#series: legend of the red comet

[gildedink]

I'm pleased to announce my debut, self-published novel - Legend of the Red Comet: The Gold Scrolls - is now available for purchase! Cover art was done by the talented @zandraz

[jagsdoodloos]

Continued - A legends end.

Avatar Korra; Daughter of the southern water tribe and the Avatar. Born after the sudden passing of Aang, the last air bender, she became the new master of the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air. In her youth, Korra made her debut to the wider public, arriving in Republic City - Capital city of the United Republic. In short time, she proved her metal, confronting a series of great crisis and turmoil that befell Republic City's populous and the rest of the world. From the masked terror of Amon, to the treachery of Unalaq and the world ending Vaatu, Zaheer of the Red Lotus, and Kuvira's great coup - Korra rose to face threat after threat and triumphed.

Avatar Korra's courageous deeds, through her formative years, cemented her legacy in the annals of history. And in the years after, she would go on to face other trials, encounter many dangers and have high adventures. Yet even faced with impossible odds and the truly strange, she overcame these challenges, but never alone. Korra, with the help of dear friends, faithful companions, and the love of a good woman, would live a long rich life. A life that leaves a message of perseverance and hope in the face of doubt and darkness. And there would be no greater example of this lesson than perhaps Korra's most perilous ordeal of all! No other threat, not sense the battle with Vaatu, would push Korra's mind body and spirit to their limits. . . when Sozin's Comet returned.

The Legend of Korra is a tale that, to this day, enthralls generations of scholars and common folk alike, not the least of which is just how it came to an end. Avatar Korra lived to the ripe old age - of 110. Yes. Historians only knew of her passing until nearly 15 years later, when the next Avatar was found. You see in her final years, Korra vanished, seemingly without a trace. She told no one of her destination, not even her surviving friends and family, but not before tying up loose ends and finishing all her affairs thoroughly. Everyone has their own theory and suspicions as to her ultimate fate, but close friends and those within her inner circle suspected the real reason. Perhaps Korra, sensing her time drawing near, embarked on her final journey. A personal journey to make herself whole again. Her last journey and the final chapter to her legend. . . . A chapter yet to be told.

To be continued.

That was a long one! Sorry for the delay, but I had to have some Korra art to help flush out this pitch. I want to expand Korra's story like any fan and I want to see more official stuff. But until Nick or Paramount decide to do more with her and the franchise, like the fandom, we'll have to settle with some good old fanfiction. But it doesn't have to be this way. We're willing to give this studio money and time if it only just greenlights a new season or a tv movie or SOMETHING! I want more Korra.

As for what comes after LOK, well I like to think this concept idea could make for a new series for everyone. If at least one or two people. And I've got more on the way so stay tuned. Or if you can't wait, you can visit my Instagram - I got some vignettes up complete with art drops to go with them. So feel free to have a read.

And if you like my art style, again you can DM me here or there for art commissions work, so lets dish. And again, more to come.

[zuko-always-lies]

Legend of Korra and the incredibly long season finales

One flaw which really strikes me about TLoK is that the season finales were all far too long. This is a point which is easier to understand if we talk about ATLA first. ATLA had two 20 and one 21 episode season finales:

Book 1: Water. The season finale was two ("The Siege of the North Part 1 and 2") or at most three (if we count "The Waterbending Master") episodes long, for 10% or at most 15% of the season's runtime. I really don't think we should we should count "The Waterbending Master," though. It builds toward the series finale, but it's mostly it's own thing with its own main plot.

Book 2: Earth. The season finale was two episodes ("The Guru" and "The Crossroads of Destiny"), for a total of 10% of the season's runtime. You could argue that "Lake Laogai" and "The Earth King" are also parts of the finale, but they're really not. The main antagonist of the finale, Azula, doesn't even show up until the end of "The Earth King."

Book 3: Fire. The season (and series) finale was "Sozin's Comet," with a total of four episodes. That amounts to 19% of the season's runtime, but this is a series finale. That being said, I do personally feel like "Sozin's Comet" is already too long and not organically connected and that some of the stuff which happens there should have happened earlier in the season.

Now, let us turn to LoK.

Book 1: Air. This is 12 episodes long, and I would argue that the season finale amounted to three episodes: "Turning the Tides," "Skeletons in the Closet," and "Endgame." That would mean the season finale was 25% of the season. Every if we cutoff "Turning the Tides" because the protagonists are more reactive than proactive in it, the finale would still amount to 17% of the season.

Book 2: Spirits: This is 14 episodes long. It's actually very hard to figure out what constitutes the finale in this. Definitely "Harmonic Convergence," "Darkness Falls," and "Light in the Dark" are included. That would make for 21% of the season. However, you could also argue for "Night of a Thousand Stars" (29%), "A New Spiritual Age," (36%), or even "The Guide" (43%), although the last one is pretty dubious. What is clear is that in the second half of this season, events take on a pace which is at once both relentless and endless.

Book 3: Change. Things are a little clearer here in this 13 episode season. The season finale amounts to three episodes: "The Ultimatum," "Enter the Void," and "The Venom of the Red Lotus." That makes for 23% of the season.

Book 4: Balance. Another 13 episode season, with a three part finale: "Kuvira's Gambit," "Day of the Colossus," and "The Last Stand," for 23% again.

ATLA was 61 episodes long. LoK was 52 episodes long. If we go with the lowest possible number, ATLA had 8 season finale episodes, which made up 13% of the series. Similarly, with the lowest possible number, LoK had 11 season finale episodes, for 21% of the series.

If we instead go with the highest reasonable number, ATLA had 9 finale episodes for 15%, while TLoK had 14, for 27%.

And if we go with the highest possible number, reasonable or not, ATLA had 11 finale episodes, for 18%, while TLoK had 15, for 29%. It's possible to argue that nearly a third of TLoK was season finale episodes!

I think one thing is clear: TLoK spent far too much time on season finales. Did we really need three straight episodes of a mecha battle between Kuvira and our protagonists? Or three straight ones of Korra fighting Unalaq and Vaatu in the spirit world?

[daenerysoftarth]

Off topic but I love the subtext of Viserys’ dreams in house of the dragon. The main asoiaf series is so strongly intertwined with themes of fate and prophecy and coincidence and how they become these fantastic stories. We see this with the azor ahai prophecy, the legend of the red comet, the stallion who mounts the world, Cersei’s vale quad prophecy, etc. George is also very careful to point out how following these prophecies according to your own interpretation can result in sociopolítical consequences beyond your wildest dreams. (Cough cough melisandre and stannis cough cough)

Therefore you can choose to believe either way. Either Viserys isn’t a dreamer and followed merely an actual /dream/ with no supernatural or spiritual significance to his death. Or, the more interesting version imo, is that Viserys is a dreamer. In House of the Dragon, he said he saw a man wearing the emperor’s crown. Some take that as divine meaning that Aegon II was the ‘right’ choice for king. Personally, I like the idea that the Dance was always predestined and always fated, and that the dragons had to die out. In order for Daenerys to reincarnate them and fulfill the azor ahai prophecy. Viserys saw Aegon II not because Aegon was ‘supposed’ to be king, but because putting Aegon on the throne inevitably would’ve resulted in civil war. If we do choose to believe that the Gods have some influence over the events in Westeros (which they seem to), then perhaps Viserys saw the dance, because the Valyrian Gods or Rh’llor or whoever decided that the Dance had to happen, for Dany to fulfill her legacy

[marcmarcmomarc]

Super Smash Bros. Fighter Presentation

Introduction

MASTER HAND: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the presentation of the fighters of the one and only “Super Smash Bros.”! I am Master Hand, here with my erratic counterpart, Crazy Hand!

CRAZY HAND: All fighters will be presented in the order in which they joined the roster!

MASTER HAND: Without further delay, here we go!

MASTER HAND: The first game in the series is "Super Smash Bros." for Nintendo 64! The first fighter is the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. For over thirty years, he's been stomping many foes of all kinds into oblivion. Presenting “Mr. Video Game Himself”, number 01, Mario!

Theme: Victory! Mario - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Mario steps to center stage and gives a thumbs-up.)

MARIO: Let’s-a go!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Donkey Kong” for Arcade.

MASTER HAND: Also introduced in this game is “The King of the Jungle”, who fights all kinds of reptiles to retrieve his massive banana hoard. He is number 02, Donkey Kong!

Theme: Victory! Donkey Kong - (Unique Version) by LUCKYRICK

(DK steps to center stage and beats his chest.)

DK: Hoo-hoo!

MASTER HAND: Next is one of many incarnations of the spirit of the hero and the chosen champion of the Golden Goddesses. Grown from an ordinary boy to a legendary warrior, “The Hero of Hyrule”, number 03, Link!

Theme: Victory! Link by Comet Mystic

(Link steps to center stage, then holds the Master Sword in front of himself with both hands as its blade shines with a light blue gleam, indicating its Power to Repel Evil.)

LINK: Hyah!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “The Legend of Zelda” for the Nintendo Entertainment System. His Champion’s Tunic comes from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” for the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo Switch.

MASTER HAND: The next fighter is the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter. She has torn through galactic threats, killed giant monsters, and destroyed planets, always ensuring the safety of the galaxy from any evils lurking within. Meet “The Bounty Hunter Extraordinaire”, number 04, Samus Aran!

Theme: Victory! Samus - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Samus steps to center stage and demonstrates her Arm Cannon’s Zero Laser configuration.)

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, "Metroid" for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

MASTER HAND: Next up, Mario’s dinosaur pal from Dinosaur Island, “The Omnivore of the Year”, number 05, Yoshi!

Theme: Victory! Yoshi (New Arrangement) by GB6

(Yoshi steps to center stage and dances around in a circle.)

YOSHI: Yoshi!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Super Mario World” for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

MASTER HAND: Next up is a young resident of the planet Pop Star. The pink puffball who sucks enemies into his mouth and copies their powers to use himself, “The Pink Demon”, number 06, Kirby!

Theme: Victory! Kirby - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Kirby steps to center stage, leans at the audience and waves his arms.)

KIRBY: Hi!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Kirby’s Dream Land” for the Nintendo Game Boy.

MASTER HAND: Next up is “The Leader of Star Fox”, a team of mercenaries, handed down from his late father, James McCloud. Number 07, Fox McCloud!

Theme: Victory! Fox - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Fox leaps out of his passing Arwing, lands at center stage, and lays a finger on his earpiece.)

FOX: (into earpiece) General Pepper, this is Fox McCloud. I have finished my mission and am returning to base, over.

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Star Fox” for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

MASTER HAND: The Electric Mouse Pokémon is up next, and the most famous Pokemon of them all. A key partner to several trainers across the various regions, most notably Red and Ash Ketchum. “The Overexcited Rodent”, number 08, Pikachu!

Theme: Victory! Pikachu (Super Smash Bros. Brawl Arrangement) by GB6

(Pikachu steps to center stage and waves at the audience with one paw.)

PIKACHU: Pika! Pika!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Pokémon Red and Blue” for the Nintendo Game Boy.

MASTER HAND: The next fighter has played second fiddle to his famous brother for a long time, but did get his own year in 2013. Welcome Mario’s cowardly ghost-busting younger brother, “The Eternal Understudy”, number 09, Luigi!

Theme: Victory! Luigi by DIMON • CAMI

(Luigi steps to center stage and points his fingers like guns.)

LUIGI: Bang, bang!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Mario Bros.” for Arcade.

MASTER HAND: The hero of EarthBound is next. A kind child with psychic powers, born and raised in Onett, Eagleland. Welcome “The PSI Powerhouse”, number 10, Ness!

Theme: Victory! Ness by GB6

(Ness steps to center stage and nods at the audience.)

NESS: Okay.

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “EarthBound” for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

MASTER HAND: Our next fighter is a championship racer and renowned bounty hunter, frequently standing up against rival bounty hunters and the nefarious Black Shadow. “The Supersonic Slugger”, number 11, Captain Falcon!

Theme: Victory! Captain Falcon - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Captain Falcon leaps out of his Blue Falcon, lands at center stage, and salutes.)

CAPTAIN FALCON: Show me your moves!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “F-Zero” for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

MASTER HAND: Next up, the Balloon Pokemon. It puts others to sleep with its singing, and its elastic properties allow it to float. “The Sleepy Singer”, number 12, Jigglypuff!

Theme: Victory! Jigglypuff by Groovy Monkey Music

(Jigglypuff steps to center stage and twirls around.)

JIGGLYPUFF: Jigglypuff!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Pokémon Red and Blue” for the Nintendo Game Boy.

[i-am-extremely-mad]

Watched Book 1 and Book 2 all the way through again. Soon I will start again with Book 3. The Legend of Korra is practically a masterpiece, especially when you understand what genre the show is, with which themes the show actually deals with and perhaps most importantly the structure of the story.  

Here are again brief instructions and explanations: 

1. TLOK is DieselPunk fantasy (reason why there are cars, airships and RetroFuturistic technologies like Mechas) and main theme is conflict between tradition and progression and what place Korra as a person and Avatar have in this new modern world. 

2. TLOK have two story arcs, Book 1 is more or less self-contained mini series, while Books 2, 3 and 4 were simultaneously in production and make a 3-part story arc that is basically a reverse ATLA story arc. First arc I call "The Equalists arc" while second arc I call "A New Spiritual Age arc". 

Titles of Books aren't random: Book 2: Spirits is dealing with changes between Material and Spirit Worlds, Book 3: Change is dealing with unforeseen good and bad consequences that change caused, and Book 4: Balance, well, to finally find Balance in this new modern, drastically changed world. 

3. Aang fights a super villain, Ozai, who is a firebender, who is horrible to his children (brother and sister), and who uses a cosmic event (Sozin's Comet) to boost his powers to try destroying the world at the END of the story.

Korra fights a super villain, Unalaq, who is a waterbender, who is horrible to his children (brother and sister), and who uses a cosmic event (Harmonic Convergence) to boost his powers to try destroying the world at the BEGINNING of the story. 

4. At the end of ATLA Book 2 the Earth Kingdom has fallen and Aang almost die at the end and Katara take care for his recovery.

At the end of TLOK Book 3 the Earth Kingdom has fallen and Korra almost die at the end and Asami take care for her recovery. 

5. Unalaq misused spiritual and mystical powers for destruction and conquer, Kuvira misused scientific and technological powers for destruction and conquer, and replicate Unalaq/Vaatu powers by making basically Mecha-Unavaatu.

6. Every main villain represents some form of fascism/fascist like ideology: 

Amon and Equalists: non-benders supremacists, 

Unalaq: clero-fascism, 

Red Lotus: (more or less) anarcho-primitivists,

Kuvira: Nazism.

[vancouvertrueborns]

Les Vogt and the Prowlers, Vancouver’s first Elvis-style rock band, performs at a track meet pep rally held in John Oliver Secondary’s gym in 1956. Shortly after this photo was taken, the band opened for Bill Haley and the Comets at Kerrisdale Arena – Vancouver’s first rock concert. 

Unfortunately, the Prowlers did not ride the Comets’ plasma tail to success. The local heroes peaked in 1960, when Les Vogt’s song “The Blamers” knocked Elvis’ “It’s Now Or Never” from #1 on the C-FUN radio station’s Top 40 chart.

The Prowlers broke up and Les went on to become a nightclub owner (The Grooveyard, Purple Steer) and a concert promoter with Jaguar Enterprises, a company he co-founded with iconic Vancouver DJ, Red Robinson. Today, Les continues to stage concerts through his Legends of Rock and Roll series, that includes Elvis, Buddy Holly and Tina Turner tribute artists.

As for South Van and J.O. being the birthplace of Vancouver rock and roll, we shouldn’t be surprised. The entire southeast corner of the city was the epicenter for the region’s post-war baby boom. Large tracts of available land close to downtown quickly gave way to affordable housing and young families. For instance, Les grew up on the south slope, in the Fraserview neighbourhood – a sprawling government housing project comprised of 1,100 humble but functional bungalows. Each house had, in accordance with CMHC requirements, at least two kids in it, many had four to eight. Those youngsters had a lot of time to dream about rock stardom as they walked, biked or bussed to J.O. at 41st and Fraser. 

Killarney Secondary opened its doors in 1957 and David Thompson the following year, thus absorbing some of the talent from the school formerly known as South Van High.

[mrthoughtbubbles]

For the whole week, I've been allocating some time to watch an episode per day of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin to better understand the story and relationships of the characters in Mobile Suit Gundam. I'm elated and sad at the same time whilst watching the series. Elated because I have a deeper understanding of the background of the characters in Mobile Suit Gundam, and sad because I know that a lot of them will die in the future.

I only have 1 episode left to watch, and I hope that they'll showcase more of Char Aznable's skill, and how he, the Red Comet, became a legend among mobile suit pilots.

[the-last-cuddlebender]

I straight up check your profile daily for the southern raiders analysis you’re working on. 👀👀 where IS IT 😩

bRUH I am so excited to drop this analysis you have no idea (It’s creeping up to 22k+ I am gonna cryyyyyyyyyyyy). The only problem is that my TSR analysis and “Moon theory” are so incredibly hard to structure and articulate. I’m happy you’re so excited for it, though!!! Truly, it’s an honor. I’ll give you a taste of my madness and what’s to come, but be warned: it may be a bit hard to follow because TSR (from how I’ve come to understand it) is about the vagueness of beginnings, endings, and cycles, so there isn’t really a starting point for me to begin with. (So it may seem a tad bit like a ramble in some points that I haven’t fleshed out yet/am summarizing for this ask)

This analysis has me on trails like THIS brilliant nonsense, and I am 1000000000% here for it:

Roku: “The spirit's name is Koh, but he is very dangerous. They call him The Face Stealer.”

Katara: “We’re going to find the man who took my mother from me.”...“That’s him. That’s the monster.”

Lion Turtle: “To bend another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted and destroyed.”

Roku: “When you speak with him, you must be very careful to show no emotion at all. Not the slightest expression, or he will steal your face.”

Hama: “Congratulations, Katara. You’re a bloodbender.”

(If Katara had killed Yon Rha, she would be giving up her identity--her face. Not only would she have become a killer, but she would be killing what made her Katara)

Aang: “Let your anger out, and then let it go. Forgive him.”

Forgive him--approach him for what he is, not the faces your memories or your heart are having him wear. See him for the pathetic man he is in that moment right in front of you.

Aang’s forgiveness is seeing someone for the sum of their parts. It’s judging them and seeing through into their very soul, just like the Firebending Masters saw through Zuko being the Crown Prince and Aang being the Avatar. That meant nothing to the Masters. What did matter to them was who the boys were right there, right then, right in front of them.

“Why should I hold a grudge against you for something you did in a past life? After all, you’re a different person, now. You’ve come to me with a new face.”

But anyways...

If I can give no other take-away from my analysis and moon theory, it’s that Yin and Yang are not two entities; they are three. I think the fandom’s misunderstanding of it may be why the discourse on TSR (and Aang, Katara, and Zuko) is so black and white (pun intended lol). 

“But Yin and Yang are obviously two things. Don’t you know the symbol?” I hear some people already saying.

Wrong, sir.

It has never been just Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang have never existed as just two things.

They are Yin and Yang and Wu Wei.

(Aunt Wu has her name for a reason, and she has the mark of the wise in her hair for a reason, too...AND she is at odds with Sokka in The Fortuneteller for a reason, too!!!...but that’s for the analysis😉)

Balance isn’t good triumphing over evil. Balance is good and evil. Balance is standing on the flow between two opposites--it’s the compliment that connects them. (The koi fish live in an oasis for a reason.)

I’ll explain what Wu Wei is later in the full analysis (like many things in here), but here’s some of my evidences and proofs for the “Yin Yang trio”:

The Tibetan “Wheel of Dharma”

(I’ll also explain the Wheel and Dharma and etc. later because it has everything to do with Koh and the moon) Long story short, the wheel and its spokes are representative of the 8 steps to enlightenment and the cycle of rebirth. 

Look at the hub of the wheel. It’s a swirl made of 3 parts.

It is also a white lotus

Here’s the colored version of the wheel (as an alter):

Recognize the colors?

BLUE, WHITE (or gold, depending), & RED

These are the “THREE TREASURES” OR JEWELS.

They symbolize DHARMA, BUDDHA, & SANGHA respectively. 

KATARA, AANG, & ZUKO

water, air, & fire

T H R E E

Bato: “Ice dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery, and trust.

Bato: “The spirits of water bear witness to these marks...”

Why does Bato say spirit(s) plural? The Ocean and the Moon are only two spirits. The Ocean can’t be two things. Right?

WRONG

Yue: “The legends say the Moon was the first waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves.”

The Moon--singular. The Tides--plural (push and pull)

Lion Turtle: “In the era before the Avatar, we bent not the elements, but the energy within our senses.”

The moon pushing and pulling the tide is the moon bending the energy of its world. 

Katara finding balance between “being too weak to do it” or “strong enough not to” is her bending the energy within herself.

It’s two solutions written as a question but said as a statement.

Yue: “Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves”

THE SOUTHERN RAIDERS IS ABOUT AANG AND ZUKO LEARNING FROM KATARA. Katara had already learned from Aang and Zuko all leading up to TSR. That was her studying. TSR was her test.

TSR is Zuko’s and Aang’s studying. Sozin’s Comet is their test.

Bato: “For Sokka, the Mark of the Wise. The same mark your father earned. For Katara, the Mark of the Brave. Your courage inspires us. And for Aang, the Mark of the Trusted. You are now an honorary member of the Water Tribe.”

Aang - Wise (”you’re pretty wise for a kid”)

Katara - Brave (the same mark her mother earned)

Zuko - Trusted (”I was the first person to trust you”)

Sokka - Bato ("I am to have no part in this--you pass or fail on your own.”)

Yin and Yang are nothing without their dance. The Avatar and the Firelord mean nothing if they don’t have a world to rebuild.

The valley means nothing if there isn’t anyone to live in it.

Fighting is useless if there isn’t someone to fight for, otherwise it is “selfish and stupid”

Katara had to have a reason to return from Yon Rha. She needed to have Aang waiting for her. If she didn’t have a reason to stay, then she wouldn’t have a reason to go.

To have a reason to sleep, a person has to have a reason to wake up.

Katara: “Aang. He just took his glider and disappeared. He has this ridiculous notion that he has to save the world alone; that it's all his responsibility.”

Hakoda: “Maybe that's his way of being brave.”

(Bato: “For Katara, the Mark of the Brave. Your courage inspires us.”)

Katara: “It's not brave! It's selfish and stupid! We could be helping him! And I know the world needs him, but doesn't he know how much we need him, too? How can he just leave us behind?!”

(It was, in fact, not easy for Aang to ‘do nothing’)

Katara: “I understand why you left. I really do, and I know that you had to go, so why do I still feel this way? I'm so sad and angry...and hurt.”

Hakoda: “I love you more than anything. You and your brother are my entire world. I thought about you every day when I was gone, and every night when I went to sleep, I would lie awake missing you so much it would ache.”

(AND YUE IS ONE OF THE ONES TO SAVE AANG IN THE OCEAN FOR A REASON)

Thinking and missing: a matter of mind (who) and heart (want). 

Iroh: “Who are you? And what do you want?”

Sokka: “We need to go back. I wanna see Dad, but helping Aang is where we're needed the most.”

Mai: “I love Zuko more than I fear you.”

BUT YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MOON FOR A HOT SECOND???

I’LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE MOON

I’LL TELL YOU ABOUT 2 MOONS

OH

OH REALLY???

OH REALLY, ZUKO

A FEW HOURS YOU SAY?

THEN TELL ME, ZUKO

WHY IS THE SUN GOING UP

WHEN IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT A FEW HOURS LATER

AND KATARA IS SLEEPING SO YOU CAN’T TELL ME IT’S BECAUSE YOU RISE WITH THE SUN OTHERWISE SHE’D BE WIDE AWAKE DURING THE FULL MOON THAT SHE USES TO BLOODBEND NOT EVEN TWO MINUTES LATER

THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS A HARVEST MOON

WHICH IS THE LAST FULL MOON OF THE SUMMER 

(and looks off color when it rises/falls because of the angle of the rise/fall in the atmosphere...it’s normal once overhead)

AND SYMOLIZES HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

“We’re going to find the MAN who took my mother from me.”

“That’s him. That’s the MONSTER.”

8 spokes on the wheel

Katara was 8 when Kya was killed

8 steps to enlightenment (the “Eightfold Path”)

8 phases of the moon

8 faces of Koh

“One of your previous incarnations tried to slay me! Be it 8 or 9 hundred years ago” (but time is an illusion, so hundreds mean nothing)

THE OTHER TWO MOONS THAT ARE CONSUMING MY EVERY WAKING MOMENT???:

1.) The WOLF MOON--the first full moon of the new year (a love between the wolf and the moon in the harshest winters...connection is kindof obvious lmao)

2.) THE THUNDER MOON

The Thunder Moon is the full moon of July. It is also known as the Buck Moon--for when young buck regrow their antlers.

Yue: “My hair turned white.”

Zuko: *cuts and re-grows his hair*

Aang: “I have hair?”

The Thunder Moon--the full moon of July--is also the beginning of a certain Buddhist holiday.

DHARMA DAY

WHICH CELEBRATES THE BEGINING OF BUDDHISM AND THE FIRST OF THE 8 STEPS (the first spoke of the Dharma Wheel) TOWARDS ENLIGHTENMENT

AVATAR IS ALL ABOUT CYCLES

THE SOUTHERN RAIDERS IS ALL ABOUT BREAKING THEM

I haven’t even touched Jung, Koh, Hinduism, and Buddhism yet

or the fact that Katara and Kya are the only characters in the entire series to wear moons on their clothing and that, together, they form an actual lunar phenomenon

or why the spirit oasis isn’t a complete circle

or the fact that this thing that Aang is told to chase is just like Whaletail Island:

or how important the Great Divide and the Solstice are

AND I’M JUST GETTING STARTED

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THE SOUTHERN RAIDERS--RIGHT DOWN TO THE SOUND DESIGN--IS ABSOLUTELY MONUMENTAL IN UNDERSTANDING THE SHOW, ITS MESSAGE, ENERGYBENDING, AND LITERALLY EVERYTHING ELSE

TLDR: Idk how the heck I’m going to arrange or articulate this analysis because it is WILD. Be warned: There is literally no exact beginning and ending to this analysis because the whole point of Yin and Yang is that is has no beginning or ending (...kindof...), so you’ll have to bear with me once I’m done editing it into something that’s somewhat coherent.

These are just SOME of the things I’ve been able to answer with my moon theory and analysis of The Southern Raiders as it currently stands:

Why “letting go” isn’t really letting go (as we understand it...see: Aang’s confrontation with Koh)

Why Lake Laogai and the Spirit World are symbolically the same thing.

Zuko’s advice to the bullfrog is actually a summary of the show, energybending, the origin of bending, and the definition of Aang’s “forgiveness” I stg

Why “Sokka’s instincts” are the reason Katara yells at Sokka

Believe it or not, every time Katara mentions her mother, it is at specific times for specific reasons.

^^^same thing for the moon, lack of moon, moon positioning, etc.

Katara’s mother’s necklace is more important than we realize.

Who the faces of Koh are and WHY they are there.

The true meaning of Jet’s sacrifice.

Why Jet’s episode about the dam explains the entirety of TSR as it pertains to Katara (all the way down to the little girl who runs to get her doll after the dam breaks)

Why Katara actually DID forgive Yon Rha, and the fact that she doesn’t even know it is proof that she did

^^^^^Aang’s definition of forgiveness is completely misunderstood by the fandom, and the way he “forgives” is sososo much deeper than “moving on”, and it is DEFINATELY by no means “doing  nothing” or “excusing” past actions.

The importance of lightning, Zuko, Aang, and Katara.

The absolutely monumental and not nearly talked about importance of Jeong-Jeong like holy crap.

How Katara and Azula are just as much of a Yin and Yang as Zuko and Aang but not in the way we think they are

Why Koh has the Blue Spirit’s face

Why Koh DOESN’T have the Painted Lady’s face.

Who Ni-Ni from Katara’s campfire story in The Puppetmaster is 

How and why Iroh was able to learn firebending from the Masters even though he didn’t have a partner. 

How/Why Azula had her breakdown and why she saw her mother in the mirror

Why “Leaves from the Vine” and “Four Seasons” are the same song, explain Azula’s downfall, and explain the Yin and Yang of TSR.

Why Katara and Sokka are so often mistaken for parental figures.

Why Aang’s flashbacks to the Air Nomads are so important in understanding TSR.

Why Toph and Suki disappear after the campfire in TSR.

How Hakoda, Gyatso, and Kya are all connected.

Why it is so dang important that Azula shows up in the beginning of TSR.

The importance of the Spirit Oasis.

Energybending, healing with waterbending, Aang’s trauma, and Zuko’s scar.

Why Zuko gives Katara the exact opposite advise in TSR that he gave her in the catacombs. 

How everything could be predicted and read by the moon.

WHY YIN AND YANG ARE THREE THINGS AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THREE THINGS.

HOW ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OF THIS TIES BACK TO THE MOON AND BUDDHIST BELIEFS--AND YEAH THE MOON AND BUDDHISM AND HINDUISM ARE MORE CONNECTED IN ATLA THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND HOW IT LEADS INTO OUR MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SELF--BECAUSE JUNG TOOK GREAT INFLUENCE IN HIS DEVELOPING THEORY OF THE CONSCIOUS AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS FROM THE HINDU/BUDDHIST RELIGIONS 

^^^^AND ALSO THE THEORY OF THE SHADOW AND THE PERSONA 

The ocean is a deep, dark, unknown place with a lot of hidden monsters (like Yon Rah). Katara needed a light to find her monster, but she also needed somewhere she could breathe when she came back up for air.

If she didn’t have both Zuko and Aang, Katara would have drowned. 

I wasn’t kidding when I said this was a thesis, and what I’ve said and listed here isn’t even all that I have.

btw This all does line up on the traditional Yin Yang symbol we know and see in the show, but I don’t have enough space here for that lmao. That’ll be in the analysis

I hope you enjoyed this little taste, my friend, because I need to sit down for a hot second before my brain leaks out of my ears. Sorry for the ramble. I promise the analysis isn’t like this lol. This is just me trying to summarize as best as I can. 

***Disclaimer: My points are always subject to change since I am still researching. These are the facts as I’ve found and applied them to the evidences I’ve noted from in the show. I’m always open for friendly discussion or any directions to better sources on Buddhism/Tao/Jung!***

[moonlit-maiden]

Cast of The Legend Series, Part 1 - Main Females

(Part 2)

[leporellian]

how i would rewrite warrior cats: into the wild

rewriting the entire series is a big Thing in the warrior cats fandom, and i don’t have the time to do that. however i have been having Ideas about what i would do if i rewrote the books, and the changes are... drastic, to say the least, so i figured i would write them down in a bullet-point style List Thing to see what happens.

- we open on henry, an old wise sage-type kittypet, telling two kittypet kits- rusty and smudge- about the forest cats and their legends, primarily that of how the clans were born

- there were always little groups of cats in the forest, and they were originally very hostile- except for a lush spot full of prey, herbs, just about anything needed for survival. this spot has had many names and is referred to by a different name for each clan but universally, it’s called fourtrees, because there are four grand oaks that guard the area. this spot was something of a truce area where all the groups could get along

- however tension slowly boiled throughout the forest until there was a massive war at fourtrees. lots of cats dead and even more wounded. their spirits joined together to form starclan, who told the cats to unite or die- and as punishment for breaking the fourtrees truce, they set the whole thing ablaze. it’s no longer the survival spot it was

- however, the spirits say, the four oaks will grow from their charred remains again, as will the rest of the area. everything will be as it once was in time. starclan themselves cannot last, and must be reborn every 600 moons (or some other large number) from the midst of celestial battle. however, every time this happens, the spirits say, the coming of the ‘end of the stars’ will always and only be heralded by a heroic cat in a flame-orange coat, as a nod to the fire that started the clans to begin with. so it’s kind of like an avatar thing

- anyway 6 moons later there’s a battle at sunningrocks that kills redtail and oakheart. bluestar and spottedleaf, while discussing who will replace redtail, see a comet across the sky

- every falling star means a warrior has faded in starclan, and it means they are to be reborn- and something wonderful is on the cusp of beginning, says spottedleaf. spottedleaf also notes that according to the calendar system kept by the medicine cats the ‘fire alone’ cat should have arrived about 6 months ago, so everyone’s worried about what’s going on w/ that, Where Are They. she does note however that a lot of cats think the calendar had a miscalculation at some point and that the ‘fire alone’ cat is shadowclan’s new leader

- anyway rusty, the kittypet, decides to enter the forest. the twoleg nests here are Not A Good Place for cats to live, bc there’s constant fighting between the kittypets and everyone has their own boundaries and it’s very chaotic. there is a group that tries to monitor it called the blood brothers, but they’re usually in the city so their guidance isn’t often There. so both rusty and smudge want to Get Out and join the clans

- like in the original books he meets graypaw, who’s always interested in outsiders, and then bluestar, lionheart, and tigerclaw. lionheart is graypaw’s mentor, bluestar is thunderclan’s leader, and tigerclaw is bluestar’s nephew who is kindly yet determined, and has become deputy after redtail’s demise. again like in the originals he’s accepted into thunderclan fast

- smudge feels Betrayed. for some reason the writing takes special note of the glimmer in his striped collar- it’s all kind of colors, purple, red, blue, yellow. it’s very distinctive...

- next morning, lionheart and tigerclaw lead rusty to the thunderclan camp. all is well and good until longpaw and sandpaw roll up

- longpaw and sandpaw are twins and look exactly alike. they’re also the children of redtail and are both very competitive with everyone and each other (although they are very close) because they want to be Like Their Dad. both are taking redtail’s death hard

- longpaw is like ‘i wanna beat him up’ and given these are two 10 year olds basically everyone’s like ‘well rusty can fight too so Bet.’ it’s an even fight, longpaw gets his ear torn and rusty gets his collar ripped off

- this fight proves rusty is capable of being in thunderclan, and he’s renamed firepaw, which is a nod to the ‘fire alone’ thing as a ‘hey isn’t it funny he came right after the clock lined up for a fire-cloaked savior? strange lol’

- anyway firepaw is introduced to some Other Characters besides everyone i’ve mentioned thus far: - ravenpaw, medicine cat apprentice. he was a loner kit found abandoned on the territory and he’s constantly nervous and jittery. he’s also kind of clingy and a tad annoying because he’s constantly worried of being abandoned again, but he Is endearing - graypaw and darkpaw, twins similar to longpaw and sandpaw (although unlike them they have an ‘opposite twins’ kinda thing). both are the sons of willowpelt and a shadowclan tom, but both deal with it differently: graypaw is a dreamer who constantly is interested in cats from outside thunderclan ‘like him’, and darkpaw wants to try and overcompensate for it by being nothing but loyal- especially to his mentor, tigerclaw, who’s a father figure to him. dark isn’t mean but he is very sardonic and sarcastic, and it’s also made increasingly obvious that he Knows Something and is very nervous about it. weird - (yes, longpaw and sandpaw are annoyed that they’re the only ‘fully clan’ cats in this batch of apprentices.) - spottedleaf, thunderclan medicine cat. kind of a ditzy aunt type, it’s joked that she acts like a stoner bc she’s inhaling all the Herb Scents all day. fully enables all of the kids to do Dumb Things - the elders, who dislike all these new apprentices bc besides long and sand none of them are fully clan-blooded. the most vocal about this is thistleclaw, an elder always trying to start shit, and tigerclaw’s father (altho tiger is embarrassed by thistle’s outbursts). - and finally, cinderkit, who always tags along w/ the apprentices although she isn’t supposed to. she is however very smart and the apprentices don’t mind her tagging along. she’s made an apprentice like 1/2 way through here

- anyway at the gathering windclan is MISSING and NOBODY seems to know what is going on, but both riverclan and shadowclan are acting shady about it. 

- also brokenstar, The New ShadowClan Leader, seems like a nice guy, a Poster Boy type. his fur is bright orange so everyone’s like, ‘yea he’s the fire that’ll herald feline gottdammerung’ but nobody wants to THINK about feline gottdammerung yet because like, That’s An Upsetting Thought! it’s also noted that he’s way young for a leader

- anyway the apprentices (and cinderkit) are like. ‘we gotta know what's happening and why windclan vanished’ and everyone is involved (although sand and long keep their distance). it’s a very ‘up at midnight at a slumber party’ kind of aesthetic. everyone in shadow and river also has a motive, and at points there’s even evidence that something caused windclan to die out. lots of red herrings

- eventually yellowfang comes into the picture like she does in canon and they figure out shadowclan drove windclan out and that windclan is Alive and Out There somewhere. the evidence is enough that spottedleaf and tigerclaw (who's like the Cool Resident Dad) agree about it and so a spy patrol is sent to sneak in on shadowclan

- anyway everyone discovers how fucked up shadowclan is behind the curtain (what with the elder abuse and child warfare) and is like ‘holy shit we gotta stop these guys’ so there’s a big fight like in the original book and brokenstar is dethroned like he is in canon and brought to thunderclan

- thunderclan saves the day, yellowfang joins spottedleaf in the med cat den, and the apprentices all get names (save ravenpaw who’s a med cat apprentice)- firepaw is fireheart, graypaw is graystripe, darkpaw is darkstripe, longpaw is longtail (in honor of redtail), and sandpaw is sandstorm. it’s noted darkstripe looks super uncomfortable when tigerclaw is mentioned to be deputy. long and sand have a humorous argument abt their names and who got the Cooler One 

- however everyone’s like ‘ok so brokenstar wasn’t the Fire Savior so who IS’ and fire is dismissed out of hand bc he’s a kittypet and all the past fire saviors was clanborn. ravenpaw however tells fireheart in private that he believes fireheart is the Fire Alone, and that Shit Is About To Go The Fuck Down

- meanwhile, darkstripe asks if he can see fireheart alone, and fireheart obliges. darkstripe sits down and, very quietly, says ‘i have to tell you about what happened to redtail.’

- and it ends there lol that’s book one.

[gildedink]

The Mini Trio

Late last year I have the privilege to commission bunny_tone to draw Meilin. Earlier this month she reopened her commissions so I had to have Azusa and Weifeng done too!

Art done by bunny_tone. Please check her out!

[lostonehero]

T

Tw for slight body horror reference to self harm and parts are inspired by cave troll series

The news was soul crushing to the pair. They didn't know going back with giratina, they didn't know that the legend would do something. Now they got the news there dna is changing, and Guzma now thinks when it's done they won't remeber who they were. Cyrus hated to admit it but it had merit to the idea. He was curled into himself watching his admins go into panic mode trying to figure this situation out.

He got up trying to calm himself as he robotically headed back to his room not realize Guzma was following him. He was shaking when he got inside before he could start crying he felt two strong arms wrap around him. He just started to cry clinging onto the familiar scent of honey and moss. "I-." His words died on his tongue as Guzma shush him.

"We will get through this together." Guzma's voice was strained but strong. They were both leaning on each other for comfort and strength.

The words between them died as they just filled the silence with comfort in each other.

......

A few days go by the news finally sunk in, and it was like a silence between them that broke as they continued to lean on each other for comfort.

"So what kind of pokemon do you think you'll become." Guzma asked breaking the silence. "I hope I become a bug type."

"Of course you do, bug man." Cyrus sighs no real malice in his tone. "I don't know."

"Maybe you'll be your cleffa Cy."

"Maybe you'll be your bug Guzma."

"That would be great my partner woukd have me as a brother."

Cyrus sighs and a faint smile creeps on his face. "I can be a friend to my pokemon as well."

"I'm glad we are in agreement."

.....

"Get off of my trainer."

The soft hiss and malice of the voice made Guzma think of Cyrus, but Cyrus was asleep wrapped around him. They were just friends and just needed to comfort each other.

"Leave weird man don't need you" another hiss from the strange voice.

Guzma still not really registering who or what said that. "Mmh sleeping leave us be."

This silenced the voice for a second. "Understand me?"

"Mmh yeah sleep." Guzma yawns pulling Cyrus closer.

"No away from my trainer." The voice now louder.

Cyrus stirred awake. "Stop talking, you make a better furnace then a companion."

Guzma chuckles falling back asleep

"Trainer no get away from strange man."

Cyrus yawns "he's warm " and curls back to sleep.

The voice seems to pout and climbs onto the bed and lays next to Cyrus annoyance dripping off them.

......

Cyrus was the first to come too realizing his Wevile was released amd curled next to him. This was odd his pokemon knew to stay in there balls till he released them. He reached out and pet the small pokemon with a soft smile. "This better not become a habit of yours Comet."

"Protect my trainer"

Cyrus blinked and looked behind at Guzma who was still fast asleep, then returns his gaze to his own pokemon. "What?"

"I protect you "

"Right..." Cyrus rubs his temples realizing this must be an effect of him slowly loosing his humanity. He can now understand his pokemon. It wasn't a bad thing he just didn't know how to feel about this.

Wevile sat up looking at Cyrus. "Need to protect from that strange man."

Cyrus actually smiled and pet his pokemon again. "Let the strange man be"

His wevile looked up and nodded its been awhile since he saw his trainer smile like that. Maybe the stranger wasn't that bad after all.

.....

Guzma couldn't stop looking at his wrists, his old scars were still there but now he had matching open wounds on his wrists. He knew this was from his body changing, and it hurt so much yet he couldn't do anything but keep it covered. Cyrus didn't help much he was dealing with something similar on his head his hair had streaks of red from the blood. It just hurt so much.

"It hasn't been two weeks yet. Why does this have to happen in stages?" Guzma gave a frustrated huff then a soft oof when his pokemon Goli picked him up amd hugged him.

"Ok now Guzma nobody hurt my Guzma."

Guzma sighs and gives a soft smile. "Buddy you know I'm not there anymore I'm just in a little pain right now."

"Got to fix and protect Guzma."

He chuckles and was let down. "Alright alright I'm ok now Guli I'm ok."

Cyrus watched this curiosity now filling his mind. He wondered why Guzma pokemon was so protective like it knew how to calm down Guzma in an instant. How did it know?

"What ya lookin at space man?"

Cyrus rolled his eyes "you what else am I to distract myself from this pain."

Guzma let out another laugh. "Man Cy you always know how to lighten the mood."

Cyrus frowns not realizing that was a joke he said, but a red tint brushed across his cheeks as he saw Guzma give that smile at him. In that moment he felt no pain but only a warm feeling in his chest.

The next day....

"Are you going to keep poking your protruding spurs?" Cyrus huffed ignoring the new weight on his head.

"I have spurs on my arm like a heracross." Guzma's eyes sparkled. "I am becoming bug man"

Cyrus rubs his temples annoyed and sighs. "I'm so glad you're enjoying our impending doom."

"You've got matching horns with your cleffa, you should be happy, your hair hides most of it anyway."

"Thats not the point Guzma, I'm afraid of loosing you." He immeditally regretted the words that came out of his mouth in his panic. Emotions were never his strong suit yet he still let them get the best of him. He quickly sputtered. "I mean you're the first good thing and i..."

Guzma's face was bright red. "Ya really mean that Cy? I mean I like you too ok." He huffs amd leans in and pulls Cyrus into a kiss. Pulling away just as fast. "You could of stopped me if I crossed a.... line."

Guzma looked at Cyrus who had stars in his eyes. "That is not enough evidence for me I require another to deem it appropriate." This time he goes in for a kiss and pulls away red faced. "Inconclusive I belive we need to try again."

Guzma laughed and pulled the smaller man into a tight hug. "I love you too Cy, and you don't have to make everything so sciencey having emotions is ok."

Cyrus hugged him back like his life depended on it. "I fear now that I have something to loose I don't want our time to be up."

"Neither do I Cy, but I'm glad our fleeting time is spent together." Guzma smiles even though he can feel his own tears fall down his face.

........

"This is a awful idea Cyrus, and I can't belive I'm saying that." Guzma can barely hold his balance in the ice skates he was wearing.

"I used to ice skate a lot growing up when I was with my grandfather, I wish to make a new memory doing it with you." Cyrus explains trying to push the taller man onto the ice.

"You're lucky I'm not as cold as before atleast this weird dna thing is helping me adapt to the cold Cy." He looked back to see Cyrus huff amd go onto the ice himself, he had to admit that houndoom tail did fit him, and became a great excuse to look at his ass.

Cyrus was amazing on the ice and Guzma just wanted to get closer but as soon as he got on the ice he went face first into the cold floor. This caused Cyrus to start laughing which was the first time the taller man heard him laugh it was like the best music he ever heard.

"You really are bad at this, I guess destruction in human form only works in sneakers." Cyrus smiles continuing to skate.

Guzma smiles pushing himself up to just sit on the ice and watch him go. He wasn't angry for the first time after failing he was happy. Cyrus really did help him with his emotions.

......

It was getting closer to the final day and they weren't ready. Both felt as if they had no energy to do anything, and yet both have been eating like crazy. There pokemon have been showing so much concern they've been treating the two like they are baby pokemon that need help with everything, even Cyrus's little cleffa has been getting concerned.

Guzma stared up at the ceiling "your admins have been driving me...." he yawns cutting off the sentence, and he curls closer to Cyrus. "Can't blame them tomorrow is the day."

Cyrus held onto Guzma not wanting things to end, he wished he had more time. "I'm sorry."

"Don't.... be" he stifles another yawns. "Mmh too tired."

Cyrus was equally exhausted yet they haven't done anything for a week. All they've been doing is eating and sleeping so much. "Mmh Guzma?"

"Yeah..."

"I love you."

"I love you too"

The two embraced barely able to stay awake spending the final hours they had together.

......

Cyrus didn't expect to wake up, he expected to forget everything and live on as a pokemon. Yet here he was next to Guzma in a wet and sticky bed. His body did feel different though he could still see he had hands with sharp claws like comet, but still hands. He was able to wiggle his toes and move his legs so that was the same. Something had to be wrong. He looked over to Guzma who was still dead asleep and noticed it first.

Guzma had two prominate attena from his head along with clawed fingers like his own but different, he had spurs on the back of his ankles and what looked like armor speckled about his body which reminded him of different bug types exoskeleton. His teeth were sharper as well, and he swore it looked like Guzma back had a large shield on it covered the entire thing.

Did his body change that much as well? He couldn't really tell, but all he felt was hunger as his stomach growled louder then he was used to. He needed to figure himself out first, but he could smell something delicious from somewhere in this building. He wiggled free from Guzma and headed towards the smell.

....

Cyrus's former admins looked shocked when they saw him walk towards them as he sits at the table eyes locked on the food they were cooking. Saturn ran up to him with tears and thanked the higher powers at be that master Cyrus was still alive and here.

Cyrus wasn't really listening when a large plate of food was placed in front of him. It took a moment for him to use utensils with his new claws but once he got it he gladly ate until he was full.

It seems as if the smell attracted Guzma as well like a bug pokemon to honey. They both ate in silence not really registering that they both were ok.

When it did dawn on them they held each other's hand under the table and shared a smile. They made it together.

[themousefromfantasyland]

The Creatures of Yuletide: Santa Claus

Well, this is the end. I finish my series talking about Holiday creatures and traditions with the most popular gift-giver of all time, Mr. Kris Kringle, Santa Claus.

First of all we need to disperse some myths: He wasn't created by Coca-Cola, and although they immortalized the red and white look, they didn't invent it, the same with his image as jolly old man.

The Coca-Cola ads are from 1930's. This Puck cover is from 1902

Santa Claus started his life as the dutch gift-giver, Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas was a cartoonish version of St. Nicholas that delivered gifts to children on December 5th, Eve of St. Nicholas Day. The name Sinterklaas is an abbreviation of Sint Nikolaas, St. Nicholas. At this point he didn't had reindeers or sleighs. He travelled by horse and was accompanied by Zwarte Piet (the Black Piet) a stereotypical caricature of a black servant.

In his Dutch form he was imagined to carry a staff, ride above the rooftops on a huge white horse and have mischievous helpers who listened at chimneys to find out whether children were being bad or good. These features all link him to the legend of Odin, a god who was worshipped among the Germanic peoples in North and Western Europe prior to Christianization.

Dutch immigrants brought the character to America, more specifically to New Amsterdam, now New York City, along with the custom of giving gifts and sweets to children on his feast day.

Following the Revolutionary War the already heavily Dutch influenced New York City saw a new surge of interest in Dutch customs. In 1804 John Pintard, an influential patriot and antiquarian, founded the New York Historical Society and promoted St. Nicholas as patron saint of both the society and city. On December 6th 1810 the society hosted its first St. Nicholas anniversary dinner and Pintard commissioned the artist Alexander Anderson to draw an image of the saint to be handed out at the dinner. In Anderson's portrayal he was still shown as a religious figure, but now he was also clearly depositing gifts in fireside stockings and is associated with rewarding the goodness of children. While "St. Nicholas day" never quite took off in the way Pintard wanted, Anderson's image of "Sancte Claus" most certainly did.

A year before New York Historical Society's feast, american writer and historian Washington Irving wrote a very untraditional portrayal of St. Nicholas in his satirical fiction Knickerbocker's History of New York.

"At this early period was instituted that pious ceremony, still religiously observed in all our ancient families of the right breed, of hanging up a stocking in the chimney on St. Nicholas Eve; which stocking is always found in the morning miraculously filled; for the good St. Nicholas has ever been a great giver of gifts, particularly to children."

He described a jolly St. Nicholas character who flew in a reindeer pulled sleigh and delivered presents down chimneys.

In 1822, Clement Moore wrote the poem that would cement the image of St. Nicholas as a fat jolly gift-giver, "A Visit from St. Nick", today "The Night Before Christmas". In his poem St. Nicholas no longer visited children on the eve of his feast, but in Christmas Eve, and he travelled in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, with Rudolph as a later addition.

Moore drew upon Irving's description and Pintard's New Amsterdam tradition and added some more Odin-like elements from German and Norse legends to create the all-winking, sleigh-riding Saint and also the names for his flying reindeer.

It's important to note that at this point St. Nicholas wasn't a saint anymore, but he still wasn't Santa, he was almost a elf, and everything about him, including his sleigh and reindeers were described as tiny. That's how Santa can come down chimneys without a problem.

Nicholas started to become Santa when cartoonist Thomas Nast did an initial illustration in an 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly, as part of a large illustration titled "A Christmas Furlough".

In a way Thomas Nast can be considered the true inventor of Santa Claus, who becsme in his drawings and illustrations a normal-heigh jolly fat man who travelled in a flying sleigh. In later Nast drawings a home at the North Pole was added, as was the workshop for building toys and a large book filled with the names of children who had been naughty or nice.

In his later 1881 illustration named "Merry Old Santa" the modern Santa character really begins to take shape.

Now we need to talk about the English Father Christmas.

In early medieval England, the pagan Saxons honoured the Frost or Winter King, who had a lot in common with Odin. But, as Christianity became dominant, this figure became more closely associated with the festival celebrating the birth of Jesus.

That was the birth of old bearded figures who personification the feast. This also can be traced back to Odin, which was also used to personify the Yule season.

By the 1400s, he was thought of as a chivalric knight called Sir Christmas, and by the Tudor era he had been charmingly renamed Captain Christmas. He wasn't a gift-giver to children, but a figure who incited people to celebrate the Yuletide feasts.

This made him an enemy of Oliver Cromwell’s righteous government, which outlawed Christmas, fearing that it had become an excuse for unholy drunkenness. In response, the defenders of the tradition renamed the figure Old Father Christmas to make him sound more venerable.

When the monarchy was restored and Charles II took the throne, Father Christmas kept his new name.

When Christmas became popular again in the 19th century, so did Father Christmas, appearing as the Ghost of Christmas Present in Dickens's A Christmas Carol, greeting cards and advertisments.

In the early 16th century, Martin Luther – the German founder of Protestantism – considered Sinterklaas, St. Nicholas, too similar to pagan Odin. Instead he decreed that it was the Christkind who brought gifts.

The Christkind was a magic version of Baby Jesus, and he visited children on the Christmas Eve instead of the Eve of St. Nicholas Day. Later he became a golden haired female angel. Her visits on Christmas Eve may what inspired Santa's visits on this day instead of the traditional December 5th. Her name also became associated with Santa, but been anglicaized as Kris Kringle.

Resuming, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Christkind, with a little bit of Odin inspiration, became a single gift-giver figure in the US and North America, and that's how we got Santa Claus.

Now it's important to note that since the 19th century, Santa and Father Christmas became HUGE sources of inspiration for advertisers and department stores. Using a "living Santa" in your store to draw children and their parents goes back to this period. Some use this as to why Santa means nothing more than just the commercialization of Christmas.

However, the sources of Santa are way older, and the character was used for everything, from advertisments to army propaganda.

I'm personally very fond of Santa as a character and to me he means much more than a department store mascot. He's an personification of the jolliness of the holiday, of the children innocent belief in the fantastical and of the transformative power of charity.

I think it's impossible to look at Santa and say, he's just a mascot, considering the number of life's he affected.

Santa is without a doubt a symbol of magic and goodwill, and on this Christmas Eve I hope he brings much more than just toys to you and your family.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy Yuletide to all, my friends!

[marcmarcmomarc]

Super Smash Bros. Fighter Presentation

Introduction

MASTER HAND: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the presentation of the fighters of the one and only “Super Smash Bros.”! I am Master Hand, here with my erratic counterpart, Crazy Hand!

CRAZY HAND: All fighters will be presented in the order in which they joined the roster!

MASTER HAND: Without further delay, here we go!

Super Smash Bros. N64 Fighters

MASTER HAND: The first game in the series is “Super Smash Bros.” for Nintendo 64! The first fighter is the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. For over thirty years, he’s been stomping many foes of all kinds into oblivion. Presenting “Mr. Video Game Himself”, number 01, Mario!

Theme: Victory! Mario - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Mario steps to center stage and gives a thumbs-up.)

MARIO: Let’s-a go!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Donkey Kong” for Arcade.

MASTER HAND: Also introduced in this game is “The King of the Jungle”, who fights all kinds of reptiles to retrieve his massive banana hoard. He is number 02, Donkey Kong!

Theme: Victory! Donkey Kong - (Unique Version) by LUCKYRiCK

(DK steps to center stage and beats his chest.)

DK: Hoo-hoo!

MASTER HAND: Next is one of many incarnations of the spirit of the hero and the chosen champion of the Golden Goddesses. Grown from an ordinary boy to a legendary warrior, “The Hero of Hyrule”, number 03, Link!

Theme: Victory! Link by Comet Mystic

(Link steps to center stage, then holds the Master Sword in front of himself with both hands as its blade shines with a light blue gleam, indicating its Power to Repel Evil.)

LINK: Hyah!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “The Legend of Zelda” for Nintendo Entertainment System. His Champion’s Tunic comes from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” for Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo Switch.

MASTER HAND: The next fighter is the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter. She has torn through galactic threats, killed giant monsters, and destroyed planets, always ensuring the safety of the galaxy from any evils lurking within. Meet “The Bounty Hunter Extraordinaire”, number 04, Samus Aran!

Theme: Victory! Samus - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Samus steps to center stage and demonstrates her Arm Cannon’s Zero Laser configuration.)

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Metroid” for Nintendo Entertainment System!

MASTER HAND: Next up, Mario’s dinosaur pal from Dinosaur Island, “The Omnivore of the Year”, number 05, Yoshi!

Theme: Victory! Yoshi (New Arrangement) by GB6

(Yoshi steps to center stage and dances around in a circle.)

YOSHI: Yoshi!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Super Mario World” for Super Nintendo Entertainment System!

MASTER HAND: Next up is a young resident of the planet Pop Star. The pink puffball who sucks enemies into his mouth and copies their powers to use himself, “The Pink Demon”, number 06, Kirby!

Theme: Victory! Kirby - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Kirby steps to center stage, leans at the audience and waves his arms.)

KIRBY: Hi!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Kirby’s Dream Land” for Nintendo Game Boy!

MASTER HAND: Next up is “The Leader of Star Fox”, a team of mercenaries, handed down from his late father, James McCloud. Number 07, Fox McCloud!

Theme: Victory! Fox - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Fox leaps out of his passing Arwing, lands at center stage, and lays a finger on his earpiece.)

FOX: (into earpiece) General Pepper, this is Fox McCloud. I have finished my mission and am returning to base, over.

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Star Fox” for Super Nintendo Entertainment System!

MASTER HAND: The Electric Mouse Pokémon is up next, and the most famous Pokémon of them all. A key partner to several trainers across the various regions, most notably Red and Ash Ketchum. “The Overexcited Rodent”, number 08, Pikachu!

Theme: Victory! Pikachu (Super Smash Bros. Brawl Arrangement) by GB6

(Pikachu steps to center stage and waves at the audience with one paw.)

PIKACHU: Pika! Pika!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Pokémon Red and Blue” for Nintendo Game Boy!

MASTER HAND: The next fighter has played second fiddle to his famous brother for a long time, but did get his own year in 2013. Welcome Mario’s cowardly ghost-busting younger brother, “The Eternal Understudy”, number 09, Luigi!

Theme: Victory! Luigi by DIMON • CAMI

(Luigi steps to center stage and points his fingers like guns.)

LUIGI: Bang, bang!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Mario Bros.” for Arcade!

MASTER HAND: The hero of EarthBound is next. A kind child with psychic powers, born and raised in Onett, Eagleland. Welcome “The PSI Powerhouse”, number 10, Ness!

Theme: Victory! Ness by GB6

(Ness steps to center stage and nods at the audience.)

NESS: Okay.

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “EarthBound” for Super Nintendo Entertainment System!

MASTER HAND: Our next fighter is a championship racer and renowned bounty hunter, frequently standing up against rival bounty hunters and the nefarious Black Shadow. “The Supersonic Slugger”, number 11, Captain Falcon!

Theme: Victory! Captain Falcon - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

(Captain Falcon leaps out of his Blue Falcon, lands at center stage, and salutes.)

CAPTAIN FALCON: Show me your moves!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “F-Zero” for Super Nintendo Entertainment System!

MASTER HAND: Next up, the Balloon Pokémon. It puts others to sleep with its singing, and its elastic properties allow it to float. “The Sleepy Singer”, number 12, Jigglypuff!

Theme: Victory! Jigglypuff by Groovy Monkey Music

(Jigglypuff steps to center stage and twirls around.)

JIGGLYPUFF: Jigglypuff!

CRAZY HAND: First appearance, “Pokémon Red and Blue” for Nintendo Game Boy!

[i-am-extremely-mad]

Started watching The Legend of Korra again. I'm now on the eighth episode of Book 1. This show is great and once again the rewatch only confirmed to me how terribly underrated and misunderstood it is. 

Here are brief instructions and explanations:

1. TLOK is DieselPunk fantasy (reason why there are cars, airships and RetroFuturistic technologies like Mechas) and main theme is conflict between tradition and progression and what place Korra as person and Avatar have in this new modern world.

2. TLOK have two story arcs, Book 1 is more or less self-contained mini series, while Books 2, 3 and 4 were simultaneously in production and make 3-part story arc that is basically reverse ATLA story arc. 

First arc I call "The Equalists arc" while second arc I call "A New Spiritual Age arc".

Titles of Books aren't random: Book 2: Spirits is dealing with changes between Material and Spirit Worlds, Book 3: Change is dealing with unforseen good and bad consequences that change caused, and  Book 4: Balance, well, to finally find Balance in this new modern, drastically changed world.

3. Aang fight super villain, Ozai, who is firebender, who is horrible to his children (brother and sister), and who use cosmic event (Sozin's Comet) to boost his powers to try destroying world at the END of the story.

Korra fight super villain, Unalaq, who is waterbender, who is horrible to his children (brother and sister), and who use cosmic event (Harmonic Convergence) to boost his powers to try destroying world at the BEGINNING of the story.

4. Aang almost die at the end of Book 2 and Katara take care for his recovery.

Korra almost die at the end of Book 3 and Asami take care for her recovery.

5. Unalaq misused spiritual and mystical powers for destruction and conquer, Kuvira misused scientific and technological powers for destruction and conquer, and replicate Unalaq/Vaatu powers by making basically Mecha-Unavaatu.

6. Every main villain represents some form of fascism/fascist like ideology: Amon and Equalists: non-benders supremacists, Unalaq: clero-fascism, Red Lotus: co/nservative "li/bertarianism", Kuvira: Nazism.