Episode 2: Kira's Potty Panic

Guys, I just realized something... Lita sighed as she watched Kira snooze in her basket. Sooner or later, all the food and Berries Kira eats is going to have to go somewhere...

Ew... Starshine winced. She knew where the conversation was probably going to go: teaching Kira how to use the litter pan that lay next to the basket. Granted, having to clean pee from every location in the house was not a very attractive alternative either.

So why don't we save Kimi a lot of frustration by potty training Kira? Brenna suggested. Besides, Kimi did say Pichus learn by imitation, right?

Right... Lita and Starshine replied.

So if she sees us using our potties, she'll use hers too! Brenna concluded. Plus, we need to reward her when she goes in the proper place...

Where's you hear that? Starshine was interested.

In here. Brenna climbed on top of Kimi's bookshelf and pulled out a blue book with a happy Pichu being cuddled by a boy trainer on the cover. "The Ultimate Guide to Pichu Care" After tucking the book in one arm and climbing down to the floor again, she opened it to a page with a picture of a girl trainer rewarding a Pichu with a Berry. When training Pichu, it's important to remember that they learn by example, so modeling the desired behavior is a must. Rewarding the desired behavior will also increase the chances of learning the behavior.

English, please... Lita was confused.

In other words, if we also reward Kira when she goes in the right place, she'll be more likely to learn to go in the litter pan. Brenna explained. So, who wants to try training her?

I do! Starshine volunteered.

What's going on? Kira yawned as she woke up. Starshine was about to answer when Kira tensed up. Gotta go to the bathroom!

Here! Starshine lead Kira to the litter pan. You can safely go here.

Kira, meanwhile, curiously batted at a litter nugget. Cool, little balls! Lita, Brenna, and Starshine sweatdropped as Kira romped in the pan, litter flying everywhere in the process. After a few tense seconds, she remembered that nature was calling, and darted out the door.

Where'd she go? Lita asked, peeking down the hallway for any sign of where Kira had gone.

Starshine sighed as she heard a trickle of something liquid falling on a shirt coming from the living room. Oh no... She watched as Kimi walked in the room again, gently set Kira back in the litter pan, then left to toss the soiled shirt in the trash.

What was that for? I went properly! Kira was confused.

No, that pan is where you should go next time. Lita scolded. Brenna, Starshine, and I do it all the time!

You go on your toys? Kira asked, prompting a facefault from the older Pokemon.

Later that day...

So, Professor Brenna; what should we do if Kira doesn't go in the proper place? Lita sighed. Kira had not wanted to come out of her basket ever since the accident earlier that day. Every once in a while, she would look out and smile at the Pikachu, the Squirtle, and the Torchic; but for the most part, she had not talked or played with her toys for two hours.

Brenna reached for the book and thumbed to another page depicting a boy trainer doing what Kimi had done to Kira two hours before. "If the Pichu doesn't go in the proper place, simply scold it with a firm 'No' and take it to the litter pan. By no means should you yell at or physically hit your Pichu as discipline--this will lead to shocking and distrust, among other antisocial behaviors."

I bet the writer never had a Pichu... Starshine muttered as Kimi came to collect her laundry.

Kimi, meanwhile, stooped down to look at her Pichu. "You know, Kira...the litter pan is not a sandbox..."

It's not? Kira was piqued.

"No..." Kimi replied. "It's your own personal bathroom."

Bathroom? Kira was interested. Kimi nodded before taking Kira in her arms and starting towards the kitchen. But before Kimi could say anything else, she felt Kira start to squirm. Panicked, she raced back to her room and set Kira in the litter pan.

Now for the moment of truth... Lita smiled as Kira paced among the litter nuggets for a moment. After a few tense seconds, Brenna heard the trickle of something liquid on the nuggets, followed by applause from Kimi.

She went! Starshine called, gesturing to Kimi lavishing praise on Kira.

The hard part is seeing whether she'll remember to do it every time, or if it will take a few tries. Lita sighed. One successful time, while a sign of progress, did not mean Kira had been completely potty trained. Granted, there were some Pichus that learned very quickly after one successful time, but they were the exception, not the rule.

Kimi's smile suddenly turned to shock when she saw a tiny brown lump on a pillowcase a few moments later. "No..." she scolded, then returned Kira to the litter pan again. "The litter's for number two as well."

So much for progress... Starshine sighed.

Brenna glanced farther down the page and read "While it may be tempting to let a Pichu go on their own after one successful use of the litter pan, it will more than likely take several tries before they learn the skill. Patience is key!"

If a Pichu is this messy, I dread to know how a baby human is potty trained! Starshine groaned. Everyone laughed as Kimi cleaned up Kira's second mess...