#and jay if you're reading this im so sorry im gonna get to yours asap 😓

[hungrydolphin91]

Thank you SO much for this response, it honestly made me smile and laugh so much when I really needed it--- like 2 hours after I answered yours, my dog got really, really sick, and I basically spent the rest of the day in an anxious depressed fugue. Terrible timing, right after posting an ask game 😓

But like I said your response was such a delight to read, so I want to break it down with the truth--- not correcting, I just wanna tell you all about it really because you know we both love infodumping 😁

So first up is Piers, the dark type gym leader from Pokemon Sword and Shield (the very first dark type gym leader actually, it took them 8 generations). He is most certainly emo and sleep-deprived, and almost a poor little meow meow, except he's not really misunderstood--- everyone in his town knows and loves him, because he's a super nice guy. He's the embodiment of the actual definition of punk, the kind of person that looks out for the little guy because he came from humble origins himself. It's been a while since I played Shield but I remember this guy being so geniunely outspoken yet respectful. He's such a chill dude, I think he has a lot of fans irl too.

Also, I am delighted to tell you that he not only listens to rock, he is in fact the lead singer of a rock band (love that you named him Bowie it fits 😂). And he loves and supports his younger sister, who is an idol so popular that her fans literally are the 'evil' team for that region, Team Yell 😂 They mostly just make a lot of noise and cause problems by accident.

Lastly I appreciate your stabs at making pokemon names, they're as valid as the official ones 😁 That fluffy friend is Obstagoon, evolving from Galarian Linoone--- I used one of these when I played Shield! It definitely has aspects of skunk and hyena in its design, but I think it's primarily based on European badgers (do you have those in Australia? The North American ones look different.)

Next gym leader is Whitney from Johto, originating in Gen II. She does look like Misty doesn't she, they both have tomboyish vibes (Misty has sisters in the anime, and I think they even take over her gym duties while shes off traveling so you're guess isnt far off the mark). You guessed right that Whitney is a normal type leader, and that she likes cute pokemon! Also I need to point out the delightful coincidence that you used the word 'scrappy' to describe her--- it's entirely accurate, but Scrappy also just so happens to be the name of an uncommon pokemon ability that--- you guessed it--- her cow has. What are the odds???

I mostly included her in this list so I could share one fun fandom misery about her: this girl and her cow are TOUGH! If you know what you're up against it's not so bad, but for new players and kids not expecting a difficulty spike so early in the game, Whitney and her Miltank (I like Milkmin better btw) will stomp and rollout your team so fast. But since she's so powerful she's also a bit of a sore loser, she cries if you beat her. I think she does call you baka in the Japanese games 😂

And our last mysterious man is the dragon tamer Lance, the Champion(ish) of Kanto, the very first gen! (technically your rival is the champion, but Lance was the Champion before he lost to the rival). He comes across as more stern and intimidating in those early games before the remakes, which you kinda need to be if you're going to command a full team of dragons (though literally only 3 of his mons are dragon type, but it's not really his fault since there was only one dragon type evolution line in gen I).

I loved seeing you call Dragonite Not-Charizard 😂 especially since Lance also has a Charizard, it's just not his signature mon. Dragonite is so cute and friendly, the official art always has it waving like that it's adorable 🧡

Fortunately for Dragonite, Lance is not an evil guy (but he is in the Pokemon Adventures manga, which is not affiliated with the games but still official. Evil!Lance has healing powers and can talk to pokemon, which is not a thing in canon except for N but that's another story). Lance is actually a pretty good guy in Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal (Johto, where Whitney's from) where he helps the protagonist infiltrate a criminal hideout. I always thought that was a cool part of those games, first time in the series having a powerful NPC battle alongside you, and then you get to challenge him later as the Champion again. I have no idea if Piers and Lance ever interacted in some spinoff like Pokemon Masters, I hope so. I can't imagine Lance would care much for Pier's taste in music 😂

Aaaaaand that about wraps it up! Sorry it's so long, there's so much context to explain to a newcomer to the franchise and I find it very very fun to go off on tangents as you know 😅 feel free to leave me an essay on each of the persona characters as payback, I'll read it happily 😄 and thanks again for the ask!! Really made my day 💜

ok, as promised here's some pokemon gym leaders (and one Champion) for you to tell me about, plus their signature pokemon! if you recognize one or more of them that's fine, mixing the truth in makes for a better story 😁

(I may send another batch later with characters from another franchise huhuhu)

The ask games begin :3. I might not match your levels of hilarity BUT i will try my best~ (god bless our drunk-on-serotonin, 2am ideas) 1. On first impressions god this is the biggest emo, sleep-deprived edgelord I've had the pleasure of witnessing ^^ he probably must listen to prog rock in his free time too. He's either going to be horrible to the protagonist or terribly misunderstood; personally I want to root for this poor little meow meow and go terribly misunderstood. He lost too many pokemon battles as a kid and was bullied and now he is jaded </3. Which is why he has the big fluffy guy next to him! For emotional support cuddles! They are besties for life :D I think Mr. Trainer here should be called Bowie. As for his pokemon, it looks like either a hyena or a skunk to me. It's probably called a grimyena or something (sorry Dolphin ily) 2. She looks like Misty! But distinctly not </3. So, I propose this is Misty's sister, Stacey, who moved abroad on her own quest to become a pokemon champion :D. Judging by her friend, she likes all the cute pokemon, but probably also the normal types by the looks of it. A basic teenage girl, for the most part, scrappy and positive and probably all to eager to yell baka at any male teenage boys that challenge her. Her pokemon is distinctly a cow, I think Milkmin is fitting :) 3. He doesn't look very nice :(. Very stern and strict and probably scoffs at those with a very undeveloped team. It's clear he takes a lot of pride in what he does. However that is NOT a real charizard that I spot. It soft and round and actually cute, with a happy smile (he does all the smiling for the trainer, like a personal butler). But I was so frustrated with not being able to name what the not-charizard was that I just had to find out. It's a dragonite! I hope you are treated well and not abused by your (possibly evil) master, who I am deeming Mr. Rockfort. I hope Rockfort and Bowie get to go at it one day, I think that would be funny :3 Anyways here you go friend! I completed your challenge :D (with a guaranteed 16% accuracy I know it) Hope you enjoyed reading <3