928: Smoliv

While this Gen is spotty on providing a common rodent and is a complete no-show for an "early bird", they do at least keep the tradition of having a chibi little plant/fruit creature. And Smoliv is a little cutie, rather obviously taking inspiration from olives. Both in body shape, and having a big olive on its head.

Predictably, it produces an oil that it squirts when in danger, deterring predators with its bitter taste. Which, it's funny to have a plant creature more or less yoink an insect's defense mechanism. Plenty of bugs like shield bugs or ladybirds have evolved to have awful-tasting and gross-smelling bodily fluids to make themselves unappetizing to would-be predators.

Smoliv itself doesn't offer much to talk about, but it does have an adorable expression of perpetual anxiousness. Aww! And rather curiously, this line is Grass/Normal type. Why the normal type, we can't really decern. Other [Element]/Normal types seem to have a Normal type specifically because there is some aspect to them that grounds them to be more "average" than a tradition monotype Elemental type. Like how Deerling/Sawsbuck is a deer that happens to have a few plant-like qualities to it. Smoliv seems to be a fairly straightforward plant critter, which feels like would just lend it to monotype Grass status. Best guess is someone thought natural oils warrants a Normal type, somehow.

There is not a single solitary thought in this noggin

929: Dolliv

And of course, like Gossifleur, Petilil, and Bounsweet before it, Smoliv becomes a more feminine plant humanoid. Though as a pleasant surprise, this one isn't arbitrarily 100% female. Though sure, Dolliv is nonetheless another humanoid plant thing. With additional olives on its head like hair buns. Cute enough.

Curiously, its gown is presented as oddly thick, almost looking a bit more like tentacles than leaves of any kind. Perhaps that's what the Normal type is coming from? It IS some flesh-bearing mammalian creature that just so happens to grow olives on its head? Or perhaps even some squid creature?

Now where's the sailor Pokemon with a spinach diet?

930: Arboliva

Well, hard to get a conclusive answer when Arboliva becomes more plant-like, just once again dragging the Normal half of its typing into question. Rather predictably, it has blackened, more ripe olives on its branch-like arms, and we suppose this is, in a way, a new "tree" Pokemon, with olive plants being trees. And the feminine angle likely comes from how olive trees have the nickname "shady lady."

It seems to be moreso inspired from trees that are so small they still fit inside plant pots, given Arboliva's relatively small stature. Black olive trees get notably larger over time. That said, we almost wish Smoliv was taken out of the equation so that Dolliv could be a first stage, this be a middle stage, and a new final stage gets to be a huge, proper olive tree, covered in freaky holes and having really uneven barky skin.