#Brand authority

[digitalgrowth1]

Top 5 Digital Marketing Blogs You Can’t Miss in 2025

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, staying updated with the latest trends, tools, and strategies is crucial for success. Blogs play an essential role in educating marketers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals on how to navigate this ever-evolving landscape. As we enter 2025, several digital marketing blogs stand out as must-reads for anyone looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field. Whether you are a seasoned marketer or a beginner, these blogs offer a wealth of insights to keep you ahead of the competition.

In this article, we��ll introduce you to the top five digital marketing blogs you can’t afford to miss in 2025. These platforms consistently provide actionable advice, expert opinions, and up-to-date information to empower your marketing efforts.

1. Neil Patel Blog

Neil Patel’s blog is a powerhouse of digital marketing knowledge. Written by the co-founder of Crazy Egg and Kissmetrics, this blog covers a wide range of topics, from SEO and content marketing to social media strategies and email marketing.

Why Follow?

Content Quality: Well-researched and data-driven posts.

Tools & Resources: Access to free tools like Ubersuggest for keyword analysis.

Actionable Advice: Step-by-step guides for beginners and pros alike.

Engaging Format: Clear, concise, and visually appealing content.

Pros:

Frequent updates with cutting-edge insights.

Diverse range of topics.

Free educational webinars.

Cons:

Some posts focus heavily on promoting Neil Patel’s tools.

Can be overwhelming for beginners.

2. The Zumvu Blog

The Zumvu Blog is an exceptional digital marketing blogging platform that caters to marketers of all levels. Known for its comprehensive and practical articles, Zumvu covers a wide range of topics, including social media strategies, content creation, and SEO tips.

Why Follow?

Diverse Content: From beginner-friendly guides to advanced marketing tactics.

Practical Insights: Actionable tips that marketers can apply immediately.

Community Focus: Encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among marketers.

User-Friendly: Well-organized content and easy-to-navigate website.

Pros:

Focused on real-world marketing challenges.

Regularly updated with fresh content.

Highlights trending topics in the digital space.

Free resources to improve your marketing strategy.

Cons:

Limited video content.

Some niche topics might not be covered.

3. HubSpot Marketing Blog

HubSpot’s Marketing Blog is a go-to resource for inbound marketers. With a focus on SEO, content marketing, and customer engagement, this blog provides tools and strategies to help businesses grow online.

Why Follow?

Data-Driven Insights: Research-backed posts for effective decision-making.

Free Tools: Access to marketing templates, ebooks, and webinars.

Community Engagement: Interactive features like Q&A sessions.

Educational Content: Comprehensive guides for professional growth.

Pros:

Reliable and trustworthy content.

Covers both basic and advanced marketing topics.

Free downloadable resources.

Insights from industry experts.

Cons:

Geared more towards HubSpot users.

Advanced topics can be overwhelming for beginners.

4. Moz Blog

Moz Blog is a pioneer in the SEO and digital marketing space. Renowned for its expertise in search engine optimization, Moz offers valuable tips and insights for marketers aiming to boost their online visibility.

Why Follow?

Expertise: Trusted by SEO professionals worldwide.

Tools & Tutorials: Guides to maximize the use of Moz’s SEO tools.

In-Depth Posts: Comprehensive articles and case studies.

Community Contributions: Content from industry-leading guest bloggers.

Pros:

Highly specialized in SEO.

Regularly updated with fresh, insightful content.

Interactive tools and resources.

Trusted for reliable data and analysis.

Cons:

Focused primarily on SEO; limited coverage of other marketing areas.

Some features require paid subscriptions.

5. Social Media Examiner

Social Media Examiner is the ultimate destination for marketers looking to master social media platforms. From Facebook and Instagram to LinkedIn and TikTok, this blog covers all things social.

Why Follow?

Comprehensive Guides: Step-by-step instructions for optimizing social media campaigns.

Research Reports: Annual social media industry reports for actionable insights.

Community Events: Online summits and live events for networking.

Expert Contributions: Posts from leading social media marketers.

Pros:

Focused exclusively on social media marketing.

Provides free webinars and tutorials.

Insightful industry reports.

Excellent for staying updated on platform changes.

Cons:

Social media-focused; lacks broader marketing topics.

Some advanced tools and features require payment.

Conclusion:

In 2025, staying updated with the latest digital marketing trends and strategies is more important than ever. By following these top five digital marketing blogs, you can gain the insights and tools needed to excel in your marketing efforts. From SEO and content marketing to social media and inbound strategies, these platforms cover all aspects of the digital landscape.

Among these, The Zumvu Blog stands out as a versatile and resource-rich digital marketing blogging platform. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting, it’s the perfect place to enhance your knowledge and stay ahead in the competitive world of digital marketing. Be sure to bookmark these blogs and make them a part of your daily learning routine in 2025!

[iboostwebusa]

Implementing strategic SEO practices is crucial for establishing lasting brand authority in today's digital landscape. By focusing on creating expert content, optimizing for E-A-T principles, maintaining technical excellence, building quality backlinks, and implementing strategic internal linking, businesses can not only improve their search rankings but also build genuine trust with their audience, leading to sustainable growth and industry leadership.

These strategies, when executed consistently and authentically, create a strong foundation for long-term brand visibility and credibility in an increasingly competitive online marketplace. If you want to hire a reputable SEO agency in Atlanta to implement these proven SEO strategies to build brand authority, then iBoost Web can be your best bet. For more details call us at 770-286-5486 or visit our site now.

[on-the-mark-digital]

Want to Boost Your Medspa's Online Presence? 💻 Expert Content Marketing from On the Mark Digital is the Answer!

In the rapidly evolving world of Medspas, standing out from the competition is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through strategic content marketing.

At On the Mark Digital, we understand the unique challenges faced by Medspas and offer tailored solutions to help you thrive. By focusing on SEO, building brand authority, educating your audience, and establishing credibility, we can transform your online presence and drive growth.

The Journey to Building Brand Authority

Imagine you're the owner of a thriving Medspa, known for providing top-notch services and treatments. However, in today's digital age, word-of-mouth alone isn't enough to keep your business growing. This is where content marketing comes into play. By creating and sharing valuable content, you can position your Medspa as an authority in the industry. On the Mark Digital helps you craft compelling content that not only attracts potential clients but also builds trust and credibility.

Educating Your Audience Through SEO and Content Marketing

Educational content is a powerful tool in the Medspa industry. Potential clients are often searching for information about treatments, skincare routines, and the latest trends. By providing well-researched, informative content, you can answer their questions and address their concerns. This not only helps in educating your audience but also boosts your SEO rankings. At On the Mark Digital, we specialize in creating content that resonates with your audience and enhances your online visibility.

SEO: By optimizing your content for search engines, we ensure that your medspa appears at the top of search results, driving organic traffic to your site.

Content Marketing: Our team creates engaging blogs, articles, and social media posts that highlight your expertise and the benefits of your services, keeping your audience informed and engaged.

Building Brand Authority: Through consistent and high-quality content, we help you establish your medspa as a trusted source of information and a leader in the industry.

Establishing Credibility with Your Audience

In the Medspa industry, credibility is crucial. Potential clients need to trust that you have the knowledge and expertise to provide safe and effective treatments. By sharing success stories, client testimonials, and expert insights, you can build a strong foundation of trust. On the Mark Digital helps you showcase your credibility through various content marketing strategies, making sure your Medspa stands out as a reputable and reliable choice.

For more insights on how content marketing can transform your Medspa, follow On the Mark Digital on Facebook and stay updated with the latest trends and tips.

[transcriptioncity]

Transcription Services for Content Creation and Marketing

Content creation is at the heart of modern marketing strategies. With audiences craving valuable and engaging information, businesses must constantly produce fresh content to stay relevant. One invaluable tool in the arsenal of content creators and marketers is transcription. By converting spoken language into written text, transcription services offer a plethora of benefits that can elevate…

[adrianaearly]

Why is Content Marketing important?

In terms of planning and analysis, a company’s content plan today should resemble a military strategy headquarters more than an assembly line factory. Why? Because improving search engine rankings on platforms like Google and creating connections between brands and their target audience are some of the most challenging pain points for any business in an increasingly saturated digital world. And…

[madhukumarc]

How does content marketing contribute to building brand authority and engaging consumers?

Content Marketing Contribution to Building Brand Authority and Engaging Consumers:

Here is how content marketing can contribute to building brand authority and engaging consumers:

1. Demonstrating Expertise:

High-quality content showcases knowledge and expertise, establishing the brand as a credible source in its industry.

2. Building Trust:

Valuable content addresses consumer pain points, building trust and loyalty with the audience.

3. Educating and Informing:

Informative content educates consumers about products, services, and industry trends, positioning the brand as a helpful resource.

4. Encouraging Interaction:

Engaging content encourages interactions such as comments, shares, and discussions, fostering a sense of community around the brand.

Do you know? - “with 70% of marketers actively investing in content marketing, it's critical to develop a good content strategy to compete in your industry” – HubSpot

Do’s and Don’ts of Content Marketing:

Here's related information that you may also find helpful – Content Marketing vs Brand Marketing

[ventesb2b]

Syndication Strategies to Skyrocket Your Content Marketing ROI

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead requires embracing innovative approaches. The concept of content marketing syndication is one that has experienced tremendous success. This game-changing technique has the potential to transform your content strategy, amplify your reach, and engage a broader audience. In this blog, we'll delve into the concept of content marketing syndication, explore its benefits, and provide actionable insights to leverage its power effectively.

Understanding Content Marketing Syndication

Content marketing syndication involves distributing your original content to third-party platforms, websites, or publications for wider exposure. Rather than confining your content to your own platforms, syndication allows you to tap into established audiences on other channels. It's a symbiotic relationship where content creators provide valuable material to other platforms, and in return, gain increased visibility and engagement.

The Benefits of Content Marketing Syndication

1. Extended Reach: One of the primary advantages of syndication is its ability to extend your content's reach beyond your existing audience. By publishing on external platforms, you access a whole new set of potential readers or viewers who may not have discovered your content otherwise.

2. Enhanced Authority: When reputable third-party sources pick up and share your content, it lends credibility and authority to your brand. This can position you as an industry thought leader and attract a more engaged and trusting audience.

3. SEO Boost: Content syndication, when done correctly, can contribute to your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Backlinks from authoritative sources can improve your website's domain authority and search engine ranking.

4. Audience Diversity: Syndication enables you to connect with diverse audiences across various niches. This diversification can be particularly beneficial for businesses targeting different demographics or industries.

5. Time and Resource Efficiency: Creating quality content takes time and effort. Syndication allows you to repurpose existing content for wider distribution, saving resources while still reaping the benefits.

lets connect for more insight:  https://ventesb2b.com/contact-2/

Effective Strategies for Content Marketing Syndication

1. Choose the Right Platforms: Identify platforms that align with your target audience and industry. Look for platforms with engaged readerships that are interested in the type of content you produce.

2. Craft Tailored Pitches: When reaching out to external platforms, personalize your pitches to showcase the relevance and value of your content to their audience.

3. Maintain Originality: While syndicating content, ensure that the content remains original on your own platform. Search engines value original content, so avoid duplicating content across multiple sites.

4. Optimize for Each Platform: Tailor your content to fit the style and preferences of each platform. This optimization increases the likelihood of engagement and resonating with the new audience.

5. Focus on Evergreen Content: Choose content that has a longer shelf life. Evergreen content remains relevant over time and continues to attract audiences, even after syndication.

6. Promote Sharing: Encourage readers of syndicated content to share it across social media and other platforms, further increasing its reach.

7. Monitor and Analyze: Keep track of how your syndicated content is performing. Monitor metrics such as traffic, engagement, and backlinks to assess the effectiveness of your strategy.

Conclusion

Content marketing syndication is a potent strategy that opens doors to broader exposure, authority, and engagement. By sharing your content with established platforms, you tap into new audiences and gain valuable backlinks. However, successful syndication requires careful planning, tailored strategies, and adherence to best practices. As you embrace content marketing syndication, remember that quality and relevance are paramount. Keep refining your approach, adapting to different platforms, and analyzing results to fully harness the game-changing potential of content syndication in your overall marketing strategy.

Aniket Deshpanade

Sr.Digital Marketink Associate

adeshpande185@gmail.com

www.ventesb2b.com/ New York, USA

[ennobletechnologies]

Benefits of link building for SEO - Ennoble Technologies

Despite its simplicity, link building is a crucial part of SEO. The procedure can be challenging at times. The goal is to lure other websites to link back to yours. The site’s popularity and authority in the desired search engines are prerequisites for realizing this goal.

Google also considers user engagement when determining page rank. So merely a person clicking and exiting won’t do. The time spent on a website also is recorded in the search engine logs, which are also used to determine the genuineness of the website. So, the more visitors who visit your site, the better.

Clearly, there are many upsides to link building, and in this blog post, we will explore them all so you can get a firm grasp on the topic’s genuine importance for search engine optimization.

Improved Search Engine Rankings

One of the most important factors that search engines employ to determine a page’s ranking is the number and quality of inbound links from other similarly high-quality and reputable websites. Search engines place more stock in a website as an authoritative and relevant source of information if it has received links from other credible websites.

One factor determining where a website appears in search engine results is Google’s PageRank algorithm. When establishing a page’s worth and relevance, PageRank considers both the number and quality of inbound connections.

Research shows that websites with more backlinks have a better chance of ranking higher in SERPs. For example, according to a Moz study, websites with high domain authority and high-quality backlinks score higher in search results than those with low and low-quality ones. Remember, it’s not always about the quantity; the quality also matters. Having genuine, qualitative, trustworthy content on your website will help you stay on top in the search results.

A search engine, “Google,” “Yahoo,” or “Bing,” anything for that matter, wants to render the best service of information to the internet users. They want to avoid risking it by showing bad quality websites with wrong info on top, and they very well would appreciate a website with genuine content that they can showcase.

Increased Website Traffic

Creating inbound links to your website has significantly enhanced visitor numbers. Referral traffic, or visitors that come to your site from another, increases when other websites link to you. Referral traffic consists of users that landed on your site after clicking a link posted on another website.

The number of people visiting your site from a link on another site can rise, and the chances that your site will appear in search engine results can also increase.

As mentioned, your website’s search engine rankings will improve with more backlinks from high-quality sites. As a result, you may see increased natural search engine traffic.

Read More: https://ennobletechnologies.com/seo/what-are-the-benefits-of-link-building-for-seo/

[sacredcowstudiosblog]

Off-page SEO refers to the strategies used to optimize a website’s search engine ranking, visibility, and authority outside of the website itself. It involves activities such as link building, content marketing, and social media marketing. By building high-quality links from other websites, creating content that is relevant and engaging, and actively engaging with your audience on social media, you can help increase your website’s rankings and visibility in search engine results pages.

[muffinlance]

Hey fic rec time! I didn't do these often so you KNOW it's good

If you like Star Wars and Mandos and falling in love with character dynamics you'll never be able to find again because OP just smooshed together things that never existed before

May I introduce you to:

Mando'jekai jedi by Anonymous

Yes Anonymous come out here OP so I can put you in a little jar and provide you optimal writing enrichment and maybe shake you a little to see how you work

Author Summary:

Feemor saves a random Mandalorian and earns himself the position of Jedi watchman for the sector. Now if only the mandos would stop hunting him so that he can investigate this terrorist cell in peace.

Jaster really wants to talk to the jedi who slapped the darksaber into his hands before running off. Now if only the haat'ade could track him down.

My Summary:

Feemor Gives Mandalorians a Life-Changing Field Trip (No They Cannot Exit This Ride): The Fic

The writing is so smooth the humor is HIGH-LARIOUS the angst is wrapped up in the humor which is wrapped up in outsider POV

It's like you went to Fic Restaurant and the waiter slapped the menu out of your hand and said "I've got the good shit" and you were too terrified to protest that actually you were just here for a little hurt/comfort fix-it fic but when they came back

Oh damn

Oh that is the good shit

Anyway click this it's the good shit

[hephaestuscrew]

I'm sure Minkowski never forgot that Cutter was the first person ever to call her Commander. After recruiting her in Once in A Lifetime, he starts to call her Lieutenant, then breaks into laughter, before correcting himself: "What am I saying? Commander Minkowski." He draws attention to himself granting that title, stressing its significance. By initially calling her by a lower ranking, then conspicuously correcting himself, Cutter emphasises that he's the one granting her that title. Right at the beginning of Minkowski's employment with Goddard Futuristics, Cutter plants the seed for his line in the finale: "People cared about you because of what I made you: A soldier. A leader. A commander. I gave you that, and now? I taketh away."

And he does take it away. Cutter makes a point of calling her Commander in that first meeting, but he hardly ever calls Minkowski Commander after that. He almost always calls her Renée. He makes the point in that first interaction that he has the authority to grant her that title, and then in every subsequent interaction he tries to make the point that she doesn't have command over him. Having called her Commander once makes every time he doesn't call her by her title seem more deliberate. It's not that he never uses titles - it's that he uses them selectively. He gives her a taste of that sense of authority, but he doesn't want her to feel worthy of it.

In the liveshow, he cuts her off by shouting "I AM SPEAKING, LIEUTENANT!". Minkowski is the Commander of the Hephaestus in official terms at this point and Cutter even refers to her as "a mission commander" later in the same episode. So there is a deliberate malice to Cutter calling Minkowski Lieutenant here. Not only does it emphasise the use of authority structures as a means for control and the abandonment of first-name-basis false friendliness, calling her by another title makes his choice not to call her Commander even more explicit, denying her that authority.

Apart from when he recruits her, the only other time I can think of when Cutter directly calls Minkowski Commander is in Ep60, when he lays out his offer to let Minkowski leave on the Sol: "How does that sound to you, Commander?" Again, calling her Commander is a kind of power play, an attempt at manipulation, highlighting the sense of responsibility that motivates so many of Minkowski's actions. Cutter is prompting her to ask the question she would be asking herself anyway: what choice would a good Commander make? Just as he did when he recruited her, Cutter offers Minkowski something she desperately wants, and the use of her title here only draws attention to the idea that Cutter is the one with the power, choosing what to give her.

[t1sunfortunate]

I truly do think one of the largest pitfalls among the "media consumption is my passion" crowd is the tendency to treat characters as human beings with agency rather than narrative tools manipulated by the author

[maxellminidisc]

Once again, please stop reblogging from lesbian-archives. They have tags for rad feminism, "gynocentricism", "womb envy", antiprostitution, and separatists tags along with other similar terminology in terf and swerf communities on their blog. It's literally within the most used tags when you go to search. Plus they used to reblog from terfs often enough and use said tags until they decided to be a lil more cryptic I guess....

[dailyclassicwho]

DOCTOR WHO (1963) — 6.12 “The Invasion: Part Two”

[lucky-clover-gazette]

Arceus Forbid Women Do Anything

Chapter 1/3 | 2,254 words | Rated T

Commandment I: Gaslight

The challenger met the Champion’s intelligent gaze and quickly looked away. They knew what they needed to tell her, they knew that it was important, but in the awe of the moment they couldn’t help but ask— “So you’ve met Lord Volo?” She seemed unsurprised by the question. The challenger supposed that it must have been asked many times before. “I am his Champion, yes.”

Read the full chapter on AO3 or under the cut:

The challenger approached the Champion of Hisui atop Mount Coronet. The Spear Pillar Temple was strangely decrepit for a holy place, where it was said that the Lord of Hisui himself convened with his most beloved mortal creation.

The title of Champion was highly sought by the wielders of Hisui, who longed to impress their almighty deity. Some even spoke of immortality as a reward, to say nothing of the material gifts and fate’s favor. But for as long as the current Champion had held the position—which was to say, the entire recorded history of the region—she had never once been bested in battle.

But that, the challenger knew, would change today.

The Champion stood at the very edge of the temple ruins, staring out at the sky as if frozen in a perpetual state of deep thought. The challenger immediately recognized the colors and styling of her attire as those of the Lord in his most traditional depictions. Fine white silks were artfully draped around her form, and she was adorned from head to toe with emeralds and gold. Her hair flowed in the breeze, only slightly flattened by the ornate diadem on her head.

“Do you wish to challenge the Champion of Hisui?” she asked, causing the challenger to sharply inhale. The woman did not face them, and clearly did not plan to do so without a formal conversation.

“I wish to speak with the Champion of Hisui,” the challenger said, forcing their voice to steady. “There is something that she—you—ought to know.”

The Champion turned around at that, revealing the face of a woman who most certainly did not age naturally. In fact, she appeared to be not much older than the challenger—but of course, appearances could be deceiving.

“I will admit,” said the woman with a slight smile, “that is a new one.”

The challenger blinked. They had not expected such a casual composure from the Champion of Hisui—although, their expectations had admittedly been imprecise. There were plenty of rumors regarding the Champion’s personality throughout the region, and much speculation regarding her team of pokémon, but there had never once been a challenger who had returned with the memory of what they’d experienced. It was common knowledge that when it came to Spear Pillar, the only way to leave with a tale to tell would be to best this woman in battle. Otherwise challengers could expect to return bewildered, collected at the foot of the mountain by rangers patrolling the area.

“Very well,” said the Champion, gracefully rearranging her silks as she sat on the small stairway leading to her former perch. It seemed bizarre for her to lower herself in front of her challenger, until she motioned for them to the do the same.

“Evening the battlefield,” she explained with slight humor as they took their place beside her.

The challenger met the Champion’s intelligent gaze and quickly looked away. They knew what they needed to tell her, they knew that it was important, but in the awe of the moment they couldn’t help but ask—

“So you’ve met Lord Volo?”

She seemed unsurprised by the question. The challenger supposed that it must have been asked many times before.

“I am his Champion, yes.”

A chill ran down the challenger’s spine. His.

“Is he watching us now?”

She tilted her head slightly, and the challenger regretted the tactlessness of their words.

“This is the holiest place known to humankind and pokémon alike,” the Champion said. “I should hope that the Lord is watching.”

The challenger had been warned of this. They took a deep breath.

“I know the history of this world,” they said, “and I know that we are meant to believe it.”

“History?”

“That this world of peace was created from the ashes of another; an irredeemable and infernal world, which had fallen as a result of its own wickedness.”

The Champion nodded. “That is the truth.”

“But I don’t think it is,” said the challenger, nerves increasing with every word. “You have to listen to me, please. I have heard the voice of the old world’s creator, and it has told me the truth.”

“You… what?” The Champion appeared genuinely surprised by this. Distressed, even.

“The old creator was subjugated by the Lord,” the challenger explained frantically, needing to get the words out before said Lord lowered himself from the heavens to intervene. They would face Volo, of course, on behalf of this region’s true deity—but not before freeing the innocent Champion from her Lord’s deceptions.

“A single mortal—the Hero of Hisui, blessed by the original creator—once served as the protector of its divinity. The man you call Lord Volo weakened them, defeated them in battle, and ultimately seized the god’s power by force. He used it to erase that entire world and imprison the true creator’s physical manifestation, taking its place and wielding its abilities himself.”

The Champion did not appear convinced. “But what of the Hero? Was she erased?”

“According to my god,” said the challenger, “they fell.”

“How interesting.”

“But that doesn’t matter now,” the challenger insisted, reaching for the woman’s finely-adorned wrists. “What matters is that you get out of here. He’s going to come down and I’m going to fight him, and it’s going to be dangerous for anyone without godly powers behind them. You don’t deserve to get hurt, when all you’ve done is loyally serve a Lord who does not deserve your fealty. So please believe me, and abandon this temple while you still can.”

It only took one look at the Champion’s face to know that the challenger had failed. Her expression was now stern as she rose to her feet.

“I will not tolerate such blasphemy,” she said, reaching within her silks for a strange-looking pokéball. The challenger narrowed their eyes at the thing—was it wooden?

“I’m telling the truth,” the challenger said, removing their own pokéball from their belt. “Arceus told me in my dreams!”

Something shifted in the woman’s expression at the sound of the true deity’s name. “Arceus does not exist,” she said, releasing her opening pokémon: a samurott.

The challenger decided to engage in the battle, if only to continue the conversation and potentially delay Lord Volo’s arrival. They released their opening pokémon and watched, in horror, as the Champion’s samurott defeated it with a single move.

The challenger took another deep breath and released their next pokémon, whose perfect type match would almost certainly return the favor.

“And even if it were true,” the Champion said, “even if my Lord did not simply create this world from ashes, but set the fire himself… do you not believe that a peaceful world is worth creating?” She replaced her fainted samurott with a typhlosion as if it were an afterthought.

“Not if it took the erasure of an entire world, just because it wasn’t perfect!” the challenger argued, their second pokémon falling just like the last.

“The Lord appreciates the world as it is,” said the Champion, motioning to the decrepit temple surrounding them. “If he were determined to destroy every imperfection, would we still have ancient ruins?”

The challenger sent out their next pokémon. “I don’t care about ancient ruins.”

The Champion shook her head condescendingly as she collected her fainted typhlosion and released a decidueye. “Well, Lord Volo would certainly be displeased to hear that.”

“I’m not here to impress Lord Volo, I’m here to fight him!” Another one of the challenger’s pokémon, done. That was half of their team.

“I’m afraid you will have to defeat his Champion first.”

They took out her decidueye. In response, she sent out a pokémon that the challenger did not recognize—a small black figure made of thick lines, almost resembling the written character L.

“You might as well take that now,” said the Champion, as a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. How could she not see that the entire world was at stake here? If Lord Volo continued to spread his lies, if Arceus could not be returned to its former power, then—then, it would be bad!

“This isn’t a game,” the challenger spat, taking a turn to heal their nearly-fallen fourth pokémon. This was their fastest one by far, and the unfamiliar pokémon seemed to be the Champion’s weakest, so hopefully—

The challenger’s fourth pokémon fainted.

This was not part of the plan.

“Arceus told me to get you out of here,” the challenger told the Champion. “Those were its explicit instructions.”

“Ah,” said the Champion, “so you weren’t prepared for a fight with me. Just with my Lord.”

She watched him with amusement. She understood, then, that even if they managed to beat her team, they would be entering a battle with an actual deity with a single conscious pokémon.

“Unfair, isn’t it?” she taunted, and the challenger could not believe they’d mistaken her as kind.

Who was this woman, anyway? The Lord’s Champion from the dawn of this world’s existence, almost certainly immortal and incredibly skilled as a pokémon wielder…

Their mind still racing, the challenger only half-paid attention as they took out the Champion’s unknown pokémon. In its place, she sent out a togekiss.

A togekiss.

It made no sense. The challenger’s jaw dropped. “But only Lord Volo has—”

“I wield her on weekends,” the Champion said, as the world’s most sacred creature destroyed the challenger’s fifth pokémon.

There was something in her eyes now that the challenger hadn’t noticed before. It frightened them. Arceus had not warned them about this, it had only insisted that they get her out of way—

“Wait,” said the challenger, hesitating to send out their final pokémon. “She.”

The Champion raised an eyebrow, resting a hand on her hip. “She?”

“When you referred to Arceus’s fallen Hero, you called them a ‘she.’”

The Champion crossed her arms over her chest, confusion turning to delight. “I did,” she confirmed with a patronizing smile.

The challenger froze.

“I did not appreciate it,” the Champion told them, “when you called me weak.”

The challenger narrowed their eyes. “So he did defeat you.”

She did not scowl, or even wince. She almost appeared proud. “Send out your final pokémon,” she told the challenger, “and I will show you defeat.”

Togekiss chirped happily and spun in the air. The challenger prayed to Arceus as they released their final fighter: the first pokémon they had ever wielded, entrusted to them more than a decade ago.

Togekiss defeated it with a flick of a wing.

The Champion tutted pityingly as she walked closer, recalling Togekiss and reaching for her final pokéball. “Now, don’t be too hard on yourself,” she said as a pokémon emerged at her feet.

The challenger narrowed their eyes, unsure what to make of the strange misshapen figure. “But you’ve already won the battle—”

The Champion sighed, beleaguered, as the challenger became transfixed by her spiritomb’s magic. “But seemingly, still not the war.” The challenger could barely hear her final words before losing focus completely:

“Send Arceus my regards. I look forward to meeting its next challenger.”

And then everything faded to white.

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The Lord Volo’s realm was abundant in daylight. Unless, of course, he wished for it to be nighttime—then the only light came from the brilliance of the stars, arranged into elaborate images of his choosing.

He rested his cheek on his palm, smiling adoringly as his Champion approached his throne.

“Tough day at the office?” he teased, using the modern terminology she had taught him by the light of countless campfires.

She did not kneel, nor did he expect such behavior from his beloved Champion. Instead, she dropped herself right into his lap.

“We should really put a bench down there or something,” she said, playing with the hair of a god as if it were a child’s toy. “The steps are rather uncomfortable.”

“Very well,” Volo smirked, and then snapped. “Done.”

He did not actually need to snap, to create a bench atop Mount Coronet. But Volo had always been one for dramatics.

“Show-off,” said the Champion as she kissed Volo’s lips. The slight change of angle allowed him a cheeky squeeze of her clothed flesh, a brush of long fingers along her waist, and of course one mustn’t forget the chest—

“Don’t you want to know how it went?” the Champion asked, doing absolutely nothing to stop Volo’s exploration.

He smiled and hummed into the skin of her neck, feeling the coolness of her jewelry against his cheek. “Let me guess,” he said between kisses and nips, “you won the battle?”

“Always,” the Champion said, gripping Volo’s hair and pulling him closer. “Well, almost always.”

He recognized the slight self-deprecation in her voice and bit more harshly. Her noise of combined pain and pleasure was a hymn to his ears.

Volo pulled back slightly to meet his Champion’s eyes, brushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. “Well then, my fallen Hero…” He adjusted the pendant around her neck, the first gift of many from her Lord, so it rested exactly where he wished it to be. “Why don’t you show me how you live in defeat?”

She picked up his suggestive tone and returned it tenfold. “Anything for my Lord,” said the Champion of Hisui, reaching for a particular point of interest beneath Volo’s deific attire.

“You endure with such grace,” Volo praised, running a gentle hand through her hair. The Champion sighed softly and relaxed against her true Lord, far from the outsider Arceus had attempted to make her. 

And indeed, it was good.