WHAT HAS COME BEFORE…
Ash Ketchum, as we all know, started out at the tender age of ten on a quest to become a Pokémon Master, following in the footsteps of his father, Seth Ketchum. Partnered with a temperamental Pikachu who soon grew to be his closest and most trusted companion. Ash met his other lifelong friends along the way; Misty, a fiery redheaded water trainer with a tremendous temper, and Brock, a gentle and caring master of Rock Pokémon. Together, the three explored the adventures that Pokémon Island had to offer, learning more about themselves and the world around them with each encounter.
But, as with all journeys, Ash's finally came to an end after nearly four years on the road. He retired briefly to Pallet Town, venturing out occasionally to compete in tournaments or visit his friends in different cities. But sedentary life in Pallet quickly became dull to the thrill-seeking boy. An unseen force called out to him from across the ocean, bidding him out into the world. And so, with his trusted companions by his side, a fifteen-year-old Ash once again set out, this time crossing the globe on a quest to do what no trainer had ever done before; collect a badge from every Pokémon Gym on the planet.
The first year of his global journey was quite eventful. He learned of Team Rocket's true master, Alfred Giovanni, and became a personal target for the crime lord. On a side trip to the village of Machu Pachu, he captured a youthful incarnation of the legendary bird of ice, Articuno. But most important to the tale, Ash had a near-death experience that brought him into contact with a mystic and benevolent being he later came to know as the Pokégoddess. She imparted to Ash cryptic warnings of the apocalypse, and his role in what could be the final hours of the Earth. Ash left the experience whole again, but with a sense of impending dread he couldn't rationalize.
Later, Ash discovered that he was not the only one called upon by the Goddess. Two others had received her call: Richard Pryde, a friend/rival Ash had met during his first Indigo Games, and Giselle Narcissa, an arrogant young beauty determined to shine brighter than anyone else. They too had captured legendary birds, which was apparently the initial test to determine their worthiness. The next test was far more difficult; facing off against the dark demon Missingno, one of the ancient Children of Darkness prophesized in old Pokémopolitan texts. Richard lost his mind to the demon, and Giselle's pride was mortally wounded as Ash proved himself the true chosen, driving off the demon and exerting control over the Demon Ball that had once held it.
Unconsciously uncomfortable with his new role as global protector, Ash set off on a new quest, this time to the continental United States. While collecting badges, he also aided a young woman by the name of Dixon Mason in finding her late grandfather's lost and scattered works, the Hidden Machines. During this time, he also became a target for Team Rocket's elite assassin squad, the Omega Red. With the help of his friends, old and new, Ash successfully collected the HMs, the badges, and avoided being killed.
At the end of his American journey, Ash was pitted against Exile, another of the Children of Darkness whose body was living rock. During the battle, an untapped source of primal power was awakened in Ash, though he has little memory of the event, and is unable to reproduce its incredible effects. With these powers and the help of the Hidden Machines, Ash defeated Exile, containing the creature in its Demon Ball.
But the battle had a terrible price; Misty was mortally wounded. To save her, Ash struck a deal with the Pokégoddess; he agreed to fuse his life force with the remainder of hers, thus preserving her life. The desperate act worked, but came with an odd price tag; Ash and Misty are bonded in ways neither of them truly fathom. Ash has kept silent about the miraculous deal, afraid to reveal it to Misty.
A call from a partially-recovered Richard drew Ash and Company back to the Island. There, he was confronted by Giselle, who had been chasing after Missingno the entire year Ash had been away. She accused Ash of shirking his duties, to which he had no reply. Teaming up, they set out to capture Missingno, who was terrorizing the Pallet Town area. In the end, it became apparent that Missingno was controlling Giselle and in possession of her soul. The demon gained control of several other of his loved ones, amassing so much power as to construct a soul of his own. Missingno was defeated by Ash when the Disciple stepped up to the plate and somehow added his power to Pikachu's, creating a Flash effect that destroyed the demon's body and restored the souls of his friends and family. But again, there was a terrible price; Richard's spine was broken, rendering him paralyzed from the waist down.
Determined to accept his destiny, Ash left his home and his friends behind, setting out with a mysterious mercenary known only as Solo. It has been two years since that fateful night in Pallet Town, and once again, destiny has caught up to our hero.
Ashlan Terrance Ketchum
Born in Pallet Town to Seth and Delia Ketchum, Ash was always the adventurous type. He was never content to sit on the sidelines and watch, but instead jumped right into the thick of things at the first possible opportunity. What he lacks in skill he makes up for in pure determination, refusing to give up no matter how bleak the situation appears. Often rash and impulsive, his recklessness has been tempered somewhat, partially thanks to sobering situations of planetary importance, and partially thanks to the constant nagging of his surrogate family of Misty and Brock.
Ash has been selected by the Pokégoddess, an ethereal being that watches over the Earth realm, as her Disciple, a warrior for peace and the helpless. As such, he possesses powers even he doesn't understand yet, including a strange energy-projection ability he employed during a battle with Exile in Snowfort, Alaska that he doesn't clearly remember and can't reproduce. However, under the tutelage of Solo, Ash has mastered the powers inherent to the generations of Disciples that came before him; the ability to Soul-Link with a Pokémon, immediately creating a sense of understanding that many trainers will never know with their partners. In times of extreme duress, a Disciple can actually transfer a portion of his soul/life essence into his Pokémon, giving it an increase in power and strength that has yet to find its limits.
Ash's standard team consists of Pikachu, Charizard, Pidgeot, Wartortle, and Ivysaur.
Mysterious Waterflower
Misty (never call her 'Mysterious' unless you've lost the will to live) comes from Cerulean City, and is the youngest of four daughters, all Pokémon trainers, all beautiful. However, because of her status as a late bloomer, Misty has been and always will be considered the runt of the family by her siblings. That being the case, she spends as little time at home as possible, preferring the life on the road with Ash.
A talented trainer of twenty-one, Misty is sometimes prone to violent outbursts. Her red hair and Irish temper often provide answers where words will not do, earning her a healthy sense of respect and fear from those that know her. To her dearest friends, however, she is a trusted and valued ally, invaluable both in and out of battle. She's quick to smile, and even quicker to point out all of Ash's mistakes. Don't let that fool you, though; she's always had a soft spot for Ash, and their on-again-off-again romance has even the most level-headed and capable of individuals baffled.
Misty's standard team consists of Togetic, Staryu, Starmie, Poliwrath, Golduck, and Kingdra.
Brock Stone
Hailing from Pewter City, an old mining town famous for its rocks, Brock is the former local Gym leader and a self-proclaimed ladies' man. Flourishing in the world outside of his house and away from his multitude of brothers and sisters, an opportunity afforded to him thanks to his father's timely return, Brock has grown into a strong and confident man in his early twenties.
Though powerful in body and as a trainer, Brock remains a gentle, almost maternal force, and is the glue that binds the rest of his adopted family together. He often acts as big brother and peacekeeper to and between Ash and Misty, offering advice and preventing the pair from killing each other. Brock has yet to win the heart of a single Jenny or Joy, though he's come close on a few occasions. If only he wouldn't trip over his own tongue whenever they came near…
Brock's standard team consists of Golem, Onix, Geodude, Pineco, Crobat and Ninetails.
Professor Samuel Oak
A wise old sage in his early sixties, Professor Oak has acted as father and mentor to Ash since the boy's father disappeared over ten years ago. He owns and operates an independent lab just outside of Pallet Town's borders, and is rumored to own several other financial investments that amount to quite the pretty penny. Despite this, the old man can't even bring himself to buy a new lab coat. He's always good for free advice, though, and always, always seems to know more than he's letting on. In all the years Ash has know Professor Oak, he can count the number of times he's seen the old man surprised on one hand.
Solo
Not much is known about the enigmatic man known as Solo. Even his features are a mystery, hidden behind a mask of pure black. He's wanted by a number of international law enforcement agencies on vague vigilante charges, but on the whole seems to be a responsible individual bent on protecting the innocent. He has appeared to Ash on a few occasions, never helping directly but always offering advice. Ash spent a year traveling with Solo, learning the secrets of the Disciple from the unlikely mentor. Though seemingly benevolent, it is not clear just who Solo works for, if anyone at all.
Garret Oak
The grandson of the legendary Professor Oak, Gary has made a name for himself as a world-class trainer. He was recently involved in a scandal surrounding his victory over Ash Ketchum at a previous Indigo tournament in which he became League Champion. Gary exposed himself willingly and renounced his title, setting out to do something better with his life. In the two years following, Gary has traveled the world, seeking some way to help Ash and make reparations for his past sins.
Alfred Giovanni
The shadowy head of Team Rocket, Giovanni spends his days masquerading as a legitimate business titan, and his nights plotting his eventual conquest of the realm of man. His interest in Ash Ketchum has piqued over the years, culminating in the demonstration of power he witnessed in a video of the Battle of Snowfort. Relentless and cunning, Giovanni is capable of planning moves years in advance. Some of those very moves may be coming to fruition as we speak…er, read. Whatever.
Jessica Queens
An agent of the nefarious Team Rocket, Jessie has been one of Ash's nemeses for nearly a decade. She possesses radiant beauty, sharp intelligence, and a temper to match Misty's. Jessie's life has been dominated by failure and humiliation, from her humble and penniless childhood beginnings right up to her dismal career as a villain. But true to her malevolent nature, Jessie has yet to give up on her dreams of glory and power.
James Mountebanks
Jessie's longtime partner, James gave up a life of privilege to fight for Team Rocket. And like Jessie, he's gotten nothing but pain and humiliation out of it. His only assets now are his charming good looks, an impressive collection of bottle caps, and the ability to produce a rose seemingly from nowhere. He and Jessie are also accomplished disguise artists, trained by Master Psi of Omega Red himself. However, they lack the subtlety to fully blend in to their surroundings, and often give themselves away with garish costumes and ridiculous covers.
Meowth
One of the few non-demonic, non-destructive Pokémon possessing the ability to speak English (or Japanese, or Islander, whichever suits his needs), Meowth is one impressive Pokémon…provided you don't actually need him in a fight. He's been swindling, conniving, and tricking his way through life, trying to come out as "Top Cat," but has yet to succeed. Nothing is ever his fault; it's always been Jessie and James that hold him back from becoming a creature of true magnificence, rather than just a two-bit hood.