The Atoner. TV Tropes describes this as an "evil character who has realized the error of their ways". This is a person who wants to make amends and does so through heroic deeds. For them, simple imprisonment won't do as it does nothing to make recompense for what they done wrong. Alister is a example of a atoner even if he doesn't follow the traditional traits of one. Alister is a young man that comes from a family of high ranked Union members with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Failure was never a option for him as he was trained to achieve perfection in whatever way he can to avoid such a thing. At least that's what his family motto is. Confidence and smugness were typical traits that many noted with Alister during his early years as a guild member. However, it wasn't unexpected as he was a Anderson. They can be quite the prideful type. However, that changed.

It was supposed to be a simple rescue mission. One where if things went according to plan, everything was going to be fine. The thought of failure never even crossed Alister's mind when he took the mission. However, the mission wasn't simple. It was a mess. A mess that devolved into a situation that Alister couldn't control that lead to the death of several Pokemon including his childhood friend that he had only recently realized he loved. Many often state that it wasn't his fault for what happened. Many also told him that he should let this go in order to move on. Alister couldn't bring it to himself to listen to them. He refused to accept what happen as being anything but his fault. He will do everything in his power to cling to that tragedy in order to atone for his sins. If he doesn't, what stopping this from happening again?

It wasn't until a year or so ago things changed for Alister when he met Apollo. It is through their time ago the two would learn they were a bounded pair known as 'The Forbidden'. Bounded Pairs were two or more fated individuals that were supposedly meant to be together for eternity as the 'Gods' have chosen it. Those bounded are considered bless as a result. However, very few realize they are bounded pair as there are very few that exist in the world. Not only that but information regarding bounded pairs is quite scarce, so it was hard to know what benefits and hindrances it had to offer.

Maybe this bond that Alister has with Apollo would finally help him address the deep trauma woven into his heart.

Alister was born in Nansir Town within the Vliuledor Continent. Nansir Town wasn't much of a special town. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Nansir, Nansir is a community of close-knit residential neighborhoods. It is known for its stately tree-lined streets and lakeside recreational facilities. The picturesque retail district provides unique shopping and business opportunities. However, many often make note of the fact that this is the home of the Anderson Family. The Anderson Family is a family that consists of high ranked Union members that makes their presence known in the hunting and rescue division. It's no secret that this family is one that worship the God of Victory and Luck: Victini. It is this God that Anderson believed blessed them the most. It's a fact that would later be proven to be slightly correct. At least when it came to Alister due to circumstances that would happen later on.

Alister Anderson is the son of Arthur [Seviper/Father] and Abigail [Serperior/Male] that hatched during the spring months. Alister is the youngest of the three kids that the two of them have with his older sisters being Aurora [Serperior/Seviper] and Athena [Seviper]. Alister was treated no differently from his siblings even if he had access to the hidden ability Contrary. Alister and Abigail always carried the mindset that all of their kids had to be treated equally to limit the annoyance of jealously that they felt would ruin any chance of raising perfect kids that would help carry the legacy of the family. Due to that reasoning alone, life for Alister was handcrafted by his parents. They already knew what he was going to be and what steps they felt was needed to ensure was to reach that goal. Of course, they made sure not to come across as being too harsh and what not towards him due to noticing the side effects of doing such a thing with Aurora and wishing to prevent such a thing with himself and his sister.

Did Arthur and Abigail loved their kids? Yes. However, their love was more akin to loving a trophy than loving a child.

Arrogance and self-confidence was woven into Alister at a young age. With his parents paying for the best teachers to teach him how to fight, how to act around those of a higher class and even how to gain the allies he needed, it was no surprise that Alister would end up with the title of a royal brat. However, this was something that didn't bother him as he never cared about the opinions of those lower than him. Unless they were his parents, family and the friends his family thought were more fitting for him, they mattered not to him. Well...except Gene. Gene was a scrappy Pokemon from the Galarian Zigzagoon line that he befriended when he was three. When the two first met, they ended up fighting over a toy to the dismay of their parents. However, the two would befriend each other admiring the other's strength. While Arthur and Abigail weren't fan of it, they figured they would let it go since it was only fair for their son to gain experience with dealing with commoners. Every single evolution that Alister always center around a fight with Gene that always center around Alister attempting to one up Gene. It's always those battles that are the most passionate and manage to break through the arrogance that Alister had and reveal that hidden side that Alister wasn't even aware that he had. That more competitive side...but also the other side that has deeper feelings for Gene.

Eventually, Gene and Alister would join the Union, working under the All-Division section of the group. The two would originally work on solo missions, but over time, they would end up working together. Eventually, they would become a team and prioritize taking a mix of rescue, hunting and exploration missions. The bond would grow between the two with the two going as far as even moving in with each other. As their bond deepen, it also grew complex as Alister would find himself falling in love with Gene. It was Gene, who would point out how his parents never seemed to truly love him in the way he wanted and how they were molding him into their image. They were doing everything in their power, not to allow him to build his own identity. While Alister was resistant when it came to listening to Gene, he would come to realize what he was saying was correct. This lead to Alister slowly shifting away from his parents slowly and even going as far as seeking the validation of Gene.

It's such a shame that wouldn't last long.

One day, Gene and Alister were sent on a emergency rescue mission in a small town that was caught in landslide. The source of that landside was supposedly taken care of, but a lot of assistance was needed to pull out the survivors. The mission to receive was supposed to be easy as Gene and Alister spent all the time working out the best way to save those of that town with many others while making the quick travel there. Everyone knew to give it their all, so nothing shouldn't have gone wrong. In fact, for some time, all went well during the rescue misison. This was...until it was revealed that the one responsible for doublechecking to make sure the source of the landslide was gone...was completely incorrect on the number of ferals involved. They missed one, and that one was the alpha of the bunch that was not happy when they learned their pack was removed from the area. What happened was chaos as the Dosidon [feral Rhyperior] went on a rampage during recovery efforts. Injured Pokemon were further injured to the point that some even died. Hell, some Union members even denied in the process.

Realizing the issues this feral was causing, Alister and Gene baited the Dosidon on the cliff to focus on eliminating the feral. However, the two would underestimate the strength of the Dosidon with the two substaining heavy injuries. In the midst of the the struggle, Alister worst nightmare would occur in the form of Dosidon completely knocking Gene off the cliff they stood on. Alister could only watch in horror as Gene fell to his death. Any hope he had for him being alive was shattered as something in his heart told him that he was gone. The weight of what happened broke him alongside the knowledge of others death break him. The Serperior was sent into a panic as he found himself spiraling of what to do as the Dosidon. Just as it seemed as if he was going to die, Victini came.

Unknown to Alister, he and Alister has been a bounded pair that has been selected by the God. Sensing the demise of Gene and Alister breakdown, the rabbit had quickly arrived to try to protect Alister. Filled with wrath of what happened and seeing the despair in Alister's eyes, Victini destroyed the Dosidon and took Alister to the safety of arriving Union members. Alister could only sob in the grip of Victini as the God of Luck apologized for failing to stop Gene's death. The God had made it his mission to never let this happen to Alister. This incident shattered Alister. Whatever self confidence he had and old bits of himself were gone. The man became bitter, cynical and harsh towards anyone including his family. To him, nothing mattered as he saw himself as a failure for what happened. He had to do everything in his power in order to redeem himself by never failing again.

Upon noticing the negativity of Alister, Fairlight made a decision to have Apollo act as a partner for Alister.

Alister was resilant to the change, but he was forced to accept it when Fairlight made it a point to point out he was willing to take away Alister ability to work while he was in the state he was in. For months, he tried to keep his distance from Apollo as they worked together. However, Apollo made it so hard to do so. He never reacted harshly to him. He was patient. He was kind. He was just overall a pleasant person. Alister hate to admit it, but he started to fall in love with him over the few months. Now he sits here in awkward position, where he isn't sure whether to admit his feelings for Apollo due to their new bond shifting into a bounded one or keep their relationship a more platonic one.