Lenny

**Lenny** (Japanese: **レニー** *Reini*) is a Pokémon Trainer hailed from the Hoenn region's Petalburg City.

## **History**

### **Background**

Lenny suffered from an unknown illness (possibly acute bronchitis, or asthma, based on his symptoms) since a very young age. As a result, Lenny's parents were quite over-protective of their son, and always kept him contained within Petalburg City, and rarely allowed him to become unsupervised.

### **Hoenn**

Lenny first appears in the Petalburg Woods crouching down in pain after failing to capture some wild Pokémon. He is found by Jethro, who quickly takes a liking to him after Lenny praised his Pokémon. Jethro offers to help him capture another Pokémon, but Lenny declines his offer, stating that someone else is already helping him. Suddenly, once the person who is helping Lenny starts walking towards them, Jethro immediately grabs him and jumps into the bushes, realizing that the person Lenny was talking about is his father, Norman, the Gym Leader of the Petalburg Gym.

After defeating a wild Breloom, Norman tells Lenny to come out of the bushes. Lenny complies and asks if Norman will teach him how to capture a Pokémon. Norman refuses his request, stating that he was not told of Lenny's illness and that his worried parents are taking him to another town to recuperate the next day. Norman states that he cannot ensure the ill Lenny's safety in the dangerous world of Pokémon they live in. After Jethro dodges an attack from Norman after he is found hiding in the bushes, he finds Lenny unconscious on the ground. Jethro takes Lenny to his house where Lenny is put onto a bed and hooked to a respirator. After his parents thank Jethro and leave, Lenny realizes that they must have told Norman to not teach him how to capture a Pokémon. Jethro, noticing Lenny's visible anger, lends him his Ralts, and takes him to the outskirts of Petalburg City so he can capture his own Pokémon.

They quickly find a wild Kecleon and Lenny decides to capture it, much to Jethro's disappointment. They chase the Kecleon and Lenny sends out Ralts to battle it; after failing to capture it once, Lenyn states that he's beginning to enjoy the battle. Thanking Jethro for his help, Lenny gives him a PokéNav on the condition that he stays with him a little longer. After the Kecleon begins to get tired, Lenny finally throws a Poké Ball and successfully captures his first Pokémon; ecstatic, Lenny states that he can move to Verdanturf Town without any regrets. His joy is quickly shattered when a sudden earthquake breaks the piece of land that Jethro is standing on and sends him in the ocean. Later, Lenny wakes up in his new house in Verdanturf Town and goes to tell the adults about Jethro's situation. Ralts stops him and Lenny realizes that Jethro is still alive because Ralts can pick up his emotions with her horn.

Much later, Lenny appears at Pacifidlog Town with two new Pokémon, a respirator suit, and an ally of an old man who wishes to see Mirage Island. It is revealed that the old man had taken Lenny to Pacifidlog due to it being an even better place for recuperating from his illness. As they sail through the storm created by Kyogre, Lenny notices a bag with a Treecko still inside of its Poké Ball. Lenny pins the bag to a wall, rescues the Treecko, and heals it with his Pokémon.

Suddenly, an obscured figure appears and questions his choice of using Needle Arm to save the Treecko when it could have just as easily harmed it. Lenny responds that he trusts in his Pokémon to be strong even though he himself is weak. The figure reveals himself as Norman and states that he intends to train Lenny just as he was asked to in the past. Lenny accepts his offer and the two fly off to the Sky Pillar as it is the only place that is not being plagued with the storms and droughts that are currently hitting Hoenn. As they enter the building, Lenny stares in awe at the massive tower, but Norman tells him to focus. After arriving, Norman opens a suitcase filled with arm protectors that he gives to Lenny. After telling Lenny to put his Poké Balls in the holsters, Norman tells Lenny to climb the Sky Pillar while he waits at the top. After Norman leaves on his Flygon, Lenny takes his first step on the second floor. Immediately, the floor collapses underneath Lenny, causing him to fall down.

The arm protector immediately shoots out a Poké Ball, which releases Treecko. Treecko grabs Lenny, saving him from falling with its ability to stick to walls. Lenny thanks Treecko for saving him and notes how ironic it is that Treecko that saved him this time. Lenny climbs back onto the second floor and begins examining it. Lenny notes that the floor is filled with cracks, which prevents it from being able to handle any kind of weight.

Lenny considers using Ralts's Confusion, but doubts that she'd be able to last using the move for the entire area. Treecko points out that a Mach Bike had been placed nearby. Lenny realizes that with the Mach Bike, he can speed through the cracks before they crumble; and with his arm protector, he can release his Pokémon while riding it. He quickly realizes that the Mach Bike was left Norman as a test. Although he doubts his skills, Lenny quickly regains his composure and sets off on the Mach Bike.

Outside, the old man wonders if Lenny can clear the Sky Pillar. Norman states that if Lenny can't clear the tower, then that's that. He states that Lenny should set his goals even higher than he already has. Norman tells the old man that he was supposed to call Scott instead of spying on him. The old man complies, and he begins to call Scott on his Pokégear.

Back at the Sky Pillar, Lenny continues to cycle through the floors while battling the wild Pokémon inside. After clearing the 15th floor, Lenny stops to use his respirator suit to help his breathing problems. Although Ralts worries for his condition, Lenny tells her that he's alright and proceeds upwards. Lenny continues making his way up the pillar while battling more Pokémon until he finally reaches the 49th floor.

Exhausted, Lenny struggles to climb the stairs and notes that the floor feels different from the others. A Dusclops appears and creates a black hole in between its hands to start sucking Lenny inside it. A device in Lenny's pocket begins beeping, which is revealed to be the third Pokédex. Lenny uses the Pokédex to find out the Dusclops's identity. The black hole continues to suck Lenny in, even taking the Mach Bike in the process. Lenny struggles to try and escape, but is unable to get out of the pull of Dusclops's attack. Treecko tells Lenny to release it out to battle, but Lenny has doubts because it might be sucked into the black hole as well. After checking the Pokédex, Lenny learns that Treecko has an attack that can defeat the black hole.

Lenny trusts in Treecko, and releases it to battle. Treecko immediately evolves into Grovyle, allowing it to beat the Dusclops with Leaf Blade. Having won the battle, Lenny thanks Grovyle for its help and compliments its evolution. Lenny climbs up to the 50th floor, but immediately collapses from exhaustion. As the Pokédex lies in his hand, it attempts to register Lenny as its owner, but fails.

Norman arrives and congratulates Lenny for his victory, which Lenny states is because of the help from the Pokédex. Norman tells Lenny to remove his oxygen mask. Lenny does so, and discovers that the climb of the Sky Pillar had increased the strength of his lungs, allowing him to breathe even in the thinner air. Norman states that Lenny has grown stronger, which makes Lenny happy due to him finally beating a wild Pokémon. Norman gives Lenny his Flygon, as he'll need it to be able to fly. Even though Lenny thanks Norman for the gift, Norman tells him that the next phase of their training will begin next. In his head, Norman states that he's counting on Lenny, as the real goal of his training lies on the top of the Sky Pillar.

In battle, Lenny faces Norman's Spinda and Norman's Slaking with his Kecleon and Flygon. By exploiting Slaking's Truant Ability, Lenny quickly gains an advantage until Norman uses his Spinda to switch its Ability with Slaking. With this tactic, Norman manages to defeat Lenny easily. Although Lenny is discouraged by the loss, Norman states that Lenny fought well enough to force him to go all out.

Lenny feels guilty for using the Pokédex, as it doesn't rightfully belong to him. As well as the Pokédex, the Treecko Lenny used has evolved into Grovyle as well as Jethro's Ralts evolving into a Kirlia. Norman attempts to erase Lenny's guilt by stating that Grovyle most likely belongs to his friend, Professor Birch, and that since he gave Jethro his Ralts, he has no problem with Lenny using it. Lenny becomes distraught again and begins asking why Norman is doing this. When Norman asks why, Lenny points out that he doesn't have the right to train Pokémon that don't belong to him. Lenny asks why they're still in the Sky Pillar when they could be helping the crisis plaguing Hoenn. Lenny yells at Norman, demanding to know the real reason why he's training him. Norman decides to reveal the real reason, but the tower begins collapsing before he can start. As they dodge the rubble, Norman gets a call from Scott, who had snuck aboard the Pokémon Association headquarters.

With the information he gathered, Scott reveals that the other Gym Leaders had fought Team Aqua and Team Magma in order to stop Kyogre and Groudon, but failed. Scott goes on to say that after the leaders of the teams failed to control the Red and Blue Orbs, the Orbs went to new controllers, Professor Birch's daughter, Gwendolyn, and Norman's son, Jethro. As Scott leaves the headquarters, he tells Norman to hurry with the third Legendary Pokémon.

Although Lenny doubts what Scott said, Norman reveals that Scott is a person who searches for talented Trainers and is to be trusted. Norman decides to take this time to reveal what he really trained Lenny for and sends him to stand on a circle on the floor. Norman pulls a switch that causes a beam of light to pull Lenny and his Kecleon upwards. When Kecleon begins writhing in pain, Norman tells Lenny to put it back in its Poké Ball, as the beam repels Pokémon. After passing to the next area, Norman tells Lenny that they will awaken the ancient Pokémon together.

As Lenny moves through the passageways while Norman pulls the chains, Norman reveals that the area is designed so that only an adult and child will be able to pass through. Lenny eventually makes it through, and finds himself standing before the Sky High Pokémon, Rayquaza. Due to Rayquaza hibernating, it is surrounded by a layer of poisonous ozone, which prevents Lenny from getting near it. Remembering what Norman told him, Lenny realizes that Norman had intended to do this mission with Jethro, and that he is only a substitute.

Lenny quickly shrugs it off as he sends out Kirlia to use Imprison on Rayquaza. In his head, Lenny feels glad to contribute to saving Hoenn in any way he can. Lenny sends out Grovyle, which uses Bullet Seed to rip a hole in Rayquaza's ozone layer, awakening it. Rayquaza, now fully awakened, bursts through the top of the Sky Pillar, destroying the top of it. As Lenny lies on his Flygon exhausted, he notes that Norman isn't there anymore, and must have gone to Sootopolis City with Rayquaza.

After the crisis involving Groudon, Kyogre, Team Magma and Team Aqua was resolved, Lenny managed to collect all eight Gym Badges in time to participate in the Hoenn League. Lenny encountered Gwendolyn after her victory over Clark, and the two exchange compliments. Both Lenny and Gwendolyn manage to advance to the finals, where they face off for the title of the Ever Grande Conference. Gwendolyn and Lenny stand at the arena while the announcer makes the introductions as the battle begins on the grass battlefield. Gwendolyn chooses Plusle as Lenny summons Altaria. Plusle uses Charge Beam, but Altaria counters with Hyper Beam, creating an explosion of light that reaches high into the sky. The explosion from their Charge Beam and Hyper Beam knocks out both Plusle and Altaria instantly.

On the battlefield, Lenny's Roselia and Gwendolyn's Donphan battle it out. Donphan continues launching Rollouts as Roselia evades Donphan's attacks. Roselia responds with a Energy Ball attack, which collides with its target for a direct hit. Donphan is blasted backwards but recovers from the attack. Donphan goes for another Rollout attack but as Roselia evades this second round of attacks, Donphan ascends into the air by bouncing its rolling body, and hits Roselia for heavy damage. After the dust clears, Roselia is announced as unable to battle.

Lenny decides to choose Cacturne for his third Pokémon choice. Donphan begins with a Take Down attack. However, Lenny commands Cacturne to use Needle Arm, and as Donphan approaches him with Rollout, Cacturne blasts him with Needle Arm, causing an explosion, as Donphan gets knocked out from the impact.

Gwendolyn selects Minun as her third Pokémon. Cacturne goes for another Needle Arm attack, slamming into the ground, while Minun manages to evade the attack. Minun and Cacturne blast forward with their Spark and Needle Arm attacks. The combined strength causes an explosion that sends both Minun and Cacturne backwards, but Minun is the one left unable to battle. This leaves Gwendolyn with only three additional Pokémon, ending the first stage of the battle.

The second half of the battle begins, with the battlefield now changing to rock terrain. Gwendolyn calls upon Tropius for her fourth Pokémon selection and Lenny chooses Cacturne. Tropius thrusts forward with Aerial Ace, but Cacturne grasps onto Tropius and prevents it from moving. Cacturne rotates into the air and slams Tropius down in a Seismic Toss. After a few moments, Tropius recovers and continues on the attack. Cacturne charges for a Dynamic Punch while Tropius counterattacks with an Aerial Ace. Tropius's Aerial Ace strikes Cacturne first and knocks Cacturne out.

Lenny chooses Flygon for his fourth Pokémon. Flygon begins with a Sandstorm attack. Tropius manages to clear the Sandstorm with its wings just as Flygon propels itself skyward, hitting Tropius with Giga Impact. Flygon goes into another Giga Impact attack, hitting Tropius multiple times. As Flygon moves for one last Giga Impact attack, Tropius manages to halt Tropius by catching it with its legs. Tropius lifts Flygon and propels it towards the ground. Flygon crashes and is declared unable to battle. Tropius seals an impressive victory, leaving Lenny with only two more available Pokémon.

A solitary Poké Ball rotates from Lenny's hand, as Grovyle is called upon by Lenny. Grovyle begins the battle with a Leaf Blade, striking Tropius. Tropius manages to recover and blasts forward with Aerial Ace. As the two forces clash, Tropius is thrust backwards taking the full damage from its own attack. Grovyle continues with a Hyper Beam, knocking Tropius out of the match.

Gwendolyn does not hesitate in this competition and chooses Aggron for her fifth Pokémon. Aggron is eager to battle and closes in on Grovyle while using Flash Cannon. While Aggron continues its barrage, Grovyle launches a Hyper Beam attack. Aggron evades the attack and repeats Flash Cannon. Aggron launches forward for a Take Down attack, but Grovyle manages to recover and counterattack with a Leaf Blade, knocking Aggron unconscious and unable to battle.

Gwendolyn selects Blaziken for her final attack. Blaziken bolts forward with a Sky Uppercut attack hitting directly, but with little effect. Grovyle retaliates with a Leaf Blade attack, but Blaziken manages to avoid the attack and use Blaze Kick. Afterwards, Blaziken grabs onto Grovyle's body and delivers an overwhelming Flamethrower, knocking Grovyle out of the competition. This leaves both Lenny and Gwendolyn with only one Pokémon each. Lenny calls upon Kecleon as his final Pokémon.

Blaziken begins the final match-up with Flamethrower, which Kecleon matches with Thunderbolt. Blaziken follows up with another Flamethrower attack, which Kecleon also counters with Thunderbolt. Gwendolyn decides to take the battle into close range with a Sky Uppercut, which Kecleon dodges by using Double Team. Blaziken and Kecleon clash with Blaze Kick and Astonish, evenly matched. The two clash once more with Kecleon's Bind and Blaziken's Sky Uppercut. Blaziken launches a devastating Flamethrower attack as Kecleon once more defends against the attack with a Thunderbolt. Gwendolyn states that she had enough games and orders Blaziken to finish it all with Overheat while Lenny commands Thunderbolt. Both attacks clash briefly, but Blaziken's Overheat ultimately overwhelms Kecleon's Thunderbolt, and both attacks are sent back towards Kecleon. As the smokescreen clears, Kecleon's laying in the ground, unconscious, and the referee rules it unable to battle, earning Gwendolyn and Blaziken the victory. Both Trainers meet in the middle of the battlefield and congratulate each other.

## **Pokémon**

### **On Hand**

Kecleon's known moves are Bind, Astonish, Thunderbolt and Double Team, and his Ability is Color Change.

Cacturne's only known move is Needle Arm, and his Ability is Sand Veil.

Roselia's known moves are Aromatherapy, Grass Whistle and Energy Ball, and her Ability is Leaf Guard.

Flygon's known moves are Fly, Sand Tomb, Sandstorm and Giga Impact, and its Ability is Levitate.

Altaria's only known move is Hyper Beam, and her Ability is Natural Cure.

### **Temporary**

Kirlia is a Pokémon that originally belonged to Jethro, but was lent to Lenny so that he could use her to capture his very own Pokémon. They were then separated by an earthquake and Ralts ended up in Lenny's hands for a while afterwards. She evolved into a Kirlia off-screen during Lenny's training on the Sky Pillar and stayed in Lenny's possession until after the crisis involving Groudon and Kyogre was resolved, in which Lenny returned her to Jethro.

### **Lost**

Grovyle was a Treecko that was intended for Magna, but due to the flood caused by Kyogre, he ended up lost at sea and eventually ending up in Lenny's hands. Lenny used him in his climb up Sky Pillar where he evolved into a Grovyle. However, Grovyle went missing shortly after Lenny's loss at the Ever Grande Conference. He eventually washed up on a desert island where he evolved into Sceptile and was knocked out by Guile Hideout and smuggled into the Battle Frontier to drive the press out. He then became Magna's main Pokémon after being reacquired in the Battle Factory.

## **Achievements**

### **Badges Obtained**

#### **Hoenn Badges**

This listing is of the Badges Lenny has obtained in the Hoenn region:

* Stone Badge
* Knuckle Badge
* Dynamo Badge
* Heat Badge
* Feather Badge
* Rain Badge
* Mind Badge
* Balance Badge

### **Pokémon League**

Lenny has competed in the following Pokémon League Conferences:

* Ever Grande Conference – Runner-Up