What if Pokémon were real?

Fuecoco saw a massive rise in popularity, becoming the most common starter across much of Europe and Latin America. In North America, Sprigatito rose to the top of the rankings for the first time ever. Though it remained low on the rankings, Duraludon saw its largest spike in popularity to date, which many believe is due to its public appearance as a mascot for the underwater Terarium near New York City. Unusually, there was also a rise in cryptid Pokemon sightings - there were more reported sightings in 2023 than any year of the 21st century. It's not clear where these strange sightings are coming from, but it indicates an increased interest in the most obscure parts of the Pokemon world.

Unfortunately, you might be out of luck. Shiny sightings spread like wildfire, so especially in the city, by the time you've heard about a wild shiny it's already been caught. My best advice would be to go back to the place where you first saw it, and maybe bring a snack. I've heard shiny Pokemon enjoy Herba Mystica sandwiches, though I don't think there's any official research on it.

Tyrogue are mainly found in mountainous climates. They're very active and need a lot of time outdoors, and are fairly social Pokemon, though they get along best with other fighting-types given their constant need to battle and train with the Pokemon around them. I'd only recommend adopting one if you plan on battling. Tyrogue love battles and will become very bored and upset if they do not get time to practice their battling skills most days.

That's the closest thing I can think of to what you're describing. It should be noted that Slither Wing is mostly just... a legend. I would guess it's probably something else more mundane - maybe a Volcarona with a strange health condition? - but it does sound awfully close to the most common descriptions of Slither Wing.

Other gyms, especially informal gyms, don't even have a theme. While most of these gyms aren't recognized by the IGA, they're common in smaller towns that can't support a full-fledged gym of their own.

Furfrou! Furfrou have been on the cutting edge of fashion since the 18th century. The Pokemon's numerous unique hairstyles make it a popular partner for fashion lovers worldwide. Other options include most fairy-types, with Spritzee and Cottonee being great starter Pokemon for those pursuing a career in fashion.

A third possibility is the water-type gym in Varna, along the Black Sea coast. It offers picturesque views of Varna Bay while battling, but the gym is also known for allowing trainers to use either double or single battles, one of the only such gyms anywhere in the Balkans.

One of the rarer sights in the area is Smeargle; France is one of the only countries where Smeargle can be found in the wild. They love to use their tail to paint, and Smeargle-made art is a popular souvenir for tourists. The rarest sight of all is Virizion, which has been seen around Paris though never in the city itself.

Kricketune and Pelipper can definitely be found in Aotearoa! Many other bug-types call the country home, including Cutiefly, Sewaddle, and Venipede. And while Aotearoa is known for its flightless Doduo, it's also home to large populations of Swablu, Wattrel, and Oricorio. New Zealand has the highest population of Kilowattrel trainers per capita in the world.

Sunshine Coast has a large three-type gym, rotating between water, fire, and grass throughout the year. It's generally regarded as a fairly easy gym where tourists can pick up a badge, so it's not the best place for trainers at the highest skill level, but it's a fun experience nonetheless.

I've seen disabled trainers with just about every Pokemon imaginable, though. For instance, for ADHD trainers who struggle with setting routines, just having a Pokemon there to remind you when they want to be fed or go on a walk can provide some critical structure. The exact species doesn't particularly matter.