#Chalce

[nerdinsandals]

He is not one of us🎵

He has never been one of us~🎶

Have Amethio without all the lighting and effects too! Just because I'm pretty happy with how the hair turned out and you can't really appreciate it in the final version haha

[scraftyisthebest]

Spinel is so out of place compared to literally everyone else in the Explorers when you look at him closely and one way it shows is his team and what kind of Pokemon he has with him.

Like you look at the other admins and they have ancient styled Pokemon and Spinel...doesn't.

Amethio:

Ceruledge - A knight-like Pokemon, very medieval. Charcadet is said to have accompanied nobility and knights back in ancient times.

Corviknight - Another knight-like Pokemon. A bird in armor, also tying into Amethio's knightly and princely character.

Coral:

Glalie - An oni, said to be a demon and monster in Japanese folklore. Its Japanese name is literally Onigohri.

Scream Tail - An ancient Paradox Pokemon believed to be a Jigglypuff from a billion years ago.

Sidian:

Garganacl - A rock salt Pokemon. Nacli is said to have worked with humans since ancient times, providing salt and helping in exorcism and warding off evil.

Aerodactyl - A fossil Pokemon, a prehistoric creature brought back to life.

Chalce:

Medicham: A yoga Pokemon, specializing in meditation. It's based on Buddist principles and yoga, and in general the ancient beliefs and spiritual powers associated with martial arts.

Xatu: A bird that looks like a totem pole, based on the ancient practice of sun-gazing.

Meanwhile you look at Spinel...and you get this:

This is so out of place. This guy has an Umbreon, which isn't even remotely ancient like everyone else's Pokemon is. Beheeyem, an alien from outer space, and both its English and Japanese name are from BEM (Bug-Eyed Monster). And Magnezone, a robotic Pokemon that also looks like a UFO. It ties into his disconnect from everyone else because he's an Exceed researcher who was approved by Gibeon rather than trained by Hamber, which Magnezone and Beheeyem highlight, but the alien/UFO theme is also highlighting the fact that he is basically, in a way, an alien in the group. He doesn't come from the same place as anyone else and his personality and character don't align.

This man does not belong here.

And he needs to be out.

[aurelicar]

Mouthwashing x pokemon explorers

Idk just make a stupid crossover lol

(no one is harmed btw <3)

[liria-art]

Various Horizons doodles since it's coming back this week (!!!!!!)

[leeleesart]

feeling that teenage angst ™

[ecargmura]

Pokemon Horizons Episode 66 Review - School Hacking Incident

We’re closing in on the finale of Terastal Debut, and we’re seeing some major growth for our young protagonists. The difference between the penultimate episode of Terastal Debut and the penultimate episode of Shine of Terapagos is very major. While both involve the Explorers, the kids are now more capable.

Like with the end of the Basics test, Clavell lets the students have fun by hosting another battle tournament. I do like that they’re so eager to let the students battle so often. The failed students are still allowed to Terastal, but it’d be the last time they do it as failed students would have to return their orbs after the day is over. Other than Liko, the only other known person who failed is Bocco, the Dot look-alike.

I do like that there are lots of callbacks of episodes 43 and 44 in this one. Episode 43 had Liko and Roy do a Multi Battle against Sidian and Coral with Liko vs Sidian and Roy vs Coral, but the battle was called off. In this episode, the same matchup from before happens, but Liko and Roy are more experienced now. Floragato is no longer a Sprigatito and Liko even uses Terastal to beat Sidian. Even though she failed her exam and is only supposed to use Terastal during the battle tournament, but Sidian used it illegally, so Liko did the same.

With Roy and Coral, no one used Terastal, but it’s nice to finally see Fuecoco get a win from Glalie after battling against it twice. One little detail I like from the Roy battle is that it was originally in the art room, but he didn’t want to destroy the artwork, so he used Kilowattrel to move to another location. It’s really sweet that he’s so considerate of the students’ hard work when it comes to their schoolwork. Coral didn’t really care if it gets damaged or not, but still followed Roy to the new location.

There also seems to be a budding rivalry between Dot and Chalce now that Dot is more involved. I hope that they’ll get another battle in a future arc; it does suck that Dot’s essentially the only one who “failed” her battle. I do like that the kids know that “Sandwich”, “Onigiri” and “Agepan” are Explorer members, but they never knew their names until now. Sidian gives Liko his name while Coral and Chalce reveal theirs to Roy and Dot. I do like that giving their names is like a sign that they acknowledge them as worthy opponents or something…

Remember what I wrote in my review of Episode 63 in that Grusha was being harsh towards Liko because he wanted her to prove him wrong? I was right! Liko did prove Grusha wrong, but in a different way, however. He was there to witness her battle against Sidian and saw that she used Terastal despite being forbidden from doing so because she has something to protect. He even mentions that Liko fights better when she’s battling for self-defense or to protect something rather than competitively. It was nice that he went all the way to Clavell’s office to change his mind about failing Liko since she protected the school from the Explorers and did not allow the incident to escalate into something disastrous. I think it’s a nice reward for Liko’s efforts. People might see it as a “pity badge” sort of thing like how Ash got some badges in Kanto out of pity, but sometimes, hard work deserves good rewards.

I was a tad disappointed that Penny wasn’t more involved with the episode. Sure, she did try to prevent Chalce from hacking the system, and that her role in the story is to be the school and league’s tech person, but it does feel odd that she seemed like she’d play an important part, but does get sidelined as the story is about Liko and co. Still, it was nice seeing more of Penny.

I also like that the kids’ second Pokemon were used in the episode. Liko let Hattrem out of her ball to heal the security guard and his Psyduck while she went on ahead. Hattrem was also the key figure to let Grusha stay back and witness Liko fight against Sidian. Roy used Kilowattrel to move locations. Dot used Tinkatink to destroy the computer, but got the wrong one. It’s nice to see their other Pokemon be more involved now that the kids have grown as capable Trainers.

I think we were long overdue for an eventual Liko vs Roy match, but it seems that the finale will finally showcase it. I think it’s the perfect way to end off this arc. They’ve been training buddies, but now they’re opponents for the friendly battle tournament. Both were rookie trainers, but now have grown so much. Who do you think will win? I honestly think it’ll be a draw.

[paulok3tchup]

linda.

[fyeahexplorers]

Welcome to @fyeahexplorers, a blog dedicated to the villainous team of Pokemon Horizons

[homuleelee]

love thinking about chalce and their relationship with fashion and how it develops as they age...for most of their childhood, a lot of their fashion was picked out by their mother (dresses, skirts, more feminine presenting clothes)—so they never really had the opportunity or chance to get a feel for what they like.

they lack the confidence on top of it. it kind of ties back to chalce feeling like they lack their own sense of identity, wanting to conform to people because they dread the idea of being hated.

so even after their parents divorced, chalce mostly stuck with plain t-shirts, flannels, and jeans throughout all of highschool and college. it was easy to shop for, not to mention affordable—but it was also the most comfortable thing for them to wear at the time.

they do eventually get to a point after a lot of help and healing where they are willing explore themselves on a deeper level, and that includes fashion. they've always been interested in a lot of punk and grunge wear but it was something they never felt they could pull off. they begin to wear a lot more sleeveless shirts and crop tops too because they feel a lot more comfortable with showing off their body.

[the-spam-specialist]

The episode after "Liko and Amethio" is called "Intrusion! Crisis at Naranja Academy!"

I wonder if Amethio tells Liko that Agate/Chalce infiltrated Naranja Academy as a teacher

[scraftyisthebest]

I honestly feel like Spinel's downfall when it inevitably happens is going to be rooted in his isolation. Namely the fact that he doesn't inspire any loyalty in anyone and absolutely no one in the Explorers actually likes him or cares about him.

Spinel is at his core an extraordinarily pathetic and petty man. He forced his way into leadership of the Explorers in a desperate and hostile attempt to reclaim a narrative for himself and assert control and gain a sense of relevance. But he doesn't really have a legitimacy to that. Amethio does have legitimacy to heading the Explorers and Exceed because he's Gibeon's grandson and his blood ties to Gibeon are one thing granting him legitimacy as those are rightfully his and his family's, but Amethio has a genuinely good will and a desire to carry on the good in his grandfather's legacy because he genuinely looked up to Gibeon and the good in him, and wants to carry that on.

Spinel is probably gonna be defeated not just by the RVT but by the internal fallout within the Explorers when his own leadership falls apart and everyone in the Explorers inevitably turns against him. Hamber is already acting as the snake, and Spinel has left him be because he doesn't see Hamber as a "threat", but Hamber has secretly asked Amethio's subordinates, Zirc and Onia, to go search for him and the White Zygarde behind Spinel's back, and things will definitely come to a head when Amethio returns, because we all know he openly opposes Spinel. Coral and Sidian already don't like him to begin with and have their own moral compasses such that Spinel's behavior actively rubs them the wrong way, and frankly it's only a matter of when and not if as far as them cutting their losses and defecting. Chalce is the only one who acts "loyal" to him, but I doubt she's actually loyal to him. The way their interactions seem entirely predicated on work and the two of them sharing information between each other suggests a purely professional courtesy relation. Chalce is most definitely acting as a snake in Spinel's presence, and I think she's feigning loyalty to him, taking advantage of his insecurities to trick and use him and get him to trust her, and is waiting for the right time to stab him in the back and sabotage him when he least expects it. She's acting like his loyal right-hand woman but her words when she's around him have this underlying sense that she's actually trying to rein him in, keeping him from completely losing it because she can tell that he's insecure and possibly mentally unstable, so that things don't go haywire within the Explorers because of tensions between him and the other members who openly don't like him or are suspicious of him. I think she doesn't have any actual investment in his ambitions and is just making sure he doesn't completely lose his shit because he's dangerous. There's an underlying sense of isolation there with respect to Spinel in that he has no loyalty or connection among his peers in the Explorers, and his leadership is accordingly fragile.

Meanwhile with the RVT what made them such an effective group early on was that Friede was a really natural leader. He didn't demand respect from anyone like Spinel. He just naturally slid into a leadership role because his talent and character naturally inspire pride, love, and respect among his peers. He's cool, confident, and self-assured, and that inspires respect. People naturally look up to him. There's a strong sense of unity among him and his peers. And now that (despite their damaged public image) Liko and Roy (and Dot) are carrying on the name and working to clear their own names, a big strength in their favor in their new journey is something they now take on after Friede themselves: an ability to inspire respect and win over peoples' trust and friendship. Their strength as Trainers, good character, and love for Pokémon will gain them allies and true friends along the way in the face of public distrust, like what happened with Nyabiko, and their victory against Spinel will be in the unity and support they've garnered from multiple loyal allies and friends they've made along the way who have got their backs, even in the face of their own worldwide notoriety which will undoubtedly give them attention in the public eye.

It in a way mirrors what made Ash who he was in his era and what culminated in his ultimate victory against Leon in Journeys. Leon was such a formidable, insurmountable opponent, and managed to push Ash and Pikachu to their limit, but the bonds of all the friends they made along the way, from Ash's human friends all the way from Misty and Brock to Goh and Chloe, to all the Pokemon he and Pikachu met along the way from his Kanto squad to Journeys squad (including even those like Larvitar and Solgaleo, who Ash never formally caught, but ultimately were still his and Pikachu's friends even if their paths diverged) giving them support, even from afar or in spirit, became their true strength that allowed them to surpass an otherwise insurmountable foe like Leon and allow Ash to break Leon's winning streak and become World Champion himself. The culmination of all the bonds and friendships Ash and Pikachu had forged in their long journey gave them the power to take on and defeat someone so unbelievably powerful.

That will be the RVT's strength for sure, but within the Explorers Spinel's own leadership is going to fall apart because of his lack of true bonds within that group. Amethio, Coral, and Sidian all seem fairly redeemable and deep-down good people as we've all seen, but there's one other factor that contributes to their ability to be redeemed: their own abilities to have connections. Amethio didn't see it as much early on, but by the time of Rayquaza Rising, Zirc and Onia pledged undying loyalty to him even though he was suspended and vowed to keep sticking with him to the very end, and Amethio smiled, knowing that they were his true friends. Hamber is also his supporter and surrogate father figure and the two share a strong bond too. He has his own little found family now in the three of them, and even as he cuts his own path forward, he's not alone: he has people, no matter how few, who have got his back no matter what. Coral and Sidian themselves have grown into a true team with each other too. At first, they couldn't stand each other because Sidian saw Coral as a liability whose recklessness and violence would interfere with his ability to perform his duties, while Coral saw Sidian as an overly serious fun-police guy who would ruin her "fun". But over time you can tell the two have grown into a proper team and have learned to use their strengths complementary to each other, and at this point they really do appreciate each other's company and deep down, they do consider each other to be friends with a true companionship between them. Chalce is a bit of an uncertainty, but she'll likely play a big role in Spinel's downfall too, though she has gained trust from Coral and Sidian so there's not a total absence of connection on her end either.

Gibeon when he was alive was never truly "evil" per se. He became obsessed with something he had no right to even touch, and Lucius attempted to stop him, then afterward Gibeon survived but spent 100 years festering in feelings of isolation and loneliness because he felt betrayed by Lucius, who he considered his very best friend. It didn't help that recruiting Spinel to his group backfired on him because Spinel tried to manipulate him by isolating him further from people who truly cared about him, such as his grandson Amethio. But he was redeemed and showed his true good nature in the end and passed on peacefully together with Lucius. What led to that redemption was the acknowledgement and reality that he did have bonds: his grandson Amethio loved him and vowed to carry on his good will in making a better world for people and Pokemon, and even his best friend Lucius ultimately never truly gave up on him and still considered him a friend, not to mention Gibeon came to understand and accept Lucius's perspective, particularly on bonds. Especially the fact that the White Zygarde, despite everything, chose him as its partner to begin with because it understood him and shared his noble vision. So in the end he had a peaceful death: he didn't die alone, but together with his best friend, and the two were at peace knowing they had something to look forward to in the afterlife (reuniting with their other best friend Rystal, who had passed on long before them and was waiting for them in the afterlife), and that they had descendants with bright futures ahead of them in Amethio and Liko.

Spinel's fall is going to be rooted in the fact that ultimately, he's all alone. He's formidable for sure, but he actively uses people yet doesn't inspire any loyalty from them. No one likes him in the slightest within his own group. His publicity stunts and forceful rise to power feel like a desperate attempt to claim a narrative that isn't his to have and feel a sense of relevance, but having the world adore you in the public eye at a superficial level isn't the same as having a tight-knit bond with people you can trust and love, even if it's just a small group of people. He's the true "outsider" in the Explorers who brute forced his way into the group by trying to have his brilliance recognized by Gibeon and then being recruited into Gibeon's cause, but nothing will change the fact that among them, he's the sleazebag with no connections and always will be. While there was some disharmony with the rest of the group at first, Hamber was a man who was genuinely loyal to Gibeon and loved and respected him, and he raised Amethio like a son, and then trained him, Coral, Sidian, and Chalce in sequence. There wasn't quite the strong unity between them like with the Rising Volt Tacklers, but there was still an underlying potential for connections between them, as Amethio now has bonds with Zirc and Onia, and Coral and Sidian have grown into a real team despite their initial personality clash. Spinel was always the outsider who forced his way in and was only kept around because of Gibeon putting his trust in him, which he opted to use to his advantage to manipulate him rather than forge a real friendship with him.

Spinel's done a lot of heinous shit and that'll make his downfall all the more satisfying, but looking at all this the real aspect of his inevitable downfall that will make it really satisfying is the fact that he's gonna face his downfall all alone, taken down not only by the incredible might of Liko and the bonds she has with all of her friends, channeled through the power of her Pokemon, but by his own peers in the Explorers turning on him and the reality that even with the differences in their paths, they have their bonds, no matter how few, while Spinel has none, further highlighting how weak he is, his pathetic pettiness and isolation being laid bare for the entire world to see.

[aurelicar]

Explorers member comfort Amethio, ig?

[ultraericthered]

Spinel might be the most villainous character on the show right now, but I'm not ruling out "Gibeon as Final Boss" until proven otherwise.

So, thinking Spinel might end up being our main villain now, since we know Gibeon didn't really betray Lucius, he just fell under the influence of Laquium, and that's really why he became a villain. He's mostly just looking for his next fix. (He's kinda more like how Lusamine was with Nihilego, rather than being like Ghetsis like I had thought.)

But Spinel is wholly rational. He can use Gibeon to his own ends, and he doesn't have the excuse for his villainy. He's already manipulated Gibeon into tossing aside the person who would care the most for Gibeon's wellbeing. (Speaking of Amethio tho, are we gonna see him again soon? Maybe after next month's episodes, since none of the ones that have been announced sound like they would involve him?)

Also, I assume Zygarde carried Gibeon out of Laqua, since it kinda disappeared after Gibeon fell.

[leeleesart]

I think a butch could fix me

[ecargmura]

I support Spinel's rights, wrongs and whatever beatings he'll get in the future.

[fyeahexplorers]