The chapter is not out yet, but I wrote this and then promptly decided to cut it lmao. so it's going here for your leisure.
Deleted extract from 'Tracing Chapter 2':
Mankey’s were volatile and emotionally driven, everyone knew that. They were prone to explosive outbursts and had strong territorial instincts - the species sort of reminded Green of some larger ape species from his first universe, and he would never mess with an ape, but this was an intelligent Pokemon who wanted to get stronger as much as he did.
As he waited for the PokeCentre’s PCs to free up, he thumbed over his Pokedex.
“A Mankey is not angry without reason - it just feels things louder than the rest of us. Your job as a trainer isnt to silence it, but to teach it what to do with that noise." -Joen, Ace Trainer and Fighting Type Breeder, Sinnoh Region
Like a guard dog, Green had always assumed, or an attack dog more like. One of those dog breeds like Dobermen who picked one person it liked and did not offer easy obedience. They respond to strength, structure and calm authority. Sure. Green could probably do that fine, right?
He didn’t even realise he had a chance to call, as he scrolled through the links that the Pokedex provided. Mankey’s famed ‘rage’, it seemed, was neurologically tied to adrenaline, so once it begins to lose control, it’s body would flood with fight hormones, making it stronger but less discerning.
Common triggers include: - Sudden noises or movement (especially from behind) - Being stared at or challenged directly - Hunger or boredom - Having it’s training interrupted - Having it’s personal space invaded while it’s resting Once triggered, a Mankey can go into what’s often called a “rage cycle”. A rage cycle is a pattern of escalating attacks, pacing, or self-directed agitation. The only safe interventions are: - Distraction via trusted voice command or object - Creating space (other Pokemon and trainers leave the immediate vicinity) - Letting it burn off the energy in a controlled movement (such as punching a training dummy) Mankey do not respond well to typical positive-reinforcement training. Instead they require: - Firm, concise commands with no emotional excess (one-word cues: Hit/Stop/Focus) - Consistency and routine - Respectful discipline (not fear - never yell/never corner) Mankey’s do bond closely to trainers who: - Train alongside them physically - Acknowledge their effort with action - Never back down or act nervously around them Mankey need constant physical output or they become restless, destructive and moody. A healthy Mankey schedule includes: - Morning warm-ups - One intense workout session per day - Free movement periods, where it can climb, leap or hit things without restriction. A tired Mankey is a peaceful Mankey. Mankey becomes more dangerous before it becomes more stable. Around evolution into Primeape, it’s aggression tends to become more focused, but it’s emotional depth also increases. Signs a Mankey is nearing evolution: - Refusing commands it used to obey easily - More time spent alone or watching other’s train - Striking with more restraint This is time to lean in - not retreat. The way you handle this stage determines whether you get a loyal Primeape or an unmanageable one.
