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Paras/ect: the bug is not a pokemon

majeston.

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First, I think it's important to note that the relationship between the fungus and the bug is entirely symbiotic and mutually beneficial. The bug lives longer and is more likely to reproduce and the fungus receives nutrients, mobility, etc.

It would seem that we should be tracking the evolution of the fungus and not the bug, and when we think of Paras (or Parasect) we should only be thinking of the fungus.

It makes sense: the fungus is an intelligent pokemon that sustains and perpetuates itself via a symbiotic relationship with a dumb bug.

As a Paras, they focus on acquiring nutrients (frequently mentioned in the dex entries) until they merge, forming the carapace shape, and then it is able to control the functions of the bug.

Now here's where it gets interesting:—maybe the bug just lets that happen. Parasect mushrooms are often referred to in the dex as healing items with life-prolonging powers. Maybe at this point, the nervous system of the bug has repurposed to apply vitality to and maintain the health of the mushroom?

So it seems pretty plausible that the Paras line is just a fungus that needs a bug to so its thing.
 
Technically wouldn't the bug be intelligent and the mushroom just be a mushroom which controls the bug's desires like the real-life equivalent? Sorry, its been a long time since I read its pokédex info

But your thinking about the context surrounding the healing properties of the mushroom is really cool
 
To me, it would be inconclusive. There are a number of times multiple creatures are all considered one pokemon, and we have not seen either part of Paras or Parasect individually. With no other source of information, we don't know what's going on. Even if it's now controlled by the fungus, that doesn't mean that the other part was not a pokemon, just that it lost it's consciousness to the fungus. The question then becomes "does consciousness define pokemon?" It would appear to be, since nothing other than pokemon (and humans since they seem to be considered separate) has consciousness. I guess in that sense, it is no longer a pokemon, but that still doesn't mean it wasn't a pokemon before.
 
Please note: The thread is from 2 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
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