Application
• player •
Name/Alias: Jen
LJ: ennie03
Contact Info:
→ e-mail: j.ennie.k03[at]hotmail.com
→ AIM: melodized
Previous Characters: flowerangela | Erika
• canon character •
Name: Cheren
Age: 19 [18?]
Hometown/Region: Nuvema Town/Unova
Class: Pokemon Trainer
Team:
→ Emboar ♂ Blaze
→ Liepard ♂ Unburden
→ Simisage ♂ Gluttony
→ Unfezant ♂ Super Luck
→ Gigalith ♂ Sturdy
→ Haxorus ♂ Rivalry
History:
[[Note: The main parts of the game's history will still remain vague (as I possibly could put it) until everything's set in stone. It's been somewhat agreed that the four (Cheren, Bianca, Hilbert, Hilda) would be childhood friends from an early age, but I'm willing to change things.
Also, I tried to keep the childhood vague as well, because I haven't really talked anything out with everyone else. When the time comes, edits will happen!]]
When Cheren was a child, he didn't know why everyone else his age had problem was with books, because it wasn't like they got your clothes dirty, put you in any danger, or got you in to trouble. Instead, they gave you all the knowledge in the world to fulfill your goals with.
He was born in Nuvema, a small, quiet town on the south-east edge of Unova. There was nothing was special about his family - a mother and a father, with him as an only child, but Cheren's goal was clear from the beginning: becoming the Pokemon League champion of Unova. It wasn't rare for the boy to lay down on his bed, a stack of books beside him on the bedside table, staring up at the ceiling as he thought of all the cool battles that would take place in his trip around the region, and then what would happen when he became the champion. He could almost hear the words: "And introducing, the new champion of Unova, Cheren!". However, it didn't take long before he realized that there were technical aspects to it - he wasn't going to get strong pokemon as a gift for his 16th birthday, he was going to have to train them himself. Hence began his studious life of pouring over every single Pokemon book he could get his hands on, finding out all he can about pokemon - their types, their strengths, their weaknesses, even down to where they inhabited themselves in.
Being so caught up in his quest to become a champion - or the preparation for it, really - Cheren wasn't the type to go outside to play with kids his own age. Instead, his daily routine usually involved a book and his room, or a book and his backyard when his mother wanted him to 'get some fresh air'. The only exception to his routine was to go play with his three friends, Bianca, Hilda and Hilbert. Of course, he didn't seem no where as enthusiastic about it as the other three when it came to running outside, but he still enjoyed their company, and did consider them close friends. Best friends, even. At one point, in some part of his head, Cheren declared that if he was going to become a champion, his friends would be the best people to be rivals with, and ultimately start his adventure with.
Few years down the road, who knew that what he wished would come true? He could believe that he would be going on the journey he awaited for, he just found it unbelievable that his friends would be here, right beside him, as they all took steps outside the town they knew. Complete with the Pokedex he longed to have since an early age, and a starter from Professor Juniper (not to mention an Xtransceiver). It was just like he had planned it to be, and no matter what anyone said he was going to make the best of it, becoming the strongest there ever was. Of course, as trainers, they were all starting on the same foot, but there will come a day where he come up on top. With these dreams in mind, Cheren began his first adventure through the Unova region.
He wasn't sure where it began, but his original, a-walk-in-the-park journey was all of a sudden no where to be seen. It began with the shady figures that began to convince people to let their pokemon free, then came the battles with his friend-now-rival that he could never win against. They had the same number of badges, and their Pokemon were roughly similar in strength - his maybe even stronger; his starter even had the type advantage against the Snivy from the very beginning, too! So why couldn't he win? There was nothing wrong with his team - on the contrary, his battles against the gyms were almost a piece of cake - so what was the problem? Was his friend really stronger than he was? Even without all the knowledge he had collected over the years? After all, he had to continuously help the other two out in various situations - battling alongside his friends against Team Plasma, rescuing Bianca's Munna from the said villains, handing them berries in case they were ever in need of them... For once in his life, he didn't understand.
The biggest turning point in his life, although Cheren wasn't aware of it at the time, was when he had lost, again, against his friend after receiving the Bolt Badge. When the man named Alder approached him, his fantasies of a dignified, proper champion was shattered in to bits. How could a person who was of such high standing walk around the streets, pretending that he was a nobody? Another blow to Cheren's already confused mind struck when he was asked the question "What are you going to do after you become powerful?" Slowly, and unconsciously, the teen began to question the goals he had built his whole life around - was there a reason to become strong, without achieving the title of a champion? What would happen even if he did become the champion? What was he going to do?
Even while going through the Cold Storage to find the missing Plasma villains, Cheren, although he didn't act like it, was contemplating the same question in his head over and over again. The answer didn't seem to be anywhere near him, and yes, it did frustrate him. He also knew that books weren't going to help him out this time, since it was a question he had to figure out on his own. He pondered on the thought constantly until he met Alder once again in front of Twist Mountain, where he had lost again against his friend, despite winning the Jet Badge as well. So far, all he knew that was he needed to become strong so that others would acknowledge his power, and that his new found power would be what he had been looking for ever since he was little. Maybe, he thought to himself, maybe if he conquered the Pokemon League, he would be able to find the answer he was looking for. It would be like killing two birds with one stone, as he would be able to achieve his dream, and find the answer to the question that bothered him.
However, the answer he had been looking for didn't appear out of the blue, and it certainly came before he even reached the final gym. Instead, it came to him naturally; he saw it when he was battling the grunts for his friend to move on in the Dragonspiral Tower. He then saw it again when they accepted the fate of the 'other hero', and standing up against N and the rest of Team Plasma. At the same time, a childish side of him couldn't help but be glad that no matter where this crazy journey brought them, they still had the same bond they shared when starting the adventure - as proved when the three met up in Icirrus. Slowly, Cheren finally came to the realization that he didn't become strong in order to be the champion, and at the same time, being the champion wasn't an indication of true power. Becoming the champion wasn't going to set anything in stone. Instead, 'being strong' was a process he needed to work on all throughout his life, and when (and if) he ever reached the point he wanted to get to, he understood that the power would be used to help others - both human and Pokemon alike. He knew that Pokemon allowed him to grow, just like how he had trained his Pokemon. At times, he just needed to relax a little more, and just enjoy the ride.
Right before making his way to Victory Road, Cheren ran into Bianca. It was obvious that she had the same sort of thought that he did, and they both caught up to their friend on route 10. Just one last battle to make sure that no one was unprepared, although he knew it was unnecessary - he trusted his friend and Alder to protect what they believed in. However, Cheren and Bianca also split up at this time. It was his goal from the beginning to challenge the Pokemon League and end up the champion, and although the latter would not likely happen, he still wanted to see how strong he had gotten. Get rid of that one last nagging piece of mind before he really knew what he was doing. So after healing his Pokemon, he set himself for Victory Road, where as Bianca had said something about 'finding all the help she could get'.
By the time he had made it through Victory Road, he had learned that his friend was already challenging the League. He followed just a few steps after, beating the Elite Four and entering the depths of the mountain, arriving to see that Alder had indeed been beaten by N. Cheren immediately understood that going headfirst after N wasn't going to help the situation. Therefore, he stayed behind with Alder, assuring his friend that everything will be alright here, as he desperately hoped that everything will turn out okay and no one would be harmed. Once things began to take care of themselves in the League, Alder and Cheren quickly made their way inside the castle as well, arriving to the scene just as Ghetsis, much to everyone's surprise, had admitted his original plans of 'taking over the world'. Still, the only choice he had was to give his friend all the support the team needed, as he watched his best friend battle the most dangerous man in the region, and come out the winner.
As Cheren and Alder was about to hand Ghetsis over to the authorities, the Shadow Triad interfered the very last minute, allowing the man to escape. However, it was unlikely that he would start up any trouble soon, and the worst part was over. Everyone was safe, and all was well. He had done his part, just like Bianca had done her part, and just like how their friend had done their part. Allowing himself to feel accomplished for coming so far on his journey, he made his return to his hometown with the same friends that were there from the very beginning. It was like nothing had changed between them, and they were able to talk of their dreams and hopes once again. It was true that they had all changed, and that their goals were much different from each other, but the bond between them hadn't changed one bit. The other two spoke of their own plans; for Cheren, his second journey would be another adventure throughout Unova.
Since he had already challenged the league the first time, there was no need to go through the process the second time. Maybe it was because of the fact that he no longer was so hung up about training his Pokemon - there also was no evil organization to protect anyone from - but he did discover things he failed to see before. He visited the small cafe in Nacrene city, tried the Castelicone (sp?), rode the Ferris wheel, battled a few trainers along the road (he couldn't bear slacking off on his training) and of course, he did catch the occasional pokemon to fill up his Pokedex. He did discover things he had yet to see, and although they weren't exactly what he had meant in the beginning, it still counted, right?
Once he completely circled around the Unova region, Cheren wondered what he could do now, as he spent a few days back in his home. Going around the same place over and over again wasn't going to help him in anyway, no matter how many different things he discovered. So he took the next option - traveling to a different region. This was going to be an exhausting journey, yes, but once he had made up his mind and destination - Sinnoh - he was already on the SS Anne, with his team of six Pokemon, staring his third journey.
Sinnoh wasn't like anything Cheren had expected, despite the research he had done beforehand. For one, Sinnoh's nights were much colder than Unova's and even with Emboar by his side to warm him up, he was never fond of the cold. Starting in Canalvalve City (where he already spent days in the library reading about all sorts of myths, legends and who knows what else), he began to travel. He didn't take the league challenge, deciding that he'll travel throughout the region and get a better sense of it; the cold was already one thing he didn't expect, so who knows what else would pop up and surprise him? His journey throughout Sinnoh was similar to his second journey in Unova - without a league to battle, Cheren had a bit more freedom. He caught new Pokemon even the Bidoof, because as much as he didn't like it, he needed to complete his Pokedex, battled trainers, but at the same time, he also visited Amity Square, watched a Pokemon Contest, got to see the Snowpoint temple, and even visited the flower shop in Floroma Town. Each night usually involved Emboar lighting a fire, usually dying by the next morning.
Even through the bitter cold, he somehow made it through, his final stop being Sunyshore City. If the journey did change his mind about one thing, it was taking the league challenge right away. Of course, he would come back a later day and actually fight the gym leaders and the Pokemon League, but he decided that he wasn't going to go through the cold twice one right after the other. Making a long (and cold) travel back to Canalvalve City, (he quickly stopped by Twinleaf Town though, because he had heard that a trainer born there saved the world and became the League Champion, much like someone he knew), Cheren climbed aboard on to the SS Anne, and returned to his home region, where nothing threatened his fingers from freezing over.
Now back in Nuvema Town, Cheren had a curious package waiting for him - the PNG. It definitely wasn't like the Xtransceiver, considering that it allowed him to connect with someone all the way over in Sinnoh... Maybe even further? He's already stayed up the whole night reading the instruction booklet, and he can't wait to try it out. Maybe now, he'll be able to fill up his National Pokedex just like Professor Juniper wanted him to.
Thus begins his fourth journey.
Personality:
Cheren has matured more from his serious self since he first began his adventure throughout Unova, but a lot has still stayed the same. For one, he has a reason to become strong - protecting those who are weak with this power. However, he understands that strength and power isn't all that there is to becoming a trainer, and the three years leading up his current self has allowed him to acknowledge that even further. He has also become somewhat humble barely, and he knows that there will always be a new goal to attain, no matter how strong he gets. As always, he is working hard, but instead of relying on pure strategy, the trainer has also slowly begun to rely on his Pokemon and lean on his instincts at times. Of course, he's still having a hard time venturing off from the solid ground he knows - where he's able to test strategies before using them in an official league battle (ie. the battle he had with Whitlea/Blair/Hilda/Hilbert in the Pokemon school in Striaton City) - taking last-minute chances and leaps of faith, but he's learning.
This obviously indicates that Cheren is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Pokemon in general, and likes to live his life more fact-based than emotion-based. He doesn't know what N's problem is with Pokedexes. They're definitely useful when you see new pokemon you've never seen before, and 'listening to their voices' isn't going to help you find anything about them. Outside of Pokemon, Cheren's knowledgeable in general. That being said, as long as the topic interests him, he'll go out at lengths to find out more. At the same time, he is extremely confident about the knowledge he already has. Although he understands that knowledge isn't all power, what he knows is what he knows, and what he knows is the truth. He'll jump at any opportunity to share this knowledge with everyone else, - yes, he is a bit of a know-it-all. (ie. "Well, not only does Black City have trainers you could battle, you can also encounter new pokemon that haven't been native to the Unova region as of recently, such as blahblahblah")
Although a lot has changed, Cheren's still stubborn. He is skeptical with things that don't fall in line with his point of view, and even disbelieving with information that completely clashes with his own. His own knowledge, and the confidence that comes from it also makes him a rather proud person, and he's not quick to admit defeat. He's not afraid to come back and try again after his failures (which he refuses to admit), until the point he succeeds. Not exactly a sore loser, but he doesn't let go of things like this easily. Once he has a goal set in mind, he wants to accomplish it and come out on top.
Despite all this, the boy does care about his friends, although he may not be the first to show it. He's not reluctant to lend a helping hand or give advice to them, although it can be drier than what others would usually expect. Cheren understands when someone needs help, and he will help out, although the degrees of his 'aid' differ on how well he knows the person. At the same time, he may be slower to realize his own need himself, and even slower to ask for aid. He's terribly independent, and unless the situation calls to the extreme, he'll have a hard time accepting help.
However, one thing that hasn't changed in Cheren is his impatience, and his bluntness. Yes, it has toned down a bit, but not very much. If something about you is dragging him down in any sort of way or if you're doing anything wrong, he won't hesitate you let you know - and bluntly at that. Also, if he's being bothered with things he doesn't really care about, he'll just tell you stop wasting his time. It doesn't really matter if you're his friend either. He may be a little patient with you in other aspects, but when it comes to slowing him down, he shows no mercy - at least his friends understand (or has come to reluctantly accept that) this is how the teen is. To everyone else, this earns him quite a few disapproving looks and even enemies at times, but he's not going to make an attempt to change it. Chances are he'll just scoff at any insults thrown at him, unless it's something that really pinches a nerve. Then he won't hesitate to fight back, whether it be through words or Pokemon battles - he's never been the one for a fist fight.
Sample I:
• You are dead last on the Trainer Rankings list.
[The screen lights up, to reveal a rather ticked-off looking Cheren, almost angry. Behind him, Haxorus seems to be unsure how to comfort his trainer] I can't believe this! [Brings his hands across his chest, eyebrows furrowed. He's not happy at all] This has to be some sort of error. It's just not possible that I could be last on that ranking list! [Pauses for a moment, bringing his thoughts together, taking a breath. Why is this so frustrating.] I have all eight badges from Unova, and I've battled the Elite Four - and won. That has to count for something. I mean, some trainers don't even have a badge! [Tilts his head slightly, his hand on his chin now, as if he's thinking. He's slightly calmer now] Even if that doesn't put me to first, it's impossible for me to be last! Right, Haxorus? [Cheren turns to Haxorus, and the pokemon seems to be caught off guard, but nods all the same. Unfortunately, that just gets Cheren fired up again.] Exactly. This is definitely some sort of error in the system. What are they even basing these rankings on? It's supposed to show powerful you and your team are, and if that's the case, I shouldn't be on the bottom of that list! I'm not the best - I know that, but I'm definitely not the worst.
[Well, now that that's out of his system] ...I should speak with the administrators, I'm not being productive just standing here and complaining. [Gives a soft sigh, letting a silence drag on for a moment, before speaking up again, determined] I'm going to go reason with them. They're being careless, and it's affecting the rest of us. They should know better than to leave such things unattended. [Reaches for the PNG, while still speaking, but softer. You can just barely make out the last bit, though] ---I doubt I'm the only one having this issue, anyway. Let's go, Haxorus. [And the feed shuts off]
Sample II:
• A Pokémon, wild, tamed, or one of your own, has a crush on you and refuses to leave you alone.
"I told you," Cheren was staring at the Pokemon in front of him that seemed so keen to catch his attention. How many times has he seen this thing today, anyway? "I don't need another Cottonee for my Pokedex. Besides, I already have a grass type on my team, and I'm not about to replace my Simisage with anyone else." He shook his head, face set in a slightly annoyed frown, fixing his bag and walking away from the pokemon, before a small warning. "Don't follow me again, understand?" He wanted to get out of the forest quickly; the Cottonee had been at his side - without breaks - starting the mid-point of his training session, much to his displeasure. Lingering around wasn't going to do any good.
As he walked through the forest, the Cottonee seemed to have stopped following him - finally; a relieved sigh escaped the trainer's lips. Cheren mused on the idea of training for another thirty minutes before getting back in to the city, since there wouldn't be anything to distract him, now. He casually moved his hands to his belt, where his Pokemon were resting - he had been wanting to teach Unfezant a new move for a while. Maybe it would be the perfect time----
However, it wasn't long before Cheren realized he was being followed by someone - something? He got the sinking feeling he knew who it was, though. Unfortunately, these sinking feelings usually proved to be right. Coming to a sudden halt, he turned around.
"You again?"
His worries were proven to be right. It was the same Cottonee that showed up a few moments ago, and it seemed to bounce a little higher once the pokemon realized it (she? It seemed like a 'she') was seen by Cheren, chirping happily as if that was sure to win him over. The black haired trainer sighed, scratching the back of his neck, the frown back on his face - "Honestly... It's almost as if you want to irritate me." The Pokemon paid no attention though, simply moving a little closer to Cheren, looking up to the boy with those eyes. It had no affect on the trainer, as he simply looked troubled, again. Why won't the Pokemon just leave him alone? The last thing he needed was another pokeball wasted on a Cottonee he caught near the beginning of his journey. "I told you, go away."
Not getting the (rather obvious) hint, she had begun cuddling the bottom of Cheren's leg. He might as well just get it over with. After a loud, frustrated mix between a groan and a sigh, he reached in his bag for a Nest Ball - Cottonee would be knocked out as soon as one of his pokemon tried attacking it, and judging from her actions, she would probably want to be caught. No intense throw as the pokeball opened, as the familiar red light enveloped her, and closed once again. One... Two... Three... The pokeball came to a halt, just as he expected - nothing new there. Crouching over to his newly-caught Cottonee, he picked the pokeball up from the ground, dusting it quickly before bringing it up to his eye-level and speaking directly at it.
"I'll have to figure out what to do with you once we reach the city. I suggest you don't get your hopes up, though." Maybe his mom would want a new Pokemon around the house.
Name/Alias: Jen
LJ: ennie03
Contact Info:
→ e-mail: j.ennie.k03[at]hotmail.com
→ AIM: melodized
Previous Characters: flowerangela | Erika
• canon character •
Name: Cheren
Age: 19 [18?]
Hometown/Region: Nuvema Town/Unova
Class: Pokemon Trainer
Team:
→ Emboar ♂ Blaze
→ Liepard ♂ Unburden
→ Simisage ♂ Gluttony
→ Unfezant ♂ Super Luck
→ Gigalith ♂ Sturdy
→ Haxorus ♂ Rivalry
History:
[[Note: The main parts of the game's history will still remain vague (as I possibly could put it) until everything's set in stone. It's been somewhat agreed that the four (Cheren, Bianca, Hilbert, Hilda) would be childhood friends from an early age, but I'm willing to change things.
Also, I tried to keep the childhood vague as well, because I haven't really talked anything out with everyone else. When the time comes, edits will happen!]]
When Cheren was a child, he didn't know why everyone else his age had problem was with books, because it wasn't like they got your clothes dirty, put you in any danger, or got you in to trouble. Instead, they gave you all the knowledge in the world to fulfill your goals with.
He was born in Nuvema, a small, quiet town on the south-east edge of Unova. There was nothing was special about his family - a mother and a father, with him as an only child, but Cheren's goal was clear from the beginning: becoming the Pokemon League champion of Unova. It wasn't rare for the boy to lay down on his bed, a stack of books beside him on the bedside table, staring up at the ceiling as he thought of all the cool battles that would take place in his trip around the region, and then what would happen when he became the champion. He could almost hear the words: "And introducing, the new champion of Unova, Cheren!". However, it didn't take long before he realized that there were technical aspects to it - he wasn't going to get strong pokemon as a gift for his 16th birthday, he was going to have to train them himself. Hence began his studious life of pouring over every single Pokemon book he could get his hands on, finding out all he can about pokemon - their types, their strengths, their weaknesses, even down to where they inhabited themselves in.
Being so caught up in his quest to become a champion - or the preparation for it, really - Cheren wasn't the type to go outside to play with kids his own age. Instead, his daily routine usually involved a book and his room, or a book and his backyard when his mother wanted him to 'get some fresh air'. The only exception to his routine was to go play with his three friends, Bianca, Hilda and Hilbert. Of course, he didn't seem no where as enthusiastic about it as the other three when it came to running outside, but he still enjoyed their company, and did consider them close friends. Best friends, even. At one point, in some part of his head, Cheren declared that if he was going to become a champion, his friends would be the best people to be rivals with, and ultimately start his adventure with.
Few years down the road, who knew that what he wished would come true? He could believe that he would be going on the journey he awaited for, he just found it unbelievable that his friends would be here, right beside him, as they all took steps outside the town they knew. Complete with the Pokedex he longed to have since an early age, and a starter from Professor Juniper (not to mention an Xtransceiver). It was just like he had planned it to be, and no matter what anyone said he was going to make the best of it, becoming the strongest there ever was. Of course, as trainers, they were all starting on the same foot, but there will come a day where he come up on top. With these dreams in mind, Cheren began his first adventure through the Unova region.
He wasn't sure where it began, but his original, a-walk-in-the-park journey was all of a sudden no where to be seen. It began with the shady figures that began to convince people to let their pokemon free, then came the battles with his friend-now-rival that he could never win against. They had the same number of badges, and their Pokemon were roughly similar in strength - his maybe even stronger; his starter even had the type advantage against the Snivy from the very beginning, too! So why couldn't he win? There was nothing wrong with his team - on the contrary, his battles against the gyms were almost a piece of cake - so what was the problem? Was his friend really stronger than he was? Even without all the knowledge he had collected over the years? After all, he had to continuously help the other two out in various situations - battling alongside his friends against Team Plasma, rescuing Bianca's Munna from the said villains, handing them berries in case they were ever in need of them... For once in his life, he didn't understand.
The biggest turning point in his life, although Cheren wasn't aware of it at the time, was when he had lost, again, against his friend after receiving the Bolt Badge. When the man named Alder approached him, his fantasies of a dignified, proper champion was shattered in to bits. How could a person who was of such high standing walk around the streets, pretending that he was a nobody? Another blow to Cheren's already confused mind struck when he was asked the question "What are you going to do after you become powerful?" Slowly, and unconsciously, the teen began to question the goals he had built his whole life around - was there a reason to become strong, without achieving the title of a champion? What would happen even if he did become the champion? What was he going to do?
Even while going through the Cold Storage to find the missing Plasma villains, Cheren, although he didn't act like it, was contemplating the same question in his head over and over again. The answer didn't seem to be anywhere near him, and yes, it did frustrate him. He also knew that books weren't going to help him out this time, since it was a question he had to figure out on his own. He pondered on the thought constantly until he met Alder once again in front of Twist Mountain, where he had lost again against his friend, despite winning the Jet Badge as well. So far, all he knew that was he needed to become strong so that others would acknowledge his power, and that his new found power would be what he had been looking for ever since he was little. Maybe, he thought to himself, maybe if he conquered the Pokemon League, he would be able to find the answer he was looking for. It would be like killing two birds with one stone, as he would be able to achieve his dream, and find the answer to the question that bothered him.
However, the answer he had been looking for didn't appear out of the blue, and it certainly came before he even reached the final gym. Instead, it came to him naturally; he saw it when he was battling the grunts for his friend to move on in the Dragonspiral Tower. He then saw it again when they accepted the fate of the 'other hero', and standing up against N and the rest of Team Plasma. At the same time, a childish side of him couldn't help but be glad that no matter where this crazy journey brought them, they still had the same bond they shared when starting the adventure - as proved when the three met up in Icirrus. Slowly, Cheren finally came to the realization that he didn't become strong in order to be the champion, and at the same time, being the champion wasn't an indication of true power. Becoming the champion wasn't going to set anything in stone. Instead, 'being strong' was a process he needed to work on all throughout his life, and when (and if) he ever reached the point he wanted to get to, he understood that the power would be used to help others - both human and Pokemon alike. He knew that Pokemon allowed him to grow, just like how he had trained his Pokemon. At times, he just needed to relax a little more, and just enjoy the ride.
Right before making his way to Victory Road, Cheren ran into Bianca. It was obvious that she had the same sort of thought that he did, and they both caught up to their friend on route 10. Just one last battle to make sure that no one was unprepared, although he knew it was unnecessary - he trusted his friend and Alder to protect what they believed in. However, Cheren and Bianca also split up at this time. It was his goal from the beginning to challenge the Pokemon League and end up the champion, and although the latter would not likely happen, he still wanted to see how strong he had gotten. Get rid of that one last nagging piece of mind before he really knew what he was doing. So after healing his Pokemon, he set himself for Victory Road, where as Bianca had said something about 'finding all the help she could get'.
By the time he had made it through Victory Road, he had learned that his friend was already challenging the League. He followed just a few steps after, beating the Elite Four and entering the depths of the mountain, arriving to see that Alder had indeed been beaten by N. Cheren immediately understood that going headfirst after N wasn't going to help the situation. Therefore, he stayed behind with Alder, assuring his friend that everything will be alright here, as he desperately hoped that everything will turn out okay and no one would be harmed. Once things began to take care of themselves in the League, Alder and Cheren quickly made their way inside the castle as well, arriving to the scene just as Ghetsis, much to everyone's surprise, had admitted his original plans of 'taking over the world'. Still, the only choice he had was to give his friend all the support the team needed, as he watched his best friend battle the most dangerous man in the region, and come out the winner.
As Cheren and Alder was about to hand Ghetsis over to the authorities, the Shadow Triad interfered the very last minute, allowing the man to escape. However, it was unlikely that he would start up any trouble soon, and the worst part was over. Everyone was safe, and all was well. He had done his part, just like Bianca had done her part, and just like how their friend had done their part. Allowing himself to feel accomplished for coming so far on his journey, he made his return to his hometown with the same friends that were there from the very beginning. It was like nothing had changed between them, and they were able to talk of their dreams and hopes once again. It was true that they had all changed, and that their goals were much different from each other, but the bond between them hadn't changed one bit. The other two spoke of their own plans; for Cheren, his second journey would be another adventure throughout Unova.
Since he had already challenged the league the first time, there was no need to go through the process the second time. Maybe it was because of the fact that he no longer was so hung up about training his Pokemon - there also was no evil organization to protect anyone from - but he did discover things he failed to see before. He visited the small cafe in Nacrene city, tried the Castelicone (sp?), rode the Ferris wheel, battled a few trainers along the road (he couldn't bear slacking off on his training) and of course, he did catch the occasional pokemon to fill up his Pokedex. He did discover things he had yet to see, and although they weren't exactly what he had meant in the beginning, it still counted, right?
Once he completely circled around the Unova region, Cheren wondered what he could do now, as he spent a few days back in his home. Going around the same place over and over again wasn't going to help him in anyway, no matter how many different things he discovered. So he took the next option - traveling to a different region. This was going to be an exhausting journey, yes, but once he had made up his mind and destination - Sinnoh - he was already on the SS Anne, with his team of six Pokemon, staring his third journey.
Sinnoh wasn't like anything Cheren had expected, despite the research he had done beforehand. For one, Sinnoh's nights were much colder than Unova's and even with Emboar by his side to warm him up, he was never fond of the cold. Starting in Canalvalve City (where he already spent days in the library reading about all sorts of myths, legends and who knows what else), he began to travel. He didn't take the league challenge, deciding that he'll travel throughout the region and get a better sense of it; the cold was already one thing he didn't expect, so who knows what else would pop up and surprise him? His journey throughout Sinnoh was similar to his second journey in Unova - without a league to battle, Cheren had a bit more freedom. He caught new Pokemon even the Bidoof, because as much as he didn't like it, he needed to complete his Pokedex, battled trainers, but at the same time, he also visited Amity Square, watched a Pokemon Contest, got to see the Snowpoint temple, and even visited the flower shop in Floroma Town. Each night usually involved Emboar lighting a fire, usually dying by the next morning.
Even through the bitter cold, he somehow made it through, his final stop being Sunyshore City. If the journey did change his mind about one thing, it was taking the league challenge right away. Of course, he would come back a later day and actually fight the gym leaders and the Pokemon League, but he decided that he wasn't going to go through the cold twice one right after the other. Making a long (and cold) travel back to Canalvalve City, (he quickly stopped by Twinleaf Town though, because he had heard that a trainer born there saved the world and became the League Champion, much like someone he knew), Cheren climbed aboard on to the SS Anne, and returned to his home region, where nothing threatened his fingers from freezing over.
Now back in Nuvema Town, Cheren had a curious package waiting for him - the PNG. It definitely wasn't like the Xtransceiver, considering that it allowed him to connect with someone all the way over in Sinnoh... Maybe even further? He's already stayed up the whole night reading the instruction booklet, and he can't wait to try it out. Maybe now, he'll be able to fill up his National Pokedex just like Professor Juniper wanted him to.
Thus begins his fourth journey.
Personality:
Cheren has matured more from his serious self since he first began his adventure throughout Unova, but a lot has still stayed the same. For one, he has a reason to become strong - protecting those who are weak with this power. However, he understands that strength and power isn't all that there is to becoming a trainer, and the three years leading up his current self has allowed him to acknowledge that even further. He has also become somewhat humble barely, and he knows that there will always be a new goal to attain, no matter how strong he gets. As always, he is working hard, but instead of relying on pure strategy, the trainer has also slowly begun to rely on his Pokemon and lean on his instincts at times. Of course, he's still having a hard time venturing off from the solid ground he knows - where he's able to test strategies before using them in an official league battle (ie. the battle he had with Whitlea/Blair/Hilda/Hilbert in the Pokemon school in Striaton City) - taking last-minute chances and leaps of faith, but he's learning.
This obviously indicates that Cheren is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Pokemon in general, and likes to live his life more fact-based than emotion-based. He doesn't know what N's problem is with Pokedexes. They're definitely useful when you see new pokemon you've never seen before, and 'listening to their voices' isn't going to help you find anything about them. Outside of Pokemon, Cheren's knowledgeable in general. That being said, as long as the topic interests him, he'll go out at lengths to find out more. At the same time, he is extremely confident about the knowledge he already has. Although he understands that knowledge isn't all power, what he knows is what he knows, and what he knows is the truth. He'll jump at any opportunity to share this knowledge with everyone else, - yes, he is a bit of a know-it-all. (ie. "Well, not only does Black City have trainers you could battle, you can also encounter new pokemon that haven't been native to the Unova region as of recently, such as blahblahblah")
Although a lot has changed, Cheren's still stubborn. He is skeptical with things that don't fall in line with his point of view, and even disbelieving with information that completely clashes with his own. His own knowledge, and the confidence that comes from it also makes him a rather proud person, and he's not quick to admit defeat. He's not afraid to come back and try again after his failures (which he refuses to admit), until the point he succeeds. Not exactly a sore loser, but he doesn't let go of things like this easily. Once he has a goal set in mind, he wants to accomplish it and come out on top.
Despite all this, the boy does care about his friends, although he may not be the first to show it. He's not reluctant to lend a helping hand or give advice to them, although it can be drier than what others would usually expect. Cheren understands when someone needs help, and he will help out, although the degrees of his 'aid' differ on how well he knows the person. At the same time, he may be slower to realize his own need himself, and even slower to ask for aid. He's terribly independent, and unless the situation calls to the extreme, he'll have a hard time accepting help.
However, one thing that hasn't changed in Cheren is his impatience, and his bluntness. Yes, it has toned down a bit, but not very much. If something about you is dragging him down in any sort of way or if you're doing anything wrong, he won't hesitate you let you know - and bluntly at that. Also, if he's being bothered with things he doesn't really care about, he'll just tell you stop wasting his time. It doesn't really matter if you're his friend either. He may be a little patient with you in other aspects, but when it comes to slowing him down, he shows no mercy - at least his friends understand (or has come to reluctantly accept that) this is how the teen is. To everyone else, this earns him quite a few disapproving looks and even enemies at times, but he's not going to make an attempt to change it. Chances are he'll just scoff at any insults thrown at him, unless it's something that really pinches a nerve. Then he won't hesitate to fight back, whether it be through words or Pokemon battles - he's never been the one for a fist fight.
Sample I:
• You are dead last on the Trainer Rankings list.
[The screen lights up, to reveal a rather ticked-off looking Cheren, almost angry. Behind him, Haxorus seems to be unsure how to comfort his trainer] I can't believe this! [Brings his hands across his chest, eyebrows furrowed. He's not happy at all] This has to be some sort of error. It's just not possible that I could be last on that ranking list! [Pauses for a moment, bringing his thoughts together, taking a breath. Why is this so frustrating.] I have all eight badges from Unova, and I've battled the Elite Four - and won. That has to count for something. I mean, some trainers don't even have a badge! [Tilts his head slightly, his hand on his chin now, as if he's thinking. He's slightly calmer now] Even if that doesn't put me to first, it's impossible for me to be last! Right, Haxorus? [Cheren turns to Haxorus, and the pokemon seems to be caught off guard, but nods all the same. Unfortunately, that just gets Cheren fired up again.] Exactly. This is definitely some sort of error in the system. What are they even basing these rankings on? It's supposed to show powerful you and your team are, and if that's the case, I shouldn't be on the bottom of that list! I'm not the best - I know that, but I'm definitely not the worst.
[Well, now that that's out of his system] ...I should speak with the administrators, I'm not being productive just standing here and complaining. [Gives a soft sigh, letting a silence drag on for a moment, before speaking up again, determined] I'm going to go reason with them. They're being careless, and it's affecting the rest of us. They should know better than to leave such things unattended. [Reaches for the PNG, while still speaking, but softer. You can just barely make out the last bit, though] ---I doubt I'm the only one having this issue, anyway. Let's go, Haxorus. [And the feed shuts off]
Sample II:
• A Pokémon, wild, tamed, or one of your own, has a crush on you and refuses to leave you alone.
"I told you," Cheren was staring at the Pokemon in front of him that seemed so keen to catch his attention. How many times has he seen this thing today, anyway? "I don't need another Cottonee for my Pokedex. Besides, I already have a grass type on my team, and I'm not about to replace my Simisage with anyone else." He shook his head, face set in a slightly annoyed frown, fixing his bag and walking away from the pokemon, before a small warning. "Don't follow me again, understand?" He wanted to get out of the forest quickly; the Cottonee had been at his side - without breaks - starting the mid-point of his training session, much to his displeasure. Lingering around wasn't going to do any good.
As he walked through the forest, the Cottonee seemed to have stopped following him - finally; a relieved sigh escaped the trainer's lips. Cheren mused on the idea of training for another thirty minutes before getting back in to the city, since there wouldn't be anything to distract him, now. He casually moved his hands to his belt, where his Pokemon were resting - he had been wanting to teach Unfezant a new move for a while. Maybe it would be the perfect time----
However, it wasn't long before Cheren realized he was being followed by someone - something? He got the sinking feeling he knew who it was, though. Unfortunately, these sinking feelings usually proved to be right. Coming to a sudden halt, he turned around.
"You again?"
His worries were proven to be right. It was the same Cottonee that showed up a few moments ago, and it seemed to bounce a little higher once the pokemon realized it (she? It seemed like a 'she') was seen by Cheren, chirping happily as if that was sure to win him over. The black haired trainer sighed, scratching the back of his neck, the frown back on his face - "Honestly... It's almost as if you want to irritate me." The Pokemon paid no attention though, simply moving a little closer to Cheren, looking up to the boy with those eyes. It had no affect on the trainer, as he simply looked troubled, again. Why won't the Pokemon just leave him alone? The last thing he needed was another pokeball wasted on a Cottonee he caught near the beginning of his journey. "I told you, go away."
Not getting the (rather obvious) hint, she had begun cuddling the bottom of Cheren's leg. He might as well just get it over with. After a loud, frustrated mix between a groan and a sigh, he reached in his bag for a Nest Ball - Cottonee would be knocked out as soon as one of his pokemon tried attacking it, and judging from her actions, she would probably want to be caught. No intense throw as the pokeball opened, as the familiar red light enveloped her, and closed once again. One... Two... Three... The pokeball came to a halt, just as he expected - nothing new there. Crouching over to his newly-caught Cottonee, he picked the pokeball up from the ground, dusting it quickly before bringing it up to his eye-level and speaking directly at it.
"I'll have to figure out what to do with you once we reach the city. I suggest you don't get your hopes up, though." Maybe his mom would want a new Pokemon around the house.