Aww another wholesome flashback. No wonder why Ash doesn’t want to show up to Hoenn.
Wonder what came up. An update into Project Ambrosia? Just gonna have to wait.
Geez, an ad break every half-hour? How long is the performance round? Well let’s hope that May’s optimism for the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t turn into the next Ultra Necrozma. Massive amounts of contestants (and work) aside, the Falling Star Festival seems like the biggest hype since the World Coronation Series. The prizes for the battle tournament from the last chapter were already mouth-watering, but a Ribbon that lasts for life?! Heck. That’s one big offering. Wonder who has the other…
I was expecting Lilligant to be used for Ash’s performance, but choreographing a fight with Bewear?! As a certain boy would say, wowzers.
Huh. Groudon’s dynamic with humanity was unexpected, but I guess it does make by how Team Magma, that one team that wants to accelerate human expansion by increasing the world’s landmass, would seek out Groudon. Now I have a funny mental image of Latias and Groudon sitting at an oversized table in Terra Cave while the latter offers the former berries.
As for Kyogre…damn. I always thought Kyogre has a deranged smile but this goes more than justifying it (Kyogre used Sheer Cold! It’s super effective on Latias!). Oh, and he wants b l o o d. If the blessings of legends do anything, there’s probably gonna be a ton of dead Rocket Grunts by the end of the arc just from his blessing.
Latias puts what on her pizza? War criminal! All those people arguing about whether Pineapple should go on pizza are gonna find a common enemy now.
(Also, funny that Petrovic calls mayonnaise the spawn of Giratina…when he ordered vodka named after said Pokémon a few chapters ago.)
Oh what, the Team Rocket motto? Does that mean Jes- oh. Looks like Petrel got second-hand embarrassment just from witnessing it. Wonder if the Smokescreen Division is just here to lull everyone into a false sense of security.
Kirlia’s personality is just too cute. Throw in all the teasi- she’s eating a what?! H-huh? What’s with everyone’s odd choice of food?! Petrovic’s gonna go insane.
It migh have been said, but Bewear is a monster. She broke Machamp’s wrist?! Oh and then she pretty much used Mighty Cleave against Mienshao. Then she interrupted Mega Evolution?! My god. If she ever ends up fighting a Power Construct Zygarde, she could probably just do what many cannot and nullify the ability just by stomping on the Cells. I’m completely terrified now.
Oh man, a wholesome chat between Scott and Anabel. Indeed, the little things in life do matter most of all. Scott’s suggestion though… I’d say it’s not completely unreasonable. Considering how much Ash curb-stomped a bidding Elite Four member (and how stronger Anabel is than Ash), it could be possible for Anabel to beat Cynthia.
Did Kirlia read Pikachu’s mind, see the horrifying stuff he went through, and go through second-hand trauma? Kinda looks like the cutie…broke herself. Yeah, if only Kirlia could communicate with Max. I wonder if she’ll end up meeting Latias and the legend ends up taking the role of a mentor to teach telepathy and other stuff. Might have to wait and see.
Ooh a new major character. Now that’s new. I wonder what’s going through Max’s head. 😏 “ You'd think that being observant would naturally come with being a Trainer, but I'm as oblivious as they come. Lucky me.” Dang, is she a female equivalent of Ash or is obliviousness a really common trait among trainers? Interested in seeing her team.
Amazing stuff! I’m now really interested in seeing how the many parts of the arc pan out…and maybe the inevitable and “happy” reunion.
Yeah, this was a doozy to get out. The reviews to last chapter really encouraged me to go all in and get two out this month.
Ash and May's history is a pretty big reason he would prefer not to be here. And is trying - and failing - to avoid her at all costs. Plus my shipping heart demands I use it to torment them!
The performance round is many hours long. Starts before noon and doesn't end until close to 4 in the afternoon. It's the longest of all the contest rounds, but it kind of has to be to compensate for all the applicants. Yeah, the Falling Star Festival is pretty big. I wouldn't say its on par with the WCS, but it's got the backing of a lot of important people and corporations, literally funds countless good causes, and promises to entertain people with pretty much any interest imaginable. It was bound to attract a lot of attention.
Heh. I had a feeling that would catch everyone off guard. I just felt Ash throwing hands with a bear would make for a great performance. Add in the choreography of a dance and trust that comes from fighting beside each other? It was bound to get him past the performance stage.
Ah, Groudon and Kyogre. I've always had a soft spot for them and the roles they play. Groudon especially always struck me as more of a loving but clumsy mother type of Legend, especially after its use in the anime. Whereas Kyogre... well, it's lack of concern with Humans in the anime and Aqua's own goals made it impossible not to lean into. Throw in a bit of cold, bloodthirsty sea god shenanigans, and we've got one dangerous whale!
It is a festival, so most people are trying new things. Think county fair food, but dialed up to eleven. Fried cupcakes are actually delicious, in a 'I can taste the diabetes' sort of way. Latias though... she's just hopeless. You'd think for a girl who grew up in Pokemon's version of Venice, she'd know what not to do with pizza. Instead, she commits the gravest sin imaginable!
Got it in one. Smokescreen is here to do what they do best: act like complete morons and upkeep Team Rocket's public image as bumbling clowns.
Bewear is an absolute unit of a monster. You could say she is the one the RoundMeal was made to feed. It's not a bad bet to say that she's the powerhouse of the team at this point. Blame the anime for making her that OP, and my own love for Bewear. Even sadder thing is she was going easy on poor Jobber #1. She's one to watch going forward - not that the others are weak by any means.
I figured it'd be good to show Anabel with some down time. Who better than Scott? I'm sure he's helping fund the festival in his own right. As for Cynthia and Anabel... it's a toss-up. Cynthia's got Mega Evolution on her side, but Anabel's a psychic with Interpol training. It'd be close, that's for sure. Very close.
Ah Kirlia... the poor girl. She didn't read his mind, but she can feel his emotions and recognized him as Ash's Pikachu. She's struggling with what she felt from him, the fact she now knows Spartan is Ash, and how to deal with Max. Especially considering his hero-worship of the guy. As for Latias', we'll see what happens. It's entirely possible she could!
Rosa is gonna be a fun one going forward. She'll have a pretty big role in events for multiple arcs, though not in a way I think anyone will expect. Anyone who can piece together the hints I'll leave in the coming chapters, though, will be very pleased. Or horrified. Who knows.
Max is learning that girls are, in fact, sometimes cute. And he is dreading the day his sister finds out (read: She's going to tease the boy to death, and Kirlia will help).
Glad you liked the chapter! Next one should be ready in a month hopefully!
I'm guessing the biggest blow to Ash would be "How would she look at me after what "I" have done?" Gonna be interested in seeing them tormented anyway.
And 200 contestants have to be fit in in half that time. No wonder why the judges were laughing at May. As for the Falling Star Festival...guess I overestimated it. It's still a good cause though. Shame the attention it attracts isn't always positive...
The "hype" in the previous chapter on Lilligant's grace...oh never mind here's a monstrous bear! That's definitely gonna draw attention to both Ash and the fic in general. That sudden twist? Amazing.
Oh huh, didn't know that. Think I'll try one if I can. As for Latias...
Latias: hey, I'm not gonna put pineapple on pizza! Alto Mare: oh thank Arceus Latias: I'm gonna put whipped cream! Alto Mare: ...excuse me?!
Heh. Guess the non-bumbling clowns are gonna come in in full force soon.
She was holding back that time?! Increases my fear for her by tenfold. If she had Mind's Eye as an ability, no one would escape her. Though I am now curious how effective a single Foul Play would be on her, even if it is resisted. If we're being serious though? She'd probably be able to shrug it off with surprising amounts of ease as, like you've said, she's OP in the anime. Gonna make a prediction and say Bewear will become the impromptu demolition crew whenever the team needs a wall broken down.
I imagine Scott's gonna get a fair bit of publicity from sponsoring. As for Anabel vs Cynthia...yeah might be a close one.
Oh, so that's what she's going through. Yeah, I imagine trying to tell Max without him going insane would be difficult. Goddammit Ash. Don't make the emotions of your Pokemon be so recognizable! Honestly a big blunder on his part. Oh, I know one of my old friends is competing and he has a psychic-type Pokemon capable of recognizing emotions and his sister is showing a lot of interest in me? Yeah, I'll use a Pokemon his psychic-type will recognize easily. Going to be watching Latias intently to see the mentorship. Gonna take a guess and say it could happen when Latias gets captured (Hooray! Take down that operation from the inside!) along with Kirlia (uh...oops?).
Interesting. Does she attend Blueberry Academy and as a result will introduce a Paldea Arc for Terapagos? As for those last few bits...time to read between the lines.
The day Kirlia learns how to talk will be the day she rats Max out to May.
Oh, for sure. Right now one of his biggest fears is seeing someone he cares about look at him like he's a monster. He would not be able to handle it.
Definitely. Assuming everything goes well, it's entirely possible the Falling Star Festival could rival the WCS.
Glad you liked the twist! Though, I doubt it'll ever get more attention than it already has. The spy genre is pretty niche for Pokemon, so I'm pretty happy with what I've got.
If anybody actually guesses what Rosa's role in the plot is, I will... I don't know actually. I'll do something to reward them I guess. Because that will be impressive.
Is there any room for me to put in a few more submissions for the competition? I do have a few more ideas after some brooding.
Oh also, is Paldea part of the competition or is it a bit recent?
Plus, if (no guarantee about it) Lance was one of the commanders, would he count as Kanto or Johto? The fact he debuted in a Kanto-based game but comes from a Johtonian city doesn't help matters.
Sure, as long as it's only say one more per region you've already done. I'm allowing everyone two guesses per region just to be fair.
Paldea is part of it on account of I recently got Scarlet, and the idea juices are flowing!
Theoretically, you could guess him for either region. It just depends on if you think his debut is more important, or if the role he played in Johto was more crucial.
Considering you only recently got Scarlet, are you fully aware of the plot (and plot twists), at least for the Victory Road path? I don’t want to give a submission that not simply turns out to be wrong (this I’m fine with) but also ruins the experience for you (this I’m not, since SV’s plot points and twists were very nice).
I’ve long since stopped trying to understand Pokémon’s absolute random appearances and heights for characters. My man Pryce is in his fifties, but somehow looks like a dang fossil. XD
Oh, I’ve had someone suggest them on another site. Among other strange ones. XD
Johto (since I can't think of anyone else significant for either Kanto or Johto): assuming the G-Men isn't a rival organization to Interpol (since it hasn't been mentioned at all yet) and can be a sub-team, Lance. It wouldn't make sense if Team Magma and Aqua (as well as a major Rocket plot) were taken down without some sort of international cooperation.
Unova: I was going to suggest Director Cyrano since he's a pretty powerful trainer (oh look, another Dumbledore) and his forgetful nature could be a facade to make people not really take him seriously as a threat but he's a bit too recent. If anyone is likely to be a member of Interpol (or someone who managed to alert Looker in BW), it's probably one of the Elite 4. I think I'll go with Grimsley since he managed to bait out a Plasma Grunt in the manga with relative ease (woah, the Elite 4 actually doing something for once?! Amazing!), though why Interpol would want to hire a chronic gambler, I have no idea.
Paldea: of course, it's the great Cassiopeia herself: Penny! Larry. It might go against him being an ordinary person, but if he's like that on the outside, there's no reason to suspect him. After all, it'd explain how "real life isn't all just being true to yourself"...Staraptor used Facade! He'd know best how to grit his teeth and put up a facade. Though it might be me overanalyzing, his team also seems capable. Who'd expect a Komala to be such a threat? Once realized, there's not much that can be done. Its ability (which can't be ignored or suppressed) simulates sleep to prevent whittling down its health with burn or poison. Ghost types can't exploit this with Hex either since it's a Normal type. Dudunsparce can ignore shields with Hyper Drill. Staraptor...Staraptor is something else entirely. And if someone decides to take his team down with Fighting types? Bring out the Elite team! His Flying types can also be great for quick getaways. If he was the commander, it might explain why he's so overworked. Elite Four job doesn't really get in the way since only two people in recent years have gotten to the Elite Four (three if both player characters are included) so it's probably a rare duty. Nemona's parents could count since they were pretty much absent for most of her life but considering how the Rotom Phone has some...security flaws, this sloppy mistake would disqualify them (and the same logic could disqualify Geeta).
Excited to see SV ideas! You going to go for a Scarlet-only universe, a Violet-only one, or one where both continuities apply?
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