Video

[neededlassie]

[It's not Shaun that the camera catches first, but his newest pokemon - a little Pichu peering curiously into the camera.]

Move, Calvin--

[He only sounds slightly exasperated, to his credit, as he picks it up under its arms and pulls it in close.]

Uh, I need some advice.

Calvin doesn't know how to control the electricity in his cheeks yet, and he keeps zapping me and my other Pokemon. Richie and Blaze can handle it, but Susie's a water type and I'm worried he's going to hurt her real bad. It seems mean to keep him in his ball, though, just because he's too little to control his electricity... What should I do?

Comments

[video]

[soggypastry]

[As someone who also had a Pichu, Lightning gets what this kid is going through. As someone who lived through the sparking, her Pikachu will be chattering at Calvin. Hello, little one!]

You'll have to train him. Pichu generally stop and get more control when they evolve. It might take a while, though.

[video]

[neededlassie]

[Having a Pichu with a water-type starter is suffering. Calvin looks excited upon seeing his evolved form, even though he's never seen a Pikachu in his short life.

Pi! Pichu pi!
Hello, big one!]

I've been trying to train him. He even learned a new move today. He's okay at directing it at wild Pokemon, it's just when he gets excited...

[video]

[soggypastry]

[A nod from Lightning, and Spark continues to chatter. Having trouble with your own sparking, little guy? That's gotta suck.]

He overloads. That's normal for his species. They can't hold much electricity and it has to go somewhere. [Generally down the path of least resistance.] Wearing him out can help, and so can keeping him away from anything weak to Electric types.

Re: [video]

[neededlassie]

[I can't help it, but it makes trainer Shaun angry.]

...My starter is a water-type. I don't want to put either one of them in their balls, but Calvin won't leave her alone.

[video]

[soggypastry]

[It's natural, little guy! Nobody expects you to control it! Though it helps to put all your paws on the ground if you're gonna spark. Takes the edge off.]

Have you tried talking to him? Explaining the danger she's in if he shocks her too badly?

[video]

[neededlassie]

[Calvin's cheek pouches spark in excitement. He doesn't seem to notice.

That sounds like a great idea!]

Hey-- Calvin, wait--!

[Shaun holds the little Pichu out at arm's length, away from the camera.]

[video]

[soggypastry]

[Of course it is! It worked for him and he's--uh-oh. Trainer's looking at him funny now because of course there's nothing else that could have set Calvin off like that.]

Spark...

[He gives a startled "Pika!" that amounts to a "what?!" before he chatters at Calvin again. Calm down, little guy! You're sparking again!]

[video]

[neededlassie]

[Calvin droops in Shaun's hands when he realizes - he's pretty smart, he figured it out a minute before he was told.

Sorry...]

...He'll stop that when he evolves, right?

[He goes back to holding Calvin on his lap when the Pichu stops sparking.]

[video]

[soggypastry]

[Smart little Pichu is getting a sigh of Pikachu relief. Good. Nobody got hurt so it should all be okay with the trainers.

Cause it's all good with Spark; he used to be nearly the same way. Course, that was a long time ago..]

He should. Pikachu have better control over their electricity than Pichu do. He might still spark if he gets surprised, but what just happened shouldn't happen again once he evolves.

[video]

[neededlassie]

[Shaun is approaching Ketchum levels of being used to taking random static bursts and bouts of electricity, and he's only gotten moderately fed up with Calvin, never actually angry.]

I've been wearing him out plenty - we're in Violet City, so I'm trying to get him strong so we can beat Falkner. Isn't that right, Calvin?

[He says that with a smile and a ruffle between Calvin's ears. Calvin grins and looks up at him with a cheerful "Pi-chu!"]