Pokemon Monochrome - Altaire

July 17, 2011

Paint Tool SAI, Adobe Photoshop CS4.

UNFFFFF!!!! POKEMON!!!!
Pokemon Monochrome is my guess for the third game that will better-ize Black and White. (Most people will probably assume it'll be "Pokemon Grey" or something like that.. maybe "Pokemon Marble"?)

I need to let you all know.. my undying LOVE for Ken Sugimori's art style for Pokemon!
It is divine and precious and FUN in its simplicity. SO WONDERFUL!

And that is why I put efforts into emulating his style! DID I PULL IT OFF GUYS!?

Also, how can you NOT fall in love with Altaire? Look at that precious guy, cherishing his pokemon and they him~! AWW!! Plus, his Black and White plaid is a perfect fit with Pokemon Monochrome. XD

OKAY, and since I am SO EXPERT (yah right) at adapting my characters into every universe, here is Altaire's backstory in Pokemon--and because Pokemon is like.. pg-13 as a cartoon, his story is slightly less r-rated this time around!

Altaire was born in a family line that has been under an ancient pokemon's curse. His family must have done something that angered a powerful pokemon, and it in return took vengeance on his family. Altaire's family must now feed on the souls of pokemon to survive (that's right, not just eat them for meat, but their souls--and they have to be alive while their souls are taken!). The more powerful and rare the pokemon, the more nutritious. Plus, after eating one, they get to use ONE MOVE that the pokemon knows. The best pokemon are the ones who have been trained by other people, so his family basically goes around stealing people's pets and partners to consume them and use their powers to get even better pokemon. HOW AWFUL!

Altaire however, always the softhearted boy he is, never liked this much. His family tried to drill it into him that pokemon were just lowly creatures who in all their ironic rage, forced his family to use and consume pokemon in teh worst ways. His family expected him only to train a pokemon to eat it, or use it to capture other pokemon to eat. They didn't believe in kindness or friendship with pokemon.
However, he was easily influenced by all the positive messages about pokemon. Altaire believed in pokemon rights. Most of all.. HE JUST WANTED TO BECOME A POKEMON TRAINER AND GO ON ADVENTURES LIKE EVERY OTHER KID!

Altaire rebelled at 13. Refusing to eat a clefa that was given to him. Instead, he said he was going to train the clefa to help him capture other pokemon to eat. His mother reluctantly accepted, but his cousins thought it would be hilarious to make Altaire eat his precious pet. Altaire grabbed his clefa, along with an evee that was caged with it, and ran. Altaire ran from home at that point and has survived on his own ever since with his loyal clefa and evee (who later evolve into clefairy and espeon because they're so happy with him).

Now he goes around making "contracts" with pokemon, using his espeon's help to communicate with other pokemon. These pokemon sacrifice their souls for some cause (like saving their species, getting a favour from Altaire). He still cuts his right arm, but for contract purposes instead of super major depression! (He is still depressed and self-hating though, don't get me wrong!)

Oh, and did I mention how he was totally compelled to love pokemon because of Gym Leader Kalliope's speeches and essays on Pokemon rights, and was inspired to become a trainer after seeing her son Ezra with his umbreon and chatot => [link] ? xD <3 <3 They totally team up in tag battles now and adventure the world together! TOO CUTE!

Altaire also doesn't "believe" in using TMs or HMs because they are "artificial" so.. yah. Nice kid, but will probably never have the most powerful pokemon. None of his pokemon stay in pokeballs either. >__>

Clefairy - female - nicknamed "Esze" (a throwback to SZ-Silver Zodiac, but also relates to SC-Solar Cat and second half of Ezzy-for Ezra -- but also completely looks like he has a huge celebrity crush on Pokemon trainer Ezra XD)
- pound
- sing
- wake-up slap
- metronome
notes: Altaire's clefairy has bat-like wings on its back instead of the normally butterfly-shaped ones. I think it's because of Altaire's spiritual influence. His clefairy also wears his hat when it battles for extra luck! Esze is pretty sweet and jovial, always being the one to cheer Altaire up when things get rough.

Espeon - male, nicknamed Espy
- helping hand
- swift
- last resort
- psychic
notes: negotiates contracts with other pokemon on Altaire's behalf. Espy is quite serious and matter-of-fact, with a bit of a arrogant streak. He is quite competitive, but doesn't take well to losing.

Crobat - male, nicknamed Cro
- cross poison
- leech life
- astonish
- air cutter
notes: lovingly raised from a zubat that he encountered in a cave during his daring escape. Cro is a sneaky and michievous pokemon, that wants to know alla botu breeding.. >___>

Deino - male, no nickname yet
- bite
- dragon breath
- crunch
- work up
notes: newest member in Altaire's group. Its mother made a contact with Altaire to save a clutch of eggs containing it and its siblings. When Altaire brought them to a reserve, they could only take so many at the time, so Altaire kept one of the eggs for a while an it hatched in his care. Since hatching and becoming impressioned with Altaire as its parent, Altaire felt it could no longer leave his side. Deino has a penchant for biting any and everything though, including Altaire when he's hungry, scared, angry, or happy (only sleepiness stops him.. sometimes. lol)! It has yet to find out that Altaire consumed its mommy.