Jethro's Mightyena

**Jethro's Mightyena** (Japanese: **ジェスロのグラエナ** *Jiesuro's Graena*) is the first Pokémon that Jethro ever obtained, which he received as a gift from his father, Norman.

## **History**

### **Background**

Mightyena was given to Jethro by Norman as a Poochyena, and Jethro quickly grew attached to his first Pokémon. One day, Norman was set to take on the Gym Leader Aptitude Test in order to become the future Gym Leader of Goldenrod City once Whitney decided to retire, and Jethro and Gwendolyn spent their time playing together outside the stadium. Their fun was interrupted, however, when a wild Salamence appeared in the sky, with Jethro confused as Salamence's species weren't common around Johto. Salamence decides to charge towards them to attack, but Jethro quickly grabs Gwendolyn and pushes her out of the way.

Jethro then sends out Poochyena, Zangoose and Ralts, who attack Salamence with Assurance, Scratch and Confusion, respectively, and cause Salamence significant damage. However, Salamence recovers and strikes Jethro with Dragon Claw across his chest, leaving him with giant, bloody, and permanent claw-shaped scars across his torso. Jethro ignores the pain and gets Zangoose to attack with Giga Impact. Salamence, finally having enough, flies off. After the battle, Jethro realized that, because of his aggressiveness, he caused Gwendolyn to cry, while Gwendolyn realized that because she was weak, she caused Jethro to get hurt. Because of this, Jethro decided to focus on Pokémon Contests and a Pokémon's beauty, while Gwendolyn learned how to become stronger.

### **Hoenn**

Poochyena first appeared where she was seen with Jethro on his trip to Hoenn. After running away from home, Jethro runs into Professor Birch being attacked by two Mightyena. Jethro decides to battle the Mightyena, and sends out Poochyena and has her use Leer. The move does nothing due to Ruby caring only about appearances and the Mightyena pounce on them again, causing Jethro to fall off a cliff.

While in Dewford Town's Granite Cave, Jethro and Poochyena get attacked by a wild Mawile, and in the process, Poochyena evolves into Mightyena.

While at the Weather Institute, Jethro gets confronted by Norman over the former's decision to run away from home, and Mightyena get summoned alongside Zangoose to battle Norman's Vigoroth and Slaking. Mightyena fired a Hyper Beam while Zangoose attacked with Iron Tail. Despite their strength, Mightyena and Zangoose were easily swept away due to the fact that Norman knew all of Jethro's strategies, as he was the one to teach them to him.

Mightyena participated in the Appeal Round of the Verdanturf Pokémon Contest. Mightyena begins by using multiple Shadow Ball attacks towards the sky, and the Shadow Balls hover around in the air. Then, Jethro commands Yawn and a giant bubble engulfs the Shadow Balls, before Mightyena destroys both with Hyper Beam, creating a sparkle shower of both shiny and dark lights, while also leaving the audience rather sleepy due to Yawn's effects, but nonetheless earning Jethro and Mightyena positive reviews, and subsequently, allowing them to advance to the next stage.

Mightyena is later used alongside Jethro's other Pokémon to battle against Courtney and her Ninetales. Although Jethro had a five-to-one advantage, his team was beaten due to Ninetales having control of nine different fireballs. Later, Mightyena is sent out to protect Gwendolyn while being attacked by a herd of Grumpig, and accidentally reveals his true strength to Gwendolyn by knocking out all twelve of them with one move.

Mightyena, alongside Jethro and Gwendolyn's other Pokémon, battled against Archie and Maxie. Mightyena was seen charging at Maxie's Camerupt, but was pushed back by Eruption.

### **Meteor Threat**

Mightyena appeared alongside the rest of Jethro's team when he was checking to make sure they all survived the crash caused by the Draconid people.

## **Personality and Characteristics**

Mightyena is a cool and collected Pokémon. Much like Jethro, she is flashy, loves to show off her looks, and hates getting dirty. Mightyena is also very stubborn at times and refuses to change her mind when she sets herself to a goal. Despite Jethro's distaste towards battling, Mightyena is a very powerful Pokémon, being capable of withstanding many attacks without fainting.

Despite being the Pokémon whom Jethro considered the closest, Mightyena is not above becoming rather scared and intimidated by Jethro's actions, such as when the latter lashed out at Feebas during the Slateport Contest due to Jethro's recent events causing him to become impatient, irrational, and hot-headed, although Mightyena and her fellow Pokémon quickly forgave Jethro after his apology.