Electric Trains are the Future Extra: Akari's Team post-PLA

After gaining the Champion spot in the Sinnoh Pokemon League, Hikari Mifune worked to defend it for over 2 years from aspiring challengers, trainers who thought she had won on a fluke, and even the previous Champion. So it came as a heavy surprise when she disappeared suddenly in the fall of 2021, leaving her Pokemon behind.

In the year 1871, Professor Laventon meets with a young girl who claims the name "Akari", and over the course of several months, she forms a team that solidifies her as the Champion of the Almighty Sinnoh.

Ember - The starter that she helped Laventon recapture, Ember has been a constant companion to Akari. Even before her evolution to a Typhlosion, she acted as a mediator of sorts within the team, being the one to remind everyone of their common goals and keeps friendly squabbles friendly. She also has been a major help in keeping Akari calm through her time in the past. As with the next two Pokemon, Ember is named after a challenger that Akari had met as Champion, who was a Fire-type trainer. (In real-life, I purposely stole the name from @waywardstation. She has yet to forgive this transgression)

Skylar - The most Bird that has ever Bird, Skylar was the second Pokemon Akari caught in her time in Hisui. A caring but assertive personality, Skylar is known to perch behind people and preen their hair and clothes to her liking, a habit she's had since being a Starly. As with Ember and Iona, Skylar is named after a challenger during Akari's time as Champion, who had a shiny Staraptor on his team.

Iona - A Gardevoir that Akari had met in the Mirelands fully evolved while having a rough day. The Pokemon had stuck close to her, and worked to make her day easier by removing obstacles, soothing agitated Pokemon, and even helping to calm Akari's mood. Iona has done similarly since, doing her best to help this lost child that she found and befriended. Iona is named after a repeat challenger that Akari got to know outside of the League due to school.

Yama - Oddly for a Snorlax, Yama is notably the runt of his litter. With a shiny blue pelt and 4'3 standing height, Yama is the second shortest on Akari's team. Akari had met him in the Fieldlands taking a nap, and decided to lay down next to him on a whim and napped with him. When the pair awoke, she asked to capture him and he didn't say no. Conscious of his own height issue, Akari decided to name him Yama to remind him that while he may be physically short, he still has the strength of a tall mountain.

Oroshi - If Yama is the world's babiest Snorlax, Oroshi was the world's most monstrous Magikarp, seemingly larger even than other Alphas of the species, with the temperament of a Gyarados before he even evolved. By the time he evolved, though, Akari had worked with him on his temper and he's able to move through Jubilife Village without moving a single person out of his way. Akari decided to name him after a strong downward wind due to his ferocity.

Kuu-chan - Somehow, Kuu-chan is even more of a baby than Yama. Being caught almost the minute Akari arrived in the Mirelands, just like Zeal before him, Kuu-chan decided not to evolve for several months. In his case, he evolved the day that Volo requested to meet Akari on the mountain. Originally, Akari was calling him "Kumaru", a portmanteau of "Kuma" and "-maru", but the longer he stayed a small Teddiursa, the less she called him his full name and more a cutesy nickname, until it finally stuck.

Akari caught plenty of Pokemon outside of these six, but outside of specific needing of research tasks, or the Creation Trio, these six are the Pokemon she carries around with her. Once she returns home, she makes sure to prioritize integrating them into her team and her daily life, giving them the same love as her old family. After all, these too are her precious friends.

Electric Trains are the Future Extra: Hikari's Team (Pre-PLA)

Hikari Mifune became the Champion of the Sinnoh Region at the age of 12, after putting an end to Team Galactic's plot. During this time, she formed a team of Pokemon that she took with her on the journey to defeat the Gyms, and climb Victory Road!

Kingsley - Her Empoleon that she got from Professor Rowan as a Piplup. Though haughty by nature and his own view of being King over the team, Kingsley has stood ardently by Hikari's side and strove for the same victory she did.

Zeal - Hikari had found a Riolu in the streets of Jubilife early in her journey, befriending the young Pokemon and ensuring that it had a family to stay with. Despite the deep bond the two shared, and the sheer amount of the journey that Zeal was there for, he chose not to evolve until they were in Sunyshore City, preparing to take on Volkner.

Filly - She joined Hikari's team in an odd way - Hikari had responded to a plea for help from a person living in Eterna City about the possibility of a wildfire breaking out due to a Pokemon's actions. As a young Ponyta, Filly had far too much energy for what she had to do around her. Other wild Pokemon didn't want to battle her as much as she did, there wasn't enough open area to run, and she simply didn't have any outlet or enrichment. And so, Hikari caught her to prevent the young foal from causing any damage, and she became a strong member of her team.

Sasha - A gift from Bebe in Hearthome, Sasha was a quiet Eevee who was content to lounge in Hikari's bag. Over time, however, Hikari helped the young kit grow out of her shell and connect with the outside world. Though still quiet and an enjoyer of secluded spaces, Sasha's bond with her trainer helped her evolve into a Sylveon.

Sheldon - In Eterna City, Hikari was gifted an egg by Cynthia after she freed the Bike Shop owner. While the egg didn't hatch until Solaceon, Hikari integrated the young Pokemon into her team immediately, to help nurture and train him. Unknown to her, Cynthia had a Togekiss on her own team, which led to a spirited rivalry between the two Pokemon when they met.

Obachan - No family is set without a helicopter parent, and that is what Hikari's team gained when she caught a Chansey outside of Solaceon Town. Hikari has taken a tumble down a muddy slope, and Obachan ran up to heal her bloodied knee. Intent on keeping this obviously clumsy child safe, Obachan rooted through Hikari's bag and put herself into the first Pokeball she could find.

It was this found family of a team that helped Hikari surpass the greatest trainer in the region, take down a villainous Team intent of resetting the world, and navigate the responsibility that comes with those achievements. While they do not follow Hikari to Hisui, she cherishes them deeply and makes sure that everyone in both teams can get used to each other.