#a donphan never forgets

[freerangeranger]

Arrived! Safe and sound. It took a few extra hours for paperwork bc i have non native pokemon but my team is worth it ❤

The rangers have put me up in a hotel and then im supposed to travel by air taxi to meet with my partner. Idk who it is but hopefully they arent too much of a stick in the mud. I dont think i could take spending a week with a irl rules lawyer

[paldean-ranger-brandy]

Went out to look at a dead Donphan out by Cascarrafa. Tusks had been removed, so it's pretty clear someone's collecting some ivory - and they probably got a good hunk outta this one, that dead bitch was UP there in years.

Got a wild hariyama to help haul the body back to the base station. Honey and I spent the day reviewing the case, so I just got back to finally take a closer look. Looks like it was attacked, prooobably by a water type if I had to guess, based on the injuries. Which is actually great, if it had been poisoned we'd have a huge hunk of useless meat. At least this way Michael and Macaroon can go to town on it.

Did you know mightyena have a strong enough bite strength + stomach to chow down on the bones of their food? It's very cool to watch, makes a very satisfying crunching sound. Poochyena normally can too, but Macaroon still has really poor bite strength from whatever team calm did to her. But after watching Michael she's starting to get into chewing on the hide! I've even gotten her to play a real game of tug-o'-war with some of the trunk :') she's really starting to come out of her shell.

I know it's probably not an ideal "send-off" for the donphan but eh. That kinda thing always seems so hokey to me. At least this way the body is useful for living creatures, yanno?

[skrub-dubs]

[A small package arrives. Wrapped inside of tissue paper is a chunk of whittled Ivory. Victoria seems to be getting very good at whittling, she managed to carve an elaborate design of a Huntail into this Donphan tusk like its scrimshaw. The Huntail is surrounded by swirling wave like designs and gusting wind.

There’s a note with it….

Dear Uncle Skrub. Thank you for all those wonderful birthday gifts again. I started this as soon as I got here in Paldea. I found the biggest Donphan and relieved him of his tusks. One I used for practice, this one’s the final product.

Happy Father’s Day!]

[A video is attached. Skrub is seen marveling at the lovingly-carved hunk of donphan ivory, looking at it from all sorts of different angles. Tears seem to be already welling up in her over this piece of art.

"Holy shit, this- there's so much.. detail put into this. The kid made it with her own two hands...?"

Skrub sniffled a small bit, the floodgates opening as the tears that threatened to spill up to this point finally streamed down his face in spite of his large grin.

"Damn kid should be an artist..."]

[a note is also sent back to Vic. His messy writing looks even messier than usual, showing his urgency to show his thanks.

"Dear Little Shadow.

This art you sent really means a lot to me. It means a hell lot that you'd put in all this time and effort and love into a gift as amazing as this, especially while you're on the job...

And the fact this was sent on today of all days makes me think I've done at least sumn right for you, I hope.

Ivory or stone or wood, anythin' you make is infinitely more valuable than what it was made out of to me, kid. Because I know you always put in 110% into whatever you do, because you care.

Thank you.

- Uncle Skrub.]

[championhessonite]

Could someone please tell me what’s going on with the “donphan never forget” situation? Also please leave all elephant pokemon alone! They are harmless unless provoked and all you’re doing is making them associate humans with bad things!

[the-royal-hyrule-library]

Hyrulean Pokédex: Phanpy and Donphan

Typing: Ground (Phanpy), Ground/Fighting (Donphan).

Donphan has a well-earned reputation for being aggressive, and understandably so. In times past, this pokémon was hunted to the brink of extinction for its hide and its tusks. The species is now protected; and its numbers are slowly, but steadily, climbing. But as the old saying goes: a Donphan never forgets.

[pokemon-ash-aus]

What would Riolu/Lucario from journeys look like in the cursed AU? Since Ash hatched it from an egg, it would have been disable from birth, and I'd imagine the people of Kanto would further believe Ash was cursed, having hatched a disabled pokemon.

Technically, Lucario isn't the first pokemon Ash hatched.

I dunno why people seem to forget that Donphan, Scraggy, Noivern, and technically Larvitar have all hatched from Ash.

I don't think Larvitar would have a disability because he was never ash's pokemon, but ya never know!

And yeah, Ash's hatched pokemon were born with disabilities, which then 'proved' Ash was cursed.

[stuffamourshipperssay]

To think I got an idea for a brand new tag just for rabid amourshippers. It's anti amourshipper if you want to use it. It pretty much popped into my head as soon as I saw what your account was about. :P

Hey, aren’t you the same guy who called me a r*tarded gay because I mainly ship Ash with other dudes and argued that Diodeshipping “got in the way of Amourshipping”, then quickly deleted and never apologized for anything?

I know that was like, a year ago now, but from what I’ve seen, you seem to have not changed since then.

You get into, arguably, petty arguments with people who are (usually) joking about how they don’t like Amourshipping and/or with people who just want to have a discussion about the ship, then you delete the conversation and pretend like nothing happened, all without apologizing for your rude behaviour or shitty comments. I get this is the internet, but come on, man. Have some manners.

So, yeah. You’re not great of an Amourshipper yourself.

As for the actual ask, I wouldn’t do that since I feel like that would be too harsh towards Amourshippers in general. I am not anti-Amourshipper. People can ship whatever they damn please, as long as they ain’t a butt about it.

[crystalelemental]

Alright, time for my own run of the League.

Rika’s solid.  I don’t have great answers to Ground-type, especially since I’m not running a Water-type at all.  I lost Meowscarada and Espathra.  But otherwise, not too bad, just some misplays on my part.  I didn’t expect Poison Jab from Donphan and forgot about Sturdy...

Poppy went down like a sack of bricks.  Bellibolt was just the hardest counter.  Mud Shot took out Magnezone in two shots even with Light Screen.  Discharge eviscerated the rest of her team, especially with Electromorphosis powering it up.  Not that it came up that often, we legitimately didn’t take damage until Tinkaton.  I love strategy-based play, but there is something to be said for trying too hard.

Larry was a bit tougher.  Overconfident after #BelliSweep, I led with it...forgetting about Tropius as his lead.  So I had to switch out to Ceruledge...who barely missed the KO on Staraptor and took a crit Brave Bird to the face.  Dachsbun handled the next two alright, although confusion from Oricorio did a number so Flamigo took it down.  Thankfully, we then get to return to our regularly scheduled #BelliSweep, and all is well.

Hassel was a fun fight.  Clodsire dominated.  At least, until it got hit with Leech Seed.  Had it not been for a lucky flinch on his first Dragon Rush, Clodsire would’ve likely swept this team.  But oh well, few things go exactly as planned.  And speaking of, on that note, I brought in Dachsbun, thinking hey, this is a good time to Fairy-type this dude.  So I Terastallized it.  And it then proceeded to miss three 90% rolls on Play Rough and died.  Incredible.  I knew I should’ve gone with Tinkaton.  At least Espathra finally got some direct EXP.  Baxcalibur would kill her instantly though, so Clodsire came back in.  With a Poison Tera type it should be fine...is what I’d like to say if Dachsbun hadn’t failed me on that front too.  So Clodsire dropped.  But then, the people’s champion.  Bellibolt can tank Glaive Rush, and the poison from Toxic Spikes combined with the heavy damage from Electromorphosis Discharge took it out.  #BelliSweep never stops.

Alright, Geeta.  She didn’t impress against my wife, but how about against me?  I am overleveled, and fully EV trained.  This does not end well.  Meowscarada took out her lead, U-Turns to Ceruledge who takes out Gogoat no problem, then goes to Bellibolt for the next two.  By the time she sent out Veluza, which I think is a lame choice from the current region personally, Bellibolt was too low on HP to succeed.  So sadly, the #BelliSweep ended.  Thankfully, Meowscarada’s back in, and it’s a clean sweep from there.  Rika and Hassel took out more of my team than Geeta did.  I really hope there’s a rematch after the crater or something.

Nemona was even sadder.  I lost no one.  We absolutely destroyed her.  Nothing interesting to report.

Now, into the crater!  I gotta see this.

[zdbztumble]

“Summer”

A writing prompt from the Pokeshipping Discord run by @lightningenergy and @waterrflower.

This is set in the continuity of a group fic I work on, so some context before we get started: Ash now has an Alolan Sandshrew. His Lycanroc’s picked up the nickname Sunset, and Sunset’s mate is Midnight, a Shiny Midnight-form Lycanroc that belongs to Miette and lives on Oak Ranch. Ash also gave Misty and Eevee for Christmas.

("OK, Uncle!") Azurill called. ("I'm ready!")

("Me too, Azurill!") Pikachu replied. ("Go for it!") He spread his arms wide and readied himself. The little Polka Dot Pokémon scurried back to the end of the log, bounded forward in three great jumps, and dove straight into Pikachu's arms. The force knocked them both into the water, and they came right back up, laughing.

In the water around them, and on the lakeshore nearby, Ash's other Pokémon broke into cheers and applause. Buizel and Oshawott swam over to pat Azurill's head. On the shore, Misty's Psyduck waved his flippers, Pidgeot flapped his wings, and Donphan trumpeted. Bulbasaur reached out with his vines to lift Azurill back onto the log they were using as a makeshift diving board. And Misty's Eevee, who stood in the water up to the tops of her paws just to the left of the log, cheered again and again: ("Yay, sister!")

("Awful lot of fuss to make over a two-foot dive,") Pikachu heard Torracat say through a yawn. The fire cat was draped over a high branch in a tree well back from the waterline, while Ash's other Fire-Types sat or lay around it. Charizard gave rough grunt at all the noise, but Quilava smiled and shook his head.

("Lighten up, you two,") he said. ("The kid's still getting used to the water ahead of the day she becomes a Marill. And besides, how often do we have Pikachu here?")

("That's right,") Infernape agreed. ("You should come to the ranch more often!") he called out to his friend.

("Maybe I should,") Pikachu chuckled. There was nothing stopping him, not since he and Ash permanently moved back to Pallet Town. He liked seeing all of his friends, and on beautiful summer days like this, there was always plenty to do at the Oak Ranch.

("Where's Ash?") asked Sunset. He was sprawled out on the sand, with Midnight snuggled up over his back.

("It's Saturday,") Pikachu replied. ("When he and Misty are done being even more cuddly and gross than you two -")

("Hey!")

("He has to spend all day with May and Dawn getting measurements for the wedding while she works with Miette and her sister. Ash'll be back around six; he and Misty wanted to do some training here for the Indigo League.")

("Ah, the wedding,") Oshawott sighed. A starry-eyed look crossed his face as he flipped onto his back. ("I can't wait! Our Ash, at the end of the aisle, looking his best, and getting married to the greatest, prettiest girl in the whole wide world!")

Charizard rolled his eyes. ("Of course the love runt loves the water freak.")

("She's the best and you know it!")

("I still can't believe Ash proposed,") Bulbasaur chuckled. ("I thought for sure Misty would have to do it herself.")

("What, propose?") said Pikachu.

("No - buy her own ring, write out a proposal, and tell Ash exactly what to say and do.")

("And he wouldn't have realized what he was saying until a minute later,") Charizard snickered.

("Oh, give him some credit,") said Sunset. ("He pulled it off, didn't he?")

("With my expert advice,") Pikachu added. ("But yes, he did.")

("And it'll be the most spectacular wedding on the face of the earth!") Oshawott shot out a weak Ice Beam to give himself a pedestal on the water's surface, the better to let him pirouette in joy.

("They're doing it outdoors, right?") wondered Pidgeot. ("How else would they fit us all in?")

("And Misty's Pokémon, too - how will they see it?")

("What time of day will it be? Have they decided yet?")

("We're not going out-of-region for this, are we?")

Everyone fell into discussing the wedding, in some way or another. There were five different conversations going about at once, in as many groups, and they all had questions for Pikachu. And his answers to all of them - that no, he really didn't know what the plans were for the wedding, that he doubted Ash and Misty had anything set beyond the date and their tailors, that if it wasn't for May and Dawn and the other girls' prodding they probably wouldn't have even that fixed - wasn't satisfactory.

("Come on, there has to be something more by now!") whined Oshawott.

("They at least have a guest list, right?") asked Noivern.

("And colors, and decorations, and floral arrangements - they know what to do about those, don't they, hey hey?") said Corphish.

("No, no, and no!") Pikachu cried. ("And can we slow down a minute? I can't keep track of -")

("Uncle, what are 'floral arrangements?'") asked Azurill.

("Flowers, Azurill. Now, if everyone can ask their questions one at a time - ")

("Do Mommy and Daddy need flowers?")

("For the wedding, yes. But that's still a long ways away, and -")

("Summer's end? That's only two-and-a-half months,") said Buizel. ("They'd better start getting prepared.")

("Do you think we could be involved with planning it?") asked Torterra. ("I could do some landscaping!")

("Me too!") Bulbasaur smiled. ("And Bayleef could help too - right?")

("Hmmph.")

("Not this again...")

("This Misty isn't the type of girl who wants birds flying around, is she?") Staraptor frowned. ("I don't know why humans go for that, but there's no way I'll agree to something that silly.")

("She's not gonna ask for that!") Pikachu snapped.

("Er - everyone?") Sandshrew said softly. Pikachu heard, but couldn't respond over the ongoing chatter.

("Summer's end could be hot, or the start of fall weather. They might need a bonfire...")

("Where can they go for their honeymoon? Ash has been, like, everywhere on Earth, hey hey!")

("What we really need to do,") said Pidgeot, with a pointed stare Midnight's way, ("is to find a way to keep this one's Trainer from pulling any funny business.")

The blue Lycanroc lifted a brow. ("And what's that supposed to mean?")

("Come on, dear,") Sunset yawned. ("You know what she's like.")

("Don't you start too,") Midnight grumbled. She nipped at her mate's ear before nestling her head down into the fur on his back. Pikachu fought off the urge to gag.

("Um, excuse me, but -")

("You'll probably get to sit with his mom,") Charizard snickered to Torracat. ("I'll bet she'll get you a bowtie, too.")

("Hmmph. I'd never wear such a thing.") The Fire Cat Pokémon quickly busied himself with personal grooming.

("You're right - she'll probably get her new Growlithe to do it.")

("Wha - but what's wrong with me!?")

("Ah - I'm sorry, everyone, but I really need to -")

("I'm sorry, everyone, but this is important, and we need to -")

("QUIET!") Pikachu screamed. For good measure, he shot a Thunderbolt off into the air. All the Pokémon still in the lake with him shot daggers his way, but everyone finally shut up. Thank Arceus. I couldn't take another minute of that...

Bulbasaur nodded approvingly and turned to his assistant. ("OK, Sandshrew. What did you need to tell us?")

The Alolan-form fidgeted uncomfortably where he stood. ("Er...Misty's Azurill and Eevee are gone.")

("What? Don't be silly. They're right over -") Pikachu pointed to the diving log, but his hand dropped down to his side. There was no sign of Misty's two baby Pokémon. ("Where'd they go?")

("They were just there,") said Charizard. He, Pidgeot, and Noivern took to the skies and circled around over the lake, but they came back down almost immediately. ("We can't see them.")

("We can't see anything through all these trees,") Noivern added, nodding to the woods nearby. ("But they can't have gone far.")

("Azurill!") Pikachu hollered, as loud as he could. ("Eevee! Where are you?")

("They go for flowers,") Psyduck said. He was prodding a fallen apple with his bill, and hadn't even looked up from the fruit. Even as Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Sandshrew, Charizard, Torracat, and both Lycanrocs closed in around him, he still didn't look up.

That's just perfect, Pikachu thought with a shake of his head. The only one of us who noticed is the unfathomable. ("Psyduck,") he said. ("What do you mean, they went for flowers?")

("You say Mistress and her Ashboy need flowers,") the duck replied. ("For wedding. Babies go for flowers.") He waved a hand down a cleared path leading into the woods. ("That way.")

("THAT WAY!?") Bulbasaur gasped. He looked pale.

Psyduck nodded. ("Eevee smell flowers that way. They be back soon.")

("Forget that!") Bulbasaur snapped. ("Charizard, head down to the clearing! Sunset, Midnight, in after them! Sandshrew, Torracat - with me! We'll cut through the shortcut!") Everyone rushed to obey. Charizard cleared the treetops in under two seconds. The Lycanrocs darted down the path, vanishing into the shadows of the trees. And Bulbasaur knocked aside some brush to their right to expose a rough, beaten dirt trail. He let Torracat lead the way, and had Sandshrew take up the rear.

("Bulbasaur, what is it?") Pikachu asked, following them in. With his visits to the ranch being so rare, he didn't know much about how things worked in the place, but he always assumed that it was peaceful, safe, and happy. That's how everyone always made it sound. No one ever said there was anything dangerous on the ranch. Certainly nothing that would cause Bulbasaur to hurry down the hill after Azurill and Eevee. With his speed, it wasn't hard for Pikachu to keep pace with his old friend, but he was still amazed at how quick they were going. ("What's wrong?") he asked again.

("Two things,") Bulbasaur said quickly. ("First - there is a flowerbed at the bottom of this hill, but there's a big Moss Rock down there.")

("So what? What's the big deal about a mossy old rock?")

("Mew, you sound like Ash right now. Not a mossy rock, a Moss Rock. Understand?")

(A Moss Rock? You mean...oh!") Pikachu's cheeks sparked with fright. ("But Misty still has the Water Stone Ash gave her!")

("Exactly. But the other problem is that that flowerbed is where - they live.")

---

Eevee liked the smell of roses best out of all flowers. The tickseed, the lavender, and the daylilies were nice too, but there was something special about roses. They were so rich; it was almost like a meal through the sense of smell! And there were so many kinds of roses - red, white, pink, lilac, yellow, and even...

("Look, Azurill!") she trilled with a hop. ("Blue roses! Mommy loves the big blue water, and Daddy always wears blue. Don't you think they'd love these? They smell so pretty!")

Azurill buried her face into one of the flowers and took a big whiff. She closed her eyes and let out a happy sigh. ("They do. But I heard Mommy and Daddy teasing Auntie May's boyfriend about his roses. Maybe we should get some of these other ones?")

("The daylilies? Auntie Daisy would like those, but I don't know how much Mommy likes Auntie Daisy...")

("Don't say that!") Azurill chided. ("She's a lot nicer now. And if Mommy wins her big fight and gets her new job, Auntie Daisy might do all the Gym Leadering from now on.")

("Hmm...maybe some of those, then. And the blue roses, and the red ones for Mommy's hair, and the white ones, and the -")

A shadow fell over the two of them from behind. Instead of turning around, they both craned their heads back to look up. Three large Pokémon surrounded them in a half-circle, a Rhyperior, a Machamp, and a Granbull. None of them looked very nice, but Mommy and Auntie Milotic always said not to judge people by how they looked.

("Well, well, well,") said the Rhyperior. ("What do we have here?")

("Hello,") Azurill said pleasantly. ("We're picking flowers for our mommy!")

("Is that right?") Rhyperior looked back and forth between his companions. ("Here that boys? They're picking flowers.")

("On our turf,") grunted the Granbull. ("You're a long ways away from the big house, ain't you kids?")

Azurill smiled and bounced around to face them. ("It's OK. Uncle knows the way back!")

("Your uncle, huh?") The Machamp cracked his knuckles. ("I don't see him around now.")

("No...but he's right up the hill.") Whatever Mommy and Auntie Milotic said, Eevee didn't like these Pokémon. She wanted to walk away, but Azurill was still smiling up at them as if nothing was wrong.

("Do you wanna help us pick flowers?") she asked. They all laughed.

("Sure,") Rhyperior replied. ("We'll help you pick the flowers. But first - ") he shuffled back a few steps, and his friends backed away from him - ("either of you two squirts know how to battle yet?")

("Oh no you don't!") Two blurs - one orange, one blue - barreled into the Rhyperior, taking him off his feet. Another orange blur came down from the sky to crash into Granbull. Machamp was brought down by a pair of vines around his legs. Following the vines to a clearing in the trees, Eevee saw Daddy's Bulbasaur at the other end, looking very angry. On his left, the icy Sandshrew and Torracat looked just as mad, and on his right, Uncle Pikachu was bristling with sparks.

("Oh, goody!") Azurill cheered. ("We get to watch battling!")

("You can watch battling,") Eevee frowned. She didn't like battles outside of Mommy's Gym. They were too messy. ("I'm gonna start picking flowers.")

She turned away and started into the meadow. The racket of the battling followed after her, but there was nothing to do for that. She tried to focus on the scent of the flowers. They all smelled wonderful, but she had to pick the absolute best ones for Mommy. The red smell the strongest, but the blue ones are nice and cool, and these lilac ones...what's that other smell, though?

It was wet and earthy, like the garden at Daddy's mom's house. But there was something else about it; something old. Eevee held her nose up high and followed it through the meadow. It wasn't far; just a few feet in, near a big old tree, she found it: a rock, almost as big as Uncle Starmie, with funny green stuff all over it.

It smells...good, Eevee thought. And there was something else about the rock, too. Nothing about the smell, or the look, or any other sense, except a prickly feeling up and down her back that something would happen if she just reached out with a paw to touch it...

("Now hold on there, young missy! What do you think you're doing with that old stone?")

---

They were called the Boxer Boys. The Machamp of the group new the sport, and had taught it to his friends. No one knew just who their Trainer was, but he must have been some piece of work, because all of his Pokémon were dirty fighters and bullies. Bulbasaur said that a huge part of his job when he first came to Oak Ranch was keeping them from making trouble, and Pikachu could see why. It's my own fault for taking Play Rough head-on, but...OW!

He was done with the fighting. Despite the Play Rough, he and Torracat had managed to reduce the Granbull to a sparking, charred mess on the ground. Bulbasaur and Sandshrew had chased the Machamp off, though the jerk had gotten a knock-out over on poor Sandshrew. Charizard followed after the Fighting-type, blasting him from the air with Flamethrowers. Rhyperior was all that was left, and with his immunity to electric attacks, Pikachu could only sit back and nurse his aching tail while the Lycanrocs handled him.

They'd taken their share of blows, Sunset and Midnight, and the Rhyperior's defense was insane, but they wouldn't let up. Sunset used Rock Slide to cut off any retreats, while Midnight worked away with Counters and Reversals. Pikachu had to admit: gross as they are together, they made a pretty good battling couple.

("Isn't it amazing, Uncle?") Azurill asked. She'd watched the whole thing, utterly delighted; she was bouncing up and down at the finale. ("And I get to do that some day?")

("Yes,") Pikachu sighed. ("You and Eevee both get to...where's Eevee?")

("She didn't wanna watch the fight. She went to pick flowers.")

("Where?") Pikachu whirled around, the pain in his tail forgotten. ("Where is she? Where's the rock!?")

("What rock, Uncle?")

("We can't let her touch that rock! Bulbasaur, where is it!?")

("I-I can't remember!") The Seed Pokémon had been tending Sandshrew; now, he was looking around as frantically as Pikachu. ("It's in the meadow, but -")

("Don't just stand there!") Sunset snapped; he and Midnight had finally brought Rhyperior down. ("Fan out and let's find her before -")

("Looking for this?")

They all turned at once. Eevee was walking toward them, a small bouquet of roses in her mouth. At her side was a hobbling old Alolan Raichu with a patient chuckle to his voice. ("She was sniffing around the old rock. Of course, it wasn't so old the first time I came here. Not that I was ever here all that much. Still ain't, 'smatter of fact. Oh, but there was this time back a ways when all sorts of trouble came up over that thing, and Vee and I had to -")

("I think we got it,") Bulbasaur said quickly. He extended his vines to embrace Eevee and gently bring her over to Azurill's side. ("Thanks, Pika.")

("Friend of yours?") Midnight asked, with a rather suspicious sniff.

("He's an old-timer,") said Bulbasaur. ("Pops in every now and again, handy with some things.")

("Yessir.") Pika leaned back, his paws held at his chest. ("Like the time all those Tauros got loose the day old Oak and the other one were sick. Of course, that was nothing on some of the things I used to get up to. Did I ever tell you about the time when we were on that airship and I -")

("Thank you, Pika,") Bulbasaur said firmly. ("I need to get Sandshrew to the house, and we need to get these little ones away from that rock.")

("No patience for an old-timer, eh? Well, fine then.") He frowned, but he didn't sound truly angry. As he turned to go, he looked over his shoulder right at Pikachu. ("And good seeing you again.")

("...I'm sorry? Have we...wait a minute.") Pikachu put a paw to his chin. ("The New Years party...the Poke Ball...you're -")

("On my way!") The old Raichu gave a final wave, then headed into the trees.

("What was that about?") asked Bulbasaur. Pikachu just shook his head and slumped down onto his bottom. What a way to end a play day...

("So, Uncle,") Eevee said through her mouthful. ("Can we give these flowers to Mommy and Daddy?")

("Yeah, flowers for Mommy and Daddy!") Azurill cheered.

("Girls...") Pikachu sighed. ("Ash and Misty need flowers for their wedding. That's still a while off.")

("Oh.") They both looked disappointed. ("But - wouldn't Mommy and Daddy like some flowers now anyway?") asked Azurill.

("I...")

("Please, Uncle?") Eevee pleaded. ("I already started. Help us pick some more, please?")

("I don't think -")

("Summer blooms only last so long,") Bulbasaur chuckled. Torracat and the Lycanrocs were chuckling too.

("...Let's wait for Charizard to get back so he can take Sandshrew. Then we'll pick some flowers.")

("Yay!")

[freerangeranger]

Our new team mate is going to help us out today! @belamew was kind enough to meet up with us in Paldea and drop them off.

Everyone - this is the most perfect Princess Zelda. I have known her for 5 minutes and I would kill everyone in this region and then myself if anything happens to her.

We are super excited to welcome our new team mate.

... Right Lamp?

Lamp?

...

Oh well 😅

Ooc: Princess Zelda is one of the Alcreamie/Dashbun Hybrids made by Belamew! Thanks so much for helping me design her.

(My bad for the color inaccuracies - im color picking on Android Notes 😑)

Stay tuned to see what she turns into! Honey doesnt know what her hybrid is so this will be fun!

[paldean-ranger-brandy]

Arc fucking DAMN IT WHY is great tusk here this was supposed to be a a BREAK from these assholes why is this one so fucking biiiiiiig wtf 🤬🤬🤬

I can't get my capture line around it where is MICHAEL

[ganymedesclock]

Hey so remember that time that I was like “so I’m gonna come up with pokemon for some major Voltron characters, but I’m gonna limit it to two each because what kinda maniac would do full teams for 12+ characters”?

Me. I am that kinda maniac. 

Team Voltron in this post- Sincline plus Haggar and Zarkon later.

Lance Milotic [s] * Primarina * Gyarados * Swampert * Octillery * Lapras

Lance ended up with the single most evenly-typed team out of everybody I put here. The shiny Milotic is his signature pokemon but overall I can see Lance spending a lot of time with his team, both talking to them and grooming them. (if there’s anybody on the team I can see doing really well in contests, it’d be Lance)

Milotic and Gyarados are natural choices given the implication, as I’ve discussed before, that Lance is only a few steps behind Keith while not being a prodigy, and thus, a hard worker- so him getting pokemon that are regarded as pathetic, looked-down-upon initial evolutions, and refusing to give up on them no matter what, and reaping the rewards with a show-stopping team. 

Primarina arguably fits in for the same reasons (I remember when Sun/Moon started coming out, everybody dunked on Popplio) but with its final evolution being a ~beautiful mermaid~ there’s also no way Lance wouldn’t roll for that.

Octillery is a nod to Lance’s own brilliant marskmanship as well as being stated to be a calm pokemon that enjoys being fussed over, and Lapras are stated to sing to find each other, good for the empathetic connector that Lance is as a person. The swampert is both an effective canceler of electrical attacks (as Lance is pretty dang adaptable all things considered) and a nod to his connection with Hunk, the Earth paladin.

Keith Charizard (Y mega evolution) * Absol * Talonflame * Aegislash * Minior * Arcanine

I feel like Keith’s team, outside of the obvious fire motif, would be more ranger-like than focused on battling; the feeling from his house in s1e1 and the way he so clearly enjoys both the hoverbike and the outdoors strikes me as someone who would take very well to having a team that can let him tear across an open expanse or soar through the air. Either way, gotta have room to roam- his team has some rather large members.

I imagine Keith’s not a very earnest trainer. Most of his team came to him rather than him seeking them out, and they have funny personal stories behind almost all of them. The only exception is Charizard, who he got as a starter Charmander and who stuck with him the entire time he was shuffling around the foster system.

Aegislash are stated to be servants of those it believes possess a ‘kingly spirit’ and that one in particular doesn’t always listen to Keith, though it does sure seem interested in his welfare- it just sometimes disagrees with him on what that looks like. He’s never known it as a Honedge or Doublade- and it’s been around as long as he can remember. Perhaps someone asked it to look after him? It certainly nannies him an awful lot.

The arcanine he found as a growlithe hiding under a car, but it didn’t evolve until Garrison. Conversely the talonflame evolved really quickly; it was another adopted one (he found it after it hit a window and was able to nurse it back to health) I can see him using the talonflame more for exploration than for fighting.

Absol was a present from Shiro who thought they were similar-minded and could get along. (C’mon it’s a moody, well-intentioned prophet pokemon with flippy hair. I couldn’t not give one to Keith) It’s a little troubled but so’s he, so, they work.

Keith has no idea what’s up with the Minior. It latched onto him during his year in the desert and refused to leave him. He kinda thinks of it as a kindred spirit since they’re said to come from space and he feels pretty lost himself. (Kiddo you have no idea.)

Shiro Lucario * Skarmory * Mightyena * Umbreon * Scizor * Dusknoir

Veteran trainer who runs a tight ship, though not to his team’s detriment. A mix of dark and steel types, mostly, suitable for the tough-as-nails Black Paladin whose fighting style definitely has some shades of “brutally efficient”. As much as Shiro is an honorable and empathetic type, when it comes to life-or-death situations he goes for the throat big time. 

Thanks to his leadership, coordination and focus, they all made it through the missing year a bit beat up, a bit scarred, and pretty stressed- in particular his eevee didn’t exactly... plan to end up in that evolution but it had to evolve in the sunless sterile environment of the arena. 

Lucario is really nearly Shiro as a pokemon and I can see him sharing a very strong bond with it- the natural sense of justice, keen personal focus and that, for all of its strong instincts and wills, it’s a pack hunter that focuses on the idea of the group.

Skarmory is a pokemon said to refine its edge through experiencing hardship, battering its steel wings until it eventually regrows them and sharpens their cutting edge. Scizor fits in under that umbrella as well, since it’s another steel type and one that has to use its wings to thermoregulate, creating the image of an entity under pressure that has to regulate itself carefully. I sort of imagine during the missing year they spent a lot of time tanking for Shiro himself and for the rest of the team, and came out the most battered as a result. 

Mightyena is another socially-motivated pack hunter, which, given it’s a dark type and thus allegedly ‘evil’ would implicitly strike a balance between honorable and pragmatic, which is very significant to Shiro. 

Dusknoir’s a good sport, helpful and obliging, but Shiro sorta gets the creeps around it since he went into the missing year with only five pokemon (having given Keith his absol) and has absolutely no memory of when or where this one showed up and given its whole guide of the dead thing he sometimes wonders if it’s actually here for him in the not necessarily supportive sense of the term.

Hunk Donphan * Aggron * Bastiodon * Claydol * Golurk * Chansey

The donphan is his signature pokemon and primary companion- which matches his mentality basically perfectly as a relative slow mover that becomes virtually unstoppable once set on a single goal.

Hunk’s team pretty much embodies the dual nature of a compassionate protector of others with someone who will through-and-through mess you up if you tick him off or hurt his friends. You’d better believe that chansey is ready to throw down at any time of day. 

Aggron nicely embodies both with its propensity to restore and maintain its territory but also being a metal dinosaur that will protect that territory viciously.

Claydol and Golurk are more testaments to his curiosity and interest in technology. Hunk was the only one I gave a fossil pokemon, with the idea being he’s the sort of person who’d take the time to carefully nurse a revived prehistoric creature back to health. In general, I think Hunk’s team would be in good shape, like, he’s the type who just really enjoys taking care of them. He never officially signed up for the league (hence his lack of a starter) but just sorta accumulated pokemon that he made friends with.

In his defense most of these guys were a lot smaller when he started out and sometimes his donphan forgets that it’s not the size of a lapdog anymore. 

Pidge Rotom * Phantump * Porygon * Minun * Beldum * Cleffa

With only a single grass type, Pidge has the weakest connection to her element, but that much really makes sense- of the team she’s probably the most distant from understanding herself. Her team is all first evolutions as well- she’s got a lot of growing to do.

The rotom is both her signature and virtually never battles, usually hiding out in her laptop. They’re her best friend and avid confidant and she doesn’t like to have them occupy something they can’t talk to her through. (You bet your ass she has a Rotomdex. she built it herself)

Minun and Cleffa were gifts from her brother and her father respectively- Matt has a corresponding Plusle, and Cleffa because someone like Sam Holt who dedicated his life work to finding extraterrestrial life would be charmed by pokemon like the clefairy line that is rumored to have come from outer space. Pidge didn’t have much interest in the ‘conventional’ pokemon league and I imagine she only caught a few of her pokemon personally- most were from her family. Her mom got her Porygon partially in honor of her love of old-school graphics.

Beldum she caught all on her own! It was difficult- she killed an entire holiday- but she’s gonna have a metagross. As. soon as she can figure out how to encourage it to evolve. So far it’s not buying anything. Sometimes her Rotom has to chase it away from her laptop so it doesn’t try to dismantle her equipment. She has successfully trained it to fetch wrenches though.

Phantump is a new addition after her dad and brother went missing- they’re the spirits of lost children and while Pidge didn’t get lost as much as Sam and Matt did, I think that sense of being forlorn and isolated would lead her to quickly connect with a creature that felt the same way. By the time half of these babies grow up she’s gonna be pretty terrifying.

Allura Diancie * Audino * Florges * Altaria * Mawile * Espeon

Diancie’s basically a given. Of course Allura has a legendary, of course it’s the pink princess coming into her own, of course Allura’s team is mostly fairy types. Have you seen Mega Diancie? Tell me that’s not an Allura look.

Audino is a healer, Florges is a pokemon that explicitly makes gardens for royalty, and Altaria being a dragon bird basically is the embodiment of “beauty and grace and about to destroy your face.”

Mawile is also a nice testament to Allura’s toughness and strength of spirit, while Espeon is more a nice allusion to her strength of mind- also putting her as a counterpart to Shiro as the two leaders of the paladins. A very beautiful team, and a very competent one. 

Given Allura’s sentimental nature, I can see most of her pokemon being old childhood playmates, even Diancie- her apparent love of the outdoors and Altea’s climate would both imply that it wouldn’t be hard to run into powerful pokemon. So her team has a very strong emotional bond and are able to trust each other implicitly.

Originally I was going to give Allura Xerneas and Haggar Yveltal, but I thought that Diancie was a better fit for Allura, and while she’s OP, she’s not that OP, at least- not that consistently so the idea is they’re more entities that the two can call upon in times of need.

Coran Stoutland * Drampa * Probopass * Alakazam * Walrein * Carbink

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, and yes, yes I did.

That said Coran’s team is anything but a joke- he can and will cheerfully destroy you if you’re unprepared. His whole team is docile as sheep outside of combat, though- Allura has a lot of fond memories hanging out with that Drampa. 

Others (the Alakazam, Walrein, and Probopass) are a little lazier but still certainly friendly.

The carbink pretty much had to be there as soon as I looked at the relationship the carbink advisers are said to have with Diancie in the movie-verse since it’s basically the relationship between Coran and Allura just with pokemon. I sort of like the idea that in-universe working with Diancie and the carbinks is just a very standard affair for the Altean royal family- as diplomats they formed alliances with the pokemon in their environment before moving into space.

His signature pokemon is the Stoutland, through and through- a long-lived wise pokemon cited as a protector of others and a creature that will go through great toil to protect others. Also it’s such a stodgy, respectable-feeling thing, you can just imagine it patiently trotting along beside Coran on his way around the castle.

[auditect]

Ah, thanks!

Personally, I like to think Wendy has a Donphan because an Elephant never forgets! Plus, it's a Pokémon from her home region! One character you didn't mentoin was Sergeant Viper, and personally, I like to picture him with a Seviper for obvious reasons.

Miyamoto and Madame Boss don't have confirmed Pokemon of their own, but I don't have headcanons for them

Which Pokémon would you assign to characters that were never shown owning one?

Hmm, good question. If I miss any characters that you want to see let me know - I’m not confident I’ll remember them all.

Sebastian - Zebstrika

Domino - Roserade (shiny)

Wendy - Mankey (cute with a bad temper. Well, *I* think Mankey is cute, some would disagree 😂)

Pierce - Scizor (I don’t remember Pierce having any Pokémon, correct me if I’m wrong)

Zager - Clefable (I know it seems a bit bizarre, but hear me out - it helps him find and study meteorites)

There’s a good chance I’m forgetting someone 😅 If so, forgive me and point it out and I’ll make an edit 🤣

[casaunova]

'You STILL never made me any s'mores.' >:T Bitty is upset it's been like a year and a half! It's almost midnight and she wants s'mores.

“Alright, fine. If you don’t fall asleep while I get a fire going, we can have one s’more a piece. One.”

Forget Donphan, Iris never forgets. 

[askroahmmythril]

I just realised something Gamefreak has never considered: a pokemon racing mini game. The possibilities are endless!

There’s.... been at least two examples I can think of right off?  I know at least a couple of the mini-games in the Stadiums on N64 involved racing, there was one that was racing Donphan around a track, and another where it was more a treadmill situation that rolling Pokemon would go down, having to avoid obstacles.  I forget if the Pokethalon from HG/SS had any racing games, I didn’t mess with that too much.  There’s also that standalone game, I never played it, I think it was called Pokemon Dash?  It was an early DS title.

[paldean-ranger-brandy]

What the fuck just happened to the donphan population