Hilbert "Black" Blair

Nicknames: Black’s birthname is Hilbert, a name perhaps chosen by his mother in the spirit of her past profession (as well as to match his sister). However, this name was only used by him when he was younger, up until he decided upon the nickname “Black” when he turned eight. While he was initially vehement about being referred to by the nickname rather than his actual name, these days he doesn’t particularly care which he is called by. Even so, he more commonly introduces himself as Black, more out of habit than anything (he’d jokingly admit that Black feels more like his real name than Hilbert does). Because of this, it’s rare for anyone other than his mother, Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca to call him Hilbert (and even they only do so sparingly).

Personality: For a “chosen hero”, Black is a surprisingly passive person. Outwardly calm and soft-spoken more often than not, he doesn’t seem to be a particularly driven individual. Despite all that he’s accomplished and been through, Black doesn’t exactly possess an abundance of confidence. While he is friendly and sociable, he’s pretty far from self-assured. He can be assertive if needed be, but apparently prefers to take a more gentle route. It isn’t uncommon for him to second-guess himself, and his lack of a concrete purpose in life makes him feel insecure, especially after being labeled as one of Unova’s heroes.

At first glance, Black seems overall very ordinary, and wouldn’t hesitate to use that same word to describe himself. However, he possesses several traits that he probably doesn’t give himself enough credit for. For one, he is non-judgemental and makes it a point not to jump to conclusions too quickly. Particularly after his journey, he does his best to be considerate and strives toward understanding in order to do what is best for all involved. While he’s remarkably patient and it does take a lot to get on his bad side, he does have a strong sense of morality. His determination shows through in the cases that people cross over his moral line; if he feels that it’s part of his responsibility, he’ll do whatever it takes to set things right. In such cases, he can become determined to the point of being unusually reckless (especially when his anger is prompted). In the same vein, he also has a bit of a habit of shouldering too many responsibilities for his own good and getting in over his head. This paired with his quiet nature can lead to his downfall, because, while he’s almost always open to helping others, he doesn’t have nearly as much concern for himself. He tends to keep his own troubles to himself, and bottles up any negative emotions. He sidesteps his own issues and broods, and spending too long doing so can result in emotional outbursts. While these outbursts have thankfully gotten less common with time, they definitely aren’t unheard of.

While Black might not have much to say about his skills as a trainer, his prowess speaks for itself. Traveling the wilderness has made him resourceful, and, though he’d admit that he sometimes gets nervous during battles, he does have talent and has learned to take the time to strategize. Even so, he’s inclined to give more credit to his Pok?mon than to himself. One trait that hasn’t changed at all since his childhood is his love for Pok?mon; he’s fascinated by them, and always treats them with as much respect as he can. He’s a very considerate trainer, and looks out for his Pok?mon as if they were part of his family (because, after all they’ve been through together, they might as well be). He has a natural urge to protect all of those close to him no matter the cost.

Backstory: Black was born in the small town of Nuvema, raised alongside his twin sister Hilda by his single mother, an ex-Pok?mon trainer. His father walked out on the family when Black was very young-- too young to recall much of anything about the man. The absence of a father figure didn’t occur to the boy until later on; like most other children, he was carefree and energetic. Additionally, due to his mother’s previous profession, he grew up surrounded by Pok?mon, and quickly developed an idealistic lust for adventure (a trait that also might have been encouraged by his sister). It wasn’t uncommon for him to be found trying to venture into Route 1 with Hilda, or having to be patched up and lectured after a failed attempt at communing with local wild Pok?mon. This only escalated after he met and befriended Cheren and Bianca. While a specific aspiration was never put into words by the child, he showed admiration toward trainers (especially the legendary Red, by which the nickname Black was inspired) and a natural affection for Pok?mon, so his mother began making plans with Professor Juniper to send the boy off on a journey of his own.

But Black steadily mellowed with age, and his rough-and-tumble disposition was overtaken by a calmer, more responsible and grounded one. He matured fairly young, and pushed aside his old daring dreams for more practical ones. The idea of going on a trainer’s journey through the region was distant by the time his mother announced her plan with Professor Juniper, and he wasn’t entirely sure how to react. But Cheren and Bianca’s excitement with the idea got to him, and he accepted his starter Pok?mon with somewhat uncertain gratitude. With the Oshawott at his side, he left Nuvema and his family for the first time.

Black’s journey had a bit of a shaky start. Being separated from his family and friends was difficult enough, and, despite his resourcefulness and all the secondhand knowledge about Pok?mon training that he had learned from his mother, he was still uncertain in his abilities and lacking in the determination he had as a child. This was until he reached Accumula Town and encountered Ghetsis and N. The former’s speech, though thought-provoking, was quickly deemed preposterous. Black had grown up surrounded by Pok?mon that were happy to live with humans, and, after his first battle with N, he figured that his own Pok?mon was also happy to be with him.

His first impression of N wasn’t entirely positive or negative, but it spurred him on in his journey, inspiring a determination in him that kept him moving forward despite his initial reluctance. He was closer to (and more protective of) his Pok?mon from then on, and took the journey more seriously than he had. He began challenging Unova’s gym leaders with relative ease, and taking down Team Plasma members whenever necessary. Though what Team Plasma preached admittedly put him a bit on edge during battles, Black also had to admit that he enjoyed this part of the journey much more than he thought he would have.

He didn’t have any real desire to be the champion or an elite trainer at all, and only enjoyed being a trainer for the sake of the journey. But before he could fully realize just how far he’d been dragged into Team Plasma’s plans, he was entrusted with the Dark Stone and being labeled as “the chosen one” by N. He was entirely convinced that there was no way he could be the hero the old myth talked about, but moral obligation to put a stop to Team Plasma’s plans eventually kicked in. Hero or not, he couldn’t just stand idly by. Taking down gym leaders and Plasma grunts suddenly became a duty rather than a pastime. His relationship with the more driven Cheren seemed to become strained, and Black was convinced that even Bianca and Hilda were becoming more distant as he tried to focus on the task expected of him.

After weeks of training, Black eventually reached the Pok?mon League, and hurriedly took down the Elite Four, just in time to see N defeat Alder. Black had harbored a decent amount of anger toward N since the king revealed his intentions. N was a strange and almost intimidating person, but Black was convinced that he wasn’t an evil one, and had even hoped that he could gradually befriend the man. Learning about the affiliation with Team Plasma felt like betrayal. Black was fully prepared to knock N off his pedestal from that point on, but all satisfaction in the idea was lost once he was allowed to explore Team Plasma’s castle and learn of the origins of N’s ideals. N’s childhood had been the near opposite of Black’s own: while Black’s was spent venturing outside with happy Pok?mon and a loving family, N had been trapped in a castle with abused, unhappy Pok?mon, and lacking the familial affection Black had taken for granted. Suddenly, everything about N made a lot more sense, and Black’s will to fight him diminished. Still, he knew there was no other way.

Black had kept a watchful eye over the Dark Stone, but never really expected it to do anything. He didn’t doubt in the legends-- after all, he’d been there to witness N’s awakening of Reshiram-- but rather doubted in himself. However, when he stepped forward to face N, readying himself to do so without the help of any legends, the stone reacted, and Zekrom appeared to aid him. The ensuing battle was grueling, but ultimately Black emerged the victor. It was a hollow, bitter victory, he thought; the greater good aside, he found little pride in watching N be defeated. And right after Black had won, Ghetsis appeared to tear N down just a little further and pose yet another threat. Black’s Pok?mon fought more viciously than he thought they could, apparently empathic to his rage and desire to end the conflict once and for all. They took down Ghetsis’ Pok?mon one by one, and Team Plasma finally seemed to be done for.

Thankfully, N seemed to accept his defeat. Seeing him and Reshiram fly off without any sign of a possible return was strangely painful for Black, but he was happy to see that N would get a second chance to learn about the world for himself, free from Ghetsis’ manipulations. But N’s parting words-- telling him to follow his dream and make it reality-- left Black feeling more than a little lost and uncertain. Taking down the gym leaders and Team Plasma hadn’t been part of any real dream for him; in his mind, it was more of an obligation than an ideal. He wanted to protect his region, yes, but did that count as a dream? He wasn’t sure.

While the idea that N had obtained a newfound freedom gave him a little piece of mind, Black couldn’t help but worry (especially after receiving word that Ghetsis had evaded jail time, and noticed that the Shadow Triad was still on the move). He occupied his time by training, exploring, and hunting down what remained of the Seven Sages, but it felt pointless more often than not. Months after N’s defeat, in a last-ditch effort to find himself, Black decided to battle for the championship title. To his surprise, he won, and replaced Alder as Unova’s champion.

It didn’t last long, though. Just when Black was trying to accept that maybe staying Unova’s champion was what he was meant to do, Iris approached him and asked for a battle. He was pleased to find that Iris had become stronger than him, and realized then that he would not remain the champion any longer.

After his defeat, he immediately began making preparations to leave Unova to search for N. His worries for the man aside, a part of him hoped that he’d be able to befriend N for real this time and join him on the soul-searching journey that he’d apparently set out on. His departure was a hasty one; the goodbyes to his family and friends were brief and vague. After all, he didn’t entirely understand his motives for leaving himself. It, quite simply, felt like something he had to do.

Unsure of where to even start looking, he began to wander the other regions, and visited all of them (thought he spent more time in some and less time in others). It was nice to explore the places he’d only read about in books and heard of in passing, but had no luck finding N. At best, he’d meet people that had seen a man similar to Black’s descriptions in passing, or spoke of catching a glimpse of a white dragon.

Eventually, after two and a half years of searching, Black returned to Unova, urged to go back home after learning belatedly of the chaos that had occurred during his absence. He still feels guilty about not being there to help his region, but it turned out that he wasn’t needed. A boy named Nate had come forward to take his place as the hero-- and it was from the same boy that Black finally received dependable hints at N’s location. Black tracked him down promptly, and was surprised to find that N had been searching for him too.

The reunion was awkward at best, but a genuine friendship gradually began to form between the two, and their time spent as enemies was soon forgotten. With that conflict resolved, Black returned to Nuvema to reunite with his family and to repair the relationships that had become distant during his absence (in particular, with Cheren and Bianca). Though the soul-searching journey with N that he had in mind didn’t happen, relaxing at home no longer made him feel restless as it had before.

When wintertime rolled around, Black decided to invite N to stay with him, after getting permission from his mother. The idea of N living under one roof with him, his mother, and Hilda was a strange one, but Black enjoys N’s company, and is confident that it will work out.

Appearance: (X) He hasn’t grown much taller since he started his journey and stands at about 5’5’’ (and he’s still only a tiny bit insecure about it). His eyes and hair are matching shades of light brown. He keeps his hair cut short and his face shaven, though occasionally he forgets about the latter and sports a bit of stubble (but not more than that). After spending so much time on the road, his skin has taken on a healthy tan, and he’s gained a bit of muscle (but he’s still just of average build). It’s not uncommon for him to have cuts and bruises here and there on account of adventuring, but he only has one scar: a small, splotchy thing on his forehead near his hairline-- the result of a rather spectacular fall he had when he was eleven (it’s usually hidden by his hair, but his mom does like to bring it up in conversation sometimes and have him show it off).

Pok?mon:


Wott M/ Brave/ Proud of its power
Black’s starter, and perhaps his most trusted Pok?mon. When he was an Oshawott, Wott didn’t possess nearly as much confidence and pride as he does now, due to being regarded as the unfavorable starter by several rounds of trainers. After Black chose him, he was eager to prove himself, but was clumsy and reckless in his haste to do so. It took Black a long while to coax Wott out of this inferiority complex, but Wott has grown a great deal since then. Despite the obvious language barrier, Black and Wott have a mutual understanding, and act as support for each other. Courageous and fiercely loyal since overcoming his insecurities, Wott is always ready to encourage his less confident trainer forward.

Dante M/ Docile/ Somewhat vain
Captured as a wild Deerling, Dante wasn’t originally supposed to stick around as a part of Black’s main team. Black was quick to come to the aid of a scientist that was requesting to see all four of Deerling’s seasonal forms, and Dante was what he brought in first. A proud creature, Dante put up quite a fight, and was reluctant to leave Black’s side once the trainer’s skill had been proven. He swore loyalty to the boy from then on, and continued to follow him even after Black offered to release him back into the wild. He’s since grown genuinely fond of Black, but remains proud to the point of vanity. It’s typical for him to ignore others, human and fellow Pok?mon alike, until they prove themselves to him one way or another. If they manage to do so, Dante’s haughty disposition shifts into a friendly, docile one.
Dante seems to have a bit of a rivalry with Wott, who apparently doesn’t approve of the Sawsbuck’s attitude.

Alma F/ Hasty/ Highly curious
Alma was revived from a fossil Black was given during his first visit to Relic Castle. She’s a vicious fighter despite her handicapping Deafeatist ability, but is surprisingly friendly and even a bit silly off the battlefield. While Black was concerned about how well the Archen would take to the modern world, she thankfully caught on fairly quick. However, once she did, her initial fear of the new environment shifted into curiosity. She spends a good deal of her time inspecting anything and everything that piques her interest with no regard to personal space or potential threats. Said “inspecting” has cost Black one or two electronics, but he’s learned to coach Alma on what objects are okay for her to chew on and which ones are not.

Gregory Gentle/ Often lost in thought
Black encountered Gregory as a Golett when he was climbing through Dragonspiral Tower in search of Team Plasma. As if sensing that Black’s only intention was to protect Unova, Gregory joined the team willingly without initiating a battle. Gregory is the quintessential gentle giant: powerful in battle, but cautious and benevolent at the same time. It’s hard to find something that Gregory doesn’t show utmost respect and protectiveness toward. It’s in his nature to protect, so staying with Black, one of Unova’s “heroes”, suits him just fine.
Golurk is a genderless species but, like with other Pok?mon that he’s befriended, Black feels strange referring to Gregory as “it”. To him, it seems impersonal. Gregory hasn’t yet objected to being referred to as male, so Black continues to do so.

Victoria F/ Naive/ Hates to lose
Victoria was given to Black as an egg by a Pok?mon Ranger he met shortly after confronting N at Dragonspiral Tower. With the prospect of taking down Team Plasma on his mind, Black accepted the egg reluctantly, unsure if he would be able to care for it properly. He considered handing it off to Hilda to look after, just to be safe, but it hatched before he got the chance to. The Larvesta that emerged imprinted on Black instantly, apparently convinced that he was her parent. At that point in his journey, Victoria was severely underleveled, and Black’s first intention was to send her back to live with his mother while he continued on. However, the young Larvesta would have none of it, and latched onto Black until he finally relented. Victoria quickly wormed her way into the team, boasting an apparently natural love for battling. While she’s fierce on the battlefield, she’s playful, protective, and affectionate off of it, especially toward Black. Even after evolving and nearly doubling in size, she still loves to be babied and has a habit of using Black as a perch. She’s usually tolerant of other trainers as well, but if they get too close to Black without gaining her trust first, she can get aggressive. This is a trait Black works hard to discourage, but Victoria hasn’t quite grown out of it yet.

Zekrom Quiet/ Strong willed
Zekrom appeared to Black just before his final battle with N, awoken from the Dark Stone Black had been entrusted with. The dragon’s appearance was definitely unexpected, and Black still isn’t quite sure why she stays with him. Zekrom is the strong and silent type, proud and majestic but not boastful. When she was first summoned, she fought with a ferocity that Black was unaccustomed to seeing in Pok?mon-- a raw power that terrified him. Thankfully, though, she has since become more subdued. Despite her fearsome first impression, Zekrom typically has a surprisingly gentle and serene disposition, and only shows anger when she deems it necessary (when Black or any of those close to him are in danger, for example). She also occasionally shows a curious side in her apparent fascination with all the changes that have been made in the world during her time sleeping within the Dark Stone, and an almost maternal affection toward Black.
Black allows Zekrom to go wherever she pleases and, while she does tend to go off on her own from time to time, she rarely strays too far from him and is always prepared to come to his aid. Black supposes this has something to do with her obligation as a guide; if the old myths were to be believed (and at this point, Black has no choice but to believe all the myths to be true), Zekrom is meant to guide him toward his ideals-- ideals he doesn’t yet feel he has a firm grasp of. Black hopes that she can help him toward the way he’s meant to go, and until then he’s honored to have her as company.
Black initially referred to Zekrom without pronouns, but after hearing N refer to Reshiram as “he”, he decided to do the same. He cautiously settled on using “she”, trying to follow the opposites rule between the two legendaries (white and black, light and dark, male and female). As a genderless species, Zekrom was only amused that Black felt obligated to label her (and as feminine no less), but she allows him to do so all the same.

Others: There are several other Pok?mon that Black has captured and/or befriended on his journey, but aren’t part of his main team. He switches them out from time to time if the need arises or one of them simply wants to get out and about. Black stopped using the PC services later in his journey (Team Plasma being the main reason), so, when these Pok?mon are not with him, they either roam in the wild or stay in Nuvema with his mother.