It really depends on the species. Most ghost-types, some steel, and a number of rocks can live for centuries or even millennia. Some specimens, such as one particular giant haunter nicknamed Black Fog, have even been around since the old empires. Such pokémon either gain new trainers after their old ones pass or simply return to the wild.

On the other hand, a lot of animal-like pokémon, especially rodents, smaller birds, and insects, might be lucky if they reach twenty years of age. Keeping a pokémon in a poké ball and evolution can help (a ball suspends most of a pokémon’s bodily functions, including aging, while evolution boosts their vitality and strengthens them physically), but even with these measures, it’s unlikely that these pokémon will outlive their owners unless their owners are already old.

Well … yes. Most cities are symbiotic like this. In most places, though, this has nothing to do with a lack of poké balls, as most tamed pokémon (including working ones) might not have ones that are carried visibly. It has more to do with the fact that we humans have lived symbiotically with pokémon for thousands of years, and consequently, we’ve built our society around them.

Of course, it often catches people from smaller towns and cities off-guard, as it seems that the smaller the settlement, the more reliant on human labor a community tends to be. From what I understand, this is largely because smaller settlements don’t often host projects that require an extraordinary number of workers and an extraordinarily tight deadline.

Actually, only in the vaguest of terms. To be a little more accurate, the Symposium is merely an organization of the brightest minds of the pokémon research community. Think of it like a think tank meets a more casual forum. While we do indeed meet to address issues that the pokémon professional world faces, the main point is to gather together to discuss ideas, swap information, and network. And occasionally gain funding. The Symposium does that too.

So within the Symposium, when I say “highest ranking,” it’s probably more accurate to say “most respected.” Symposium members, on the most technical level, don’t have official ranks. Technically speaking, Professor Oak isn’t more important or powerful than I am within the organization. However, according to the Symposium’s culture, there are several researchers who are simply more respected than others or considered to be the foremost among us. Those include the regional professors (Oak, Elm, Birch, and so forth). Anyone else tends to be seen as increasingly less senior until you get to the newest members of the lot. I’m not quite at that level (because people know what I can do), but I don’t think I’ll be at Professor Oak’s or Elm’s level anytime soon (…because, ah, people know what I’ve already done).

On the other hand, it’s also true that some information is shared only within circles of these “high ranked” professors, often because widespread dissemination of such discoveries would cause widespread panic, which means there are ranks, but only out of necessity. (Meaning these ranks aren’t associated with power so much as the need for a particular skillset or expertise.) Take Mewtwo for example. Information about that pokémon is highly restricted for an overwhelming list of factors that may or may not involve more than one government, the global economy, and at least one amusement park, so only the topmost Kantonian researchers—those involved with plans for dealing with it or those involved with the cataloging of all known information regarding pokémon via the National Dex Project—know anything at all about it. Well, them and me, anyway, and the only reason why I know anything about it is because I am very good at what I do, not because of where I stand in the Symposium.

As for champions, that’s actually an entirely different organization. They’re with the Pokémon League (or, well, their particular pokémon league), which is a bit difficult to describe but can best be summarized as “regional recreational organization.” That is to say, while League members are often called upon to help protect and maintain their respective cities, it’s mostly because they’re the strongest trainers in the local area. Otherwise, they have about as much power within a city as a baseball player does, as the Pokémon League is essentially the Major League but with a lot more violence. League members generally don’t have ranks compared to one another because most leagues are pretty cleanly separate (so while Lance, the Johto champion, ranks higher than gym leader Clair, he’s equals with Unova’s champion Iris because those are two separate leagues). However, as you probably also know, different cultures might have very specific opinions about particular regions, which sometimes translates into … cultural bias, to put it as tactfully as possible. (So if you’ve ever heard the story about Unova’s champion Iris setting Kanto gym leader Blue on fire for a badly timed comment regarding their respective regions and the pokémon teams of Lance, her, and former champion Red … you now know why.)

There is, of course, a governing body (that is, an organization tied to the actual government) that oversees the League and outlines rules and regulations, inspects facilities to ensure everything is in line with government standards, sets pay, and a myriad of other things, and this is called the Pokémon Association. Champions (as well as gym leaders and Elite Four members) can all be members of the Association, but their rank within their league is irrelevant to the board. Furthermore, internal ranks within the Association are extremely complicated and can best be described with a heavy sigh and the word “politics.” I can say this knowing full well that I’m both high-ranked in the Association and almost completely irreplaceable thanks to my connection with the storage system.

The latter of which he is only because literally no one else in the storage system administrative circle hates ourselves nearly enough. —LH

To answer the easiest question here first, group names typically apply to the whole line, rather than the individual, because most pokémon either live closely together, or they separate after evolution to live solitary lifestyles (and thus have no group name).

As for group names, there are quite a lot of pokémon, which means that naming every single group name would result in a post so long I doubt few of you would appreciate it. Thus, I’m going to cover as many as possible without going overboard, and all of it is behind the readmore below.

For the record, please note that when a pokémon is named, I’m actually referring to the entire evolutionary line unless otherwise noted.

• First and foremost, there are no group names for legendary pokémon, as there are no records that such pokémon live in groups large enough to warrant being named. (There are, of course, instances of multiple legendaries arriving to certain important events in history en masse, but these seem to be exceptions to the rule, as opposed to examples of day-to-day life for them.) Collectively, all legendaries of a region are referred to as a pantheon (e.g., the Johto pantheon), but this is less an indicator of their lifestyles and more a note about regional society.

• As rare as it is to see groups of starters (many of these often occur far from human civilization, if not artificially in breeding centers), there are in fact group names for each of the starters. Several of them (bulbasaur, squirtle, cyndaquil, mudkip, and turtwig) form nests, although groups of bulbasaur or turtwig can also be called knots. Charmander and treecko form lounges, although if you’re referring to charizard specifically, those can also be referred to as a congress. (The entire treecko line keeps the same group name throughout.) Speaking of political words, rowlet form parliaments all the way through their line, although decidueye tends to be solitary. A group of chikorita or tepig is a herd, while totodile forms a bask. A group of torchic is a flock, and while that name is popularly applied to the equally bird-like piplup, the proper word for a group of piplup is a rookery. (They can also be referred to as a colony.) Multiple chimchar form a troop, while multiple froakie become an army. Oshawott form floats, chespin form scurries (singular scurry), fennekin form leashes, and litten form ambushes. And popplio? Harem.

• Referring to most bird pokémon as a flock isn’t technically incorrect; people will generally understand what you mean if you do. However, there are certain words for particular evolution lines. For example, a group of murkrow is called a murder, a group of hoothoot is called a parliament (just like rowlet), and most groups of bird pokémon that nest by the sea tend tend to be called a rookery. (This is slightly different from the label given to actual birds, but yes, “rookery” can also specifically mean bird pokémon that are nesting.) Additionally, a group of chatot can form a company, hawlucha form a kettle or ring, rufflet are a convocation or an aerie, and vullaby are a wake.

• Most bug-types form either hives, swarms, or colonies. Generally speaking, if they don’t form a visible nest and/or are on the move, they’re a swarm. (This includes non-mobile pokémon such as ferroseed and pineco, incidentally.) If their nest is underground, they’re a colony, and if their nest is in a tree or is otherwise visible, they’re a hive. If their nest is in your house, then they’re an infestation, and you should perhaps consult a trainer.

• A group of pikachu is a mischief, as is a group of rattata. The term is equally appropriate for both.

• Serpent pokémon generally form nests. The exception is dratini, which actually forms a colony. (To be fair, “nest” has often been used to describe dratini as well. Dragonair and dragonite are always called colonies, although older texts also call a group of dragonite a flight.)

• If domesticated, a group of nidoran of either line form houses or herds. In the wild, they form nests.

• Nest is actually a pretty common term for animal-like pokémon, actually. So if you don’t see it specified here, it’s safe to assume a group can be referred to as a nest, especially if it’s in the wild.

• Multiple clefairy form a colony, and multiple jigglypuff form a choir. A lot of people get the two confused, but it’s easier if you remember the urban legend about clefairy coming from space.

• Bat-like pokémon are likewise called colonies, regardless of species. This includes the noibat line.

• Most canine pokémon form packs. Yes, this includes eevee (although it’s true that a couple of its evolutions are more cat-like in nature). The exception are fox-like pokémon (vulpix, abra, and fennekin, one of which is mentioned above), which form leashes. Vulpix can also form a skulk; however, this word isn’t used for a group of fennekin. Likewise, a group of abra may also form a clan.

• In domesticated or wild settings, most cat-like pokémon (namely skitty, meowth, glameow, and purrloin) form clowders. Feral cat-like pokémon in urban settings are called destructions, however. Especially meowth.

• Meanwhile, lion-like pokémon such as shinx and litleo form prides.

• Most flower-like pokémon form gardens. Tree-like pokémon form forests. Note that the latter is not dependent on actual type; a group of sudowoodo is absolutely a forest.

• Fruit- and vegetable-like pokémon are a bit trickier, but generally, those are harvests. For example, it’s a harvest of pumpkaboo or a harvest of bounsweet. However, if they evolve into something that isn’t entirely edible, then the whole line is labeled with the appropriate term in their case. (For example, a group of cherubi is a garden, not a harvest.)

• Seedot is a unique case, as it evolves into a more ninja-like pokémon. Consequently, it’s not referred to as a harvest either but rather a clan.

• Tropius, meanwhile, are always in herds. Additionally, mushroom-like pokémon are masses or colonies. (The exception is paras and parasect, which compose swarms.)

• A group of exeggcute is a cluster or dozen, but a group of exeggutor is a forest or herd. This is one of the few pokémon that are referred to with completely separate terms before and after evolution. Contrary to popular belief, remoraid isn’t the other example.

• Humanoid pokémon often form tribes (if they’re at least part psychic) or clans (if they’re not). Humanoid pokémon that coexist with humans (but are still wild or feral) are called communities. For example, a community of machop.

• Pokémon that resemble inanimate objects vary with their group name, depending on what they’re modeled after. For example, a group of geodude is a quarry, a group of onix is a mine, and a group of voltorb, in all seriousness, is called a hazard. A number of species also form collections (such as a collection of bronzor), and porygon form folders.

• Fish-like pokémon form schools if they’re in motion as one unit and shoals if they’re merely gathered together in one general place. The wailmer line and lapras form pods, seal-like pokémon can form a herd, and most crab-like pokémon form casts. Octillery are solitary and thus don’t have a group name, despite the fact that remoraid do indeed form either schools or shoals. If in the company of their preevolved form, you can refer to the whole group as either a school or shoal and basically be correct. Groups of inkay are still called shoals, though, and this term can apply to them, even if they’re in motion as a single unit.

• Horse-like pokémon form teams, whereas groups of sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, and so forth are all called herds.

• Also, if you have multiple pokémon that fit the same general description or would use the same group word, you can simply refer to them by that group word, rather than separate them out. For example, rather than calling it a school of magikarp and a school of finneon, you would call them a school of magikarp and finneon.

• A group of absol is not called a panic but rather a pack. Officially, anyway. The joke has gained enough popularity as of recent that panic is also becoming an increasingly accepted term.

• For anything else, please feel free to ask!

It’s safe, sure, but it’s not exactly healthy. To pikachu, ketchup is essentially candy. It’s not particularly nutritious, and it’s possible to have too much—which, incidentally, would result in more of a stomachache than anything dangerous. Just be sure pikachu don’t get access to more than one bottle, and your customers (and your budget, for that matter) should be fine.

Additionally, yes, any pokémon can have diabetes, including this kirlia. However, most pokémon should actually avoid sugar either way (as too much sugar can result in a whole host of complications other than diabetes, including kidney issues), so it would indeed be worth it to introduce reduced sugar or sugar-free options on your menu. If it helps, to a pokémon, sweet berries are about as effective of a substitute sweetener as one would think.