#after spinning 360 degrees in the air

[zackcollins]

360 No-Scope moment

[homestuckreplay]

❌ CAN’T ABSCOND, BRO ❌ (THUMBS DOWN)

(page 871)

I got psyched by the narrative. I expected a GameFAQs moment after Again in the future… but instead it’s the very important [S] Dave: Abscond – the sixth [S] page within a 50-page run. A fight scene seems like an especially high effort animation project – very fast paced, lots of frames, and the same repeated movements can easily get boring to watch.

So I was interested to see how this one broke down into beats, and keeps the limited concept 'two brothers sword fight on a roof' feeling interesting throughout.

Interactive moment: Dave still on the ground defeated by Cal, reader must press pink >ABSCOND button.

(0:00-0:10) Bro slashes button with sword. Text ‘CAN’T ABSCOND, BRO’ and ‘ROUND 2’. Music begins. Bro gives thumbs down, Dave reveals grisly bleeding puppet head. Cal flashes. Text ‘STRIFE!’

(0:10-0:16) Fairly standard fight sequence – Bro and Dave on the roof, slashing swords and swapping places.

(0:16-0:20) Dave goes for a more aggressive attack. Bro kicks him into the air and knocks him down with the sword. Both land.

(0:20-0:29) Both pause and then leap into the air. Epic moment of aerial combat in front of the eye of the red storm.

(0:29-0:32) Bro spins 360 degrees and knocks Dave to the ground. He lies as if defeated.

(0:32-0:41) Bro lands and Dave immediately jumps up. They fight again on the roof, faster than before, their sprites blurred.

(0:41-0:47) Dave attempts an advanced spin attack, which fails when Bro picks him up out of the air and throws him forcefully across the roof.

(0:47-0:52) Dave somehow bounces off Bro’s elbow, due to Bro’s ninja-like movements. He whirls through the sky and slowly descends.

(0:52-0:55) Bro uses Cal to parry Dave’s fall, sending Dave flying across the roof and into the stairwell.

(0:55-infinity) Dave falls down stairs. Sweet Bro or Hella Jeff ‘I WARNED YOU ABOUT STAIRS BRO!!!!’ flashes during leftward fall, ‘I TOLD YOU DOG!’ flashes during rightward fall.

In these beats there’s a variety of speeds, different backdrops despite no actual change in location, and a lot of attention paid to how the sprites move – especially Dave, who’s compactness makes it easy to spin him like a bouncy ball. The flash feels like longer than a minute while watching, because so much gets packed into it; it’s able to give the sense of an extended, grueling fight sequence without actually playing that out.

The flash really emphasizes the size difference between Bro and Dave; it’s one thing knowing Bro is twice Dave’s age (give or take), it’s another seeing that Bro is more than twice Dave’s size, fully proportioned with real limbs that behave like an actual human’s, while Dave is some sort of seed or nugget. It feels so intrinsically wrong that these two are fighting with swords. Bro’s pointy sunglasses are menacing and his lack of a mouth makes him even more expressionless than Dave – it’s uncanny that he stays so collected and unaffected during an intense battle, and he’s absolutely ruthless, with no regard for Dave’s life or bones.

The ending implies that the first SBAHJ comic, where Sweet Bro or Hella Jeff warns the other about stairs, was Dave… processing the fact that his brother pushes him down the stairs regularly? Which might suggest that all of those comics are clues to Dave’s ‘radically debilitating patholog[y]’ (p.419) and is also something that Rose would have a FIELD DAY with if she knew about. She would love writing a psychological report on those comics. If I do it, it will be in her honor.

> Dave: Reveal which one is Sweet Bro and which one is Hella Jeff.

[kazxraval]

Downtown Seattle @emreakbar

Kaz was the first to break the eerie silence. "Said we'd need this, yeah." When they'd first entered the skyscraper, Kaz had found a pair of bolt cutters. He kept them handy as they took what felt like an endless flight of stairs up. They might need to cut a lock away. They might need an extra weapon.

As it turned out, around the 20-something floor they were greeted with a double set of chained and locked doors. Kaz handed his torch to Emre. "Hold the light for me?," he whispered with a quick smile. "Someone doesn't want us to go in there." After a heavy snip, Kaz twisted the sliced lock away.

While the floor had been mostly clearly out, a few lonely looking cubicle dividers stood in the middle of the space. A copier on the floor, its insides exploded as it laid in a pool of its own paper. The main objective was to get a decent vantage point of the city from one of the windows. This floor was lined with them, which allowed for an almost 360 degree view of the city.

But before he made it to one of those windows, Kaz detoured into a glass enclosed office. Again, mostly empty. He set the bolt cutters on a bare desk and dropped into an expensive looking leather seat behind it. "This reminds me. I've had a question for you, for awhile. What's gobby mean?"

Moments later, Kaz paused a spin in the chair and sat up taller. "Em. You hear that?" A faint noise. Maybe a rush of air from a broken window a few floors up. Or a... squeal? Who knew what kind of wildlife had invaded and proliferated the building.

Out of the two, Kaz had the better set of ears, but Emre's sense of surroundings (and danger) was far superior. "Should we... think we should get to the window and then haul ass outta here?

[holly-natnicole]

Rokku fighting Naruto then Sasuke right before the Chūnin Exams begin and Team Kakashi Trio (a.k.a. Neo-Sannin Trio, but they're not at that level yet) meeting Maito Gai (Part 1)

[Image Description: a Japanese comicbook page in digital form. It's from 'Naruto' (1999).

The first panel shows the heads of Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto. Sasuke says via a speech bubble "You want to fight me... here and now?" whilst Sakura is saying: "But that's..."

The second panel shows Rī Rokku's head & hand as he looks down at someone off-panel while holding onto a railing or a balcony with his hand and saying: "Yes!"

The third panel from above shows Rokku in mid-air due to somersaulting off the balcony or whatever he had been standing on before. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are looking up at him.

The fourth panel shows Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto from behind as they stand somewhat near a long set of stairs.

On the left of the third panel and the fourth panel, a squatting Rokku is over both instead of being inside a comicbook panel. He's scowling and had just landed onto the wooden floor of the spacious room.]

Rokku: "My name is Rock Lee."

(Side Note: That's his American English translation name. His original name is 李 六九 in Kanji & リー ロック which in Romaji are Rī Rokku.)

Rokku: "Among sticklers, etiquette requires one to introduce oneself before asking for the name of another ...Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke: ")Huh... So you knew who I was all along."

Rokku: *takes some type of martial arts stance* "I'm calling you out! I want to test the effectiveness of my techniques against the last surviving member of your legendary clan. Besides..."

Sasuke: "So you're challenging me, even knowing my lineage? In other words, you're a fool. So, dog-brow... Do you really want to learn what it means to be an Uchiha?"

Rokku: "Absolutely!!" I can hardly wait I'm going toe-to-toe with the cream of the rookie crop, first time out! Now you'll get the proof you require, Master Gai!

Naruto: "Hold it!!"

(Side Note: Sasuke, it's rude to nickname someone based on their appearance when you haven't been given permission to do so.)

Naruto: "Let me handle dog-brow. He'll be toast. Just give me five minutes."

Rokku: "I have no interest in fighting you. Only Uchiha."

Naruto: *dashes towards the older, a few inches taller ninja* "Story of my freakin' life!! 'Sasuke, this!' and 'Sasuke, that!' 'til I could just puke!"

(Side Note: Naruto, I hope you learn humility someday. No-one owes you their attention and there's nothing gross 'bout other ninja wanting to challenge Sasuke instead of you. Also, you shouldn't be using the rude nickname for a random stranger. Honestly, I hope you 2 kids learn manners some day...)

Rokku: *is in a fighting stance and has an intense facial expression*

Rokku: *suddenly kicks with 1 leg before Naruto's fist can reach the 13- or 14-year-old*

Naruto: *barely sees the kick coming and tries to dodge it, but isn't fast enough; it connects with his stomach*

Rokku: *looks down at Naruto who has 1 hand on the floor*

Rokku: *spins fast a full 360 degrees before Naruto's foot can kick the older shinobi's head*

Rokku: *left foot connects with Naruto's back* "Gale Force Technique!!"

Naruto: "AUGH!!"

Rokku: *spins fast another full 360 degrees, sending Naruto tumbling along the floor with loud thumps*

Rokku: *stands up straight* "Mark my words... None of you will beat me."

Sasuke: *frowns*

Sakura worriedly: "He's pretty tough after all. Amazing!"

[pin-crusher2000]

Earth-66: Mortal Kombat (intros, outros, fatalities)

FireWing (Jake Grayson)

Intro: runs towards camera & does a cartwheel, when his hand is on the floor, he pushes off the floor & goes into the air & does a superhero landing. He pulls out his custom made escrima sticks & twirls it.

Pre-fight (shown in MK1 2023): after being hit back by an opponent, he does a backflip & lands like Spider-Man & whips out his escrima sticks & light it up with his starbolts.

Outro: he charges his sticks with starbolt energy & puts the tips against each other & unleashed it creating a blue Nightwing logo.

Fatalities:

Star Slicer: Jake powers up his escrima sticks to create energy blades, he first chop off his opponents hands & then their stomachs, having their intestines fall out, & then chop off their head sending it into the air. When the head is falling down closer to the body, Jake then downward slashes the head & the body in half.

StarStinker: Jake powers up his escrima sticks with starbolts, turns around butt first towards the opponent, puts the sticks near his behind & creates a flamethrower using his farts setting the opponent on fire. He then smiles, fans the air around his nose & says: ewww! Who cut the cheese?

NightStar (Mar’i Grayson)

Intro: two starbolts are shot onto the ground & mar’i appears twirling into view with hair on fire. (Starfire’s intro from injustice 2)

Pre-fight: she powers up with a purple aura with her hair glowing purple & creates two starbolts & then pounds her fists together to create a small shockwave.

Outro: mar’i walks like a supermodel down a runway, twirls, & flies into the air with a smile on her face.

Fatalities:

Star Barrage: mar’i charges her starbolts in her hand & blasts the opponent; both arms & chest revealing their heart beating. The opponent falls to their knees & mar’i blasts their head off.

The Flying Grayson: using her starbolts, mar’i launches herself high into the air, & while coming down, she does a quadruple somersault & lands on the opponent shoulders (powerbomb wrestling position) & stabs the opponents face with a starbolt energy blade. Then she does a hurricanrana, ripping the head off with the spine attached.

ThunderHeart (Irey West)

Intro: she appears onto the screen using her super speed & takes off her hood. She then says: “can’t catch me!” And spits a raspberry. (The flash intro from injustice)

Prefight: she vibrates & gets into a battle position.

Outro: she gets into a running position & runs towards the camera, an electric heart appears behind her.

Fatalities:

Spin around: Irey appears behind the opponent using the speed force (how flash appears as an opponent in injustice 2) & kicks the opponent between the legs causing them to fall onto their knees. She then holds onto the opponent’s head & using her super speed, runs a circle around them twisting their head 360 degrees.

Around the world: Irey appears behind the opponent & gives them a wedgie, dropping them to their knees. She then runs around the world & infinite mass punches her opponent in the face causing it to fly. (The flash’s special move in injustice 1)

Surge (Jai West)

Intro: runs into frame, create lightning between his hands & shoots it short range.

Prematch: rubs hands together using super speed to create lightning & claps his hands together to create a thunderclap; causing a shockwave.

Outro: creates an electric ball in one of his hand & dashes towards the camera hands pointing out. (Think of chidori from naruto)

Fatalities:

Power Clap: Jai rubs his hands together to create lighting & shoots it towards the opponents chest creating a hole. The opponent falls to their knees & Jai then does a thunderclap between the opponent’s head, causing it to explode. Jai says: “and you get a thunderclap!”

Surge Shock: Jai appears behind the opponent & put his electric hands on his opponent’s butt & shocks them; burning the opponent. Jai then fans the area near his nose & says: something stinks.

Red Cat (Lian Harper)

Intro: Lian zip lines down towards the camera & does a roll with her arrow onto her bow ready to fire. (Green arrows intro from injustice 1)

Prefight: Lian spins her bow while reaching for an arrow, & gets ready to use it. (Putting arrow next to bow to launch it.)

Outro: throws an apple into the air & shoots an arrow into it.

Fatalities:

Nuke Arrow: Lian shoots a boxing glove arrow into the opponent’s crotch, causing them to fall onto their knees. She then shoots two regular arrows into the opponent’s eyes & shoots an arrow with a nuke symbol at them; a far away view shows a nuclear explosion.

Choke-and-arrow: Lian shoots two arrows at the opponent’s feet, causing them to be stuck, she then flips over them with the bow & breaks their neck with it. (The string)

WonderBoy (Robert Long)

Intro: comes into view dragging his sword onto the ground creating sparks, he then raises the sword in front of him.

Prefight: he stops himself with the sword & then swings it a few times. After the second swing, the sword catches fire & Robert slams it onto the ground, causing a burst of fire to come out.

Outro: runs at the camera & leaps towards it ready to downward slash it.

Fatalities:

Lasso of Death: Robert throws & wraps the opponent with rope & jumps into the air, he then spins the opponent in a circle & slams the opponent into the ground causing them to explode. (Wonder Woman fatality from the MK vs DC game)

Power of the gods: Robert gains red bright hair & uppercuts the opponent into the air with fire hands (god of war mode) & then gains light blue hair & slams his opponent into the ground with water “whips” around their legs (god of Sea) finally he gains dark blue hair & shocks the opponent to death. (god of thunder)

Kid Tempest (Cerdian)

Intro: jumps out of a “puddle” & superhero lands with trident in hand.

Prefight: uses the trident to stop himself, spins the trident around in a circle & slams the tip (not the sharp ends) onto the ground.

Outro: shoots out purple lasers from his eyes to the ground & at the camera, after a “blink” it shows Cerdian holding the trident with both hands with it sideways & purple flames around him.

Fatalities:

Shark Bait: Cerdian stabs the opponent in the stomach & lifts him up, a shark comes out of nowhere & starts eating the opponent. (Aquaman’s special move from injustice 1)

Arts of Atlantis: Cerdian shoots a beam of water at the opponents face, causing the skin to rip off showing the skull. He then creates an energy blast made of fire & punches through the opponent & lifts them up. Finally, he shoots purple lasers from his eyes at the head causing it to explode.

SunSlinger (Jon Kent)

Intro: superhero lands on the ground, adjust his cowboy hat, & gets into a battle stance.

Prefight: twists his revolvers in a circle & stops with the barrels pointed at his opponent.

Outro: puts guns in gun holster & fly’s towards the camera with a smile on his face.

Fatalities:

Solar Bullet: Jon fires two non-lethal solar rounds into the opponent’s knees causing them to fall, Jon transforms into his Super Solar mode & charges a heat vision laser from his eyes & blasted the opponents head off.

Super Pound: Jon pounds his opponent into the ground & super kicks his opponents head off. (Superman’s heroic brutality from MKvsDC)

Robin V (Damian Wayne)

Intro: runs into view, does an upside down front flip & lands unleashing his sword. (Intro from injustice 2)

Prefight: uses his sword to stop himself & then put the blade in front of him. (Finishing intro from injustice 2)

Outro: his sword glows green & a flaming green demon head floats behind him as he poses.

Fatalities:

Demonized Assassin: his sword slashes from his injustice 2 special move but with a green glow but he chops the opponent’s head off.

Demon Goal: Damian chops off his opponents hands & kicks them in the crotch, causing them to fall to their knees, he then slices the head off, put the head in his hands & kicks it like a soccer ball with a whistle noise in the background.

WonderLad (Hunter Trevor)

Intro: walk towards the camera bashing his sword against his shield. (Wonder Woman intro from injustice 2)

Prefight: stops himself with his sword & raises it towards opponent.

Outro: takes out lasso, twirls it around his head & throws it towards the camera.

Fatalities:

Lasso Of Snap: Hunter wraps his opponent with his lasso around their body, he then wraps it around his opponent’s neck & pulls snapping their neck.

Ares Wrath’s: Hunter gains red aura, hair, & eyes & shoots a fireball at the opponent, knocking them flat on their back. Hunter then raises his hand to have hundreds of arrows rain down onto the opponent.

AquaBoy (Arthur Curry Jr.)

Intro: walks into frame picking up a trident that has electricity around it when it got picked up & does a battle pose.

Prefight: raises trident in the air, & lightning comes down to strike it, & gets into a battle position.

Outro: Arthur spins a water ball around him & throws it towards the camera.

Fatalities:

Thunder Trident: Arthur stabs the opponent in the chest with his trident & shoots out electricity causing the opponent to explode.

Reverse Waterboard: Arthur, using his water powers, takes water out of the opponent’s mouth until blood starts coming out & then the opponent’s intestines comes out of their mouth. (A more “kid friendly” version of what Mera did to Steppenwolf in Zack Snyder’s Justice League)

HawkBoy (Hector Hall)

Intro: flys on screen & slides to stop, he then whips out his mace & spins it.

Prefight: swings mace a few times & puts it over his shoulders with a smirk.

Outro: flys into the air & towards the camera with his mace above him ready to downward smash the camera with an angry look on his face.

Fatalities:

Savage Beast: Hector kicks his opponent in the crotch, causing them to fall to their knees, & then starts smashing the opponent that covers the screen/camera in blood. ( kinda like jokers x-ray move in MK11)

Hawk God: the area goes black & the camera shows the opponent, a giant hawk appears behind them & starts eating the opponent.

Green Canary (Connor Lance Queen)

Intro: runs towards the camera & then slides plus does a 360 spin.

Prefight: Canary Cries into the air & gets into a battle pose.

Outro: Shrieks a canary cry at the camera.

Fatalities:

Loud Death: Connor shoots two arrows into his opponent’s feet & then canary cries at the opponent; slowing losing their skin, organs, & body parts.

Boxing Glove Arrow: Connor shoots two arrows at the opponent’s knees, causing them to fall forwards, he then shoots a boxing glove arrow at the opponent’s face causing it to fly & fall backwards.

PhantomWing (Chris Kent)

Intro: glides into frame with dark wings & aura surrounding him.

Prefight: charges up a blue & black (dark) aura around him & does a “pump up” move setting it “flying” (think of the pump up moves in the dbz budokai tenkaichi games)

Outro: a dark aura surrounds Chris, he flys into the air & unleashes it with glowing blue eyes & a dark blue dragon behind him.

Fatalities:

Dark Shadows: Chris creates two “shadow-whips”from his hands & rips his opponent’s arms off & then their head.

Nightwing: Chris summons the Nightwing entity (a blue & black dragon with deep glowing blue eyes) & have it eats the opponent. (Liu kangs fatality from MK2 & MK9)

StarChild (Otho-Ra)

Intro: walks intro frame dragging a blue energy sword on the ground & thusts it towards the camera.

Prefight: swings the sword a few times & holds it with both hands.

Outro: shoots blue heat vision on the ground & slowly towards the camera creating a white flash, it then goes to show Otho & the background surround by blue fire & shows her holding her blue sword (holds it in a similar pose when she saw a future of herself where she stays at Warworld in the annual action comic 2023)

Fatalities:

Star-Protector: Otho slashes the opponent’s midsection & then summons a blue S shield made of blue energy & flys towards the opponent splitting them in half & set the organs flying.

Star-Slash: Otho kicks the opponent in the crotch, causing them to fall to their knees & then chops the head leaving the energy sword stuck in the skull.

Red Son (Osul-Ra)

Intro: a red energy battle axe is slammed into the ground, & Osul walks into frame, picks it up, & places it on his shoulders.

Prefight: he spins it & slams it into the ground causing rocks & dust to fly in the air, he raises it up & gets into a battle position.

Outro: Osul walks a few steps, he raises the axe in the air (the camera shifts facing him) & shouts: “Fight Master!” With a grin & giggles.

Fatalities:

Look out below!: Osul kicks the opponent in the gut, sending them on their back, & jumps & throws the battle axe at the opponent, he lands & scapes the opponent with the axe cutting them down. (Shao Khan’s fatality from MK2023)

Crimson Axe: Osul fires a red energy beam from his hand into the opponent’s chest & stomach area, the heart appears & the opponent drops to their knees, & then Osul slams his axe into the opponent’s skull leaving it there.

Red Bird (Mara Al Ghul)

Intro: walks into frame, takes out dagger & gets into a battle position.

Prefight: unleashes a dark red aura around her.

Outro: walks towards camera with a dark red aura around her, a dark red energy demon face appears behind her.

Fatalities:

Demon Fist: Mara charges an energy fist & punches through an opponent’s chest ripping out their heart & squeezes it.

Demon Slicer: Mara takes out her dagger, covered in dark red energy & slashes at the opponent; arms, legs, head & body.

Animal Girl (Maxine Baker)

Intro: walks into frame with a red panther walking besides her.

Prefight: stops herself with giant energy claws & roars at the opponent. (There is a panther roar “overlapping”)

Outro: Maxine creates red wings & floats in the air.

Fatalities:

Avatar of The Red: Maxine rhino charges at the opponent sending them on their back & she summons a panther to maul the opponent.

Into the Red: the “entrance” to the red itself appears & swallows the opponent whole, & the terrifying creatures there starts attacking the opponent.

Beacon (Kathy Branden)

Intro: floats into frame with purple forcefields in her hands.

Prefight: surrounds herself in a purple force field & unleashed it causing a shockwave.

Outro: she turns around butt facing the camera, kisses her hand & pats her butt. XD I’m kidding: she floats up in the air with a twirl & unleashed a purple shockwave.

Fatalities:

Sonic Boom: Kathy lifts up the opponent using telekinesis & shoots out a telekinetic blast from her hand causing the opponent’s spine & organs come out their back.

Purple-field: she creates a purple forcefield around her opponent & crushes them.

AnimalLad (Clifford Baker)

Intro: walks into frame with a red wolf besides him.

Prefight: roars at the opponent with a wolf bark overlapping.

Outro: screams into the air, the camera flies into the air & it shows a red wolf howling at the moon. (Nightwolf’s Outro from MK11)

Fatalities:

Hunting Wolf: Cliff summons a red energy wolf & mauls the opponent.

Savage Red: Cliff transforms into his Savage Red mode & starts tearing up the opponent, ripping out their organs & crushing their head.

Valor (Conner Kent)

Intro: arrives vile skateboard & does a heel flip & stops.

Prefight: his sunglasses break after being pushed back, he shouts either: Shit! or fuck! He eyes then gets red with heat vision.

Outro: he reaches behind him & grabs another pair of glasses & puts it on using his middle finger.

Fatalities:

Tactile telekinesis: Connor puts his hands on the ground, setting off a shockwave underneath the opponent setting them flying in the air. Conner then jumps towards the opponent & puts his hands on them & does a shockwave attack sending the opponent towards the ground exploding in pieces.

Super Radical: Conner takes a skateboard & beats the opponent to death with it. A camera cut shows Conner doing a kick flip over the opponent (right above the opponent , he lifts his pink & index fingers to the camera) & lands.

Crowly (Colin Wilkes)

Intro: a wall is seen when suddenly, somebody leaves a brass knuckle mark into it revealing the name abuse or a Batman symbol in it. The camera cuts to Colin turning to the opponent.

Prefight: Colin grows big & roars into the air, & then shrinks back down.

Outro: Colin grows big, walks towards the camera & fists bumps himself before posing to punch the camera.

Fatalities:

Bane of my existence: Colin grows big & grabs the opponent & raises them over his head, & then slams them over his knee twice, the second time breaks them completely & their intestines comes out. Colin then throws them to the floor.

Boxer Bird: Colin (small with muscles) tackles the opponent & sits on top of them. He then rapidly punches them causing blood to cover him & the screen.

FlameBird (Suren Darga)

Intro: flys in frame with fire wings.

Prefight: surrounds himself with a fire aura & summons a fireball to blow out with his breath.

Outro: surrounds himself with fire & then creates a massive energy avatar made out of fire. (Think of susanno from naruto or the blue Superman avatar from recent action comics with metallo).

Fatalities:

FlameBird: summons a giant bird made of fire & it pecks at the opponent.

Fire Fist Suren: Suren charges a fist made with fire & punches through the opponent, he then sets the opponent ablaze.

[callioclops]

Been thinking a lot about accessibility options in fighting games recently, specifically the balancing issues that arise with simplified control schemes. I want to go over a few examples and talk about the problems they come with.

So just to elaborate on what I mean by simplified control schemes, fighting games since their inception have used motion based inputs for special moves. What this means is doing a motion on the control stick, then pressing a button. Common motions include quarter-circles and holding back for a short period before flicking forward, but some more complex ones also appear like 360 degree spins and also the dreaded "pretzel motion" from King of Fighters. Simplified control schemes take these and instead assign special moves to holding a direction and then pressing a dedicated special move button.

I'm not here to argue about how these simplified control schemes are for accessibility, becuase they are fantastic and I don't think there's really a debate to be made in that regard. It allows for people who can't perform the inputs for any number of reasons to still be able to enjoy fighting games, and the more people that are able to do that the better as far as I'm concerned. Hell, it's even opened up more character options for me, since I've never been able to do 360 inputs no matter how hard I try which had locked me out of several characters entirely. While I'm on this brief tangent about accessibility though I would like to give a special shoutout to Street Fighter 6, which not only has this simplified control scheme but also a blind option that gives all kind of audio cues to tell you distance from your opponent, what side you're on etc. I've watched a blind man win tournament sets of SF6 and I think that's beautiful.

With that out of the way, the main thing I want to talk about is the balancing issue that comes with these simplified control schemes. Moves are inherently balanced around their motion. Bigger and more complicated motions will take more time to do and leave you more vulnerable. Take the classic shoryuken input for example. This input is typically used on moves that have some sort of invincibility at the start, and are effective at hitting the opponent out of the air. The motion in question is forward, then down, then down and forward. The entire time you're doing this you are vulnerable, as most fighting games require you to hold back to block, so if you're too slow you can get punished. Sometimes it's better to use a faster, but less effective anti-air option as a result of the input. With simplified controls though, the direction used is forward. Still not blocking, but probably only for a frame or two before the move comes out. This problem only gets exasperated as you take a look at the grapplers, who most commonly have big and arduous inputs. Simplified inputs are inherently better, so there has to be a balancing factor added to them. Here's a few ways people have done it:

Damage Reduction:

This is a simple one, and by far the most common. As a trade-off for easier inputs, you have a percentage damage reduction on all of your special moves. Street Fighter 6 is one example, giving a 10% damage penalty to simple inputs, and in the other direction Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising gives a 10% damage bonus if you use to motion input. This is more noticeable than you might initially think, and can definitely be the difference between a win or a loss.

Resource Expenditure:

As far as I'm aware this method is exclusive to DNF Duel. DNF is built primarily around simplified inputs, so instead of a penalty on those it gives a bonus to motion inputs. This bonus being that your MP - the resource needed to use your special moves - begins regenerating sooner after executing the move. This is relatively low impact until you get to the higher levels of play. I personally love to lab combo routes, and have come across several instances where a motion input is required otherwise I run out of MP. If you couldn't use motion inputs, this would lead to slightly unoptimized combos, missing a small amount of damage here and there (I would lose about 30 damage in a 500 damage combo, so fully optimized I'd guess at this being about equivalent to 6% damage reduction). Obviously this method is contingent on having a resource to use for simple inputs in your fighting game. Street Fighter 6 couldn't do this unless they tied it to the drive gauge, which would be a terrible idea.

Don't have motion inputs:

This is the strategy taken by the upcoming Project L, where they've simply done away with motion inputs all together. And I think this is where I was leading to with this particular tangent, because there is no way to perfectly balance a game with both motion inputs and simple inputs. If you want to have motion inputs in your game I think it's correct to have simple inputs as well, not just from an inclusivity standpoint but also a commercial one as well. but that will always come with a necessary nerf to the effectiveness of those simple inputs. If you don't want motion inputs, you can balance around simple inputs freely. If one button dragon punches are the norm, how do we make that not broken? Whether you think the answer is implementing dashes or air-blocking or what have you, it's a question that can actually be answered when only simple inputs exist. Trying to balance around single button DPs is a fool's errand when a large portion of your player base will prefer using motion inputs, because it will just make theirs feel even worse by comparison.

TL;DR, I'm glad simple inputs are a thing because more people get to experience fighting games, but at the same time when used in tandem with motion inputs there will always be an issue with balancing the two control schemes against each other.

[netherzon]

Timbits Disappearing Act

Whelp, recently I mentioned an old fanfiction I read awhile ago that had an idea I liked, but a plot that I didn’t really, so here’s my take on it I guess?

Inspired by this post, although it ended up more like Canada is still just invisible. Its in the tags on that post that I mentioned the other fic

Also sorry about the ending, I couldn’t think of anything more satisfying than whatever people imagine Alfred had to do to earn the timbit’s forgiveness.

Very few nations knew this about him, but Canada loved donuts. Almost as much as he loved maple syrup. If he had to choose, he’d probably rank donuts in third place. First place would be maple syrup, obviously. Second place would be maple donuts.

He never tried to hide this fact, but almost nobody knew because most of the nations couldn’t really see him. 

He had theorized before about why that is. He used to think maybe it was because he wasn’t likable enough, but he’s pretty much as likable as a nation can be, and nothing changed. Then he thought maybe he wasn’t exciting enough, but even inventing a sport where people tied knives to their feet and tackled each other on purpose hadn’t changed anything. That’s when he started thinking: maybe it wasn’t him exactly, maybe it was circumstance.

There were so many nations. Very few of them ever actually got to talk during a world meeting. Dialogue was not split evenly. It was a competitive environment, and while Canada wasn’t bothered by competition per se, having a say during the global meetings wasn’t usually something he was motivated to do.

He was cozy where he was. He used to be a bit resentful of his brother, how people just seemed to pay attention to him naturally. Alfred just always seemed to have the spotlight. Over time though...

“America!” 

he learned to appreciate the benefits of near invisibility.

Alfred’s attention moves back to the front of the room, where Austria had been giving his presentation. Matthew takes the opportunity to lean over and grab another timbit from the box his brother stole from him.

Austria was glaring up at Alfred from his spot by the podium, “How many times do we have to tell you not to bring food to meetings?”

“Well, it worked after four, but this is the nineteenth time your askin me that, so my bet is on a number higher than nineteen,” Alfred says with a winning smile. 

Multiple sighs and groans echoed around the room.

“Huh,” Matthew mutters around a mouthful of donut, “even Austria is getting on your ass about it now. You really should stop eating at meetings, Alfred.”

Alfred’s smile doesn’t slip an inch as he spins in his chair to flip Matthew the bird, and Matthew laughs in response.

Across the room, England frowned, “what kind of maths is that supposed to be? If it's the nineteenth time, then it didn’t work after the fourth.”

Alfred continues his chair spin till he’s gone 360 degrees around to point back at Arthur, “Yeah, except for it did! I haven’t brought any food to a meeting since the fourth time y’all told me not to!”

“America, you have two boxes of…,” Germany frowned, “What do you call those again?”

“Munchkins,” Alfred answers automatically, glancing innocently over at Matthew, “they’re from Dunkin.”

Matthew sucks in a breath and almost chokes. Alfred scoots over to pat him hard on the back, but keeps his eyes on Germany. Matthew tries to glare at his brother anyway. Hopefully he got his point across without words. If my windpipe wasn’t full of delicious TIMBITS right now, you’d be in so much pain. 

“Right,” Germany says, clearly confused to see Alfred waving his hand in the air strangely, “whatever they are, you have two boxes of them. Sitting right in front of you.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t bring those,” Alfred replies simply.

Matthew, recovered from what would have been one of his most embarrassing deaths yet (even if it was only Alfred who noticed), decides to enact his revenge. First though, he’ll grab another handful of timbits.

“Then who did?” Arthur asks.

Alfred points directly at Matthew, his finger almost poking his brother’s nose. His brother, who is frozen with one hand deep in the box of timbits, right in front of everyone at the meeting. 

“Canada,” Alfred says.

There was a moment of silence, and the whole room seemed to pause. Everyone was looking in Matthew’s direction. He could feel himself starting to blush with embarrassment. Alfred looks pleasantly surprised; he hadn’t been expecting that to work either, but it would be nice to not be the only one in trouble for once. Figures the first time Alfred rats me out suddenly everyone can see-

“Who?” he hears.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” Alfred cries, throwing up his hands.

Matthew releases a breath, half relief and half disappointment. He grabs both boxes of timbits and slides them back towards his seat.

“Canada!” Alfred says again, still pointing, “Right there! The nation of Canada? My brother?”

Everyone just looked confused. 

“The one covered in donut crumbs!” Alfred continues. This makes Matthew glance down at his suit. There were a couple pieces of glaze sticking to his tie, but it wasn’t that bad.

“He brings donuts to every meeting! Every time I get yelled at for having donuts, Canada is the one who brought them. He’s practically addicted!”

Austria is rubbing his temples, “None of this is even important,” he snaps, “I do not care where the doughnuts originally came from. The problem is I can’t even hear myself think over the sound of you chewing.”

Alfred sighs, exasperated, and reaches towards Matthew and the two boxes of timbits, “It's not my fault you have super hearing, Beethoven.” Matthew scoots away, clutching the boxes close to his chest.

Austria’s face flushes, “Beethoven was deaf,” he scoffs, “and German.”

Alfred is looking solely at Matthew though, “bro, you cannot be serious.”

Matthew shakes his head solemnly, “you disrespected my timbits, bro. Disrespect the timbits, and you lose timbits privileges.”

“Wha-, so you’re really not gonna share anymore?” Alfred asks, incredulously.

“You know why it has to be this way,” Matthew says in the most serious voice he has.

“Aw c’mon, Matt, they’re not that different.”

Matthew narrows his eyes with actual irritation. “Go on, dig the hole deeper, I’ll wait.”

Alfred does the smart thing and pauses to consider the options. Insist on being right (because he is) but also end up arguing with Matthew and no donuts, or talk him into sharing...

Alfred puts on what he calls his ‘straight-talkin face’. “Alright, what do ya want for ‘em?”

[magicalincorrectrobodokiquotes]

"Jackhouse of Horrors (transformation)" Clip

"Kiruru!"

"Mirror of Miracles,"

"Magical Set!"

"Lend me your magic!" As the group said those words, the background behind them transformed into a mixture of bright yellow, pastel orange, bright purple, silver and light pink. Bob waved his hand over his compact mirror, causing it to float into the air and for his entire body to gain a teal-colored shirt and shorts combo. Buzz, Nate, Roxanne, Kandi, Avery and Booloo did the same, but their outfits were light red, neon green, lavender, white, neon orange and yellow colored respectively. And after a few backflips, Kiruru flew into Aianna's chest, giving her a metallic chestplate and turning Kiruru into a jewel resembling the paint and gem that acted as the robot's core.

"Doki!" Aianna yelled,

"Doki!" then the other 7,

"Lovely Start!" The group yelled together as they immediately began to spin around each other, before separating out in their own transformations. For everyone except Aianna, the compact flipped 360 degrees before it landed on their chests. Then all their compacts solidified into a metallic chest plate, transforming into a built in jewel as their sleeves/sleeve details formed on their shoulders.

For Aianna, cotton candy blue and pastel pink hearts flew out of the screen as she leapt upwards and continued to spin around in the air, hands crossed in an x shaped formation across her chest. Two lightning strikes hit Bob's arms and surrounded them with magic, to which he crossed them into an x shape. That movement created his white gloves. Buzz did so too as fire went down his sleeves, as did Roxanne with her star dust, Nate with his pixels, Kandi with her fireworks, Avery with their gears and Booloo with her faceated butterflies. Then everyone rejoined the same transformation plane as they all thrusted out their hands to the sides, grasping each others hands as the details formed onto their gloves. They spun each other around in gradually increasing speed as their hair gained their signature styles and accessories, including the visors, before using the momentum to fling themselves back into separate transformation planes.

Robodoki crashed into the pile of hearts as normal, while Buzz and Bob's pillars of their respective elements allowed them to screech to a halt, Roxanne used the momentum to begin diving down, and Nate skidded to a stop, posing as the polygons hit him. Avery pulled out Rose as they jumped into a pile of orange gears, causing Rose to gain sentience. Booloo also began to ground pound through gemstone platforms while Kandi flew down to her pillar. All eight forms of magic made their outfits and boots, and as Kiruru screamed her battle cry the team began to recite their speeches.

"When two hearts collide, then anything can happen!" Robodoki thrusted her arms out as if offering a hug for the first part of the sentence, spreading more cotton candy hearts out, before transitioning to a spin on the second part. Right on cue, a giant blue key summoned in her right hand, and she placed it behind her just before widening her stance and posing. Both of her hands formed in a heart shape on the right side of her chest.

"Call me Robodoki, cuz' I'll make your heart race!"

"The power of love that'll leave you in shock!" Bob covered his hands across his heart for the first part of that sentence, before transitioning to posing with a peace signs, almost failing to grab the keyblade as it fell. Nevertheless, after fumbling with it a bit he stuck it behind him, before spinning one last time and widening his stance. His hands formed a diamond shape to the right of his chest.

"Call me Robodenki, cuz' I'll light up your heart!"

"The power of courage that'll grow with the flames!" Buzz covered his hands across his heart for the first part of that sentence, before proceeding to punch and kick a bunch, catching his clover key and placing it behind him during that sequence. Then, he spun one last time and widened his stance, his hands forming a clover shape to the right of his chest.

"Call me Robohino, cuz I'll make your heart burn!"

"The power of strength that will shoot for the stars!" Roxanne covered her hands across her heart for the first part of that sentence, before flipping her hair dramatically and punching her fists together. After catching her key and placing it behind her, she spun one last time and widened her stance, her hands forming a spade shape to the right of her chest.

"Call me Robohoshi, cuz' I'll fix your heart's wishes!"

"The power of wit that'll glitch out the evil!" Nate covered his hands across his heart for the first part of that sentence, before blowing a kiss towards the audience with a wink, a flirting smirk on his face. Then, he caught his key, tossed it in his slot, spun one last time and widened his stance. His right hand formed a J on the right of his chest.

"Call me Robopixel, cuz' I'll patch your hurt heart!"

"The power of caring that shines like a diamond!" Booloo covered her hands across her heart for the first part of that sentence, before moving her fist up and down, as if doing a game of rock paper scissors. After opening her hand and doing a peace sign over her right eye, she spun one last time and widened her stance, her left hand forming an A to the right of her chest. 

"Call me Robopika, cuz' I'll fix your gold heart!"

“The power of creativity that’ll work up a storm/bloom like a garden!” Avery and Rose covered their hands across their hearts for the first part of that sentence, awkwardly chuckling as Rose leapt into their arms. Then, they spun one last time and widened their stances, Avery’s left hand forming a J to the left of their chest and Rose putting her right nub on her chest. 

“Call me Robomecha/Roboteddy cuz’ I’ll make your heart spark/bloom!”

"The power of sass that lights up the sky!" Kandi covered her hands across her heart for the first part of that sentence, before strutting towards the camera. After flipping her pigtailed hair dramatically, she spun one last time and widened her stance, her left hand forming a K to the right of her chest.

"Call me Robobanban, cause I'll make your heart BOOM!"

"With our lovely hearts, the future will start!" The magical girls, now holding hands with Robodoki in the center, recited the speech while quickly spinning each other, transitioning to a playful embrace. Then they dramatically faced the enemy as they completed their second spin, posing with widened stances and salutes over their foreheads.

"We'll make your heart race! Magical Robodoki!"

(pic coming soon)

[alertfacts]

What Do Jumping Spiders Eat? Insects, Prey, and More!

Jumping spiders—these tiny, agile acrobats of the arachnid world—are nothing short of fascinating! With their keen eyesight, quick reflexes, and vibrant personalities, they capture the curiosity of nature enthusiasts and casual observers alike. But have you ever wondered, what do jumping spiders eat? This question might seem straightforward, but when you dive deeper into the world of these little hunters, you’ll discover a surprising variety in their diet. Let’s explore the culinary world of jumping spiders and uncover the secrets of their eating habits.

The Unique Hunting Style of Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders don’t rely on webs to catch their food like many of their arachnid relatives. Instead, they’re active hunters, leaping onto their prey with precision and speed. Their incredible eyesight, which includes four pairs of eyes, allows them to track movements with astonishing accuracy. It’s no wonder these spiders can hunt such a wide range of prey! But before we get into the specifics of what jumping spiders eat, let’s take a closer look at how they hunt.

A Sight to Behold: The Vision of Jumping Spiders

If you’ve ever had the chance to observe a jumping spider up close, you’ve probably noticed their large, forward-facing eyes. These spiders have the best vision among all arachnids, thanks to their two large primary eyes that offer a focused view of their surroundings. The additional smaller eyes give them a nearly 360-degree field of vision, making it almost impossible for prey to escape their notice. This exceptional vision is a crucial part of their hunting strategy, as it allows them to stalk and pounce on their prey with pinpoint accuracy.

The Leap of Faith: How Jumping Spiders Attack

When a jumping spider spots its next meal, it doesn’t waste any time. Instead of spinning a web and waiting, it locks onto its target, carefully calculating the distance and angle of its jump. Then, with a burst of energy, it leaps through the air, sometimes covering many times its body length, to land directly on its unsuspecting victim. It’s a deadly combination of stealth and speed that few prey animals can escape.

What Do Jumping Spiders Eat? A Varied Menu

So, what exactly do these agile hunters eat? The diet of jumping spiders is surprisingly diverse, and it varies depending on the species, habitat, and availability of prey. Here’s a breakdown of some of their favorite foods:

1. Insects and Arthropods: The Staples

The primary diet of most jumping spiders consists of insects and other arthropods. They’ll feast on a wide variety of small critters, including:

Flies: These buzzing insects are a common target for jumping spiders. With their quick reflexes, spiders can catch flies mid-flight, making them a staple in their diet.

Moths: Attracted by light, moths often fall prey to jumping spiders that hunt during the evening hours.

Crickets and Grasshoppers: While these insects are a bit larger, some species of jumping spiders have no problem taking them down, especially if they’re young or injured.

Beetles: The hard exoskeleton of beetles doesn’t deter jumping spiders. They’ll go after smaller species or young beetles that are easier to subdue.

2. Other Spiders: Cannibalistic Tendencies

Interestingly, jumping spiders aren’t shy about hunting and eating other spiders, including those of their own species. This behavior is more common when food is scarce, but some jumping spiders have developed a taste for their fellow arachnids. They’ll carefully approach another spider, avoiding its web, and strike when the moment is right.

3. Pollinators: Nectar and Pollen as Snacks

While it might surprise you, some species of jumping spiders have been observed feeding on nectar and pollen from flowers. Although they’re primarily carnivorous, these spiders won’t pass up a sugary snack if it’s available. This behavior is more common in tropical regions where flowers are abundant, and it adds a unique twist to their diet.

4. Eggs: The Next Generation's Meal

Jumping spiders are opportunistic feeders, and they won’t hesitate to consume insect eggs if they come across them. These tiny, protein-rich packages are easy pickings for a hungry spider, and they provide a quick and nutritious meal.

5. Small Vertebrates: A Rare Delicacy

While it’s rare, some larger species of jumping spiders have been known to tackle small vertebrates like lizards or frogs. This is not a common occurrence, but it highlights the impressive hunting capabilities of these tiny predators. When prey is scarce, jumping spiders may take on a more ambitious meal.

The Role of Habitat in Their Diet

The environment in which a jumping spider lives plays a significant role in determining what it eats. Spiders that live in forests, for example, have access to a wide variety of insects and other arthropods, while those in arid regions might focus more on insects that are adapted to the dry climate. Similarly, urban-dwelling jumping spiders might feast on houseflies, cockroaches, and other pests commonly found in human habitations.

Adapting to the Urban Jungle

In cities, jumping spiders often find themselves in close proximity to humans. This has led them to adapt their diet to include pests like cockroaches and houseflies, which are abundant in urban environments. These spiders help control the population of these insects, making them an essential part of the urban ecosystem.

Forest and Grassland Hunters

In more natural settings, jumping spiders have a broader menu to choose from. Forest-dwelling species might go after a wide range of insects, from ants and beetles to butterflies and moths. In grasslands, they might focus more on crickets, grasshoppers, and other ground-dwelling insects. The diversity of their diet in these environments is a testament to their adaptability as hunters.

Seasonal Changes in Diet

The diet of a jumping spider can also change with the seasons. During the warmer months, when insects are plentiful, they might stick to their favorite prey like flies and beetles. However, as the weather cools and insect populations decline, jumping spiders might become more opportunistic, going after whatever prey they can find. In some cases, they might even enter a state of torpor, slowing down their metabolism and reducing their need for food until conditions improve.

Winter Survival Strategies

In colder climates, some jumping spiders have developed fascinating strategies for surviving the winter months. While many insects die off or go into hibernation, these spiders might seek shelter in crevices or under bark, where they can remain relatively safe from the cold. They’ll hunt less frequently during this time, conserving energy and relying on any fat reserves they’ve built up during the warmer months. In some cases, they might even consume stored food, such as prey they've cached away for later.

Adapting to Food Scarcity

When food is scarce, jumping spiders have shown an impressive ability to adapt. They might expand their diet to include less-preferred prey or even scavenge on dead insects. Their opportunistic nature allows them to survive in environments where other predators might struggle.

The Impact of Jumping Spiders on Their Ecosystem

Jumping spiders play a crucial role in their ecosystems, acting as both predator and prey. By consuming a wide variety of insects and other arthropods, they help control pest populations and maintain a balance within their habitats. However, they’re also an important food source for larger predators, including birds, lizards, and other spiders.

Pest Control Heroes

One of the most significant contributions of jumping spiders is their role in controlling pest populations. In agricultural settings, for example, these spiders can help keep crop-damaging insects in check, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. In urban areas, they help manage populations of houseflies, cockroaches, and other pests, making them a valuable ally in pest control.

A Delicate Balance in Nature

While jumping spiders are effective hunters, they’re also part of a larger food web. Birds, lizards, and other predators rely on them as a food source, making them an essential link in the chain of life. This balance ensures that no single species dominates the ecosystem, allowing for a diverse and healthy environment.

Why Should We Care About What Jumping Spiders Eat?

Understanding what jumping spiders eat gives us insight into their behavior, ecology, and the role they play in our world. These tiny predators are more than just fascinating creatures to observe—they’re an integral part of the ecosystems they inhabit. By learning more about their diet and hunting habits, we can better appreciate the complexity of nature and the delicate balance that sustains it.

Promoting Biodiversity

Jumping spiders contribute to the biodiversity of their habitats by keeping insect populations in check and providing food for other animals. Protecting these spiders and their habitats is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Encouraging Natural Pest Control

By encouraging the presence of jumping spiders in gardens, farms, and urban areas, we can reduce the need for chemical pesticides. These spiders are natural pest controllers, and their presence can help keep harmful insect populations under control.

Conclusion

So, what do jumping spiders eat? The answer is as diverse as the spiders themselves. From insects and arthropods to other spiders and even small vertebrates, these agile hunters have a varied and adaptable diet. Their role in controlling pest populations and maintaining the balance of their ecosystems makes them an essential part of the natural world. By understanding their diet and behavior, we can better appreciate the intricate web of life that connects all living things.

[brandonwaratah01]

♥️ Ceramic Art - 2025 💚

- B r a n d o n W a r a t a h 0 1 -

“ I am hoping to make, create and do many ceramic creativity to hopefully sell depending on stock levels in the year 2025 onwards. If it happens, I’d prefer to have it done and ready by December, 2025 into January, 2026. There are experienced pottery tutors / teachers that have verbally stated the same / similar stated idea(s) at different conversations for me to have their idea(s) and pursue whenever ready. I’d want models to pose with my ceramic art. Family members could be best suited at this creative phase. I have to decide on a Professional Photographer(s) that is affordable whilst portraying my creativity in the purest clarity of lighting and vibrant colours in subtle saturation. Exhibitions to show my creative abilities. It would be such an opportunity to share, show and sell the creations to be made, created and done. There is a whole world in relation to pottery art and Ceramic forms such as the historical period, techniques to create particular design forms and the continuous or evolving designs. Admission pass’ into an Exhibition to Local and Global deliveries. I’d like to politely request that potential customers to patiently wait if orders pass my threshold. Inhale a deep breath of air to resume making the ceramic items. I love pottery art. I am re-emphasising this passion, love and ambition that exists in my heart beats and mind with blossoming ideas. The venco pottery wheel spins like a ballerina after clay sits in the centre. 360 degrees in either way. Ideas to be visible in my own portfolio to show to trusted friends and investors. Learn whilst making it all happen.”

♥️ - B r a n d o n v.p N g u y e n - 💚

[samuraidad4]

Ocelot 

Issue 1

The Testing

Mist hung thick around the jungle as Daniel walked cautiously toward the strange feeling that seemed to call him.  He entered a clearing to view a massive jaguar that sat upon a raised dais made of stone.  Adjacent to the jaguar seated upon another smaller stone platform sat Ocelot’s mentor that he knew only as Xichan (whom Ocelot calls Zee for short).  Daniel was dressed in his makeshift costume that was essentially yellow sweats that he had painted spots onto and a domino mask acquired from a costume store.  The jaguar laughed which sounded like an undulating roar which shook the trees all around and it said, “Really, Xichan, this is the best you do?!  Very well, manling, step forward so I can take a look at you.”  Daniel was shaking now as he walked forward into the clearing before the jaguar.  He realized he was inside of a ring outlined in a bold red color and torches lit suddenly.  The jaguar studied Daniel for what seemed like an eternity and finally exhaled loudly and declared, “Very well, I see the mark of ocelot upon you for which I was not consulted.  But, I Ek Balam will still judge you to see if you are worthy.  You will battle 3 of my followers at once.  If you defeat them I will give you my blessing to be an bearer of the ocelot mark.  If you are defeated you will not.  It’s that simple.”  He then turned to the large ocelot and said, “Have you anything to say, Xichan?”.  Xichan’s eyes gleamed brightly with an emerald light and he seemed to smile and said, “Only that my charge is more than meets the eye as you will soon see.  He will not be defeated.”  At that Ek Balam turned to Daniel and said, “Are you ready, manling?”

Daniel simply nodded, still overwhelmed and unsure that any of this was real.  Out of the jungle appeared three human warriors dressed in what looked like ancient mesoamerican garb.  Each of them wielded a large war club as they each took positions surrounding Daniel.  Each warrior had numerous tattoos on their bodies which Daniel could feel the magic emanating from them.  He breathed in trying to calm himself when the Jaguar suddenly bellowed, “Begin!!”.

At that, the world seemed to move in slow motion for Daniel.  The three warriors moved with speed and practiced skill, but he was considerably faster!  Instinct and and new awareness came alive for Daniel as he leapt into the air and aimed a capoeira type spinning kick at the nearest warrior.  The kick connected with the warriors jaw with such force that the warrior spun around in a 360 degree arc and blood plumed into the air from his mouth and he went sprawling onto the ground.  Wow! Daniel was amazed at this as this new beast self seemed to almost be on autopilot and he thought maybe this would go better than he thought.  The other two warriors wasted no time and positioned themselves to strike where Daniel would land one on either side.  But, Daniel sensed the double strike and tumbled safely out of the way as the two clubs swooshed harmlessly through the air.  The warriors growled and ran after him.  The tattoos glowed on one of the warriors skin and seemed to ripple to life in a serpentine fashion.  The warrior was suddenly beside Daniel and struck a savage blow across Daniel’s back as he tried to tumble out of the way again. His back and side seemed to scream in pain!  But, a rage rose up in Daniel which washed away most of the pain.  In a yellow blur, Daniel pounced upon the warrior who had struck him, and grabbing him in one motion, he threw the warrior at the other warrior.  Unfortunately, he misjudged the location of his target and completely missed the other warrior.  The flung warrior flew into a tree and did not get back up.  The first warrior who had been kicked, regained his feet and shook his head to get clarity then ran at Daniel.  Daniel spun out of the way, and punched the warrior at the base of his skull.  The warrior flopped to the ground and did not get up.  The last remaining warrior and Daniel faced each other for a moment as they both walked slowly in a circular motion.  The warriors tattoo suddenly came to life as the other one had and the warrior seemed to appear out of thin air next to Daniel.  The warrior feinted a blow at Daniel’s head which he tried to duck but the warrior struck Daniel behind the knees instead and knocked him to the ground.  Daniel knew he could not take many more blows like this but the wild cat in rolled quickly to his feet.  The warrior yelled a battle cry and charged at him.  Daniel side stepped the warrior and wrenching the club from his hand he drove it into the warrior’s abdomen.  As the warrior doubled over he then struck the warrior with his own club on his temple.  The warrior fell to the ground unconscious as his fellows had done.

Daniel threw the club away in disgust and said to the jaguar, “There! Is that good enough for you?!”.  The jaguar said, “Hold your tongue insolent whelp! You have much to learn!  Your style is quite rough and unhoned.  But, yes, you have managed to defeat my warriors and it appears I must give you my blessing.  So be it! But, do not think I won’t be watching you!”  At this, the mist thickened and thickened until Daniel could neither see, smell or hear the jaguar or the warriors any longer.  But, Xichan appeared out of the mist and said, “Come, Daniel, walk with me.”  Daniel held his side and his limped along side the ocelot.  Xichan looked him up and down and laughed and said, “Well, you did take some blows.  But, fear not, you will heal quickly.  And do not listen to that blow hard Ek Balam.  He is just jealous that I did not choose one of his followers.  But, it is my choice.  And you have proven yourself worthy.  Now, let’s get you home.  And about that costume…I’m sure I can find you something better to wear”.

[fahrni]

NASCAR - Bristol

NASCAR.com

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Denny Hamlin landed a knockout punch in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Some random observations from a NASCAR noob.

Denny Hamlin looks strong at the right time. He always seems to be fast and has a crazy high racing IQ.

Kyle Larson also looks amazing. He can drive up through anything to get to the front. He’s been first, fourth, and second in the first elimination round of the playoffs. Definitely the strongest of the field at them moment.

Christopher Bell continues to land pole positions and can’t manage to make it to victory lane.

Corey LaJoie finished the second stage in second place and I couldn’t be happier for him! He’s a “middle of the pack” racer and is not supposed to be up in front. He even lead a number of laps. He’s part of a smaller team and is getting better and better each weekend. 👍🏼

Last years Cup Champion, Joey Logano, is out of contention for this years championship after an accident forced him to retire the car.

Bubba Wallace continues to his race craft each and every week and has managed to get into the round of 12. I’m super happy for him and I hope he can make it to at least the round of eight. That would be an amazing accomplishment for 23XI Racing.

I know the Bristol Night Race is very popular but I found it extremely boring. After a couple laps of racing up front it seems like it turns into a single line of cars doing laps. Now, there were times where the racing did get interesting, but overall I found it boring. That’s not typical of a NASCAR race for me.

Bristol is not doing a dirt track next season. That’s too bad. I found that race to be much more exciting. Cars had multiple lines to choose from and the racing was exciting, not to mention Michael McDowell’s two spins that resulted in 360 degree saves. It was an incredible sight to behold.

Kevin Harvick is also out of the playoffs. It’s a real shame as it’s his final season as a driver and he has yet to win a race this year. The man proves his excellent fact crave as a driver every week as the Stuart Haas Racing cars aren’t very competitive, except for Harvick’s. Yes, he’s that good.

It was good to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Xfinity race on Friday night. He drove really well, lead a number of laps, and I have to believe he had a really great chance to win the entire thing but his car caught fire late in the race and he had to retire it. Let’s get that man back in a Cup car a few times a year!

Favorite livery was Tyler Reddick’s 45.

My picks for the Final Four.

• Kyle Larson - Hendrick Motorsports • Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs Racing • Chris Buescher - Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing • Tyler Reddick - 23XI Racing

Champion: Kyle Larson

If it’s not Larson I think it’ll be Denny Hamlin.

Of course I could be full of hot air with that list but I really like it!

[sughoshperur]

Make your ride perfect for Flyboarding in Goa with Certain Tips, Tricks, and Safety guidelines 

Unleash Your Inner Maverick on Goa's Waves 

Let's ride high on liquid dreams!

Trade in To-do lists for thrilling water twists!

Excited?

Picture yourself defying gravity, suspended above the shimmering waters of Goa's pristine coastline. With the thrill of adventure in the air and the ocean as your canvas, flyboarding is your ticket to an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. Whether you're a first-time flyer or aiming to refine your skills, we've got the ultimate guide to help you make your flyboarding Goa nothing short of perfect. Buckle up, or should we say "strap in," as we delve into the world of soaring heights and aquatic escapades!

Tips For A Seamless Adventure On Flyboard In Goa

Choose a Reputable Operator: Safety comes first! Opt for a licensed and experienced flyboarding operator to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience. Go through various reviews to choose your operator. Flyboarding in Goa price ranges from ₹3000 to ₹4000 per person.

You can select your adventure package by considering the reputation of the operator and the flyboarding Goa price offered.

Dress the Part: Comfort is key. Wear a swimsuit, sunscreen, and appropriate water shoes. Leave the flip-flops behind and get ready to embrace the waves.

Gear Up: Get familiar with the flyboarding equipment and listen closely to the instructor's guidance. The right gear and proper technique make all the difference.

Find Your Balance: Flyboard in Goa is all about balance. Start with small movements and gradually work your way up to more complex manoeuvres. Keep your body relaxed and let the water's push guide you.

Tricks of the Trade: Elevate Your Flyboarding Skills

The Hovering Hero: Achieve the perfect balance and hover gracefully above the water's surface. Keep your gaze forward, arms relaxed, and trust the equipment to keep you afloat.

The Dolphin Dive: Channel your inner sea creature and dive into the water like a dolphin. Arch your back, use your legs to initiate the dive, and then gracefully rise back to the surface.

The 360 Spin: Embrace your inner acrobat by attempting a 360-degree spin in the air. Use subtle shifts in weight and balance to complete a full rotation, and revel in the rush of the twist.

The Superman Soar: Emulate the iconic superhero as you soar high above the waves. Extend your arms forward, point your toes, and savour the sensation of flight. Let the flyboard in Goa unleash your superpowers!

Safety First: Guidelines for a Secure Flyboarding Goa Adventure 

Listen to the Pros: Pay close attention to your flyboarding instructor's briefing. Follow their guidance for takeoff, landing, and manoeuvring to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride.

Mind the Depth: Stay in areas with appropriate water depth for flyboarding. Avoid shallow waters and areas with obstacles to prevent accidents.

Hydration and Rest: Flying can be physically demanding. Stay hydrated and don't forget to take enough breaks. Your safety and comfort matter most.

Savour the Soar

As the sun sets over the Arabian Sea, your fly boarding goa adventure leaves you with memories etched in the sands of time. The rush of the wind in your hair, the joy of conquering gravity, and the thrill of riding the waves—it's an experience that lingers long after your feet touch the ground.

So, dear adventurer, are you ready to elevate your Goa getaway and add a touch of exhilaration to your travel tale? With these tips, tricks, and safety guidelines in your arsenal, you're primed for the ultimate flyboarding experience. 

Take the plunge, embrace the unknown, and let the waves of Goa carry you to newfound heights. Your flyboarding adventure awaits—let's make it soar! 

[squids-comics]

Page Eleven:

Panel one, top left sixth of page:

George spins off the rope and launches a kick at John's head, rattling his helmet around. John grabs it to stop it from falling off.

Panel two, top right sixth of page:

George slides over to John's back, grabbing at his helmet. John is holding on to his helmet so tight he's denting it.

George: "Let's get this off. Must be stuffy in there."

John: "NO!!!"

Panel three, middle left sixth of page:

John falls backwards, hitting George off the controls of the lift. 

Panel four, middle right sixth of page:

The window boom plummets.

Panel five, bottom left sixth of page:

The lift stabilizes. George fell off John's back in the fall. Now he stands a foot and half away from John, cracking his knuckles.

George: "You really are just a bumbling idiot."

Panel six, bottom right sixth of page:

John grabs the golden war hammer off his back.

John: "And you're orange!"

Page Twelve:

Panel one, top left ninth of page:

John swings his hammer down on George, who sidesteps out of the way.

Panel two, top middle ninth of page:

George jumps, springs into the air and kicks John in the head, spinning his helmet around his head and knocking him to the ground.

Panel three, top right ninth of page:

John's helmet spins a full 360 degrees, returning to it's original position while John rest on his hands and knees.

Panel four, middle left ninth of page:

John springs up and spins around, slashing at George with the knife he had sheathed at his side. 

Panel five, center ninth of page:

George sees the knife coming too late to dodge, but brings his arms up to defend himself. His arm gets cut.

Panel six, middle right ninth of page:

George smirks. 

George: "You actually landed a hit! I'm almost impressed."

Panel seven, bottom left ninth of page:

John looks at the blood on his knife, the realization of what he has done, and the harm he could have done, dawns on him.

John: "Oh no. What have I done."

Panel eight, bottom middle ninth of page:

George climbs the cable behind him.

George: "Nothing compared to what I'll do."

Panel nine, bottom right ninth of page:

John stabs his knife into the ground and picks up his hammer.

Page Thirteen:

Panel one, top half of page:

John uses his hammer to smash the metal connector holding the cable to the lift.

Panel two, bottom left half of page:

The whole platform tips vertically. John grabs onto the knife to stay on.

Panel three, bottom right half of page:

George, hanging onto the wire still holding the boom to the roof, looks down at John, dangling from his knife.

George: "That won't stop me from reaching you. Now I just have to make you let got of the knife and gravity will do all the work."

John: "Who's gravity?"

Page Fourteen:

Panel one, top left sixth of page:

George jumps into the air, aiming for John.

Panel two, top right sixth of page:

John accidentally kicks the up button on the control panel.

Panel three, middle left sixth of page:

The platform raises, causing George to miss his jump.

Panel four, middle right sixth of page:

George falls down, towards the sidewalk below. 

Panel five, bottom left sixth of page:

John looks down at George.

John: "No!!"

Panel six, bottom right sixth of page:

John jumps down, chasing after George.

Page Fifteen:

Panel one, top left quarter of page:

John hurtles down towards George:

Panel two, top right quarter of page:

John catches up to George.

Panel three, bottom left quarter of page:

John hugs George into his shiny, metal chest.

Panel four, bottom right quarter of page:

John lands on the roof of a car that looks like a red Honda Civic.

Hear ye, hear ye! It is time for the third issue of John Landwalker! Gather round now to follow our hero into High-rise Hijinks!!

Page One:

Panel one, top half of page:

Close up of Top Banana's face. He is a very large, very angry looking gorilla. He looks like he waited 3 hours to order an ice cream cone, only to get to the front of the line and find out they're out of his favourite flavour.

Top Banana: "So... What do we have here?"

Panel two, bottom left quarter of page:

John and Jack have their backs against the wall of the hallway. Jack looks scared. John has a metal bucket on his head. George, Top Banana's right hand orangutan, hangs from the ceiling, keeping a close eye on the two of them. 

George: "Caught these two trying to sneak in. Think we should whack 'em?"

Panel three, bottom right quarter of page:

Top Banana physically recoils in shock.

Top Banana: "What? No!!"

Page Two:

Panel one, top left sixth of page:

George looks at Top Banana and raises an eyebrow.

George: "No?"

Panel two, top right sixth of page:

Top Banana smiles a wide smile. It looks unnatural on his face.

Top Banana: "These guys... are our new hires!! They're Captain Crook and Nighty Knight!"

Panel three, middle left sixth of page:

George raises his other eyebrow, out of shock this time.

George: "New hires? These clowns?"

Panel four, middle right sixth of page:

Top Banana nods.

Top Banana: "They were testing our security."

Panel five, bottom left sixth of page:

George looks skeptical. He points at John.

George: "I noticed them as soon as they got on the window boom. This one's dressed like a disco ball. And they broke a window."

Panel six, bottom right sixth of page:

Top Banana smiles and gives George a thumbs up.

Top Banana: "And you caught them! Good job! You passed!! Security's great!!"

Page Three:

Panel one, top half of page:

Top Banana turns around and guides Jack and John down the hall. 

Top Banana: "Now if you'll excuse, I promised to show these two our lab!"

Panel two, bottom half of page:

George watches Top Banana walk away, with the same look of suspicion on his face.

George: "Sure thing... Boss..."

Page Four:

Panel one, top third of page:

A four foot tall, black furred gibbon stands in the lab. He's wearing a white lab coat and clear safety goggles over his eyes. He's mixing two vials of chemicals together.

Panel two, middle left third of page:

Top Banana, Jack and John walk in behind him. Top Banana waves. The gibbon jumps and drops the chemicals he's working with.

Top Banana: "Hi Houston!"

SFX for vials: "Kraash!"

Panel three, bottom third of page:

Houston looks down at the spill, sadly. Top Banana seems slightly relieved.

Houston: "I was so close to cracking the super formula's... Formula. Now I'll have to start over..."

Top Banana: "Aw. That's too bad. Where is the super formula?"

Houston: "In the drawer over there."

Page Five:

Panel one, top left ninth of page:

Jack goes over to the drawer and grabs the vial. 

Jack: "Got it!!"

Panel two, top middle ninth of page:

John's helmet does not show any change of emotion. 

John: "Splendid! Let us return home post haste!!"

Panel three, top right ninth of page:

Top Banana waves to Houston again, a wide smile on his face. Houston smiles back.

Top Banana: "Bye Houston!"

Houston: "Bye sir."

Panel four, rest of page:

Top Banana pauses in the door frame, frozen with shock. On the other side of the door frame stands another gorilla, who looks the exact same as Top Banana but much angrier. It's almost like looking in a mirror. A very, very angry mirror. George hangs from the roof behind the angry Top Banana, a sly smirk on his face.

Angry Top Banana: "Where do you think you're going?"

[adriensaltprompts]

Submitted Prompt: "But the Cat Didn't Come Back"

During a seemingly routine akuma battle, Adrien makes another showy self-sacrifice.  One that's big and dramatic and entirely unnecessary -- Marinette was already getting herself safely out of harm's way as he threw himself right into it.  The gesture accomplished absolutely nothing beyond taking himself out of the fight... but of course, Adrien doesn't see it that way.

No, for him this is 'Mission Accomplished'.  For he relishes this -- these grand, useless gestures, seeing the horror and despair in his partner's eyes as he dies yet again... it's all about the guilt-trip for him.  The psychological torture of making her watch him die, supposedly for her sake... but it's all about satisfying his own ego.

-

After all, it's not like this ever has any permanent effects.  His lady always carries the day, beats the akuma, purifies their item and casts her Miraculous Cure, magically fixing everything and ensuring that there's nothing for him to worry about. The only lasting impact it has is on her psyche. And that's the way he likes it.

In this particular case, the akuma's powers seem to shift him into some kind of alternate dimension.  Adrien finds himself standing in the very same place where he was struck, surrounded by the same scenery as before... only now, it's like he's viewing everything through a filter.  Almost like he's underwater; everything ripples, the air itself visibly undulating around him.  All sound is muffled, and he finds that his movement is limited.

Specifically, Adrien can turn around in place, shifting his feet enough that he can, with effort, turn around a full 360 degrees.  But if he tries to move forward in any direction, his head starts spinning, vertigo setting in; he's effectively stuck in the spot where he was struck down.

Weird.  But no big deal, right?  Since again, it's a given that Ladybug's going to beat the akuma and--

The akuma retreats.  Ladybug pursues.  Adrien is unable to follow, but though his stomach coils unpleasantly as they vanish from his line of sight, he reassures himself that it'll be fine.  He'll be fine.  Ladybug always wins. It's always fine.

So he waits.

...And waits...

......and waits......

Eventually, he detransforms just so he can have somebody to talk to.  Plagg offers little in the way of help, idly observing all the ways that things might have gone horribly wrong.  Like maybe the akuma got the upper hand on Ladybug.  Or Hawkmoth recalled them immediately, and is currently trying to figure out how to extract the Ring from this place.  Maybe the akumatized item got broken before it could be properly cleansed.

Adrien doesn't much care for any of his suggestions.  Eventually, impatience kicks in, and he starts demanding that Plagg fix this.  He's a kwami; there's got to be something he can do, right?!

After being berated for a bit, Plagg finally offers to take the Ring and see if he can't go find help.  Unlike Adrien, he's not effectively bound to a single location; he can flit about as he pleases, and might be able to find something useful.  Like a way out, or a way to cancel out this effect.

Adrien might hesitate a bit at letting the Ring go, not wanting to surrender the only power he holds over the kwami, even if only temporarily.  Or he might not think anything about it -- after all, what could Plagg possibly do to him, right?

So off Plagg goes, to find a way out of this mess.  And Adrien keeps waiting.

...And waiting...

......and waiting......

Why isn't Plagg coming back...?  Well, that's up to you, dear promptee.  Has he run into any troubles of his own, or simply slipped the net...?

And what did happen with the akuma that left him like this in the first place...?  Were they recalled?  Did they escape being cleansed?  Did something happen that prevented the Miraculous Cure from being used...?  Or is Adrien's sense of time being distorted?  Maybe only minutes have passed in the waking world; maybe mere seconds...  But it's not like he would know what's going on.  He got taken out of that fight, after all.  Thought nothing of it at the time.

He's got plenty of time to think about it now.

[solalunar-eclipse]

Sonic Boom - S3E1

Episode title: Friendship 101

Word count: about 3000 words

Author’s Note: I’m trying a rather new format for this fic, since it’s based on a TV show with various songs and camera angles. If you have any comments about whether it works well or not, please let me know!

(Also, the theme song choice is all thanks to khinesthetic, who used it here and inspired me to put it in this fic.)

Next

[cue Mr. Blue Sky by ELO (0:00-3:45)]

[The show opens on a zoomed-out view of Hedgehog Village from above. Stone walls separate the village from the wilderness outside. There are large spaces at several points throughout the structure for entry and exit. A large patch of grass with benches scattered about sits at one end of the village, and a marketplace made up of wood-and-cloth stalls runs along one of the walls. Houses are grouped in seemingly random clusters throughout the town, and the (in)famous Meh Burger stand sits all on its own, with picnic tables spread across its wooden flooring. As the music progresses, the camera begins to zoom in on the village- then on one of the streets in particular- and rotates down to eye level to face…]

Sonic the Hedgehog walked through the streets of Hedgehog Village with a bounce in his step, occasionally dancing to the music playing through his earbuds. As he wandered throughout the town, he passed the usual people running their stores, arguing over botched orders at Meh Burger, and, at one point, Aqua the Rabbit absolutely freaking out over the loss of a single follower on Angstagram (the latest social media network for moody teens).

He did a 360-degree spin before winking and pointing finger guns at Amy Rose when he spotted her haggling with the local grocery store owner. She paused briefly to wave at him with a smile. “Hi, Sonic!” she called, completely ignoring the irritated fennec in the process.

Then, the music froze and changed to something extremely ominous as she turned around to face the shopkeeper once more. A dangerous gleam appeared in her eyes as she pulled out her signature hammer. “Now then, about those prices you’ve been setting lately…”

The song cut back in as the view switched back to Sonic, who was now moving away from the scene at a slightly faster pace.

Really, though, he was more than happy to see his other friends not long after. Knuckles and Sticks were currently busy rummaging through the town’s garbage together, excitedly chatting about the latest piece of interesting junk they’d found, while Tails was fixing someone’s broken rain gutter (and attempting to ‘improve’ it in the process, which meant that it could now measure the amount and intensity of rainfall in a storm- a very useful, though unfortunately unwanted improvement).

Surprisingly enough, as he continued on his way through Hedgehog Village, he managed to get people from a few different places to wave back at him when he said hello. Although perhaps it wasn’t quite so surprising when one considered that this was one of the most cliched opening sequences that could possibly happen in any movie or TV show. Ever.

And of course, the only logical outcome of this scene led to everyone beginning to stop their usual activities and gather in one of the few open spaces in the town, clearly prepared to break into a fantastic musical dance number straight out of Broadway. Incredibly, this was one of the few moments in which everyone in the village seemed to be able to get along…

...until Eggman’s latest giant robot slammed feet-first into the ground, sending everyone off-kilter and scrambling for cover. Shrieks of panic rose in place of the music as the villagers fled the scene to hide in their houses. The dramatic entrance didn’t just ruin the mood, it absolutely crushed it with the sheer force of its impact.

And that was, obviously, when the show really began.

[cue In Your Face by Shockwave Sound (0:00-1:04)] 

[Each of the five members of Team Sonic appears on a black screen with their name spelled out in their signature colors (blue, yellow, red, pink, and green) and does a couple of cool fighting moves, followed by snippets of scenes featuring them from previous episodes of the show for about eight seconds each. All five of them then appear together in their usual fighting stances, emphasizing their status as a team.

The Eggman logo then appears in an ominous, glowing red, backlighting the doctor himself and all his creations- before the lights flick on to reveal him alone in his evil lair with a green screen behind him, at which point he shrieks and covers the camera with a hand. Then, neon blue electronic lines begin to appear across the screen and the camera spirals to follow them, selecting one particular line to trace. Not long after, said line ends at a circle which, with a flash, turns into the words ‘Sonic Boom’. Beneath the title, it says ‘Ancient Secrets’ in neon blue.]

[Then the music ends, at which point the episode title- “Friendship 101”- appears for a few seconds in the same color before the show itself returns.]

Sonic scrambled to his feet and zipped over to Tails, pulling him up from where he’d fallen after the robot’s overdramatic arrival. Amy managed to do the same with both Knuckles and Sticks simultaneously, which let Sonic stare for a moment, startled, and then promptly resolve to remember not to get on her bad side anytime soon.

Soon enough, the team had scrambled into their usual positions, ready to fight. Amy and Sticks kicked the battle off by handling the various smaller robots that threatened to get too close to their team, never faltering (and in fact seeming a bit gleeful in the badger’s case) despite the sheer number of enemies. Knuckles, meanwhile, launched Sonic bodily into the air for Tails to catch, before picking up a boulder about the size of a house and lobbing it directly at the robot’s chest.

“Hey! Easy with the boulders- QuakeBot took a lot of effort to make, you know!” Eggman shrieked from above, hovering in the relative safety of his Eggmobile. 

(Relative, in this case, was of course in comparison to mixing absurdly volatile chemicals in a lab, bothering Shadow at any and/or all hours of the day, or being on Tails’s bad side when the fox had a glue gun. The doctor still remembered that situation all too well, and currently ranked it as far more terrifying than merely being punted into the stratosphere by kids under half his height and about a third his age.)

Sonic paused to stare at Eggman from where he was currently dangling in the air. A smirk began to spread slowly across his face. “…what did you just call it?”

“You heard me the first time!” the doctor roared, now incredibly embarrassed. “I named it that since it makes the ground shake when it moves, like an earthquake??”

General laughter came from the heroes assembled on the ground and in the sky.

“Argh! Nobody appreciates my genius around here! Now, QuakeBot, stop standing around and start attacking!”

“I suggested TerraBot, since it still has to do with earth and is a play on the word ‘terror’, but nobody ever listens to my ideas, now do they?” Orbot muttered irritably to himself, tucked inside the Eggmobile.

“I listen to all your ideas!” Cubot offered encouragingly.

Orbot’s mouth shifted into a small smile. “Thanks, Cubot.”

Meanwhile, Sonic had been pulled into a spin by Tails, who whirled the hedgehog around before letting him shoot downwards toward the robot in a spin dash- only for him to get caught and sent flying into the nearest house.

He shook off the surprise quickly (and apparently sustained absolutely zero damage despite having literally crashed through a house, because superpowered teenagers), darting back over to the group. “Well, uh, guess it’s time for Plan B then!”

Crickets chirped in the ensuing silence. Even the robot had stopped moving to hear what he had to say.

“And the plan is…?” Amy prompted.

Sonic folded his arms with a huff. “I dunno, I thought you guys would have one!?”

The pink hedgehog rolled her eyes at that. 

Tails piped up. “I have an idea! Sonic, you’re going to need to be curled up for this, okay?”

The hero promptly did just that, before emitting a muffled “mmhmm?” from inside his layers of quills.

“Alright then, Amy, I need you to hit Sonic with your hammer right at the side of this house.”

Sonic’s blood ran cold. “Whoa whoa whoa, wait a second can we maybe rethink thiaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

He ricocheted all over the palace like a pinball, slamming into several key points of the robot thanks to Tails’s rapid calculations. However, the robot was sadly unaffected by his screaming at a pitch that came dangerously close to shattering glass.

The robot was easily disabled and the attack overall quickly repelled after that. Thankfully, it took Sonic only a moment to recover from his impromptu stint as an out-of-control projectile and get back to fighting with the others…complete with a “Let’s do that AGAIN!” moment, which was met with a resounding no from both Amy and Tails. 

Their ears were both still rather sore from last time, after all.

After Eggman was punted all the way back to his island by a well-placed kick from Sticks, though, the crew was about to head over to Meh Burger for a post-battle meal when they discovered that they had an entirely different problem to take care of. The villagers, who were beginning to come out of hiding after the attack, were furious upon seeing the damage dealt to their homes and stores.

“How could you let this happen?” one shouted.

Before long, the villagers found themselves a more specific target when the owner of the house that Sonic had smashed into pointed her finger directly in his face. “This mess is awful!” she cried. “And it’s all his fault!”

Within seconds, a mob of people had descended upon the overtaxed teen.

“I’ve never known a hero so irresponsible.” one fumed.

“How dare you!” the fennec from earlier roared.

The elderly wolf of the village shook her cane at him. “Shame on you!”

Sonic could feel himself beginning to tense up as the villagers turned their ire on him. Whether or not he’d admit it to anyone, he needed two main things in order to be his usual heroic, cheerful self: open space and positive reinforcement. Right now, he was getting exactly the opposite of both of those.

And he was not feeling good about it.

He looked briefly over to his friends for help, but Sticks had already vanished, Knuckles and Tails looked more nervous than anything, and Amy was already walking towards him with that look in her eye…

“Sonic, next time you do need to work on making sure the robot doesn’t catch you, you know-”

A streak of blue shot out of the village, leaving nothing but a scorched trail of grass and the snap of a sonic boom behind.

Sonic didn’t slow down until he reached the mountains- which technically wasn’t very far from the town at all, so he ran quite a bit more after that until he ended up in the middle of the jungle. Then, he sat down with his back to a tree and his arms around his knees, feeling very unheroic and overall pretty lame.

The blue hedgehog frowned at the dirt. Honestly, some days it really did feel like nobody seemed to like him. The only person who ever even suggested he was important on a regular basis was Tails, and Sonic didn’t blame him at all for not jumping into the middle of that crowd. Tails was only thirteen to his seventeen and a half years old- not exactly an age when he should be expected to go toe-to-toe with a crowd of angry adults.

Still, though. When being a hero got him all risk (no matter how low) and no reward...it was difficult for him to keep hold of that core feeling of “I can make the world a better place to live in!”, which, despite all his other claims, was truly at the center of what had motivated him to start fighting against Eggman so long ago…

[The scene morphs in a manner which shows the lighting shifting so that the sun is overhead. A sound effect of birds chirping plays over the scene change. This implies that it’s been several hours since he first fled the village.]

Sonic was still lost in thought when the snap of a twig in the bushes made him jump to his feet in surprise. The surrounding vegetation rustled ominously for a moment...only to reveal the four members of his team in front of him. He watched them all cautiously, his expression tense. More than anything, he looked ready to run at a moment’s notice- something which only served to make his friends(?) seem a little more distressed. “Uh…hey, guys?” he began tentatively.

“Sonic, I…” Amy began forcefully, before stopping herself. At first, it looked like she was about to scold him again, but then suddenly her face fell. “Listen, Sonic, we’ve all been talking a lot about what happened back at the village…and there’s something I want to say.” She gave a slightly tired sigh. 

“I know we usually like to make jokes and witty commentary, but...sometimes, the world’s just a difficult place to be in.” she said. “...so we really do need to talk about serious stuff occasionally, even though I know it’s tough for you to even mention how you’re feeling. Unless, you know, it’s ‘great!’ or ‘cool!’ or something like that.”

Sonic cringed at the mere idea, looking more and more like he thought running away was the preferable option here.

“So what I wanted to say was that in a world where there are too many people trying to beat you down...what I was trying to do was tell you how to be more tolerant, because I thought that would help. I figured you can’t change how other people are going to be, just yourself, so I hoped that might make things better.

“But...I’m not actually a licensed therapist- yet, anyway. So I might have been wrong on how I went about that. Maybe...instead of telling you off for not being able to stop all those people...in the future I’ll pull out my hammer and tell them to knock it off already. Does that sound better to you?” she asked.

The blue hedgehog froze. “Ames…I...” he croaked, trying his best not to think about why exactly it felt like his throat was so tight all of a sudden.

Sticks folded her arms. “I like that plan! Those people are way too crazy sometimes…and you guys know I have a verrrrry high tolerance for crazy.”

“We can make the villagers quit bugging you together, just like how we fight Eggman!” Knuckles added encouragingly. “It’s always better that way, isn’t it?”

There was still one person who hadn’t spoken yet, though.

Suddenly, Tails crashed full-force into Sonic, squeezing him in a hug that for once he didn’t pretend to hate. “You know I’ve always, always, always got your back, right, Sonic? No matter what?” he asked, looking up at his older brother. “Even if I don’t always know how to do it right.”

The blue hedgehog simply nodded, not trusting his voice to help him maintain his ‘cool guy’ status.

“It’s okay if you don’t feel up to talking about it now, though.” the fox added understandingly, stepping back but still leaving a hand on his arm. 

“But!” Knuckles added. “We won’t tell anyone if you ever decide you do need to get some stress off your chest every once in a while!” He smacked his own chest with a fist for emphasis.

“Nobody needs to know.” Sticks growled, the camera suddenly showing a dramatic angle of her face as the lighting dropped noticeably.

“Uh…that’s kinda dark.” Sonic said, holding up a finger with a bit of a confused frown, which let the lighting and camera angle zip back to normal.

“Anyway!” The pink hedgehog clapped her hands together, turning to face the group as a whole. “What do you guys think about heading over to my house and watching some movies? I’ll even…” She sighed, her whole body slumping. “…make some messy, simple, unprofessional chili dogs. In my state-of-the art kitchen. I know Sonic probably could use a pick-me-up right now, after all.”

“Thanks, Ames! You’re the best!” the hedgehog in question said cheerfully, the promise of good food and great companionship boosting his mood significantly.

Then, his posture shifted once again into something a little more vulnerable. “And thanks to all you guys. For, y’know, everything.”

“Of course!” Amy chirped.

Tails smiled at him. “No problem, Sonic.”

Sticks folded her arms. “That’s what a team’s for, ain’t it?”

“Of course it is!” Knuckles said, in that rather confusing manner where nobody was actually sure if he understood anything about what had just happened.

The echidna actually walked over to Sonic after that particular declaration, though, placing a hand on his shoulder as his face became uncharacteristically serious for a second. “Really, Sonic, we can all help you out, alright? Nobody gets to yell at our leader without getting yelled at back!” he declared, punching a fist into his other hand.

The hedgehog blinked twice before looking up at his friend. “You…just called me the leader?”

“Well, duh! That’s why everyone calls it Team Sonic, right?” Knuckles asked with a smile, letting an awkward (but genuine) grin spread across Sonic’s face.

Within seconds, the hero found himself squeezed in a big hug from all sides by his friends- and then actually lifted off the floor through a joint effort from Knuckles and Amy. 

“Guys- come on! I can’t even move here!” he cried out, his legs flailing so quickly they made a vibrating noise in the air. “Guyyyyssss….” he whined, though nobody seemed to care much about his halfhearted complaints (judging by the happy expressions on their faces).

Then, the episode began to end, as evidenced by an iris out transition. The slowly shrinking circle paused for a moment on Sonic’s current expression, highlighting it against the otherwise black screen. He now sported a sheepish, if slightly pleased smile, complete with a faint pink blush on his face from all the positive attention. 

Clearly Sonic liked being, well, liked far more than he let on.

Then, the circle snapped closed with a pop, and the credits began to roll.

[Voice Actors: 

Roger Craig Smith

Colleen Villard

Travis Willingham

Cindy Robinson

Nika Futterman

Mike Pollock

Kirk Thornton

Wally Wingert

Bill Freiberger

Original creation by:

Evan Baily

Donna Friedman Meir 

Sandrine Nguyen

Bill Freiberger

Takashi Iizuka

Writer/editor:

Solalunar “Sol” Eclipse

Thank you for watching reading.]