Aspen Flamel

[pokemonexpert]

OOC About Post

Hello! Welcome to the Pokemon Expert by Doctor Aspen blog. This blog is run by a human person in the real world, and the in-universe character is Doctor Aspen Flamel.

This blog is being moved over from @pokemonexpert1. I had to create a whole new account to move this blog over, and I made the decision to do so because I wanted to give myself the opportunity to interact with other blog without interfering with my main blog. It'd be nice if tumblr gave us the option to use a different blog to add comments.

Doctor Aspen goes by her first name professionally because her first name is a tree name. She believes that it helps her fit in with her peers and colleagues more, and she believes that it earns her more respect in the field to go by a tree name.

Aspen is an expert on Pokémon behavior and their relationships with humans. She started her career as a behavior technician who helped tame wild Pokémon and advised Trainers on training methods that might work better for their Pokémon.

While she has that area of expertise, she knows a lot about Pokémon in general.

Some things in my headcanons are canon complaint, while others are not. Follow the blog to find out more!

Quick Notes

Pokémon actually make animal sounds. They don't say their names like you see them do in the anime. Their cries sound closer to their game cries.

Most amorphous Ghost-type Pokémon, such as Mismagius or Gengar, have no gender and cannot breed.

Most Pokémon that are defined canonically as a single gender can actually be either gender. Exceptions include those that have a male and female counterpart such as the Nido family or Tauros and Miltank. Pokémon like Gallade and Froslass, however, also have two genders because they are not counterparts—just alternate evolutions.

Travel between cities is typically done by train or flying taxi. It is rare for roads to be built between cities, so it is rare to see vehicles driving out of city limits unless they have off-road capabilities like ATVs.

Not all Pokémon lay eggs. They give birth much like their animal counterparts would. Arcanine, for example, gives live birth, while Pidgeot would lay eggs.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #91

It is commonly believed that some Pokemon require friendship to evolve. While it is true that affection and quality of care can impact a Pokémon’s evolution, most Pokemon evolve through aging. Eevee evolves into Umbreon or Espeon regardless of friendship, though it is believed that affection does help it evolve into Sylveon. Pichu will evolve into Pikachu regardless if it ever makes a friend in life. The same can be said about Azurill, Riolu, and more.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #90

Every region has a Pokémon of each type to represent it. The regional Fire, Water, and Grass types are the standard starters that are given to new trainers in most regions. Each Pokemon chosen to represent a region are typically ones that are easy enough for beginners to handle, which makes them quite popular, and allows any type mascots to be obtained as first partners to new trainers.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #89

When determining the jobs and competitions that a certain species of Pokemon can participate in, many factors fall into consideration.

Overall battle stats - As the main form of domestication for the earliest Pokemon was for hunting and wars, all Pokemon, no matter how small, are given a measure of battle stats. This includes the health, stamina, power, and defense of a Pokemon and are the stats that shown in most games that feature Pokemon. Tiny bugs, reptiles, rodents, and other small Pokemon will not have high enough overall stats to be used in battles, but may be kept as pets. All battle stats of a Pokemon has a minimum and maximum before they can be considered for battle, and this number is based on the overall average for like members of the species.

Intelligence - Some Pokemon like Pachirisu and Skwovet have higher intelligence than other members of their species (smaller, less intelligent wild squirrels that would be more similar to the animal squirrels you see on Earth than the well-known Pokemon squirrels). The overall intelligence of a species is measured before determining if they can perform certain jobs.

Abilities - If a Pokemon does not have the ability to perform a job, it will not even be considered for a job. This means that many Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type Pokemon, for example, are often excluded from swimming competitions without consideration (but it's based on their species, not the type. For example, the partial Ground-type Quagsire or Swampert or pure Rock-type Rockruff would be considered). A Pokemon that does not have the ability to use their hands to transport objects would not be considered for roles in hospitals or Pokemon Centers. For example, a Growlithe would not work in a Pokemon center because it can only carry objects in its mouth, which is not sanitary. Pokemon like Pansage or Chansey, on the other hand, would be considered.

Temperament - Pokemon are often excluded from consideration for a job if they do not have the proper temperament for the job. For example, a Primeape would not be considered for a job in a Pokemon Center while a Chansey would not be considered for a job as a wrestler. This is to keep all people and Pokemon in those environments safe.

Age, Power, or Experience - When it come to Pokemon League competitions, many things are considered when it comes to permitting certain Pokemon to compete. Depending on the rank of the match, certain species may be excluded or required to be evolved before being considered for a match. For example, many children receive their first Pokemon in school, and participate in smaller league events while getting ready to go for the Champion League. In the elementary events, a Scorbunny would be permitted, while a Cinderace would not. In the Champion League, it would be the opposite. For Pokemon that don't evolve, it is based on their age. A young Absol would be permitted in the elementary league, but would have to be older to be permitted in the Champion League. This rule is the same for humans. A 10-year-old child cannot participate in the Champion League tournament.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #88

Pokemon can learn more than four moves. Moves like bite, scratch, and tackle are basic moves that any Pokemon with the ability to use them can learn. When it comes to Pokemon league competitions, there may be rules on what moves are allowed to be used, and how those moves are allowed to be utilized.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #87

Different locales refer to Pokemon types by different names as a part of their dialect. This may sometimes cause confusion when speaking to people from other areas. For example, someone from one area might refer to dragon types as “beast” type, while “beast” type in another area might mean normal-type.

Here are some examples of alternate names:

Normal: Beast, Plain, Ordinary, Basic

Fire: Flame, Flare, Blaze, Pyro

Water: Aqua, Freshwater/Saltwater (some areas differentiate between the two habitats of water-type Pokemon)

Grass: Plant (in this case, Plant is the term researchers use because it encompasses more than just grass), Nature, Flower

Fighting: Battle, Combat, Melee, Martial

Ground: Earth, Sand

Rock: Mineral, Stone, Earth (sometimes people don’t differentiate ground from rock colloquially)

Poison: Venom, Toxic

Steel: Metal (in this case, Metal is actually the term researchers use because it encompasses more than just steel)

Ghost: Spirit, Phantom, Geist, Spook, Specter, Shadow, Shade, Soul

Psychic: Magic, Mind, Esper

Fairy: Pixie, Fae, Sprite, Magic, Spirit

Dark: Shadow, Shade, Evil, Malevolent

Dragon: Drake, Beast, Monster

Bug: Insect

Flying: Bird

Ice: Chill, Frost, Snow

Electric: Lightning

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #86

Pokemon types are not as simple as they appear to be in video games. Researchers determine a Pokémon’s type based on a variety of factors. This includes battle techniques as well as a Pokémon’s abilities and strengths in battle. Because the first Pokémon partners were used for battles, types are almost strictly determined by a Pokémon’s battle abilities.

The Flying-type you know in the video games doesn’t actually exist in the real world. Flying is more of a technique used in battle (like abilities-think levitation, but they’re flying not levitating). This is why Pokemon that fight while airborne will be immune to ground-type moves and prone to electric-type attacks. On the other hand, Pokemon that fight on the ground, such as Dodrio, do not share the same defenses and vulnerabilities.

Typing Pokemon is much more complex than in the games, and certain type combinations (like fire and rock) can sometimes create combo types, like magma, that act slightly different than the standard type combo. This phenomenon is what makes Pokemon like Magcargo different from Pokemon of the same type Combo like Hisuian Growlithe or Coalossal.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #85

Ghost-type Pokemon are the newest to be discovered and studied on a scientific level. Because of their mischievous and malevolent natures, as well as their ability to vanish (like Gengar) or hold still (like Golurk), it took many years for people to even believe in their existence. Non-believers are virtually non-existent in modern times, but it doesn’t change the fact that ghost-types are the most feared type of Pokemon. Even more than Dark or Bug types.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #84

Education in the Pokémon world is viewed fairly differently than the education in the real world. Before the age of 10, kids will go to school to learn all the basics of reading, writing, math, language, and social studies. After that, they often go to more specialized schools for their career paths. These schools have a very broad range of disciplines. For example, someone who wants to become a chef would go to an art school, while a Pokémon Trainer would go to a sports school.

There is a larger focus on mentorship in the Pokémon world than in this world. It is also not uncommon for children between the ages of 10 and 15 to change their career paths while in school, but most children settle into one path by the age of 15. Though not always easy, people are able to change their path at any point in life (it is easier to switch to a similar field than to completely change fields).

10-year-olds that go to school to become Pokémon Trainers will often receive a starter Pokémon while at their school and participate in school league events. However, they are not challenging the Pokémon League at the age of 10. As such, there is no such thing as a 10-year-old regional champion in the major Pokémon League.

Also, in modern society, there are general schools that offer a whole mix of fields for children to be able to experience a little bit of everything. These are becoming the popular choices for parents to send their children to.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #83

The Butterfree line is popular among the bug-loving community. Bug-lovers that are not Trainers will often have them as pets. Trainers and co-ordinators alike will often choose a Butterfree to be among their team as well.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #82

Because Pikachu needs to be exposed to large amounts of electricity in order to evolve into Raichu, it is uncommon for domesticated Pikachus to evolve without the use of a Thunderstone. Because a Pikachu can live a full life without evolving, it is a popular pet among ordinary citizens. Nearly every Pikachu Trainer, however, will decide to evolve their Pikachu to maximize its strength. As such, Pikachu is more popular as a pet while Raichu is more popular as a battle partner.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #81

It is extremely uncommon for Abomasnow to live in captivity at all. Most captive Abomasnow belong to a Trainer, and these Trainers typically catch them as a Snover in the wild. There are no known breeders of this Pokemon as Abomasnow is so antisocial that no one has succeeded in getting them to breed while in captivity. In the wild, they are rarely seen by humans to the point that some people believe that they don’t exist.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #80

Wild Pokémon are much more difficult to train than those that were born and raised in captivity. Many students who want to become a Trainer take classes on how to tame wild Pokémon, but most of them will still prefer to get their Pokémon from breeders.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #79

Snubbull and Granbull cannot swim. Their legs are too short, their bodies are too heavy, and their short snouts increase the risk of them drowning. They love to play in water that is shallow enough for them to stand in, but it is crucial to keep them away from bodies larger than a wading pool.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #78

People who live with Drowzee often can't remember their dreams in the morning. The reason for this is because Drowzee ate the dream. Some people wish that Drowzee could help with nightmares, but bad dreams tend to make the Pokémon sick.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #77

Luxray doesn't have x-ray vision like the legends say, but they can see electrical currents through solid objects. This ability is where the legends came from.

[pokemonexpert]

Headcanon #76

Apartment complexes and rental houses rarely ban Pokémon pets altogether, but certain types or species might be banned for various reasons. For example, many landlords don't like the presence of Fire-type Pokémon on their lots.