[hider=Asher Hughes] [img]https://www.nicepng.com/png/detail/242-2421274_pokemon-trainer-google-search-fire-type-pokemon-trainer.png[/img] [color=ed1c24][i]"Welcome to my burning pitch! I hope you're ready, because I'm lining up a clinical finish!"[/i][/color] [color=ed1c24]MAIN PROFILE [/color] [color=ed1c24]Name:[/color] Asher Hughes [color=ed1c24]Age:[/color] 27 [color=ed1c24]Gender:[/color] Male [color=ed1c24]Birthplace:[/color] Motostoke [color=ed1c24]Appearance Information:[/color] He stands at around 6'1 and has long black hair which he keeps tied back in a rough ponytail. Asher is typically seen running around the Galar region in his usual black and red attire. Being a man of activity, he prefers lightweight clothes or sweatpants; typically only donning a suit for official appearances. When it comes time to battle, Asher dons a Fire-Type gym uniform with his moniker "Searing Striker" written on the back. Asher has a fairly well-defined and athletic build due to his love of football. [color=ed1c24]Personality:[/color] Asher is the literal definition of a hothead. Once you get him going, it's usually near-impossible to make him stop or change direction. Asher's two main passions in life are Pokémon Battles, and perfecting his football game. If someone insults either of those things, it can cause him to burn up quickly. When outside the heat of battle, Asher carries a more relaxed and charismatic demeanor. He holds a dream of one day becoming champion and accomplishing the goal that his mentor could not. [color=ed1c24]Short Biography:[/color] Being a Motostoke native for all his life, Asher was bound to have a natural inclination for two things: Football and Fire-Type Pokémon. On his fifth birthday, Asher's dad took him and three of his friends to their first ever major-league Pokémon battle. It was there Asher first laid eyes on Kabu, the Motostoke gym leader. Asher and his friends were all blown away in awe when Kabu unleashed his trademark Centiferno and easily defeated his opponent. It was then and there Asher vowed he'd become a Pokémon trainer just like Kabu. Over the next several years, Asher would spend much of his time at the Motostoke Gym so he could watch his idol battle. He was one of - if not the only - fan who supported the gym leader when he willingly stepped down to the minor leagues. When he wasn't melting his brain in front of the TV watching battles, Asher would be found out on the streets playing football with his friends. His parents often joked that, if Asher didn't need to come home to eat and sleep, you'd think they didn't have a son at all! One evening, Asher discovered a sickly Scorbunny watching him and his friends play football in the street. The little rabbit had been poisoned by a Koffing's smog and was in need of help. Without thinking, Asher grabbed the Scorbunny and rushed home with it, demanding that his parents help him nurse it back to health. Knowing they couldn't change their son's mind, Asher's parents relented and the Scorbunny began to live with the Hughes, eventually becoming Asher's first Pokémon (Whom he nicknamed Taki after his favorite snack). Taki naturally adjusted to his new life, and even began to take part in Asher's obsession with becoming a top-tier trainer. When he turned sixteen, Asher finally got the opportunity of his dreams and was hired to work at Motostoke's gym. While he started out working in the locker rooms as a kit man, Asher's drive caught the attention of the higher ups and he was eventually allowed to try out for the Motostoke Team. As more time passed, a certain individual began to take notice of the promising young trainer: Asher's idol Kabu! Before he knew it, Asher soon found himself being trained by the gym leader in private sessions after work at the gym had concluded for the day. Under Kabu's tutelage, Asher quickly picked up many strategies for battling with Fire-type Pokémon. Kabu proved to be a capable but strict teacher. After training under Kabu for two years, Asher decided to put his training to good use and he entered the Gym Challenge. It took some doing, but he managed to earn all eight badges at the last minute and qualify for the Champion Cup. After a particularly grueling second round, Asher was left without half of his main team and was swiftly defeated in the quarter-finals. Despite Asher's initial anger at losing, Kabu expressed pride in his young pupil. During the finals, Asher was approached by a promoter from the Johto region. He was impressed with Asher's performance and wanted to offer him an invitation to join the Pokeathalon in Johto. Intrigued by the offer, Asher took the opportunity and rose to fame as the "Searing Striker" in the Pokathelon games for the next six years. While he enjoyed great success as an athlete, Asher found himself feeling homesick after being away for so long. When his contract with the Pokathelon expired, Asher shocked the world by turning down a lucrative renewal deal and went home. Upon returning to the Galar region, Asher was greeted with a shock of his own. Kabu had finally decided to reture from his position as gym leader, and had personally recommended Asher to fill the position! Though initially hesitant to fill his mentor's shoes, Asher's agent assured him he would still control his PR and keep the name Searing Striker as his own. Having held the position for four years now, the Searing Stiker has come to be known as a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Every day he's not battling, Asher can be found practicing football with his Pokémon or training them for the next Champion Cup. Deep down, he's never given up on his dream of becoming the champion of Galar. [color=ed1c24]Likes: [/color] - Kabu - Playing Football (and most other sports) - Extra Spicy Curry, usually with Precooked Burger or Instant Noodles - Comic Books - Sports Games - Exploring the Wild Area - Hatching Eggs with Mama (See Other Pokémon) [color=ed1c24]Dislikes: [/color] - People who insult Kabu - Cheaters - Boats (he gets seasick easily) - Getting Dressed Up - Laziness - Being Underestimated [color=ed1c24]Quirks: [/color] - Asher harbors an intense admiration for the former Fire-Type Gym Leader Kabu. When Motostoke unveiled plans to build a statue in honor of the retiring gym leader, Asher footed nearly a third of the overall bill. - When Asher gets excited or angry, his eyes glow red and his ponytail bursts into flames. When questioned, he simply explains that it's a reflection of his burning passion. He has never elaborated further. - Whenever Bob's Your Uncle unveils a new flavor of curry, Asher is usually one of the first people in line to try it. As of now, he holds the record for the most plates of Spicy Curry eaten in a single sitting. (His record sits at 18) - Being a footballer, Asher sometimes slips into using football slang in his everyday speech without thinking. To anyone who doesn't play, it sounds like he's speaking gibberish. [color=ed1c24]LEAGUE PROFILE [/color] Type Specialty: Fire League Ranking: Major League Placement: N/A Gym Location: N/A Gym Description: N/A [color=ed1c24]POKEMON[/color] [hider=League Team] [/hider] [hider=Main Team] [The team your character uses during the Champion's Cup. It should be your character's strongest team. Make sure to describe your Pokemon's name, appearance, and personality as you create your teams.] [b]Gigantimax[/b] Cinderace [b](Taki)[/b]: Asher's first-ever Pokémon. Taki serves as the 'big brother' of the team. Due to being around Asher the longest, Taki has picked up a few of Asher's odder quirks, such as his intense love for spicy food and general hyperactive personality. Taki also frequently practices football with Asher. Arcanine [b](Howler)[/b]: The cocky speed-demon of Asher's team, Howler prides himself on his running ability and has a rivalry with Taki. When not battling, Howler serves as a mount for Asher when traveling through the Wild Area. Talonflame [b](Poacher)[/b]: Poacher is the 'Maverick' of Asher's team. While he doesn't always follow orders perfectly, he consistently gets the job done which makes Asher keep him in the team rotation. However, this attitude puts him at odds with the more 'serious' members of the team such as Taki and Howler. Flareon [b](Booster)[/b]: A Pokémon that was hatched by Mama. The youngest team member, Booster has an immature streak and is still learning to control his newfound power as a Flareon. Looks up to Taki and Howler as role models. [i]Shiny[/i] Salazzle [b](Queen)[/b]: A Pokémon that was hatched by Mama. Queen is a textbook narcissist and often tries to get the male Pokemon on the team to fawn over her. However, this rarely happens as they all have other things they'd rather be doing. Turtonator [b](Anchor)[/b]: A prankster Pokémon, and a hidden ace on Asher's team. Anchor is a happy-go-lucky Turtonator who enjoys laying explosive droppings all over in the hopes that Asher or someone else will cause them to go boom. Despite his annoying side, Anchor secretly cares for his team members and has proven time and again to be a powerful ally in battle. [/hider] [hider=Benched Pokemon] Torkoal [b](Kabu)[/b]: The defensive wall of Asher's team. Asher gave it the nickname Kabu as a joke, thinking the Pokemon's squinty eyes reminded him of his mentor when deep in thought. Kabu often keeps to himself, choosing to nap and relax rather than go all-out in battle. Heatmor [b](Treble)[/b]: A standoffish Pokémon that doesn't respond well to training. Usually doesn't play well with team members so Asher benches him frequently. Centiskorch [b](Kelvin)[/b]: A weaker Pokémon who Asher typically saves for his gym team. Kelvin is friendly towards smaller Pokémon and human children, but doesn't have the same drive to get stronger as the rest of the tam. Prefers to keep things at his own pace. [/hider] [hider=Other] Coalossal [b](Mama)[/b]: A gentle female Coalossal who doesn't like to battle. Not wanting to force her to fight, Asher instead uses her Flame Body ability to quickly hatch eggs. Mama views all the Pokemon she hatches as her 'children' and will often fly into a rage if she sees a single one of them getting hurt. She is the 'mother' of Queen, King, Jack, and Booster. Two Salandits [b](Jack and King)[/b] - A pair of male Salandits that Mama hatched alongside Queen. Asher nicknamed them before learning that only female Salandits can evolve. Both of them are quite meek and do anything Queen orders them to. Rotom [b](Tommy)[/b]: A Rotom that Asher recovered from a Rotomi machine when its Pokémon Center was shut down. Lives in Asher's apartment and helps with the housework as thanks. Typically inhabits Asher's SmartWatch to keep him informed of his physical condition. [/hider] [color=ed1c24]RELATIONS[/color] [/hider]