So I went to get my first Pokémon… and was told the order of balls was Cyndiquil, totodile, chikorita. Well I chose left, which was supposed to be cyndiquil but when I got home it was a totodile that came from the ball. Is it common for these mistakes to happen?

If you start anywhere other than New Bark Town? Not at all, as most professors label their poké balls clearly, or the poké balls are up-to-date and thus come with the usual identifying panel that pops up whenever you press the front button.

In New Bark Town, however, which is where you might have been if that was your array of starters, yes, but that’s largely because a certain professor is a bit, shall we say, absentminded.

Terribly sorry for the mix-up, anonymous. There is a chance that if you take the ball back as soon as you can (before the totodile properly bonds with you), you might be able to trade it for a cyndaquil. The professor in question has had this happen frequently enough that, yes, he does keep a few extra on hand; it’s just that your totodile needs to have not bonded with you for the exchange to be made.

I’m taking a trip to Kanto and my cyndaquil has been very nervous about all the packing to the point she’ll accidentally set a table on fire. (My poliwag makes sure it goes out quickly) but what can I do to help my Pokémon with her separation anxiety?

Treating separation anxiety in cyndaquil is very much like treating separation anxiety in any other pokémon, but in your case, it depends on how long you’ll be gone and whether or not cyndaquil is going with you. If you’re going to Kanto for a short time period and your cyndaquil will be staying behind, it’s important to get her used to either her poké ball (if you plan on storing her in the PC) or her caretaker (if not). If you plan on having someone take care of her, have them spend time with your cyndaquil. Give that caretaker your cyndaquil’s toys and treats and allow them to feed and play with your pokémon. If you plan on storing her, meanwhile, have her spend at least an hour a day in her poké ball. Start with only one hour, then increase the amount of time she spends inside until she has no problems with being stored. It may also help to switch the wallpaper of the box you plan on using to store her to something she might like; you could even let her decide. Each wallpaper is designed specifically to help a pokémon adjust to their stored environment, so choose something your cyndaquil finds comforting.

If your cyndaquil is going with you, it may also help to use poké ball training as well. Just as described above, have your cyndaquil spend some time within her ball each day until you leave. Then, when you get to Kanto, let her out in environments that she may be familiar with (such as a field or a wooded area—something that resembles even at a cursory glance the outside of your home) for increasing amounts of time until she grows used to being somewhere other than home.

It may also help to keep her out of the room as you pack, as the idea of you going away may be stressful for her, even if she’s going with you. Give her new toys to play with as you work and leave her in a separate room. If you’re not going to be taking her, it may also help to give her toys and leave her at home as you run short errands as well to get her used to you not being physically around. If she is going with you, be sure to take some of her old, more familiar toys as well in order to help her adapt to the new environment.

In short, the key is simply to train her to get used to different situations, depending on whether or not she’ll be going with you. Keeping your poliwag handy is definitely a good idea, but overall, it’s important to train her to get used to not only your absence (if she’s not going with you) or a new environment (if she is) but also, if applicable, her ball and her temporary caretaker.

Best of luck, anonymous!

Is there a story behind this: “As a reminder to all trainers, it is both inadvisable and irresponsible to reignite your cyndaquil by feeding it coffee. If your cyndaquil’s fire goes out, allow it to sleep.” That just seems like something said from personal experience or a story passed around at family gatherings.

There is indeed a story, anonymous. That story is: “I have lost count of how many times there have been incidents in Johto of people doing exactly this.” They did a special on it in the 90s, alongside an entire campaign about it. “Friends don’t let friends feed their cyndaquil coffee” and “just say no to coffee” and so forth.

The Cyndaquil Line

Cyndaquil
The Fire Mouse Pokémon
Type: Fire
Official Registration #: 155
Entry: One of three pokémon traditionally offered to new trainers at the beginning of their journeys in Johto. The flames on its back are not just for protection: they are also directly connected to its emotional state. When calm or happy, its flames burn at a low temperature. When angry or startled, it releases a burst of hot flames, and when completely exhausted, its flames go out completely. As a reminder to all trainers, it is both inadvisable and irresponsible to reignite your cyndaquil by feeding it coffee. If your cyndaquil’s fire goes out, allow it to sleep.

Quilava
The Volcano Pokémon
Type: Fire
Official Registration #: 156
Entry: The evolved form of cyndaquil, by battle experience. Once evolved, quilava is capable of harnessing the flames on its back for both offensive and defensive purposes. By superheating the air around it, quilava is capable of keeping its foes at bay long enough for it to launch an assault from the same fires. Quick and nimble, this pokémon is capable of burning foes even when dodging attacks … a behavior that should be closely monitored by its trainers, as there have been over thirty instances of a gym burning to the ground thanks to an overexcited but somewhat less-than-graceful quilava.

Typhlosion
The Volcano Pokémon
Type: Fire
Official Registration #: 157
Entry: The evolved form of quilava, by battle experience. Trainers should take extreme caution when handling this pokémon, as, like its preevolved forms, its fire abilities are directly connected to its emotional state. However, as it is the last in its evolution line, it should go without saying that its pyrokinesis and thermokinesis are both far more powerful than either cyndaquil’s or quilava’s. Even the slightest touch from an enraged typhlosion may set its surroundings ablaze … which is unfortunate for a pokémon native to a region that, up until recently, firmly believed that paper and bamboo were perfectly acceptable building materials.