#tapu fini shell

[dailypokemoncrochet]

Tapu Fini shell design attempts

Okay so I made Tapu Fini in 2022, but I hadn't done the shell design yet (kept it as a blank purple shell) because I couldn't find a satisfactory way of doing it. Normally I like to crochet everything like color changes and little designs directly in the round instead of adding them on top. The Tapu line is probably going to be one of the few times I opt for adding the details on top because the shell is a flat piece so hiding the color change yarn ends is more of a hassle. However, idk if that means I'm going to get felt or try to yarn felt it or up my embroidery game or what, but I'm putting this back to the side again because it's annoying lol

[ambivalentatmosphere]

@melemeleguardian Cordie impersonates a deity

“Yeah, it’s me!” The Tapu Fini imposter said with the kind of giddy enthusiasm that was typical of Cordie when he was about to ramble about something he really likes. That outfit he’s wearing goes beyond just cosplaying, it’s some kind of puppeteering abomination that would put most engineers to shame, and unless you look very closely it’s almost impossible to tell him apart from the real deal. What kind of witchcraft is this? “You see, I was trying to come up with a good costume in my hotel room and then this really pretty fish Pokémon appeared. They said something like…”

 “A r t i s t ,  I  c o m m a n d  y o u  t o  r e p r e s e n t  m y  l i k e n e s s .”

 “And who am I to say no?” He did it purely because he thought Fini looked pretty, but it seems that he just barely avoided being cursed. “Oh, the floating illusion is really cool, right? I’m actually standing on my tiptoes right now, it’s just that I camouflaged it into the bottom half of the shell. This is why I think that angles and perspective are so fascinating.”

Oh no, he’s about to infodump!

[bethanythebogwitch]

We once again return to the series where I discuss the origins of all fish Pokémon. Today I’ll be going over generations VII and VIII. For previous generations, see here, here, and here.

You’d think that Alola being an archipelago would mean a lot of new fish, but it actually only introduced two, though I will give an honorable mention to Tapu Fini for having some swordfish or marlin elements in its design. Come to think of it, why don’t we have a water/steel swordfish Pokémon yet? Anyway, the first new fish is Wishiwashi. This very creative Pokémon is based on based on small, schooling fish like sardines or herring.

(image: a school of sardines)

Schooling differs from shoaling by behavior. Shoaling is when fish stay together for social reasons while schooling is when all the fish are swimming in a coordinated direction. Schooling fish can extremely coordinated, acting more like one large organism than a group of smaller ones. This coordination seems to be primarily based on vision and having a very fast reaction time, though other sensory systems like the lateral line, which detects movement of water and changes in water pressure, likely also play a part. Wishiwashi exaggerates the coordination of schools by having them work together as a massive predator. The size and coordination of Wishiwashi schools and their status as prey animals when alone seems to reference forage fish and bait balls. Forage fish are small, usually pelagic (open ocean), schooling fish that serve as prey for larger animals like swordfish and tuna. A common defensive measure for forage fish is to come together in a tight, spherical formation. This makes it very hard for predators to pick out individual members of the school to target and cam make the school seem like a single large object rather than a group of small ones. In real fish, bait balls are a last-ditch effort when the school is in danger of being overrun, but in Wishiwashi, it allows the fish to turn the tables on any predators.

(image: a bait ball being attacked by sharks and seabirds)

Wishiwashi also has bioluminescent properties, which is likely a refence to small, bioluminescent fish like lanternfish and flashlight fish. I think the flashlight fish is the bigger inspiration as both it and swarm-form Wishiwashi have bioluminescent patches right next to the eyes.

(image: a flashlight fish. the white patch under the eye is a bioluminescent organ)

Bruxish is easily one of the most forgettable Alolan Pokémon, but it does have some interesting origins. It is based on the state fish of Hawaii, the humuhumunukunukuāpua’a or reef triggerfish. Its name means “triggerfish with a snout like a pig”.

(image: a reef triggerfish)

Like Bruxish, triggerfish have some pretty impressive teeth used to  crush through the shells and spines of prey. Indeed, Bruxish is said to feed on Shellder and Mareanie. Triggerfish are also quite colorful and many can change colors. Finally, like Bruxish, triggerfish are rather ill-tempered animals that are quite aggressive and will drive off others that enter their territory. The bulb on Bruxish may be based on the spine all triggerfish have, but it is also used for predation. Bruxish will bury itself in the sand with only the bulb exposed and use its psychic powers to search for prey. This seems to reference fish who will bury themselves in the sand and ambush passing prey, such as stargazers, and the bulb may also be based on the lures used by frogfish.

(Image: a frogfish with its lure out)

(Image: a stargazer staring into your soul)

Moving onto Galar, we have the Arrokuda line. They’re barracudas, but there’s quite a bit more to them than that. The line are very long, skinny, fast predators, which can also describe other fish like pike, and Barraskewda’s armor and head shape also bring to mind gar and sturgeons. Barracudas are large, predatory fish that attack prey using bursts of speed.

(Image: a barracuda)

The Pokémon attack prey by swimming straight forward, which is said to have a low success rate. This may reference predators attacking schooling fish. Oftentimes, changing through the school is ineffective and it will take the predator multiple passes to catch enough prey. The shapes of these predators draws from darts, arrows, and spears. Arrokuda looks like an arrow, with the three parts of its tail fin looking like the fletching at the end of arrows. Barraskewda’s behavior of impaling prey on its snout seems to be a clear reference to spearfishing Barraskewda also draws from torpedoes, with its tail fin acting like a propeller. The connection of barracuda and torpedoes is likely a reference to the Fairey Barracuda, a WWII era British bomber plane that carried torpedoes. These torpedoes could travel up to 100 knots, which is Barraskewda’s top speed.

(Image: a statue of a torpedo)

This was a shorter entry, but I decided against including generation IX as it would make the post way too long. Join me next time for the finale of this series.

[thenixkat]

ok. Zapdos roosts and places where pokemon generated lightning hits a lot= thunderstone deposits

Moltres roosts, Groudon nests, other fire type legendary nests/roosts, places where generations of fire types breed and their egg shells mix with the earth= firestone deposits

Groudon tracks, solrock graveyards, ho-oh roosting sites = sunstone deposits

Lugia breeding sites, Darkrai and Cresselia nests, literal moon rocks, lunatone graveyards, places where fairy types raise their young for multiple generations in a row= moon stone deposits

Articuno roosts, regiice nests, kyurem's lair, galastrider trackways, places where ice types raise their young for generations= ice stone deposits

Waterways that Suicune visit often, Tapu Fini's temple, Kyogre breeding grounds, Manaphy nesting grounds, places where water types raise their young= water stones

ho-oh gizzard stones, groudon latrine sites= dawn stones

yvetal gizzard stones, ghost and dark type grave yards= dusk stones

[pokedexunit-c281a]

Tapu Lele Type: Psychic/Fairy Tapu Lele is the guardian deity of Akala island. This Pokémon scatters glowing scales that have physical effects on others—providing stimulation to their bodies and healing their illnesses or injuries. Tapu Lele has the Ability Psychic Surge, an Ability that no other Pokémon has previously had. With Psychic Surge, the field will be turned into Psychic Terrain, which boosts the power of any Psychic-type moves used by Pokémon on the ground and prevents them from being hit by priority moves. Tapu Bulu Type: Grass/Fairy Tapu Bulu is the guardian deity of Ula’ula Island. This Pokémon has the power to manipulate vegetation and cause it to grow. It can use this power to make its wooden horns change shape and grow larger. Tapu Bulu has the Ability Grassy Surge, an Ability that no other Pokémon has previously had. With Grassy Surge, the field will be turned into Grassy Terrain, boosting the power of any Grass-type moves used by Pokémon on the ground and restoring a bit of HP to them each turn. It also halves the damage taken from the moves Earthquake, Magnitude and Bulldoze. Tapu Fini Type: Water/Fairy Tapu Fini is the guardian deity of Poni Island. This Pokémon is able to attack by manipulating water. It does not like to risk being harmed during battle, so it creates a thick fog to disorient its opponents and lead them to their own destruction. Tapu Fini has the Ability Misty Surge, an Ability that no other Pokémon has previously had. With Misty Surge, the field will be turned into Misty Terrain, halving the damage taken by Pokémon on the ground from Dragon-type moves and preventing them from being afflicted with status conditions or confusion. All of the guardian deities can use the special Z-Move Guardian of Alola. When using this Z-Move, the Pokémon closes its shell and a huge avatar appears from the ground to attack the opposing Pokémon, dealing damage equal to 75 percent of the target’s remaining HP.

[experthiese]

❝ That's the thing with the Tapus, ain't it. They work on their own terms with reasoning incomprehensible to us mere mortals. ❞

Lupin drops the shell he's been toying with, half-burying it in the sand by his side. Though he's had no interest in (or experience with) the Alolan guardians, he's managed to glean a bit of information here and there. It's always good to know whose territory he's using as his pickpocketing playground.

❝ Could've been worse, though. Bulu's known to be temperamental at times, but if you were lookin' to be met with real confrontation, you should've sought out Fini instead. She's as mean as they come. ❞

“…”

Ree tosses another one. They’re not trying to skip them; seems like they’re just doing this to help pass the time. To keep themself occupied.

when he talks, ree laughs softly, they don’t know how to feel.

“I met the tapu,” they say. “He seemed … I dunno. Proud? Of me? That I completed the trials. Which is fucking weird. I was just goin’ there to rub it in his face that I did it, with it without a blessing.”

Another shell sinks into the waves.

“I just feel… I dunno. I expected him to get mad, maybe. Now I dunno how to feel.”

[doodledex-project]

Doodledex - #788 Tapu Fini

The final island guardian has a pretty nice combo of mermaid and swordfish inspiration going on... but it also has what looks like the most uncomfortable shell! Tapu Fini must be pretty flexible and patient to spend time scrunched up like that.... (Not to mention its hair gets caught between the two halves!)

Tapu Fini’s rarely seen by humans, and not just because Poni Island is mostly wilderness. It has the ability to create water said to be able to purify anything... but people began seeking it out with terrible intentions for it, and it stopped trusting humans in general. As a result, it shrouds itself in a thick fog when it doesn’t want to be seen... or when it wants to test someone who may be trying to approach it.

[alolanrain]

Shadow Lugia-Part Two

Tapu Koko and Ash had chased the organization known as Cipher across Orre. They'd helped the young trainer named Michael take down the organization, with Ash helping rescue the Shadow Pokémon.

In the distance, Michael dealt with Greevil; meanwhile, Tapu Koko dodged a Shadow Blast. While Michael fought the Cipher leader, Tapu Koko and Ash had to deal with a larger threat-one of tarnished wings and murderous hatred.

Ever since his encounter a month ago, Tapu Koko knew that Cipher had a Lugia in their grasp, and had converted it into a Shadow Pokémon. Initially, he'd been more pissed at the fact that the Legend had leveled his Shrine. Only later, after discovering the Shadow process of forcibly closing the hearts of Pokémon in order to force them to become more powerful, had he realized the true horror of what this "Cipher" had done. And with the disappearances of Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini at the same time Shadow Lugia had attacked, that had led to Ash and Tapu Koko deciding to do some "League Business" and go to Orre themselves to hunt down the members of Cipher.

It hadn't been easy: beyond the fact that Orre was filled with all sorts of criminals, the forces of Cipher had done everything to make sure that the Champion and the Island Guardian. It wasn't that successful, given how Ash and Tapu Koko had made it to Citidark in record time.

But the information they'd gotten had almost halted the dup. The Lugia they'd captured wasn't any Lugia. This shadowy aberration, this mindless killing machine driven only by primal rage and hatred... Was his Lugia. Was his beloved Guardian of the Sea.

“Dad, please!” Ash yelled, desperately trying to reach his father once more. The Shadow Pokémon simply lunged at him in a murderous frenzy; if not for Tapu Koko leaping into action and dragging his son away, Ash would have been torn in half. 

Quickly, Tapu Koko reached out through their bond. He was still linked to the Guardian of Shamouti, linked through their betrothal bond they hadn't severed. Surely, he could reach-

D̨͈̗̜͖̯͔̤̭E͠҉̛̻̜̻̠͎̺͔̞S̸͍̪̩T̶̯̙̟̩͈̮͝R̴͙͍̬̠̗͍̖̻͡O̗̝̼̖̞̙Ỳ̨͉̹͚͓.̹̠̰ ̲̦͠͠ͅ

M̛̳͖̥̪̬͞Ų̸̗̭͚R̡̡̙̥͕̩͎̯̭͢D̢͠ͅE̷͓̬͚̗̯͍R̪͘͝.̵҉͉̖̫̯̜̺̹ ̵̖̝̜͖̘͖̝̟͓

K͠҉҉̩̺̬I͈͍L̶҉̜̠͖L̝͓̦̪.҉̝̫̻̹̲̰͎

With a cry of pain, Tapu Koko wrenched his mind away from the bond, barely dodging the Shadow Wave that flew towards him.

Lugia, please! It’s me! Tapu Koko cried. Lugia didn’t respond. The next thing Tapu Koko knew, XD-001 hurled itself at the Island Guardian, a dark veil of Shadows cloaking his body.

The Guardian of Alola tried vainly to dodge, but it was too late: the attack struck true. Pain exploded through his body as he felt several bones crack from the Shadow-charged concussive force.

Tapu Koko was beginning to understand what Greevil had been saying about the Shadow Process. This was no longer his Lugia: this was XD-001. The pinnacle of the Shadow process, and Cipher’s greatest weapon.

XD-001 was a mindless force of destruction, a ruthless attack drone kept on a short leash at all times. He'd been turned into the weapon Cipher always desired for their conquests, and followed Greevil's orders no matter what they may be.

Now, XD-001 stood over Tapu Koko, its foot pressing the Tapu into the ground and its crimson eyes blanked out from murderous hatred and an eerie, unnatural emptiness.  Ash's Team had been swept: Koko could see Pikachu sprawled on the floor a few yards away, unconscious but alive. The rest of Ash's team weren't much better-all had been defeated by Cipher's Weapon. He looked back up at XD-001-who leaned down until its head was a single inch from his, and began to charge up a Shadow Blast.

Tapu Koko sighed in defeated resignation: XD-001 was going to kill him, and it would feel nothing. He deserved this, he supposed. He’d done terrible things for the fun of it, and driven the legendary he loved away. That the mindless shell of said Legendary was trying to kill him was rather karmic in his mind.

He closed his eyes, lightning starting to crackle around his body. He pushed away the pain in his whole body, charging up his electricity to its deadly maximum.

I’m so sorry, Lugia. 

If he couldn’t bring Lugia out of this, then he would put him out of his misery.

  "NO!!" Ash cried. In desperation, he pulled out an Ultra Ball Michael had loaned him and threw it at XD-001 with everything he had.

The Ultra Ball made contact- And the Shadowed Legend was sucked in, freeing Tapu Koko and dispersing the Shadow Blast.

Click. The ball stopped shaking as thew Capture was completed.

THUNDER! Tapu Koko roared, his eyes flying open as he unleashed the stored electricity towards the last of Greevil's Pokémon; the Moltres was instantly fried with several thousand volts and passed out. (He'd apologize to Lugia later for hurting one of his Birds.)

Several hours later, after Greevil stepped down, and Ash and Tapu Koko returned to Professor Krane's lab, the Island Guardian was sprawled out in the bed the Professor had provided, wincing under the healing machine.

Do you think we'll be able to save him? Koko asked as the healing machine did its work on him, looking over to his son sitting in the chair next to him.

Ash looked down at the Ultra Ball, which was practically radiating fury. "Yeah." He held it close. "We'll save him. It won't be easy, but we'll get him back."

The Shadow Pokémon within the Ultra Ball, as if hearing Ash's declaration, seemed to bristle, the murderous aura around the ball momentarily spiking.

[pixlostinatos]

okay i have brainthoughts for like. what pokemon each of the empires characters would have but thats not what this post is about

this post is "if they were pokemon, in like a pmd au or something, what would they be"

s1:

-Pixl - Copperajah (fairly self-explanatory)

-fWhip - Dragapult (dragon, bc of his wings and so hed share a type with gem! also rockets, sort of)

-Sausage - Bisharp (his assassins guild!!)

-Gem - Flapple (dragon! also theyre not ill-natured like most dragon-types are said to be)

-Joey - Scrafty (relatively unassuming, but scarily strong)

-Joel - Claydol (its literally made of terracotta. the man lived in a mesa)

-Jimmy - Basculin (the salmon-cod war vs the rivalry between red and blue striped basculin)

-Lizzie - Tapu Fini (i wanted to avoid putting legendaries on this list specifically but its really the best fit, as an ocean guardian deity)

-Katherine - Mawile (its a fairy type. it will also attack without hesitation, which makes me think of her head collection)

-Scott - Alolan Ninetales (fairly self-explanatory)

-Shrub - Dusk Lycanroc (wolf spirit)

-Pearl - Liligant (pretty and kind flower pokemon. but also was pretty strong in the meta for a bit)

-Xornoth - Kantonian Ninetales (matchy with scott, but fire type instead of ice/fairy, and kantonian ninetales are spiteful. a good alternative option could be houndoom)

s2:

-Pixl - Sigilyph (hes studying the Ancient Capital. sigilyph come from ancient civilizations)

-fWhip - Sableye (mischievous and eats rocks)

-Sausage - Lucario (strong senses of justice. can communicate with humans, mirroring e2!sausages ability to talk with animals)

-Gem - Volcarona (sun butterfly! okay technically its a moth but shhhhh)

-Joey - Sharpedo ("This Pokémon is known as the Bully of the Sea". no further comment)

-Joel - Unfeazant (good fliers, but egotistical. sound familiar?)

-Jimmy - Banette (banette is an abandoned doll that came to life out of spite. i think it would fit with him insisting hes not a toy)

-Lizzie - Liepard (cat. steals things and lies and is kind of cruel)

-Katherine - Absol (shes said to be cursed. absol was seen as an omen of disaster)

-Scott - Roserade (colors and flowers!! also the only llama pokemon as of yet is arceus and sorry scott but you dont get to be pokemon god)

-Shubble - Hattrem (a witch! but still in training. also shell kick ur ass)

-False - Klinklang (cogs!! also its a steel type which i feel suits her)

-Oli - Jigglypuff (known for its singing and distinctly unthreatening)

[changeling-rin]

Hi Rin, TheChargingRhino here. If they guys could have legendary/mythical Pokémon, what would they choose? (Can also answer for the sequel Links if you want)

My only question here is: do the Ultra Beasts count as Legendary?  The Internet  says yes, so apologies in advance if that wasn't part of the original question!

Gen gets a Latias, because red Loftwing, red bird-like dragon, it fits and I will not take no for an answer.  Plus, Healing Wish/Recover, she’s a Psychic type, they get a lot of access to healing moves and for the medic of the group I think that works very well.  (Also yes, Mega is an option.)

Speck would have a Shaymin, I think.  Small and cute but wow can it make you hurt it you don’t pay attention to it.  (Yes, Forme Change is a thing)

The Four are... tricky, as they always are.  I think I’d give them Deoxys, because I think the options with the Formes gives them the best equivalent for their normal M.O.

I’m gonna split Mask and Ocarina here, regardless of the Meloetta that I said they already have.  Ocarina probably gets a Celebi, because Time Travel, and also because cute and mostly innocent but still dangerous if you don’t pay attention.  Mask, on the other hand, gets Dialga, again because Time Travel and also because it will wreck you if you don’t take it out quickly enough.

Dusk would probably end up with a Zamazenta, because wolf, and also because protective instincts say ‘Shield’ to me more than ‘Sword’.

RGBV can each have a Tapu, because I’m original like that.  Green gets Tapu Bulu, Blue gets Tapu Fini, Red gets Tapu Lele, and Vio gets Tapu Koko.  

Lore is also very tricky, honestly, but I think I’d either give him an Ultra Beast, or Hoopa.  Hoopa because it’s a complete prankster and they’d get along splendidly, or an Ultra Beast because they function just a little bit to the left of normality.  But probably Hoopa, because I also like the concept of Hoopa Unbound and there being this underlying terror beneath the prankster shell that only their enemies get to see.

Realm... is a lot more trouble than I thought he’d be, and since I can’t seem to peg him for any single Legendary I’m going to give him the Lake Trio.  Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit did not know what they were getting themselves into with this boy, but at least there’s three of them to teleport around looking for him.  Good thing they’re Psychic.

Sketch seems like a Jirachi boy, for some reason.  I know Jirachi has very little to do with paint or any of that but neither does any other Legendary so shush.

Wind is thankfully easy and can have Kyogre.  Yes, Primal is an option.  All the weather manipulation!

Steam is surprisingly tricky?  I really want to give him a ghost, but I also really want to give him a steel.  Ghost Zelda versus Spirit Train.  Hmm.  I think... ghost, probably, so heeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy look who’s got a Giratina!

Shadow is not hard, at all.  He gets Darkrai, they’re both hopelessly misunderstood, a bit spooky, but so very cool.

Oni... gets an Eternatus.  Because those stat totals are ridiculous and also I’m pretty sure this is the only Legendary with the reputation of literally destroying the world, which I’m thinking puts these two on pretty even footing!

Rune can have Cresselia, because she has the oh-so-convenient association of memory and mind-healing and really, sometimes this stuff just decides itself.

RSE can have Entei, Suicune, and Raikou respectively.  Seems to work better than any other Trio.

Lux gets Mewtwo, probably because their combined lack of chill is amazing.  He’s angry, Mewtwo is angry, they’re perfect for each other.

Lyric... would have gotten Meloetta had I not already assigned it.  Gah.  But as a secondary choice... I dunno, Victini?  Meloetta just fits him so perfectly.  I think I may need to redesign Mask and Ocarina’s sub for their magical instrument of reality bending... there certainly can’t be two Meloettas.

And lastly, my OC boys!  Codex, I’m gonna give a Calyrex, because look at the size of that noggin there’s no way it isn’t obscenely intelligent.  And Wraith gets a Marshadow, because small and cute but unexpectedly spooky, until it turns out that it can hit like a tank and then it’s just all the way spooky.

[dailypokemoncrochet]

I never did post this Tapu Fini because technically it's unfinished (shell does not have pattern) but it still looks pretty cool and is otherwise done

[legendarypokemonstudies]

Tapu Koko

Tapu koko is one of the most well known of the Tapus, as he’s quite social, and known for his love of battling, and apparently chocolate, the latter of which I discovered when I was attempting to take my lunch break and he stole my chocolate bar, and later stole a half of one of my peanut butter and nutella sandwiches. Meyu found this, and my food agressive reaction of snarling when he came back near my food to be hilarious, as did Poltergheist and Tapu Koko. I did not find it hilarious. Meyu and Koko got along pretty well, practically staring me down until I huffed and let them battle. It was a pretty fun battle, both of them as strong as they were, though there was still quite the gap in natural strength, made up for by Koko’s experience, something Meyu lacked, as I haven’t been able to battle with him all too often considering the fact that he’s well, a Mewtwo. After the battle, which Tapu Koko lost, he allowed me to heal him begrudgingly, after I said it was because I wanted to thank him for such a challenging and fun battle, which gave me an opportunity to get a close look at him. His actual shell was smooth and solid, and his muscles were of the much leaner variety I think, as he was less bulky and more fast. I had explained earlier that I wanted to be able to fully describe his majesty for others to hear, something that made him much more willing to deal with my observation, as apparently he has a bit of an ego. Don’t tell him I said that.  He seems to have a sweet tooth, preferring sweeter berries, and eating sweeter meats if they’re available. Meyu wasn’t as appreciative of me fawning over Koko, but he allowed it as he knew my reasoning for doing so.  Tapu koko’s skin is covered by a layer of fine feathers, which are almost like a thin layer of down, with the feathers on his head being larger, and being what forms the crest on his head, something he seems to be very proud of. The feathers below his waist are long, and more flexible. I also asked various questions, Meyu rolling his eyes multiple times. Koko is a little fickle, but he claims that he just sometimes doesn’t like certian people. He’s one of the more active Tapu, preferring to crack down more harshly every now and then as a warning, but keeping the punishments based on how bad the crime was, and how many times he’s punished them in the past for the most part. He dislikes unprovoked attacks on wild pokemon, but he’s more understanding if it was to prevent a particularly dangerous pokemon from attacking first, so long as it doesn’t happen very often. Stealing is something he punishes more based on what was stolen, with stealing pokemon being the worst thing and something he cracks down on quickly and harshly, and stealing other things being something he might overlook if there’s not a big fuss raised over it. Another thing he’ll be quick to punish is murdering, though he takes into account the motive. If it’s self defense, he’ll let you off, giving a warning if it was a pokemon murdered, and for other reasons, aside from insanity he cracks down, often roughing up the person before tossing them over to the authorities, though he may kill someone who has murdered multiple people, killed pokemon for reasons other than self defense or defense of another, or killed children. Tapu Koko says that he’s much more leanient with children as often they might not know they were doing something wrong or might not have meant to do something, sometimes leaving the parent with a warning. He’s not very toleratant of child abuse if he’s aware of it, but he did admit that sometimes it’s not that he doesn’t want to help, it’s that he isn’t sure how to do so exactly, as him trying to interefere might make things worse, and depending on the type of abuse he might not know how to punish the parents. Meyu brought up a good point about if he had to punish pokemon. Tapu Koko was a bit surprised at this, but he mentioned that for the most part, he didn’t have to worry as much about that, and that most Tapu didn’t, but that sometimes he did have to settle disputes, or set up a count system for predators. He also said that Ratta and Yungoos were the pokemon he recieved complaints about the most, but that the fear of the Tapu wrath was usually enough to keep all of them in line for the most part. Tapu Koko was much more tolerant of my questions and observations than I had expected, though he said that Bulu might be hard to get interested enough to answer, and Fini might take some work convincing, but that he’d try to put in a nice word for me, and suggested I try talking to Tapu Lele, as she’s known to be more docile, if a little overbearing.

[spinoone]

Bet some of you had no idea 

 (inspired by the official concept art which shows both Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini without their "shells")

[inikavulpixelreviews]

Let’s Talk About Pokemon - The Tapus

785: Tapu Koko

And now onto our short-yet-long list of Legendaries. I suppose that's based on whether you wanna count the Ultra Beasts as “Legendary” or not. I personally wouldn't, given they’re a whole different flavor of beast.

First we have the four island deities of Alola, the “Tapus”. I suppose we've done away with the usual “Legendary trio” formula entirely, with XY having none at all and Sun and Moon bringing us a quartet instead. Which isn't a bad thing, of course. Shouldn't force a theme if you've run out of steam for supporting it.

And there has been discussion about how well these four represent native islander culture and their deities. I am gonna have most of the final judgment be on the designs themselves, but I will give tiny touches on how they relate to Hawaiian culture, at least based on my understanding of it.

Arguably the “main” one is Tapu Koko, the “rooster” head. This Electric/Fairy type is easily the most fleshed out of the four, finding basis on Kū, a god of war represented comb-like headgear not too unlike Tapu Koko's mohawk. As far as design goes, it's a cool fake-rooster type of creature. The anatomy is unusual to be sure, with big shells handing off the back of its pincer-like hands. Clearly, they come together to form a rooster head. With the pincers forming its beak. Neat!

Personal Score: 8/10

Coolio

786: Tapu Lele

The Psychic/Fairy Lele is an interesting design too. Its body is meant to look like that of a butterfly. When it retracts into its wooden shell, its hair becomes a pair of antenna, and it has a curly tail resembling a butterfly's proboscis. It even has dinky little “wings” on the back of it!

As you'd figure from looking at it, Lele is about having healing properties, shedding scales that heal wounds. Not all with Lele is peaches as you'd think, however. At least in texts from Japanese media, it's said to have ended a war essentially by powering everyone up with its scales and causing everyone to fight to their last breath. And supposedly for this, is described as “cruel.” Not the usual depiction of the healing spirit, is it?

Things get hazy though when you try to compare it to Hawaiian culture. Koko was was a clear take on  Kū with the resemblance to a chicken and a fighting spirit to go with it. The closest we get to a flying animal with healing properties is Kāne, having contributed to the creation of mankind. A bit of a stretch, that one.

Personal Score: 7.5/10

Fairly neat design, so at least it's unique.

787: Tapu Bulu

Funnily enough, it's the bull totem that's the most chill out of all the Tapus. Tapu Bulu is associated with agriculture and earthly powers. Thus, landing it a Grass/Fairy typing. This ends up making it one of the tiny handful of Grass types that have no obvious plant or fungus bits on them. When its “mask” comes down, it looks like a floating cow head with its tail resembling a cow bell tied around its “neck.” Another neat one!

Back to Hawaiian gods, there is one rather neatly tied in with agriculture, rain, and fertility, being Lono. Nothing about them being a cow though. Though I suppose they just wanna keep going with this animal totem thing.

Personal Score: 7.5/10

Another neat one.

789: Tapu Fini

Finally, we have the Water/Fairy Fini. Which is just as cool as the others in terms of design, though the “shell” integration feels like the least creative out of all of them. Just something of a mermaid hiding in the mouth of a swordfish. It's neat how her hair forms the fins on the side but that's about it on that.

Tapu Fini is a bit more predictable as far as depictions of mer-people go. Distrusting toward man, luring them into a fog and causing ship wrecks much like a siren would. Unfortunately, this leaves it with pretty much zero clear links to any god in Hawaiian culture.

Personal Score: 7.5/10

Yeah, they're mostly about on-par with each other in terms of design, I'd say. Though Fini feels a bit like the least impressive.

Overall:

Yeah, the Tapus could've had more effort put into them to represent Hawaiian culture better. It feels like they put in the right amount of research and design into Koko but half-assed it on the others and had them represent rather typical god stuff. It's a bummer because most other Pokemon representative of a culture are accurate enough to excuse creative liberties as trying to get it to fit in with Pokemon. Hawaiian culture is so easily misunderstood as is that it could've used some better thought put into Pokemon meant to represent their gods. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with making up a fake culture in your piece of fiction, but it just doesn’t feel as justifiable when it’s under the false guise of another culture. Especially when you get only one of them right but the other three miss by a little bit or even almost entirely.

[Archive]

[kokoko-ko]

For generations, the people of Alola had lived side by side with Pokemon and the living legends which inhabited the islands.  This relation between deity and man shaped the very culture of the Alolan people, from the way they interacted with one another, to the very leaders they were ruled by.  In times of war, these leaders would turn to their guardian, their Tapu, for guidance and aid against their adversaries, be it an advantage at sea, the wisdom to strategize effectively, the insight to know of their opponents next move, or, rather simply, for strength.  Through this relation, the guardians helped protect their islands from the very conflicts the humans themselves had caused.

Such was the way of war for centuries until the day the roles reversed, and it would be a guardian who would rise up to spark the flames of war, razing the land in what would be the final battle between the guardian deities.

In the darkest depths beneath the sea, in the cold cavern of her throne room, lightning and ice clashed.  The Dhelmise, her admiral who had stood beside her practically since her birth, watched silently as their battle raged on.  Pillar after pillar of ice crumbled to his lightning.  She was unfazed.  He was furious.  For all his speed, she had managed to keep up well enough and hold her own against her younger brother, who by all means should have had the upper hand in this fight.

Yet, he could never manage to win against her.  Even now, as his movements grew sluggish and sloppy, despite both their wounds that oozed wisps of golden ichor into the water about them like auras, it would only be a matter of time before his body, half frozen, beaten, and damaged in all manner of ways, would fail him.  It was inevitable.  He refused to give, and their battle could not last forever.  She blinded him with a dazzling gleam, pummeling him to submission with the brine that followed, bringing an end to their altercation.

❛❛ Have you had enough? ❜❜  She asked coldly, looking down upon her defeated brother struggling to rise once more.  Despite his seeming insistence to continue, she would have none of it.  She brought down a spear of ice upon him, pinning him to the floor as it pierced his shoulder, her frown only deepening as he cried out.   ❛❛ You are no longer a child, you should know well enough when to back down. ❜❜  Drawing closer, she looked into his eyes, so full of hateful emotion, with indifference.  ❛❛ You and you alone have placed yourself into this position.  You’re weak, Koko, and it is this weakness that has brought you and your island to ruin. ❜❜

❛❛ Don’t be...so dramatic- ❜❜ he managed to choke out, meeting his sister’s gaze with as much dignity as he could manage in such a sorry state,  ❛❛ One human settlement isn’t enough to ruin- ❜❜

❛❛ Is it? ❜❜ she interrupted.  ❛❛ They fell palms, clear jungle, set fires, rake the land, yet you have no qualms with this? ❜❜  The very fringes of her anger finally began to rise to the surface, leaking into her expression and voice.  ❛❛ Are you so enamored with them that you’ve become desensitized to their destruction?  Their numbers are growing by the solar cycle, yet you have allowed them to continue uncontested.  They will leave nothing but a scarred shell of your island if this continues, can’t you understand that? ❜❜  He met her exasperation with silence, glaring at her from the floor.  He was stubborn, refusing to be moved from his position, and in turn she had run out of patience.  ❛❛ This has gone on long enough.  Soon it will not only be your island at risk, but the entire archipelago.  If you are not strong enough to do anything about it, then I will have to do it for you. ❜❜

A sharp crackle of electricity ripped the silence as he shattered the icy spear in his shoulder.  ❛❛ Not strong enough? ❜❜  he hissed, electricity sparking all about him in his rage.  Fini bristled as he rose from the floor, fully expecting him to strike once more.  But the strike never came.  Just as quickly as the electric hum had crescendoed into existence, it all came to a stop.  Koko tore his gaze from her, but his dark expression only deepened.  ❛❛ I’ll show you strength. ❜❜  For now, he would accept that he had been bested.  Nothing productive would come from prolonging their fight, but everything was far from over.  He took his leave, vanishing from the throne room in a brilliant ball of electricity, leaving nothing behind but an after image.

As the silence settled, so too did the aquatic guardian’s emotions.  With such a vague statement made by her brother, there was little she could do but to wait and see what would become of it.  She too took her leave, trailing golden ichor in her wake from her wounds.  It was then that her admiral, who had done well to blend in with the surroundings and observe the fight as ordered, did finally speak, tracking her movement with concern in his eye.  ❛❛ Tapu- ❜❜

❛❛ Leave me, Admiral.  I can tend to my wounds myself. ❜❜  She spoke with a dismissive hand wave, leaving him to do with himself as he wished while she retired to her chamber.  In a way, she had been the one defeated in this fight.  Though she hoped her brother intended to do something against the scourge of humanity consuming his island, she knew her words had not reached him.  All she could hope for was that he would not do something foolish, not in their name, or for himself.

[askroahmmythril]

I have been looking at Tapu Fini, and I say it's NOT a dolphin. As far as I'm concerned, we don't have one yet. I'm baffled as to why at this point.

Yeah, the fin on the shell is definitely more fish-style than dolphin.