Name: Karen Ororo Merrell
Nickname(s): Sapphyre
Sex: Female
Species: Azumarill
Age: 16
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 127 lbs.
Battle Exp: Average
Avg. Grade: 78%
Ability: Huge Power
School Year: 3
Hobbies: Swimming, Dancing, Swordplay, Writing poetry, and Wrestling

Personality: Karen is in many ways a tom boy and enjoys being so. Despite how she acts and the lack of motivation to excel in her studies Karen is quite intelligent. Over confidence is her greatest weakness as she often thinks that her type advantage against Fire, Rock, Ground, and certain other types will immediately lead her to a quick victory. Karen is often a teasing playful individual and is hard to get angry, the only way to really get her riled is to insult her friends or her integrity. Despite the type differences in her friends those Karen has really become close to she treats like and calls them her Brothers and Sisters. Karen can have quite a forceful personality at times often voicing her opinion the loudest. She is also very easy to forgive minor misunderstandings.

Bio: Raised in the Hoenn region, Karen grew to be the pride of her family. She took to the water almost immediately as a young Azurill. The first child of the two Marills' Karen knew she was destined to be a powerful swimmer, one day competing in the Olympics in all the water-based events she could. The concept of battling became a hobby for Karen as she often watched in wonder at other Water-types who appeared in the professional circuit. School never held much interest for Karen, even after evolving into a Marill like her parents, she would only do well enough to get pass in the middle percentage of her classes. Shortly after her 10th birthday her parents sat Karen down and told her that she would soon have a little brother or sister. Excited to learn of her sibling, she became even more excited to learn that the baby would be a girl.

Karen loved her little sister with all her heart and shared everything with the little Azurill. For three years the two were inseparable. One Fall day while walking home from school, Karen made the mistake of taking her eyes off her little sister for a moment to talk to a friend. A slow drizzling rain had made the roads very slick, too slick for an already swerving driver to avoid hitting a curb, and the young girl standing on it. Shocked and soaked by the rain Karen could not fathom what had just happened, a friend called the hospital for her, but it was to late. Karen's little sister died right there in her sister's arms in the pouring rain. Since that day Karen has never cared for natural rain and will often go out of her way to avoid it or use another excuse to get out of it.

After that day something broke in the Marill's heart and soul, her dreams of professional diving and swimming replaced by the guilt that she had been the one who killed her sister. It was during these next few years as Karen took up battling and discovered she had a knack for it. A perfect long to mid range fighter, Karen competed in some freelance tournaments for young Mon. One tournament brought her face to face with a high ranking faculty member at the renowned combat academy and was encouraged to apply to the school. Excited to a new point for a reason that confused the Marill, everyone was shocked to watch in amazement as Karen evolved into an Azumarill, which shocked and infuriated her parents.

Accepted into PCA, Karen has entered into a state of self-imposed exile from her homeland and refuses to return. Joining a team of fellow Freshman she became the long range fighter for Team Viridian. She has since discovered many new experiences with her team, from fighting other teams to doing battle with an ancient Entei. Now in her Junior year at the PCA Karen has broken one of her rules, becoming close to and dating the Senior Umbreon Adam Horizon. She stays in the dorms of the school unless wishing for privacy then she takes a room at Artemis' house or with Adam

Of all her team mates Karen shares a special bond of friendship and brotherhood with Artemis who shares her love of swordplay. Through him Karen has learned more of combat with weapons and now favors a spear as opposed to anything else.

Karen bears many white spots on the back parts of her body that if connected at its points form the geometric shape of a large gem, which the others say looks like a Sapphire, hence her nick name.

Attacks:
Freshman: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Defence Curl
Sophomore: Bubblebeam, Double Edge, Ice Beam, Rain Dance
Junior: Hydro Pump, Aqua Ring, Grass Knot, Focus Punch
Currently Learning: Aqua Tail, Water Pulse, Blizzard, Protect

(Art by the wonderful  januspeldragon )