Pyonchi

Pyonchi from the Metroid e-manga

This article's name is an unofficial translation from official Japanese media.

Pyonchi (also translated as Ponchi) is the name of a small Rabbilis kept by Samus Aran as a pet in the Metroid Manga.

Resembling a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel, he first encountered Samus, who was at the time only 3 years old, in the woods of Planetary Colony K-2L and snatched her backpack. He was eventually chased up a tree, where he refused to leave. Samus and "Bird Grandpa" managed to get him down after the chozo suggested that she calm down and give it a name in order to see if it wanted to be friends, and thus Pyonchi was "born".

After the Space Pirate attack, Samus brought along Pyonchi with her to Zebes. Years have passed since then, and Pyonchi still appears to be in good shape and has not yet shown signs of old age, so the lifespan of his species is of yet unknown. He usually stays 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 so far within the manga. He also gets along well with the prototype larval Metroid.

Years later, it later detects a Mimic during an assisination 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 was insulting Damara and her friends. Samus, before she leaves the Academy, sees Pyonchi playing with them. She smiles, and leaves Pyonchi there while she goes on her Zero Mission.

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 Metroid Zero Mission Manga. Her reaction to Pikachu's pain might have been in remembrance to her friend.