In the Kanto region, many legends have been told of the Lavender Town Pokémon gym. Legends state that when it was still around, it was the strongest gym in the entire region. The gym leader, who specialized in Ghost types, was so strong that even some members of the Elite Four had trouble beating her, and she never lost. The gym leader was so strong that it was rumored she even had legendary and mythical Pokémon on her team, though few people even got past the first Pokémon she sent out to confirm this.
Then one day, seemingly overnight, the gym leader and the gym, disappeared.
It's been several decades, but those who were supposedly around when the gym existed are no longer living. With no real confirmation of its existence, the gym has become part of urban legend, at least until recently. In the past few months, the gym has appeared worldwide, staying in one place for only a day or two before disappearing and reappearing in a different region. However, the most puzzling thing is that after the gym disappears so do the strongest trainers in the area. Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and even Champions have vanished. Searching for clues also proves difficult, because after the gym disappears Pokémon in the area where the gym appeared become overwhelmingly powerful.
The disappearance of powerful trainers has caused the Pokémon League to stop giving new trainers a starter Pokémon and for gyms to close their doors, thus stopping the creation of new champions in regions where the current champion has disappeared. It's for this very reason that Bill, the world-famous Pokémon researcher, and creator of the Pokémon Storage System has started to look for a team to solve the mystery of the Lavender Town Gym, and hopefully, recover trainers, who like the gym did long ago, disappeared without a trace.
Recruitment is still open and you can join by replying to the interest thread here.
The interest thread includes the format for the CS I would like players to follow as well as some additional information.
⠀background; Parker McCarthy grew up in Undella Town in the Unova region, but instead of starting his journey as a trainer after his 10th birthday, decided to pursue academic goals and was accepted as a student at Blueberry Academy. He did well as a student, catching his fair share of Pokémon, became part of the Elite Four in his school, and even became an exchange student that sent him to the Naranja Academy in Paldea. It was while in Paldea, during the academy's Treasure Hunt that Parker's battle prowess grew in leaps and bounds, eventually becoming a Champion caliber trainer. By the time Parker went back to the Blueberry Academy, he had the option to graduate and did so with high honors. It was questioned if Parker would take part in the gym challenge in other regions, but Parker instead pursued prestige in other venues.
Going back to Unova, Parker was granted entry into the Battle Institute and the World Coronation Series and established himself as a Champion in both. Being World Champion allowed him to learn news from other regions and he decided to help whenever he could. He went to Kalos after Team Flare fired the ultimate weapon and helped quell Zygarde, went to Alola when Ultra Beasts invaded it, played a part in the Second Darkest Day in Galar, and was even allowed to explore Area Zero in Paldea despite the protests that it was too dangerous. Taking part in all these crises caught the attention of the International Police (IP) and after sending the Ultra Beasts back to their respective dimensions, was invited to join their organization.
After joining the International Police, under the codename Vandal, Parker was splitting his time between defending his titles and working for the IP. However, after realizing he was stretching himself too thin, decided to abdicate the title of Champion and hand it to someone else. Parker still trains and battles, but believes he's found the prestige he pursued back when he graduated from the Academy. Recently the IP received a distress call from Bill, a Pokémon researcher and mastermind behind the Pokémon Storage System, and requested a trainer worthy enough to be a Champion. Vandal was the perfect candidate, and after receiving a promotion as Commander was told to report to Bill. Vandal is confident that he can deliver what the IP requires of him though was told to try to keep his occupation a secret. After all, all he wants is to live a successful, fulfilled, and happy life.
CURRENT TEAM⠀⠀
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
N/A
Gender:
♂
Species:
Annihilape
Type(Tera):
Fighting/ Ghost
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
Annihilape is a Pokémon that not only helped Parker acquire a Champion title in Paldea but also helped him achieve the title of World Champion in the World Coronation Series. Caught in Paldea as a Mankey, the Pokémon helped immensely in several battles and evolved from Primeape while battling in Montenevera's Ghost-type gym after learning its signature move, Rage Fist.
The Pokémon tends to be a bit agitated, which translates well into its move set, but tends to calm down around Parker's Primarina, which it has a large crush on. Despite being hot-headed it's incredibly powerful, and Parker often calls on it during challenging battles.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability:
Inner Focus:
This Pokémon will not flinch. Does not prevent flinching with Focus Punch. Also prevents stats from being lowered by the ability Intimidate
Moves:
Close Combat:
The user fights the target up close, inflicting damage without guarding itself. This also lowers the user's Defense and Sp. Def stats.
Outrage:
The user rampages and attacks for two to three turns. The user then becomes confused.
Stomping Tantrum:
Driven by frustration, the user attacks the target. This move's power is doubled if the user's previous move failed.
Rage Fist:
The user converts its rage into energy to attack. The more times the user has been hit by attacks, the greater the move's power.
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
N/A
Gender:
♂
Species:
Kingambit
Type(Tera):
Steel/ Dark
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
Caught originally as a Pawniard that Parker met after arriving in Paldea, Kingambit evolved from Bisharp after defeating several others in a bamboo thicket in Paldea. After evolving it was incredibly useful in helping Parker catch high-level Pokémon, and it was strong enough to take on some Ultra Beasts by itself in the Alola region.
Like Annihilape, Kingambit also has a crush on Parker's Primarina but is more composed than its rival. Many Pokémon on Parker's team see Kingambit as their leader so Parker often uses it to train other Pokémon. It was part of Parker's Championship team in the Treasure Hunt and the World Coronation Series.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability: Supreme Overlord:
When the Pokémon enters a battle, its Attack and Sp. Atk stats are boosted by 10% for each of the allies in its party that have already been defeated.
Moves:
Iron Head:
The user slams the target with its steel-hard head. This may also make the target flinch.
Kowtow Cleave:
The user slashes at the target after kowtowing to make the target let down its guard. This attack never misses.
Retaliate:
The user takes revenge for a fainted ally. This move's power is boosted if an ally faints in the previous turn.
Swords Dance:
A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply boosts the user's Attack stat.
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
Cerise
Gender:
♀
Species:
Armarogue
Type(Tera):
Fire/ Psychic
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
Cerise, the Armarogue was a Pokémon Parker received as a trade evolution while he was in Blueberry Academy, Originally a Charcadet, Cerise evolved when it was traded over to him and gained the Psychic typing. Cerise proved to be a quite adept battler and was a staple in Parker's Elite Four team. Parker also had Cerise learn how to use Energy Ball to cover most of her weaknesses, though Dark and Ghost types still give it a hard time.
Despite being useful in battle Cerise can be quite vain at times. When she's not battling Cerise can be seen polishing her armor and adopted a graceful battle style, to look her best while in the heat of battle. Parker attributes this to her previous trainer - a Pokémon Coordinator.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability: Weak Armor:
When hit by an attack, the Pokémon's Defense is lowered by one stage but Speed is increased by two stages.
Moves:
Armor Cannon:
The user shoots its own armor out as blazing projectiles. This also lowers the user's Defense and Sp. Def stats.
Expanding Force:
The user attacks the target with its psychic power. When the ground is Psychic Terrain, this move's power is boosted and it damages all opposing Pokémon.
Energy Ball:
The user draws power from nature and fires it at the target. This may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat.
Psychic Terrian:
This protects Pokémon on the ground from priority moves and powers up Psychic-type moves for five turns.
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
Gender:
♀
Species:
Toedscruel
Type(Tera):
Ground/ Grass
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
Caught in Paldea, Toedscruel covered a glaring weakness in Parker's team when he was having trouble against the electric-type gym leader's team in the Levincia gym. As a Toedscool it was able to sweep most of the gym leader's Pokémon and Toedscool proved even more useful at Casscarrafa's water type gym. It was after helping at the latter that Toedscool evolved into Toedscruel and has been one of Parker's favorites to send out in battle since then.
Despite looking like it and its name being similar to the water type Tentacruel, Toedscruel is a completely different Pokémon. However, because of their similarities, people have mistakenly classified Toedscruel as a regional variant of Tentacruel, even though they don't live in Paldea's waters.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability: Mycelium Might:
If the Pokémon uses a Status move, it will move last in the Speed bracket, but its moves aren't affected by the ability of the target
Moves:
Earth Power:
The user makes the ground under the target erupt with power. This may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat.
Giga Drain:
A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target.
Growth:
The user's body grows all at once, boosting the Attack and Sp. Atk stats.
Spore:
The user scatters bursts of spores that induce sleep.
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
N/A
Gender:
♀
Species:
Primarina
Type(Tera):
Water/ Fairy
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
After Parker helped Alola with its invasion of Ultre Beasts he was given a Pokémon Egg as thanks. It took a while to hatch, but Parker's care of it paid off when a shiny Popplio was born. While it was a Popplio it found Primarium Z on the ocean floor, but Parker doesn't own a Z Ring, though he has been thinking of acquiring one so Primarina can use its immensely useful Oceanic Operetta.
Primarina's shiny coloring makes the Pokémon stand out in his team, especially in the eyes of Annihilape and Kingambit. Both Pokémon go a bit out of their way to impress her, and even though Primarina seems oblivious to their advances, she still appreciates their friendship. Parker tends to put Primarina in his team if Annihilape is part of it because she's been able to quell his rage.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability: Liquid Voice:
All sounds-based moves become Water-type moves
Moves:
Moonblast:
Borrowing the power of the moon, the user attacks the target. This may also lower the target's Sp. Atk stat.
Sparkling Aria:
The user bursts into song, emitting many bubbles. Any Pokémon suffering from a burn will be cured by the touch of these bubbles.
Hyper Voice:
The user attacks by letting loose a horribly loud, resounding cry.
Ice Beam:
The target is struck with an icy-cold beam of energy. This may also leave the target frozen.
DOSSIER⠀⠀
⠀dossier ;
Name: (Last, first, MI)
N/A
Gender:
○
Species:
Roaring Moon
Type(Tera):
Dragon/ Dark
BACKGROUND⠀⠀
⠀background ;
When Parker was allowed entry into Area Zero he was told he would have to parachute into the crater as there was no other way to enter its depths. Parker was reluctant at first but had heard rumors of the Paradox Pokémon that lived there, and his curiosity got the better of him, and agreed to their terms of entry. While falling through the crater Parker happened to land on what he thought was a Salamence, who descended and dropped the trainer off at the bottom. It wasn't until Parker was off of the Pokémon that he realized the Salamance was a Paradox Pokémon with feathered wings and a more feral appearance.
Roaring Moon, as reports called it, seemed to warm up to Parker and stayed nearby during his stay in Area Zero. When it was time to return to the surface Roaring Moon didn't want to say goodbye, so joined his team as Parker's newest Pokémon. When the IP told Vandal he needed a Pokémon that could fly him, he chose Roaring Moon for this honor. The IP provided Vandal with a Booster Energy to help with its role, which only made the Paradox Pokémon more useful than before.
MOVES⠀⠀
Ability: Photosynthesis
Increases the user's highest stat by 30% (or 50% for Speed) while Sunny Day is activated or if the Booster Energy is attached
Moves:
Dragon Rush:
The user tackles the target while exhibiting overwhelming menace. This may also make the target flinch.
Fly:
The user flies up into the sky on the first turn, then attacks on the next turn.
Lash Out:
The user lashes out to vent its frustration toward the target. This move's power is doubled if the user's stats were lowered during this turn..
Dragon Cheer:
The user raises its allies' morale with a draconic cry so that their future attacks have a heightened chance of landing critical hits. This rouses Dragon types more.
xＧＥＮＥＶＩＥＶＥ xi.genevieve 'vee' winterson ii. 26 years old iii. female (she/her) iv. bisexual v. vibrant coppery xhair vi. amber eyes vii. ex champion of johto viii. happy-go-lucky, enthusiastic ix. hot-headed, ximpulsive x. sagittarius xi. now coaches trainee coordinators xii. fc; madelaine petsch
Genevieve was born and raised in Ecruteak City in the Johto region. Her mother was a former coordinator from Hoenn and her father was one of the trainers who helped test challengers to the Ecruteak Gym, so Genevieve grew up observing two different ways of raising Pokémon. Her mother's party were always graceful and elegant, putting on shows for her and entertaining her with the tricks they performed onstage, her father's party, however, took things a little more seriously. They were hardened battlers who had plenty of experience in the Gym and chose to watch over the girl as protectors when she was growing up, ensuring she came to no harm whenever she went out to play.
When Genevieve turned 10, she finally started her Pokémon journey. That morning, her parents had gifted her a Houndour puppy which became her first partner Pokémon, so after packing her bag ready for her adventure to begin she set out for New Bark Town and the lab of Professor Elm. She was supplied with the standard Pokédex and encouraged to collect the eight badges for defeating the region's Gym Leaders before taking on the Champion, Lance. Genevieve and her Houndour, Cinder, headed to Violet City to secure her first badge.
It only took a few years for Genevieve to collect all of the badges and ultimately take the spot of Champion from Lance. She formed close bonds with her Pokémon and had a keen eye for utilising moves that complemented one another well. Following her victory, she asked to be announced as 'Vee', wanting to move away from being called Genevieve and start a brand of sorts for herself. She upheld the duties of a Champion for a few years before finally deciding to hang up the towel and step into the Coordinating world. She had competed in Contests a bit as she'd grown up but had never really had the opportunity to take it seriously before she was off on her Pokémon journey and focusing more on battles. Walking away from being a Champion afforded her the time to put the energy into coordinating.
Vee had a rather difficult start to her coordinating career, there were a lot of internal politics to the competition that she had just not been privy to during her time away. She worked hard and didn't stop polishing her act until they had to pay attention and score her well. This approach made her popular with the public as she was always coming up with new and exciting displays to show off with her Pokémon. She displayed her Contest persona as a fiery and energetic stage presence who was always ready to flash a smile and raise spirits. Performing was a joy for her and having earned the praise, it felt all the sweeter.
Finally, her name started to gain a bit more traction. Vee had moved through the higher ranks of the Contest world until she was one of the top performers. The audience was always packed for her performances and she truly enjoyed being on the stage. Until she didn't. Vee felt as though she were under a lot of pressure to keep coming up with new material and the fatigue of always performing was starting to dull her edges. She ultimately decided to walk away from competing after one final charity Contest where her mother also performed with her and took to training young coordinators who were just starting. She figured that if she built the skills, she might as well use them. Vee moved to Fallarbor Town to be near a Contest Hall and she set up her little academy. She'd been happily teaching until word of the mysterious happenings around the Lavender Town Gym reached her ears.
Occupation:
-Researcher at the Hoenn Weather Institute. -Former champion, happily retired.
Region: Hoenn
Gale is a young researcher from the Hoenn region. A fascination with weather (as well as an anxiety disorder) was seared into his mind during a traumatizing incident as a child, when a severe typhoon struck his hometown of Lilycove, destroying his home and injuring many—only by the effort of the local trainers and Pokemon center were deaths prevented. This influenced his choice of Pokemon: a group of friends all related to the natural disasters that Gale became obsessed with. Once rebuilding efforts were complete, he spent the rest of his childhood and adolescence as a weather fanatic, chasing storms and natural disasters and catching all the related Pokémon he could find. It was then that he got acquainted with the Weather Institute, which gave his frenetic wanderings a purpose and goal: he became one of their most energetic, and overtime one of their best, researchers.
His meteoric rise to the rank of Hoenn Champion was almost by accident. Like any red-blooded Hoenn kid with an interest in Pokemon, Gale battled and trained his party and took whatever gyms that he could. As it turned out, by paying close attention to weather effects and types, he was able to both develop a world-class battle strategy and build quite a remarkable and versatile team that could stand up to any challenge. While reasonably proud of his gym badge collection, he had no eye for the throne until a certain pair of promoters with Hoenn TV convinced the not-entirely socially savvy Gale that he ought to take a shot for it (thinking that the flashy weather effects would make great television). It took a few tries, and at a couple points Gale almost gave up… until one day, he actually did it: in a flurry of rain and snow and blazing sun, Gale Fujita beat the Hoenn Champion and took his place.
Where typically this would be the happy ending of the story of an awkward teenage trainer, as a matter of fact it was the start of one of the worst times of Gale's life, second only to the Lilycove disaster.
It turns out, being a Champion is a job that is quite hard work: fighting a constant stream of high-level trainers, each of which is totally ruthless and fancies themselves the king or queen of the arena. That's to say nothing of the dangerous, thankless secondary Champion task of trying to keep the peace in the region, which did NOT play well with Gale's severe anxiety (fortunately, Hoenn's criminal elements were keeping to the shadows and out of trouble during this time, but still). To make matters worse, Hoenn's Victory Road is underground: which is to say, as far away as possible from Gale's TRUE meteorological passions. Even Gale's pokemon—which were used to OCCASIONAL battles, with long breaks of play and exploring in-between that were now gone, replaced with recuperation from brutal attacks—they suffered greatly under the strain too.
As deeply unhappy as Gale and his Pokemon friends became, there was no way out: he couldn't resign since all the previous Champions had left for greener pastures in other regions or were otherwise indisposed, and he couldn't just throw a Champion match as to do so would give him and the whole Hoenn region a bad name. Over time, stuck between a rock and a hard place, Fujita's Pokemon became more and more unhappy, and Gale's own panic attacks and depressive episodes became worse and more frequent. Gale Fujita had won, and he was trapped.
After more than two years of this deteriorating condition, a few months ago Gale was finally released from his responsibilities when the title of Champion was taken away from him: some rich-kid trainer with a very powerful Steel-type team finally managed to weather Fujita's storm and defeat him at the end of the Victory Road. Despite the cameras, Gale could scarcely conceal his utter joy and relief at no longer having to worry about his responsibilities as a Champion: he took his Pokemon, left the Victory Road in the capable hands of Steven and the other Hoenn big-shots, and then went right back to studying the skies at his true throne: the Weather Institute.
Gale has spent the past few months in an almost vacation-like bliss, making up for lost time with his Pokemon friends and with his research. Though as it turns out, not everything in Hoenn is quite settled…
Additional Info: Calypso is a fully trained emotional support Pokemon for Gale, as she helps comfort and ground him during his not infrequent panic attacks—ironically, Calypso causes much anxiety in strangers who aren't aware she's tamed, thanks to Absol's dark reputation. Despite (or perhaps because of) her deep and obvious care for Gale, she is extremely clever and devious, and has more than a few tricks up her sleeve…
Additional Info: Nimbus is Fujita's chief research partner, companion, and is officially a junior-ranked employee of the Hoenn region's famous Weather Institute, which also created his species. Gale considers himself Nimbus' senpai, and works closely with the Pokemon for his weather research—his coworkers think this is quite weird, but the smart and good-natured Nimbus seems happy enough with the arrangement.
*Forms:
Normal - Shifts form to become Normal-type in windy, foggy, cloudy, other neutral weather, including sandstorms and dark auras. Sunny - Shifts form to become Fire-type in Harsh Sunlight. Rainy - Shifts form to become Water-type while in Rain. Snowy - Shifts form to become Ice-type while in Hail or Snow.
Additional Info: Named after his elder sister, Fiona Fujita—this Camerupt is just as hardy, just as bold, just as powerful, and just as fiery as her namesake, and has reduced to ash more than a few shots for the Championship. Which one is more even-keeled, you ask? Well, that's a matter for debate… Don't tell the human Fiona I said that, though.
Shackleton
(Walrein, Ice / Water type, male, Bold nature, Ice Body ability)
Additional Info: Perhaps the biggest bruiser of Gale's team, Shackleton has been an invaluable member of numerous expeditions to study the cold and climatically active currents around northeast Hoenn coast—once even rescuing Gale from a suddenly flooded cave. He has a fearsome reputation among those who knew Gale as the Hoenn Champion—trainers once dubbed him "Gale's Unstoppable Glacier".
Additional Info: Due to a traumatic event that happened during an attempt to research a vicious typhoon that struck southeast Hoenn, Amelia no longer likes to fly, only taking short hops and preferring to swim (which she does quite enjoy). Gale feels an enormous amount of guilt over what happened, and has worked hard to restore her trust in him—with evidently good results.
Reyna was caught by Gale as a young kid after she fell from the top of a thunderhead he was chasing, and was nursed back to health by him and his family. As such, she's shown a fierce loyalty and trust in Gale, making her an invaluable partner in his research as she Flys to study atmospheric conditions and uses her beams to calibrate experiments with cold and light. Gale cares a lot for her—though he often wishes she wouldn't drag him along the clouds so fast!
Name: Gordon Grave Age: 27 Gender: Male Region: Sinnoh Occupation: Ex Champion... Backstory: The man named Gordon Grave was said to have a bright future ahead of him. He was one of the many children who took it upon themselves to climb up the ladder in the Sinnoh League and become its champion. However when he started, he never initially cared about the challenge that much until he had heard about it early in his adventure. His Pokemon were just as eager as he was to claim the title of champion and it would be a goal they all would pursue for a good couple of years. By the time he made it to the Elite Four, making his way past every opponent and finally besting the champion, it felt cathartic, reinvigorating. All of that training, every obstacle that blocked their path, it was all worth it just for that moment when he and his team were inaugurated into the hall of fame. After that, things would only get better for him. As Champion of Sinnoh, he was tasked to protect the region against criminal organizations that would try to bring down their way of life, had the chance to explore the world and meet with many other strong trainers, and was well off in terms of money and living conditions. He gained so much and he shared it with the Pokemon he had come to see as an extended family. But... nothing is ever meant to last forever, and he would soon meet his match on what seemed like any other day. Years would pass and as customary of the Champion of the Sinnoh League, he would be the last opponent any challenger would face to take his title. No one had been able to beat him, and he was never prideful about any of his victories, though a small part of him did cherish every victory he earned. Keeping a mental tally of everyone he had faced, seeing a couple of familiar faces try to take him down more than once, all determined and eager to take him down. Though at this point, no one seemed to be much of a challenge anymore. All he would do was use his Pokemon's strongest moves and exploit any weaknesses he saw, almost expecting to win regardless of what would happen. He began to become a bit sloppy with his battle strategies and his final challenger as Champion would be ready to exploit it. Who stood across from him was a blonde-haired woman named Cynthia, a bit older than him at this point but still had the determination of a trainer boiling in her veins. As the battle began the tone of the entire fight quickly presented itself to Gordon, and her team made quick work of his first three Pokemon. It all happened so quickly... he felt like he didn't have time to call a move-out before Cynthia took out one of his Pokemon. Quickly his mind began to race with panic, chucking out his heavy hitters one after the other. They each tried their best to do some damage, but their opponents 1-uped them every chance they had and knocked them all to the ground. The fight quickly ended as soon as it began and a look of devastation was plastered all over Gordon's face. Cynthia trying to be a good sport wanted to make sure he was ok, but Gordon quickly shook away the look on his face and tried his best to keep things professional, even though his voice was a bit shaky. Cynthia had done it, she had bested him and now she was to be named the champion of Sinnoh, a phrase Gordon was having a hard time letting escape from his lips. The dream was over, everything he worked so hard for was no longer his, and now... he had no idea what was going to happen. After Cynthia's inauguration, Gordon took a hiatus from Pokemon battles to recoup after his defeat, contemplating what he should do now that he wasn't champion. But his hour of contemplation slowly turned into a day, into a week, into a month, and into years. He resigned himself to being a washed-up Champion who could do nothing but think about the past, thinking about how devastating his loss was. He felt like he had nothing left to strive for, his motivation to do anything melted away into a cynical and bitter shell of his former glory. He still had money, a roof over his head, and his Pokemon by his side, but not even they could break him out of this depression. It got so bad that the league himself tried to step in and give him a "Temporary" vacation on an island where the battle league was held. But all that did was distance him further away from where he called home, leaving him on an island where he continued to ruminate, now in solitude. As of now, he and his team haven't battled anyone in years, leaving him with a bitter feeling in his heart, and little drive to do anything but remain stuck in his isolated vacation. It wasn't until recently that a message from the researcher Bill, requested Gordon to step back into the world and try to help him with a very urgent matter. A message that he had no intention of following up on in favor of staying where he was. It wasn't until his first Pokemon partner convinced him to stop wasting away into nothing and try to make something of himself again that he begrudgingly decided to accept the mission. So now, he and his team were off to see Bill, ready to help him with... whatever the hell he needed help with... he didn't exactly read everything that was in the message.
[One of the first Pokemon Gordon had been with since he started his journey. They met each other before he was even old enough to be considered a trainer. But as soon as the day came, he already knew he wanted the Toxic Mouth Pokemon to be with him to the very end. He grew a bit of an ego as they adventure together and he's always been known to have a very... distinct way of delivering back sass.]
Shocker - Electivire
Type: Electric
Ability: Motor Drive
Moves: [ Thunder Punch - Electric Terrain - Stomping Tantrum - Supercell Slam ]
[ When it was just an Elekid, Shocker would become a frequent rival to Gordon and his team determined to prove his worth. But they ultimately ended with him either losing the fight or just being ignored out of sheer annoyance. When it evolved into Electabuzz he would pose more of a threat, but he still couldn't beat Gordon no matter how hard he tried. By the end of it, he figured the only way he could win, was by being on the winning side and joined him. Through this partnership, Shocker managed to become even stronger, reaching a form he never could have on his own. Shocker has always been eager to start fights, and determined to always come out on top. If he lost, then he would be determined to demand rematches until he won. ]
Bellbong - Bronzong
Type: Steel/Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Moves: [ Iron Defense - Light Screen - Extrasensory - Iron Head ]
[ Gordon wasn't sure what to think of Bellbong when he first met it as a Bronzor, but he felt that the floating disk seemed cool enough to add to his ever-growing party of Pokemon. As the team's tank, Bellbong seems mostly chill no matter the situation. The most that it does when it's not fighting anything is to just simply close his eyes float in the air and spin, letting the sounds and feelings of the world surround him in a steady typhoon of psychic energy. All of these habits continued even after he evolved into Bronzong ]
Vagabond - Honchkrow
Type: Dark/Flying
Ability: Super Luck
Moves: [ Fly - Night Slash - Ariel Ace - Confuse Ray ]
[ Vagabond has been a bit of an odd fellow ever since joining Gordon's team. She's always been trying to worm her way up to being considered Gordon's favorite and looks down on those she considers beneath her attention. When the team would go on adventures without their trainer, Vagabond would always appoint herself as the leader and take command of how everyone should handle things. But after Gordon lost the championship title, these habits of hers seemed to have stopped and she's trying to be a bit more kind to everyone. Maybe after everything, she's truly trying to appreciate those who help her despite her attitude in the past, treating them like a family and not just servants... or maybe it's some type of long con to get in Gordon's good graces, I don't exactly know. ]
[ Wolly's sense of smell has taken him on many adventures in the past and helped uncover some strange artifacts. On one of these excursions following his nose, he managed to bump into Gordon and his team while they were having lunch. He found it kind of adorable how despite his impaired eyesight, he had enough dedication to make it to where he was and try to eat some of the food that was available. So on that day, Wolly joined the team and quickly became a powerful asset on his adventures. When he finally evolved into Mamoswine, his eyesight improved dramatically but he still used his nose as his main source of navigation. It never failed him before so why should he stop now? Despite his look and size, Wolly is considered to be a gentle giant and would rather save his destructive might for when it's time to fight. ]
Guillotine - Kleavor
Type: Bug/Rock
Ability: Sheer Force
Moves: [ Stone Axe - Swords Dance - X Scissor - Psycho Cut ]
[ While doing some mining back in Oreburgh City, Wolly managed to find a strange rock that not many people have seen since ancient Sinnoh, a Black Augurite. After doing some research, Gordon learned that if given to a certain Pokemon it would help them evolve into a powerful form that many thought would be impossible. After a week of investigations and no results, a lone Scyther was entranced by the Augurite and tried to take it for herself. However, this caused a bit of misunderstanding between it and the group, as everyone assumed the Scyther just wanted to steal the stone from Gordon. They tried to take her out but her speed was much faster than any of them were prepared for at the time. When the Scyther finally took hold of the Black Augurite, the stone began to fuse with her body and transformed into the Axe Pokemon Kleavor. The power that this new form gave was incredible as the bug could now cut multiple trees in a single swipe. Everyone was amazed, especially Gordon, but the group wanted to try and fight this ancient Pokemon in fear of her wanting to use its new powers against them. But Gordon wanted to try a less hasty method and simply asked if Kleavor wanted to join their team. He promised that there would be many strong opponents that the Pokemon could test its edge on and that he could help show that this new form was something to be admired rather than feared. The group was a bit anxious, but Kleavor decided to join them and was given the name Guillotine to help commemorate this historic moment. She is nothing but a menace to anyone who would dare challenge her, displaying an intimidating presence to friends and foes alike. When out of combat, she acts more of the straight man to the group's shenanigans, making sure that any situation doesn't get too out of hand.
Name: June Waters Age: 27 Gender: Female Region: Unova Occupation: Trainers' School Teacher Backstory: Born in Castelia to a businessman and an actress, June could've had a very comfortable life, but it was clear from a young age that she wanted more from life. Instead of just kicking back and enjoying life as a rich kid, she chose to set out on a journey to tackle all of Unova's gyms. At first, she was absolutely horrible at battling. She had to make seven attempts before getting her first badge, and her struggle didn't end there. However, she kept at it, never giving up, even when she felt like maybe she should just pack it up and go home. Her unshakable resolve paid off - by gym seven, she had hit her stride, and she realized maybe she really can do it. And she did - the last gym and the Elite Four were nothing to scoff at, but she emerged victorious each time. The Champion battle was a sight to behold, and it was a pretty even match, but in the end, June claimed the title.
Having witnessed the whole Team Plasma situation, and then the aftermath two years later, she made sure as Champion to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity in the region, and to nip any criminal organizations in the bud, before they become a bigger problem. Because she was so active in the region whenever she wasn't taking on challengers, she became a bit of a celebrity in her own right, perhaps even overshadowing her mother's fame. She never really asked for the attention, and it was stressful at times, but as a decently sociable person, she managed it somehow.
By the time she was finally defeated, her fame had already been declining somewhat, which was convenient, because, as much as it stung to be defeated after winning for so long, June did have enough of the spotlight, and was more than happy to fade into obscurity. She took her defeat honorably, and decided that the best thing she can do now, is pass what she learned along the way to others. She settled down in Striaton and joined the Trainers' School as a teacher, happy to teach the next generation all that she knew. Even though she's more or less content with where she is at the moment, she does sometimes wonder if one day, she can reclaim the Champion title and prove that she still hasn't truly lost her edge.
Backstory: During her journeys, June met a trainer from Sinnoh who had an Oshawott. After traveling together for a while and a battle, the other trainer decided to leave the Oshawott with her, as a gift to remember them by. Much to June's surprise, when it evolved into Samurott, it was different than the other ones she'd seen. A Pokemon professor, a friend of her father, got to study the Samurott, and only speculated this unique evolution was caused by its connection to the Sinnoh region.
Backstory: While traveling through Pinwheel Forest in spring, June noticed a few orange leaves sticking out of a bush. Thinking it strange at this time of year, she approached, and quickly realized the "leaves" were actually a very uniquely colored Cottonee. It only took giving it a few treats for it to happily join June's team. Eventually she got hold of a Sun Stone, and evolved it.
Backstory: June came across this one while going through Chargestone Cave. The tiny little curious Joltik dropped down on her backpack from the ceiling, and she only noticed it once she was out of the cave. Seeing that the bug really seemed keen on sticking with her, she happily added it to the team.
Backstory: June was spooked by a Litwick when she came across a strange, abandoned house near Reversal Mountain. To her surprise, the scare didn't seem intentional, and the Pokemon quickly tried to help her get up from the floor and guided her through the eerie house. Appreciating the help, June offered to take Litwick with her, and it agreed.
Backstory: This was June's first partner Pokemon, gifted to her by her mother, who got it from Floccesy Ranch. It was a Riolu for a long while, and only during one of the tougher Gym challenges did it push past its limit, and evolve into a Lucario. She also got a Lucarionite at some point, though she doesn't have a Mega Ring to properly use it, so for now it just hangs from Lucario's neck.
Backstory: This was one of the latest additions to June's party. While June was on her way to the Victory Road, the Gliscor jumped out of the grass, not a Gligar, but an already fully evolved Gliscor. Considering it was rare to come across one, June was determined to add it to her team. It took much longer than she expected, the Gliscor expertly dodging all balls thrown at him. Eventually, June did manage to get a hit with one, and Gliscor was captured. However, it still retained a bit of a mischievous and unruly nature, even if now, captured, it does obey June most of the time, respecting her for the dedication she showed in catching it.
Occupation:
-Researcher at the Hoenn Weather Institute. -Former champion, happily retired.
Region: Hoenn
Gale is a young researcher from the Hoenn region. A fascination with weather (as well as an anxiety disorder) was seared into his mind during a traumatizing incident as a child, when a severe typhoon struck his hometown of Lilycove, destroying his home and injuring many—only by the effort of the local trainers and Pokemon center were deaths prevented. This influenced his choice of Pokemon: a group of friends all related to the natural disasters that Gale became obsessed with. Once rebuilding efforts were complete, he spent the rest of his childhood and adolescence as a weather fanatic, chasing storms and natural disasters and catching all the related Pokémon he could find. It was then that he got acquainted with the Weather Institute, which gave his frenetic wanderings a purpose and goal: he became one of their most energetic, and overtime one of their best, researchers.
His meteoric rise to the rank of Hoenn Champion was almost by accident. Like any red-blooded Hoenn kid with an interest in Pokemon, Gale battled and trained his party and took whatever gyms that he could. As it turned out, by paying close attention to weather effects and types, he was able to both develop a world-class battle strategy and build quite a remarkable and versatile team that could stand up to any challenge. While reasonably proud of his gym badge collection, he had no eye for the throne until a certain pair of promoters with Hoenn TV convinced the not-entirely socially savvy Gale that he ought to take a shot for it (thinking that the flashy weather effects would make great television). It took a few tries, and at a couple points Gale almost gave up… until one day, he actually did it: in a flurry of rain and snow and blazing sun, Gale Fujita beat the Hoenn Champion and took his place.
Where typically this would be the happy ending of the story of an awkward teenage trainer, as a matter of fact it was the start of one of the worst times of Gale's life, second only to the Lilycove disaster.
It turns out, being a Champion is a job that is quite hard work: fighting a constant stream of high-level trainers, each of which is totally ruthless and fancies themselves the king or queen of the arena. That's to say nothing of the dangerous, thankless secondary Champion task of trying to keep the peace in the region, which did NOT play well with Gale's severe anxiety (fortunately, Hoenn's criminal elements were keeping to the shadows and out of trouble during this time, but still). To make matters worse, Hoenn's Victory Road is underground: which is to say, as far away as possible from Gale's TRUE meteorological passions. Even Gale's pokemon—which were used to OCCASIONAL battles, with long breaks of play and exploring in-between that were now gone, replaced with recuperation from brutal attacks—they suffered greatly under the strain too.
As deeply unhappy as Gale and his Pokemon friends became, there was no way out: he couldn't resign since all the previous Champions had left for greener pastures in other regions or were otherwise indisposed, and he couldn't just throw a Champion match as to do so would give him and the whole Hoenn region a bad name. Over time, stuck between a rock and a hard place, Fujita's Pokemon became more and more unhappy, and Gale's own panic attacks and depressive episodes became worse and more frequent. Gale Fujita had won, and he was trapped.
After more than two years of this deteriorating condition, a few months ago Gale was finally released from his responsibilities when the title of Champion was taken away from him: some rich-kid trainer with a very powerful Steel-type team finally managed to weather Fujita's storm and defeat him at the end of the Victory Road. Despite the cameras, Gale could scarcely conceal his utter joy and relief at no longer having to worry about his responsibilities as a Champion: he took his Pokemon, left the Victory Road in the capable hands of Steven and the other Hoenn big-shots, and then went right back to studying the skies at his true throne: the Weather Institute.
Gale has spent the past few months in an almost vacation-like bliss, making up for lost time with his Pokemon friends and with his research. Though as it turns out, not everything in Hoenn is quite settled…
Additional Info: Calypso is a fully trained emotional support Pokemon for Gale, as she helps comfort and ground him during his not infrequent panic attacks—ironically, Calypso causes much anxiety in strangers who aren't aware she's tamed, thanks to Absol's dark reputation. Despite (or perhaps because of) her deep and obvious care for Gale, she is extremely clever and devious, and has more than a few tricks up her sleeve…
Additional Info: Nimbus is Fujita's chief research partner, companion, and is officially a junior-ranked employee of the Hoenn region's famous Weather Institute, which also created his species. Gale considers himself Nimbus' senpai, and works closely with the Pokemon for his weather research—his coworkers think this is quite weird, but the smart and good-natured Nimbus seems happy enough with the arrangement.
*Forms:
Normal - Shifts form to become Normal-type in windy, foggy, cloudy, other neutral weather, including sandstorms and dark auras. Sunny - Shifts form to become Fire-type in Harsh Sunlight. Rainy - Shifts form to become Water-type while in Rain. Snowy - Shifts form to become Ice-type while in Hail or Snow.
Additional Info: Named after his elder sister, Fiona Fujita—this Camerupt is just as hardy, just as bold, just as powerful, and just as fiery as her namesake, and has reduced to ash more than a few shots for the Championship. Which one is more even-keeled, you ask? Well, that's a matter for debate… Don't tell the human Fiona I said that, though.
Shackleton
(Walrein, Ice / Water type, male, Bold nature, Ice Body ability)
Additional Info: Perhaps the biggest bruiser of Gale's team, Shackleton has been an invaluable member of numerous expeditions to study the cold and climatically active currents around northeast Hoenn coast—once even rescuing Gale from a suddenly flooded cave. He has a fearsome reputation among those who knew Gale as the Hoenn Champion—trainers once dubbed him "Gale's Unstoppable Glacier".
Additional Info: Due to a traumatic event that happened during an attempt to research a vicious typhoon that struck southeast Hoenn, Amelia no longer likes to fly, only taking short hops and preferring to swim (which she does quite enjoy). Gale feels an enormous amount of guilt over what happened, and has worked hard to restore her trust in him—with evidently good results.
Reyna was caught by Gale as a young kid after she fell from the top of a thunderhead he was chasing, and was nursed back to health by him and his family. As such, she's shown a fierce loyalty and trust in Gale, making her an invaluable partner in his research as she Flys to study atmospheric conditions and uses her beams to calibrate experiments with cold and light. Gale cares a lot for her—though he often wishes she wouldn't drag him along the clouds so fast!
