzt, whatever. Zzt.>

Anyway, there's some good news here. A few points, actually.

First: The new feline companion I caught - the Shinx - now has a name. Nemea. I know she's not a lion, but I can't help but imagine her standing against Heracles in battle. She has a fierce heart.

Second: I now have my second badge, thanks to a few critical strikes from Ember.

Finally: This happened in the middle of the match.

[ID: A photo of a Combusken, with determination in her eyes. Flames crawl up her feet, in the middle of a Flame Charge. The Makuhita opposing her has a shocked expression, as does his trainer. End ID]

<Zzt, I was surprised too. She just kinda started rushing in and bam, one KO'd Makuhita and one shocked Brawly. Zzt.>

We're back at the Pokemon Center for some well-earned dinner. And yes, I'm actually remembering to eat as well. An actual meal. Not just the snacks I've been living off of for a few days.

[shillelagh]

Part 2

After being resigned to my fate as Minston's trainer for the time being, I decided to journey eastward to Sandgem Town to find Professor Rowan and make him take his terrifying Chimchar back instead of giving me a Pokédex. I wouldn't even want to catch Pokémon anyway! However, upon reaching Sandgem Town, the professor was nowhere to be seen and left his assistant, Lucas, to give me a Pokédex and show me how to catch Pokémon. I tried to argue with him, but he just seemed so genuinely invested in all of this Pokémon research stuff that I couldn't bear to put a damper on it.

He gave me a few Pokéballs, and Minston rampaged up and down every area we could get to, but left the first Pokémon he found in each area for me to catch. I didn't really want to, but it didn't seem to be my choice...

Back at Lake Verity, we caught a Starly that I named Nausika. Back to Route 201 we caught Phoebe the Bidoof. On Route 202, we caught Nemea the Shinx.

Nemea is very quiet but curious, and she became our first teammate to battle other than Minston. Outside of Jubilife City, Barry wanted to see the Pokémon I'd caught and sent out a Starly of his own before I could tell him I didn't want to battle. Regardless, Nemea was sent out and she easily defeated Starly and then Piplup. Oh, how I wish I had gotten to take that Piplup instead. I didn't want to train Pokémon at all, but anything would've been better than where I am now...

Heading west of Jubilife, an angler gave me a fishing rod and we caught Ino the Magikarp on Route 218. North on Route 204, we caught Elvis the Budew, and inside the Ravaged Path we caught Navel the Geodude.

Minston practically dragged me east towards Oreburgh, the city with the first Pokémon gym in the Sinnoh league. On the way we caught Strumothy the Kricketot on Route 203 and Strahd the Zubat in the Oreburgh Gate. North of Oreburgh we finally caught Reya the Machop.

Being herded towards the gym, Barry informed Minston and I that the gym leader, Roark, was currently in Oreburgh's signature eccentric coal mine. With that, Minston and I were off to find him.

We found Roark, who made us watch him punch a rock before heading back to his post at the gym. I was eager to leave the tunnels before I caught black lung, but Roark's exploits seemed to get Minston pumped up. We found an Onix that we would've caught if Minston didn't punch through it like a sledgehammer through cheap drywall.

While impressive, a fire-type would be horrible against Roark's rock-type Pokémon... But maybe that was a blessing in disguise? I know that if I wanted to beat Roark, Elvis would probably be a big help with his super effective grass-type moves, and I once read a magazine article about how a foolproof method for beating Roark with just a single Geodude. But if Roark could get rid of my Minston problem, maybe I could end my career as a trainer early!

With Minston's fighting spirit, it wasn't hard to get him to lead the battle against Roark. In fact, it probably would've been harder to stop him. Unfortunately, Minston was unscathed after brutally beating and smashing his way through Roark's Geodude and Onix with Power-Up Punch. I was hopeful that Roark's Cranidos would finally be Minston's end, but instead his flame erupted into a blinding light and he evolved... And effortlessly eviscerated Cranidos with a single, mach speed punch.

... Given the next gym in Eterna City focuses on grass-type Pokémon... I think I need to find a new plan to get Minston off my back. Literally. He hasn't gotten down since we beat Roark and I'm getting so tired of this already.

[hot-footed-heir]

I didn't send that message, but I'd welcome any advice you can give, biased or otherwise. For the record, I currently have the first three badges of the Hoenn League, and am currently in Lavaridge Town for the fourth. My team, as they currently are, is as follows:

~ Ember, Combusken, Female ~ Fate, Kirlia, Female ~ Halva, Nuzleaf, Male ~ Stygius, Honedge, Male ~ Nemea, Shinx, Female

I'm not sure how close Nemea is to evolving, but she's been eager about her training to say the least.

Do you give advice on team comp for aspiring trainers? I have a nearly full team, but I don't know what to look for to fill the last spot.

I can certainly try! I am, however, incredibly biased.

[hot-footed-heir]

Little update on how everyone's been so far.

<Zzt, I'm still a lil' shit as you all well know. Zzt.>

🦴 I'm just chillin' wherever Zaggy boy can get some privacy.

Ember's learned some new moves and has been enjoying every single berry I've offered her. I don't think she's very picky.

Fate keeps having to remind me to take care of my own bodily needs. It doesn't seem like she minds, though.

Halva... well, he's just been hanging out. Training, sure, but outside that he's been very relaxed.

Stygius still refuses to leave my back. I did pull together a makeshift holder for his scabbard, but he still only unsheathes himself if I take him by the handle first.

And Nemea, our latest party member, has proven herself well enough against some particularly unruly wild Pokemon so far. Those bites are nothing to sneeze at. I think I saw her spit fire mid-bite as well.

[hot-footed-heir]

Y'know. Naming the Shinx Nemea would suck if...

Attached is a photo of a Pyroar

...I'm still keeping the name. She has a fire in her chest despite how small she is now.

[hot-footed-heir]

You haven't added Nemea to the pinned post, I dont think?

<Zzt, oh. My bad. Zag only named her today and we're currently being bombarded with Pelipper mail. Fixed, zzt.>

[hisuianhellion]

Yep. And considering most of Rotumblr agrees with them, I see no reason to argue! Still, I'm glad you caught Nemea as a Shinx.

Building a rapport with them eaely on is key to making sure they obey you consistently and are socialized correctly. Exposure to different types of Pokemon in a peaceful manner is very key to making sure they stay off the path of trying to dominate rather than protect.

Mutt's own Luxray, Kovu? He parents Mutt. Scruffing, bathing, comforting as needed. Males are effectively the rearers of most prides, and he's adapting well. He's lucky Kovu wasn't female. If they were? Things coulda gone real south real quick. Be thankful she's being protective rather than demanding.

Rose, you know how to deal with Luxio, right? Can you help me tell Nemea that I want to challenge the gym today and don't need yet another day of rest despite Fate's insistence?

⚔ Zagreus (@hot-footed-heir)

Hah. Ahahah. Yeah. I have two. One's even a Luxray by this point.

You do not argue with a Luxio, and even less so a Luxray. They are one of THE most protective Pokemon I have ever come across, to the point where they actively are afraid of hurting you themselves. I'd go into more detail, but I don't wanna get depressing.

Long story short, if you have a Luxio now? You listen to that Luxio when it's being caring towards you. Just make sure that doesn't turn into them being a bit of a brat. Almost ran into that with Carla. Nip the poutiness in the bud real quick, and they'll only really be stubborn if they're being protective.

[hot-footed-heir]

[ID: A video of Zagreus training his Shinx, Nemea, against the living skeleton that is Skelly. Skelly appears to be having a rough time, but is giving nothing but encouragement to the Electric-type feline.]

<Zzt, looks like we found a good way to use that Pokeball of bones. It's like Zag used to do this all the time, zzt.>