#battler: answers

[spirestar]

@mayoinomori : “i'm not some princess who needs to be coddled.”

Battler pauses his tour of the island, his cat box, blinking a few times before he replies. For a moment, Robin reminds him of Ange: Misunderstanding him, either by design or because he's done a poor job of things, with a sullen look and pointed glare. In the past, this would've flustered him--He's had to grow up a lot since then. Misunderstandings are just conflicts of the heart, after all. Of truths too important to a person to be seen in any other light.

"Sorry--Would you rather discuss how you appeared here?" It was odd, after all. Rokkenjima should be a closed box, aside from the meddling witches. Since he sees those, like Bernkastel and Lambdadelta, as friends, however, he was hoping to make Robin feel welcome rather than single her out as an interloper on first meeting. "As the Game Master of this board, I could sense you when you arrived, but I didn't get any summons or word that a new piece would be visiting. Did you have a message for me?"

[kuuhaiyu]

umineko question arc compilation

u can follow my umineko readthrough on my sideblog @simkjrs

[sepyana]

I have a question about Umineko: Is there a specific reason why Battler never dies during each game? I was under the impression piece Battler and Meta Battler were different people, ep2 shows that Beatrice is the one controlling his actions since she is the one setting the murder mystery up and dictating what the pieces do (as long as it's in character for them).

Beato would absolutely show Battler his own corpse to fuck with him. The fact that she doesn't makes me think that she can't.

In ep3 and 4 the murders turn into straight up anime battles. To the point where seeing Beatrice's furniture is a death sentence for the 18. Piece Battler never sees these events because he never gets targeted.

My guess is that piece Battler isn't allowed to see the "magic" because then it would undeniably be real, because he literally sees it, there would be no point in the game to begin with. That would imply that the only POV you can fully trust is piece Battler's. That makes some sense, this is how you can deny all the anime stuff I mentioned earlier. No one lives to tell the tale and the people who do live never see magic, making it possible for Battler to deny the magic as just Beatrice's explanation/theory of events. What about non-magical stuff we see from other people's POVs though? This would make a strong case for Kinzo being already dead theory. I can't prove Battler's perspective is reliable but he never sees Kinzo, right?

If we go back to the main topic, piece Battler doesn't need to see any magic to get offed. We can just cut to someone else's perspective and kill Battler during that time. But maybe that's too dull for Beatrice now that her furniture are at full power.

[anawkwardlady]

Beatrice and her emotional support furniture.

[frosti-moon]

You just know these two are having crazy hot hate-sex. Those tongues will be battling for dominance.

[love-is-a-pearl]

In your post about how you would've changed the XY series to make Ash's Kalos League victory more satisfying, you mentioned how Kanto is the only region other than Alola that could've had a satisfying league victory. While you made a good point on Ash having more connections with Kanto than Kalos, I also feel that Ash needed to grow as a trainer before he was ready to win a league if he was retired much sooner.

With that in mind, what changes or additions would you make to either the Original Series (Johto in particular) or the Diamond & Pearl series to end Ash's story in Gen 2 at the earliest or Gen 4 at the latest?

Honestly I think ending in Johto as it was (just make AshvsGary the final and we're good) would have been great. Sure we wouldn't have "good trainer Ash" from Sinnoh or Kalos, nor the emotionally mature Ash of Alola; but Johto Ash felt like a very good growth from the brat he was in Kanto (specially for the 90s)

Also winning in Johto, that it's kinda of an extention of Kanto, down to sharing an elite four; would have felt like the ideal redemption for Ash (not to mention Brock and Misty were still both there to see his growth and all)

If I were to say to change something would be to just GIVE MISTY LAPRAS INSTEAD (in the orange saga)!!! Kanto-Johto sucks bad in the treatment of anyone other than Ash and the more I look at that pokemon under Ash the more I hate it. Misty never did anything with her water specialist goal! And are you telling me that Misty would not be insanely protective of that big water baby??? Misty has a theme song in japanese ABOUT LAPRAS???! how did they mess that up that badly?

Also, giving Lapras to Misty and perhaps including a small arc of her helping it trust humans while having Ash earning Charizard's trust happening side by side would have been SO GOOD.

I get it that having Ash earn it's trust was good setup for Charizard later but still STILL! It would have been a great moment to let Misty do something other than holding that stupid Togepi :T (Brock had more attention than her with the Vulpix plotline later!!)

Maybe we could still have Ash bonding with Lapras while Misty took care of the most complicated stuff like food, medicine and have Ash let her have the Lapras in the end despite everything cause "you know about it a lot more than me" or something. Good chara growth for Ash in doing that for Misty of all people and would also add into their ship if they were supposed to be endgame to match a potential finale. And would add another parallel to Charizard since Brock was wayyy more invested when they met it as Charmander and Ash got it anyway.

(we could even have Togepi evolve at the goodbye because of the overall happiness Misty and Lapras felt at the later's freedom or something)

Also, everyone loves to call out BW for not taking advantage of the timeskip from BWgames to BW2 but the OG anime also didn't do SHIT with the timeskip from RBG to GS and I think that would have been cool to see. Specially in context to Brock and Misty and idk maybe see Misty in special develop a bigger interest on actually becoming the Cerulean gym leader after all; while we could have more mentions of Forrest becoming a gym leader too (with perhaps him sending some pokes to Brock to raise, teach new moves, stuff like that! Kinda like he did with Suzie's Vulpix but expanded)

Having characters like Gary and Ritchie pop up more often (Johto had so many fillers that could have just been about recurring characters in general) would help a lot too. Specially I would have loved a proper Ritchie vs Ash battle so Ritchie himself could be like "you've grown a lot" ;w;

Also, Casey and Sakura should have been in the league and it would have been really nice if they had committed to the "Mentor Ash" thingie with Casey in specific. There are hints there, but it could have been much more interesting (specially if she did end up in the league but lost too soon and Ash supported her because he knows how that feels or even sort of "fought for her" afterwards. Adding that layer of "battling for the people around me and not only for the win" thingie)

Now DP.. welp. I'm bias :v

While Sinnoh itself is totally not an important place for Ash, characters like Dawn (who helped in his goal) and Infernape (who showed us how much he grew as trainer and person), the connection to the lake deities, and the very deliberate parallels to the OG series make up for it so I would be ecstatic if he won the league there aoheduiabs

Fixing DP would be just fixing plot points that piss me off in particular. Like, make the summer camp arc actually have some sort of meaning??? That was so inconsequential and it piss me off how that lasted 4 plus the 5th fatphobic TR episodes.

@/silvermeww proposed the idea of upgrading Angie into an actual trainer (and therefore league rival) and I agree with that notion! Pokemon has a disturbing lack of trainer girls and an even more disturbing lack of girls in leagues, so having Angie take this role would have been super cool she could even replace Conway for me :3c and would make that arc hold more weight.

Not release Ambipom and fix Togekiss capture.

I.. I just hate how Dawn got Togekiss so so so so much. And the reminder that Ambipom got thanosed to make room for that bird makes it worse. There was a filler with an "evil" Togepi 50 episodes prior that could have gone for Dawn and become Togekiss and that would have been 100% better than the Salvia BS episode. Do the Togebo from Pokespe thing but with Dawn! That would be hilarious ashdiioasda

Ambipom could have gone play Ping Pong for all I care, but I do wish they had brought her back to the Grand Festival (at the very least for the appeals -show how far she and Dawn have come from their first appeal together QAQ-, or even just to watch it)

Ash winning against Paul with Infernape would not be too bad since that was the season that set up the Champions league (aka elite four) and therefore Pikachu would totally have his time against Cynthia (despite the buildup with InfernapexGarchomp.. maybe treat Spiritomb as her "true" ace?). It would totally be an Alola league then Kukui kinda deal. God, we could even do the Volo thing and give her Giratina as a treat /j

Also please Torterra should have his redemption arc in the Champion league! He could have a rematch against Bertha's Hippowdon!!! And Infernape vs Infernape in Ash vs Flint! Buizel rematch against Lucian's Bronzong!

Gosh… DP had some good set ups between the elite four and Ash's mons uh.

Anyway!

I also would love to have more of this (couldn't find EN Subs so PT it is):

Translation: It's the first time he (Ash) gets on the best four.

Brock's pride in Ash after his battle with Tobias makes me so emotional QAQ

I really would have loved to see more of that, more of Brock seeing Ash growing and seeing him become someone who doesn't need his big bro taking care of him anymore (maybe could've expanded to things like taking care of pokemon or mundane chores too).

Speaking of Brock, I would have loved more Brock and Paul interactions since it was pretty obvious Paul saw a lot of Reggie in Brock. And I would have loved if that relationship could have helped Paul grow rather than the "oh no i lost. I am a better person now" approach that we got in the league lmao

Still onto Paul, I would have liked if his actions held more weight too. Is peak cinema when Ash takes over ordering Chimchar in the tag team tournament but I would have liked if Paul acting like that had ended in his disqualification (thus giving the two bells to Ash from the get-go). Like.. that was pretty much him forfeiting? And like, he was abusing Chimchar! He should have suffered consequences for it at least ONCE!

Gosh, imagine a plot point where one of the gym leaders refuse to take Paul's challenge because of how he treats his pokemon? And have him realize that not everyone is going to just let him do whatever he wants? It would have been nice. Crasher Wake (who is one of the most forgetable Sinnoh leaders -at least for me) would have been perfect for such a plot point.

Lastly I would have liked more old charas cameos. I know the anime hates it (they hated it even back in Johto) but I would have loved to see some past rivals reappering. Also more of Gary. More Gary is always good.

[fatepowered]

say my name. if you know my name, tell it to me. (beato for battler :) )

" the golden witch -- Beatrice. " there is so much power in a name, and when he speaks it, he does not speak it lightly. he speaks it almost in reverence, or at the very least, respect. for a man who can spin a complicated, dramatic yarn at will, it's almost surprising that he doesn't follow this up with anything of the sort. He doesn't really need to... there's an entire story contained within that short response to her plea.

[yuudamari]

finished ep 4 of umineko yesterday finally were getting into the answer arcs where i hope somebody will explain absolutely anything to me for the love of god Please

[spirestar]

@heartinhands !

❝ You know me. I’ll be late to my own funeral, ❞ she says. Trying to comfort him, undoubtedly. And he knows that / Needs to put on a brave face for everyone, himself included but she's -- Dying perpetually and never entirely, in different forms, always, always, in every tale, in little pieces -- Even his own story, one he made as an offer and an apology and a love letter, hurt her, too.

"Well, forgive me if that's not exactly comforting," BATTLER's scowl at the ground suddenly rises enough to meet her gaze, like the shore and cerulean sea meeting before they part once more. Crashing again and again / If only the moon would disappear and take any threats of tides with it. Eternal night would be perfect for demons and fantasies alike; Nothing hides a trick better than the dark. But it's stupid for him to consider saying no. For him to join Ange, to leave their / her territory, is to abandon her. To leave everyone's fates in her hands once more. It's not something he takes lightly: It's not fair. Battler knows better than to say that, too, though -- Even if it might get a giggle out of her, even if he'd like that to be the last sound he hears before---

"Don't even think about it," is how he answers. They can't fail. Whether the Golden Land crumbles and the witches and their hunters tear this world to pieces or not, they can't fail. It's more than only a foolish, base fear of oblivion, or hope for the Witch of the Future. There's too much that they haven't shared, too. Whether a vow has meaning for beings in a cat box is up to those that promised it, isn't it? He's going to keep the one he made to the Golden Witch / As sure as he is that Ange's future can be made a good one, he believes in theirs too, however impossible and improbable their rondo across the small game board may be before its ending. He can't let her die alone again. "I won't forgive you, y'know?" He flashes a tiny, impudent grin for her before focus unfurls over his features once more.

Ducking his shoulders, Battler slips his cloak over his shoulders -- Magic would let him do otherwise but, but -- and throws its heavy weight over her shoulders with care. It's a good excuse to be closer to her, to admit how powerless he is to help her beyond following his sister and the Traveler witch beyond the board, and apologize. His hands move carefully to clasp the small chain closed over the fabric of her dress, and then he smiles again, nose scrunching, fond and terrified and sure all at once / There is no exit to escape from except for this door. However, the chain lock on this door is set. You can unset and reset it all you want, but you can only do so from the inside. / A slight shake of his head, almost a tremble: "I won't hold you another one, late or not, Beato. It'll be ours or not at all."

[spirestar]

A flush of fluster begins to warm Battler's squished cheeks before his frustration can fully ice it away. Even that laugh that's grown so endearing to him can't completely disarm his unease. Even though he's comforted for a moment, her suggestion immediately anchors him once more--He quickly pops back up to his full height and folds his arms, considering.

"No, he shouldn't--" Dark eyes flick to his replica game board. Each piece is in its proper place, with Ange's side left nearly empty to allow for the endless possibilities of her choices, an army of small tokens waiting in the wings. He's even taken the liberty of recreating Erika's piece in that pile, yet another hope he's holding onto. "My piece shouldn't be moving on his own until the match begins. He doesn't know what's in here, either, none of the humans are meant to--"

Battler flicks his wrists and a sheaf of papers appear between his hands, each one a scribbled plot that's been discarded previously: Ronove and Maria in a version of the guest house that will never be born, Virgilia with a doll in the VIP Room that no human will ever see-- "I should check the chapel. Gaap could have carried it there early if she saw me set it down." Once "Illusions of the Witch" walk freely in this new Rokkenjima they've built, some with even more agency than the puppeteered human pieces. Still, he shakes his head, not quite meeting Beato's eyes as his form begins to disintegrate into golden, fluttering butterflies and relocate itself to his grandfather's old church. "I don't like this..."

"To remind myself how pathetic you are," Beatrice says fondly, her knuckles going to lovingly press against the side of his face that isn't squished against her shoulder, "You wear that cloak so well, Ushiromiya Battler...it makes you look quite dignified. But I do so love when you look like you're ready to turn into a puddle on the floor! Kyahahhahaha--you can't fool me!!" A golden chime of a laugh rings in the otherwise empty study, filing the room with the impossible presence of the witch. Then all stills, quieted by Beatrice's contemplation. For a few long moments she's silent, running through the possibilities in her mind. If Battler made it immovable, then...

trick, closed room, magic, key, lock.

"Hoh." There's a few mostly unpleasant options. Beatrice isn't so keen to imagine that Lambdadelta or Bernkastel have continued to dirty their hands in their gameboard, so she sticks to the milder proposal. "Could it have been your piece?"

[timeskip]

"19 is the age of the true territory lord of this world" UM. BEATRICE? BEATRICE IS 19? IS BEATRICE THE BABY FROM 19 YEARS AGO? Is this a reach. Am I supposed to make this connection. Is this a red herring. I can't tell!!!!!!!

[frogs-in3-hills]

ok well forget what i said about replaying other chapters i’m sure if i was reading these at the time of release i would have a grand time going back and theorizing but unfortunately chapter 6 is literally sitting there on my computer taunting me and i’m going. to play it.

[lightcreators]

@wolfvirago

No  one  was  truly  alone  in  middle  of  Purgatory's  games.

This  was  the  sentence  he  really  wanted  to  expressing  with  brightness,  offering  all  the  reasssurance  associated  to  that  statement  he  wanted  honestly  to  share.  However,  how  much  this  was  true  ?  Of  course,  for  a  while,  inside  his  own  chessboard,  there  had  been  only  his  mind  and  his  thoughts  to  having  an  idea  of  an  plan  for  bouncing  back  towards  the  Golden  Witch,  when  he  had  indirect  allies  during  that  time.  Another  witch  had  been  supporting  his  position,  and  eventually,  he  did  managed  to  have  allies  along  the  way  …  When,  with  that  last  thoughts,  slow  decomposure  couldn't  help  to  return. ❝  You  aren't  alone  in  this  fight,  never.  ❞  He  actually  decided  to  bring  around,  when  thoughtfulness  of  his  expression  betrayed  his  wish  to  be  innocent.  ❝  It  all  depending  of  the  chessboard  you  are  coming  from.  It's  all  depending  of  circumstances  within  your  chessboard.  It's  all  depending  of  the  witch  you  are  facing.  ❞  For  the  moment,  he  wasn't  obligated  to  awakening  pleasant  memories  and  recollections  concerning  that  point  …  or  even  how  within  his  case,  he  had  to  please  the  God  of  the  Underground  with  his  chessboard.  She  needed  reassurance,  not  to  be  worried  over  weight  of  opponent.  ❝  Did  a  witch  take  a  dislike  to  you ?    ❞

[anawkwardlady]

Why aren't we cancelling Battler?

Last time I tried to do that he ranked up in my Tier List.

[gigginox]

Wtf is umineko even about?

well its abt Beatrice the Golden Witch

[love-is-a-pearl]

I kind of see what you mean regarding the Masters 8. Instead of it being a finalist tournament with more matchups, you wanted a one on one race to the top? But it’d be hard to imagine the Champions just sitting there and not battling each other, also wanting to climb the ladder, unless if their positions were fixed from last years tournament and Ash, would be the “only” challenger, probably beating Iris and Alain since they’re new, and then beating the champions in reverse rank order until Leon? I struggle to see his Cyndaquil and Oshawott beating out whole dragons tho. How do you feel about the match ups chosen in JN? They’re so funny. We thought Alain VS Ash would get a turnaround but he got cooked to show how unbeatable Leon is. Lance got the short end of the stick VS Diantha. Steven was perfect defeat fodder to them. Then Cynthia, who Ash knew the most and is 2nd strongest. Cynthia VS Iris was just bullying at this rate lol, and mandatory girl VS girl fight. I think I’d change it to be Alain VS Ash. Iris VS Lance. Steven VS Diantha. (Old rivals, Dragon masters, Kalos team) but Cynthia’s fans would be SO mad if she lost to Leon. Unless if I kick Leon out and add another person and winning the M8 gives you the right to face him. He doesn’t get to join otherwise.

i mean, isnt that sorta what the other challengers where doing? battling whoever that got close to their rank to try and keep their place?

Also, cmon, by that time the staff was already commited to taking Ash off the anime. Between seeing champions battle eachother and the boy we've been with for 20+ years battling people he met in that never ending journey, which one is more interesting for anime viewers?

And honestly I wouldn't care how forced the wins would be LMAO i would be more than happy to see Oshawott taking down Iris' Haxorus :v (but also, many of those "weaker" pokemon could evolve here too. And we know how evolution is a game changer in battles remember cameron's lucario? of course you do!)

But all in all I get why they didn't go with it. Most of the battles would be 1 episode long, perhaps not even full 6v6 and I'm sure some of Ash's older mons were voiced by Oak's deceased VA so I get it.

But still.. it was Ash's last moments... I would totally prefer that and sacrifice the 11 mezamas episodes for it.. It would've been so so cathartic, to see how far he had come, to see him use all his pokemon one last time, and to give every fan closure, despite whatever their favorite season was.

With all that said, the final bracket we got is exactly what I wanted LMAO

I was never into the Alain rematch bandwagon (i dont care for his "rivalry" with Ash much sorry); Iris already had a match with Ash in the middle of Journeys so they would never battle here again; Cynthia was TOTALLY gonna be the "final challenge" before Leon (rightfully so) and between the remaining ones Steven is by far the most interesting for me.

But honestly I expected the writers to have Ash vs Lance instead of Ash vs Steven (the Kanto boy vs the Kanto champion, poetic and all despite the fact I find Lance OH SO boring) so because of that I was expecting Iris vs Alain (so she could kick his butt beautifully) and Steven vs Cynthia (Sinnoh over Hoenn 5ever dont at me) and maybe let Leon win against Diantha (RIP queen) and then we could have Leon vs Iris in the second round and continue as usual.