I am a pokemon groomer, and i have my own shop where my psychic types: Gardevoir, alolan raichu, and meowstic, and my fairy type: sylveon and mimikyu help me groom the pokemon. Well, a ghost type pokemon that i havent been able to identify has been haunting my shop and scaring the customers pokemon! I’ll feel a cold chill and objects in the shop will start floating or get thrown across the room. What do I do to take care of this?

You have a couple of options, anonymous.

The easiest would be to use your gardevoir’s empathic abilities to detect the location of the ghost and determine what it might want. (It’s unlikely that you have a ghost/dark-type on your hands—that is, a pokémon who can resist your gardevoir’s psychic abilities—as most of those have clear, tangible forms, which means you would already know where it is.) Have your gardevoir follow its mental signature or its emotions back to the source, then either try to reason with it or use your mimikyu’s ghost-type techniques to draw it out into the open. Once in the open, you may wish to battle and capture it, or simply chase it out of your shop. (I would recommend capturing it, however, as letting it go risks amusing it with your reaction and thus encouraging it to return.)

The second easiest would be to hire a trainer or a channeler to remove the spirit for you. Of the two, the trainer would likely be the more desirable route, as a channeler’s methods can sometimes lead to unpredictable results, including more violent hauntings.

The third and possibly the hardest would be to acquire a pokémon that can use either Odor Sleuth or Keen Eye, both of which are techniques capable of locating or uncovering ghost-type pokémon, even when disguised. Use either of these techniques, then attempt to calm and reason with the pokémon (again, by having your gardevoir detect what it may want and then using a bit of verbal diplomacy to reach a compromise) or battle and capture it (by using either the pokémon who identified it or your mimikyu—or perhaps even both).

In short, the most important first step is to find a way to locate this pokémon and draw it out into the open. From there, what happens next may be a simple matter of befriending a pokémon, either by simply talking to it and helping it get what it needs or by battling it, depending on its preference or actual aggression levels. However, in my opinion, it seems that this ghost-type in question may simply be playing with you, which is why I say this part may be far, far easier than you would think—at least, compared to locating it in the first place.

Best of luck, anonymous!

how often do ghost types possess people? theres a group of girls near where i live who are ghost type users who the town has labeled “Hex Maniacs” and theyre so.. weird… they sometimes have weird jerky movements, when they enter a room it chills… and they have no pupils… ive seen them at night walking around and i hear laughing. its very scary and i dont know what to do about it

Actually, it’s very rare for ghost-types to possess people. It only really happens if the human invites a ghost to do so. (This is why channelers and hex maniacs tend to be more susceptible to it: they’re often working with ghosts to the point where they run at a risk of accidentally inviting such behavior.)

More often than naught, though, hex maniacs are simply eccentric people who are very fond of white contacts, not victims of possession. The behavior you’ve just described, for example, actually sounds pretty accurate for the average hex maniac.

my daughter just became a pokemon trainer. she came home the other day excited to show me her first real capture, but… it’s a drowzee. i don’t want to discriminate, but i’ve heard some scary things about them. am i over reacting or can this pokemon be dangerous for an 8 year old?

I’ve heard about the rumors concerning members of the drowzee line and their penchant for leading children into dense woods for nefarious purposes, but rest assured that these are largely unfounded. (Most stories in which members of the drowzee line attack children are actually about the child wandering into a wild pokémon’s territory, prompting them to attack—if the story is true at all.)

When caught and tamed, most pokémon are relatively docile to their trainers. Even if they dislike being in captivity or if they dislike their specific trainer, pokémon rarely use force strong enough to kill, maim, or otherwise badly harm a human. This goes for psychics capable of hypnosis as well; there are very, very few stories of a tamed psychic pokémon turning their abilities onto their trainers without their consent. This is because most pokémon that allow themselves to be captured actually want to be captured, either because of curiosity, the need to be trained, or the want for companionship. Wild pokémon that don’t want to be captured are often too deep into the wilderness to be found, too strong to allow themselves to be captured, or will otherwise make their desires known before a poké ball touches them.

That having been said, it’s likely that the only thing you’ll want to worry about is your daughter’s drowzee occasionally putting her to sleep for fun, but so long as she isn’t in harm’s way when she does it (and her drowzee will likely also see to that), she should be fine.

Hello! My granddaughter is nearing the age where she’d begin her journey and given her interest in ghost types, the subject of her partner has been a difficult one. Where we’re from, people tend to be a bit wary of them to say the least, and while she assures me that she’ll be fine, I’d still appreciate some advice on the matter.

One of the most difficult things to fight against is cultural opinion. So I’ll begin by saying this: if your granddaughter is serious about her love for ghost-types, she’ll be fine. Despite their reputation, ghost-types are harmless when tamed; they’re simply mischievous and difficult to handle initially because of that. Your granddaughter may be aware of this, but if she isn’t, be sure to teach her to be clever and ever-alert in the presence of a ghost-type.

Wild ghosts, meanwhile, will let you know if they prefer not to be bothered. These are how violent hauntings come about—that is, hauntings that put humans in danger of physical harm. This is typically distinct from a mischievous haunting—the sort in which you may see objects floating about or in which ghosts pop up out of nowhere to scare you—in that when a violent haunting occurs, you may see anything from possession to ominous voices telling you to leave to a ghost physically attacking you (either through thrown objects or through an all-out battle). Often, even inexperienced ghost hunters are able to tell the difference; it’s when you grow to be an expert and thus a little overconfident that you let you guard down and come into harm’s way. Your granddaughter may already know this as well.

If your concern is more towards other people, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Your granddaughter may already be aware of the stigma ghosts have in many cultures, even if ghost-type pokémon are nowhere near the malevolent forces human ghosts apparently are according to folklore. She may encounter resistance from the people she meets. Others may judge her or even bully her or her pokémon. But if she shows confidence in handling her pokémon and kindness towards her team, she may convince at least a few people that she and her pokémon are harmless. I would say, for your part, that you should support your granddaughter whenever possible, to show her that at least you believe in the best in her.

As for starters, for the most part, starter distribution centers will never offer a starter considered to be too difficult to handle for a new trainer. (There was one exception involving a boy from Kanto and a pikachu, I’m told, but even then, that was a rather unusual circumstance.) For that reason, your granddaughter will likely not be given anything like litwick or drifloon, but if she is, rest assured that so long as she knows how to handle them (that is, if she knows not to touch a litwick’s flame or a drifloon’s strings), then she should be fine.

Best of luck to your granddaughter, anonymous!

My alolan ninetails recently had babies and one of the babies has red fur on the tuff of his chest. I named him Speckles in honor of the red coloring but does that mean he is part fire type? do i have to treat him different than his other siblings?

Very occasionally, Alolan vulpix will be born with spots of red fur due to a slight genetic abnormality, anonymous. However, rest assured that the genes for fur color are not linked to the ones that control elemental affinities in most pokémon, and as such, the difference is purely aesthetic in nature. Your vulpix kit is still an ice-type, and you won’t have to treat him any different than his siblings.

At my university depending on class size you can have a small to medium sized Pokémon with you during lecture. Usually it’s my pikachu or sylveon I have with me but I’ve noticed my recently caught (about 3 months) mimikyu is jealous. Now mimikyu has been as much a partner to me as my sylveon and pikachu has but she’s really shy and so I worry about her hearing a loud noise or seeing another Pokémon and getting scared. I also worry about other people having negative reactions to her. What do I do

Sometimes, the best thing to do when you’re uncertain is to experiment, anonymous. Your mimikyu may seem shy, but you never know if she would be perfectly fine in a public setting if you never give her the chance to try it. Besides, if she’s feeling jealous of the fact that you bring your sylveon and pikachu to class, giving her a chance will allow her to decide whether or not it’s worth it.

That said, for the most part, nervous or socially awkward pokémon can handle public situations if their trainer is close by and capable of keeping them calm. Before bringing her to a lecture, consider exposing her to slightly less populated settings (such as a quiet park or street) and teaching her how to heel. Gradually expose her to louder and busier areas until you reach something comparable to your lecture hall. Then, when you bring her with you to class, keep her close by (in your lap, if you have to) and reassure her every so often with physical contact.

If she can’t quite tolerate the classroom and if she is still feeling jealous despite this, consider doing other things to keep her both entertained and reassured. Study with her and explain your lessons and notes, for example. (This is an excellent way to study for an exam or work on a paper, by the way!) Alternatively, include her in non-academic activities, such as chores around the house, an extra half an hour of playtime, and so forth.

If, however, she enjoys being out in public, when it comes to other people, show them (through the way you interact and handle your mimikyu) that she’s harmless. A fear of ghosts is perfectly natural for humans, however, so keep in mind that sometimes, shouts of surprise or fear are inevitable. Just focus on keeping your mimikyu calm and happy and think about others’ reactions only if they pose a danger to her or if there’s any way you can put their minds at ease without an argument.

Opinions in the Gym leaders/ Elite four – Champion system?

In terms of the system in general or specific members thereof, anonymous?

If we’re referring to the system in general, I for one can’t entirely complain. While it’s true that a region can get by without any form of organized league (take Alola until recently, for example), leagues—and thus, the Elite Four/champion by extension—often function to bridge the gap between that region and the rest of the world. By offering an organized league, foreign trainers are more likely to explore the region, and in return, they bring revenue and push regional governments to improve infrastructure (among other things), particularly to gym-hosting towns and cities. Moreover, for researchers, it means trainers help us discover new pokémon, which brings us even closer to understanding their world—and ours, for that matter.

Of course, there are downsides to a league presence in a region. An increase in foreign trainers means an increase in human traffic in untouched wilderness. With an increase in human traffic to such areas comes the spread of disease, the accidental introduction of invasive species, poaching, population disturbances, and quite a number of other risks and dangers. Granted, yes, that would be what the Pokémon Association is for, but rules and regulations are only as good as the people who follow them. That is to say, unless both regulations and enforcement of such are equally strict, the concern of human traffic to previously untouched wilderness is still a valid one, given that organizations such as Team Rocket still exist.

That and, of course, in some cases, a region lacks a league for cultural reasons. Alola was far from the only region to resist the implementation of a league for so long; in some countries, it’s even seen as akin to imperialism. (It certainly doesn’t help that the concept originated in Kanto, which has had … quite an unfortunate history, I must say.) In those cases, I believe that the people’s concerns are just as valid as any towards human traffic, and their wishes should be respected. It just so happens that in some cases, a compromise is capable of being reached—as in the case of Alola. But I do recognize that’s not the case for every region in existence.

If, however, you mean to ask how I feel about the Elite Four and champion separate from the league, it’s absolutely possible to have one but not the other. Take the Orange Islands, for example, which lacks an Elite Four but has a champion who also technically serves as a fifth gym leader. For smaller regions, it’s absolutely possible to be creative with the setup for your league, and the Association is often accommodating for those cases. However, larger regions often need a more significant payoff, so to speak. After all, larger regions ask trainers to go through eight full gyms before even thinking about a final battle for a title. Of course, in these cases, regions often give registered trainers a choice between a tournament (the more popular method, as more people can participate in them) and the Elite Four gauntlet (far more challenging … but also far more difficult to arrange), but either way, the option for either challenging fellow trainers in a grand tournament or the best trainers in a region is often a fantastic incentive to push trainers forward from their first badge to their last.

In short, anonymous, it certainly depends on what you mean by your question, but generally speaking, I’m rather for a league—and, by extent, an Elite Four and champion.

I have a bed in my living room for my meowstic s and their babies. My meowstic recently had two baby espurrs and they both keep sneaking into my room in the middle of the night. I wake up with two balls of fluff cuddling my side, while I love their affection I think it’s making their mother upset. What should I do?

How recently, anonymous? If it was a couple of months ago, it’s likely that your espurr have grown old enough to leave their mother’s side, at which point it may be important to show your meowstic that you can be trusted with her kittens. Allowing her to care for the espurr during the day and starting them off with light training should help, as you’re actively showing your meowstic that you have no intention of overstepping your bounds while at the same time allowing her to see how you intend on treating her kittens when they’re old enough to battle.

If, however, they’re younger than eight weeks old, then this is indeed a problem and may indicate that they’ve imprinted on you. Granted, this isn’t entirely a bad thing; it’s simply that it’s understandable that your meowstic feels some level of jealousy or apprehension if this is the case. As separating yourself from the kittens may cause them stress (never mind the fact that espurr generally develop telekinetic abilities at a young age and may find ways of getting back at your side regardless of what you do), it may be a good idea to move their bed into your bedroom and allow the family to sleep with you until the kittens grow more independent.

Alternatively, it may be possible to coax your espurr into their bed (as opposed to yours) by covering it with a shirt you’ve worn or leaving an object that smells like you with your meowstic. If your espurr can curl up with something that reminds them of you in their bed, then they’ll be less likely to seek you out during the night.

Best of luck, anonymous, and congratulations on the new additions to your family!

Recently a wild absol has taken to hanging out in my garden, and I’m going crazy trying to figure our what it’s warning me against. How can I possibly heed the prognostications of something that can’t speak human? Please advise, as I am very worried.

Bill: It’s very possible that, like this anonymous asker, the absol isn’t trying to warn you at all and is simply enjoying your garden. This can happen if you live in or very close to an absol’s mountainous home … and if you have a particularly relaxing garden, for that matter. As with the other asker, you should observe its behavior and try to determine whether it’s relaxed or tense. If it’s relaxed, then there is likely nothing you should worry about. However, if it’s tense, keep an eye out for any changes in its behavior, as increasingly frantic behavior (pacing, barking, approaching with a severe expression, and so forth) indicate how close disaster is to striking.

Best of luck!

Do the people of Alola consider the island guardians legendaries?

Actually no. Alolan lore considers the island guardians to be blessed by the legendaries. They are, in other words, the chosen ones, much akin to the Aura Guardians of Sinnohan legend and the chosen of Ho-oh of Johto’s … only, well, they’re pokémon. And also immortal apparently.

Strangely, though, unlike in other regions, the Alolan natives rank the guardians higher in terms of things to worship than legends; that is, they worship the guardians the way people from elsewhere may worship Ho-oh or Arceus or so forth. It’s possible this is because of a lack of named legendaries in Alolan tradition (legendaries to them are implied to be packages of primordial chaos) or because the story goes that the guardians are direct protectors of humanity, but regardless of the reason, almost all rituals are dedicated to the guardians, rather than the legendaries that blessed them.