#brave sango

[krislikofan]

EXPLORER ANN THEORY (+sketchs)

Ann - That character that has haunted me since her appearance. Her presence in the horizons is not significant, Liko’s classmate, as well as her close friend. But I'm not sure that it will be as insignificant in the future.

For me, the theory that Ann is connected with the explorers is, in fact, so far the most truthful theory that there is in general in this anime. As we remember, the first person to see the pendant from Liko’s hands was, of course, Ann. Afterwards, when Liko moved to the Brave Asagi, she began calling Ann, and surprisingly, explorers always found out where the Brave Asagi was without complex tracking systems(of course, this does not apply to the moments when we were openly shown that the explorers were intentionally tracking the ship.)

Ann could very well be a fake friend for Liko in order to convey basic information to the explorers, and her goal is to gain Liko’s trust and also transfer all the information to the explorers.

By the way, do you remember that episode where Ann met Liko Dot and Roy on the way to the Academy? From this episode, the scene where Ann showered Liko with compliments, and Dot only cast ambiguous glances at Liko, became ingrained in me. The episodes where they took notes were about nothing. We were simply shown the relationship between the main characters and their Pokémon, but what I noticed first was Dot’s behavior. She was quite active in these episodes, noticed the condition of Liko and Roy, offered help, was interested in how everyone was doing, and in general she was active. But as soon as Ann appeared in their trio, Dot remained silent. She didn't say anything, just glanced at Ann and Liko.

I don't think it's because of Ann's activity. If we remember Nemona, then Dot behaves normally with her, chatting with friends the same way. Maybe because she has problems with her social life? Don't think. Just remember the episode where Dot lured an incredibly large number of people to a cafe. It's possible that Dot sees something wrong with Ann. She is clearly embarrassed by her behavior and her excessive attention to Liko. And it’s even clear why, she doesn’t look through rose-colored glasses, she has a good instinct, and she’s not used to trusting others so blindly like Roy and Liko.

But I also often asked myself the question - how could Ann even get to the explorers? Until one day I noticed one detail. Have you noticed that Ann and Sango are similar? Hairstyle, shades of pink in the hair, similar eye shape, as well as the fang on the same side. It is possible that Ann may be a relative of Sango, for example, the sister.

It may happen that when Liko finds out that Ann is Sango's sister and that she helped the explorers, she will be disappointed in her. But Ann will go over to Liko's side, sacrificing her relationship with Sango. Naturally, Liko needs time to ask Ann.

In general, initially Ann could not have any intentions of becoming real friends with Liko, but let's remember that first of all they are children, and naturally Ann became attached to Liko and began to perceive her as a friend. She could tell Sango that she is not at all attached to Liko, and views her as an enemy, but it will all be a lie. Of course, Ann perceives her as her best friend, and sincerely does not want to think differently.

SO! That was the biggest post in my life... I hope you like it!!

[stargazer-sims]

Victor & Yuri appreciation post ♥

My beautiful boys have aged well, and in my opinion this is the best they've ever looked. I will never not appreciate these two. Writing their "journey of discovery" story took me over two years, and I'm glad I saw it through, because these characters deserve it.

They were characters of mine long before I ever made sim avatars for them, but I've had fun with them as their sim avatars as well. A lot of the CC i've made over the years and a handful of builds have all been for them. Whenever I want to quit The Sims, I always come back to playing with these two, and whenever I'm discouraged with the writing process, I look at what I've done with these characters.

A lot of people ask if Yuri and Victor are that Yuri and Victor (from YOI). The answer is no; they are not fan fiction characters. If you're curious, Victor and Yuri's origin story is here.

__________

A little about Victor & Yuri...

Victor Thomas Edward Okamoto-Nelson birthday: 2 December gender: male pronouns: he/him occupation: paediatric nurse spouse: Yuri Okamoto-Nelson child: Caroline Lily May Okamoto-Nelson (adopted)

random facts about Victor

Victor is a former competitive snowboarder. He retired from competition to attend nursing school. He's still obsessed with snowboarding though.

When he was six, his father Thomas and baby sister Caroline were killed by an impaired driver driving through a crosswalk

He is terrified of thunderstorms and has been ever since he was a child

He has a hereditary genetic abnormality which caused his hair to turn prematurely silver. His hair was completely silver by the time he was thirteen, and by eighteen, his eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair and facial hair were also completely silver.

He always thought he had a mild learning disability, but it turned out that he actually had a correctable eye condition that made reading difficult for him

He and Yuri met online, on a forum for snowboarding enthusiasts. They had a long distance relationship for three years, during which time Victor threw himself into learning to speak Japanese in preparation for going to join Yuri in Japan.

He loves dogs and has a gift for dog training

His pain tolerance is very low and he doesn't do well with being sick. Yuri teases him about it, but would move the earth to take care of him and make sure he's as comfortable as possible whenever he's sick or hurt.

He cries easily, which is one of the things he likes least about himself

His favourite colour is red

Yuri Okamoto-Nelson birthday: 20 September gender: male pronouns: he/him occupation: communications professional spouse: Victor Okamoto-Nelson child: Caroline Lily May Okamoto-Nelson (adopted)

random facts

Yuri was born prematurely, at thirty weeks. Initially, he wasn't expected to survive the first forty-eight hours of his life, but he defied all the odds and survived. He loves his birthdays and always wants to make a big deal of them because he sees them as a celebration of another year of being alive rather than just being another year older.

He has a lot of health issues, but despite being chronically ill, he's determined to live the best life possible. He's physically active when he feels well, and loves snowboarding, yoga, swimming and dancing.

He's the oldest of three children. He's closest with his youngest sister Shirayuki and is estranged from his other younger sister Hana

He owns his own business, BRAVE Communications, which is a PR and communications firm. He runs it alongside his friend and business partner, James Fairchild, who is also disabled

Yuri is a survivor of intimate partner violence, from his one and only relationship before meeting Victor

He once made 1,000 paper cranes, and wished for happiness. Shortly thereafter, he and Victor met online.

He loves animals, but was never allowed to have a pet growing up. He was overjoyed when Victor agreed that he could adopt a dog, and he adopted a rescued Pomeranian whom he named Sango. Over the years since then, he's had a lot of pets

He likes to write, and has published three children's books so far, along with his friend Fox Abbottsford, who did the illustrations.

His favourite food is strawberries. He will eat just about anything that's strawberry-flavoured, but for him, nothing is better than fresh strawberries.

His favouite colous are yellow and pink

__________

*** Their married surname is Okamoto-Nelson. Victor's original surname was Nelson and Yuri's was Okamoto, but they couldn't decide who should take who's name when they got married, so they decided to combine them.

[harocat]

Perhaps this is inaccurate, but does it ever feel to you like general cdrama fandom takes the FL being a “mature” character as the end-all indicator of the show’s quality? Recently with legend of Shenli I see quite a few people start their praise along the lines of “unlike those other garbage xianxia with their annoying FLs”. And often it becomes clear they’re trashtalking Lbfad specifically

This is not just Cdrama fandom, it's fandom on the whole; the girlbossification of female characters.

I've generally always favored characters that get this treatment. Riza Hawkeye (badass) vs. Winry Rockbell (immature), Sango (badass) vs Kagome (immature). Sorry those examples are anime, but they're very well known so 🤷

These are also often healer characters, which is a trope that tends to be... sort of maligned. How dare a women be relegated to just being a healer! But IDK, I'd rather have a well written healer than a generic, flatly written warrior any day. XLH would definitely fall under the healer class.

(One good thing I've noticed is that while all the above mentioned girls got a lot of hate back in the day, as time has gone on, they've grown to become beloved characters. You rarely see hate for any of them nowadays. It's great.)

Keeping in mind fandom's general disinterest in women, so naturally the appreciation that does exist is often extremely shallow. Characters that tend to catch their attention because of this are ones that are 'badass' or that they want to 'step on them' or whatnot. A character that starts out more mature is more likable to them because they don't need to look beyond the surface to see how 'cool' she is.

This is not an implication that Shenli is a shallow character (I am only on ep twelve, so I'm not here to give any kind of overall impression), but just that she from the beginning has more traits that are easy for people to glom onto as a 'strong female character' Do these specific people (this is obviously not all fans of Shenli) who say 'finally a mature character' write meta about Shenli? Do they gush on her and share fanworks and create and all the like. Generally no, because in my experience people who like characters for 'girlboss' reasons don't really appreciate them beyond the surface.

These people will gripe about characters like XLH, sing the praises of 'strong female characters', then go back to only caring about male characters 90% of the time.

Xiao Lanhua takes too much work for these kinds of fans. Obviously we know she is strong, we know she is badass and brave, but the XLH we meet at the beginning is silly, immature, and boy crazy. To appreciate her character fully, you have to do more than just look for five seconds and go 'wow badass'. She's a layered, richly written character, but she doesn't start out as the kind of character that fits a girlboss reading.

On the other hand, almost because of this, you can find pages and pages of meta, fic, and fanworks about her, and almost any fan of hers can give you a plethora of reasons they love her that have actual depth.

On the subject of maturity, it's often a case of the kind of immaturity that's acceptable. Dongfang Qingcang is deeply immature at the start of the series. I don't need to explain why.

But his immaturity is appealing to fandom; cute, likable, and funny. It's good immature, cool immature. And I think this is because in addition to being a male character, we're also taught that being immature like Xiao Lanhua is--- is like... a horrible thing to be? But that's not the case at all. It's just normal! Again, back to girlboss feminism. Women and female characters are held to an impossibly high standard. Female characters that act in a way that might be seen as cringe (if they aren't also badass)? Yikes.

Yes, Xiao Lanhua starts out flighty and silly, but she's also a hard worker, and even from the beginning, she's courageous (despite her timidity when confronted with bullies). She's a good character, even at the beginning; she is lovable, charming, and so, so funny. People just refuse to see beyond their first impression.

The goal in writing a female character should be to make them well written, and in that sense, Xiao Lanhua is a great character. She just happens to also be extremely brave and badass, but some people are too shallow to see it. At this point in time I don't even argue with XLH haters. I'm just like 'well fine, I'd rather not have you here anyway.'

[amelikos]

Something interesting about how Liko and Roy have personal ties to the younger Explorers, while Dot has personal ties to the older ones.

Liko and Roy have connections to Amethio, Sango and Onyx. Liko, Roy and Amethio have parallels as they all have grandparents figures important to their stories and they inherit something from them (Liko inherited her grandmother's pendant, Roy's grandfather gave the Ancient Pokeball he found to Roy, and Amethio took up Gibeon's will). Liko is the one who has more personal interactions with Amethio (and they'll probably settle Lucius and Gibeon's history), but Roy also has similar aspirations and inspirations as Amethio (namely, they both chase the Black Rayquaza in different ways, and both are inspired by Friede).

Liko and Roy also have a personal rivalry building up with Sango and Onyx ever since the end of chapter 1, and they have faced each other a few times ever since (like in HZ043). They are all students together in the current arc and function as duos, and the show itself brought up the possibility of friendship between them, since Clavell mistook Sango and Onyx as checking up on their friends back in HZ050. Sango is the one who has the most casual interactions with the group, and Liko is starting to have closer ties with her too.

Meanwhile, Dot's had personal ties with Spinel ever since chapter 1. Dot's arc of coming out of her room and opening up overlapped with Spinel's introduction as an antagonist and a threat. He tricked Dot multiple times and put Liko in danger and as a result, Dot has a personal grudge against him. Plus, they're both the tech savvy characters of their respective groups and use technology for their benefit, as well as gather information.

Agate was more mysterious, because she didn't have personal interactions with any of the RVTs for the longest time. But it seems like they are building her up to be more connected to Dot. Dot quickly confronted Agate back in HZ044 when she jumped off the Brave Asagi to disable Spinel's resonance generator and shut it down. Which was the first time Agate was on the same level as someone from the RVTs (Liko and Roy were on the ground, while Agate was above in the tower), and she talked to Dot and actually faced her. And in the most recent episode (HZ056), Dot and Agate had a conversation. Agate is skeptical of mysteries and thinks some truths are best left unlearned and must never be revealed, while Dot is interested in mysteries and in unraveling them. So there is a specific contrast there. Dot grew curious of Agate too (and took an interest in the Scarlet Book after seeing Agate read it), so it seems like Agate will be a personal opponent for her.

[queerly-done]

Friespinel/Amethiosanguishshipping/ Friede x Spinel Headcanons

I’m still bored so hope you enjoy

Umbreon hated Friede for the longest time and it kind of made him sad but it eventually warmed up to him(I’m writing a fic about it :3)

When they first started going out Friede had convinced himself he was just trying to befriend Spinel, keep your friends close and enemies closer situation, and Spinel allowed it for up close research. They both had crushes on each other that they would rather not unpack.

Friede has ADHD and Spinel is Autistic and their shared special interest in pokemon is actually a way they bonded

Friede loves flustering Spinel, absolutely loves it.

Spinel will never admit it but he likes when Friede plays with his hair

Friede only ever goes over to the Explorers’ base Spinel never goes to the Brave Olivine, mostly due to the fact that they are less likely to be found out there.

Sango found out about them and uses this information to blackmail Spinel

Amethio also found out about them and told Gibeon, and Spinel convinced Gibeon that Amethio was just going insane. Amethio is a snitch in other words

Friede has almost been caught so many times it’s not even funny to him at least. He is a terrible liar so it’s a wonder he gets himself out of those situations

Spinel has a fucked sleeping schedule and Friede can’t sleep without someone near him so he has also developed a fucked sleeping schedule

Cap refuses to go with Friede to the Explorers’ base and honestly Friede kind of prefers that less people know about he and Spinel’s relationship

They bicker like a Married couple on acid

[jadeazora]

UNITE's Halloween event has been detailed, and Mimikyu and its Holowear haslve been added to the game! A new Battle Pass has also been announced for Oct23!

Arven Scale World figures coming soon. Should be seeing info on it later today!

Our promo gif and storyboard shot for tomorrow's new Horizons episode! Cap was onboard the Brave Asagi last we saw him, so I guess Sango attacks the airship while Friede's away? (To perhaps take the crew prisoner as a bargaining chip? Or to cripple the ship and prevent them all from getting away with Terapagos?)

The promo artwork and title for PinocchioP's Project Voltage song have been revealed. His song will be The Pokemon Inside My Heart.

And also, the Horsea line from Ancient Roar!

[smilingangel582]

Afraid of nuthin'

Warning spoilers alert well until Heizou's hangout event and itto story quest

Ps. If u aren't a fan of tickling and friendly things that don't seem more your type and less bizarre, feel free to scroll down... thank you and enjoyyyy my loveliees!

(Lee!heizou and ler!Itto - featuring oopse... *clamps a hand on my mouth* It's a secret and a surprise ending)

***

"Heizouu!"

Startled by the booming voice outside of shimura's restaurant, the young detective Heizou almost spills his tea. It's the third time this month, at least... that Itto gets him to react so differently.

"Itto old chap... Maybe it's better to lower your volume down in public places. " Heizou squints with an assuring expression when the oni steps in almost slipping into a crashing speed at the fragile looking restaurant.

"Oopse, you got it my hombre," he salutes now, walking along with Heizou, who's in fact on his break but rather scavenging for some new intriguing mysteries under Sango's nose.

"Hey buddy," Itto speaks after a few minutes of strolling, probably out if boredom.

"Yes?"

"I'm interested... every instant I see ya, especially during the test of courage," Itto gestures comically as they walk outside Inazuma a bit "you don't seem scared of anything... right?"

Tricky... if he said yes, it would mean Itto will start a troublesome game of finding Heizou's fear, leading to trifling conclusions. Then if he says no... and admit he is. He'll have to spill the impossible. Truthfully, not even he knows what he's afraid... maybe when there will be a day that mysteries won't exist?

"Um... well Itto, I am a human so it might be dramatic to say I'm not scared..."

Either way as Heizou deduced Itto intends to investigate his fear.

Chuckling now "Well, say you are more fearless than an oni, but you are a wee human so I bet you are scared of something..."

Sighing Heizou shrugs and it took quite a while for Itto to even analyse and figure out anything.

Honestly, Heizou's job is still with him himself... no one can take his job. At least the traveller gladly isn't despite having exceptional skills.

"Maybe like me! Is it beans?"

"I'm a human not an Oni..."

Groaning even more Itto pouts a bit. Chuckling at the childish display of the large but kid oni, Heizou professes "Alright Itto, trust me... I'm afraid of somethings but I am not as brave as an oni... does that feel better?"

Oni grins but slightly accepting it. He turns to Heizou and then pokes side. "If I would say you certainly need to eat m-"

"H-hey!" Heizou arcs his back from the touch and backs off, tittering uneasily he states "Itto... space please..."

Curious oni is a dangerous oni, Heizou knew he's skilled to note that about him. Another poke but Heizou prepares by staggering back only to land on his back.

"Heizou? Are you perhaps ticklish?" A look of genuine delight in the discovery.

"H-huh why would you say that I-Itto?" Barely making eye contact.

The oni shrugs but helps him up and slightly offers a playful snicker, "ahh well my compadre you better watchout cause there is someone even scarier than an oni..."

"If you are referring to ghost-"

"Those too but!" He emphasises with a smirk, making Heizou connect the dots before Itto could get to the point. Gently trying to slip away, he stepped back, but Itto caught him without an effort by the arm holding it up as he began his conversation.

"You know who that guy is?"

Gulp, this is not good... if this oni really plans to tickle him, it's the end of his day.

Tactic one, distraction...

"Ah, look at the time... uh... my breaks over Itto... hehe, I better head ba-ahahack!" He poked his ribs now.

Failed... abort! Abort!

"Shikanoin Heizou, you will get a visit from the tickle monster!!" As if he never heard a single word from Heizou since that topic. Fingers immediately dug into his bare sides, beginning his attack properly.

Maybe he should consider a change of clothing since Lumine enjoys poking him here and there.

"Ahaha wahait aha, maybe hehe, I am ticklish buhuhut... ihihits nohohot ahaha feheheeear!" Pushing his hands off slightly averting his eyes to see if there's a crowd watching him struggle to escape a child oni.

Itto's strength is commendable when he pins both his small wrist above his head "Heizou, look here bro, fear of tickles is something everyone has tho some tend to enjoy it...buuut" his fingers lightly tracing his stomach now heizou feels determined to admit he's got a fear of the tickle monster -or rather tickle oni.

"Well you are a detective... might spill a thing or two... right?"

"Aahahahas ihihif a lihihittle tihihickling cahahahan dohoho thahahat!?? Noho, sir!" Heizou's right arm kept pushing him away though with no success.

"Oooooh" mistake, big mistake Heizou realised too late. Too late! He squeaks "NO! Wait!"

Bursts in immediate laughter when Itto tickles his under arms. Itto nods casually "I see, so you are not afraid of the tickle monster making you spill the tea... my bro, if you promise to say the word Onikabuto I'll let you go... but that means you will submit to this little interrogation method..."

Since when did this Oni became soo... evil? Or bad? Heizou was too busy struggling the tickles that are total torture under his arms. He shakes his head "SEHEHERIOUSLY IHIHIHITTOO NOHOHO MORE GAHAHAHAMES... LEHEHET MEHEHE UP!"

"Armpits huh?" Itto snickers enjoying this waaaay more than the victim. Heizou can't even tickle back due to the struggles he wasted. "Well tell me what's the password! Come on little guy... I'll let you go if you say that... hmmm?"

His fingers slowly crawl down, making Heizou giggle but laughing less, as they remain on their sides still tickling. He squirms and yelps "Ack! Ihihittooo! Plehehease!"

"Begging? Alright not so tough now wittle detective... you sure are cute for someone who's not afraid of nuthin'!"

Itto won't shut up. Is this for real? Is Heizou the detective resistant to any torture gonna go submissive against tickling? No way...

Heizou squeals now feeling the fingers crawl up again "AHAHA haha whahahahat thehehe?"

"Incyyy wiiincyyyy Oniii went uuup the ticklish sideees!"

"Nohohohot thahahaaat ohohoho myyy ahahahrchoons!" Heizou blushes furiously. Especially when Itto is singing this version very loudly for the whole town to hear. No! Just yhat alone is intolerable!

"AHAHAH ok ok!!!! Noho more singing!" He panics when the fingers swiftly reached his armpits not even tickling "OK! EEEHEHE IHIHI UHUHUHU OHOHONIKABUTOOO! I SAID IT I SAID IT!"

Itto burst into laughter now hitting his own thigh "Ohooo my! Yohou can't stand thahat can ya!"

"Uhuhunfair... it wahas embarrassing..."

"But you had fuuuun compadre??"

Looking at the excited oni he sighs with a giggle "OK ok... I did,"

"It certainly looked like it"

The familiar windy light voice makes Heizou's blood run cold. He turns to see the anemo vision holder Kazuha.

"K-k-kazuha! What b-brings you he-hear?" Heizou stammers immediately, blushing more at the sight of his former target and now close friend standing there with a fond smile. Smiling even eider Kazuha gestures to the crux fleet. "A trip back to my home again, of course, wanderers may wander, but i also wonder..." leaning forward over Heizou's face."What my dear friend is doing, as a detective that's intriguing..."

Itto applauds with sudden excitement but also getting their attention "My bro your poetic!"

"Why thank you... I see you discovered my friends weakness,"

Itto chuckles "Lil dude be going 'I ain't afraid of nuthin' so I found out he's scared of the tickle oni!"

Kazuha's airy light laughter suddenly draws the wind. "Whyy, he's adorable, isn't he... squealing at his age...?"

"Kaaazuuu, please..." Heizou grabs his hand to stop him, "Itto let's give Kazuha a tour, and we'll introduce you to his heroic actions. " he pulls him away instantly to avoid further vociferous teasing on him.

They were already leading ahead, and Kazuha poked him teasingly about the initial incident, making the detective more embarrassed.

Meanwhile...

"Waaaait..." Itto still ponders and murmurs."Such a familiar nameee, Kazu... kazuha... Kaeda... oh!" and then he runs after them suddenly, recalling"

"Mutso no hitotachi!!!! Waaaaait, I want to fight ya too! Wait, uppp!!!"

(A/N:Sorry about the spelling. I can't remember it... the end, thanks for reading)

[smilingperformer]

Me: "Yaaaay it's Horizons anniversary soon!!"

Others: "It's been a year since Satoshi's journey ended"

I... I didn't even think about that |D

Guess I was that ready to just let him leave the story.

Considering that none of the original series staff stayed in the writing team, they were too.

Since it's soon been a year and we're reaching the end of act 2, I can confidently say this is like, my favourite Pokémon series. Alongside Sun & Moon. And both are favs for wholely different reasons, as in, love Sun & Moon for tackling mature topics and for having wonderful humor, alongside good world building and nice focus on family theme. While Horizons I love the story focus shift from normal, cast that is super enjoyable and a take on a found family type of group, new original villains that I've come to like a lot, etc etc.

I love how different both shows are. I love how both dare to try new things out in different way. Liko is one of THE most relatable characters to me, and I love the whole entire cast to bits. I even adore the Explorers, esp. Sango is slowly making a hole in my heart that wants me to call myself a fan of hers. Yes. She's been that enjoyable to me. Even Amethio's grown on me immensely, I like how his character works, and excited to see his role this upcoming ep.

At the start Roy felt a tad bit too alike to Satoshi, and at times I can see that similar type of "forget about a skill and then do the skill" writing from Satoshi era is thrown on him, but he's still mostly his own character. But that is probably why I'm more drawn to the likes of Liko, Dot, Friede, Amethio and Sango, because their fighting styles are so refreshing for me. I even like how Onyx and Sango pairing works, with Onyx fitting Sango's oni-speaking pattern (srsly wtf that must have been intended and now I want to know if dub has ANYTHING to match this speaking pattern with.)

There's been clear growth, clear character progression, much much slower team progress than whatever the fuck JN did (not jabbing at anyone who likes JN but I won't deny that I really hate how fucking fast most Pokémon evolved there. It seems Horizons knows not to rush things).

Act 1 suffered from pacing issue where stuff happens in one episode and then the next ep sort of shrugs it off and continues the plot in a really weird tone-shift, but I don't think act 2 had that, which I liked. But act 2 also had more fill-ins compared to the action-packed act 1. But imo, it was good to have a more slower, calming pace for a while. It helped build on the characters more, and show how the Rising Volt Tacklers exactly live like. Which makes the Brave Asagi breaking in recent episode ever so more heartbreaking aaaaaaaaah-

I'm also kinda glad I was wrong on the "only a one year long series", because so far I'm quite attached to the cast and definitely wouldn't have felt happy to see them go yet. So knowing that Horizons seems to follow the usual 3 year pace (maybe 2, maybe 4, who knows) makes me happy. And I totally look forward to act 3 that is definitely caused by the Brave Asagi needing long, long time for repairs.

So um yeh. This was a weird ramble lol. But like, love Horizons, don't exactly miss old show as I felt it told whatever it wanted to and had the danger of just, butchering characters further from what I enjoyed it for. Sometimes it's better to let go. Fanfics and fanarts will still exists for a long long time, I'm sure. But my enjoyment on Horizons has definitely caused me to not miss the old days at all. And I'm glad.

(Do I want Satoshi to return? Honestly? No. 26 years is long enough for me.)

[rainbowangel110]

Watched Ep 25!! Pics and thoughts below)

I am. Looking respectfully I swear-

He was so sassy this episode omg. I would have caught the wink he gave Liko and Roy but alas, I too was caught off guard to catch it 😔 it was still a thing of beauty though

I just love this sequence of events. There was a pause there as Ametheio was like "Oh wait you're right." before recalling Corvinknight (aka Armorgaw)

FRIEDE TERRAISLITAZION LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOO

His face after Ceruledge (aka Soublades) gets one shot by Terra Blast is priceless but also just the vibes of this.... anyone getting Hunter from ToH vibes??? Just me???

Same Feucocco, same. Also wasn't able to screenshot this, but Terrapagos' reaction to the terra.... hinty hint! Also the new poster showing it's terra form?? We're definetly seeing that soon.

Jessie/James vibes are real and alive

AGAIN- WHAT IS UP WITH YOU HOMIE. God I need to study Amithio under a microscope

Buddy you are wearing a jacket and are standing next to a fire type- (But also this was just a silly little moment in a jam packed episode)

I swear this is a hint to Amethio joining Rising Volt-Tacklers, I promise just hear me out please- (No actually though, first time watching this scene I thought he was gonna hitch a ride on Charizard until he pulled out Corvinknight)

Oh I love this little shit already oh god. The snaggle tooth. The smile. The hair. The VOICE?!?! Perfect omg.

Well until she ordered her Glalie to blow up- I still like her though hope we see more of Sango (also her referring to herself in third person at times "Sango's your secret weapon?")

CAP!!!!!!

Okay so we're all in agreement he's gonna join right?? RIGHT!?!?! The way the camera panned up but you could only catch this expression of Amethio looking up at the Brave Asagi flying away for like a little bit until he goes back to his normal expression. Like come on-

LEGENDS ARCUES FANS REJOICE!!! FOR WE HAVE BEEN FED!!!

But also just how old is Lucius cuz Legends Arcus took place wayyyy back. It kinda makes sense now, in the memoir talking about people getting along with Pokémon, which was an unknown concept in Legends until the protagonist came along-

[a-writers-blurbs]

Under The Goshinboku

Fandom: Inuyasha

Pairing: Some Inuyasha x Kagome (maybe 5 chapters) with eventual Sesshomaru & Kagome

Universe: Canon

Rating: MA

Status: Ongoing-hiatus

Where to read: FFN, Ao3, watty, dokuga

Trigger Warnings: Non-con (suggested), self harm, depression, child loss/infertility, abuse (physical & emotional), brief mention of torture, substance abuse

Story description:

It had only been two weeks. Two weeks since he reached his hand into the bone eaters well and felt the soft touch of her skin. Two weeks since she returned. And he'd be damned if he let her go again...

✍️ 📃 📚

Note: I have not watched or read YashaHime & dont plan to.

This story won't have any ties to the continuance.

Crickets chirped and the wind blew as Kagome made her way to her home that didn't feel like home. No, nothing was quite right anymore. 

Three years had passed since Narakus defeat. Three years since she was trapped in the Shikon jewel. Three years since she was tricked into returning to the future, her present.  

After graduation, her friends tried so hard to help her be happy again. She had to give them that. But they didn't understand. No one did. How could they?

During her time away, Kagome had changed. No longer the naive and trusting girl she once was, now she was simply traumatized. 

Depression was never a word she would have associated with herself, but that was the only way to describe the way she felt.

At one time she held onto hope that an older InuYasha would one day appear. But then she remembered, in her time, there were no yokai. He was gone. She would be forever doomed to live in a world without the four people she cared most about. That thought alone kept her awake at night. Sango, Shippo, Miroku, InuYasha. They were long dead in her time and she didn't even know how they'd fared.

Did Sango and Miroku ever get married? Did Shippo get his nine tails? Did InuYasha find a home? Did they miss her as they aged and passed on? 

Questions she would never get answers to plagued Kagome to no end. She didn't even know where they were buried, though she suspected it was somewhere on her shrines property. 

That was the silver lining in her mind. Her shrine, her home, had once been the burial ground of the village from five hundred years in the past. The village that grew and expanded to become the Tokyo of the new millennium. 

It was with that thought that Kagome held onto as she entered the part of the shrine that held the bone eaters well, completely unaware of the three sets of eyes following her.

_____

"She's getting worse." The cracking voice of a teenaged Sota whispered. Just because he was six years younger than his sister didn't mean he didn't understand her feelings.

He loved his sister as much as a brother could. She was his hero, brave, confident, and honorable. Seeing her this way was killing him slowly and he didn't think he could handle seeing Kagome hurt for much longer.

"I know." His mother was just as concerned, if not more. Her daughter had always been such a cheerful girl, but after her last return, something changed. 

She knew Kagome had played a hand in countless yokai deaths. That she had seen things, lived through a war and won. But she never could get her daughter to tell her just what happened in those three terrifying days. 

Kagome wasn't the same anymore. This world filled with people and technology wasn't suited for her anymore. 

"Do you think she'll go back?"

"The portal has been closed for years, Sota." That sad reality was one her daughter was faced with. For all intents and purposes, four of the people closest to her had died the day the well sealed shut. "I don't think she can ever go back."

"Jii-chan said she will go back." His mother's shocked look brought nothing more than a shrug from the teen as He looked toward the shrine that housed both the well and his sister's sorrow. "He doesn't know when it'll happen, but he's certain the old stories about the Miko and the Yokai are about Kagome & InuYasha."

It was a bittersweet feeling, but their mother knew what needed to happen. Kagome didn't belong here anymore. She would have to let her daughter go if she ever wanted her to find happiness. Perhaps destiny had been in play since the morning her baby girl was born. If so, who was she to try and stop destiny? "Then we should help her prepare."

_____

Did the well stop working, because I was afraid to go back? When the well closed and I was alone in the darkness, I was so scared and sad. 

I didn't realize that I had been in the darkness for three whole days. I made Mom, Sota, and Jii-chan as sad and scared as I was. I felt bad about that, and was so happy to be back here.

 But then the well closed and I was left alone again. 

InuYasha? 

I've been thinking this whole time about the reason I was sent to the feudal era and the reason the bone eaters well stopped working when the Shikon jewel was destroyed. 

My job in that time is done and now I must live my life in my own world. A world without you.

But, InuYasha, I need to see you again.

The feeling of the wind was the first thing she noticed. Soon hearing the chirping of birds, Kagome slowly opened her tear soaked eyes. A small gasp escaped her lips when, instead of the dirt and bones she normally saw, Kagome saw a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. 

She momentarily wondered if she was dreaming when she felt a soft touch on her shoulder and heard the soothing tone of her mother's soft voice. "Kagome sweety, what is it?"

"Mamma." Looking at the mix of emotions on her daughter's face, she already knew what was happening even before it was said. "The well… it's, it's open again."

She could tell Kagome wanted nothing more than to jump headfirst into the past, but her fear was holding her back. Fear of what may happen if she returns. Fear of disappointing her family. Fear that InuYasha was long gone..."Jii-chan and Sota told me this would happen."

"What?" The mix of emotions suddenly vanished to be replaced by simple shock. "How did they…"

"I would have thought you had learned by now, your grandfather's stories aren't just tall tales." She couldn't help letting loose small chuckle at her daughter's expense. It was true though.

Before Kagome had been dragged into the bone eaters well, she never believed a word of her Jii-chans stories. She disregarded his gifts and laughed at his offerings. 

Eventually, after her return, she had locked herself into the shrine with the old man and told him everything that had happened in her two year journey. She apologized and begged to be taught more about shrine duties.

She had grown so much. "It's ok Kagome."

Before her daughter could speak, fast paced footsteps could be heard dashing down the stairs. "Yeah sis! We knew this was coming, we even packed some stuff for you!"

A less hyper set of footsteps came to a stop as Kagome stared in awe. "Sota? Jii-chan? How…"

"I'm the keeper of this shrines history girl!" The old man cane off rough, but Kagome could tell by the look in his eyes that he was just trying to keep himself From breaking down. This was hard for him, to say goodbye. But it was meant to be and it is what she wanted so he'd gladly take whatever pain was necessary on her behalf. "From the minute you first returned with InuYasha close behind, I knew one day you'd leave us to be the heroine of our past."

Stepping next to their grandfather, Sota, fighting his own tears, gave her a goofy grin. "InuYasha will take good care of you sis, just don't forget about us ok."

"Sota!" Falling to her knees, Kagome wrapped her arms around her younger brother and held tight. "I love you ototo. Take care of mom ok?"

With a firm nod, the thirteen year old stepped to his mother's side and began tossing several large duffel bags into the well. Her grandfather smiled broadly and hugged his granddaughter tight for the last time. "You will live long and well. There will be many trials and tribulations, but as long as you hold on to the faith you have in that boy, you'll be ok. Live well my sweet girl."

Stepping back, Kagome accepted a mysterious small trunk from him and turned back toward the well. Each step brought her closer to the dream she'd had for three years but she faltered at the last step. Glancing back over her shoulder with tears in her eyes, Kagome knew she was saying goodbye forever. "I love you all so much. Thank you for understanding." Shooting them a final smile, she clutched the black and gold trunk in her arms and jumped.

_____

It had been as much of a normal day as the white haired hanyu could get. The morning sun was beating on his back as he left Miroku and Sangos hut after sharing breakfast with the couple. Shippo followed behind in silence as he walked through the forest that had once been his prison, now dubbed his lands by the village. 

It had become a sort of ritual for them. Rise with the sun, breakfast with Sango and Miroku, then to the Goshinboku to beg before checking the bone eaters well and checking on Kaede & Rin. When they arrived at the clearing that once held the portal to the future, InuYasha didn't expect much. 

It wasn't that he'd given up hope, more like, he had come to terms with his fate. Kikyo had never loved him but he chased her around at every corner, abandoning Kagome more than once to chase the ghost of his past.

He had caused so much pain, he hurt Kagome so much that he knew this was his karma for treating her so badly. Maybe it was time he stopped coming. It's not like the Kami would answer the call of a hanyu anyway.

He had never wished to be human, but if he could have put this karma off until the next lifetime, he would gladly trade his demon blood. If only to see her one more time. 

While InuYasha lost himself in his thoughts, Shippo stood fidgeting at the foot of the well waiting. He would never admit it, but every time InuYasha reached in the well only to come up empty handed, it broke the little kits spirit. 

He missed Kagome. But he knew he couldn't take the visits anymore. Shippo would tell InuYasha that he would have to start coming alone to wait at the well as soon as he watched one last time. 

Coming back to reality, InuYasha looked at the young kitsune for a moment. He looked conflicted, like he wanted to get something off his chest. But when he finally opened his mouth to speak, his eyes grew wide and he rushed to the wells edge. 

Holding his breath and silently begging, InuYasha reached his hand into the well. Waiting. A few moments passed and nothing happened, just like every day for the last three years. 

Damning his own nose for playing tricks, InuYasha removed his hand and sighed. With a nod of his head he turned to walk away when he heard a loud thunk.

Slowly, as if afraid of what he might see, InuYasha turned back as the second thunk hit. Confusion overtook him when he saw two giant bags in front of the well. Before he could investigate, he had to back up as three more giant bags came out of the well landing at his feet. 

Terrified of false hope, he reached back into the well one last time. But this time, instead of a lonely emptiness, he felt the brush of fingertips. With one tug there, she was. 

[laughingsapphic-creates]

Inukag Week, day 7: Smile

Just a little thing to finish out the week. Many thanks to the mod(s) of @inukag-week for setting all this up and being so diligent and dedicated with this event, and everyone who participated, whether by creating or consuming. We have our ship wars and hardships, but I fkn love this community. Inukag for LIFE ❤️💚

~~~~~~

My Reason to Smile

"Thanks for cooking, Kagome! These are so good!" Sango hummed, licking a bit of whipped cream off her finger. "What did you say they were called again?" 

"These are Crepes! They're a French creation, but they've gotten pretty popular in Japan over the years," she hummed, carefully flipping the thin pancake in her frying pan. "You can put all kinds of things in them, but we tend to have sweet ones when they're made at my house, because that's what Sota likes. My Mom makes them special for him on his birthday."

"Kid's got good taste," Inuyasha nodded, speaking carefully around his mouthful.

Miroku had the decency to swallow before agreeing.

"I could see how they would be well-liked on a large scale, especially if they have so much variety."

"We actually have a Japanese version that's similar, but a lot less versatile; It's called okonomiyaki. I'm not sure when it got popular, but I haven't seen it yet in this period. Maybe I'll bring stuff to make some next time."

"Please do!" Shippo begged, finishing his crepe and then looking to the one Kagome was working on.

"While I'm thinking of it, Kagome," Miroku said, adjusting his hold on the napkin she'd given him, "You mentioned your mother makes these for your little brother's birthday. Did he have one recently?"

"Yep. Hit the big 1-0. I'm glad I was home for it."

"That reminds me, though," he continued, "when is your birthday? I don't think you've ever mentioned."

"Oh! My birthday is April thirtieth, so a few months back," she hummed, glancing up over the pan at Inuyasha, who had scarfed down both crepes with an unmatched voracity and was now watching her make the next one with the same hungry eyes. "Actually, I fell down the well for the first time on my fifteenth birthday, the same day I met Inuyasha."

She gave him a grin when he looked up in surprise.

Inuyasha's mind raced: the day they'd met? He'd woken up on her birthday?

He bit the inside of his lip as he remembered his first meeting with Kagome - mistress centipede, the jewel… his threats… and yeah, sure, he'd never actually planned on hurting her. Even thinking she was Kikyo, he hadn't wanted to hurt her, and once he was corrected, he just wanted to scare her into giving him the jewel. She'd put on a brave face, but she was new to the world of demons. He'd probably scared her pretty good.

"My grandpa always says that the universe gives you a gift for your birthday," she continued, drawing his wary eye again. "And that you have to watch out for it and make certain to be grateful. I was just lucky enough to get a new best friend as my gift."

Inuyasha felt his face go hot. He did his best to avoid her gaze, but it didn't last long. She was plating the fresh crepe, but she looked at him through her lashes and bangs, still with that soft smile. She held out the wrap, and he sat up, leaning over the fire to take it.

"... You're my best friend, too," he mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. Kagome's easy grin grew until she beamed, and he offered a small smile in return, amused and pleased at how much joy his words brought her. 

[ecargmura]

Pokemon Horizons Episode 16 Review: Spectacular

I’m sorry, Episode 10, you just got dethroned; Episode 16 is now the best episode of Pokemon Horizons by far. The animation, the execution and the buildup to what’s to come were all handled beautifully!

The animation was the best I’ve seen the Pokemon do. Ufotable actually helped with the in-between animation for this episode; no wonder the animation looks so crisp, especially when it comes to Pokemon movements! I think my favorite part is when Dot gets a closeup of her face as her hair flows in the wind and shows off her eyes and then Quaxly is shown with a serious look and its hair flowing in the wind as well. I think that is just flawless animation right there. 

The way things were executed were handled well. I’m amazed everything fit into the episode without it being too rushed or too underwhelming. Though, I was a bit surprised that Quaxly had been a wild Pokemon all this time; I wasn’t expecting Dot to capture it in the beginning, but I liked how the writers wanted to get it out of the way first before going into the good stuff. 

I also really liked how well the Rising Volt Tacklers worked as a team. Friede used his Charizard to go to and from different locations and he even got a battle of his own. Murdock, Orla and Mollie were doing their best to gather information about where the kids could’ve gone. Ludlow was being Ludlow. The real meat of the friendship came from the kids. All three worked well together. Dot being a clever battler but not a strong one was actually something I was expecting. She’s inexperienced, but still used her intelligence to find a way to let Liko and Roy know where she is by making Quaxly use Water Gun. Liko was struggling to get on the boat, but Roy was helping her along the way and even protected her from Beheeyem. Liko then protected Dot by being brave and challenging Magneton and Beheeyem to a battle. The RVTs are a huge cast but the way the writers are able to incorporate how to use them in an episode is seriously amazing because I know for a fact that for some animes with a huge cast, screen time is a struggle.

Liko, Roy and Dot didn’t actually defeat Spinel in battle, but the fact that they beat his Beheeyem and Magneton together was a good improvement from them. Spinel didn’t lose to novice kids, but had to retreat because he was caught off-guard by Arboliva and knew that the it would be no match for him. This is a total step up from Episode 5 where Liko beat Conia’s Golduck offscreen (No, I will not be calling her Onia). 

The buildup for what’s to come both intrigues and excites me. I actually like Spinel as a villain. He’s cunning and intelligent. The way that he’s able to piece things together and even goes out of his way to hide information from his colleagues for his own purpose makes him even more intriguing; he figured out that the pendant’s key is Liko and he hid that information as he let his colleagues berate him.

Speaking of which, the new Explorers admins all have amazing designs. I’m surprised such designs are used in a Pokemon anime because these guys look as if they could be villains in a urban fantasy Shounen anime of sorts. The way they showed up makes me want to know more about them. Their names are Onyx, Agate and Sango (Coral in Japanese). I like how they keep the gemstone/mineral theme names. It reminds me of Sailor Moon where the Black Moon Clan from Sailor Moon’s second arc were named after gemstones. Also, I’m surprised that they got Ikue Ohtani, the voice actress of Captain Pikachu, Ash’s Pikachu and Sawyer from the XY anime, to voice Sango. The way that this is her second major human character and a cute female one at that makes me intrigued for what’s to come for this character and how Ohtani will voice a villain. I can’t wait for future episodes! Out of the three new admins, I think that Agate has the most beautiful design. It’s rare to see such a design in Pokemon, from her skin tone to the trapezoid motif. It makes me want to know more about her.

The way Dot decides to tell Liko her secret of being Nidothing as a way of thanking her for everything was surprising. I thought this running gag would go until the end of the anime, but I’m glad that’s not the case. I’m wanting to see how this will affect Liko and Dot’s relationship now. Will Liko be a fangirl? Will Liko be super protective of her? I can’t wait see where this reveal will head.

My review ended being rather long. I can’t help it. There was so much to talk about; amazing episodes deserve to have long reviews. This episode had extremely positive reactions amongst the community and I can finally see why. What are your thoughts on how this episode turned out? Are you excited for what’s to come for the Rising Volt Tacklers?

[krisnb485]

As the CEO of Villain!Explorers, I'm delighted to announce that me and the MHA AU crew have finished working on the Explorers for this AU.

MHA X Horizons AU:

The Explorers

The Explorers are a villain organization created by Gibeon Kuroshima, foundator of the Quirk Investigation Facility Exceed who was believed to have been quirkless and have died a century and a half ago. He was the sidekick of one of the first vigilantes of the quirk era, Lucius Sasaki, helping him understand his quirk better and even making some early Hero Gear items with his limited mechanics knowledge. Both him and Lucius saw the prime of All For One's empire, and became part of the resistance against him.

Lucius' quirk made him able to absorb people's souls to make spiritual links with them and have them aid him in battle by having them use their quirks. With this in mind, Lucius took the souls of six brave Heroes who trusted him with their lifes, all with the intention of defeating AFO and bringing the world to peace. However, both he and Gibeon underestimated the Symbol of Evil's overwhelming power, and Lucius died in battle.

When Gibeon was taking Lucius to a nearby graveyard to give him a proper burial, he touched his body, and at the moment he did, he felt something. The Six Heroes' souls were stuck in his friend's body, and they were in pain. And among all that pain, Gibeon was able to recognize vestiges of a familiar figure, his greatest treasure. He swore he would take Lucius back and help him reach his dream of a world full of light, a world which Gibeon would make sure they both ruled for eternity.

There was a problem though, how would he bring Lucius and the Heroes back to life? He theorized it had something to do with Lucius' quirk, so he decided to dedicate himself to studying quirks from now on, and founded the Quirk Investigation Facility Exceed. He gained wealth and fame and made great advancements in the area of quirk science. He found out that he did have a quirk; one that extended his lifespan twice a normal person's in exchange for physical prowess, and developed a pink mist from his own quirk that could extend his lifespan even further. He even bought a mansion for himself and got a butler named Hamber. a At 80 years old, Gibeon faked his death and left the business in hands of his son, with the son knowing his father was still alive.

Thanks to his public discoveries and his own private research in a hidden facility below Exceed which was connected to his mansion, Gibeon understood what he had to do. He needed to mix two quirks into one and put the new quirk into Lucius' body. The necessary factors were: a Lucius descendant's quirk that functioned by powering itself up with the power of others, and a quirk that could affect and take souls. That way, the remnants of Lucius and the Six Heroes would react and bring Lucius' soul back from the dead as a living dead, as himself but being under the control of Gibeon. With this power, Gibeon plans to submit heroes and villains' souls to make Lucius allmighty and create their wished utopia, a world of light with no darkness to be found.

And so, Gibeon starts working on the first factor of his plan. The soul affecting quirk. He makes the women of his family have children in quirk marriages for the purpose of giving birth to that child, and many decades later, he succeeds, and Amethio Kuroshima is born as his great(x2) Grandson.

He erased Amethio's parents off the map and tricked the young boy into thinking they abandoned him, turning him into a villain who wishes for revenge in a world that's wronged him. Along with that, Gibeon would recruit four persons; Spinel Asunama, an Exceed higher-up who found out about Gibeon's secret and offered himself to his cause; Sango Sakurai, a candy-addict criminal with no place to go to; Onyx Oba, a hero course dropout who wanted to eliminate the impure heroes that were tainting the idea of heroes; and Agate Agawa, an ex-martial artist whose entire dojo was killed with poison by an enemy dojo and swore to take vengeance on those who do wrong under a cover without any consequences.

These four people and Amethio would become the five Admins of the Explorers, with many other criminals with nowhere to go taking the place of grunts and Gibeon himself as the leader, with Hamber being his right hand. Knowing a young girl had been born in the Sasaki family with a special quirk, and that the girl had enrolled in UA with hopes of becoming a Hero, the Explorers were finally put into action.

The Admins are:

Amethio Kuroshima

Quirk: Soul Warrior.

Amethio has a specially powerful soul. He's able to manifest the power of his soul into the physical realm in the form of ghostly, purple flames which he can manipulate at will and function as an extension of his body. As an extra function, these flames are able to absorb lifeforce out of a person's body upon contact to power Amethio up or heal him. He can create walls and shields of flames for defense, use them as projectiles for long distance combat, boost his speed with them and mold them into the form of two fire swords to use for close quarters.

By covering himself in flames and "burning up his own soul", Amethio can enter a ghostly state in which he's invisible and can freely float around the air. He can go back to his physical form whenever he desires by covering himself in flames and "reigniting his soul". The only way of forcing him out of this state is to guess where he is and consciously hit him. When in this ghost form, Amethio is able to enter a person's spirit realm and directly interact with their soul there. He's able to directly kill and absorb a person's soul with his flames when in their spirit realm. He can only stay in ghost form in the physical world for 3 minutes; otherwise, he will be unable to become corporeal once more and his soul will quickly lose power until dying away.

Spinel Asunama

Quirk: All-Seeing Eyes.

Spinel has 9 eyes spread out throughout his body; four on his face, one on each of his wrists, one on the outside of each of the two small angel wings he has on his head and one on the back of his neck. These eyes all function as normal eyes; however, by closing off one eye and making physical contact with a non-living thing, Spinel can put an eye mark on that surface. By blindfolding himself with his head wings and looking on the inside of them, Spinel can look through each of the marks that he's placed, no matter where they are. He's also able to use the eye marks as gateways through space for him and his comrades to travel from one mark to the other.

Sango Sakurai

Quirk: Sweets Power

By consuming candies and drinks that have sugar, Sango can acquire a special ability for three minutes depending on what she ingested. The power of the ability depends on the amount of that specific candy/drink she ingests. The abilities are:

Pop Rocks: She can create explosions out of the tips of her fingers, as well as make candy granades and control their explosion timing.

Taffly: She can create and manipulate a sticky and moldable substance, useful for defense, mobility and setting up traps.

Pixie Sticks: These can allow Sango to move and react up to 10 times faster.

Toxic Waste: By ingesting this sour candy, Sango can become up to 10 times stronger and durable.

Gummy worms: She can manifest a 5 meter long, 1 meter wide giant gummy worm which she can ride and control. Normal ones are strong and durable, while sour ones are fast and can segregate a paralyzing poison from their skin.

Soda: Sango becomes able to emit high-pressured soda from her hands. Useful for mobility on the air and keeping enemies at range.

Energy Drink: by drinking an entire energy drink can, Sango enters a powered up state in which she becomes 20 faster and stronger, becoming even more hyperactive and aggressive than usual. Pixie Sticks and Toxic Wastes don't stack up with this effect, only going up to the energy drink's times 20. After the effect ends, Sango gets great headaches and becomes numb and weal for 24 hours.

Sango can only use up to three of these special effects at once, and is unable to cancel them immediately without the time counter reaching 0.

Onyx Oba

Quirk: Salt

Onyx can manipulate salt in his surroundings at will. He can make salt constructs for attack and defense, as well as transmute anything he touches with his hands into salt he can manipulate.

Agate Agawa

Quirk: Aura Arts

Agate is able to control and manipulate her Aura, the life energy of her body. She can utilize her Aura under four main principles, which are:

Envelop: By controlling and stabilizing her Aura flow, Agate can create a thin veil of Aura around her body. This veil works as protection for the mind and spirit, and the stable Aura flow extends her lifespan due to reducing waste of energy. She can also extend this veil of energy to objects to reinforce them with Aura as if they were part of her body.

Supress: By closing off her own Aura nodes, Agate completely nullifies her own Aura and hides it inside her body, erasing her presence and helping with recovering stamina.

Enhance: By amplifying her own Aura, Agate can power up her physical stats by reinforcing her body with said powered up Aura. She can reinforce specific parts of her body and direct the Aura throughout her own body at will, reinforcing the properties of certain parts of her body, such as the eyes to have a better sight or the ears to hear better.

Action: It is Agate's personal expression of her Aura to use it to accomplish a specific task. By developing this expression, she's been able to develop a set of special abilities which use her Aura in a way unique to herself. She can only use one of the two abilities at a time.

- Aura Arts: Style of the Six Limbs. By transmuting and manipulating her Aura connected to her body, she can create a second pair of arms made of Aura to add up to her Martial Arts style. When using this technique, Agate has access to less Aura for reinforcing her main body.

- Aura Arts: Style of the Steel Fist. Agate can conjure up two black gloves on her fists, which power up the impact of her punches by 10 times when she uses them. She's unable to open her hands when using these gloves, and she must not kill when using them in battle, or else she'll lose a lot of Aura from her body and become unable to use any of her Actions.

[hapan-in-exile]

Chapter 2 - Post #6: Back in the Saddle

Another installment in this ongoing serialized fanfic

Genre: Mandalorian x Fem Reader

Total word count: 2.4K (of 21K total in Volume 2)

Rating: Explicit - smut, language, +18 *NSFW*

______________________________________________

VI. "I thought you were exaggerating about the view," you say, the corners of your mouth tugging into a reluctant grin. The House Galantis' library was located in one of the palace's southwest towers, directly above a cascade of waterfalls pouring forth from the cliffside in dazzling sheets that flashed under the moonlight. 

Zemika leans forward, resting her elbows on the banister before taking out a lavish pipe. The window is just wide enough for you both to squeeze together, shoulders touching. Loading the pipe with a glass cartridge from her purse, Zemika presses the delicate filigree stem between her lips. 

“You still haven’t quit?” You ask in amazement as clouds of blue smoke fill her nostrils.

"Oh, Dahra, I'm merely a collection of vices hiding behind a gorgeous face.”

“Not for long if you keep smoking that shit.”

“No! Don’t stop,” she cries in mock ecstasy. “Your scolding is getting me so hot.”

“Save the theatrics for his highness,” you smirk, but it's hard to be petty surrounded by all this natural beauty. “This place is truly stunning.”

“And deserted.” Zemika turns to sit on her hands, looking down at the rows of tall bookcases inside the empty library. “Nobody ever comes in here. I don't think his family is big on reading.”

“My pussy may have dried up hearing you say that. You’re expecting me to have sex with this vapid asshole?”

You peek inside to double-check that Raife isn’t within earshot. The Duke hadn’t made it to the library quite yet. He was ‘freshening up’—which he’d heavily implied meant snorting something in the bathroom. Except, you know that what he really intends to do is clean himself up so Zemika won't smell the last woman who was most recently on his dick.

“When you're this rich, other people read for you.” A look of hazy self-satisfaction filled her eyes. “Besides, vapid assholes need love, too.”

“Thankfully, he can afford it.” You say, unable to stop yourself from sneering. A pang of regret seizes your chest. There was no reason to be cruel. “I’m sorry, Zemika, I shouldn’t have said that.”

But she didn’t seem offended, staring into the distance like she can almost make out the other side of the horizon. “What about you? Is there someone special whose bed you can crawl into now that I’m gone?”

You remind yourself that Mando is currently hunting for ‘Ozan Sango’, and Nito's has ditched the comlink. No one but Zemika was listening.

“There’s someone. But…it's a slow burn," you sigh, sounding just a tad pathetic.

“Hmmf,” she snorts, nudging you with her shoulder. “If they’ve taught you patience, they must be special."

"It's so complicated."

"Darling, anything worth chasing is. Do you love them?”

Yikes! That was a question you'd been asking yourself a lot lately. Your heart knew the answer, but it was something altogether different to say it out loud.

"I admire him. He'd been living his life in this very rigid way until now. The universe has sort of thrust him into this role of a father figure, and he's letting that change him. I think that's really brave."

She howls with laughter, clapping her hands together. "This guy has you playing house?! Oh, you've got it sooooo bad!"

"The kids are cute, too!"

"Kids? Plural?" Zemika cackles before lowering her voice to a feigned whisper. "Are you sure he's not stringing you along for free childcare?"

"Fuck you! I am not being exploited. I'll have you know my pay is exorbitant."

"So, you're like...what? His babysitter? Do you call him Daddy?"

"No!" You cringe, sticking out your tongue. "That was never my kink."

"That's right. I seem to remember you're the one who likes to do the spanking. Maybe he's into the fierce maternal type?"

“Gods, you're such a brat. I’m not sure what he likes,” you answer honestly. "Or how he feels about me."

A look of heartfelt sympathy crosses Zemika's face before she grins mischievously. “Has he seen you in that dress?”

“Yes, actually.” Chuckling, you slide your hands down your waist and over your hips to smooth out the fabric. A giddiness rises up inside you, thinking about how the Mandalorian must have watched you that night in the casino without you realizing it.

“Then you know he feels some kind of way about you.” 

“Do you love the Duke, Zemika?” You’re surprised to find yourself asking that question. 

“There’s security here,” she says, turning her head to look at you. “I’m taken care of…that’s a kind of love.”

It’s not your place to ask, at what cost? She’s a grown woman. It's up to her to make that calculation.

“Just be careful,” your voice is so small, it’s a wonder she can hear you at all.

“Oh darling,” she smiles, as though letting you in on a secret. “Always trying to take care of everyone but yourself.”

Suddenly, the moment becomes more earnest than you intended. “Meee–ow! Now, who's being a scold.” You take the pipe from her fingers and inhale the sweet, floral vapor. 

“You know what else is stunning?” Zemika says eagerly, pleased to remember what you’re both doing here. Like choreography, she lifts her hand to trace a finger lightly over the shell of your ear before gently taking off the Miralukan vizor. “I never understood why you kept them covered…”

She gazes into your glowing violet eyes. To your knowledge, Zemika never recognized the significance of seeing them or that you only removed the vizor when you were alone together. Her other hand rests against your cheek, and you feel the heat of her breath warming your skin. 

There’s half a second when you plan to just let her kiss you. But, it doesn’t seem cosmically sound to let the last moment of intimacy between you be something you both conceived of as a means to an end. So after she closes her eyes, but before your lips touch, you drop Zemika’s heart rate and plunge her into unconsciousness. 

This time, you’re ready. You catch her under the arms and pull her into one of the library’s plush armchairs. Placing the pipe on the side table beside her creates a neat little vignette of a party girl who couldn’t handle the cross-fade.    

While arranging her limbs into a more dignified posture, you hear the door open, and Raife’s voice saying, “Give me a moment.”

“I hope you didn’t wait for me.” He emerges from the stacks with a bottle held aloft, another wolfish grin plastered onto his immaculate face. Seriously, those cheekbones could cut glass. 

You nod towards Zemika, splayed across the quilted fabric of the armchair. “I think she’s already had too much,” you say. 

Raife barely spares her a glance before asking, “And what about you?” The Duke didn’t know if you were the kind of woman who would fuck her friend’s man while she remained passed out in the same room. Why let the opportunity to find out go to waste? 

You can’t help thinking about his earlier assignation in the garden—and the performance that’d been put on to please him. The moaning about how big he was...

“My problem, Raife,” you say, lifting an eyebrow. “Is that I can never get enough.”

Taking that as an invitation, his mouth collides with yours. How long has it been since—? It’s been a while, and bodies can be traitorous things. Despite Raife’s repugnant personality and hollow kisses, his full lips were indeed soft and sensuous, awakening a need within you. The cloy of the pipe smoke urging you to fill it.

With one hand splayed across your back, the other grips your ass, lifting you off your feet and guiding your legs around his waist. His lips become devouring, kissing you ferociously, tongue sliding into your mouth insistently. He carries you over to an abandoned desk, setting you down on the edge so he can pull you close and grind himself against you.

Roughly grabbing you by the chin, he thrust his thumb into your mouth. “Take off the dress.” 

“Oh no,” you grin, swinging your arms up and around to grasp him by the shoulders and push him down into the chair, helpfully waiting behind him. “You don’t get to have control here, Raife.” 

At first, he seems excited about your hands around his neck. His eyes were full of intrigue, eager to be the one getting dominated.

With both feet on top of his thighs, you dig in your heels and pull the chair closer to where you're sitting on the edge of the desk. “Raife, this is rather urgent, so I’m just going to be straight with you. Zemika may or may not have mentioned her suspicions about my abilities…but I know you can feel me inside your head right now.”

A look of utter disbelief replaces the Duke’s initial shock. 

“There’s a man working at your father’s mining company–green eyes, red skin—using the name ‘Ozan Sango.’ I know you know where he is and I want you to tell me.”

You sense Raife’s confusion quickly transforming into a cocoon of delusion, where this whole scenario is so far beyond the realm of possibility that he could somehow will it into non-existence. 

“I’ll know if you lie to me, Raife, so please don’t make me threaten you with impotence.”

That got his attention. 

“Do you believe I could do that?” And just to ensure he does, you relax his urethra so that the entirety of his bladder forms a pool under his leather seat. He lets out a little mewling sound. 

“I’m sure you expected me to threaten you with violence. And, yeah, I could cut little holes in you and seal them back up again, over and over, until you tell me what I want to know. Only, I get the sense, Raife, that your sexual prowess is very important to you. So whether you’re trying to hold back out of loyalty or because you don’t want to lose daddy’s approval, you will tell me what I want to know if you ever hope to stick your dick into another beautiful woman ever again.” 

It takes him a few stammering tries to remember the apartment number correctly.  

“If it's any consolation, you won’t remember telling me this.” 

When he collapses onto the desk, you take a moment to tuck your breasts back into your dress and readjust the vizor before hopping down to begin searching for your gloves and shoes. You check the time. Not too bad. Nito won’t have long to wait for you back at the Crest, and there was still time to make your exit before anyone got suspicious about a couple of guards who had wandered away from their post during the party.  

It all feels very manageable until you hear someone come crashing into the library through the open window, toppling heavy bookcases and sending a hail of ancient tomes falling from their shelves. 

“Mando?!” You gasp, lowering Raife’s liquor bottle, which you’d been wielding like a club. “Holy fuck, what are you doing here?”

The bounty hunter extricates himself from the debris of broken wood and fluttering paper. “Rescuing you,” he says irritably, as though it should be self-evident. 

He clears the rows between you in a few confident strides—the innate magnetism your body feels toward him pulling you the rest of the way there. Given how gratifying it is to be rescued from a crystal palace by a Mandalorian in shining armor, it seems infantile to ask, from what? So, in response, you merely look around in confusion. “I can still leave through the front—”

“Lord Raife!” A fist pounds on the library door. “There’s an urgent matter that needs your attention, sir!”

“That him?” Mando nods behind you to where the Duke lies prostate over the desk.

“What—uh, yeah.” You turn back to the Mandalorian, “What happened?”

“My Lord, your father…” and the voices get louder.

“They’re not going to let you leave this room,” Mando says. 

There’s another weighty knock on the door. Luckily, the Duke had the discretion to lock it behind him. 

“Ah–um,” panicking, you throw your head back and let out a stream of feral moans that would put Raife’s earlier encounter to shame. Next to you, the bounty hunter’s posture visibly stiffens. You shrug helplessly and mouth, “Sorry,” to Mando. 

But the fake orgasm, at least, makes the knocking stop. 

“Right,” Mando says, shaking his head like he’s clearing water from his ears. He grabs you by the wrist and walks purposefully down several rows before making a sharp turn, stopping in front of an immense fireplace. “The left one, you said?” he asks no one in particular. 

“Who—”

Then he pulls down on one of the fireplace’s carved fixtures. Behind the grate, a hidden door slides open into a narrow corridor, its seamless metal interior at odds with the palace’s rutilated crystal walls.

“Come on. We’re leaving.”

“Alright,” you nod, raising a finger. “Just give me a minute.”

You rummage around in Zemika’s purse, looking for a tube of lipstick. It's not until you pull Raife’s piss soaked pants down around his ankles that the Mandalorian grows suspicious.

“What are you doing?”

“Buying us more time. When those guards wake him up in a few minutes…I don’t know, crazy ex-girlfriend is an easy distraction to throw at them.”

Several words in Galactic Basic can be used as slang for ‘cheater.’ You write all of them over various parts of the Duke’s body, saving the characters that roughly translate to ‘pig that eats its own shit’ to daub across his stomach.

“The more embarrassing the scene, the longer it’ll take for his highness to remember about Ozan," you explain. "So yeah, uh...did you catch him already?” 

“No,” he shakes his head. “Made it to the transport before I intercepted them.”

“That’s not a problem. I know where he—wait, why are you bleeding? Are you the urgent matter that needs attention?"

When he doesn't answer, you let out a frustrated sigh. "I planned this job, Mando, so it would not require bleeding.”

“Think of this as Plan B,” he says. 

And while you’d never know it, you swear to the gods it sounds like he’s smiling. Like, he actually sounds a little excited about the chaos unfolding in his wake. Seizing you by the arm, he pulls you into the corridor. 

Erenada, you’re probably better off without the shoes.

**************************

Chapter 2 - Post #7: Elevator to Nowhere

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[amelikos]

Speculations about the remaining eps of chapter 3.

Just thoughts about what could happen during the rest of chapter 3. This post contains spoilers of known titles for the month of August 2024.

As of now, we know ep titles until HZ063 at the end of August. Assuming there are no breaks in September, there will be four eps airing that month.

I am going by the assumption that chapter 3 will last until HZ069 (just so chapter 4 starts on episode 70 because that's a round number), which would mean that chapter 3 would have 24 eps in total (standard seasonal anime length). If that's the case and there are no breaks after September starts, the new chapter will start on October 18 (October is usually when new fall anime start airing and Horizons has followed that pattern so far, chapter 2 also started airing in October last year, though in the last Friday of that month).

We already know that the month of August will feature Roy and Liko's implementation tests. It's a bit unclear whether Roy's implementation will be a two-parter since we don't have summaries for the August episodes yet. Either way, it's clear that Hogator will evolve in episode 62 (there has been enough buildup by now to indicate that and the title makes it obvious).

Liko's implementation test should be happening in HZ063. We don't know yet if it's going to be more than one episode. If it lasts one episode, then there will be six episodes left in this arc to close off the chapter (going off by my assumption that the chapter ends in episode 69). If it lasts two eps, then that means five episodes left.

If chapter 3 follows the same pattern as the previous two chapters, then the climax should be two episodes, with one episode building up to it (just like how HZ0223 and HZ043 built up the climaxes of their respective chapters).

After August, the trio should be finished with their implementation tests. Which would potentially leave five or six episodes for the rest of the arc. Three for the climax, and two or three for anything else. I don't know what they could do with them. Potentially go back to Orange Academy. I don't think they'll be working in any more reports, but maybe they'll do another kind of school work (I'll still entertain the thought of the school asking them to do group projects and Sango being paired up with Liko to work on something even if it never happens in the show itself). I think it could be premature to have the characters face the Elite Four again for friendly matches since it already happened in the middle of the arc. But maybe Clavell could organize battles among students or something else to celebrate the students who completed their course, who knows. Liko and Roy have faced Sango and Onyx every time at the end of chapters so far (HZ025 and HZ043) so it could happen now too. We still haven't seen them use Terastal either so far.

Anyway, I have no idea what could happen at the end of this arc. I think Dai Sato (the main writer) or Kureha Matsuzawa (script coordinator) will handle the episodes at the end of the arc since they are the ones writing them so far. We should go back to the plot and mysteries (which I'm REALLY looking forward to), though idk in what form. It's too soon to face Rayquaza again imo (though maybe he'll show up?), so something else should happen.

Dot and Botan will probably uncover Agate's identity? Dot knows about Sango and Onyx, but she didn't recognize Agate. Since we're probably going back to the Brave Asagi in chapter 4, Sango and Onyx will no longer have any business in school either so maybe their covers will be blown alongside Agate. So far, it's easiest for me to imagine Sango and Onyx outside of the Explorers so I wonder if they'll be kept there? Clavell's comment about them being friends with Liko and the others should have a kind of payoff eventually, maybe..

Another plot point they could touch on would be Area Zero since they mentioned it recently, and Omodaka said she'd accompany the group there.

Potential other things they could touch on to go onto the next arc: Diana? (she is definitely getting in trouble eventually since Liko gave her a protective charm so by anime logic, that charm will be torn apart/falling to symbolize that it didn't keep her safe) Maybe Spinel and Amethio's beef? (unless it happens later down the road) I think Gibeon will appear and talk in the last episode of the arc in some way. It happened in HZ025 and HZ045 and Horizons has been consistent about these things so far, since we're always going back to the conflict between the RVTs and the Explorers every time (what the show is about). Maybe a full Explorers meeting at the end of chapter 3? More hints at Lucius and Gibeon's drama and Terapagos? Something which would help pinpoint Entei and Basagiri's locations?

Anyway, just a jumble of thoughts that I'm putting out there. I have no idea how the chapter will end. We knew the trio were going to face their respective gym leaders and pass their course, but beyond that, I can't predict anything about Horizons (which makes it fun to follow this series).

[inu-yasha]

Im just wondering how come kagome even passed highschool even though she never showed up like she was assigned some things like the one about the play even though she wasn’t there she was in the other era im surprised people even remembered her she wasn’t showing up but she got perfect grades,secondly how is she stronger than Kikyo even though she needed help with everything she fought she even got embarrassed right by kikyo for missing a shot?

I don't know, Anon. I wonder about it too… how come… Japan puts a lot of emphasis on children's education, so I'm surprised that the school believed what Grandpa Higurashi said about her illnesses. Her absences and suddenly she thought, even though she took books from that era, it was still not enough, she missed classes, extra-curricular activities, clubs to which she had to belong… It's illogical… And that she is 'stronger than Kikyou' because Rumiko said so and wanted to show in the epilogue by Kaede saying that 'she doesn't need Kikyou's strength' BS she couldn't kill the root demon, Sango musted help her and save her again,if not Sango,she would dead, she only became brave when Inuyasha showed up and she attacked with fury saying "I'm not Kikyou"

To be honest, I stopped believing Rumiko, because she says something different in the interview, and in the manga she shows something completely opposite to Kagome and her 'strength'. Her strength is inuyasha. When Inuyasha is by her side, she feels safe and can take risks.

Complete addiction to him. Just because Rumiko said it and Kaede confirmed it doesn't mean that Rumiko showed the opposite. Nothing has changed in her… her personality is the same and as a 'warrior' she is a complete failure.

When it comes to her miraculous passing of exams and school and how excellent a warrior she is according to Rumiko without any progress, you can call her Kagome. Mery SUE