Name: Dogwood
Age: 19
Home town: Cianwood City
Occupation: Martial Artist
Bio: Dogwood was born and raised in Cianwood City. His father was good friends with Chuck, and Dogwood frequented the Cianwood Gym. It was there that he learned a number of martial arts from Chuck and the trainers that practiced there. At the age of 10, he did not leave for New Bark Town like many of his friends. Pokemon did not interest him nearly as much as martial arts. Some Pokemon trained with him at the gym, true enough, but he never had any strong desire to befriend them.
Nearly a year had past when one of his friends returned, and with him, a team of Pokemon. He was here to challenge the gym leader, Chuck. Dogwood knew Chuck wasn't going to lose. He had some of the strongest Pokemon he'd ever seen. But when the fight started, Chuck insisted on using some of the weaker Pokemon at the gym. Chuck lost gracefully, and rewarded the trainer his gym badge.
When Dogwood asked him why he used only the weaker Pokemon, Chuck explained to him that his opponent's Pokemon were still growing, and had he set the bar too high, the trainer may have given up on ever winning. Using the weaker Pokemon created a more fair fight. Dogwood realized that it was the same as his discipline training, holding back for the sake of sportsmanship.
At the age of 13, Dogwood learned all Chuck had to teach him. Dogwood, still eager to learn, grew restless. So Chuck introduced him to Brawly, a gym leader from Hoenn who knew different martial arts than him, and could teach those to Dogwood. So he trained under Brawly for two years. After learning everything Brawly had to teach, he trained under Maylene, of Sinnoh. There he trained for another four years.
Now 19, and well versed in many martial arts, both for sports and self-defense, he was led to Bruno, of the Johto and Kanto regions Elite Four. Dogwood was ecstatic! When they finally met face to face, Bruno towered over him. He was more tree than man.
They shook hands, and before Dogwood could get a word out, Bruno asked him, "Have you ever trained a Pokemon?" Dogwood replied, "No, sir." Bruno's gaze became stern, and he shook his head, "Then I will not teach you." Dogwood was left dumbfounded. Without a word, he was led out of the Pokemon League. What had just happened?
Dogwood quickly made up his mind. If Bruno would only teach him after he'd trained a Pokemon, that's just what he was going to have to do. But first, he would need a Pokemon. This region's Pokemon Professor resided in Pallet Town, so that's where he was going to go.
