
” The wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision a whole universe. But the stupid man will just lay down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go: Hey, I'm Vine Man.”- Jack Handey

Age: 22
Gender: Male
Trainer Type: Team Cataclysm Field Agent
Hometown: Celadon City
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Gray
Skin Tone: White
Height: 5’7
Weight: 145 lbs
Physical Description: Short and wiry are the best initial descriptors of Kouji’s build. His posture is less than ideal, and his complexion is rather pasty. In stark contrast to his physical appearance, however, Kouji is actually in very good health, both physically and emotionally. Though he ranks fairly low on the Team Cataclysm chain of command, he routinely ignores the Team Cataclysm dress code in favor of his own wardrobe- very dressy clothes for every occasion (to put it in perspective, khaki’s and a polo shirt are dressing down for Kouji.)
Potential Interest: Cassandra, though that could change once Kouji learns the true intentions of Team Cataclysm…
Skills and Abilities: Kouji is a hardy, practical, and critical-thinking young man. What he lacks in learned knowledge he more than makes up for with logic, practicality, and “street smarts.” Though not bulky per se, he is quite wiry, and makes a surprisingly formidable fighter should he be challenged. As far as being a trainer is concerned, however, Kouji is a rather odd case. His skills at raising and battling Pokemon are quite extraordinary, as Kouji has next to no conventional knowledge about the inner workings of Pokemon! He hasn’t familiarized himself with the universally accepted names of attacks, lacks knowledge of type advantage (barring logical ones such as fire trumping water and grass,) and misunderstands the way that evolution works, among other rudimentary lapses. This oftentimes elicits torment, and he is frequently mistaken for a novice. However, his training regime consists of exercises tailored to the unique needs of each member of his team- he determines his team’s strengths and weaknesses from each of their individual talents and characteristics, and not from typing, movesets, or universally noted statistics. Because of his unique (and ignorant, skeptics would be quick to chime in,) philosophy, he oftentimes takes other trainers completely off-guard in battles, as he frequently issues bizarre commands that are unique to him and his team (telling Boss to “unleash Beast Mode,” instead of ordering him to use “Outrage” for example) and sends members against opponents with an obvious type advantage. In spite of his haphazard tactics, Kouji still wins far more battles than he loses, which is what inevitably drew Team Cataclysm to him.
Other: Ever the oddball, Kouji is quite adept at fighting other Pokemon himself! His personal philosophy is that he cannot possibly earn the respect of his team if he is not able to take attacks himself. While he of course refrains from joining the fray in regulation battles, he will not hesitate to jump in if the situation is not official or life-and-death. Kouji possesses a katana that he routinely brings along with him during Team Cataclysm operations (and while he is not trained per se in the art of sword fighting, he is resourceful and scrappy enough to make use of the weapon nonetheless.)
Personality: Kouji is a rather unfortunate case- it’s not as though he’s a social outcast, but his utter disinterest in himself is what ultimately turns many people away from him. He has always sought to better himself, yet a strong sense of humility ultimately keeps many of his talents out of the public eye. He is one of those individuals who most wish that they could hate, in that he is typically good at whatever he tries his hand at. Quick thinking, Kouji is quite adept at sizing up people within minutes and formulating tactics on the fly, making him a natural leader.
However, it is with this “jack of all trades” nature that many of Kouji’s flaws begin to become prevalent. Because he catches on to new concepts rather quickly, he rarely feels the need to ever delve deeper into a learned concept, thus Kouji rarely ever completely masters a skill. Kouji is also very hard to read- his facial expression rarely ever shows anything aside from indifference, which gives Kouji a perpetually negative first impression. This is a shame, as Kouji is typically quite interested in other people (he just fails to wear his emotions on his sleeve.) While his ability to keep his emotions in check is a boon on the battlefield, his impartiality hinders his social life, as he is notorious for over-rationalizing his friends problems, when it would be better if he would open himself as a listening ear.
History: Kouji grew up in a fairly well-off family, as the Ichigaara’s own a fairly successful custom Pokeball shop. Kouji’s childhood was fairly privileged- the only thing that may be critiqued about him and his sister Maya’s parents is their lack of strictness.
Though Kouji didn’t begin his Pokemon journey until he was 16, he earned his first badge at ripe age of 9! As a birthday present to the then-young Kouji, Eirika allowed Kouji to make a “challenge” to earn a Rainbow Badge, finding his determination quite adorable. To her astonishment, however, Kouji and Hero quite handily swept her entire team. Though the Pokemon League rules prevented an un-registered Trainer from acquiring a Badge, she broke protocol and awarded the badge anyway, with the understanding that Kouji would keep it under wraps until his journey was to begin.
And under wraps he kept it, until that fateful morning of his 16th birthday. For the next five years, Kouji would take time off from school to pursue training and badge challenges, earning a total of 4 (Rainbow, Cascade, Thunder, and Marsh,) before his priorities were suddenly shifted.
On his way home after earning his Marsh Badge, Kouji was assaulted by a few Rocket Grunts, apparently interested in his father’s Dragonite. The Grunts were handily defeated, which garnered the attention of a member higher up on the chain of command. Though less handily than the Grunts, Team Ichigaara managed to defeat the Executive who carefully tracked down the young trainer. This action garnered the attention of Team Cataclysm.
Having spent the past year as a field operative for Team Cataclysm, Kouji has put his personal journey on hold in favor of obliterating the Rocket Gang forever (in addition to his personal experience, Kouji’s father has also shared stories of his own encounters with the syndicate.) However, Kouji was only told of Team Cataclysm’s short term goals- the team had done enough research on the trainer to know that he would not be in favor of instilling their new world “order.” Should Kouji discover the truth behind this organization, the results could be quite destructive…

Pokémon Species: Typhlosion
Pokémon Nickname: Hero
Pokémon Nature: Brave
History:
Cyndaquil- Kouji was given a baby Cyndaquil by his parents on his seventh Christmas, and since then, Hero has been Kouji’s oldest and most loyal companion. Kouji started his Pokemon journey later than most of his peers, so it was just the two of them until his 16th birthday.
Quilava- Hero reached his first evolution quite early considering Kouji had only him to raise before his journey. Once Kouji turned nine, the two of them felt confident enough to challenge the Gym Leader Eirika. Much to her surprise, the up-and-coming trainer swept her entire team with almost relative ease!
Typhlosion- After the meeting with his father, Hero and Boss began regular training sessions together in order to both re-acquaint and test each others strengths after being apart for so long. These sparring bouts rapidly grew in intensity, and it was only a matter of time before Hero reached its peak of evolution, becoming a powerful Typhlosion. Though it still pales in comparison to the raw power of Boss, he still remains Kouji's nearest and dearest companion.
Move-set:
- Eruption
- Flame Wheel
- Earthquake
- Smokescreen
- Protect
Team Compatibility:
Boss- Mutual Respect- They’ve both been in the Ichigaara family for quite a while, and have had that much time to form a bond.
Wattson- Respect deferred to Hero- Though Wattson’s proven himself a formidable asset in his own right, Hero still considers himself more of a mentor figure than an equal to the playful Wattson.
Croqua- Respect deferred to Hero- Croqua is very much the baby of the group, and Hero does his part to show him the ropes.
Ether- No respect- The only reason Hero tolerates the troublemaking Ether is because of her willingness (however reluctant) to help Kouji round out the team.
Bignacious- Respect deferred to Bignacious- The biggest and eldest Pokemon on the team, Hero acknowledges the gentle giant’s strength, even if he has been in the group for the least amount of time. Since his joining, Hero has engaged in many sparring matches against the deceptively clever beast, viewing him as a mentor of sorts.

Pokémon Species: Dragonite
Pokémon Nickname: Boss
Pokémon Nature: Docile
History:
Dragonite- Though he occasionally saw his father’s Dragonite during his childhood, Kouji shared very few memories with him until his fateful rendezvous with his father. Along with sage advice and a Fire Stone, he also instructed his Dragonite to accompany his son. He claimed that his longtime companion was too docile for his harsh training regime, though in reality, it was a simple act of fatherly precaution. If he had to sacrifice his most powerful asset in order to grant his son a loyal guardian, then he would gladly forego his own ambitions. Proving his strength and determination early on, Kouji nicknamed his father’s companion “Boss,” and he has been the leading powerhouse of Team Ichigaara ever since.
Move-set:
- Outrage
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
Team Compatibility:
Wattson- Mutual Respect- Though small, Wattson is rapidly becoming the most adaptable and well-rounded member of the team. Boss tries not to let it go to his head, however, as Wattson still has lots of growing to do.
Croqua- Respect deferred to Boss- Boss took an immediate liking to the eager Croc. Kouji took notice of the chemistry, and made time spent between the two of them a mandatory part of Croc’s training regime. Under Boss’s wing, Croc will surely soar to be a valuable asset to the cause.
Ether- No Respect- Though Ether will submit to Boss’s influence, Boss will have nothing to do with the unstable Ether outside of battle.
Bignacious- Mutual Respect- Though Boss will oftentimes look to Big for counsel, the big guy views Boss as every bit his equal- What Boss lacks in Big’s experience he more than makes up for with power and insight.

Pokémon Species: Elekid
Pokémon Nickname: Wattson
Pokémon Nature: Impish
History:
Elekid- Kouji met Wattson during a visit to the Power Plant shortly after earning his Cascade Badge. Upon entering, he witnessed the lone Elekid engaged in what appeared to be a territorial dispute against a slew of Grimer. In an attempt to even the odds, Kouji and Hero joined the fray, driving away the opposing Grimer. Upon further investigation, however, the Elekid was defending a family of Pikachu, defending their young who had been poisoned during the battle. With the help of the Elekid, Kouji brought the victims to the nearest Pokemon Centre, and helped them find a home outside of the hostile Power Plant. Impressed with the Elekid’s potential, Kouji asked if he would like to accompany him on his journey. The Elekid wouldn’t be captured without a fight, which Kouji obliged. Though Elekid defeated Kouji, he was surprised that a human would dirty his hands fighting a Pokemon. From then on, the two have grown a mutual respect for each other, and although Wattson tends to goof off more than Kouji would like, Wattson has a special place in Kouji’s team. This also marked the first time Kouji engaged a Pokemon in combat directly, which he later implemented in both his and the rest of his team’s training exercises.
Move-set:
- Thunderbolt
- Cross Chop
- Psychic
- Substitute
- Flash
Team Compatibility:
Croqua- Mutual Respect- These two became best friends shortly after meeting, and have been causing mischief ever since! On the battlefield, the two work together in perfect sync. They may not be the strongest individuals on the team, but their teamwork is something that even the mighty Boss can learn from.
Ether- Respect deferred to Ether- Wattson is the only one on the team who is able to experience a genuinely civil Ether. Perhaps it is because he is the only other special attacker on the team, but Ether has absolutely no qualms about taking Wattson under her wing.
Bignacious- Respect deferred to Bignacious- Big is a big ‘ol softie, and has a bit of a soft spot for the two little ones. When the situation doesn’t call for him to be the “adult,” he oftentimes joins Wattson and Croc in their antics!

Pokémon Species: Totodile
Pokémon Nickname: Croqua
Pokémon Nature: Hasty
History:
Totodile- During Kouji's push for the Thunder Badge in Vermillion City, he came across a Johto Breeder by the name of Ameria. Curious about the profession of Breeding, Ameria explained that when abroad, Breeders typically make the most money by bringing specific region-elusive Pokemon with them to sell. The universally standard "starter" breeds are typically the most sought after for their growth and versatility. She brought with her many Cyndaquil and Chikorita, but oddly, only one Totodile. According to Ameria, Totodile is one of the least sought after starters from any region, so she only breeds one or two per trip.
Their conversation was cut short, however, by a troop of Rocket grunts who initiated a snatch-n-grab op with the two trainer's Pokemon. They unfortunately succeeded in stealing all but the lone Totodile, who was more than willing to accompany Kouji in the amateurishly obvious trail they left behind. Kouji had dealt with Rockets before, but try as he might to sway Ameria to stay behind, she insisted that she go with him.
The three tracked the grunts down to a crude hideout in Diglett's Cave, where Kouji and Totodile made quick work of the rookie Rockets, successfully netting their Pokemon back. As a reward for getting her bred monsters back (as well as being genuinely impressed with their natural chemistry,) she offered Kouji the Totodile free of charge. She also gave Kouji a photograph of her and a certain scarlet-haired young man with an eyepatch. She inscribed the number of her breeding center, telling Kouji to call that number if he ever wanted a particular Pokemon bred for him.
Move-set:
- Thrash
- Crunch
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
- Dragon Dance
Team Compatibility:
Ether- Respect deferred to Ether- Although most of the team finds her repulsive, the eager to please Croc sees something in Ether past her irksome nature. Ether makes no qualms about it, relishing in Crocs praise as though she has deserved it all along!
Bignacious- Respect deferred to Bignacious- Unlike Wattson, who has always been capable of fending for himself, Big takes particular caution with Croc. He is always uneasy of seeing the little guy fight, but knows that this is the only way he will grow.

Pokémon Species: Porygon-Z
Pokémon Nickname: Ether
Pokémon Nature: Naughty
History:
Porygon- Kouji’s sister Maya works as an intern to the world-renown Bill, and one of her projects was to analyze the properties of the cyberspace Pokemon Porygon. Though her primary objective was to observe the qualities of the creature in cyberspace, she had a personal curiosity as to how it would perform in the field under various circumstances. Not having much time to go out into the field, however, Maya sent the Pokemon to Kouji, having him perform the experiments himself.
Porygon2- Phase two of the experiment would inevitably lead to how an evolved Porygon would perform under the same experimental conditions. Issuing the control an Up-Grade, Kouji performed the same experiments with the newly upgraded Porygon2.
Porygon-Z- Unfortunately, the third phase of testing would come to an abrupt end. Although the Dubious Disc exponentially increased the Porygon-Z’s power, it made her quite unstable, erring on the side of masochistic (though it still grudgingly took orders from Kouji.) When he tried to send it back to his sister, Porygon-Z infected Bill’s personal computer with viruses out of sheer malice. Kouji was forced to remove the Pokemon from cyberspace before it corrupted more than just Bills personal computer. Recognizing its destructive power, Kouji aptly named it Ether and it has become part of the team ever since. Also important to note- Though it has no gender, Ether insists on being treated as though it were a female. Perhaps another glitch brought on by the Dubious Disc?
Move-set:
- Tri Attack
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Nasty Plot
- Double Team
Team Compatibility:
Bignacious- Respect deferred to Bignacious- Though grudgingly, Ether acknowledges that Big is the wisest of the Team. Besides Kouji, Big is the only other team member who Ether will willingly submit to.

Pokémon Species: Snorlax
Pokémon Nickname: Bignacious
Pokémon Nature: Relaxed
History:
Snorlax- The last Pokemon to join Team Ichigaara, not much is known about the beast, save that he is quite a bit older than the rest of the team. While visiting Lavender Town, Kouji came across Mr. Fuji, who seemed to be having a tough time with a grieving Snorlax. After an unfortunate accident near the coast, the Snorlax had lost both his mate and his child to the ocean, and was unable to retrieve their bodies. Mr. Fuji arrived just in time to see the two be taken, and just in time to pacify the beast before he went after them and upped the body count to three. Though unable to find the female Snorlax, Croc was able to swim deep enough to recover the body of the Munchlax. Grateful for his act of selflessness and with nowhere to go, the Snorlax became the sixth and final member of Team Ichigaara. Though it took him a few years to fully recover from the accident, he has since become a big, loveable, wise, and powerful “Bignacious” cat!
Move-set:
- Return
- Brick Break
- Metronome
- Rest
- Sleep Talk