Name
Toby Hato
Gender
Male
Hometown
Stow-On-Side
Age
16
Physical Appearance
Toby is five feet tall, weighing one-hundred thirty pounds. He is moderately slim, with brown skin and notable amounts of muscle, suiting him as he is trained in martial arts and is physically strong. He has green eyes and short brown hair with wavy bangs in front and usually wears a basic, white tank top, black sweatpants, and sandals, which are easy to kick off in case the time comes for sparring with his Pokemon.
Personality
Toby is usually very shy around other people, ESPECIALLY Pokemon trainers. Due to the treatment from his father, he has lived under the impression that Pokemon trainers are cold-hearted and over-competitive bullies that won't hesitate to put down people weaker than them. Thus, he grows very uncomfortable with the idea of Pokemon battles. However, he is more cheerful around people he trusts and wild Pokemon, specifically the ones that live around his grandfather's dojo. He'll happily practice martial arts with them, engage in play-fighting and sparring, and spend his days camping out and living in harmony.
Skills
Toby spent a lot of time around his grandfather, who happened to be a Karate master. As such, he is trained in martial arts, which he normally uses for self-defense and sparring with his Pokemon. He's also decent in foraging, knowing where all kinds of edible food are in the Wild Area. However, his most special skill is that he can actually understand Pokemon speech. His grandfather exposed him to wild Pokemon in the Wild Area ever since he was a little kid and he spent so much time around them that he developed a close bond with Pokemon. As a result, Toby can understand Pokemon, perfectly, as if he could speak their language themself.
Past
Toby grew up in Stow-on-Side with his mother and father, Hoshi and Hokuto Hato, who were passionate about Pokemon and battling. He idolized his parent's determination for being as strong as the champion and dreamed of being a great trainer one day. While he was too young to have a Pokemon, himself, his grandfather, Kenji, would often visit him and his parents gave him permission to travel to a small, humble dojo in the Giant's Seat portion of the Wild Area. There, he got to bond with his grandfather through fun Karate lessons and, after practice, camp out with many of the wild Pokemon he befriended. It was there that he met Lavender, a Dratini that popped up to greet him in South Lake Miloch and soon fell in love with him. Every time Toby came back to visit his grandfather, Toby would rush off to meet up with Lavy and play together under his grandfather's watchful eye. By the time Toby turned fourteen, they two had already spent so much time together that Lavy evolved into Dragonair. With his grandfather's blessing, Lavender was able to come home with Toby, back to Stow-On-Side.
Toby's happy life soon grew sour when Hoshi soon came home from Wyndon. He had recently got to challenge the champion, Leon, but lost after a close fight. If that wasn't bad enough for him, the battle was broadcast on television for his wife and child to see. They were both proud of him but that wasn't enough. Toby's father was depressed and wouldn't even speak to his father until the next day. When his Hoshi did arise, he had grown bitter and thought of nothing but training hard to the point of over-exhaustion, desperate on becoming stronger than anyone else. Kenji came to visit again, only to find Hoshi in such a bad state and, to make matters worse, Toby was dragged into his father's training session now that he had Lavender and was no longer able to visit the Wild Area. Kenji and Hokuto watched in great concern as Toby and Lavy were pushed to his absolute limits, being treated harshly by his father. A week had gone by and Hoshi had only grown more cold and strict towards his son, despite Hokuto's many protests.
Then, on one fateful night, Toby was awoken early by Hokuto. She quietly sneaked him outside with a backpack and a letter. The letter was from Toby's grandfather, reading:
' To My Very Special Grandson,
My journey as a warrior has called me east of Galar, in search of a newly discovered land of new opportunity. However, I do not wish for you to suffer your father's cold-hearted ways any longer. It is important for one to train diligently if they seek strength but all must come in moderation. Unfortunately, your father has forgotten that and you'd need not suffer his pain. That is why I am leaving you with a very special gift.
I have already spoken with your mother and I have agreed to leave the dojo in your hands. My beloved Pokemon will take care of you there and you may have the freedom to make your own path and start your own life. Whether you desire the path of a trainer or simply desire to live in harmony with Pokemon, it is for you to decide now. Not your father.
Till the day we meet again,
Grandpa. '
With all the love of her mother and grandfather, Toby took Lavender and ventured off to the Wild Area at the crack of dawn and started a happy life in his grandfather's dojo. For the next two years, it was just him and the Pokemon he grew to love as a child. He had left the dream of a trainer behind him and, instead, chose to live in peace with the Pokemon of the dojo. Toby had never been happier.
Family
- Hoshi Hato (Father)
- Hokuto Hato (Mother)
- Kenji Hato (Grandfather)
Love Relationships?: None
Pokémon
- Lavender 'Lavy' the Dragonite
Lavender was Toby's first Pokemon that he befriended in the Wild Area, as a Dratini, when he was but a small child. It is female with the ability Inner Focus, which makes her impervious to the flinching effects of moves like Headbutt. She is a kind and sweet Pokemon but is often overprotective of Toby and is quick to anger when she catches anyone bullying him or threatening to hurt him.
She was the Pokemon Toby spent the most time with and has been when with him, all the way up to the point where she evolved into Dragonair. She got her name from the lavender-colored scarf Toby gave her, after evolving. She and Toby had endured harsh, unjust treatment from his father but they soon moved back to Kenji's dojo, while he was out traveling east of Galar. After living in peace for a while, Lavy soon evolved into Dragonite.
Topster is Kenji's faithful Pokemon that was entrusted to watch over Toby and Lavy, while they made refuge in his dojo. It is male with ability Technician, which makes its weaker attacks feel like strong, heavy blows. He's a friendly soul who's a dedicated martial artist and exercises a great deal of responsibility in making sure Toby is safe.
Topster has been at Kenji's side, ever since the first day that Toby was allowed to visit the dojo in Giant's Seat. While Toby was out playing with Lavender, Topster would be close by, making sure they were both safe while Kenji tended to the other wild Pokemon around the dojo. Topster stayed behind while Kenji went out to travel, as he was more than willing to serve as Toby's chaperone when he was due to escape the harsh treatment of his father. Thus, when Toby and Lavender first arrived at the dojo, Topster was there to greet them with open arms.
Sparks was a wild Pokemon that Kenji befriended as a Pikachu, after settling in his grandfather's dojo. It is female with the ability Lightningrod, which allows it to draw in and absorb Electric-type attacks then use the energy to power itself up. She is very cheerful and rather scrappy, seeing great fun in sparring with other Pokemon.
One day, when Toby, Lavender, and Topster were having their morning Karate practice, Sparks wandered in from outside and noticed the three of them training. It grew fascinated by the martial artists and joined in, mirroring their moves. It didn't take long for the group to notice her and, ever since then, Toby took the Pikachu in and let it live with them. Sparks kept training with her new friends and, when the time was right, Toby gave her a Thunderstone he found while foraging for food, allowing it to evolve into Raichu.
Spook is the fourth Pokemon Kenji befriend, after settling in his grandfather's dojo. It is male with the ability Cursed Body, which debilitates enemy Pokemon upon being physically struck, to the point where the last move they used becomes temporarily disababled. It's usually calm and quiet but tends to grow much more playful during martial arts practice.
Spook appeared in Toby's dojo at night, just after he and his other Pokemon settled into bed. Toby couldn't sleep that night and wandered into the kitchen for a bedtime snack when he caught Spook rummaging through the cupboards for food. They both gave each other a light scare upon seeing each other, causing Lavy, Topster, and Sparks to come rushing out of bed and into the kitchen. When confronted, Spook bashfully looked down at the floor, revealing its unusual shy nature. At that point, Toby realized he was a gentle Gengar and offered it some leftover sandwiches he had in the fridge. Spook had relaxed and grew comfortable around Toby so he decided to live in the dojo with them, even participating in their morning training sessions.
