Twitchy glitchy symbiosis CEO

Not only are the proxies together, but Tim and Brian essentially non-sexually forcemasc Toby

So, Tim and Brian are drifters, right? And they came across this beat up girl in one town. I don't know yet if they could essentially smell the future, but they helped her steal her dad's horse and run out of town. Possibly burn the house down in the process, but I also have an idea for if not. Anyway

But women can't get very far in this world, right? So they cut her hair short, put her in men's clothes, and call her their brother, at least until she decides what she wants to do with her life.

BEN was raised in a cult that worships both the moon as a goddess and Lunala as The Beast Who Calls The Moon, and part of that worship involves taking care of Pokémon that are associated with the moon. Lunatone, Clefairy, Cresselia if they're blessed with her presence, etc etc. He was drowned bc basically the cult leader didn't like him, and escaped with his Pokémon quickly after, shaken and unsure what it was he even did wrong.

Toby, similarly, is escaping his home life. In this AU, he didn't kill his father (this is a surprise mouseketool that will help us later), he's just running away and starting the gym challenge because... because that's what you're supposed to do, right? You strike out on your own and seek out wanting to be the very best, like no one ever was.

The pair bump into each other while BEN is fleeing, and choose to travel together. BEN is seeking a purpose, and to discover how things work in the world outside the sheltered walls of the cult. He eventually finds that in Toby, in caring for him and their Pokémon (look she's a liiiiiittle bit of a trad wife it's okay), and eventually helping Toby realize he's got nothing to prove with the gym challenge, and wants to run a Pokémon sanctuary for ones who have nowhere to go, can't be cared for by trainers anymore, wild Pokémon who are lonely by their nature, etc