This article's name is an unofficial translation from official Japanese media
and may not represent the canonical English name, if one exists.
An alternate name from an official source may be required.
Pyonchi (ピョンチー) is the name of a small Rabbit-Squirrel kept by Samus Aran as a pet in the Metroid manga.
Description[]
Pyonchi resembles a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel. He usually remains around Samus out of years of trust, and both treat each other very well. Pyonchi appears to have at least some sentience, based upon his actions and wide range of emotions shown within the manga. Although the Rabbit-Squirrel's lifespan is unknown, Pyonchi still appears to be in good shape and has not yet shown signs of old age in the years since the K-2L raid.
Biography[]
Pyonchi first encounters Samus, who is at the time only three years old, in the woods of Planetary Colony K-2L and snatches her backpack. He is eventually chased up a tree, where he refuses to leave. Samus and Old Bird manage to get him down after the Chozo suggests that she calm down and give him a name in order to see if he wants to be friends, and thus Pyonchi is acquainted with Samus.
After the Space Pirate attack, Samus brings along Pyonchi with her to Zebes, then leaves him with the Chozo after she joins the Federation Police Force. Pyonchi is present at the Chozo council where the Metroid is revealed, shortly before the Space Pirate flagship attacks the planet. Samus returns to Zebes with Mauk and Kreatz, and they follow Pyonchi to a hologram recording of Old Bird. Pyonchi continues to guide Mauk and Kreatz as they infiltrate the labs and rescue the Chozo.
Years later, Pyonchi detects a Mimicuria during an assassination attempt on Chairman Keaton. Samus brings him to the Galactic Federation Academy when she, Chairman Keaton, and Adam Malkovich go to the Academy's research facility. Pyonchi mauls a student who is insulting Damara and her friends. Samus, before she leaves the Academy, sees Pyonchi playing with them. Smiling, she leaves Pyonchi there while she embarks on her Zero Mission.
Trivia[]
- Samus's pairing with Pikachu in the Subspace Emissary mode of Super Smash Bros. Brawl may be a reference to Pyonchi, since the Zero Suit's first appearance was in the manga. Her reaction to Pikachu's pain might have been in remembrance to her friend.
- Coincidentally, Pyonchi resembles another Pokemon, Eevee, which acted as the counterpart to Pikachu in Pokemon Yellow and its remakes Pokemon Let's Go.
- Pyonchi is yet another example of a similarity to the Alien film franchise. Pyonchi serves the same role as Jones/Jonesy the cat, being the pet of the main character. Both Pyonchi and Jones survive the K-2L attack/destruction of the Nostromo, and are left in the care of someone else as their owners go on different missions. What becomes of them afterwards is also unknown.