[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hvl926r.png[/img][/center] [hr] [color=Purple][b]NAME:[/b][/color] Malik Harvey [color=Purple][b]AGE:[/b][/color] Twenty-seven years old. [color=Purple][b]GENDER:[/b][/color] Male [color=Purple][b]BIRTHPLACE:[/b][/color] Wedgehurst [color=Purple][b]OCCUPATION:[/b][/color] Minor League Gym Leader [i](current)[/i], Major League Gym Leader [i](former)[/i] Flying Taxi Cabbie / Postman [color=Purple][b]GYM TYPE:[/b][/color] Psychic [hider=Information][color=Purple][b]HAIR COLOR:[/b][/color] [color=Gold]Golden[/color] [color=Purple][b]EYE COLOR:[/b][/color] [color=PaleGoldenrod]Saffron[/color] [color=Purple][b]HEIGHT:[/b][/color] 6'0 [color=Purple][b]COMPLEXION:[/b][/color] Fair [color=Purple][b]BODY COMPOSITION:[/b][/color] Fit [color=Purple][b]OTHER:[/b][/color] Speaks with a Cockney accent.[/hider] [color=Purple][b]PERSONALITY:[/b][/color] Malik has always tried to maintain a lower profile despite what his reputation as a renowned Pokemon Trainer may suggest. He isn't necessarily meek or timid; rather, he exudes a calm and level-headed demeanor. With quiet confidence and swagger, he isn't one to boast his own victories; it's only the thrill of a real challenge that can ignite the true passion that lays dormant from having few worthy adversaries. He likes to mentor Gym Challengers and trainers across all levels of experience, sharing this dedication with his affinity and adoration for nurturing Pokemon. He is known as a reliable busybody among the higher authorities of the region, often undertaking responsibilities and running important errands for people such as the Pokemon Professor, Gym Leaders, and the Pokemon League, should they call on him. Malik likes to note this as a favor done for the petitioner, and always finishes by saying that he expects repayment of some kind in the future; whether he isn't being serious or always forgets about it is a mystery. But, adding to this, he is notoriously difficult to reach at times, even reported to be absent from his stadium during periods of scheduled challenges. It's rumored that Malik can communicate with Pokemon telepathically. [color=Purple][b]BIOGRAPHY[/b][/color] [hider=Childhood: The Dream]Malik Harvey hails from the quieter boondocks of the Galar Region, born and raised in a small homestead in Wedgehurst. He is one of six children in his humble family; his father is a former police officer who retired early to become a cabbie for the Galar Taxi company, while his mother is a model who owns the Wedgehurst Boutique Store. The previous generations of his family name were mostly small-time Pokemon Trainers who found little to no interest or success in the region's Gym Challenge, and in the boy's early years, it appeared that Malik would share that same lack of ambition. His parents were more pressed on raising hard-working, intelligent children that would grow up to oversee what they considered to be the more important matters of the world, and generally discouraged them from 'wasting time' with the adventurous life of a Pokemon Trainer. Malik and his siblings were always around Pokemon in their childhood, raising and working alongside them on their family's farmland. He was unaware that Pokemon were capable of battling against one another in an organized fashion until, at the age of nine, his oldest brother asked their parents to take them to the Motostoke Stadium to watch a Gym Challenge in person. The impressionable boy was captivated by the energy of the audience and the atmosphere created by the Dynamax phenomena, becoming fixated on the idea of becoming as strong of a Trainer as the Gym Leader was.[/hider] [hider=Teenager: Gym Challenger]Alongside his siblings, he would spend the next few years working up the favor of his parents, saving up his earned allowances and maintaining top marks in his education. By the eve of his fourteenth birthday, after a series of back and forth, the teenager managed to convince them with his resolve, earning the full cooperation of his father. In dedication to the latter, Malik initially specialized in Flying-type Pokemon when he began to focus on adjusting to the new life and venturing across the Galar region. He spent the next year preparing himself for the Gym Challenge, and after becoming a full-fledged trainer with some merit by the end, he earned an endorsement from the Galar Taxi Company with the help of his father. Unfortunately, while Malik had a natural affinity when it came to Pokemon, he and his Flying-types fell short of completing the Gym Challenge that year, mired with defeat before even scratching the surface of the Champion's Cup. He took the loss hard, contemplating on giving up on his dream before ultimately deciding to make another run in the next year to come. He spent much of the offseason in exploration, hoping to expand and strengthen his team further. During one of his Wild Area excursions by the Motostoke Riverbank, a strange voice broke into his mind, crying for help from the water below the bridge. He answered the plea without question, rescuing a Hatenna that had been drowning after accidentally stumbling into the river. Malik was confused as to how he'd heard the Hatenna's voice, but as the wild Pokemon sought to follow him after its rescue unlike any other instance, he decided to foster the small one as his own. Over time, he found himself growing more attached to the Hatenna, and strangely enough, he found himself encountering more and more Psychic-type Pokemon. He took this as a sign to shift his specialty away from Flying-types, and began to build up his team from square one. This would prove to be a wise decision, as his next two years of Gym Challenges proved to be largely successes. He claimed all eight badges both times with relative ease, only managing to falter in the semifinal rounds of the Champion's Cup. By eighteen years old, Malik was considered a favorite contender to win it all versus the Champion, now endorsed by the Motostoke Gym Leader that he'd watched as a kid. Though, he would be met with resistance in a lone competitor who had deemed him to be their rival. Throughout the Gym Challenge, he would suffer more losses than victory against them, but when their rivalry would come to a head during the Finals of the Champion's Cup, he managed a narrow victory against them. He sought to carry this momentum in full swing for the title match against the Champion, but was dealt a convincing defeat after only managing to knock out half of their team.[/hider] [hider=Adult: Gym Leader]Though Malik had fallen short of grasping the title for himself, his prowess had impressed the Champion so much that he was nominated to become the next Gym Leader of Motostoke City. He graciously accepted the unexpected offer, and would become known as one of the harder Gym Challenges that trainers would have to go through. He continued to partake in the Champion's Cup each year to try and snag the title, but in the end, he would always be thwarted by the Champion if he wasn't beaten in the previous rounds. Malik served as the Gym Leader of Motostoke City for a good seven years before suddenly announcing his intention to pass on the responsibility to another worthy candidate. He had the intention of opening up a Minor Gym in his hometown of Wedgehurst, receiving funds and approval from the [Rose Company placeholder]. He wanted to embolden the dreams and resolve of aspiring trainers instead of hinder them, opening his Minor League Gym on the hill that overlooked Wedgehurst. Its purpose aimed to mentor and hone Pokemon Trainers of all skill ranges, primarily for those without official endorsement for the traditional Major League Gym Challenge. Alongside his father, Malik also became a licensed Flying Taxi cabbie and postman, doing so as a hobby when he isn't preoccupied by other responsibilities. He did not partake in the Champion's Cup for those two years, opting to remain outside of the limelight despite the difficulty of not being recognized. He regularly ran errands and favors for the Gym Leaders and other important individuals, also occasionally finding the time to visit and explore other regions. But, now he's become directly involved once more after the disappearance of his old friend.[/hider] [hr] [hider=MAIN TEAM][center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_TPXbH7ee4[/youtube] [i]His personal team for the Champion's Cup and serious battles.[/i] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/196.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Espeon[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/475.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Gallade[/b] - Psychic / Fighting[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/579.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Reuniclus[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/376.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Metagross[/b] - Steel / Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/687.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Malamar[/b] - Dark / Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/858.png[/img][img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/858-gi.png[/img] [color=Purple][b](Gigantamax) Hatterene[/b] - Psychic / Fairy[/color][/center][/hider] [hider=BEGINNER TEAM][center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quYjN57Tycg[/youtube] [i]His Gym Challenge team versus beginner-level Pokemon Trainers with little experience / few to no badges.[/i] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/856.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Hatenna[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/281.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Kirlia[/b] - Psychic / Fairy[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/064.png[/img] [color=Purple][b](Dynamax) Kadabra[/b] - Psychic[/color][/center][/hider] [hider=INTERMEDIATE TEAM][center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quYjN57Tycg[/youtube] [i]His Gym Challenge team versus intermediate-level Pokemon Trainers with some experience / many or few badges.[/i] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/578.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Duosion[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/857.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Hattrem[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/561.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Sigilyph[/b] - Psychic / Flying[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/026-a.png[/img] [color=Purple][b](Dynamax) Alolan Raichu[/b] - Electric / Psychic[/color][/center][/hider] [hider=ADVANCED TEAM][center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5LyE9yq6os[/youtube] [i]His Gym Challenge team versus expert-level Pokemon Trainers with lots of experience / lots or many badges.[/i] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/437.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Bronzong[/b] - Steel / Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/078-g.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Galarian Rapidash[/b] - Psychic / Fairy[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/065.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Alakazam[/b] - Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/sunmoon/pokemon/655.png[/img] [color=Purple][b]Delphox[/b] - Fire / Psychic[/color] [img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/858.png[/img][img]https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/858-gi.png[/img] [color=Purple][b](Gigantamax) Hatterene[/b] - Psychic / Fairy[/color][/center][/hider] [color=Purple][b]RELATIONSHIPS:[/b][/color] Soon[sup]tm[/sup]