The Bulbasaur Race

[Astinus]

11

And so the trampling begins! Anyway, did the rival's Raticate (in Generation I) actually... die? I'm guessing it didn't, but...

It's a theory that it did, since it disappears between the fight on the SS Anne and the fight in the Pokemon Tower. People thought it was weird that Raticate was the only Pokemon to disappear from the Rival's team, and that it was weird that the Rival's just hanging out in the Pokemon Tower, so they thought he was there to bury his Raticate.

 

[alisaie]

12.

Wow no Raichu is not going to be with the two cocoon pokemon no. :'(

 

[Meadow]

11.

Of course not! Our resistance is too futile to bring down Raichu, haha.

And regarding Raticate, that theory does seem to add up, but it's weird how the Rival is still 100% in-character at the Pokémon Tower. I guess he could've also released it, which supports why Oak scolded him for not loving and trusting his Pokémon.

 

[alisaie]

12.

Maybe he's good at putting on a brave face? Thinking about it he's not really going to admit or show feelings to his rival that he thinks he's better than. To him it probably would seem like he's showing weakness. idk.

 

[Meadow]

11.

Hmm, I just watched that part of the game again, and apparently he was only looking for a Marowak. In fact, he wasn't even in front of a tombstone, and his sprite was constantly turning around, as if searching for something. Now I'm not gonna jump to conclusions or anything, but I guess Game Freak did a pretty good job at making it ambiguous (if that was even their intent, haha).

 

[Lycanthropy]

12

I believe your rival mentions in Silph he caught a lot of Pokémon meaning he has way more Pokémon than he actually has on his team. So Raticate could easily be boxed.

 

[Precious~Dark]

13

I thought Raichu would have been more popular...
(I know this off-topic but may I ask why all titles and text looks weird today? o_o Never mind it's 1 april today... )

 

[Winter]

12

I guess not many people prefer a Thunderstone mouse

 

[DyingWillFlareon]

13

I refuse to be a victim of PC's april fools joke. I was just going to put googly eyes on stuff, this is just stupid XD MY NAME IS NOW DYNGWILLFLISON.
On topic: I don't know how much I actually like the 'Blue's Raticate' theory, but it does seem more like he'd box it.

 

[Precious~Dark]

14 quick upvote

Raticate theory is interesting, I'm not the biggest fan of creepy-pasta theory's (especially the suicide one... v.v). But this one does make a little sense I mean Pokemon can be dark sometimes.

 

[Winter]

13

Blue does give me that cold trainer vibe though...

 

[Dedenne1]

12
Sorry Raichu but....not really...

 

[Sheep]

13

I'm shocked with you guys! Raichu is just so cute. I used him soo many times in my playthroughs too, always very useful. <3

edit: lol the afd filter here is awesome

 

[classiccartoonsftw]

14.

When I use a Pikachu, I usually first make it learn Thunderbolt and sometimes even Agility by level, and then evolve it.

 

[Astinus]

13

Yeah, that's why I use a Pikachu through so much of the game. Raichu doesn't learn any moves (outside of TMs/HMs). The only reason why I really do evolve Pikachu is for the stat increase.

As for the Rival, doesn't he say that he already has 40 entries in his Pokedex by the time you talk to him on the SS Anne? So I can see why he would just box his Raticate if it wasn't holding up well with the rest of his team.

 

[Meadow]

Sorry for spamming this link, but:
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?p=8684406#post8684406

14.

Anyways, true, but we'll never know if he releases them either. I mean, Paul may be an anime character, but he still falls under that archetype of "formidable trainers who don't love their Pokémon enough," which is precisely what Oak scolded his grandson for.

 

[alisaie]

15.

I love all this that's happening somuch hahah.

And yeah, true. Really though, I think in your Rival's case it's up to open interpretation.

 

[classiccartoonsftw]

16.

I remember that Paul guy. He released a few Starly, a Stantler, and even his own Chimchar.

 

[Meadow]

15.

Wow, you people are lucky. I accidentally raised the number last time because that April Fools' stuff was distracting me. =/

But yeah, the fact that Paul released his own Chimchar gave a lot of room for both his and Ash's character development, so it was a pretty good plot point.

 

[alisaie]

16.

It really was and just one of the reason why many people like Sinnoh the best. Which I don't blame them tbh.