Friend

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The 's friendPokémon X and Y official site (archived)Pokémon Sun and Moon official site (archived)Pokémon Scarlet and Violet official site (Japanese: friendPokémon X and Y official site (Japanese)Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! official site (Japanese)Pokémon Scarlet and Violet official site (Japanese) or companionPokémon Sun and Moon official site (Japanese)) or childhood friendPokémon Black and White official site (archived) (Japanese: なじみ childhood friend)Pokémon Diamond and Pearl page on Pokemon.co.jp (Japanese)Pokémon Platinum page on Pokemon.co.jp (Japanese)Pokémon Black and White official site (Japanese)Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 official site (Japanese) is a reoccurring main character in a Pokémon game that the player character may interact with over the course of their . 
These characters take personal interest in the player, and often share a bond either at the start, before, or at the end of the story. Friends may accompany the player over the course of the game or form a rivalry with them. They may share similar goals with the player, while often having their own motivation and aspirations as well. Most friends can be spoken or interacted with in a game's post-adventure, showing improvement or character development.
Other notable instances of characters considering each other friends also occur in some Pokémon media.
==Terminology==
The term "friend" was used specifically in certain music track titles in , used as a leitmotif for when the player meets up with their friend group. Otherwise, characters in-game may refer to the player as one of their friends. The Battle Tree in and refers to the music tracks "Battle! (Hau)" and "Battle at the Summit! (Hau)" as "My Friend Hau". Hau's title on the Sun and Moon website refers to him as "Your Friend Hau". Hau's internal data also refers to the character as "FRIEND". Additionally, "friendly rival"Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! official siteHau’s Trainer Spotlight in Pokémon Masters, the Pokémon TCG, Manga, and More | Pokemon.com is a term used to refer to certain rival characters who are non-antagonistic towards the player.
==In the games==
===Core series===
In the core series, the player is usually met with a character that can be considered a friend. This character archetype was first displayed in Generation I, where is considered to have been friends with the player since they were young. The player's friends usually appear already having a Pokémon before they are met, as is the case with Nemona and Hop, or they start their journey at the same time as them, picking their first partner Pokémon based on what the player has already chosen, as in the case with Blue and Shauna. Starting in , many of these characters form friend groups and start their journey together, either splitting up at a certain point and reforming later, or travel with the player. Most of the player's friends will be in the starting location and town or city as the player, characters in these locations may acknowledge each other as neighbors, / will directly call the player "neighbor" as a nickname and sign of affection.
Since some of these characters already have some experience with Pokémon, these characters often tutor the player on Pokémon, examples being Calem/Serena teaching the player and Shauna how to catch a Pokémon. Friendly rivalries may be created between characters and player, in which their friend may participate in the player's first Pokémon battle, serving as a tutorial in such circumstances. Over the course of the game, these friendly rivals may appear throughout the game challenging the player and getting stronger. Other times, the opposite is true instead, with the player teaching their friend how to use or catch Pokémon, with Wally being taught by them. These characters, like Lillie, also typically learn and grow at their own pace, and continue to learn from the player, and are encouraged by them throughout the story. 
Some characters, such as N, are antagonistic to the player and may be affiliated with a sinister organization and will later become more friendly with the player by the end of the story.
Friends who provide no interest in rivaling the player in battle may reoccur and interact with the player in different ways, as in the case with Lillie, who often provides support and healing of the player's party, disliking the idea Pokémon battles and not wanting them to get hurt. Trevor and Tierno, two friends that the player meets in , despite battling the player, have no interest in surpassing the character in that field either. Trevor specifically wants to rival the player in Pokédex information and completion, rather than having a typical rivalry. Arven welcomes the player on his journey through Paldea, encouraging them to help with finding Herba Mystica.
Starting in Generation III, most friends typically have their as Pokémon Trainer. However, this class isn't exclusive to them, and some may not use this Trainer class, using another instead depending on their situation in the game. Some change their Trainer class throughout the game. Not all of the player's friends have participated in battle against them, if they battle at all.
The following are the characters in the games that have been officially referred to as friends of a player character.
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Japanese manual「となりにはなじみのグリーン(ライバル)がんでいます」 ([...] his childhood friend Green (rival) lives next door.) 	Welcome to the Kanto Region | Pokémon Let's Go Official Website: You'll begin your journey in Pallet Town, a humble place that's also home to your friendly rival, who just so happens to be your next-door neighbor.	: "This is Silver. He's a friend of mine from my adventure across the Johto region!" ()	/: "<Player>, people are talking about you! I heard you helped Kimono Girls? You've been helping all these people! You make me proud to be your friend." (New Bark Town, )		: "There isn't a Trainer in all of Hoenn who doesn't know who you are, <player>! When I tell people that I'm friends with you, <player>, they get pretty envious!" (, ) 	: "I was hoping you would be nice, <player>, and that we could be friends." (Littleroot Town, ) 	Scott: "You're friends with that boy Wally, aren't you?" (Mauville City, ) 	: "...Uh... Well, I, uh... ... ... Well, then forget about me, but give a Pokémon to my friend here! I mean, it was me who tried to go into the tall grass and all..." (, )	: "I thought so! Congratulations, <player>! You know, I'm glad we're friends!" (Sandgem Town, ) 	: "Barry and Lucas are my precious friends..." () 	Cheren: "<player>! We've been friends our whole lives. We've got each other's back when it counts." (Wellspring Cave, ) 	Bianca: "<player>, thank you so much! The two of you got her Pokémon back! I'm lucky to have friends like you two!" (, ) 	: "Just like my friend Hilbert." () 	Hugh: "<player>... I'm really glad you're my friend!" (Undella Town, )
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Associated with the Friends Theme "A New Meeting" and Battle! (Friend) music tracks 	 	 	 		[https://web.archive.org/web/20171103020011/https://www.pokemon-sunmoon.com/ultra/en-us/alola-region.html Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon website (archive): You’ll run into friends and develop even closer bonds with them during your island challenges.	Associated and titled "My Friend Hau" or "Your Friend Hau" in numerous in-game tracks and promotional descriptions	Marnie: "That friend of yours already went off to challenge the next Gym." (Motostoke, )	: "Marnie and I may be rivals, but we're also really good friends!" () 	During (Champion)'s sync pair story in , the narration states that the player "came across Bede and his friends", and the two people he's shown with are and .	Scarlet and Violet website: "Your friend, Nemona, has a sunny and energetic disposition, and she absolutely loves Pokémon battles."	Arven: "Sorry for the wait! Here's a super healthy sandwich that'll perk you right up once you eat it! Plus, as a token of our friendship, here's another Titan Badge! Gaze upon it in awe as you eat." ()	Penny: "Huh... I feel better after talking it out with you, <player>. Thanks. And, um, I want you to know you're a really important friend to me, too. That goes for Nemona as well! And even Arven and Koraidon/Miraidon!" ()	Carmine: "This is <player>. He/She's here on a foreign exchange program. He/She's my friend, and—"(Central Plaza, )	Kieran: "What?! R-really?! We're friends? F-friends... I feel all tingly and funny hearing that... Ehehe..." (Mossui Town, )
===Spin-offs===
====Pokémon Masters EX====
	
	
	
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
 has traveled within a group of friends throughout the course of . While Ash typically travels with the same group of friends though a series, some characters, such as , will drop in and out of the group for a number of episodes. In , Ash has five classmates that he also becomes close to while attending the Pokémon School.
===Pokémon Origins===
 appears in Pokémon Origins, being in a similar role as he had in the video games. Unlike in the games, rather than just being 's rival, he helps assist Red in some situations involving Team Rocket.
===Pokémon Generations===
Pokémon Generations has two episodes that focus on friends of the player:
* appears in The Challenger, battling the Elite Four and becoming the , before attempts to take his title.
* appears as the main character of The Legacy. He is not shown interacting with the protagonist.
===Pokémon: Twilight Wings===
The episode Buddy focuses on Hop and his . Hop also makes cameo appearances in Letter and Training. Marnie makes a minor appearance in Early-Evening Waves.
===GOTCHA!===
GOTCHA! notably features the friend characters up to and including 's base game, with the characters from the first 7 generations (with exception of Trace due to the absence of any character's from the games) being shown simultaneously. The scene in particular displays the characters either in battle or interacting with each other, with some sections being seen from a friend's perspective.
===Pokémon Evolutions===
A majority of the player's friends have appeared in Pokémon Evolutions:
* In The Champion, Hop helped put an end to Darkest Day. At the end of the episode, Marnie appeared in a cameo. 
* The Eclipse primarily focuses on Lillie, who, by receiving help from , journeys to the Altar of the Moone in order to evolve Nebby, and save her mother. Hau also appears in a flashback, in which he, Lillie, Selene, Gladion, and Guzma all witness Lusamine use Nebby's power to open an Ultra Wormhole at Aether Paradise.
* In The Visionary, Shauna and were seen helping put an end to Team Flare's plans, with Serena being depicted with her NPC appearance. Neither character has a speaking role.
* In The Plan, the history of N during and before the events of is recalled. Cheren also appears in a flashback.
* The Rival focuses on and goes through the events of in a series of flashbacks from his perspective.
* The Wish has as the player character climbing Sky Pillar following the events of the Delta Episode.
* The Show features , presumably as his player character counterpart.
* In The Discovery, entered Cerulean Cave to find , competing against . Both characters lost to , who had already caught the Pokémon by the time they arrived.
==In the TCG==
In the TCG, a number of characters appear both in groups and singular cards based on the player's friends and rivals. Starting in the Sun & Moon era, cards based on a group of friends from the video games have been displayed. Multiple characters have also had their own separated cards.
==Trivia==
* and are currently the only friend characters to not participate in battle either against or partnering with the player character.
** However, they do serve as the catch tutorial in , demonstrating their capability of battling.
** Before , Lillie was the only friend character to not appear in any sort of battle at all.
==In other languages==
==References==
Category:Characters
zh:朋友