Hey there. So, I recently lost my right leg (above the knee) due to a rampaging Gyarados. (Well, to be more specific; I recently awoke from a coma as a result of said attack with one less leg and various other injuries.) Anyway – my Lucario was there as well, and though he helped to save my life, he had been fretting whilst I was comatose – and now he refuses to leave my side, even to tend to his own needs. I’m not very sure what to do about this and advice would be appreciated. (1/2, Leg Anon)

Regarding your lucario, keep in mind that the riolu line in general are very loyal and intense pokémon, so what you’re describing seems rather typical for his species. Granted, I’m not at all saying that it’s good; on the contrary, it’s rather something a trainer should always keep in mind. To counter it, you’ll need to persuade him that you’re healing. I would recommend asking your doctor for a helper chansey. These are “loaner” nurse chansey, not permanent service pokémon, and their primary function is to tend to you as a personal nurse, rather than as an assistant. (Some regions offer audino or wigglytuff instead, or you may be given a more patient and independent audino as opposed to a chansey, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll just refer to the far more common chansey.) This nurse chansey will be by your side 24/7 until it’s clear you’ve recovered enough and gone through enough physical therapy to be able to function basically on your own or with the assistance of a long-term service pokémon, depending on your needs. Most pokémon will understand the nature of a nurse chansey, and thus, her presence may help put your lucario’s mind at enough ease that he may listen to you when you tell him to take care of himself.

As for the gyarados, that’s a bit trickier, especially in your current state. Your best bet is to convince your husband to speak rationally with the trainer. You may even wish to wait until you’re well enough to handle going with him. It’s important to remind your husband that there is no such thing as an evil pokémon, regardless of what folklore and pokédex entries may have one believe, and if a trained pokémon gets particularly violent, it’s typically due to bad training, self-defense, or another very good, rational reason. Thus, it’s important for your husband to listen to gyarados’s trainer and try to understand why the attack happened in the first place while keeping in mind that what happened very likely is not completely gyarados’s fault. (This is not to say that you were at fault. It’s simply to say that what happened was an unfortunate circumstance and that euthanizing this gyarados is, most likely, far too extreme a punishment.)

Alternatively, also explain to him that what’s happened has already happened and that it’s no use to put down the gyarados on the off-chance that it may prevent another accident in the future. Responding to the accident by putting this gyarados down will not restore your leg or heal the other injuries you’ve endured. Likewise, if he was successful at putting the gyarados down, that means someone else suffers as a result. This is why it’s actually important for your husband to speak with the gyarados’s trainer: to understand what bond he’s hoping to break. Absolutely, it’s rather touching that your husband is that dedicated to you that he would fight for you, but it’s simply that his methodology will do far more harm than good in the long run, even if he thinks he may be protecting others from this gyarados.

Best of luck, both on this and your recovery, anonymous.

{This, meanwhile, is a missing ask. D: Why, Tumblr.}

You’re very welcome. I’m glad to hear that you were able to resolve the issue peacefully. May the bonds between your zoroark and lucario grow ever stronger!

{From the mun: And the second ask. No, really, if anyone has any theories as to why the web version of my inbox hates this particular user, I would love to hear them. D: Again, so sorry!}

The first step is to earn his trust. This … is a bit of a complicated step. And it’s complicated because my advice on achieving it may seem a bit backwards to you, but in order to do it, train alongside your lucario. That means adopting many of its same behaviors, most notably its drive to train and its dedication to an honorable lifestyle. The more it respects you as a master, the more likely it will listen to you when you wish to engage in more relaxed activities.

If you’ve already achieved this point or once you’ve reached it, you may proceed by easing your lucario into the relationship you wish to have with him. Except with other members of their species, lucario are generally extremely serious and dedicated pokémon, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever have a fully relaxed one. However, you can coax yours to have fun now and then by introducing them to fun little by little. Give your lucario treats every so often. Turn some of your training routines into games. Progress slowly, adding more and more fun gradually until it literally becomes part of his daily life.

As you do this, always train alongside your lucario. Never force him to lead if he doesn’t want to. It’s all right if he simply wishes to follow you. But by engaging in the exact same training exercises as him, you will establish that you’re willing to put yourself on his level, rather than force him to rise to yours (in his eyes). That way, as time moves on, he’ll be more and more willing to accept that you are, in a sense, equal to him, which will allow him to relax a little more than usual around you.

Ultimately, however, keep in mind that some behaviors are simply inherent and that it’s sometimes counterproductive to force a pokémon to act in ways that are contradictory to who they are. But by reversing the thought process and putting yourself on their level by accepting them and reaching out to them, they may be able to accept you and feel more comfortable changing and adapting according to the steps you take to be their friend.

{Note from the mun: This is one of two asks that for some reason won’t show up in my inbox unless I view via mobile. Not sure why, but sorry, @miathegeek!}

As with all unusual behavior, there is always a root cause or reason why a pokémon is acting the way it is. Thus, it’s vital that you first determine why your lucario and zoroark are at odds with each other.

I can assure you, though, that if they got along before now, it’s unlikely to be due to type; many trainers raise pokémon of differing types without much of a problem.

Eliminating that, start by determining what sort of fighting they’re engaging in. There is a difference between sparring and attacking. If your pokémon are sparring, the fighting may be due to any of the following reasons:

Your pokémon are acknowledging each other’s strength, and thus, they’ve increased the intensity of their matches to push each other to battle at their full potential.
If one is male and the other is female, then the sparring may be a mating ritual. Zoroark and lucario are part of the same egg group, and seeing as yours have known each other for years, they may have grown fond of one another. Lucario in particular are more likely to choose a mate that can hold their own in a match, and many pokémon that wish to choose one as a mate will push themselves to meet this expectation. Thus, lucario and anything wishing to pair with one will engage in heated battles in order to impress their potential mate.
They’re bored and using excessive force in their attempts to alleviate this.

If any one of these is the reason why your lucario and zoroark are fighting, it’s important to sit down with them and explain that this is not acceptable behavior. Both species are intelligent, so talking to them is usually sufficient. If it isn’t, it would be a wise idea to obtain a pokémon capable of separating and soothing them. Grass-types equipped with Sweet Scent (which can calm pokémon when used off the field) or a sleep-inducing move may be effective, as are naturally soothing pokémon such as blissey or chimecho. Once calmed, approach your pokémon and explain in a firm but clear tone of voice that they are not to fight.

However, if your pokémon are attacking each other out of anger and spite, the following may be potential reasons:

They’ve gotten into a disagreement. To fix this, determine what the disagreement is over, whether it’s food, a potential mate, toys, space, or so forth. Observe both of their behavior carefully and try to see what triggers the battling. Once you find the trigger, immediately separate your pokémon and mediate. Establish that you wish to resolve things peacefully and calmly. If one pokémon has clearly wronged the other, state that that pokémon’s behavior was not right but also state to the other pokémon that retaliating with force is equally unacceptable. Be as firm as possible in establishing that both are in the wrong for different reasons and that you’re not going to be treating one more preferably than the other in this situation, but also propose solutions and ways to resolve the conflict productively.
One of your pokémon is taking out its anger on the other, and the other is retaliating. If this is the case, determine the reason for the instigator’s behavior and work to resolve it. It’s best to do this directly, by establishing to your pokémon that you wish to help them. Remember that both lucario and zoroark are intelligent, practically sapient pokémon, but they’re proud at the same time. Be respectful in your approach, and they will respect your attempts to assist them. Alternatively, offer solutions in redirecting their anger. Use them more often in battle or create a sparring space, complete with a sturdy, inanimate object they can strike so they’re less likely to use their teammate as a target.
Their territorial instincts are flaring, likely due to the mating season. If this is the case, take the instigator (or both, if both are exhibiting aggression on equal levels) to a breeder to have it (or them) mate with other lucario or zoroark. This will relieve tension and restore peace. Also consider spaying or neutering your pokémon for a more long-term solution. Your Nurse Joy will be able to go over your options if you choose to take that route.
They’re bored. If this is the case, again, establish that their behavior is unacceptable but then consider battling to relieve their frustration. If you live near a gym, try contacting your local gym leader to arrange for weekly battles (either with the leader themselves or their gym trainers). If you don’t live near a gym, try to take your pokémon out to find opponents—wild or trained—at least once a week. Alternatively, set up a sparring room for them, as mentioned above.

In any case, the point of the matter is that there are several possible solutions to your dilemma. Determining which one you need to take requires patience and keen observation, but with anything you do, be firm but compassionate to your lucario and zoroark.

Good luck, reader!

Riolu and Lucario

Riolu
The Emanation Pokémon
Type: Fighting
Official Registration #: 447
Entry: Riolu have the ability to read the emotions of others as well as communicate its own emotions via aura. Yet it is a fighting-type, the single most likely type to engage in physical combat and thus the most likely type to endure great physical injury. For this reason, the riolu’s empathic abilities may be among the most counterproductive powers among the pokémon kingdom. However, at the very least, it should be a comfort for riolu trainers to know that the state will typically pay for any service a Nurse Joy provides, including mental counseling as a result of being in close proximity to a fighting-type that translates its pain into horrific light patterns.

Lucario
The Aura Pokémon
Type: Fighting/Steel
Official Registration #: 448
Entry: The evolved form of riolu, in response to both levels of sunlight and closeness with its trainer. Well-trained lucario have the abilities to sense the aura of all living things, understand human speech, read the thoughts and emotions of those whose auras they sense, channel aura into projectiles and weapons, execute extraordinary feats of physical prowess, and roll over and play dead for biscuits. This is why lucario are the second most popular pokémon on any given video sharing website, next to the members of the skitty line.