Sorry for the long question… a Gallade is my partner and best friend. Recently we’ve been battling together and he loves it and really wants to take on the League. The problem is he doesn’t have a pokeball and the league won’t allow our application unless he is registered to one. He thinks they’re degrading. I try to explain that he has to be in one only for a second to get registered and I won’t think any less of him but he won’t listen. Is there anything else I can say?

Perhaps there isn’t much you can say, anonymous, but maybe there’s something other pokémon can say. Have your gallade meet a gym leader’s team; gym leaders are often more than happy to let their pokémon mentor others. Additionally, show your gallade recorded matches between members of the Elite Four or the various champions. The more your gallade is exposed to pokémon that have poké balls (either by conversing with them or by watching them), the easier it may be to convince him it’s a painless process.

Best of luck!