#I would actually love Giga Sun I think

[skye-huntress]

RWBY Ice Queendom Reaction

Episode 6 “Do you have a Plan?”

The RT app must have recently updated and it caused me quite a number of headaches so I had to use the website.

Okay, I have to start with this because even Ruby seems to be obsessing over it, Weiss called Ruby “precious”. And we’re talking about Negative Weiss here, and she said the quiet part out loud. As a White Rose shipper, I love it.

Splitting up makes sense, Negative Weiss seems particularly obsessed with Blake which makes sense, especially with what Sun says later in the episode. Dream Blake’s role appears to be to constantly infiltrate Weiss’ city, to be forced out, only to keep coming back. Before Beacon, Weiss has always kept Faunus at a distance, not letting them get close to her so they can’t hurt her. Then there was one who slipped through the cracks without her even noticing and by the time she found out, it was too late, Weiss had already come to like having Blake around, which left her conflicted. That conflict is still represented in the dream.

I was actually starting to wonder recently if we would see Negative Weiss summon. In the dream, she has made herself powerful so she would be worthy of being the true Heiress to Nicholas Schnee’s legacy, and that would include mastering her Semblance. As for why Ursa, I guess just because Weiss thinks they are powerful and intimidating, not because she could actually summon one in real life. It does make me wonder if the Arma Gigas will make its appearance. Weiss’ battle with it had to have made enough of an impression on her for a number of reasons, so I guess it might be Negative Weiss’ trump card for when things really start to heat up.

Also, infinite dust? I’m calling hacks.

Wow, Weiss really did give Ruby the key to her heart… er, THE heart of her dream, I guess. Same difference, really.

By the Gods, Ruby and Yang just “killed” Grumpy Klein! How dare they?!

Random thought though, I wonder what would happen if Klein entered the Dream. Probably a moot point, since he’s not a fighter. But Winter though, she’s a licensed Huntress and were she around she probably would have been considered the ideal candidate. But she only exists as an image in a book, likely because she is never around. She left Weiss alone and all she has left is her “judgments”. I suppose if Winter were actually around she’d have a real presence in the dream, but she hasn’t been in Weiss’ life much for a long time. Honestly, it’d be her own fault if she tried to go into Weiss’ dream and turned into a book. I have gone way off track with this, back to the show!

Don’t touch the thorns, huh? Hearing that reminds me of another ominous warning I’ve heard before.

So they’ve found the Grimm in a theatre on the stage, and we see an outfit like the one we’ve seen Weiss perform in. When Weiss entered the dream it did seem like she was on a stage, so I suppose it all makes sense. Weiss puts her heart and her true feelings into her songs. When she sings she bares her heart, it’s her greatest method of expressing herself. It’s rather fitting when I think about it. It does remind me though, we know at least Jaune has heard her sing somewhere, but we don’t know if her teammates have or what they think of it. I want to know if Weiss has ever sung for them personally.

They really should have seen this coming, Negative Weiss is rather fast getting around. I wonder, her perception of everything is twisted so I wonder if she even sees the Grimm or can even acknowledge it for what it is. Perhaps it is not the Grimm itself she is protecting but that piece of herself. We’re talking about something deeply personal and precious to Weiss, something that has already been twisted and corrupted for profit by her father. I doubt Weiss is ready to be that open with her team yet and is driving them back on instinct to protect herself.

I kind of figured this part, Negative Weiss believes Ruby is childish, naive and spoiled and sees Yang as the one at fault for this. Weiss wouldn’t know anything about their parents or how they were raised so this is likely her comparing the sisters’ relationship to her own with Winter. And I think I’ve said it before, but Winter hasn’t been the best sister or role model to Weiss. I’m sure she thought she was doing what she thought was best for Weiss and maybe it was when Weiss was still living with her father. Still, Weiss’ iciness can largely be attributed to Winter’s influence, she’s basically the OG Ice Queen.

I’ve said this last reaction, but Negative Weiss is too OP to fight head on. And the Relic got destroyed in the fight. I don’t think it will be replaced, they’ll probably need its pair. I’m assuming the one in the… thing I don’t want to name anymore. Reaching it might be a problem.

After getting so close they’ve lost all the ground they’ve made, and they’ll only get one more shot at it. I suppose I should have guessed this would happen, so much time was spent trying to get as deep into the dream as possible as quickly as possible without really doing much with the things we saw along the way. Now the team has to think about all the different things they’ve seen and come up with an actual strategy.

So now we see their other friends contribute their thoughts. JNPR helps Ruby understand that in locking her friends up Weiss is actually trying to keep them safe within the dream. Sun helps Blake understand that as much as Weiss is pushing her away out of habit, she actually does want Blake to keep coming back.

Then there’s Penny. I feel like the writers were basing her more on her Chibi version than her Beacon arc version because I’m pretty sure Penny did try to hide the fact she was a robot. That aside, her analogy of dreams as a form of maintenance makes some sense, I think. I don’t really remember anything about my dreams if I dream at all, but I know that when we have a problem, even when we’re not actively thinking about it, our subconscious is still working through it, something I have experienced while awake.

So Yang’s idea is pretty much to help Weiss sort through her internal conflicts by making changes within the dream that Weiss will hopefully recognise as positive. There are a few possibilities of what I think they intend to do.

The first most obvious one will probably be to do something about the White Fang ambushing trains.

They also have to find a way to make Weiss properly welcome Blake into her heart as she is. Instead of her sneaking in as usual and catching Weiss off-guard, I think they actually need to convince Weiss to invite her inside.

Something will likely have to be done about the All-Seeing Jacques, Batley, and that bloody book.

On to Ruby’s idea though. I’m not to sure how I feel about Jaune entering Weiss’ dream, but it makes sense that he can pass as infected. I suppose it will be his role to infiltrate further into the dream and find a way to help RBY get in. He still won’t be much of fighter, yet, and even if he was he can’t get close to the Grimm anyway so he really will be just there as support while the girls do all the hard work, as usual.

These past two episodes seem to have been to establish the layout of the dream and Weiss’ state of mind

[xxfillerxx]

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

@bamsara Background taken from AstralSpiff's video featuring Giga Sun- an appearance of duplicated Suns. https://youtu.be/dhWEcImklNc

[its-railou]

Giga-sized trouble

Episode tag to New series episodes 12-13 (the midpoint of ep 13)

The news about the incident at the World Championships finals reaches the professors back in Alola, and they wonder if there's any chance that Ash is currently in Galar, attending it...

Yeah, he probably is.

(Or: Kukui and Burnet’s Oh-shit-Ash-is-in-trouble -senses are tingling).

Read on AO3 or below the cut

”Hey Kukui, come see this quickly.”

Professor Kukui raised his head from his papers, throwing a questioning look towards Burnet. She sounded weirdly serious and worried, considering she had been yelling at the tv just minutes ago in pure excitement.

“What is it?” he asked, sipping his coffee, pen still in one hand. He was only as far as across the room, but he’d have preferred not moving if not absolutely necessary. There were still too many pages of course material to shift through.

Burnet shook her head, her hand cradling her swelling stomach protectively. Her eyes were fixed on the tv and something in her expression made Kukui’s brow furrow with concern.

“Something’s happening”, she said, quietly, urgently.

Kukui was up in seconds. “Is it the baby? Are you okay?”

Burnet sighed exasperatedly, waving her hand at him. “Ugh, no! Just come here!”

Kukui walked up to her, and when he saw the tv he stopped on his tracks. Eyes wide, he stared at the screen.

“What’s going on? Is this still from the Wyndon Stadium?”

Burned nodded, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. “Yeah, it’s live feed. The ceremony for Leon was still going on when suddenly a gigantamaxed pokemon crashed through the wall – no one knows why!”

On the tv-screen, a giant head was swinging around, dust billowing over the arena grounds. Kukui could see Champion Leon still standing in the middle of it, staring at the rampage in obvious bafflement. Kukui picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

The commentator was yelling. “This gigantamax drednaw is out of control! Where did it come from? Wait, it has pulled back! Is it preparing for another attack?”

The camera was pointed at the giant hole the pokemon’s head had left behind, and on the edge of the screen Kukui could see Leon taking out his poke ball, preparing for a battle. All of it reminded him an uncomfortable amount of the Alola league finals, and he edged closer to Burnet as they continued watching in anxious silence.

“Wait a minute people, I just got a report telling me that the gigantamax drednaw has turned its attention elsewhere! Someone is challenging it outside, and the audience at the stadium have been given a chance to evacuate through the east-side doors! I assure you, dear viewers at home, all the authorities have been alerted and no injuries have been reported as of yet! Rest assured; this situation is well under control!”

But Burnet was still holding her breath, and Kukui certainly wasn’t feeling relieved. Not yet.

No, he had a really bad feeling about it.

He begun: “Do you think…”

“That Ash could be attending the finals?” finished Burnet softly. “That’s what I was thinking about.”

“He would love to see the World Championships finals, and I think he would’ve had the chance to go there, too, because of his current position”, nodded Kukui seriously.

They hadn’t heard from Ash in a couple of weeks, not since he’d called to tell them he was going to be staying at Vermilion city to help Professor Sakuragi with his research. They had been very proud to hear that, and certain that he would be in great hands.

But Ash was also a certified trouble magnet, and the Professors knew that very well.

Kukui rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Maybe we should call Sakuragi’s lab and –“

The commentator was yelling again, and something he was saying caught their attention. “What is this that I just heard, people? The stadium wall just shook violently and there is a giga battle happening outside! A gigantamax pikachu has just now appeared and seems to be battling the gigantamax drednaw! Who is that brave trainer who has challenged the rampaging pokemon?”

“A pikachu?” murmured Burnet.

Kukui sighed. Too late. They would just have to wait, and see, and hope.

  A quick call to Professor Sakuragi confirmed that Ash was currently in Wyndon, (how surprising, thought Kukui), and he should be staying in a pokemon center near the stadium. He wasn’t answering their call, however, and the news were telling them nothing about the incident, nothing except that the situation had been resolved and no serious injuries had occurred. The “mysterious trainer”, as the reporters called him, had not been reached for an interview.

About an hour later they finally got a call from Ash. He appeared on the screen with a bright smile and a second trainer by his side – a young man with tanned skin and a scorbunny wrapped in his arms.

“Alola, Professors!” Ash greeted happily. “Nurse Joy told me you’ve been trying to call me! Sorry, we only just got back!”

“Alola, Ash, good to see you!” Kukui greeted, and felt an instantaneous smile stretching across his face.

“Hey, dear. How are you doing?” asked Burnet. ”We heard you were at the finals, and we saw the news from the Wyndon Stadium, so we were a bit worried about you.”

Ash waved his hand nonchalantly. “Ah, yeah, we’re fine! That drednaw was just startled after it suddenly gigantamaxed. It wasn’t really trying to hurt anyone!”

The other trainer side-eyed him, muttering: “Are you sure about that….”

“So you saw it up close?” asked Kukui. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“Nope! When it crashed into the stadium, we ran outside so we could lure it away from the audience. We got it to battle us so everyone could get out in the meanwhile!”

“You lured it away intentionally?” yelped Kukui, though deep down he wasn’t that surprised. “That’s too reckless, Ash! That pokemon was out of control and very dangerous!”

“Uhuh. It was his idea, actually”, said Ash’s friend under his breath.

Ash turned to look at him. “Come on, Go, you thought it was a good idea too!”

“Go?” asked Burnet, while Kukui rubbed at his temples wearily. “You’re also helping at Sakuragi’s lab, isn’t that right?”

Go turned back to the screen and waved his hand awkwardly. “Um, that’s right! I’m Go from Vermilion city. Ash told me you are professors in the Alola region, and he stayed with you while he was there.”

“Yes, we got very close with Ash during his stay, so you understand why we wanted to make sure he was okay after an incident like that”, replied Kukui. “Also, we heard that there was a gigantamaxed pikachu on the scene…?”

Ash jumped excitedly, and his smile was as bright as the Alolan sun. “Oh yeah, it was super awesome! We didn’t really mean to do it, but suddenly Pikachu just started growing and it got super big and everything got like woosh, bam, bow! Then mister Leon came and helped me battle with Pikachu and we won against that drednaw!”

Pikachu hopped on his shoulder, and Ash turned his grinning face at it and petted its neck. Pikachu cooed happily, and Kukui took the moment to digest his words.

Mister Leon?

Wait, Champion Leon? World Champion Leon?

“Hold on, Ash, Champion Leon helped you?” he repeated blankly. He shared a look with Burnet, and she shrugged helplessly at him.

Ash nodded, calming down slightly. “Well, yeah. He was watching our battle, and Pikachu was really confused about the giga-form, and I didn’t really know how to help it, so mister Leon told me what to say to get it to do the right move!”

“And afterwards, when he came down to thank us, Ash straight up asked the Champion to battle him…” added Go with a roll of his eyes.

That caught Kukui off guard, and he burst into laughter. “Oh, really?” he chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?”

“He didn’t answer me, though”, said Ash with a disappointed pout. “We kinda had to leave pretty fast ‘cause all the police officers and reporters were coming closer, and we didn’t wanna get stuck doing all that stuff.”

“I wouldn’t have minded”, stated Go with a shrug.

“Anyway, how are you doing, Professors?” asked Ash excitedly. “We haven’t seen each other in a while! How’s Lycanroc and Rowlet and everyone?”

And that was that about the Galar incident.

With a content smile, Kukui let Burnet answer all of Ash’s questions – he took his time to hang back and just watch his previous student gush excitedly over all the cool and awesome things they had done so far; all the pokemon they had met and helped and the wonders they had witnessed.

Ash might be a trouble magnet, mused Kukui, but he was also a miracle magnet.

And he was just getting started.

[stevenuniversallyreviews]

Episode 102: Back to the Moon

“I was there. I saw it with my own eye.”

In The Return, the penultimate episode of Act I, Steven learns something terrible about Rose Quartz. He’s being driven away from an alien threat that nobody thinks he’s ready to face, and his father finally tells him that his mother wasn’t just an alien, but an alien invader. The Gems were attacking Earth, and while Rose ultimately became a hero, she came to the planet as one of the attackers. It’s something the Crystal Gems never told him, but Greg’s words allow Steven to see his mom in a new light that shapes his relationship with her in Act II.

In Back to the Moon, the penultimate episode of Act II, Steven learns something terrible about Rose Quartz. He’s in the thick of an alien threat that he’s more than ready to face, and an enemy finally tells him that his mother is a killer. The Gems were attacking Earth, and while Rose ultimately became a hero, she did it by murdering the leader of the invaders. It’s something the Crystal Gems never told him, but Eyeball’s words force Steven to see his mom in a new light that shapes his relationship with her in Act III.

That one of these stories is true and the other is false is irrelevant to how they alter Steven’s perception of his mother and the Crystal Gems. Even if Rose didn’t actually shatter Pink Diamond, Garnet and Amethyst thought she did and and decided not to tell him, and Pearl knew but couldn’t tell him, because even if Rose didn’t kill Pink, she was still capable of acts as monstrous as removing a friend’s free will. 

The effects of learning Rose was an alien invader are instant: Steven is galvanized to return to his friends and save the day, and spends the next fifty-odd episodes looking up to a departed parent who disavowed an evil regime in favor of Earth. I’d argue his relative lack of visible growth in Act II is a direct result of this: he has a simplistic view of his mother as a hero, and his goal to become just like her is futile because he doesn’t have the full story.

Learning Rose shattered Pink Diamond is a slower, more painful process. Yes, there’s the immediate tearful denial, but we jump right back to the main plot that we’ve been following for eight minutes. The scene after the reveal focuses on Amethyst as Jasper, followed by a final confrontation with the Ruby Squad. When Steven speaks, he betrays no signs of dismay: he’s either congratulating Amethyst for a job well done, or trash talking Giga Ruby before launching her into space. But his silence in between speaks volumes, both subtly as he holds Garnet’s hand off to the side, and more openly in my favorite shot of the episode, complete with a somber, high-pitched variant of the Diamond harmonette and strings.

Perhaps Steven’s moments of normalcy seem odd, but as we’ll see in Bubbled, our kid is in shock. It takes a while for the weight of this information to sink in, and he spends the next fifty-odd episodes recovering his shattered pieces and rebuilding himself into a stronger individual than ever. He’s not Rose Quartz, and he never has been, but this is final arc is about him realizing that he shouldn’t be.

So that, to me, defends his odd behavior. What I find less defensible is the level of coincidence involved in the reveal. It’s not a huge deal, but from a storytelling perspective it’s just sloppy to have Jasper mention Pink Diamond for the first time by saying Rose did something to her, then for Steven to learn what Jasper was talking about one episode later, and for those two events to have no bearing on each other. Steven would’ve been told about Pink Diamond whether or not Jasper said a thing, which takes a lot of the narrative oomph out of her last words. All we needed was for him to mention Pink Diamond, just to spark the conversation, and I’d be fine with this. I can forgive the Ruby Squad just happening to show up right when Jasper is defeated—I would’ve loved to see Jasper and the rubies teaming up, but that would be a wholly different story—yet the execution leading up to Eyeball’s explanation irks me to this day, because there’s no good reason for it. If I extend a generous reasoning, perhaps it’s to signify Steven’s lack of agency in this story? Enh. Naw, it still just comes across as contrived to me. Again, it’s not a huge deal, I just wish it was a little tighter.

Obviously the major twist is worth talking about, but Back to the Moon is so much more than than a game-changing revelation. The episode itself doesn’t focus on the consequences of the twist, so we’ll be covering the fallout in Bubbled (y’know, the episode about the fallout).

It’s surprising that Back to the Moon is another Amethyst episode, considering we just get a ton of Amethyst episodes, but what’s more surprising is that it doesn’t feel like an overload of the character. By all accounts we should be a little tired of paying so much attention to her, but this story works by acting as an epilogue to her arc, rather than a continuation. It’s the first of three such epilogues: over the course of Act II, Amethyst learned to accept herself, Garnet became more capable of understanding others and making her identity as a fusion understood, and Pearl stops letting her longing for Rose sabotage her relationships, and Back to the Moon, Mindful Education, and Last One Out of Beach City bask in these changes to the status quo. They aren’t resolutions so much as reflections: our characters have already grown, and now we’re seeing what that means for them.

After struggling against Jasper directly and indirectly for five episodes, Amethyst is able to transform into her rival without a speck of angst. We see that this isn’t physically easy for her, because if it wasn’t a struggle, the whole point of her arc is muted: the terrific exasperated expressions from Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff are supplemented by Michaela Dietz’s wonderful Jasper impersonation, complete with slips to her regular voice (it kills me that her idea of good acting is just saying “I’m Jasper” a lot). And I love that we see her deciding to go through with it in the background while Doc rants, which I only noticed in like my fifth viewing. Details matter, people!

Amethyst saves the day by being her best self: a fluid improviser whose self-confidence shines after a severe bout with doubt. She’s the best shapeshifter in the Crystal Gems, and the most impulsive, so she’s the only one capable of taking this approach and the only one wild enough to go through with it. She’s pretty sure she can get away with such an obvious ruse (she was the one who claimed that rubies are dumb in Hit the Diamond, after all), and she’s right. We even get a callback to the days of Amethyst and Pearl as rivals, with Pearl constantly criticizing the plan only to see it succeed despite its clear flaws; in fact, as soon as Pearl praises Amethyst for the trick, it stops working.   

While Amethyst gets the most focus, this is really a curtain call for all our friendly Gems now that we’re moving to a new era of the series. Garnet and Pearl, after hamming it up together while playing prisoner (Pearl is louder, but Garnet is funnier), remind us of how far they’ve come in mending their relationship’s lowest point with a cameo from their very hammy fusion. I appreciate the elegance of the Sardonyx factor, because it works as a capper for the Crystal Gems’ stories in Act II, but it also makes sense that these two would fuse to counter another big fusion, considering Amethyst is exhausted from fighting Jasper then playing Jasper.

Peridot and Lapis don’t have such an obvious moment of reflection, but we still get a finishing touch on their Act II relationship. They’ve gone from unwilling accomplices to reluctant roommates to friends, and they’re done with Homeworld conflicts. Lapis’s cheerful “Come on down!” while releasing rubies evokes game show lingo that goes hand in hand with her newfound love of television, and she’s otherwise her wonderful bitter self. Peridot doesn’t get as much to do, but she stands united with Lapis upon being offered the chance to play prisoner: as we saw in Beta, Peridot has gone from using Lapis as a tool to appearing more sensitive to Lapis’s traumatic past than even Lapis herself. I’m sure it won’t come back to haunt them in, say, Season 5.

Then, of course, there are the actual stars of the show.

Charlyne Yi had nothing to prove after voicing a swarm of rubies in Hit the Diamond, but they’re back and better than ever, complete with longer introductions and helpful nicknames from Steven (“Army” and “Navy” as references to the arm and navel are marvelous puns). Their individual personalities shine even brighter when separated and interrogated, and just in case it wasn’t clear enough that they aren’t a threat, we get Lapis and Garnet openly condescending to them. They remain a delight as a whole as well, kicking and punching at the ground to show their hatred of Earth and providing off-screen commentary about germs and Pearl’s overacting. We even get more speech from Giga Ruby than last time, and I relish the opportunity to hear Yi’s slow, deep “monster voice.”

The difference is that we have something of a main ruby this time around. Eyeball was the first member of the gang that we saw, all the way back in the last shot of Barn Mates, and is the most striking member of the team with her unusual gem placement. While the other rubies each get a moment in the sun, and Doc in particular gets a terrific rant about their search for Jasper, it’s Eyeball who takes the lead. Her devotion to Jasper almost retroactively characterizes our recently fallen villain, reinforcing how easy it would be for the other side to see her adherence to her values as heroic rather than stubborn and self-destructive. We get a hilarious shot of a single jealous tear as Doc sits in Amethyst’s lap, reinforcing Eyeball’s hero worship even further. And of course, Eyeball of all people is the person who finally lets Steven know about Rose shattering Pink.

These roles could have been split more evenly among the rubies, but Steven is about to spend an episode alone with Eyeball, and it’s smart to let us get to know her better before we do. Yeah, she’s grouchy and blunt, but there’s a real person in there who’s just as capable of love as our heroes, even if it’s directed towards her home planet and its champions. She hates Rose Quartz, but why wouldn’t she? This is not only the killer of a Diamond, but a traitor we’re talking about.

Here’s a convoluted but true sentence: Back to the Moon is the first half of the third two-part episode in a row (arguably the fourth, considering how seamlessly Crack the Whip leads to Steven vs. Amethyst). On top of this, it borrows from The Return, not only in the shared Rose reveal but in an opponent ominously saying “I was there” as a sort of invasion of Steven’s history. It also borrows from It Could’ve Been Great, returning to the lunar base that preceded our first full look at a Diamond. It’s a first-half episode that’s beholden to first-half episodes of the past: it has so much in common with others of its ilk that it’s unsurprising to see this story end in a cliffhanger. But the secret here is that if “this story” refers to the story of everyone but Steven and Eyeball, we get a pretty solid self-contained episode. Amethyst gets her win, the other Gems help save the day, the rubies are thwarted, and Lapis and Peridot are safe and sound on Earth. 

It all feels a little mishmashed, to be honest: it’s a good Amethyst episode, but it’s also about the rubies, and it’s also about Pink Diamond, and it’s also about the end of Act II, and it also ends with our hero getting sucked into space. It shouldn’t work as well as it does. But considering how much time we’re about to spend on Steven all alone with someone who wants him dead, I’m glad to get a first-half episode that sends the rest of Act II off in style. Here comes the hard part.

Future Vision!

Theorists guessed that Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond long before the latter was ever mentioned by name, and while Back to the Moon killed this theory for most, there were a few crazy holdouts who held true. I wasn’t one of them (I was iffy on the initial theory, even), but kudos to those who remained loyal, because they were right. And the first hint was right after Steven heard the story, in this heartbreaking shot that gets so much worse with context.

The gag of our heroes in space being this close to getting away with a ruse only to be caught in the last minute is repeated in That Will Be All.

We’re the one, we’re the ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

This is a great Amethyst episode, and a humongous lore episode, but that by itself doesn’t get it in my top twenty. I still love it, as it contains a ton of individual elements that I love (the opening sequence especially, which might not stick out compared to the twist but is so much fun), but we won’t get the ramifications of its reveal until later. It might actually feel more complete if it was just an Amethyst episode, but it works wonders as it is, so I’m happy giving it a good home in the list.

Top Twenty

Steven and the Stevens

Hit the Diamond

Mirror Gem

Lion 3: Straight to Video

Alone Together

The Return

Jailbreak

The Answer

Sworn to the Sword

Rose’s Scabbard

Earthlings

Mr. Greg

Coach Steven

Giant Woman

Beach City Drift

Winter Forecast

Bismuth

When It Rains

Catch and Release

Chille Tid

Love ‘em

Laser Light Cannon

Bubble Buddies

Tiger Millionaire

Lion 2: The Movie

Rose’s Room

An Indirect Kiss

Ocean Gem

Space Race

Garnet’s Universe

Warp Tour

The Test

Future Vision

On the Run

Maximum Capacity

Marble Madness

Political Power

Full Disclosure

Joy Ride

Keeping It Together

We Need to Talk

Cry for Help

Keystone Motel

Back to the Barn

Steven’s Birthday

It Could’ve Been Great

Message Received

Log Date 7 15 2

Same Old World

The New Lars

Monster Reunion

Alone at Sea

Crack the Whip

Beta

Back to the Moon

Like ‘em

Gem Glow

Frybo

Arcade Mania

So Many Birthdays

Lars and the Cool Kids

Onion Trade

Steven the Sword Fighter

Beach Party

Monster Buddies

Keep Beach City Weird

Watermelon Steven

The Message

Open Book

Story for Steven

Shirt Club

Love Letters

Reformed

Rising Tides, Crashing Tides

Onion Friend

Historical Friction

Friend Ship

Nightmare Hospital

Too Far

Barn Mates

Steven Floats

Drop Beat Dad

Too Short to Ride

Restaurant Wars

Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service

Greg the Babysitter

Gem Hunt

Steven vs. Amethyst

Enh

Cheeseburger Backpack

Together Breakfast

Cat Fingers

Serious Steven

Steven’s Lion

Joking Victim

Secret Team

Say Uncle

Super Watermelon Island

Gem Drill

No Thanks!

     5. Horror Club      4. Fusion Cuisine      3. House Guest      2. Sadie’s Song      1. Island Adventure

[ghostmartyr]

Pokémon FireRed Nuzlocke [Part 5]

Standard Nuzlocke rules apply. Non-standard grindlocke rules made up by me. No fighting outside of Trainer battles.

Four badges so far, we take our heroic journey Team Rocket’s way.

Telling someone that you’re guarding a poster is not the best way to keep their attention off that poster, for the record.

Dude’s got a level 20 Raticate. Heero, being absurdly overleveled despite the handicap, murders it. Zaft can try to tackle the Zubat. Zaft succeeds! And the lackluster fight is over.

A quick talk with an NPC later, our ten-year-old self has the means to start gambling. If we wanted to. We don’t. The pokemon you can get take too long to train, and more importantly, we already have Ribbons for this city.

I know Red is supposed to be the Serious protagonist.

But signs point to him being a hopeless ten-year-old like the rest of us.

Okay, now it’s time to think a little. Team Rocket has the Poison sets, Rattata line, and Zubat line, mainly. I would ideally like Ribbons to hit 30 before we head back to Lavender for the tower fun, but outside of Grimer, meh. Zaft could maybe use some switching down here, so it would make sense for Zaft to go in first position.

Let’s. Try that.

...Wanting an Electrode to contribute meaningfully to my team is going to be my downfall. I can feel it.

Let’s bash some mob heads.

Grunt #1 with a level 21 Raticate for Allenby to rescue Zaft from. Two, even.

Yay, random hidden PP Up for Giga Drain. (60 damage with 5 PP? I forgot how much later gens boost the power on everything to create real monsters.)

Grunt #2. Ick. Level 21 Drowzee. Heero can grab this one. And Drowzee uses Poison Gas to poison Heero. Sigh. Machop next and last, and that can be Allenby’s.

That’s sorted, so down the stairs we go.

Grunt #3. Level 17 Zubat. Zaft can totally handle that alone. And learn Spark! The Koffing is more Allenby’s speed, though. Grimer for Ribbons. Another Zubat for Zaft. Now with the power of an actual Electric move. And finally, Raticate. ...Which we will let Zaft take a stab at against our better judgment.

Hey, it works out! Awesome!

I hated these things as a child.

That was not a wrong opinion.

Grunt #4! Level 19 Rattata for Zaft. Level 19 Raticate for Zaft to have help with. Ribbons, how about you give it a shot? You need exp too. Another one and let’s throw out the same treatment. Back to Rattata for Zaft to solo.

Grunt #5 with three pokemon. First out is level 20 Grimer. Allenby nabs the Koffing. And stays in for the last one.

Downstairs for Grunt #6. It feels like a much higher number than that. Level 21 Machop for Allenby. And a second one.

The more fights there are, the more boring this playthrough gets to describe. There’s no drama. No tension. My team is going to clobber the mooks, and everything is going to be awesome.

Until it suddenly changes, and no one will know because all this boring as heck description is going to drain the horror of all power.

Lucky #7. Level 20 Rattata. These things with their horrifying Hyper Fangs. Raticate. That one will require Allenby’s help. With some hesitance, she’ll stay in against the Drowzee.

The one thing I will never love about Nuzlockes is the number of times I go back to Pokemon Centers. It’s a lot of walking I never do usually.

#8. A level 21 Koffing for Allenby. Back to Zaft for the Zubat.

Lift Key get. Yay.

You’re a mook, not a proper villain, #9. Act like it. Ooh, level 22 Grimer for Ribbons. Koffing for Allenby. Exploring which level the elevator takes me to for me.

#10, standing outside a door I hope opens automatically so I don’t have to go out to search for more keys. Level 23 Ekans goes to Allenby. ...And a Sandshrew. Nay, villains, that is not for you. Ribbons, correct this wrong. Arbok, and back to Allenby.

#11, what do you have for me? Another Sandshrew for Ribbons. Stop using Sandshrew. It’s too cute for you. Noin can have the Sandslash. In the spirit of letting her have something to do. Ekans goes to Allenby.

I don’t remember how this fight goes. I’m going to put Ribbons in front because I don’t think Zaft is useful against any of Giovanni’s anything in any world. Heero and Allenby might very well be jumping in to save everyone. Hopefully not, but whatever. Onward.

Meh.

Level 25 Onix out first, justifying all my choices. Rhyhorn next. Then Kangaskhan. A level 29 Kangaskhan. Allenby might need to step in, but Ribbons can take a hit.

It knows Mega Punch.

Can Allenby take a Mega Punch?

Heero has higher Defense and more HP.

STAB Mega Punch is terrifying. Heero... be brave, now.

Oh, that wasn’t so bad. 30 HP lost.

Yeah, in the future, Giovanni is not for switch training. Allenby gets first crack at the Kangaskhan.

Now it’s time for a ghostly adventure. Yay. Ultimate fetch quests of ultimate destiny.

Actually, before that, which TMs are available at Game Corner? I can’t get a pokemon here, but the moves might be worth something. Let’s see... Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Flamethrower.

That’s expensive.

I... might come back for Thunderbolt. I’m not sure. Depends how Zaft does. Or Ice Beam, depending on what my final team ends up looking like. There are a few things that could happen.

For now, Ghost tower.

Ribbons and Zaft’s playground.

This place is dark for Nuzlocke runs. It’s creepy regardless, but. Brr.

Oh, you’re first, not last. Uh. Hm.

I think his Pidgeot(to?) is up front. Zaft theoretically isn’t a bad pick for that, but the levels could be anything. Pokemon Tower is available right after Rock Tunnel, so I’m not too worried about this, but this place is also designed to be beaten all the way through after you get the Silph Scope.

Zaft, if you die, we’re in the right place.

SHUT UP.

Okay, so he has a level 25 Pidgeotto. Not something Zaft should be fighting, but. Fuck, I’m going to be stupid, aren’t I? I’m going to let it try to get a hit in. Sorry in advance, Zaft. Pidgeotto used Sand Attack. Zaft could faint it if it hits again.

Good job, Zaft! Now get out!

Allenby in for Growlithe. It’s level 23, but has Intimidate because of course it does. Exeggcute goes to Heero. Wartortle is Noin’s. Kadabra... Ribbons, you want a shot? You’re a higher level. Good boy.

Phew. Okay. That should be the worst of the Tower, I think.

With a level 22 Gastly. Zaft wins all by itself and makes it to level 24!

Channeler Carly also has a Gastly. This one’s level 24, so Ribbons will help.

Channeler Hope is next, with the unfortunate name for a possessed woman. Also a level 23 Gastly. Ribbons will help Zaft again.

Going back to the possessed part for a second... I don’t really pay attention to the plot of these games. I do not care. I am here for the pokemon and not much else. Sun and Moon letting you beat down the Professor is probably one of the few squees the plot of any of these games have given me.

But then there’s gen one and people randomly getting possessed and attacking you just because there needs to be some justification for Trainer battles in a graveyard. I guess. Also Ghosts exist, but ghosts are looked at with the standard superstitious thoughts of our world.

I love these dumb games.

Oh, hello. Right, I can catch a thing here.

Caught!

Your name will be... Epyon. I will never be able to use you because I have no idea how you would even go about trading on an emulator, but it’s nice that if something terrible goes wrong you will be around. I guess.

Channeler Laurel is our next victim. She has a level 23 Gastly. Then another. Ribbons will help with the second one. Night Shade packs a punch.

Channeler Jody. Jody is not the name of someone you would expect to end up here, but I guess the chaotic sprite is probably a symptom of possession. Anyway, level 22 Gastly.

Channeler Paula, who inspires the same joke I just made. Her Gastly is level 24.

I think the next floor up has a healing circle.

Yay, I don’t have to walk all the way outside for the third time.

Channeler Ruth’s Gastly is level 22. We are letting Ribbons and Zaft share to be nice.

Channeler Karina has a level 24 Gastly. Similar tactics employed.

Channeler Janae brings out her level 22 Gastly.

-gasp-

Channeler Tammy... has a Haunter. It’s level 23.

It’s amazing how so many different things from childhood are so much creepier when you reapproach them as an adult.

Channeler Angelica! Hee. Level 22 Gastly, followed by a level 22 Gastly, followed by a level 22 Gastly.

Channeler Jennifer is next. Level 24 Gastly.

Channeler Emilia has another level 24 Gastly.

I think we’ve reached the Marowak staircase, so Zaft is going to have to go second instead of first. Ribbons, you’re free to take on the Marowak all by yourself. Like a champ. I believe in you. And if that belief is faulty, Noin has your back.

Have you ever wanted to give a cloud of ominous mist a hug?

Ribbons wins the day, and all that’s left is Team Rocket.

The first grunt has a level 25 Zubat. Level jump. Yay. My favorite thing in the whole wide world. Another level 25 Zubat. Well at least they’re making this easy for Zaft. Then there’s a level 25 Golbat, threatening things less easy. Heero, step in and save Zaft from confusion.

Second grunt. Level 26 Koffing. Allenby time. Heero gets the Drowzee.

Grunt number three. Last one at the Tower. Kindly opening with a level 23 Zubat for Zaft. And following it with a level 23 Rattata. Then a level 23 Raticate. Allenby will help with that one. ...Actually Heero will, since I wasn’t in the mood to go back and heal after the last Grunt.

No, Zaft, you cannot learn Selfdestruct. Bad Zaft.

Level 23 Zubat for the last thing.

That’s my job. I’m the protagonist.

Poke Flute get!

So now for the least fun part of all this. Snorlax. I need to try to catch it, because it’s too ridiculously useful not to try for, but it’s also ridiculously hard to catch. And not Pokemon Go hard to catch. Actually hard. I need to hit Celadon for some Ultra Balls.

Everywhere only has Great Balls. Nice. Okay then.

I’m going to hate this.

Allenby’s up first.

For the sake of this run’s rules, if I give up on trying to catch it, I’m going to just run. If that’s not an option, then I’ll faint it. But intentionally fainting it if I have other options is out. If it’s going to kill me, run, run, run.

Oh fuck. The Snorlax does too much damage with Headbutt. Catching is a pipe dream.

HOLY SHIT.

IT IS CAUGHT.

WITH MINIMAL TRAUMA.

WHAT.

NAME.

PO.

AWESOME.

LET’S GET YOU OUT OF THE BOX.

JOLLY. LIKE A SANTA.

Heck I am psyched.

Look at this.

Unless something goes horribly wrong, this is our team.

Let’s get that other Snorlax out of our way. There are a lot of Flying trainers past it, and I’m more confident in dealing with that than our Biker friends we will be meeting shortly. Zaft’s still lowest on the totem pole, and correcting that sooner rather than later is my preference.

Other Snorlax successfully fled. Zaft back in front. Awesome. Awesome awesome awesome.

Rocker Luca is hanging about, and he’s got a level 29 Voltorb. Ugh. Allenby, help.

Er.

Oh good, only down to 58.

Then he has a level 29 Electrode. Noin pretty much has to go in just in case. Yikes. Yikes and more yikes. Noin poisons it. Ganbatte Noin.

Great, we lived through that. Nearest PokeCenter where.

Also, to get the Itemfinder and Leftovers, I need 30 pokemon in my Pokedex. I’ve got 24. Things to fix. I think I can fish in cities, Zaft will evolve, and... and I should just resign myself to not getting the stuff right away. Fine.

A Fisherman named Andrew. With a level 24 Magikarp. Yum. And another for good measure.

Next down the bridge, Picnicker Alma. With a level 28 Goldeen for Allenby. ...For Po, actually. Now Po is confused. Now Po is not confused. Now Po is confused. This time the confusion does not matter. Yay Po. Poliwag all for Zaft. Horsea too.

Bird Keeper Sebastian is next. So many things to process. Like the level 29 Pidgey. Ow. Or the Pidgeotto. More ow.

Still on the bridge (maybe our last one until running back for Quatre to Cut a few things?), Picnicker Susie would like to battle with a near-full roster. Starting with a level 24 Pidgey. I approve. Meowth next. Then Rattata. Then Pikachu. Allenby will finish that thanks to some unfortunate paralysis. Zaft back for a Meowth that Heero will nom.

Off the bridge!

She’s got a level 27 Rattata. Pikachu next. Noin food. Another Rattata for Zaft.

I’m running back to Vermilion after each of these fights. Partly because I’m too lazy to figure out what the key is for the bike I have.

Beauty Sheila. She has a level 29 Clefairy, which looks like prime Po food. Zaft goes back in for the Meowth. And Zaft the miracle child paralyzes it in a way that allows us to dodge a run back to the Pokemon Center.

Picnicker Valerie is next. She has a level 30 Poliwag because she wants Zaft to thrive on this team. And another, even! My thanks.

And.

Finally.

Look at that grin.

Picnicker Gwen time. Bringing the level 27 Pidgey. Meowth. Pidgey. Pidgeotto.

...Zaft being evolved is honestly so helpful.

Bird Keeper Perry! Hoping to fare better? Not with that level 25 Spearow asking for Po’s attention. Pidgey means Zaft is back. Same to the next Pidgey. Spearow for Po again. And one last one.

So the bike is the Backspace button. Fine. Better than holding the B button and running all the way.

Music to my ears, Robert. Pidgey, level 26 Pidgeotto, Spearow for Po, Fearow also for Po, and we’re good. Then we’ve got a Biker coming up, so Po gets to switch places with Zaft as first in line.

Though something which I remembered a little earlier has caught my attention. I think Snorlax is on the slower end of growth. Electrode doesn’t have that problem. Hopefully Po will be multipurpose enough to make up for it, but that could be something I need to watch out for. There’s a very limited supply to work with.

But Biker! Biker Jared with the level 28 Koffing. And this is where I learn Po’s ability is Immunity. Po can’t be poisoned. Oh happy day. I think Po’s going to be seeing a lot of use against Bikers. Another Koffing, and another Koffing.

Back to bird boys, so Zaft in front again.

Bird Keeper Carter has a level 28 Pidgey. Doduo for Po. Zaft goes back to clean up the Pidgeotto.

If anyone were reading these, I’m sure they’d be as sick as I am of me detailing every single fight with the absolute minimal detail I can stand. It is not good entertainment. Sadly, since I started this with the assumption that I could be doing a few tries... I want a record of what I’ll be up against. Just skim.

Mitch with the level 26 Pidgey. Spearow for Po. Pidgey for Zaft. Fearow for Po.

Back to Vermilion’s Pokemon Center. And screw it, I’m going to catch something in the water. Super Rod for variety.

Naisu. And of course it knows Dragon Rage. Damn it.

I fucked up.

Shit.

...Shit.

I got arrogant. Should have gone Old Rod.

I’m laughing.

I am in so much trouble now.

But I can’t help it.

Oh wow.

I really have to catch this.

Well.

Yay?

Actual fuck.

Your name is Altron.

Fuck you. Welcome to the team.

Ribbons. Noin. I would apologize if I didn’t find the situation so unspeakably hilarious. I chose this fight. It was completely optional. No one twisted my arm. Unlike the trainer fights. Yet. Here we are. One very angry Gyarados brought two of my favorite team members to their knees.

I spent TMs on both of you. And a PP Up on Giga Drain. I had high hopes. I was playing so carefully. If I had remembered that Po was my tank earlier, you might have made it through. Instead...

Instead, this gets interesting.

I am back down to five partners (yay, Quatre, you get to come back!), and a level 25 Gyarados is not the simplest thing to train.

I... Oh. Fuck.

There’s a Lapras coming up, isn’t there?

No, that’s a gen one thing. This is a gen three version of gen one, so cursed.

Fuck. I need to think.

What do I really have left in the world to catch?

There’s the long bike area, Safari Zone, a few routes I can touch better with Quatre back on the team... But in terms of level? A free level 25 thing (lol “free”) is not bad. Victory Road has wild level 40s, but nothing I could conceivably make solid use of.

Unless I get incredibly lucky, Gyarados is probably going to be the best thing I can get my hands on before the end of the game.

-hours later-

After some contemplation, I think this is going to mark a change in approach. People beat these games with only one pokemon battling. I don’t feel like splitting exp and training something again.

So I’ll have Altron in my team, and perhaps even make use of him, but the team focuses are going to be Zaft, Allenby, Heero, and Po. For the whole rest of the game. ...Decision subject to change. But I’m just really not feeling the desire to train anything else.

We shall see. We shall be concerned. We shall endure.

We shall be happy Quatre is back on the team.

Camper Justin has a level 29 male Nidoran. Go Po. Then a level 29 Nidorino. Don’t die, Po. Yay, Po.

According to my vague map I haven’t caught something on Route 12. Because Serebii says there’s a chance you can Super Rod up a level 35 Horsea, I will attempt to catch one.

Sadly mine is a level 20. Now named Max. Pokedex count: 27.

Route 13′s thing is Venonat. It poisons Zaft. Altron helps, because, as we all know, Altron knows Dragon Rage. Venonat is caught, and its new name shall be Well. Because no one reads these and I can do what I want.

We finally arrive at where we were before all that Gyarados nonsense. You can tell it was nonsense because I still say Gyarados half the time instead of using Altron’s name.

Anyway, Bird Keeper Marlon. He has a Spearow. Aka Po food. Po stays in for the Doduo. Level 28 btw. As my emotional pain rises my transcribing cares fall. Fearow next. Still Po.

Next up is Bird Keeper Beck. Flying high with a level 29 Pidgeotto. And a Fearow for Po. Considerate.

You mean those things I probably can’t catch?

Bird Keeper Donald. Quack. ...Complete with Farfetch’d. Amazing. Po, help nom it.

Can Gyarados learn Fly? I’m reluctant to throw that on Heero because I don’t know what’s coming next, but I’m also reluctant to keep on biking back to Vermilion to keep a limit on tragic accidents.

Why is Gyarados a Flying type if it can’t learn Fly. Boo.

Don’t let people peer pressure you into forcing your pets to fight, man. Bird Keeper Benny. Level 29 Spearow. Po kills it, as is right and just. Fearow up next. And Po learns Body Slam to replace Headbutt.

Then we have a row of Bikers before we can get to the grass. Po, you’re in front now.

Biker Gerald with the level 29 Koffing. Plus level 29 Muk. The tributes to Po continue.

Biker Malik. Another level 29 Koffing. Level 29 Grimer.

Biker Isaac has three pokemon. Level 28 Grimer first. Then a second one. Then a Koffing for last place.

One. more. Biker. ...here.

You can tell he’s cool because he has four pokemon and his sprite was allowed to ride his bike. One level 26 Koffing first. One more. Grimer. Final Koffing to round it all out.

Zaft goes out front to facilitate the capture of whatever our Route 14 thing chooses to be.

I see no way for this to go wrong.

Caught!

Your name’s Afranche now.

Pokedex count: 29.

Time for Po and Allenby to beat up Twins Jan and Kiri. With their fancy level 29 Charmander and Squirtle. It is a quick fight.

Made it to Route 15. Look at us go. Look at how I’ve caught everything here that I can, thanks to the species clause. Look at how far away that Itemfinder is.

Biker Ernest has a level 25 Koffing. And another. Then Weezing. Back to Koffing. Then, at long last, a Grimer to finish things.

Biker Alex introduces himself by threatening to mug us. But. That’s sort of what happens during every battle. Someone is going to fork over a bunch of cash. So his tough guy image is a lie hiding his willingness to conform to society’s standards.

Anyway, level 28 Koffing. Grimer. Weezing.

In the spirit of really not wanting to bike back to Vermilion even though Po needs healing. Zaft goes up front while we try to dodge around everyone on our way to Fuchsia.

I’m going to stop you right there.

Tfw you will never.

Fuchsia reached, and for future reference, this is where the Move Deleter is in this game. That might be handy to know.

Because Zaft is already in front, I wander down before I have Surf to play with the Swimmers. Swimmer Richard has a level 30 Tentacool. Then a Shellder. Swimmer Reece has a level 29 Goldeen Po can help with. Zaft goes back in for the Horsea. Stays in for Staryu.

Scrubbed the deck with the landlubbed Swimmers.

Good Rod get, and I’m going to fish up my Fuchsia City thing in the pond behind the Fisher guy’s house.

I can’t see this helping much.

I’m feeling really lazy. You can be Barton.

But! I have 30 now!

Time to hit the Trainers we missed and then bike back to Vermilion! ...Yay!

Bird Keeper Edwin first on the docket. With a level 26 Pidgeotto. Po in for Farfetch’d. And Doduo. Zaft comes back for Pidgey.

Bird Keeper Chester is next. With Dodrio wanting Po’s attention. Doduo next. Also another one.

Picnickers are next, and I think in the interest of fairness Allenby is going to be up front for them.

A level 29 Bellsprout opens the match. Allenby is beyond such things. Heero can eat the Oddish. Heero can also eat the Tangela.

Picnicker Kindra is next. Bringing the level 28 Gloom for Heero. Heero stays in for the Oddish. All two of them.

Beauty Olivia has a level 29 Bulbasaur. Heero clearly needed to be the one up front for all of this. Ivysaur next and last.

Beauty Grace has a level 29 Pidgeotto. Against my better judgment, Allenby will stay in to try and Rock Slide it. Gambit successful. Wigglytuff in next, so Allenby gets to stay in for a whole fight!

Picnicker Becky has a Pikachu. On a related note, Allenby now knows Cross Chop. Cross Chop murders Becky’s Raichu.

Picnicker Celia just has the one level 33 Clefairy.

Had.

Double Battle putting Allenby and Heero in the driver’s seat. Yes, at the same time. Against Ron and Mya. Level 29 Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee.

Aaaaaand that’s what we have down here.

Itemfinder time!

Yes!

Success.

Let’s call this part there, shall we? Before anything horrible can happen. It’s been something of a rough ride this time around. Entirely because of my own choices, but still.

High note end, get.

[raeynbowboi]

My Favorite Pokemon of Each Type

I wonder how obvious it is which Pokemon Gen was my first? So I wanted to not only share my favorite Pokemon, but also the reasoning behind why I like them as much as I do. I also took the liberty to include in the descriptions below the 2nd and 3rd place runner ups for each type. A couple ground rules I held myself to: 1. No legendaries, mythical pokemon, or special event Pokemon 2. No Megas, no Alolan Forms

GRASS - SCEPTILE

My least favorite of the Hoenn starters, and the one I was last to do a playthrough with, Sceptile is still by far one of, if not the best grass starter in any generation. The Hoenn region being covered by a lot of water certainly does help its case, and gives it an edge over Team Aqua. Although, for being named Team Aqua, they sure don’t have a lot of water-type pokemon. Still, Sceptile’s speed made it quite the formidable pokemon.

2nd - Tsareena 3rd - Trevenant

FIRE - BLAZIKEN

The first starter I ever completed a Hoenn playthrough with, Blaziken was often my go-to starter for the Hoenn region, largely due to how adorable Torchic was, and how strong Blaziken was. Honestly, I think it has one of the most broken, OP Mega forms in the game, and I absolutely adore it. You may have noticed my top 3 Fire types are all starter pokemon. Yeah, Fire Pokemon as a whole are not very good, so the starters tend to be the only really viable fire types in any given game.

2nd - Charizard 3rd - Infernape

WATER - MILOTIC

I freaking love this monstrosity. Pack this little lady up with Surf, Recover, Toxic, and Ice Beam, and you’ve got a self-regenerating wall. I’ve blown through entire teams with this dynamite creature. This thing has saved me from the brink of defeat, swept teams, stalled long enough to give me the advantage, and whatever else it could in so many battles that I do not do a playthrough without one on my team. I’m even willing to violate the “no repeating types” rule I tend to employ just to have this thing with me. I truly cannot sing its praises enough.

2nd - Kingdra 3rd - Azumarill

NORMAL - LOPUNNY

A very solid hitter, I ran one on a cutesy/beauty team a while back, and it sometimes swept entire teams. I still remember a fight where one of these lovely ladies punched her way through an entire team of Snorlaxes and she wasn’t even Mega-Evolved. I tended to run Power Up Punch, Drain Punch, Attract, and Fire Punch in case of ghosts. Her speed made her a phenomenal support, and the only reason I don’t use her as much any more is that she could benefit from more healing moves or just being bulkier.

2nd - Blissey 3rd - Eevee

ELECTRIC - ELECTIVIRE

Okay, so this thing is more physical than special, and most Electric moves are special, but I tended to just run  this guy with Wild Charge, Earthquake, Ice Punch, and Giga Impact. While not the greatest pokemon in the world, I certainly can recall numberous fights where it saved my butt. Plus, it just looks really awesome.

2nd - Luxray 3rd - Manectric

PSYCHIC - ESPEON

Prior to the introduction of Sylveon in gen VI, this thing was the undisputed best Eeveelution in my opinion. Now, I still hold Espeon as #1 due to its healing factor, but Sylveon is a very close 2nd place. I always run this Pokemon with Magic Bounce, and the moves Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Calm Mind, and Morning Sun. While it’s not a perfect set and it doesn’t protect against physical moves, it has been useful in the past, and has even completely stonewalled opponents from being able to do anything. It’s also a great pokemon to send out first, since it counters set up Pokemon, and so it can set up Calm Mind while the opponent is busy swapping out for a Pokemon that can actually do damage. If possible, it’s a really good Pokemon to Baton Pass out because if you can send it out with raised Defense stats, the Magic Bounce will protect it from moves like Roar, Whirlwind, and other moves that would normally destroy a set up playing style.

2nd - Alakazam 3rd - Gallade

FIGHTING - LUCARIO

Not gonna lie, this one is more of a favorite due to cool factor and awesome design, as Fighting is really not one of my favorite types, and I’ve only actually used this Pokemon a couple of times. It’s good, really very good, but it’s just not one I instinctively say “yes, this is a must have on any team”, so it doesn’t get used very much.

2nd - Breloom 3rd - Toxicroak

ROCK - AGGRON

Another Pokemon I can remember liking more for design, I remember working very long and hard to get one for Pokemon Emerald, and I just caught a wild Lairon on Victory Road and trained it until it evolved. I don’t have a deep emotional connection to it, but when I need a bulky tank with an earthy kind of type, this pokemon is always the first to pop into my mind.

2nd - Tyranitar 3rd - Aerodactyl

GROUND - SWAMPERT

My very first starter pokemon ever, Swampert has always had a place in my heart, and its role as a bulky tank that hits hard has endeared it greatly in my heart. Although it suffers from a 4x weakness to grass, in the original Ruby and Sapphire games, this really wasn’t an issue, since most trainers lacked grass-type pokemon.

2nd - Garchomp 3rd - Flygon

FLYING - TOGEKISS

This thing is a freaking nightmare. You get this little lady with Ancient Power, Air Slash, Flamethrower, and Dazzling Gleam, and you’re looking at a non-stop flinching and stat boosting villain. I have completely curbstomped players with one of these, I cannot stress how great this thing is. And if you don’t feel like running Ancient Power, Thunder Wave can be great for eliminating whatever competition it might possible have for speed. And Roost can make this thing all the more annoying to try and kill. This thing is just great all around.

2nd - Gliscor 3rd - Crobat

BUG - SCOLIOPEDE

I’m not a big fan of bug-types. Most of them suck, and even most bug type moves are complete crap, so I don’t really use the type very much. Still, I have run one of these in the past, and Protect + Swords Dance + Speed Boost can turn this thing into a high speed sniper. I definitely have fond memories of this thing. And because it can learn Baton Pass, it’s a great stat gatherer too.

2nd - Ribombe 3rd - Beautifly

POISON - ROSERADE

Another type I don’t really use very much, my favortism for Roserade is mostly due to loving Drew’s Roselia in the anime, and just loving it’s design as a beautiful rose. A solid Pokemon, I don’t really use one anymore, but for a casual playthrough, it works well enough.

2nd - Dragalgae 3rd - Toxipex

DARK - GRENINJA

Let’s be real, everybody loves this thing. We all know why we love this thing. It doesn’t need to be spelled out. Greninja is awesome. The internet collectively agrees. This thing rocks.

2nd - Hydreigon 3rd - Absol

GHOST - MIMIKYU

Talk about a broken ability. With its Disguise ability, Mimikyu effectively has a free turn to do whatever. Whether you want to use Swords Dance to strengthen yourself, or if you wanna get in a strong Super Effective attack, Mimikyu really is just a free turn, and who can argue with that?

2nd - Aegislash 3rd - Mismagius

ICE - WALREIN

Another type I don’t use very much, I  can remember this thing being so hard to kill while fighting Glacia. This thing is an absolute wall, and it’s a shame it doesn’t have any healing moves because this thing would become an impregnable barrier.

2nd - Cloister 3rd - Frosslass

STEEL - METAGROSS

It’s an extremely overpowered pseudolegendary. Do I really have to say more? It’s a major fan favorite, and it’s a lot of people’s favorite steel type.

2nd - Steelix 3rd - Scizor

DRAGON - SALAMENCE

There are a lot of good dragons, but when I was a kid, this was the king dragon (except for Rayquaza), and you  were the envy of every kid on the playground if you had one of these guys. So for that reason, this guy is forever in my heart as the best dragon.

2nd - Noivern 3rd - Goodra

FAIRY - GARDEVOIR

Let me tell you, this little lady right here is hands down my absolute favorite pokemon, and no not because of waifu art. This thing right here is hands down one of the strongest pokemon in the series, one of the most popular, and is also extremely beautiful. I thought very little of Ralts when I saw them, but when I saw my rival’s Gardevoir, i fell in love so fast I actually restarted the game from scratch to go back and get myself a Ralts. I do not play a game without this pokemon on my team. Period. End of Discussion. I absolutely adore this pokemon, and the mega evolution only made its carnage all the more destructive. 10/10, #1 favorite pokemon. Just amazing. 

2nd - Sylveon 3rd - Clefairy

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Planet With 6 - 8 | Cells at Work! 6 - 8 | Phantom in the Twilight 6 - 8 | BnHA 57 - 58 | Angolmois 6 - 7

Planet With 6

“Are you a monster?” - Who’s the real monster in this show, though?

A Clog Punch is even more hilarious than a standard Giga Cat Hammer, haha.

The bad guy died! What the heck’s going to happen from here???

Cells at Work! 6

Smol RBC-senpai is so cute! Not as much as smol RBC herself, but…yeah. I wonder if smol WBC is around as well…?

This story’s a lil’ hackneyed, but nothing that doesn’t twang the heartstrings a little…

I love how the sensei WBC still has blood on his arm as he walks away.

The banter between the NK and the Killer T cells really gets to me. It’s so good!

Angolmois 6

Dang, I liked Yajirou. Now he’s dead…

Where did Teruhi get the cloth for Yajirou’s (I presume) head…?

I find it interesting how he (Onitakemaru) dragged the old man merchant with him and yet went to the extent of plundering the treasure without the intent of keeping it. It’s like he did the plundering as a show of strength…

I’ve realised that even though Planet With’s been getting better and better, this show’s starting to sink. Sure, the staff on this show are giving me everything I asked for, but the shine of a new anime is starting to wear off…That montage just proved why it sunk – it’s more willing to go for a quality drop in the middle of the plot.

It was way too dark in the scene that revealed Teruhi’s face being up against Kuchii’s. It took me a bit to realise that was happening…

The water in that river looks a bit odd.

“Akimado firefly” gets me zero relevant Google results.

Now that I think of it, Nagamine’s kinda hot, LOL.

Come to think of it, I still haven’t got a bead on whether Teruhi has the hots for Kuchii or not. If it’s the former, then this show would be quite disappointing. Plus, are these invaders all Mongols from China, Mongols from Mongolia (duh) or Mongols from Europe? They did have gunpowder, which is from China, but they also said the Mongolians had invaded Europe at this point…

Phantom in the Twilight 6

*sees ep 7 title* - “Awakening of the Century”? Not on my watch, no. Probably not.

Why are they only progressing the plot now? Not that I didn’t like the Roland story, but…c’mon, if your friend is in danger, you shouldn’t derail from that. Right?

Notably, the group is called “midnight sun” (katakana), but the episode is called mayonaka no taiyou (kanji/hiragana).

Karandi mentioned how she loved how faithful this show was to the past folklore of supernatural creatures and now they’re using that to the show’s advantage…huh.

Oh, hey. Next episode preview gave spoilers…that’s just like a next-ep preview, actually.

BnHA 57

Noticeably, Yoarashi is pretty obvious with his giant whirlwind…

Haha, Deku is quoting All Might verbatim from the video!

Welp, there wasn’t much to say this episode…

Cells at Work! 7

This cancer cell looks like Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)…interesting choice.

They decided to deviate from the serious plot for the platelets. I give it 10 out of 10!...Nah, just kidding.

*Killer T helps NK get up* - I can see why Negative Primes ships NK and Killer T Cells together now…

I forgot what the cryptic-speaking green-covered cell (not a dendrite, but the other guy) was called…I think he might’ve been a B cell, but that’s all I remember. Sorry.

I can’t believe I’m feeling sympathetic for a cancer cell…

Planet With 7

I like how even Ginko still has secrets up her sleeve right now.

Hmm…it seems the hypnosis didn’t work because Nozo-san is wearing glasses.

Benika and Yousuke seem to have been hypnotised, this isn’t like them!!!

Phantom in the Twilight 7

I find it interesting Vlad chose to use Chinse martial arts. Either Toryu taught him, he learnt how to do them from Rijan or he learnt from Chinese people over many, many years. I think the second option is the most probable.

Why can’t the underlings see Kabocha-kun (Kabocha-kun = the jack o’ lantern)?

Toryu does the Naruto run. He’s not even a ninja!

The OS kind of looks like Windows, but with the taskbar being a colour of a Mac…plus the top bar of a Mac.

The green lines of text that appear on the screen are just gibberish, by the way. They’re not code…

*Chris punches Luke to get him out of the way of the falling debris* - I laughed a lot harder than I should have at that…because that shows they’re concerned for each other…in a very roundabout sort of way.

Oh no, Kabocha-kun!

What?! Van Helsing’s hair wiggles of its own accord! It’s basically alive!

Eyy! Extra info! That’s what I watch these after-episode segments for!

“You’re giving away the second half of the season!” – Hmm…

*after the next-ep segment is completely over* - Hmm…so Ton has her hair change colour and lose her memories. The Price of Power = The Price of Loss. Hmm indeed.

Angolmois 7

Ho-Holy mackerel! My knowledge of Touken Ranbu swords is coming in handy! Imanotsurugi is the lil’ grey-haired shota (tantou) who dresses like a tengu. That means this Kurou man is more simply known as Minamoto no Yoshitsune!

Seriously, this emperor looks like an alien! An alien, I tell you!

At first I didn’t recognise the guys with the facial marking were Toibarai, but then I saw Nagamine and I was like, “Oh. Okay then.” Come to think of it, these Mongolians look like the Earth guys from Avatar…

I find it interesting the Toibarai – or at the very least, Nagamine – are literate. You’d think in a time like 1274 there’d be a lot more illiteracy…or maybe I’m just thinking about Western civilisation…

“The abalones are a tougher opponent.” – I like these ladies already. Not only because that’s such a funny line, but because tough lady fisherwomen with tans is probably more representation than an entire genre of ecchi anime can do for women.

Apparently a porgy is a type of fish…hmm. It sounds silly.

Come to think of it, Jinzaburou was right once bfore when everyone else stood against him and that was when he got thrown out of Sou Sukekuni’s meeting…which doesn’t spell good things for Kanatanoki, y’know.

Cells at Work! 8

Man, I had to memorise the circulation path years ago! Too bad I don’t remember how it goes anymore…

I like how the blood cell mascot is actually shaped like an RBC.

I only just noticed, but female RBCs in this show have booty shorts and male ones have pants. Why can’t it ever be the other way around…?

Hmm…the tricuspid valve is shown as a torii gate. Interesting choice.

*platelets try to put up posters while talking to WBC* - Excellent usage of platelets. 10/10!

I was wondering what the cell’s seal said…close inspection reveals it just says “cell” on it. I guess I should’ve figured that out without having to zoom in on the image, eh?

“…you spineless candy-ass!” – That’s a hilarious insult! Who the heck thought of it and what’s the Japanese equivalent of it???

BnHA 58

A special…? This is almost as bad as a recap episode if it’s all recycled…

…uh, wow. That All Might was more meta than I was expecting.

Oh, I get it now. Movie promo episode. So that’s what this is.  

For some reason, I find Toshinori going “Dave” hilarious. I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it’s because he looks American.

“Save the World With Love!” brings to mind Boueibu, y’know? Good times…

*All Might comes in through the back door, flexing* - Muscle muscle, hustle hustle!

Oh my gosh, they went Detective Conan on us!

Suicide out of grief for what he’d (All Might had) done, maybe?

Oh yeah. Midoriya overlooked why the three potential culprits were separated and left  in different parts of the store. Update: Nope, right thinking, wrong lead.

Planet With 8

Notably, 10 = to in some cases, hence Torai being 10.

Souya’s gone all Shinji Ikari on us! Not that I mind, but…Shinji is a polarising character for a reason, y’know!

Why does this story, with a potential final confrontation on the moon, remind me of Busou Renkin so much?

Phantom in the Twilight 8

“Why Shinyao specifically?” is the question I’m asking here. Why did Shinyao need to be kidnapped?

Has Ton even gone to school yet? Or rather, is it summer break in London and we were never told that?

“She entered forbidden territory.” – Says a worker at Café Forbidden!

I’ve never heard “stole a march on me” before…apparently it means “to gain an advantage over someone else”.

He uses a cat pickup line! He’s a werewolf! That’s…hilarious!

I’m still wondering if Shinyao has Stockholm syndrome to any degree…

The line about the abyss is Niestche (sp???). I’ve seen it quoted enough times to know.

Did they ever mention the fact Ton’s hair went back to normal? Or was all that hair-tossing meant to imply it was back to normal without saying anything? You’re trying so hard, show, but you’re not quite hitting the mark…

[keahifctf2-blog]

Love Live! Pokemon AU

Welcome to the World of Pokemon!

However, this isn’t your regular Pokemon World. No, this is a World where the Muse girls of Love Live! are the Gym Leaders (sans one special girl). I tried my best to figure out the best puzzle and type that relates to each girl as possible.

So, without further questions, choose your starter and enter this AU World of Pokemon and begin your journey to be a Pokemon Master!

Nico: Fairy Type Gym Leader and the #1 PokeIdol in the Universe. The first Gym you go up against. Her Gym puzzle is rather simple and resembles very much like Roxie’s Gym in Pokemon Black and White 2, but you instead beat the two Lasses who are in charge of the Audio System. Nico will then fight you, enraged that you ruined her show. Uses a Cleffa and a Jigglypuff as her two pokemon. Psst, you could catch a Aron in the next route if you are having trouble.

Nozomi: Ghost Type Gym Leader and Fortune telling sensation. Second Gym you arrive at. Her Gym involves fortune telling and your knowledge of the Major Arcana (both the upright and reversed positions!), meaning that you may have to google what the hell she wants you to do. Hex Maniacs wander throughout and give hints when defeated. You fight Nozomi when you reach the end of her Gym. Uses a Drifloon, a Misdreavus, and finally a Hauntar. Beware as Nozomi may always get Critical Hits due to her insane luck!

Hanayo: Grass Type specialist and proud Berry/Rice Farm owner. Puzzle involves navigating between the Rice and Berry fields and increasing/lowering the water levels. A bit similar to Crasher Wake’s Gym Puzzle in DPP. Hanayo uses a Tangela, a Cherrim, and a Roserade, making Hanayo the first Gym Leader in this AU to use at least one fully evolved Pokemon. Her Roserade can be a pain to deal with if you are not careful. Otherwise, pretty easy Gym.

Maki: Normal Gym and the point where things are slowly getting more difficult. Her Gym involves a scavenger hunt where you need to battle Doctors (who, unlike Doctors you find in Routes, will not heal you after you fight them) to get items for other Doctors. Once you satisfy the demands of the Hospital, Maki will allow you to fight her. She uses a Lopunny, Persian, and, most annoying of all, Blissey. They all have Attract as well and love to use Status conditions. Be cautious!!!

Eli: Ice Pokemon fits the Icy Russian well. Eli’s Gym actually deviates from the normal Ice Sliding puzzle. Instead we get something akin to Kiawe’s Trial in the Sun and Moon games where you need to spot the differences in the dances the Ballet Dance girls would do. Each one you get correct allows you to battle one of the Dancers and get one step closer to Eli. Solve three of these Dances will allow you to battle the Gym herself. She uses Vanillish, Cryogonal, a Glaceon, and a Frolass who loves to spam Destiny Bond. Eli is the first Gym Leader that uses four Pokemon.

Kotori: She is obviously a Birb so she uses the fast Flying types. Her gym is relatively similar to the one Skyla uses in the original Black and White (not counting B2W2). Instead of cannons, however, you use wings to fly across the Gym Room. Kotori’s room is unique in that it is the only Gym where you could encounter Wild Pokemon as she loves to let the Birbs run loose. When you get to her, Kotori uses a Togekiss, an Oricorio (Sensu style), a Swanna, and a MEGA PIDGEOT. All Gyms after this point are capable of Mega Evolutions. Keep that in mind!

Rin Rin Ring a Bell: A certain starter made me convinced to let Rin be the Fire Gym! Her Gym involves... Cat Trivia. How Rin-like. However, it also includes navigating around elevating platforms while trying to find books about Cat facts. Basically a more difficult version of Lenora’s Gym. Not helping matters is that the Gym Trainers use Cat Pokemon, most of which are not Fire Type. Rin is the most diverse of the Gym Leaders, starting off with an Alolan Persian (a Dark Type) before going with Ninetails, Mega Camerupt, and finally Incineroar. Oddly enough, Incineroar is Rin’s signature Pokemon.

Umi: The Final Gym Leader and a Water Specialist with a “Special Connection with the Champion”. Her Gym is the most simple yet most difficult one of them all: beat all trainers to face the Leader. All of the Ace Trainers and Veterans here use high level Pokemon and they are smart trainers to boot. Umi is also no slouch and is the first and only Gym Leader in this AU to use five Pokemon. She uses Milotic, Kingdra, Jellicent, Samurott (Male), and ASH-FUCKING-GRENINJA. She is the most difficult Gym to face and is also as smart as a competitive Pokemon Battler.

So that’s the Gym Muse out of the way. However, you are nowhere CLOSE to beating the game (or rather the AU), as you now have to face off against the Love Live Region’s Pokemon League!

And now you stand face to face with the LL League’s Elite Four! You can fight them in any order.

Mrs. Minami: Principal of Otonokizaka and an esteemed Dragon user. Starts off with Altaria that is more than happy to counter your own Dragons with Moonblast. Her biggest curveball is her Charizard, which she doesn’t even Mega Evolve! Charizard’s main Dragon Move is Dragon Claw but is there to melt any of your Ice Types into a puddle. The Principal is the sole LL girl to have an Ultra Beast in her Party, a Naganadel, which is part Poison. Naganadel can severely hurt your Fairy Types quickly and leave you stranded without a reliable Dragon killer since her next two are hard hitters. One of these is the ever-famous Dragonite, the first Psuedo-Legendary. It packs Flamethrower and Draco Meteor and it holds a White Herb to heal itself from the effects of the White Herb. Finally is her Mega Garchomp, which sacrifices its speed so that it may proceed to murder you six ways til Sunday. It has Fire Fang to eat your Ice Cream in one gulp and Iron Tail to send your Fairy Types up in the air a la Team Rocket. It also has Outrage whenever this thing decides it wants your Pokemon and you dead.

Mrs. Nishikino: Psychic Type specialist and an expert in Human and Pokemon Psychology. Beginning with the Mind Screw is her Slowking, which will start things off with Trick Room if you keep it alive. This move can either help you or hurt you depending on which Pokemon you use. She then uses the obligatory Alakazam which has high Special Attack and Speed to boot and, of course, has Shadow Ball and Psychic. Delphox can burn you with Flamethrower and has Shockwave for coverage against Water Types. Oranguru loves to annoy you and tries to badly poison your Pokemon using Toxic and is also a wall of its own. Her final Pokemon is Gardevoir, which she evolves into Mega Gardevoir. Like the rest of her Pokemon, Gardevoir also packs Psychic and Shadown Ball while also packing Moonblast. Her glaring weakness is that all of her Pokemon are Special based attackers.

Mrs. Yazawa: Dark Type user. She kicks things off with a... HYDREIGON?! Wait.. Hold on! That’s not a Hydreigon! That’s a Zoroark! Didn’t see that one coming, did ya now? However, Zoroark is no slouch either thanks to its high Speed and Special Attack. Honchkrow and Weavile are also devestating sweepers in their own right as well, though they are more physical based compared to the special using Zoroark. Her Malamar is fairly average but will tend to use Status moves to throw you and your team off. Her Hydreigon (the REAL Hydreigon this time!) is her most frightening Pokemon with how diverse its moveset can be. Think twice when wanting to use a pure Fairy Pokemon when Hydreigon comes out as it can OHKO it using Flash Cannon!

Kousaka Yukiho: In order to make up for the lack of an Electric Gym, Yukiho is the Electric Specialist of the E4! She starts off with Jolteon and loves to use its insane speed to try and paralyze you (unless you have a Ground Type on you). She also has a Fan Rotom, which makes Ground Types useless and can cut up your Grass Types with Air Slash. Her Luxray has Fire and Ice Fangs for coverage as well. Alolan Raichu can run circles around your team as well though a Krookodile can deal with that Raichu easily. Her Mega Ampharos is something else, however, due to it being part Dragon. It can clean sweep any unsuspecting Pokemon that have no way of dealing with Dragon moves. Needless to say she can be pretty easy but also very hard.

And now you have done it.

You have defeated the Elite Four of the Love Live Pokemon League.

There, behind those grand doors as you reach the top of the endless stairs, is the League Champion.

Are you ready?

Healed up?

Psychologically sane for one last fight?

Then head through and face...

Kousaka Honoka: The Pokemon League Champion of the Love Live! Series and she is a TOUGH MANJUU. Honoka, despite struggling in School, is as smart as the Recent Pokemon World Champions in the Real World! She has the following Pokemon: Eelektross, Volcarona, Samurott (Female), Mega Metagross, Snorlax (with LEFTOVERS), and, worst of all, Complete Form ZYGARDE. Her team is very diverse and her Eelektross, which has no weaknesses thanks to its Levitate Ability, sends this point home. Eelektross is Honoka’s mixed attacker and has Giga Drain to deal with any pesky Ground Types, not to mention that it’s pretty tanky. Volcarona is a Pokemon that loves to spam Quiver Dance and can sweep your team if you are not careful enough and take it out quickly and even packs Psychic for Rock Types. Honoka has her own Samurott that she got from Umi and, unlike Umi’s Samurott, her Samurott also packs Ice Beam and Megahorn, providing decent coverage but not too much. Snorlax is an annoying Pokemon with a ton of Health and Attack, decent Special Defense, and the potential to knock out your Tanky or Wall Pokemon. Her Mega Evolution Pokemon is Metagross and it is a member of the Psuedo-Legendaries for a reason, packing Zen Headbutt and the mighty Earthquake to dish out unbelievable damage even if the move is not super effective and Metagross can also wall Physical Attacks like it’s nobody’s business.

Her final Pokemon, however, is what takes the cake. Honoka’s Complete Form Zygarde. This is a Legendary Pokemon so the last stretch will be super far from being a walk in the park. It makes up for its somewhat mediocre attacking stats in exchange for HUGE HEALTH. It could even survive a hit from an Ice Type despite being a quad weakness. It also has moves that punish Ice and Fairy Types like Iron Tail and Earthquake. It also packs Stone Edge as well as a Crit chance up move. However, your biggest worry is Zygarde’s Outrage, which can - and will - HURT. Your best bet is to wail on it as much as possible until it is finally down. You also cannot count on confusion if it uses Outrage the first time around due to it holding the Persim Berry, which snaps Pokemon out of confusion. Patience is a virtue when taking this thing down!

However, when all is said and done, you have defeated Honoka, the Champion.

Or... Should I say former Champion?

That’s right. With Honoka’s defeat by your hands, you are now the new Champion of the Love Live! Pokemon AU! What will you do now? Hold a Parade going back to your Hometown? Or maybe complete the whole Pokedex? Who knows!

The fate is in your hands, Trainer! Or should I say... Pokemon Master!

Note: Jeez this was long to write... But hopefully you have enjoyed how I see a LL Pokemon AU play out! Obviously it’s not as good as, say, how some others written any Pokemon AU, but it’s the best I could do... ^^;;;

But thanks for reading this.

Also to answer a rhetorical question: the relationship between the girls are Platonic in nature! So no Romance here just like in the original Pokemon games whenever shipping is brought up!

[doneses]

Final Fantasy Influences in RWBY

So it’s no secret that Monty Oum was a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series. As someone who’s also a huge fan of the series I thought it’d be fun to explore a lot of the things I think RWBY drew inspiration from. There’s not really much of an order to this, just various things I’ve noticed. This is also just my opinion on things so don’t take it too seriously. (I won’t be including stuff from FF15 since that was not out yet at the time RWBY was started and the stuff similar to it are most likely coincidence.I’m also only counting the stuff from the core series as those are the ones I am the most familiar with.)

Gardens/Seed- Academy/Huntsmen & Huntresses

In both FF8, and in RWBY, the main characters start their journeys at an academy that specializes in the training of powerful mercenaries: SeeD and Hunters. They have a similar age range (15-19 in FF8. 17-21 in RWBY), and both schools have rigorous and dangerous exams that the main characters have to survive and pass in the beginning of the story. They both also have a dance in the relatively beginning of the story. They also both have a uniform that the characters wear on occasion.

Shinra Electric Power Company- Schnee Dust Company

Now I actually noticed something neat that I never noticed with Shinra, that they can be abbreviated to SEC, similar to how the Schnee Dust Company is commonly abbreviated to SDC.

In both RWBY and FF7, these two companies are powerful and villainous and have made their fortunes by mining a natural resource that is used for fuel, and to give people magical abilities. Both the SDC and SEC engage in military action (Turks and SOLDIER with the SEC and providing/developing mechs for the Atlesian military for the SDC), and experimenting on monsters (the Armored Gigas in the White trailer being a Geist Grimm experiment according to the manga).

Materia- Dust

It’s a naturally occurring resource in the world that is used to give the characters magical abilities and is crystalline in design. Materia is name dropped by Monty when explaining what Dust is.

AVALANCHE- White Fang

A terrorist group with a white and red banner that has a history of warfare with the evil megacompany of their worlds. Main characters from both series are members (or former) members of the group, and both had/have a large burly man as their leader. Only major difference is AVALANCHE is an eco-terrorist group and presented as heroes while the White Fang are a racial terrorist group and presented as villains.

Crystals- Relics

Four powerful macguffins that the protagonists and antagonists are both after that can give them a ton of power and can change the world.

Al Bhed/Viera- Faunus

Al Bhed are a minority group who face persecution and have a unique genetic trait. In FF10 and in RWBY one of the main characters is secretly of this ethnic group and has to deal with racist behavior from one of their team mates.

Viera are literally bunny girls. While the al bhed have more in common with the faunus in story, the viera are closer in appearance.

Summoning- Schnee Semblence

Now there are a lot of Summoners in FF but Monty was known for his love of FF10 and of Yuna and I think that’s who’s summoning ability Weiss’ abilities are based off of. Yuna is capable of summoning dead spirits that take the form of Aeons and uses them in battle. Weiss, and other Schnees, can summon enemies that they have killed and have them aid in combat. Yuna’s summoning and Weiss’ also seem a lot more of a closer bond then say, Rydia or Eiko’s  were or the ones were summoning is just a job class.

Aerith’s Death- Pyrrha’s Death

An extremely shocking and brutal death scene of a beloved female character that is used to spur the protagonists to action and kick start the larger segments of the story.

Sin-  Ancient Grimm

Not a lot of similarities, other then they ‘shed‘ smaller enemies and are huge and capable of decimating cities if they want to.

Uncomfortable Laughing Scene

Yeeeeeaaaah, those scenes are cringey. I took from it that Ruby was struggling to keep her composure at seeing something that reminded her of Pyrrha after watching her die and started to laugh obnoxiously to cover up her issues, similar to how Tidus had his uncomfortable laughing scene to cope with his own issues. Or maybe that Ruby scene was meant to be funny and bunny jackets are hilarious, who knows.

Auron- Qrow

Red and gray color scheme, drunks, and a father figure to the main character, alongside using a similar weapon as the character they watch over.

Tifa- Yang

A bare knuckle brawler who’s a childhood friend of the main protagonist, is the team mom, and objectively considered the ‘prettiest‘ character of the main cast. Both are also fans of butt capes, given Yang’s timeskip outfit and Tifa’s Advent Children outfit.

Kefka- Tyrian

Now this one’s a bit of stretch and I really hope they don’t pull a Kefka with Tyrian late on in the story but here we go.

They’re both the insane right hand of the (apparent) big bad of the story, both have a flair for the dramatics (Tyrian’s theatrical behavior during his fight scene and well, just look at Kefka). Both also have an insane laugh and boy do they like to laugh.

Quistis- Glynda

A blonde, glasses wearing combat instructor at a school for specialized mercenaries. Both wield a bdsm style weapon (whip/riding crop) and are proficient mages.

Zidane- Sun

A blonde monkey man who breaks the law a lot, has a sunny personality, and fights alongside a dark haired princess.

Ruby- Iris

Now I said I wasn’t going to bring up FF15 but this is a unique case. I think this is an instance of RWBY serving as inspiration for FF.

FF15 was in production between 2006-2016. Red Trailer came out in 2012, with Vol1 coming out in 2013. RWBY is very popular in Japan, and I don’t know if there is a way to learn when Iris was added to the game’s production.

Iris is the younger sister of the stronk fanservice character of the game, wears black and red, has a red hood, short black hair, is 15 years old, and grows up to be a famous Hunter; a daemon slayer after the time skip. She’s cheery and happy, and has an interest in mechanical things (her fascination with Lestallum and how it’s maintained). Iris is a hopeless romantic and fights with her fists.

Ruby is the younger sister of the stronk fanservice character of the show, wears black and red, has a red hood, short black hair, is 15 years old, and dreams of being a Huntress; a Grimm slayer. She’s happy and bubbly, and is mechanically inclined, alongside loving weaponry. Ruby doesn’t have an interest in romance and can’t fight without a weapon.

Weaponry

Weiss literally uses a gunblade, and Raven has an odachi. But other then that, most of the weapons in RWBY line up more with Lightning’s style of weaponry in FF13; a melee weapon that transforms and can take a gun form and also collapse for easier storage.

Costumes

Both FF and RWBY thrive on amazing looking costumes that are hella impractical and use way too many belts for a rl person to wear. But damn do they not look amazing.

Setting

Both RWBY and (most) FF have a science fantasy setting, with continents that look really silly.

Soundtrack

Both RWBY and FF love their hard rock and piano’s, and have amazing scores and soundtracks.

Fight Choreography

Saying Advent Children was a big influence on Monty would be an understatement. RWBY’s fight scenes are fast paced, hectic, and make gravity and the laws of physics its bitch. This is hard to explain in written format, so I’d recommend watching a fight scene from Advent Children and then compare it to one from RWBY to see what I mean.

Light v Dark Themes

Recurring theme in a lot of the older FF games, the forces of Light against the forces of Darkness. RWBY has the Light and Darkness Brother Gods myth, and they will most likely play a larger role in the future.

Party of Four

FF games traditionally have 4 (or 3) party members and oh hey would you look at that, RWBY has 4 members. Iirc Monty also said he based the team’s fighting styles off of his preferred rpg team line up. (If anyone has figured out what class Ruby is, let me know ^^)

Strong female characters

I think it’d be easier to name FF female characters who aren’t strong in their own ways. And the entire premise of RWBY is four strong women living their lives and stopping evil, alongside the slew of other notable female characters in the show.

Moon

The moon plays an important role in the stories of FF4 and FF8, and although the moon hasn’t done anything of plot importance, the fact it’s shown so frequently in scenes and is a prominent image in RWBY (alongside how its brought up space travel is still being developed in Remnant) I’m pretty sure it will play an important role in the future.

Parent Issues

A lot of the characters in FF have really bad parents, parent issues, or are orphans. A lot of the important characters in RWBY have really terrible parents, and their issues with their parents playing a role in each member of Team RWBY’s personal storylines. Jecht and Tidus’ relationship being the most famous example from FF of a strained child-parent relationship, and given Yang’s obsession and hatred of Raven, it seems the most likely place of inspiration (alongside Raven and Jecht being antagonists and being involved in the Deeper Lore of their respective universes, and of being members of a team with the parents of one of the other main characters).

So yeah, those are my thoughts about all the stuff I‘ve noticed in RWBY that could have been inspired by Final Fantasy. Hope you enjoyed reading this ^^.

RWBY FF style poster done by digitaleva- https://digitaleva.deviantart.com/

[pokemon-channel]

Valentine’s Exchange Mix-Up Mixer

When the flock from the Prestige Pidgeot Crew returned, DJ Mary released the breath she’d been holding.  Three years since she first started doing this Valentine event, and not a single time had it gone right.  Dozens and hundreds of complaints of mismatched Valentines flooded her inbox and voicemails.  She was trying her best, darn it!

But this time, nothing could go wrong.  Absolutely nothing.  She’d invested too much time and effort for this to not go right.

And as DJ Mary welcomed each tired Pidgeot from their wrong trek, she couldn’t help but shake the feeling that something had gone terribly, horribly wrong.

Nah, couldn’t be.

What DJ Mary brings to you, under the cut, is a tragic tale of woe.  Each Valentine has been preserved in its original state.  None of the people who actually received each Valentine were the intended recipients.

To further add to the confusion, each Valentine was randomized three separate times along with their sender counterparts.  Thanks to the based RNG gods, some people received quite the coincidental string of Valentines…

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Sabrina WHO RECEIVED IT: Lance CONTENTS: I really hope this makes it to you, Red. But if it doesn’t, Happy Valentine’s Day, you!

VALENTINE SENT BY: Hilda WHO RECEIVED IT: Lance CONTENTS:

Hi and Happy Valentines Day!

Felt like this would be as good a time as any to send a letter of thanks. For being my friend, one of the few human friends I’ve made on my journey (Not to mention one of the few kids I’ve gotten to know here. Not sure how you go about being a gym leader at this age, but good on you, sister!).

But more importantly, for being one of the few people I’ve met these past months that I can TRUST. I’ve seen some really scary people and things and had my trust betrayed in ways I’d much rather not talk about.

And of course thank you for all your help with April! Taylor and I are indebted to you! Baby Pokémon are so hard to take care of, and we worried about keeping her. I didn’t even know before that Dragon Pokemon imprinted!

A happy happier day than my day from your friend Hilda.

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Lance CONTENTS:

This gift is a hodgepodge of gifts: chocolate and a stuffed Teddiursa, as well as some colorful stickers and a purple plastic cup.  “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got you all of them.  Happy days, Clair.”

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 

VALENTINE SENT BY: Morty WHO RECEIVED IT: Moon CONTENTS: 

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Moon CONTENTS: In a manila envelope is a mushed-up wad of chocolate.  It almost looks like a lump of coal.  In fact, that is exactly what it is.  Next to it is a sheet of paper with a hastily-written note on it.  “How does one get SO LOST in a SIMPLE plains??  Don’t you Kalosians use fancy maps or whatever??  You were right outside of TOWN!  You’re so frustrating I can’t stand it.  Clair.”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Lillie WHO RECEIVED IT: Moon CONTENTS:

Thanks for helping me Work Up my courage as a Pokemon Trainer! You’ve made a Giga Impact on my life. Wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day!

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Hilda WHO RECEIVED IT: Clair CONTENTS: Hey…I know we don’t know each other very well. We’ve only met once or twice. I’m reaching out to you because I would really like to be friends with you.

I don’t have too many human friends. I’ve found it harder rather than easier to connect to people since my Pokémon Journey (which is like a less formal Island Challenge in other regions, and in Unova it’s for teenagers because of how unsafe it is here). It wasn’t exactly a great experience, due mostly to some terrorism (is that too strong a word?) from a group called Team Plasma, and my encounters with them. Those events really changed me. I haven’t found myself connecting to people because I worry (sometimes rightly so) that they wouldn’t understand what I have been through.

But I’ve sort of gotten wind of a group that you were involved with (not by choice) called the Aether Foundation that had a good deal in common with Team Plasma, and I wanted to get to know you better because I think we might really understand each other.Sorry, I don’t think I articulated that very well. This kind of stuff is hard for me. I hope I didn’t come off as weird or knowing too much about you. I just want to make friends.

Your hopefully future friend, Hilda

VALENTINE SENT BY: AZ WHO RECEIVED IT: Clair CONTENTS: Black trillium. A note in shaky lettering that says “It is not the end. Only the beginning.”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Ethan WHO RECEIVED IT: Clair CONTENTS: Hope you have an egg-cellent Valentine’s Day, Morty!!!

VALENTINE SENT BY: Silver WHO RECEIVED IT: Clair CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Professor Kukui WHO RECEIVED IT: Clair CONTENTS: Champ, Happy Valentine’s Day to a world-class trainer! Alola couldn’t have asked for a better Champion, and we’re all so proud of you. Say hi to Homura and the gang for me! Love, Kukui

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Delinquent Anzu WHO RECEIVED IT: Iris CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Professor Kukui WHO RECEIVED IT: Iris CONTENTS: Shark bait, Aether is lucky to have a prez like you. Have a happy Valentine’s Day! Cheers, Kukui

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Ethan WHO RECEIVED IT: Misty CONTENTS: Hope you have an egg-cellent Valentine’s Day, Lance!!! 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Gladion CONTENTS: This one is just a card with a Meowth hanging precariously from a tree limb.  The caption HANG IN THERE reads underneath it.  The inside has several words, but they are all scratched out, as one does when they are unsure of what to say.  The card’s generic inside reads “Thinking of you.”  Underneath “Clair” is written.

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Shadow Triad Moros CONTENTS: Custom made from Build-A-Beartic, a jolly purple Goodra smiles goofily.  Around its neck is a fancy blue ribbon that gives the plush an even squishable appeal.  Attached to the leg is a note that reads, “To the future of dragons.  Clair.”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Moon WHO RECEIVED IT: Shadow Triad Moros CONTENTS:

for you :)

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 

VALENTINE SENT BY: Ethan WHO RECEIVED IT: Fire CONTENTS: I think you’re egg-cellent, Lyra! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Fire CONTENTS: A card that resembles a cartoon ghost smiles as awkwardly as the writing within.  “How do people even DO these things??  Write stuff.  On Valentine’s.  Feels like I need to summon spirits or whatever to make any sense!!  ……Raising dragons is easier.  happy valentines day (i guess)”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Professor Kukui CONTENTS: Several yellow daffodils are tied together by a neat white bow.  Attached is a simple white card that says, “I missed you.  C.”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Giovanni WHO RECEIVED IT: Lovrina CONTENTS: Twelve roses, all pitch black, accompanied by a plain card that says, “Hatefully yours, Giovanni”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Professor Kukui WHO RECEIVED IT: Ranger Kellyn CONTENTS: Lils, It was to see you at the lab again! I’ve been missing my favorite assistant. Happy Valentine’s Day from Burnet and I! Love, Kukui

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: Lyra CONTENTS: To Clair, Your spirit burns with a fiery passion, but not as fiery as my love for you. Behind your tough exterior, I know, lies a sweet and delicate soul in need of tender love and affection. Be my Valentine, -Anonymous

VALENTINE SENT BY: Morty WHO RECEIVED IT: Lyra CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Lovrina WHO RECEIVED IT: Lyra CONTENTS: So, like, I’ve been thinking. I’m super hot, you’re super hot… we should totally take over the world together! Whaddya say, cutie pie? <3

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Lillie WHO RECEIVED IT: Silver CONTENTS: You light up my life! Happy Valentines Day!

VALENTINE SENT BY: Sun WHO RECEIVED IT: Silver CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: Silver CONTENTS: Half a dozen yellow roses. There’s a handwritten note that says only, “To Sabrina.”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: Sun CONTENTS: A single white rose. The attached note says, “Thinking of you.”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Morty WHO RECEIVED IT: Sun CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: Sun CONTENTS: Dear Terrible Human Being,

Congratulations–you’ve pissed someone off so much that they went out of their way to pay me to send you the worst thing you can ever receive in an envelope: mother f****** glitter. Some poor idiot works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to support themselves, or is a temporarily homeless traveling Trainer who is just trying to find themselves and enjoy their Mewdamn life, and you’ve been that much of an asshole that they paid me to send this to you.

It must be a great honor receiving this letter to inform you that your douchbaggery has not gone unnoticed. Your trophy has come in the form of craft herpes. It’s a sort of recognition for the way you waste precious air and people’s valuable time since now I’m going to take a little of yours.

Obviously, you are a terrible, horrible person and this is just a little payback; don’t take it personally, or do, whatever, we don’t care.

If you’re at work I hope that the glitter got all over your desk and that your co-workers now start questioning why the office idiot is spreading glitter everywhere.

If you’re at home opening mail I really hope that you spilt this s*** everywhere.

And if you’re a ninja/evil henchman thing, I hope this sparkly demon powder blew your cover and makes whatever you wear for being stealthy eye-catching and unusable. Because you know what? For the next few weeks, glitter is going to haunt you. Have a nice day!

Custom message from the person who hates you: How does it feel to have your day ruined by someone whose identity you don’t know? Someone you can’t even gather data on to avenge yourself? How does it feel to be suddenly shocked and humiliated when you were just trying to go about your business (you know, something YOU do to people on a regular basis)? You’ll never know who sent this! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No, no, don’t actually include the laughter. It sounds too stupid. Did you remove it? You removed it right? It’s not going to be in the letter is it? Okay thanks.

ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com

At least a tablespoon of brightly colored, tiny, static-y glitter has fallen onto everything. A bit of investigation reveals that many other members of Team Plasma, including both of the other Shadows, received similar letters. N was reported to have audibly shrieked when his glitter fell out. Part of his message read, “I had to skip lunch for a week to afford all of these, but it was WORTH IT!!” Ghetsis received 3, as well as an entire box of loose glitter. Unfortunately for the sender, after the second envelope he grew wise and made a Grunt open the third and the box over a disposal. [[Or maybe karma was especially vigilant that day and he didn’t. Your choice.]] Good thing, too, as the box was rigged with a string for the bottom to fall open if the top was undone before anyone noticed the string taped to it. But what he DIDN’T avoid opening was the spring-loaded container of these. No, really.

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Ethan WHO RECEIVED IT: Giovanni CONTENTS: I think you’re egg-cellent, Silver! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

VALENTINE SENT BY: Morty WHO RECEIVED IT: Giovanni CONTENTS:

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: AZ WHO RECEIVED IT: Sabrina CONTENTS: “You are much more than you think. You are stronger than those I’ve known before. Have pride. Be joyful that you have reached this point.”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Sun WHO RECEIVED IT: Guzma CONTENTS:

VALENTINE SENT BY: Giovanni WHO RECEIVED IT: Guzma CONTENT: An expensive box of chocolates and a dozen red roses in a crystal vase. A note attached says: Happy Valentine’s Day. Yours, Giovanni

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Lysandre CONTENT: A small box of coconut-almond chocolates is accompanied by a plain red card.  “Maybe if you weren’t such an ass, people would like you better.  Me too.”  Signed on the back is the Blackthorn City gym’s stamp.

VALENTINE SENT BY: Professor Kukui WHO RECEIVED IT: Lysandre CONTENTS: G, Here’s some touchy-feely bullshit for you: happy Valentine’s Day! -Kukui

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: Lillie CONTENTS: In careful, curly handwriting, alongside three small heart cookies: “You’re cool! Like, really cool! But I feel like you hate me… but I think we can really be friends if we try. I genuinely believe that! I won’t make you if you don’t want to be my friend, I understand if you don’t!!! But I just think that we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s talk sometime soon… I hope!!!”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Professor Kukui WHO RECEIVED IT: Lillie CONTENTS: Sun, Happy Valentine’s Day cousin!! You and Rotomdex are doing GREAT! Keep up the amazing work and I know you’ll finish the dex in no time. Love, Kukui

VALENTINE SENT BY: Morty WHO RECEIVED IT: Lillie CONTENTS: Dear Clair

I Choo Choo Choose you!

Happy Valentine’s day,

Morty

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Giovanni WHO RECEIVED IT: Morty CONTENTS: A bouquet of pink roses and a bottle of rosé. The card says, “Celebrating future successes. -Giovanni”

VALENTINE SENT BY: Sabrina WHO RECEIVED IT: Morty CONTENTS: I really hope this makes it to you, Fire. But if it doesn’t, Happy Valentine’s Day, you!

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Kid WHO RECEIVED IT: Delinquent Anzu CONTENTS: Three cookies! Shaped like hearts! and a note that reads: “I don’t know if you know it, so I’m gonna tell you: you’re amazing! I’ve met lots of people but you’re one of the nicest! I feel like not enough people take the chance to interact with new people anymore, but it was amazing to meet you! I hope we can really be friends!

(P.S. I hope you like the cookies!!! I made them myself!!!)

Sincerely, Kid”

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Clair WHO RECEIVED IT: Maxie CONTENTS: This one is a small box, with hand-crafted ornamental symbols on the side.  They’re dragons.  There is a tag that says “AZ” on the outside.  Inside the box is a necklace.  Its chain is a soft braided leather.  Small aquamarines are knotted beside a dragon fang, bleached to white perfection; two long, thin dragon scales hang next to it.  The kanji for HOPE is engraved on the fang.  There is no note but the Blackthorn City emblem inside.

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Sabrina WHO RECEIVED IT: Ace Trainer Kid CONTENTS: I really hope this makes it to you, Misty. But if it doesn’t, Happy Valentine’s Day, you!

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Anonymous WHO RECEIVED IT: AZ CONTENTS: Dear Guzma,

I want you to give me the best dick I ever had and leave me with a yeast infection and an unwanted pregnancy while you skimp out on child support and don’t come to the kid’s birthday parties.

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

VALENTINE SENT BY: Lillie WHO RECEIVED IT: Red CONTENTS: I love you to the moon and back! Will you be my Valentine?

[rerwby]

RWBY Volume 4 Commentary Play-by-Play

Chapter 1:

Kerry talks about how each episode had a ‘fuck you’ shot, which is a particular shot that was difficult to create across all departments.

I’d say the whole volume was a fuck-you shot to the fans but

In a little conversation about how much they’ve planned in the show, Kerry talks about how they’ve actually been hanging on to team WTCH (Watts, Tyrian, Cinder and Hazel) since the beginning.

I’m leaning towards believing this since Salem was one of the first things conceived for the show, so her team would follow. Makes you wonder if Miles was always gonna have his “crazy” Tyrian though or if that came later.

I doubt it because I don’t believe Monty would make characters as boring as Hazel and Watts right from the start.

Regarding Oscar and his story this volume, Miles and Kerry had more rewrites with him than with anything else in RWBY, trying to figure out the right way to present it. At one point, Oscar’s first major scene was going to be in chapter 7, instead of 4.

Yeah it’s not breaking news to say that they did the opposite of what would be a good idea.

Mentioned in the commentary, but in more detail in the special features, is the fact that CRWBY had a rough start to the volume due to the new production pipeline, which continued for several episodes.

According to Miles, the Petra Gigas was originally supposed to appear in the Emerald Forest during Volume 1. It was supposed to be a part of the giant nevermore/deathstalker fight, as was a giant Bourbatusk.

Wondering how they would have fit 4 whole monsters in that fight, but I guess that’s why they ended up splitting two bad guys between teams instead.

On that note, they talk about how incredibly different the original 4 episodes of Volume 1 were compared to what we got, and that Fennec and Corsac were originally Volume 1 villains.

Just saying that I believe this. They said that Roman originally played a smaller part in Volume 1? How was this possible? Insert more villains.

On the origin of the Geist, Kerry talks about how, at the time Monty was working on the White trailer, he and Miles were thinking of ways for it to make sense, and came up with the idea of a poltergeist Grimm. They say that particular Geist is called an Armor Gigas.

So Weiss fought a Grimm in her trailer it turns out. Idk how to feel about that. In a way it makes sense because, as we’ve seen with Winter’s summons, the Schnee summons are light versions of Grimm. It makes little sense though when you consider that the Geist inhabits inanimate things and therefore the armor isn’t a natural feature of the Grimm.

The crown on Jaune’s shield was first inserted by layout artist Rachel Doda when creating the storyboards. Kerry thought it was a perfect touch and decided to include it in the official design.

Iunno what fatal flaw to focus on here. Is it how this makes it sound like Jaune’s god damn weapon model design was THAT important that Kerry noticed? That it implies melting Pyrrha’s armor down was a last-minute thought? That the plot hole of Pyrrha fucking disintegrating and therefore leaving no armor or cape for Jaune was made entirely because Kerry liked how a shield looked?

Chapter 2:

In regards to the infamous map, Kerry mentions that in one version of the script, RNJR was going to lose the map in a fight of some sort. A similar was also supposed to happen in Chapter 6 involving Tyrian, but decided against it because of how busy CRWBY already was.

So instead of losing it for a reason they just lose it for the sake of it. Cool.

According to Miles, Jaques is loosely based on Jack Frost, something they try to hint at in the way he keeps his study.

The name kind of gave it away without any other hints.

Kerry says that writing the final scene of chapter 2 was the first time he cried while writing. Likewise, Miles said he lost his shit while performing mocap for the scene. Apparently everyone who worked on it had a pretty strong emotional reaction to this scene.

 Wow. The people working on this show were seriously so disillusioned that they thought Pyrrha’s relationship with Jaune earned that kind of reaction. Not even gonna mention how the existence of the recording makes no sense, especially since Pyrrha signs off on it. Why would she do that on a generic fighting guide. I can’t believe how attached these people were to the Alpha Hets.

Chapter 3:

On the topic of writing RWBY with multiple different storylines all taking place at the same time, Miles called it a ‘scary experiment’ but is happy overall with how it turned out.

I can’t say anything more than what’s been said on this.

I also have nothing to say on the technical stuff. I’m really not versed enough in it.

Miles talks about how they tried to have Salem feel a bit motherly, and not overly cruel, because she’s “better than that” and that she has a certain way of talking to each of her lieutenants.

She seemed pretty cruel to me lol. They need to have Salem do more before they announce these kinds of intentions, because now they’ve just given us a preconceived notion and they won’t have to write it that way.

Chapter 4:

Apparently Yang’s eye color was decided because of Taiyang’s and Raven’s eye colors. Red and Blue making purple.

This might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever read.

Burnie is apparently very invested in voicing Taiyang, and takes it very seriously. He would go over the script with Miles and Kerry before recording sessions and they talk about how Burnie will listen to Yang’s lines and efforts, and try and make Taiyang’s similar, as a way of representing how Yang was influenced by her Father. It’s also mentioned that Joel is similar when it comes to portraying Oobleck.

Wow! Joel and Burnie, two voice acting veterans who formed RT, are invested in their roles? Don’t get too shocked by actors who actually try, guys!

When it came to naming all the villages in Anima, they wanted to keep the theme of Mistral being heavily inspired by Eastern influences, so they named villages after the Japanese names for certain flowers.

Blah blah magical mystical Asia land

Originally, the inn and the pub were the same building, but were separated when they couldn’t figure out how to fit Raven into the scene.

Can you imagine if we had to see RNJR somehow not notice Qrow like twenty feet away from them? Thank god he sat in that pub across the street.

Chapter 5:

Miles says he cried while writing Blake’s reunion with her parents, and that the Belladonna’s are some of his favorite characters.

I mean iunno that scene didn’t scream emotional to me but I also have daddy issues so

Fennec and Corsac, as mentioned earlier, were characters originally conceived pre Volume 1, being the 2nd and 3rd Faunus thought about after Blake.

Makes you wonder if by the time of their conception, Faunus were a thing or if Monty was just making up furry OC’s.

Chapter 6:

In the charity scene, Koen says that there are around 100 different, unique people in the room, each with differing clothing.

Jfc guys went kinda overboard there. Didn’t look like 100+ when I watched it.

When describing Henry Marigold to concept artist Erin Winn, Kerry told her to draw a ‘posery, imposter Neptune’.

That’s about what I guessed yep. Now is there a reason for it to be Neptune? To show that Weiss grew past her affection towards him? Or because it was the first person who came to mind? Who knows.

Tyrian’s jacket, despite being one of Kerry’s favorite design aspects, was a real hassle for the animators and the rigging team, so much so that he was animated without his jacket on, and then would add it afterwards.

I remember when capes were in Kingdom Hearts. Then they realized they were too much work so they removed them to avoid continuity errors and such. It was a smart and humble move, because the capes looked cool. I guess Tyrian’s jacket was just really that awesome though.

Chapter 7:

The original plan with Ozpin was to not reveal him as having anything to do with Oscar until the very end of the Volume.

Just gonna keep reminding us of that huh guys?

This episode was the first time proper reflections were used in a mirror in any Rooster Teeth production. Before they would simply fake it.

well that is a legitimately very interesting fact

When it came to Tyrian swearing, some thought went into whether they could get around it, originally having him say witch instead. Ultimately, Miles and Kerry decided it was the right time for things to get a bit more mature.

Best decision they ever made, thank god.

I love the idea of Miles being all modest and going “ah yes time to be mature.”

Chapter 8:

Miles says the whole campfire scene was probably the most difficult thing in the Volume to write, simply due to how much they needed to cover. Also, Kerry says more people worked on this scene than any other in the Volume.

The RWBY writers struggling with exposition?

The two brothers was Miles’ idea, and his first major contribution to the series, obviously one of the first parts of the show that was conceived.

And it was made known that Miles conceived one of the worst parts of the entire story. And he just copied it from a Grimm Tale.

Miles was the one who wrote the majority of Blake scenes in Volume 4. When she’s slapping Sun, Miles only intended it to be soft slaps on the shoulder, so he was quite surprised by the end result.

 Isn’t this why you, like, direct your scenes? To avoid miscommunication like that?

Chapter 9:

Apparently there were several colour combinations the were tried with Ilia that “did not work”.

Apparently the animation crew’s passion is graphic design.

All the patches of mud on the ground were originally water puddles, but Kerry forgot that while the scene was being animated.

Again, directing.

Chapter 10:

In the scene with Nora being bullied, Miles jokes about that if you feel bad about it, those other kids likely died the next day. To follow that up, Kerry then mentions that they actually considered to have one of those kids lying face down on the ground in the background during the attack. Damn.

Idk how to feel about this but it is kind of disturbing that Miles would be so quick to make that joke.

According to Miles, they actually described Ren’s father in the script as “A handsome Hanzo looking motherfucker”.

guessed everyone who knows of overwatch’s existence

One of the ideas they had that didn’t make it into the episode involved Ren’s father going to see the mayor. Since he’s a hunter, and he had just returned from a hunt, Li was going to talk to the mayor about how they didn’t find any animals and it was almost as if they had been spooked away, and that they should get a Huntsman to come and investigate.

That probably would have made some sense.

According to Kerry, Jaune and Ruby’s moment was originally going to end with them hugging, but was cut due to time and Kerry not wanting people to “worry”.

So Lancaster gets shot down completely, cool. Cool thing of a creator to do. How dare we imply Ruby and Jaune are close after all they’ve been through.

Chapter 11:

Recording Tyrian’s efforts in this episode was a ton of fun according to Miles.

Yeah I bet Miles loved Tyrian.

Kerry’s “proudest accomplishment of this Volume” was having the photo of Whitely on Jacques’ desk be face down after Ironwood slams down on it.

Cool?

Kerry talks about Sun’s abs (as you do) and actually reveals that, contrary to popular belief, they didn’t remove them, but instead Sun’s model was made to be more muscular and they would be picked up by lighting and shadows instead.

Pretty sure Sun’s torso is a tube with the new models.

Chapter 12:

When talking about the fight, it’s mentioned there were several different versions of it. They don’t go into detail, but Kerry does mention that Qrow was originally supposed to do something, but Miles reminds him it’s something they can’t talk about.

God, what is left for Qrow to reveal? We got his weapon’s forms, his Semblance, his transforming thing, what else? Tbh my bet’s on Ozpin’s cane. They planned for him to use the cane but decided against it because of their artifact bullshit.

[magicmalcolm]

SO @theflyingromana asked me for an update on my progress through Pokémon Sun and...uh...I may have overdid it a bit?

Warning: Behind the cut lies Pokémon Sun and Moon spoilers.  And a LONG post as I talk about my Pokémon and stuff.

OKAY so I've just arrived at the fourth island, and I find out Seafolk Village is made up of houseboats shaped like Pokémon which is JUST THE BEST THING.  It reminds me of Raftfleet from Suikoden 5, which was also an awesome location in that game filled with awesome people and had boats with dragon figureheads and IT WAS AWESOME OKAY.

Seafolk Village also has some RANDOM stuff going on.  Like, there's this one random girl in a random houseboat that just randomly gives you a Level 40 Aerodactyl?  For...no discernible reason?  FOR FREE?  What is this MADNESS?  And this other guy just gives you the Magmarizer and the Electirizer for free too!  Like...who would have thought talking to people would bring such profits!?  (I also fished up a Wailmer named "WailOfATime").

Right now my vague mission objective is to find Hapu, the little girl who we’ve met around the Islands with her Mudsdale.  This sounds like the next Trial is gonna be Ground Type, so time to think of a team for that one!

(Also who would have thought the SEEMINGLY benevolent Aether Foundation were actually a front for a MADWOMAN WHO HAS NO PROBLEM HURTING NEBBY HOW DARE)

TEAM MAINSTAYS

POLARIS the Magnemite > Magneton Level 39 (Caught at Level 6 on Route 1) Type: Electric/Steel Ability: Sturdy (cannot be 1-Hit KO'd) Nature: Quirky (Neutral Nature) Moves: Tri Attack / Electro Ball / Thunder Wave / Flash Cannon

Getting a Steel Type so early in the game helped out a LOT.  I've always loved the mighty 'Mite family and even though I've used them TONS of times throughout the Generations, Polaris has just been so consistently useful that I've had a hard time benching it for long.

Sturdy isn't an amazingly useful Ability, and hasn't come into play once throughout this playthrough.  Mostly because I've kept Polaris FAR away from Fighting and Fire types.

Now I just need to find Alola's version of the Magnetic Cave it needs to evolve into Magnezone.  It's SOMEWHERE on Poni Island, so I'll soon have my Electric UFO.  SOON.

BUZZBY the Cutiefly > Ribombee Level 38 (Caught at Level 10 on Route 3) Gender: Female Type: Bug/Fairy Ability: Shield Dust (blocks the additional effects of attacks) Nature: Adamant (Attack +, Sp. Attack -) Moves: Pollen Puff / Dazzling Gleam / Acrobatics / Psychic

This tiny flutterbee singlehandedly took down Kahuna Hala's Grand Trial thanks to Bug Types resisting Fighting Type moves and Fairy Types being Super Effective against Fighters.  A speedy lil Special Attacker.

Adamant Nature is a poor fit for Buzzby (all it's Level Up attacks are Special Attacks), but it won't go completely to waste thanks to learning Acrobatics through TM.  Bug/Fairy/Flying/Psychic covers quite a bit of ground (although ironically not Ground).  Shield Dust is situational, but it's a far better ability than Honey Gather.

Evolved from a Cutiefly into Ribombee at Level 25, and that's apparently the final Evolution for that family.  It now has a cute little brown scarf!  

Pollen Puff is Ribombee's signature move, a 90 Power Bug Type Special Attack that will hurt an enemy but will heal a targeted ally in Multi-Battles.  Not bad!

ROBIN HOOT the Rowlet > Dartrix > Decidueye Level 45 (Starter Pokémon) Gender: Male Type: Grass/Ghost Ability: Overgrow (boosts Grass Type moves when low in health) Nature: Quiet (Sp. Attack +, Speed -) Moves: Steel Wing / Leaf Blade / Acrobatics / Spirit Shackle

Robin's biggest problem for the longest time was his moveset.  He still had Tackle and Astonish until just recently.  TACKLE. AND. ASTONISH.  So I felt it was time to splurge some Pokébux to try and help fix this.  Both Shadow Claw and Steel Wing are available to buy (Shadow Claw in Konikoni City, and Steel Wing in Malie City), and they helped carry Robin until he evolved into Decidueye and learned his Signature Move.  I then immediately taught him Acrobatics as Robin could only learn that as a Decidueye.  Not as a Rowlet or Datrix when he would have had STAB with it, oh no...

A Sp. Attack boosting nature is useless for Robin as he only learns Physical Attacks through Level Up...but Speed is already Robin's worst stat, so losing points in that isn't going to matter much.

MUNCHIE BOX the Munchlax > Snorlax Level 37 (Mystery Gift) Gender: Male Type: Normal Ability: Thick Fat (halves damage from Fire and Ice Type moves) Nature: Lax (Defense +, Sp. Defense -) Moves: Body Slam / Brick Break / Rock Slide / Giga Impact

Munchie has been a pretty great Physical attacker so far, great for taking out randomons in the wild.  Solid, if unspectacular Party member for all seasons.

The main goal was to get him Giga Impact to use with his Snorlium Z.  Normally using Giga Impact causes you to skip a turn, but activating it with Snorlium Z...hoo boy.

PECKSILLA the Pikipek > Trumbeak > Toucannon Level 36 (Caught at Level 3 on Route 1) Gender: Female Type: Normal/Flying Ability: Keen Eye (cannot have her accuracy lowered) Nature: Lax (Defense +, Sp. Defense -) Moves: Drill Peck / Thief / Brick Break / Beak Blast

Pokémon Sun & Moon's version of the early game Flying Type has also been a pretty solid Physical Attacker, and thanks to TMs has some nice type coverage at her disposal (Flying, Dark and Fighting is a nice spread).  This versatility will help her out for a while longer.  Beak Blast is an interesting Signature Move, it always goes last and if the opposing Pokémon makes contact with it then it automatically gets Burned.  Pecksilla is a VERY slow bird anyway, so chances are it's going last regardless of what move it uses, so it's essentially a free Burn on top of a powerful STAB move.

Also for a while she had both Pluck and Thief, making her the ultimate Plunder Bird.

DEAN AMBROSE the Alolan Rattata > Alolan Raticate Level 38 (Caught at Level 6 on Route 1) Gender: Male Type: Dark/Normal Ability: Gluttony (will eat held berries quicker than usual) Nature: Jolly (Speed +, Sp. Attack -) Moves: Crunch / Shadow Claw / Hyper Fang / Super Fang

For those playing along at home, Alolan Rattatas ONLY evolve into Raticate at Night, so if your Rattata is close to Level 20 you'll have to hang fire till after dark.  

Also definitely try to capture a Rattata with Hustle as it's ability, as Gluttony does absolutely nothing for them.  (Hustle increases the Attack stat of a Pokémon by 50% at the cost of lowering the Accuracy of Physical Attacks by 20%.  You can always give them a Wide Lens to hold to help with the debuff).

Any Sp. Attack lowering nature is perfect for Raticate although I'd rather the bonus went to a different stat than Speed, which is already Dean's highest stat.  He'll probably never be the hardest hitter on the team, but STAB Crunches and Hyper Fangs will be useful for a while longer.  Right now he's beginning to fall behind my other physical attackers, which may spell the end of his run.  Super Fang will be handy for capturing Pokémon though, since it can't KO.

FERGROWL the Growlithe > Arcanine Level 43 (Caught at Level 8 on Route 2) Gender: Male Type: Fire Ability: Flash Fire (powers up Fire Type moves if hit by a Fire Type move) Nature: Mild (Sp. Attack +, Defense -) Moves: Bite / Extreme Speed / Fire Fang / Wild Charge

The Sp. Attack boost is a bit of a waste, and the Defense down nature means Fergrowl is going to be one Hell of a glass cannon...much like his namesake, actually!  

I brought Fergrowl into the team for the Fire Type Trial on the second island, since Flash Fire nulls Fire Type moves completely.  Stuck around since the very next trial was Grass Type.  Then just stayed because I love Growlithe and haven't actually seriously used one since Gen I.

Move Set wise...Growlithes don't really learn anything useful for a good few levels after Take Down at 23.  Flame Burst isn't a good replacement for Fire Fang on a Growlithe, he's fast enough without Agility and Take Down is more reliably useful than Retaliate.  So I made an executive decision to use a Fire Stone on him the second I found one, learned Extreme Speed and I can always use TMs to fill in the gaps later.  I could have held fire until Fergrowl learned Flamethrower at Level 34, but I can teach him that by TM when I find it.

BUFFLET the Rufflet Level 37 (Caught at Level 11 on Route 3) Gender: Male Type: Normal/Flying Ability: Sheer Force (raises the power of attack moves with additional effects by 30%, but the additional effects are nulled) Nature: Careful (Sp. Defence +, Sp. Attack -) Moves: Rock Slide / Slash / Steel Wing / Hone Claws

When Pecksilla was nearing her final Evolution, I decided to swap in Bufflet for a bit.  Having a Rufflet early in the game is somewhat of a novelty, and Sheer Force boosted Rock Slide makes him a good Anti-Air unit.  Sheer Force also boosts Steel Wing, so why not?  Rufflet's other usual ability is Keen Eye, so I lucked out here.

You may notice Bufflet has no Flying STAB moves...well, that's because he actually has pretty limited options there.  There's Fly...or Sky Drop...or arguably the best option, Aerial Ace.  I decided Slash was a better option than those three moves, and he'll learn Crush Claw eventually...which is ALSO a Sheer Force boosted move.

RUFFN'TUMBLE the Rockruff > Midday Form Lycanroc Level 38 (Caught at Level 10 at Ten Carat Hill) Gender: Female Type: Rock Ability: Keen Eye (cannot have her accuracy lowered) Nature: Timid (Speed +, Attack -) Moves: Stealth Rock / Bite / Rock Slide / Brick Break

Most of the newer members of the team were brought in to take on the Fire Type Trial since most of my main party at the time (Magnemite, Ribombee, Dartrix) were weak to fire.  RuffN'Tumble wasn't the only Rock Type I had access to, but Rockruff was by far the cutest and therefore took priority.  A TIMID LITTLE ROCK PUPPER (even if Timid is a horrible Nature for a Rockruff).

Rockruff's evolution actually differs in each game.  The Evolution level is 25 in both games, but in Sun they evolve during the day into Midday Form Lycanroc and in Moon they evolve at night into Midnight Form Lycanroc.  The stat spread for the two forms is different (Midday Form is quicker, Midnight Form has better defensive stats) and they learn a different move upon evolving (Midday Form learn Accelerock, Midnight Form learn Counter).

RICKY! the Lillipup > Herdier > Stoutland Level 37 (Caught at Level 12 on Route 4) Gender: Male Type: Normal Ability: Sand Rush (boosts Speed in Sandstorms) Nature: Brave (Attack +, Speed -) Moves: Crunch / Take Down / Rock Tomb / Retaliate

Excellent, Ricky! ended up with an Attack boosting nature.  In a perfect world I'd have gotten an Adamant natured Lillipup with Intimidate as its Ability instead of the horrendously situational Sand Rush, but a slightly lowered Speed won't hinder Ricky! too much.

The Lillipup family were a great asset to my teams in both Pokémon Black and Pokémon White 2 (especially White 2 where you get both Lillipup AND the Return TM extremely early).  Subbed him in for a bit after Munchie fully evolved, and will probably trade places with him depending on which one is lower leveled.

FERGULL the Wingull > Pelipper Level 36 (Caught at Level 6 on Route 1) Gender: Female Type: Water/Flying Ability: Drizzle (automatically summons the Rain weather effect when entering a battle) Nature: Lonely (Attack +, Defense -) Moves: Scald / Air Cutter / Echoed Voice / Thief

Another Pokémon brought in especially for the Fire Trial, Fergull was also useful for the Grass Trial that followed it.  Drizzle seems to be a really random ability for Pelipper of all things to have, especially when you think that it was Kyogre's signature ability once upon a time (the only other Pokémon that can have Drizzle as an ability?  It's Politoed's hidden ability).

Pelipper's main problem now is that it's not going to learn anything useful from levelling up for a LONG time.  Scald will probably be sufficient for a while yet (especially boosted by Drizzle's Rain effect) but it's not going to get anything better than Air Cutter for ages.  She's also beginning to fall behind stat-wise, sadly.

WYATT the Mudbray > Mudsdale Level 39 (Caught at Level 14 on Route 4) Gender: Male Type: Ground Ability: Stamina (Boosts Defense stat when hit by an attack) Nature: Docile (Neutral Nature) Moves: High Horsepower / Heavy Slam / Double Kick / Stomp

Another Pokémon brought in for the Fire Type Trial.  Since Ground is Super Effective against Fire, I thought I'd give this new Pokémon a try.  The irony of having a Docile Natured Donkey Pokémon is not lost on me.  As you might expect, it's a strong Physical attacker that's pretty damn slow.  It also has an interesting movepool...currently covering Ground/Steel/Fighting/Normal.  Just waiting for Earthquake now, really.

CYAN the Alolan Meowth > Alolan Persian Level 39 (Caught at Level 8 on Route 1) Gender: Female Type: Dark Ability: Technician (Boosts the attack power of moves of 60 base power or lower by 50%) Nature: Bashful (Neutral Nature) Moves: Slash / Bite / Hidden Power (Ghost) / Power Gem

With Dean fully evolved into Raticate, I thought I'd try the other early game Dark Type out for a bit.  Technician is such a great Ability to have early-to-mid game.  Cyan started out with Bite, and Technician boosts that to a 90 Power STAB attack with a chance of flinching.  Alolan Meowth's are more balanced towards Special Attack, so I immediately checked what it's Hidden Power Type would be at Paniola Ranch...Ghost was completely fine for this purpose although Dark would have be nice for STAB, the two are easily interchangeable...so with Technician that gives Cyan a 90 Power Ghost Type Special Attack.

OTHER NOTABLE POKÉMON

SKARMONY the Skarmory (Level 38, Steel/Flying, Rock Slide / X-Scissor / Fly /Steel Wing)

Skarmory is one of my faves!  Named Skarmony as for the longest time I thought that's what it was actually called and wondered why it didn't learn Sing.  Like Bufflet, Skarmony suffers from a lack of good Physical Flying Type STAB moves, but Fly will do for now.

BUBBLE-HEAD the Dewpider > Araquanid (Level 37, Water/Bug, Scald / Leech Life / Infestation / Bite)

First of all, Araquanid might be my favourite new Pokémon name in this Generation.  That's a solid A+ pun right there.  It's Ability actually lowers the power of Fire Type moves used against it and prevents the Burn status effect.  Handy!

Also, holy drain the life of our enemies Batman, Leech Life got a HUGE buff in this Generation.  Remember when it was a piddly 20-Power move?  It's now an 80-Power move.  AND IT'S A TM THIS GENERATION.

CASSANDRA the Absol (Level 44, Dark, Psycho Cut / Slash / Swords Dance / Night Slash)

ABSOL!  My absolute favourite Pokémon, so of course it's getting used.  Right now I'm switching between Cyan and Cassandra to try and keep even leveling.

BOUNCEE the Bounsweet > Steenee > Tsareena (Level 40, Grass, Razor Leaf / Trop Kick / Stomp / Teeter Dance)

Got this one in an In-Game trade, right before the Water Trial on the second Island.  Another Physical orientated Grass Type.  Trop Kick is it's Signature Move, a 70 Power Physical Grass Type move that also lowers the targets' Attack stat.

ANTACID the Salandit > Salazzle (Level 41, Poison/Fire, Flame Burst / Venoshock / Nasty Plot / Toxic)

Only Female Salandits can evolve into Salazzle, so be cautious when catching one for yourselves!  Salazzle's an interesting one, it's a Fire/Poison type with the  Ability Corrosion which allows her to Poison Steel and Ground types.  Seems to be a counter to Steel types in general?  It's design kinda creeps me out though, but she's a solid speedy Special Attacker.

(Other Pokémon caught but not really used: Ash-Greninja, Pinsir, Aerodactyl, Luminescent the Finneon, Not!Kirby the Igglybuff, WailOfATime the Wailmer, Sandra Dee the Sandile, Pancham, TeeVee the Eevee, Retreevee the Eevee, Brooklyn the Crabrawler, GDI Whitney! the Miltank, TuffN'Rumble the Stufful, O.Ghost the Gastly, Praying the Fomantis, Red Ranger the Ledian, Pentagon Jr. the Staryu, PrinceDiglet the Alolan Diglett, Treacle the Slowpoke, Magmite the Magby, Elias the Drifloon, Mallardy the Psyduck, Pixie the Goldeen, 2 Carbinks)

WONDER TRADE GOODIES!

Alolan Sandshrew > Alolan Sandslash (Level 37, Ice/Steel, Slash / Leech Life / Icicle Spear / Iron Head)

OUCH, that typing gives it two 4x Effective Weaknesses.  A pure Physical Attacker, which doesn't give it a lot of options for Ice STAB but Iron Head is a great Steel STAB move for it.  More happy to get it since it's a Moon Exclusive Poké, and I'm playing Sun.

Alolan Grimer > Alolan Muk (Level 47, Poison/Dark, Gunk Shot / Toxic / Poison Jab / Crunch)

Grimer/Muk REALLY benefited from gaining that Dark sub-type.  You can catch Alolan Grimer absurdly early on and they are REALLY good Pokémon this Generation.  I am kicking myself for missing out on them early-game, because this Muk has been a beast ever since I got him.  Not much Move Type variety, but does VERY well with the moves it has.

Popplio > Brionne > Primarina (Level 46, Water/Fairy Hyper Voice / Sparkling Aria / Hidden Power (Ground) / Moonblast)

Honestly, getting the other Starters has been made so much easier thanks to Wonder Trading.  So many people trying to breed a perfect Starter, and just tossing away the failures.  I will happily take these kind of leftovers.  Primarina came along as part of the Rescue Lillie from the Aether Paradise segment.  No idea why I taught her Ground Type Hidden Power?  I’m sure past-me had a good reason?

(Also even though I can't rename her, she's totally called Belladonna)

Alolan Vulpix > Alolan Ninetails (Level 47, Ice/Fairy, Extrasensory / Hex / Moonblast / Ice Beam)

I LOVE Alolan Ninetails' redesign.  This Ninetails also has it's Hidden Ability, Snow Warning...which automatically makes it Hail when he enters battle.  I wanna keep using him, but I want to try and keep everything relatively evenly leveled.

Litten > Torracat > Incineroar (Level 40, Fire/Dark, Thrash / Flamethrower / Swagger / Darkest Lariat)

IT'S CATTERWALL!  The last of the Alolan Starters I managed to get, hence why it's the lowest level.  Will probably swap places with Fergrowl depending on which is lower leveled.

(Also received on Wonder Trade but not really used: Surskit/Masquerain, Alolan Geodude, Dhelmise, Trapinch, Jangmo-o, Mimikyu, Honedge, Grubbin/Charjabug, Spinarak, Machop, Mareanie, Axew, Gible, Poliwag, Fletchling, Snorunt/Froslass)

[ianmrid]

...Find The Courage Inside Of You!

Pokémon Leaf Green: Completed!

This was a pretty targeted play-through, and as it only took just over half the length of my Fire Red game, completing Leaf Green in just 30 hours and 27 minutes. My Pokédex stats were 143 seen / 67 caught for the Kanto ‘Dex, going up to 196 seen / 77 caught in the National ‘Dex. This shows me that I am nearing the end of my collection, barely finding any additional non-Kanto pokémon to capture in the post-game.

I have to say, despite the lack of time together, I really enjoyed my Leaf Green team. It included some classic Kanto pokémon which i had never given a chance to before. Let’s meet them:

HAVOC the Charizard: Charizard has always been my least favourite of the Kanto starter lines, despite it easily being the most popular in general (my poké-hipster tendencies are showing again)! However I actually really enjoyed having Havoc on the team - further cementing my thought that there really aren’t many pokémon I actually dislike. Now able to learn Fly, he fulfilled this role well, while also dishing out Rock Slide and STAB Flamethrower damage. In his last move-slot, I used Dragon Claw, providing a nice bit of Dragon-type coverage on a pokémon that wasn’t specifically weak to Dragon itself. It does still feel odd that Charizard isn’t a Dragon-type - even though I understand this would have made it insanely overpowered!

TRIUMPH the Victreebel: I’ve always loved Victreebel’s design. In the anime, the carnivorous giant pitcher plant was one of Team Rocket’s James’ signature pokémon in the early seasons and, for some reason, it was always trying to devour him - affectionately of course! Triumph was all about the strong dual STAB attacks with a Poison-type Sludge Bomb and a Grass-type Solarbeam, backed up by the Grass-type staples of Giga Drain and Stun Spore (useful for helping to capture all the Legendary Pokémon I was hunting this time out). One thing I would do if I had this time over again is to find a slot for a Sunny Day user to leverage Victreebel’s ability, Chlorophyll which doubles it’s speed in the Sun as well as turning Solarbeam into a one turn move. Devastating! 

DANGER the Jolteon: Danger(! High Voltage! Geddit?) is the first of the original three Eevee-lutions to make it onto one of my teams. Jolteon was always my favourite of the three but, much like Charizard, they all get a lot of attention so my eye tended to be drawn elsewhere. But an Electric-type is very useful in Kanto with Water-types around every corner and since Raichu, Magneton, Voltorb, and even Zapdos had made it onto my teams before, it was a straight choice between Jolteon and Electabuzz. Since I was going for a more ‘Kanto iconic’ team, it had to be Jolteon. Thunderbolt and Thunder Wave were unsurprising move choices - but Shadow Ball was a great Ghost-type coverage move allowing me to blast my way through the Lavender Town section of the game.

ICHABOD the Lapras: Another classic pokémon, Lapras is famously used transportation, so the inclusion of Surf on his moveset is no surprise. Lapras was another key part of the anime, notably during the Orange Islands arc which made it feel like prime time to use a Lapra to traverse the Sevii Islands, their spiritual in-game counterpart. Additionally, being part Ice-type, a STAB Ice Beam was always very helpful. The ever useful Toxic and the HM Strength rounded out the set for this pokémon which is based on the either the Loch Ness monster, a plesiosaur, or both. However, with me not knowing my plesiosaurs from my ichthyosaurs, I named him Ichabod. Oops.

NIA the Poliwrath: Named after WWE Superstar Nia Jax (back before she broke Becky Lynch’s nose and nearly ruined the best story in WWE last year!), Nia was there to handle the many Normal-types with Brick Break and to share the Water-type HM load with Lapras by using Waterfall. I also gave her Rain Dance to boost up her Water attacks if needed, and then Psychic - with the reasoning that she would have something super effective to use against other Fighting-types that she was pretty evenly matched with. Poliwrath is another pokémon that has very early roots in pokémon as its pre-evolution Poliwhirl was considered as a series mascot at one point in time! It is also one of the first pokémon to show up in the original manga and Misty also uses a Poliwhirl for a long time in the anime, even if that one eventually goes on to be a Politoed instead.

BUFFY the Nidoqueen: I always name my Nidoran after a famous couples from somewhere. I’ve previously had Romeo and Juliet, but this time around they were Spike and Buffy (a similar level of culture, I think). It was a complete toss up between Nidoqueen and Nidoking for this team - but since I caught a female Nidoran first, I went with the girl power option. The Nido-family have so many great coverage moves, so Buffy was stacked with Blizzard, Earthquake (which is so great when it is STAB), and also the Fighting-type Rock Smash HM. She also used Crunch - ostensibly to deal with Psychic-types, but with the Poison-type weakness to Psychic, that was maybe not my best plan!

And here they all are:

So, with both remakes complete,I am still missing a number of pokémon: the Johto starters Chikorita and Totodile (and their evolutions), the unobtainable Mew and Dexoys, the Johto box-art Legendaries of Ho-oh and Lugia, the Safari Zone-only Chansey and Kangaskhan, the Bulbasaur line, and Entei who will only be available if I play one of the games through again, and last but not least, the Mythical Pokémon, Celebi.

In order to get most of these, I am going to have to leave both Hoenn and Kanto behind and head to a new region altogether: Orre!

[crystalelemental]

Expanding on those hypothetical teams from yesterday, I think I’ve made some decisions.

LEAFGREEN

Venusaur (Earthquake/Giga Drain/Synthesis, Giga Drain/Razor Leaf, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Powder)

Vaporeon (Surf, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball, Bite/Waterfall)

Moltres (Flamethrower, Fly, Steel Wing, Rock Smash)

Nidoqueen (Earthquake, Brick Break, Shadow Ball, Body Slam/Ice Beam)

Clefable (Body Slam, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Psychic)

Hitmonlee (Earthquake, Brick Break, High Jump Kick, Strength)

Venusaur is a great starter, and I’m honestly curious if I can forego teaching Earthquake to salvage how many of these damned TMs I’ll need.  Realistically, what would it need Earthquake for?  There aren’t many major fights that I’ll be tossing it into anyway, so it’s safe without it, probably.  That said, it does mean Giga Drain is too limited in PP. so Razor Leaf is required.  Either Giga Drain will make it in as the other move, or Synthesis will.  Or I’ll cave and run Earthquake.  It’s whatever.

Vaporeon and Moltres are just Pokemon I never run.  Same with Nidoqueen, who I’m surprised to learn has a decent physical set option to handle a lot of the Elite Four.  I may still insist on getting a neutral nature for Ice Beam to let her solo most of them in one go, but damn she’s got this down.

Clefable is kinda just...a favorite, in a sense.  I really like it, and unlike Sandslash, who requires so much support and so many finite resources just to function in this generation, Clefable is pretty stand-alone.

Hitmonlee is a do-over from the last time I played FireRed, where I accidentally got Bold and Impish natures confused and ruined the poor thing.  Better luck this time, buddy.

FIRERED

Blastoise (Earthquake, Ice Beam, Surf, Brick Break/Waterfall)

Flareon (Flamethrower, Shadow Ball, Dig, Return)

Vileplume (Giga Drain, Sludge Bomb, Moonlight, Sleep Powder)

Rhydon (Rock Slide, Earthquake, Brick Break, Body Slam)

Hitmonchan (Earthquake, Rock Slide, Sky Uppercut, Strength)

Articuno (Ice Beam, Water Pulse, Fly, Rock Smash)

Blastoise is the other really cool gen 1 starter for me, so it gets the other run.  Flareon is here because it is my baby, and Vileplume is really the only sensible Grass type pick here aside from Exeggutor who I ran last time.  Which means neither of these teams has a Psychic type...  Huh.

Rhydon is there because I never run this thing.  I run Golem and the Nidos and Sandslash.  But somehow I never run this.  Its eventual evolution was my ace in my mono-Ground team back in Gen 4 and 5, and somehow I never use it in a main run!

Hitmonchan is a Pokemon I just really like, and also have never run, in large part because Fighting type bias, and also because only male which is never my favorite.  But we’re gonna make it work.  Unfortunately, that means 3 Earthquake TMs.  Because life is unfair.

Articuno is my favorite of the legendary bird trio, and because I never run legends, this is finally its time.

RUBY

Blaziken (Flamethrower, Sky Uppercut, Strength, Aerial Ace)

Pelipper (Surf, Ice Beam, Shock Wave, Fly)

Shiftry (Giga Drain, Faint Attack, Extrasensory, Brick Break)

Seviper (Flamethrower, Sludge Bomb, Crunch, Giga Drain/Earthquake)

Sableye (Shadow Ball, Faint Attack, Psychic, Brick Break)

Grumpig (Psychic, Shadow Ball, Bounce, Calm Mind/Facade)

I’m slightly less enamored with this team, especially Grumpig who I might drop outright, but it’s fine.  Mostly a placeholder with an attempt at running Shiftry, who I mostly ignore.  Seviper returns from that one time it utterly wrecked the shit out of Alpha Sapphire for me, so that’s a huge plus.  And Sableye!  I never run this little shit!  Let’s see if it’s any good.

EMERALD

Blaziken (same as above, frankly)

Ludicolo (Surf, Waterfall, Giga Drain, Ice Beam) OR Gorebyss (Surf, Waterfall, Ice Beam, Psychic)

Metagross (Meteor Mash, Psychic, Brick Break, Earthquake/Shadow Ball)

Flygon (Dragon Claw, Flamethrower, Earthquake, Fly)

Absol (Bite, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball/Flamethrower) OR Cacturne (Needle Arm, Faint Attack, Giga Drain, Sandstorm)

Banette (Shadow Ball, Psychic, Thunderbolt, Return/Calm Mind)

A bit more serious, in terms of actually running what I love.  Blaziken continues to be my favorite of the Hoenn starters, so that one’s in.  Ludicolo and Gorebyss is frankly just a contest of which Pokemon I never run getting their turn.  If Ludicolo, Absol is coming in.  If Gorebyss, Cacturne is coming in.  Cacturne I have never run ever, but Absol often gets passed up in runs too because it shows up so late, so those decisions will figure themselves out, I’m sure.

Metagross has to happen.  I need a Psychic type, and I love this thing, so we’re doing it.  Flygon is also precious and is definitely happening, but I could swap out for Salamence if I wanted.  The thing is, I’m running Bagon right now in Sun, and I don’t see the need to double up, you know?  Lastly, Banette, who is one of my favorite Ghost types.  Shadow Ball will do enough to really hurt, but Psychic and Thunderbolt are there for coverage with probably Calm Mind to let it sweep with said coverage.

[mandimormon-blog]

5 To-Do Lists, You Can’t Live Without

Where have I been? Well, blogging world, I’ll tell you where I’ve been… not here.  Not here because a few shorts week ago, I acquired an adorable little notebook.  In my handy dandy notebook (yes, I’ve used this Blue’s Clues reference half a dozen times, *yawn*) I make to-do lists. Plural.  I’m absolutely obsessed with to-do lists.  I like the sense of accomplishment you get from placing a check-mark on the paper next to the job completed.  If I’m having a good day, I’ll even put a circle around that check-mark.  If my day isn’t as positive, I will scribble the words out on the line ferociously, while scrunching up my nose.

I had read once to avoid becoming overwhelmed or stressed, your to-do list should consist of three things. Then after accomplishing those three things, make a new list of just three things.  Homie don’t play that game.  Homie is an overachiever.  

At the beginning of the week, I had roughly 32 items on my “priority to-do list” and if you’re wondering why I’ve coined this a thing it’s because those items have to be done, there’s not waiting until the last minute, I need to rock them out.  Sometimes I’ll create an “Advanced Planning to-do List” and I’ll jump around and give myself a window of completion.  Procrastination eats me alive.  I’m not saying I never procrastinate, I do, A LOT.  I’m just saying it’s unnatural for me to procrastinate without having that feeling you get that’s kind of like impending doom.  

Oh, allow me to add, on my beautifully printed “priority to-do list” I added a small box in my right column and added the header, “ALLEN” to it.  That’s my husband’s name.  I created him a priority list, too, so he didn’t feel left out, of course.  I will blame it on the fact he told me he wouldn’t buy me a saw.  He doesn’t trust me with one.  But I always have this puffed up, I-can-take-on-the-world-feeling when I leave Hobby Lobby, so I requested one.  My request was denied.

Blogging has fallen off of my Sunday Priority List, even considering Sunday is my “day of rest” that I usually do a bare minimum if anything.  My computer has changed the method in which it uploads my camera roll, now, too.  So, the ease no longer exists.  Instead it throws all of my photos onto the date they were captured and since I can’t remember was happened 24 minutes ago, I’m not having much luck remembering what happened almost three weeks ago.

I do, however, have one little note in my iPhone.  It reads:

Before my oldest daughter, Reis, tells everyone (that would be her fifth grade class and “squad”…. A tennis instructor, piano teacher, grandmother, Sunday School Teacher, church friends, the mail lady, anyone who happens to be near her at the moment of remembrance)  about me. Yes, me.. her mother, the idiot. I thought I would beat her to the punch. (But I didn’t.)

I still have my prepositions memorized.  Yes, I can basically rap or auctioneer those darn words, at lightning speed.  Over the week of the 15th,  I had a great time helping my fifth grader out with memorizing those words, impressing myself mostly, due to my impeccable memorization skills.  

One evening, immediately after studying, just before saying our family prayer together, I was still jotting things down in my handy-dandy notebook, and as I was doing this I reiterated the fact I still had these words memorized from 7th Grade, Mrs. Smith’s class.  Then, I tried doing the math.

On the bottom of the page, I scribbled out to the side 2017 minus 1999 jotted my answer down and said to her, without the slightest hesitation, I blurted, “See!  28 years  ago.”  

Instantly, from across the hallway in my other daughter’s room I hear, “Wow.  You really can’t do Math.  Can you?”  (That was my husband, obviously eavesdropping on my conversation with my oldest daughter.)

Reis began laughing uncontrollably (seriously), “Yeah, Mom!  28 years ago you were two.  Did you memorize them then?”  The laughter continued.

I’m pretty sure I stared at her like that emoji with the line straight across, eyes open.  :- |

“I meant 18.” I said with a little bit of attitude because no one likes to be picked on.  Am I right?  Still, no one in my household cared and they cared even less that I still had in my memory bank from 18 years ago, every darn one of those prepositions. They only cared that I couldn’t subtract.  

After the laughter began to die down, Reis asked me to remove my paper from my notebook.  I ripped it out and handed it to her.  She carefully folded the paper in half and put it into her messenger bag.  “I’m taking this to school tomorrow to prove how horrible you are at Math.”

It may be 12:59 a.m. and I’m writing a blog in the first hour of Wednesday, but let’s face it, with my to-do lists, and our two-week Spring Break, I haven’t had a lot of extra free or me time.  I hear from a lot of strangers, “Two weeks for Spring Break?  Wow, that must be nice!”  

Ummm…..

I love my children, I love them to the moon and back.  I would do anything for my children.  I like to support them in all of their endeavors and be there for them as their cheerleader.  I love to have teaching moments with them and observe them.  Each of them are so different and unique but I love them all with my whole heart.  

However, a two-week Spring Break without any real travel plans and with Mother Nature’s temperament has been a challenge, to say the least.  Sure, if you’re sitting on a beach somewhere south of here where it’s 20 degrees + warmer with your children, I’m sure that sunshine is adding a sparkle to your day.  The sun did not even come out today, not once, and yesterday it came out for a millisecond.  

Our schedule is just off. It’s off because if we begin getting something together, (which believe it or not with only 5 days left of the 13 day break, we are… finally) it will be back to school, again.

The first day or two, our youngest two did about 16 laps in 3 minute around the couch and bar.  Did I mention Jude had his “ninja stick” in his hand? Yep.  I didn’t know who’s eye was gonna get it that day.  Remi?  Jude? Mine?  Who knew?  

Productivity was what was needed to keep our house in order.  I don’t mean watching six hours non-stop of Stampy Cat on YouTubeKids. If you have younger kids you may know exactly what I’m talking about.  The obnoxious laugh?  The Minecraft tutorial?  This wasn’t an option for me in my childhood.  The closest thing to that I had was when I was in upper elementary and it was called a Giga Pet I got from KB Toys, ironically on the Village Mall where the Humane Society sets up shop, now.  My Giga Pet died all of the time, if it lived longer than a day, it was a miracle from above.

This past weekend, we did a little inventory magic.  In Remi’s bedroom sits my 3 foot tall Barbie doll house from when I was younger. Inside of this house and a canvas hamper specifically for toys, were Barbies.  Lots and lots of Barbies.  I told both girls, they were to remove all of the dolls, and figure out which ones they didn’t play with or would like to donate.  Then they were to count the dolls, and select 20 of their favorites to keep out.  The rest would be stored inside a tote and they could change them out, during the year. Lo and beyond, the girls counted 62 Barbies (not even including the baby or Kelly-sized dolls).  62.  We aren’t excessive buyers.  You have to believe me when I tell you that.  

They’ve acquired several as gifts and even more from my mother.  She allowed the girls to take home dolls that were mine when I was a little girl.  I loved my dolls and played with them for hours and hours, probably because Stampy Cat wasn’t an option, like I said.  My sister and I each had our own doll house in our basement, and I remember plugging in my AM/FM Radio / Alarm / CD Player, and they would have dance competitions.  I usually would have them perform to “Movie Luv”.  I have a feeling anyone reading this will enjoy this playlist from Movie Luv:

1. (I've Had) The Time Of My Life (Dirty Dancing) - Bill Medley And Jennifer Warnes

 2. A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) (Aladdin) - Peabo Bryson And Regina Belle

 3. Take My Breath Away (Top Gun) - Berlin

 4. Colors Of The Wind (Pocahontas) - Vanessa Williams

 5. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) {Benny And Joon} - The Proclaimers

 6. I'd Die Without You (Boomerang) - P.M. Dawn

 7. Gangsta's Paradise (Dangerous Minds) - Coolio

 8. Stay (I Missed You) (Reality Bites) - Lisa Loeb And Nine Stories

 9. Unchained Melody (Ghost) - The Righteous Brothers

 10. It Must Have Been Love (Pretty Woman) - Roxette

 11. I Don't Wanna Fight (What's Love Got To Do With..) - Tina Turner

 12. Can You Feel The Love Tonight (The Lion King) - Elton John

This was actually one of the first CD’s I ever owned.  I remember going to a slumber party and listening to LeeAnn Rimes “Blue” and Spice Girls “Wannabe” and I begged my parents for a CD player.  I needed this kind of music in my life.  I even remember staring at the square compact disc case wrapped in plastic, after shopping at Hills.  Life was grand.  I was probably close to Reis’s age, at that time.  The closest thing I had to an iPhone or iPod was Dream Phone, the board game, with the hot pink “Night at the Roxbury” style phone.

I will refrain from doing the math to tell you exactly how long ago that was.  But, in 2017, my daughters, Reis and Remi decided to each select 10 dolls to equal the 20 keepers.  They had no problems whatsoever with parting, temporarily with the other dolls. This made a world of difference in decluttering, too.  I highly recommend it, girlmoms.  Out of the organizational patterns in my brain, I kept receiving the same prompting over and over, again, to designate a specific number of hangers for their closets, too.  X # of hangers for pants, and X # of hangers for tops, so then it would force minimalism upon them.  But I decided, slowly… very slowly.  Plus, their closets don’t even look bad, at the moment.  I think it’s because they panicked when it was super warm once or twice in February and packed up their winter clothing and drug out all of their summer things.  Summer apparel has much less material than winter.  

Anyway, along with this purging/de-cluttering effort, I went to the local hardware store and grabbed every paint sample I could see with colors I was drawn to.  In that same afternoon, (this was the afternoon on their last day of school before Spring Break) I choose colors for my living room, dining room, bathroom, hall, and stairwell.  I also picked up some prepping items and paint supplies.

My husband is incredibly particular about prep work.  I am not. That may seem contradictory since I’m a list person, but wall painting is one thing I’ve never been a perfectionist about, at least until this day.  My sweet, incredibly particular about prep work husband had pulled his back out on Sunday, the day before this day.  Therefore, if I wanted the paint done in a lickity-split kind of way, I needed to help as much as I could.  Naturally, when he gets injured I will give him the commission to do something hard to challenge his skills.  That’s exactly how it went down.  He pulled his back out and I said it looks like a great time to paint the entire house. It’s honestly strategic, believe me.  He began to one-time (or spackle) the divots and holes in the drywall.   One word, “countless”.  Let’s see, we moved into this home in 2013, I believe.  You know the drill, you do the math.  In 2013 my children were even younger - sticks and stones and brooms and nails driven by mini-hammers, you name it, it’s been repelled or slammed against our drywall.  After my husband and I had finished spackling, our son, Jude, said, “It looks like the walls have polka dots or the pox.  Are we leaving them that way?”  

I picked up some cheap sandpaper at Dollar General, but didn’t really work on it much until the next day. But as I did the first two spots and they were ehhh.. so-so, with that sandpaper.  My husband came waltzing through the front door with a miracle. They call it, “a sander”.  Maybe to you it’s ridiculous I didn’t know what one was or had never thought about using one, but to me this was one of those “Aha!” moments.  My husband advised me to cease using the sandpaper sheets, and to use this tool. At first, I asked him if I could potentially chop my fingers off.  He assured me I couldn’t but to keep it flat.  He showed me and handed it over.  I fell in love.  He left, again, but when he returned, I showed him what a great job I did and even in the places we hadn’t spackled that felt mildly uneven or bumpy, I hit those, too.  This tool was the most amazing thing and my walls were almost new (without the new paint). I told him I was so good at it that he could hire me.  We’d be a local-brand of Fixer Upper.   I added that I could only use this tool though, because that’s where my talent lies, and I don’t really feel like I’d enjoy working a full eight-hour day, but if he needed the image, I was in and could probably put in a solid 1-3 hours, depending on whether or not it was running season.  

I did get a stellar half workout in with my roller.  I’m short-ish or average, I think, for a female.  Even with the extension on the roller, I had to calf raise to reach the top of the walls where it intersected with the line that my husband cut in along the ceiling.  Even though he cut that in and all I did was roll everything, I still managed to get paint on the ceiling in three places.  

While I painted and cleaned, I decided my oven needed dissected.  Thank you, Pinterest, you are the best ever!  I found a pin describing how to clean in between those glass panels – after taking the oven door apart (no joke) I was about to scrub that grease off, and my oven looks like new.  I also allowed a baking soda, salt, vinegar mix to coat the inside overnight and voila! It looks like new!

I also made an executive decision to repaint my dining room chairs… oh and reupholster them.  Owned it.  Seriously, what a different a little fabric makes.  

Anyway, the entire Operation Cottage Renovation was completed in just 2.5 short days.  Just in time, because on Monday, we held an Ice Cream Social + Family Night in our little cottage, and forty people showed up. That’s a lot to cram under one tiny roof, but it was so great!  

You know I love to plan parties.  That’s just one of my favorite things to do in life.  I’m serious.  Unfortunately, Covington isn’t exactly the target market for that kind of expertise, so I just plan a lot of parties for my family and my children.  

Pottery Barn Kids happens to have a free ice cream party printable set.  I recycled my turquoise blue strawberry baskets, found 4 sets of ice cream bowls for $.88/set, which is incredible and not to mention the frugality of reusing those suckers, over and over, again.  My husband and I went out on Saturday night, which wasn’t the norm and I’ll discuss why in like two seconds.   During our date, we ate (we always eat, food is life) and we got party supplies, those being toppings for ice cream sundaes.  Anything you could imagine, really, it was great.  We also snatched up supplies for our “Family Night” portion of the event.  Wooden sticks, rods, pipe cleaners, foam blocks, playdoh, duct tape, etc.  Right now you may be wondering what on earth we were doing with those materials and why, and I’ll tell you.

Like a broken record, on Monday nights it’s Family Home Evening.  Since many that aren’t of our faith don’t understand that terminology we called it, “Family Night”.  My husband explained to our large group, we do this as a family to build unity, every week. He also described our evening as being a “Family Home Evening… on steroids”.  

We left out the formality of it all and had our Elders (Young Boy Missionaries 19+) explain a little bit about the Book of Mormon.  Many people don’t understand it’s a history, like history of any textbook or journals, ancient writings, in this case – those of the people in the Americas.

We briefly read in the Book of Alma (which is from the Book of Mormon) about what Captain Moroni did to prepare his cities for hard times.  In this particular evening, we were focusing on one of the preparations which was “fortifying” or strengthening their cities.   This included building a large fortress with trenches and defense mechanisms for that time period, even though they were not currently under attack.  This prepared them for when they did fall under attack, the sight alone of these beefed up fortresses caused the enemy to retreat.  You may be thinking, nice story, get on with the point.

That point is how it’s important to reflect on what we can do to build ourselves up and strengthen ourselves while things are smooth sailing, to endure the harder times.  If we don’t prepare, we’ll fall apart.  

My commission to the children and families in my home that evening was to build their own fortress to defend themselves.  Object lessons are my favorite with small children.  Seriously, they’re fantastic.  

As soon as everything was cleaned up and the house resumed to normal, I began “listing” the next actions in my life.  One of those being creating a Ninjago Birthday Invitation and to evaluate my shopping list for this upcoming party – can I just say, It’s gonna be great?!  

Jude is highly involved in his party preparation.  An example of this would be evidenced by the fact that when I asked him what he wanted to have as a party theme, he quickly answered, “Ninjago” and didn’t back down. No biggie.  I honestly thought it would be Lego Batman since that’s been all of the hype this year, or even Minions or Minecraft, but nope.  Ninjago and after extensive Pinterest research, I’m ready to execute this plan.  

I showed him my board and ran ideas past him.  He then took my cell phone from me and began pinning what he liked to his board labeled, “Jude Party”.  I didn’t send his cake request to the cake decorator, it was a three dimensional gold Lego Ninjago Lloyd, but I did send another super cool one he liked that was still pretty extravagant.

I’ll be working on crafting my husband a kimono-type ensemble to he can be Sensai.  This age group I’m guessing will be slightly squirmy so we will plan game after game and backup games.  Jude has requested his buddies attend Ninja Training and unlock their potential to be Masters of Spinjitzu.  

This is great because there’s only like 300 pins about Ninja training games for parties.  I’m loving the “fire” jumping, hoop crossing, plank walking, brick wall breaking, shirikin tossing, balsa wood breaking obstacle course. Can you tell I’m stoked?  This only downside to all of this is planning it on a dime.  For real though, usually, I buy here and there and everywhere and then my husband will say, “Hey… you only have X more to spend.”  This time, from the get-go I’ve had a budget.  Budgeting is SO HARD for the compulsiveness inside of me.  

How have I been surviving this long Spring Break?  Can I just say it’s nothing like summer because in summer, we go to the pool, daily.  As far as we’ve gone is Conner Prairie and that finally happened yesterday (Tuesday).  Another Spring Break survival hacks for non-travelers would be seeing a movie, twice. I went to see Beauty and the Beast on Friday night with my mother and we met up with my sister.  It was a great time and I loved this movie!  It was my scout-out of the movie, of course, I had to make sure it was child appropriate (due to reviews I’d read which were completely off), and not scary.  So, while I watched it with my sister and mother, my children watched the animated version for the first time, ever.  I know… parenting fail.  I grew up in love with animated Disney movie classics and my kids have watched maybe ¼ of them.  We’re working on it, though.  

Over the weekend my oldest daughter and her bestie had convinced us in order to keep the house looking nice and neat, before our ice cream social, we should go to see Beauty and the Beast.  Actually, they brought this up in front of my mother and of course, grandma saves the day with the funds needed to attend this movie.  I ran and cleaned up and set up what I could that day, then the girls and I left for Champaign to see it.  The boys ran errands for us and did their own thing.  Jude didn’t even like the half of the animated version he watched so he wasn’t all about seeing it, again.  

We were so confused as to why the movie was so expensive, but realized when we arrived it was being it was being shown in the BIG D theater.  Of course, we climbed to the tippy top of this ginormous theater.  I honestly felt winded after coasting up the steps a couple of times.  I may run but my body denies inclines at all costs.   There were only about four other movie-goers in the theater with us, which was amazing, too.  My favorite kind of movie, restaurant, amusement park, grocery store, is one with only a handful of people in it with me.  

I mentioned Conner Prairie, oh yes.  Today, we traveled to Fishers for an interactive historical tour.  We learned about Indians, Pioneers, the Civil War, tested out the new Treehouse exhibit which is marvelous.  I asked my husband to observe the structure and examine it closely, because I feel the Covington City Park would benefit from a version of that. Maybe not four stories, but I do love the height.  It was the best part!   Of course, Jude would tell you the best part had to be the rifle range, where he learned how to handle his “bayonet”, march, and fight in a battle.  

All of the kids enjoyed that at least until we did the hot air balloon.  Yep, we did it.  We’ve seen it there time and time, again, but this time it was checked and circled off of the bucket list.  

It was a toss-up between whether my husband would go up or I would go up.  He voted me, and I voted him and somehow he convinced be that I should go, although two things were very big deal breakers for me.  Those were 1.) This was opening day of the outdoor experience, meaning our hot air balloon pilot was out of practice for months.  2.) It was windy.  I visualize that cord being severed and us flying away never to be seen or heard from again.  

However, all three of my children were game to go up and excited to the moon, so was I going to risk not flying to the moon with them?  Nope… I went.  I went and when the middle disappeared and we continued to ascend up to the 377 feet, taller than even the statue of liberty’s torch, I began to feel like I shouldn’t make any sudden moves.  Of course, my darling children had expressions of pure delight and excitement while I stood there reminding them every 4.5 seconds to hold on to the sides, while each of my feet held pressure against the walls to immobilize me, while I clinched my teeth down.  I did look around and take a few photos and a video, but I felt like we were going to blow over sideways, so really what was going through my brain was how I was going to instruct my three children.  Another family was up in the sky with us, and the pilot had told them to look around, we only would be at the maximum height for 3 minutes before descending.  They all seemed to gravitate toward us, making the balloon off balance, I bit down on my tongue to fight off the urge to scold them to get back to their own side and quit attempting to tip us out of the basket.  Finally, we were going back down but near the ground it was described to us that our balloon was doing a “pendulum” effect.  It began rocking and not landing steady and I prepared my mind for evacuation, but worst case scenarios considered, they weren’t needed. 

 Thankfully… we made it and I needed a timeout from that moment forward.  Actually, I really just needed some lunch.  Hypoglycemia gets the best of me, from time to time, creating short-temperedness and attitude.  Omission from any meal or delay isn’t good for any member of our party.  

I feel pretty satisfied after updating the blog and this wasn’t on a list, because the list it exists on is a mental or unwritten list.  Just like the Pineapple Upside down cake I made my husband, last night, wasn’t on the list.  So, I guess I don’t have to use a ‘list’ for everything as it had seemed.  #talented < I’m totally kidding.

I hope my readers enjoy the memes.  I stumbled across a fantastic application and I had to test them out in a very non-serious way.  

While my husband and I attended a Youth Temple Trip, the Saturday before embarking on additional busyness including my cousin’s bowling birthday party which was loads of fun for everyone, I received a couple of impressions.

I was flipping through Doctrine and Covenants and randomly reading a scripture verse or two, and I happened to stumble across this one:

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; D&C 109:8

This is in my top five scripture verses.  It also commits me to making this list my new checklist.  Am I working on these things?  How is my evaluation of myself and my home?  New month, new goals.   

That’s what I love about life.  We are constantly reinventing ourselves.  A better version of who we are, continual growth, gaining wisdom from mistakes and failed experimentation.  Failure gives us exactly what we need to brush ourselves off, jump up, and move forward.

In fact, busyness is not what it’s all about.  I’ve asked my husband, on a few different occasions recently, how do I become less busy?  Less commitments?  Dropping tasks?  More efficient delegation?  Saying no?  Busyness doesn’t allow time for the Spirit to prompt you, for inspiration to come, to be present with family or children, I know for sure we weren’t designed to live life in the fast lane 95% of the time, as evidenced by those mini-panic attacks or rapid speech that accompany semi-meltdown moments.

So sure, I may have elaborated on five different lists (maybe even more, I lost count), but I’m really not wanting to achieve some sort of level of mastery for being busy.  Even looking at the word busy is annoying.  It looks like “bus” with a “y” it seems to have letters missing.  Probably because they were too busy, too. 

The list I’m keeping, going into the month of April, is that of D&C 109:8 - the goal I’m creating is Peace, Meditation, and Prayer.  How will I get out of the habit of being busy or having less commitments?  One at a time, I’ll finish what obligations I’ve begun, without taking on additional commitments (that are of a part-time or full-time nature or require multiple tasks per week).  I’ll make sure to evaluate my progress to see if it’s improving me, as an individual.  

I am going to make a commitment to going to bed early.  The past couple of days, I’ve had roughly 4 hours of sleep, per night.  When I opened this blog draft up, I mentioned to my best friend I didn’t even know what it says because I was so tired while writing it.  It may be like reading a foreign language. 

One last commitment -- this should honestly go without saying, seeing the good or positive in every situation and every person, I encounter.  I’m extremely grateful General Conference is this coming weekend so I can be inspired and my questions can be answered.  Now, I think I may go sit out in the beautiful sunshine.  Namaste!