askchangingtides

[askchangingtides]

“Show’s been over for a bit. I’m sure you’d love to see more of me and chicken legs but I’m afraid our artist has other things they’re working on!”

If you wanna see more of my askblog work check out @askpuppylove @occasionallygrovyle and @pmdnevermore !

Artblog is @crankycorvid and if you wanna keep up communications here’s my twitter!

And last but not least @redsun-comic ! It’s still in the development stage, but I will eventually be putting most of my time into this!

Logging out for the last time! Take care! And thanks again to all the people who supported me through the years! Ya’ll rock!

Read the story from the beginning->

[askchangingtides]

||I realized I’ve never drawn Inari before! So I gave him (And Yumi) his own piece of fanart for this blog’s awesome ending! This blog has meant so much to me over the years, it literally brings me to tears. I woulda done something bigger but I already did that 10 picture piece and this was such short notice but I just wanna say thank you!! Thank you for your inspiring blog, and characters, I love this story so much, I’ve shared it with a few of my friends and I hope to share it with many more. Just thank you <3||

{ youtube.com/watch?v=izsjRpcgfmk }

frIEND

Thanks for drawing this old fox!! I love how Inari and Fudo are almost protected by his tails.

[askchangingtides]

Does asami find her friend? Does she try to kill herself?

Everything after the postcards is symbolic. It’s like a post-movie credits segment, hence the style change. If you’re talking about the part where she’s falling into water, it symbolize her drowning in feelings of despair and turmoil.

As for finding Regina? Well.

It actually doesn’t matter! Did she find her friend? Did Regina forgive her or not? Maybe Regina actually did die when she was thrown into the river in their last confrontation.

What’s most important is that Asami has moved past being manipulative, and is moving towards forgiving herself and accepting the consequences of what she’s done. That’s what’s most important. If you can forgive yourself and you can move on and improve, that’s victory. If people choose not to see that, their loss.

You’re welcome to imagine what happens next however you want. Because what matters most is that these two are progressing, and finding happiness despite everything. At this point, what Regina thinks is irrelevant. That’s why I chose not to show it.

Tbh the whole thing is meant to feel like a new beginning. The possibilities of what happens with these two is endless!

[askchangingtides]

[Cameos @askadragonite @askthetapus , @askdireloom , @askashinyglaceon ]

[askchangingtides]

Can’t say I’ve seen him. 

We were just about to go on break but seeing how you just came back from your’s-

Shhh not so loud! Listen listen.

...

We got a package from Fudo!

Fancy that! So Fudo had it sent to you directly ay?

Yes, and good thing too. Any villager would have destroyed it on sight.

Well this should be intriguing. What’s inside? Why would he send us something? Is something wrong?

Oh? Is that concern for your nephew I see?

All I’m saying is he’s reckless.

Ah! A letter.

“To the Anju family,

I apologize ahead of time if this is informal. I’m not very good at this sort of thing.

 Asami is doing okay. Me and the old fox have been helping her look for an old acquaintance. Settling old skirmishes, that sort of thing. She’s been through more than me I’d wager, but I think we’ll be okay. We’re staying in Alola for now before heading over to Unova. Its helped all of us to unwind after what happened back home but, I think it’s helped Asami the most. I know you’ve never really met her but, I’m just glad to see my best friend smile again.

Probably should’ve said this sooner but I don’t feel like rewriting a new letter so.. titan business is coming along well. Haven’t blown anything up. We’re going to travel the world with Inari while we train with him. Old fox considers us his kids almost and he hates formalities. I think Itosu-Sensei would get along with him.

I hope you don’t mind me addressing you like we’re not family but I.. am aware things are shaky at best between us. I would very much like to be called your nephew again but, I don’t think I deserve it. I wish I could help you clean up the mess but ya know, if I touched a broom it’d probably be doused in holy water and exorcised or something. So, thanks. 

And sorry. 

I don’t know when or if I will return to Ecruteak. I miss it a hellof a lot but, if the cityfolks’ opinion doesn’t change well, yea. You can guess enough from that. I guess this is a new leaf turn or however the phrase goes. I mean, new powers, new role I guess? It’s weird knowing that I’m actually doing something a lot bigger now. Both me and Asami.

I hope this isn’t corny or anything but there’s some postcards here as proof that I’m not causing too much trouble. 

Fudo Myo-O”

......... 

He..

said he had.. postcards. Right?

He did. Let me see if-

Oh bother these sausage paws!

You clumsy furball! Hahahaha!

You’ll soil them at this rate! These are precious records!

[askchangingtides]

Not all fathers are related by blood.

Thank you for caring.

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

Fudo... do you think we’ll ever be able to go back home?

Dunno. But I’m sure as hell gonna miss Jhoto...

...

Goodbye.

>>The group has departed for Kanto.

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

Yea, I’m game for it. How long do you think it’ll take to give Kanto a good looksee?

Not sure. There aren’t as many remote wilds and forests as Jhoto, but the areas around Viridian might be a good place to check.

Don’t get your hopes up too high, she might just shrug you off again. It’s not like the cityfolk are gonna like me anytime soon. Ya gotta let go ya know..?

I know. But she should at least know her body isn’t being used by me anymore.

Bah, figures. We’ll still help ya find her.

But after?

Snrk-

Ha! Got you to laugh!

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

Finding your friend will help you move on, probably, but.. Fudo’s told me these past few months have been rough on you. Even now you’re trying to figure so many things out. Still getting used to your new role, getting used to being without someone who was a big part of your life.

Dearie, we’ll help you find your friend. Kanto is the next closest target yes?

Yes.

Where would Regina be if we don’t find her there?

Unova I would think. It’s where she grew up.

Then my plan works! No matter what happens or if we find her in Kanto or not, I’m demanding you take a vacation afterward.

A- Is that really necessary..? 

I hardly see you smile. Same for the boy... You don’t need this lonely little island, too much silence and too little to do that lets you fill up your heads with suicidal nonsense. You need a real island! An island that we can hop to on our way to Unova.

like..

like...

Oh I don’t know~ Alola! I heard about it recently!

You’re jesting. By vacation you mean, a real, actual vacation? 

Asami please I beg you, I’ve been cooped up underground for millennia, bored out of my mind! Just let me have this one small small thing. 

And dear, out of all of us, you need this this most.

......

[askchangingtides]

YO YONDER I just wanted to let you know that I think you're doing a stellar job of showing Asami coming to terms with and working through her conflicted feelings now that she's out of that abusive relationship with fishface! I'm also just really proud of how far you've come with your plot and even though this blog is ending (and I'm sad about that) I'm just??? So happy for you!

frIEND

I’m terrible at articulating gratitude so have some hearts and the fact I’m grinning ear to ear right now

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

It’ll take time to heal, but you’ll be okay.

How long..?

That’ll be up to you dear! No shame at going at your own pace. It’s only been so long since you’ve been free, not to mention getting used to being a kyogre and that lovely gray coat of yours!

Yea. It’s helped, being back in my old body.

Oh right right! Lots of fancy muscle memory coming back yes?

Yes, although I haven’t quite gotten used to being so tall. I’ve knocked my head a decent number of times. But speaking of my old body.. I really should-

Asami forgive me for interrupting and I hate to be forward with you dear but, you weren’t thinking of jumping right into a wild goose chase for this old friend of your’s were you?

I wouldn’t quite put it like that but..

I was wondering perhaps, if we could come to a compromise on the subject? The wishes of me and Fudo are also part of our next course of action as well younging.

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

Now what’s compelled you to wake this sun before the actual Sun rises hm....?

Sorry to disturb your beauty rest but, I need some pointers. Now if possible.

Hmm? What’s got you tangled birdie?

It’s Asami.

Is she still brooding over finding this Regina mon?

Sort of but, that’s not what’s the big issue. See- even though he was horrible she misses that milotic that raised her for some reason. She doesn’t know why, and she doesn’t want to feel that way. I- I just want to know if that’s a normal thing.

Hmm... Repeat what you just said.

She doesn’t know why-

No, before that.

She misses the milotic.

No, you said she misses the milotic that raised her.

What’s that got to do with anything?

Fudo, I may not have experienced the same thing Asami has but, in all of my years of living I can mmmm.. Maybe piece something together that might explain it. I’ve lost friends and family to time. When they weren’t there anymore there was this feeling of.. absence. Emptiness.

But these were mons you cared about. Mons you loved.

Perhaps I’ve gotten my facts wrong but Asami did care for this milotic as a father for most of her life yes..?

Sort of. She.. she was always the slightest apprehensive about him.

And yet they had a bond. A terrible one, but a bond. And now that bond is gone.

So you’re saying...

Yes. I don’t think there’s anything peculiar about her feeling something’s absent with him gone. Its like dumping a crazy girlfriend. Or an infected arm! You know its good for you, but it still hurts to cut it off.

You could’ve just given me the girlfriend analogy first... And. Not the gross one.

But the other explanation made it much more poetic and deep yes yes?

.. Whatever works old man. And ah.. thanks. Do you want to um, talk to her yourself? Might be better than me telephoning it to her.

Give me a moment here, bones stiff as boulders ya know! Where is she?

You know where, her favorite spot.

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

So it is something peculiar.

I- I guess..?

Then I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I hate this-

Asami no don’t- Don’t add something else to the self-loathing pile please. It’s not gonna help.

Fudo, I’m never going to escape him.

Yes- Yes you are. You’re going to be fi-

Fudo, I remember everything that happened before I went primal. I ate him. He is literally a part of me now. 

You got a new body and the old one like.. melted or something, doesn’t that.. cancel that..?

It doesn’t change the feeling. Its like in some twisted way he still won. He still got his little prodigy. His arceusdamn little “god”. What if I really am just in this role because I’m still swayed by his manipulation? What if-

Nothing you feel is going to change that you’re a wonderful friend. You said it yourself. Even if the circumstances resulting in you becoming a kyogre were horrible, you still have a chance to use this unexpected power to bring balance to the world. The Moon wouldn’t have given you this if it hadn’t accepted you anyway. That has nothing to do with that milotic. 

If you do end up regretting this I’m.. sure you can retire your powers whenever you want, like Inari will. But it’d be pretty damn lonely being a Sun without a Moon.

That’s the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said. I don’t... I wouldn’t want to leave the world unbalanced. Thank you. 

But.. I- I shouldn’t miss him. I know I shouldn’t. He did terrible things to me. This can’t be right...

.....

[askchangingtides]

[countdown mood music]

You’re... annoyingly good at knowing when I feel like punching myself.

Yea, it’s a curse, better get used to it. But hey, if you want some me time I’m fine, got some more zzz to catch on before the sun rises anywho.

Did you just say ‘zzz’ out loud.. But ah.. anyhow... I’d like you to stay. I think I need to.. get this off my chest.

Sure. What’s up?

I don’t know its.. Well.. there’s me being nervous about finding Regina that’s eating at me as usual but.. Fudo I should be happy that fishface is dead right?

I-

I’m happy to see justice served, he got what was coming to him. You don’t have to be happy that someone died though. When I protected Ecruteak, I learned I didn’t like having to kill someone. I mean.. can you imagine if my aunt and uncles enjoyed killing any baddies they had to dispose of? Sounds a bit morbid to me. 

It’s so weird you call the beasts that...

Point is, you don’t have to be happy about death. In fact I’d.. be a little concerned you if you were grinning at the thought of his death. You should be happy about being free from him, not him dying.

I wouldn’t.. call myself free.

What do you mean?

Fudo.. I- I think there’s something wrong with me. I- I can’t even- I can’t even say it I’m so ashamed...

Just take a deep breath, and go for it. I’m not gonna yell at ya or nothin’.

Fudo. I miss him.

[askchangingtides]

L-look, I- I don’t-

I don’t want to talk about this with anyone except Fudo okay? You don’t- you know what I’m feeling?? I barely know what I’m feeling..!

Now- please! Don’t talk to me about that snake okay?

He’s dead and that’s all that you need to know..! I’m. Sorry!

[askchangingtides]

[ @ask-fuzzballflareon , sketch provided by Rai of @guideofthetornworld !

[askchangingtides]

[Response to]

[ @askillusionfox ]