i caught a pumpkaboo the other day and while she is very sweet, she is incredibly shy. I own a pokemon day care and my pokemon help me care for the ones people leave in my care, and it becomes easier when i have pokemon of specific typings to help with others of that type. but all pumpkaboo wants to do is hide. I dont mind her not wanting to be apart of taking care of the other pokemon, but i would like her to at least get along with her teammates. any tips?

Give her time, anonymous. New catches are very much like new people you’ve met. Sometimes, they’re very eager to be your friend and the friend of all your friends; other times, it takes a lot of work and effort to get them to open up to you.

With that having been said, her integration should start with you. Give her every reason to trust you by treating her with kindness and patience. Don’t force her to do anything but make it clear (through both affection and verbal communication) that if she ever needs or wants anything, she can rely on you. Once she begins to understand that point, introduce her to your closest and calmest pokémon and have them befriend her and nurture their own bonds with her. (I would suggest beginning with one pokémon and allowing that pokémon to help you introduce her to a second, then a third, and so forth. Introducing her to multiple pokémon at once may overwhelm her.) Explain to your other pokémon that your pumpkaboo has a more timid disposition so they know how to approach and support her, and once she begins to trust them, allow them to introduce her to the rest of your day care.

In other words, take things slow and give her plenty of kindness, patience, and space as she needs. You’ll know when she’s ready to meet someone else when she grows comfortable being around you or the pokémon you introduce her to. But above all else, avoid being too aggressive with your attempts to befriend her, and never force her to meet any of your pokémon, as doing either may be perceived as a threat. Make sure she feels safe by speaking to her gently and letting her decide whether or not she’s ready to meet another member of your family.

Best of luck, anonymous!

My pumpkaboo is nocturnal and likes waking me up at 2-4 am every night by laying on my chest and letting its glowing eyes wake me. When I do wake up she squeals and snuggles me. I love her but why does she do this and how do I get her to understand mommy needs sleep

Well, a lot of it has to do with pumpkaboo’s nocturnal nature. They’re most active at night, which means their 2 to 4 am is your 2 to 4 pm. As such, they simply get bored, especially if you’re not awake to give them affection. For this reason, some pumpkaboo owners like to give their pokémon plenty of toys—especially complex ones or sturdy ones that can endure heavy use—to keep their pumpkaboo occupied until they’re awake. Given that yours is sitting on your chest, waiting for you to wake up, I have no doubt it’s just that your pumpkaboo needs more stimulation during her most active hours, and this may be your solution.

Alternatively, wild pumpkaboo take it upon themselves to lead lost souls to the spirit world. In Kalos, they’re even considered an equivalent to the Grim Reaper. This, of course, shouldn’t be any cause of alarm. Rather, what I’m saying is that your pumpkaboo may also be worried that you’ve died, and it’s observing you breathe as you sleep while watching your spirit. You can reassure her that you’ll wake up in the morning by establishing a routine with her: wishing her good night every night, then wishing her good morning at a set time every day, just before feeding her breakfast. If she gets used to such a routine, she’ll come to rely on its dependency, rather than on her own observations, which will allow her to leave you alone at night.

I would recommend doing both (giving her toys and establishing a routine), as it can’t hurt to do both at once, and, if anything, it will be more of a comfort to her.

Best of luck, anonymous.

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist

Pumpkaboo
The Pumpkin Pokémon
Type: Ghost/Grass
Official Registration #: 710
Entry: This pokémon’s body consists of a pumpkin inhabited by a spirit. According to Kalosean folklore, the spirit awakens at sunset and maneuvers its pumpkin across fields and forests to locate wandering spirits and help them to cross over into the spiritual realm. According to Kalosean custom, meanwhile, the pumpkin makes an excellent pie, but seeing as the author is lactose intolerant and therefore cannot eat a pie whose secondary ingredients include butter and evaporated milk, he will just have to take his Kalosean colleagues’ word for it.

Gourgeist
The Pumpkin Pokémon
Type: Ghost/Grass
Official Registration #: 711
Entry: The evolved form of pumpkaboo, via trading. This willowy, pumpkin-like pokémon is known for its hair-like arms, which it uses to ensnare prey. Once prey is ensnared, gourgeist sings to them, instilling on them horrific visions of shadows and demons. Unlike most ghost-types, gourgeist does not do this to feed on a human’s fear; rather, they do it because they’re entertained by human pain and suffering. Also entertained by human pain and suffering: the trainer of a certain gourgeist, who thought it would be more appropriate to film a video of his mentor being subdued by his gourgeist and then share it with many of the other storage system administrators, all of whom were equally as entertained and disinclined to untangle the poor, helpless researcher who did nothing wrong to that gourgeist.