Nana first appeared as a Poochyena before Ruby started his journey, sending her out against a pack of wild Mightyena, whom Ruby envied for having splendid fur that Nana lacked at the time. Nana was capable of using a different, primitive version of Hyper Beam when she was still a Poochyena, and her powers fully manifested after she evolved into a Mightyena at Granite Cave. As Ruby decided to pursue the path of Contests, Nana became in charge of the Cool category, and successively won all four of the Cool Contests under Ruby's command, the last of them with her own Red Scarf that Ruby received from the Pokémon Fan Club chairman. She has a stubborn streak, first displayed when she wouldn't allow Sapphire to split paths with Ruby and go on her own to fight Archie.