What if Whitley is secretly just a fusion of Allister and Bede from PokƩmon sword and shield? XD on a more serious note what if Whitley had a froslass that his mother gave him?
Because a couple days before I got this ask (which was weeks ago, I know, and Iām very sorry, things have been insane), I started a new Nuzlocke run of Pokemon Shield, and for kicks and giggles because of theĀ āWhitley the Pokemon Trainerā stuff thatās been going around, I made my avatar Whitley, and of course started trying to figure out how a RWBY/Shield AU would work out.
I realized halfway through my plotting that Whitley honestly does fit Bede more than who I cast him as, but a) I wanted him to start at the same place the player does, and b) itās my AU, so who cares?
Whitley is the younger brother of the current champion, Weiss Schnee, who became champion 2/3 years ago after leaving home to complete the Gym Challenge. Winter, the eldest Schnee sister, left home nearly a decade ago, and wound up as Galarās Ice Gym Leader. Whitley has remained behind with their mother in their estate outside Postwick.
Willow is neglectful, an alcoholic that spends more time than not drunk in her rooms. Jacques, an abusive jackass and also a business partner of Chairwoman Salem, usually works from home, but during the lead-up and during challenge season, moves to an apartment in Wyndon to focus on the extra work sent his way. This is Whitleyās favorite time of the year, as it gives him the most freedom to leave the estate and go into the nearby towns of Postwick and Wedgehurst.
Oscar Pine and Ruby Rose are the closest things to friends Whitley has, who he visits when he gets the chance to escape his house.Ā
Oscar is Rubyās cousin - her mother, Summer Rose, is Oscarās aunt, who Oscar came to live with after his parents were killed in a freak train accident when he was fairly young. Oscar helps Summer with the Budew and Wooloo they breed, farming flowers and wool and selling both in Wedgehurst.
Ruby is the granddaughter of noted Pokemon Professor, Professor Ozpin, and currently works as his assistant while she tries to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Ruby was one of the four rookie challengers that made it into the finals of the Gym Challenge season that saw Weiss become champion, despite being two years younger, but lost against her sister in an early bracket.
Rubyās half-sister Yang is Galarās Fighting Gym Leader, taking the role on after making it fairly far in the finals of the gym challenge.Ā
Whitley and Oscar often hang around the Pokemon Lab with Ruby, taking advantage of all the interesting tech and books, as well as the comforting atmosphere. Professor Ozpin works from home a majority of the time, but comes by often enough to recognize Whitley as his grandchildrenās friend and pick up enough hints about his home life.
Close to the beginning of the new Gym Challenge season (called GCS from here on out), Ozpin invites the three of them to his home on Route 2, Ruby guiding them with her Yamper Zwei for protection.
Once there, Ozpin offers to sponsor both Oscar and Whitley in this yearās GCS, and give both of them a starting Pokemon. Oscarās thrilled, having wanted to venture out into Galar for a while now to learn more, but Whitley is far less so, hesitant to leave his mother alone and terrified of his fatherās reaction if/when he found out.
Ozpin assures him thereās no pressure - the Pokemon is his regardless of whether or not he chooses to take on the challenge, so he should just focus on getting to know his chosen Pokemon before deciding.
Oscar lets him go first, since this will be Whitleyās first Pokemon, while heās had his own Wooloo before.
Whitley considers the Sobble for the matching aesthetics, but realizes heās probably isnāt patient enough to deal with the constant crying. He settles for Grookey, having at least had a bit of experience with grass-types from visiting Oscarās Budews. Oscar takes the Sobble.
A small barbecue/party is held at Ozpinās place, then everyone heads back to Postwick. Whitley takes the Grookey home, and despite being perpetually drunk or hungover, even Willow canāt miss her son bringing home a Pokemon. Reluctantly, Whitley tells her about the professorās offer, and Willow goes quiet, wandering off to think and leaving Whitley to bond with his Grookey. (In my playthrough, I got a female Grookey I named Rhya - what do you all think Whitley would name his?)
Nearly a week later, the night before Whitleyās heading out to give his answer to the professor, Willow comes to him to give him her blessing and supplies - a mix of her own, Winterās, and Weissā - in the form of a map, money, a hat, a Bag (a case that acts like a Box, but for items rather than Pokemon), camping supplies, etc. Whitleyās understandably shocked by all this, and it certainly throws him for a loop on what heās going to do next.
The next morning, Oscar, Ruby, and he head over to Ozpinās place. At Ozpinās request, he and Oscar have a battle that Whitley manages to win. Hopped up on that and spurred on by his motherās blessing (and some not-so-subtle comments on wanting/needing a rival from Oscar), he accepts the recommendation, agreeing to accompany Oscar as they attempt the GC.
Whitley returns home briefly to pack and say goodbye to his mother, and gets one final gift - an Egg his mother found a while back, presumably from her Froslass and a random Pokemon that had been passing through the Slumbering Weald. (For your headcanon, anon~)
What happens next⦠would require me finishing my playthrough, and honestly a Nuzlocke probably isnāt the best way to determine what Pokemon Whitley would choose. I may go through again as a non-Nuzlocke, looking at what Pokemon are available that I think would suit Whitley and try to make a team for him. Iāve got plenty of time now.
Milo is replaced with Taiyang, who, when not involved with the GCS, focuses on teaching new trainers, recommending the best of the crop to the Gym Challenge.
Nessa is replaced with Ren - a calm trainer whose Pokemon can flow like water around obstacles, or slam into opponents like a wave.
Kabu is replaced with Qrow - a trainer from an older generation trying to improve himself.
Allister is replaced with Neo - a silent Trainer that can disappear seemingly without a trace, known for her Pokemonās ability to seemingly dodge any hit.
Opal is replaced by Maria - an older woman that seems to have secrets, searching for an apprentice to soon become the new Fairy Gym Leader. Upon meeting Ruby, who shows up to cheer on Oscar and Whitley at their matches, drags her off to convince her to be the next Fairy Gym Leader, muttering something aboutĀ āhaving the eyes for it.ā
Like said above, Melony is replaced by Winter, who got the job nearly a decade ago. Known for her powerful attacks and well-disciplined Pokemon, even her multiple type disadvantages donāt seem to turn the tides.Ā
Piers is replaced with Blake - a Trainer specializing in dark types that refuses to use Dynamax, concerned about the effects it may have on the Pokemon that use it constantly. She made it to the finals of the GC, but ultimately fell near the end.Ā
Raihan is replaced by Pyrrha - the near-unbeatable crown jewel of the Gym Challenge, the last obstacle before the finals, and the reason so few challengers make it to them. A prodigy of a trainer that took the position at 14, and has come extremely close to dethroning Weiss multiple times during her reign as champion
Jaune is a Normal-type Gym Leader that just took over this year.
Nora is the Electric Gym Leader, nicknamedĀ āthe Hammerā for her tendency to oneshot opposing Pokemon with powerful Thunderbolts and Discharges.
Sun takes Marnieās place - not Blakeās sibling, but someone that cares for her deeply, and does his best to help spread word of her cause by fighting in the Gym Challenge without Dynamax like she did.
Chairman Rose is replaced by Salem - rather than trying to solve the potential energy crisis, she simply wants to destroy the world and remake it in her own image. Cinder replaces Oleana, pulling the strings to set everything in place for Salemās plan.
Emerald and Mercury are Bedeās substitutes - kids Salem and Cinder fund on the off-chance of being useful for dirty work.
Team Yell does not exist.
And holy shit, this has gotten long, so Iām gonna stop here before I start just flat out writing fanfiction.
But, uhā¦. yeah, I can very much see Whitley being a part of the Galar region! A Froslass would be a good aesthetic addition to his team - perhaps a companion rather than a competitive Pokemon, since they have so many type weaknesses.
Thank you for this ask! I thoroughly enjoyed my excuse to ramble about an AU thatās been knocking around my head for a while (and can probably be prodded into doing so again).Ā
Have a wonderful day/evening, and stay safe!