hey, we're still here!

[these_balls]

SOMEWHERE OVER ROUTE 2
DAY 21/12. 23:52.

The noises kept resonating throughout the world, the ground shaking and the sky in chaos, torn between hail and rain and lightning; the winds were merciless as they gathered around the golems that barely seemed to notice. They were in the middle of it all, protected from their work of slowly pulling up the earth and undo what they’d done long ago. The reporter had to scream over the rotor blades to be heard when she tried to get words into the mike. It was terrifying flying like this in the middle of what everyone was calling the worst … what? storm, day, anything known to man. The weather could make them crash – or the helicopter could malfunction any second. The camera was flickering too, she could tell from the red light momentarily going out. And below and ahead was what could only be Registeel, red glowing eyes in a circle barely seen through the wind and snow. “As you can see-” her cameraman lifted his hand up as much as he dared before he was holding the camera again, close, like a life line – “As you can see, there’s no sign of any of this stopping- there are many speculations but nothing is-” There was a movement any other pilot would call turbulence but theirs simply called, “shit!” She took a moment to gather herself and then went on. “Professors have been called in and there are rumors of a Hoenn specialist working with the police to put an end to this but things are increasingly critical in Blackthorn and Pewter, I’m getting reports that at least one Center is destroyed and there are several power outages all over the re—Sam!” They’d worked together long enough to understand each other and Sam, the cameraman, didn’t think twice before he scooted over, balancing precariously for a moment on the tilted helicopter floor before he found a safe place to hang onto and could aim his camera in the direction she was pointing. … None of them had ever seen anything like it before. It was light, bright and disruptive in the darkness of the storms; high in the night sky for all to see as beams of warm light spilled through the clouds. Before the reporter could say anything about it or the cameraman found time to even react, the light seemed to gather itself up in one single, shining point (something small, so very bright) before it exploded outwards in a single shockwave – And just like that, whatever end they’d all been facing was … gone. Or, well. Mostly.

You didn’t really think the world would end, did you? The good news is that the golems are gone. The bad news is that most of their destruction is still here.

And that’s why we need you, the good people of Johto and Kanto! What time other than the holidays to show your caring spirit and help out when needed? No city went entirely undamaged as the weather storms shook both regions, but most of the damage done by the golems themselves were concentrated in the northern cities and those are in dire need of help.

There repair work will go on until at least February, and you have a lot of opportunities to help out: a lot of homes were damaged, but also parts of Center facilities, gyms, marts and other important places. Pewter, Viridian, Blackthorn and Mahogany are hit the hardest, along with the surrounding routes, and where volunteer work is most needed and appreciated. The gyms in these cities will be out of commission for the next two weeks so the gym leaders can help out, and the Centers in Pewter and Blackthorn are too damaged to offer normal services for the next few days.

Also if you could help prep up the city relics like the Bell and Sprout towers and the forest shrine, that’d be very appreciated.


Now, what's really interesting about this whole ordeal is that as the work goes on, strange markings are becoming evident in the grounds of Blackthorn, Pewter and Viridian: perfect circles about a two feet across, that create various patterns only clearly visible from overhead. In the future, they might be tourist attractions - for now, they're studies, and Researchers and Scientists work together to understand what it means.

Just before New Years, they'll release the translations to the public:

WE BUILT THIS

MAN ENDS
POKÉMON END
EVERYTHING ENDS

NEW WORLDS
INHERIT
NEW DREAMS

That's in Blackthorn, Pewter and Viridian, respectively. As to what it actually means, that's about as much of a mystery as everything else ...


… oh yeah, and another thing. We wouldn’t forget about Christmas! Feel free to consider it an apology. On Christmas Day, everyone wakes up with an egg next to them. You can’t tell from the egg itself, but all Pokémon hatched from these eggs are shiny! As per usual you’re free to pick any Pokémon from any generation for your egg except for legendaries. Have fun!

Any questions? Ask us here! Happy holidays!

Comments

QUESTIONS

[these_balls]

[timelymaid]

Would characters be able to go check out the scenes at some point before they become tourist attractions, if they ask the researchers? :O

[eagletalons]

If a character were to ask to take part in the research, would the scientists let them tag along? How long would this research take-- like would it be just till the release of their translations or longer?

[for_realsies]

What is the weather like for the rest of the month? Has the blizzard and snow broken, or the low temps?

[islandshore]

First, thank you mods for this awesome Christmas surprise! I can't wait to see what everyone picks. As for me, I'm currently torn on what to give Bowser. It's a toss up between shiny Salamence because the colors totally match him, Haxorus because it's badass, and Camerupt because it's a stinking camel volcano. If anyone has suggestions, that'd be rad.

Also, I was thinking of having Riku open up the Training Center as a temporary shelter for people who need a place to stay in the general area. Would anyone be interested in this? I also wouldn't mind tossing him at a repair party or something, just to give him something to do.

[ragnarok_strike]

If it were me playing King Bowser, I'd go for the Camerupt too, since, well, it is a camel volcano and that is awesome, plus Numel are just :3 too.

[eagletalons]

My vote's on Camerupt too, because Bowser just has a bad habit of sticking around firey things even though he's been beaten by them loads of times.

[ragnarok_strike]

Well, Laguna's getting a Munna, since I wanted him to get a Munna for plotstuff anyhow. The plan? It eats his dreams, and that's gonna be how he gets his Dissidia memories back, they're eaten out of his dreams. So yeah, green flowered cute thing.
Plus, now he's going to have three eggs (he's got two others) hatch around the same time.
Can you say the cutest siblings ever? :3
A Tonberry-candle, a dream-eating floating thing which can project into peoples minds (if it feels like it), and a thing which might be a lion. Yes, they're all going to hatch on the same day, around the same time.
His birthday. (Next month :D)
Don't ask how it works. Eggs are weird.

[willrememberthis]

...Laguna Munna.

I apologize.

[3_butterflies]

Fluttershy is totally getting a Bouffalant because she's needed a cow/bull mon for her relation to MANOTAUR forevers

[bestofthebest]

Awesome choice! If she names it Iron Will, that would be hilarious!

[willrememberthis]

I'm torn between a Baltoy for being an animate archaeological artifact (and an... old doll) and a Golett (because it's a golem, and the markings on the shiny form are soul-green, conveniently enough!) for 2.

For Clementine, I think I've settled on a Farfetch'd for an appropriately-colored addition toward a memorial-to-people-she-knew team.

[bestofthebest]

Rainbow Dash is totally getting a Ponyta since it'd be excellent for future plot ideas - and 'cause having a couple more Fire-types will make Twilight go 'what the hay?!'

[friendyousohard]

Rainbow Dash, she swears, if you evolve that thing and make one comment on the events of episode 15...

[hoperaider]

Jake is so getting a shiny Minccino!!! And Mom's getting a shiny Eevee because FUCK YEAH EEVEES!!! >:3 GUYS, LOOK, EVEN SANTA THINKS JAKE SHOULDN'T QUIT HIS EGG ADDICTION 'CAUSE HE JUST RANDOMLY GOT AN EGG!!!!!!

Also, both my characters are willing to help out, though they're going to be with their friends and family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And New Year's, of course.

[shippingmath]

Jake you can deal with your egg addiction by helping Dirk with all of his. SIX EGGS FOR CHRISTMAS. Also whenever Jake gets cute around eggs/baby pokemon Dirk will make a MILF joke how's that for ways to get him to stop

[friendyousohard]

I'm turn between Lapras (because she needs both a water and an ice type, and because the pokedex entry is fit to give all the ponies a big case of the sads), Duskull (because she also needs a ghost, and the idea of one of Twi's pokemon going around scaring children is kind of morbidly hilarious), and Golett (because holy crap flying mecha-ghost!) for Twi, honestly. Any suggestions that might tip the scales one way or another would be appreciated!

[hoperaider]

Twilight Sparkle with a huge ass flying mecha-ghost is altogether the coolest thing I've ever pictured.

[beforethedarkness]

So I suck at making decisions for Sasuke. I've toned it down from an absolutely massive list, but I still don't know if I want him to get Charmander, Ponyta, Eevee, Trapinch, or Feebas. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[willrememberthis]

Shiny Flygon and Rapidash are surprisingly beatiful, but Sasuke would look rather... pimp alongside a shiny Charizard.

[lightningbearer]

Sion's getting a Ponyta because I've been putting off getting him one just for this chance.

Geddoe I have no idea though SUGGESTIONS? especially if it's something he can name after a SuikoIII character

[exeggutorhead]

I've narrowed it down to between Surskit and Snivy for Envy, because one will turn into a green and purple mask Pokemon and the other will turn into a snake and Envy only has one grass-type.

Temeraire meanwhile is between Charmander and Axew.

HELP I'M INDECISIVE

[brokenmemories]

I think a Charmander would be good cause it kind of hits home with Temerarire :I

But that's just me

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

It's Archen time!

On another note, Apollo has a new reason to not stay in his cave the entire winter! Thank you for that. ^^ He'll be helping to clean up the damage at the Lake of Rage, then Route 43, then Mahogany Town, though he'll probably have to take a break to get some more money in Mahogany Town at some point in there.

[brokenmemories]

Perfect time to get a Deino because pokemon related to Japanese folklore can never get enough for Misaki especially awesome but terrifying ones

Also, the fact that not only it bites random shit but also randomly tackles stuff would be a good reason for Wani's habit of biting not so feared no more.

[tearsofademon]

Thank you, mods!

After much deliberation, I thiiiiiiiiiink I'm going to go with a shiny Togepi for Ryner, if only because I think this will complete his collection of normal fairies (unless you count Chansey...?). Sparkling happiness for the kind, depressed mage!

[for_realsies]

Immy's getting a shiny Vulpix so it can evolve into a pretty blue fox.

I had been meaning for Immy to get one, but having her get a pony seemed more important to start.

[alonelyworld]

Ushio is getting a shiny Ralts. Having a Pokémon that can share emotions and whatnot would be really neat for her. And the fact that Ralts warms up around happy feelings totally fits with the light orbs in her canon.~

[red_roses]

Ib is definitely getting a Ditto because new breeder.

Danny's getting a Snorunt girl because ice ghost? Why didn't I get that for him earlier.

[leftinbasketforfbi]

...I'm thinking Ponyta. A Ponyta that will require riding.

Because I want to see Reid trying to ride the scary fire pony.

[doitrockapella]

(BLUE FLAMES MAKE IT GO FASTER)

[usedconfusion]

I'm thinkin' Snover, because Snowman Hank.

[ragnarok_strike]

Any excuse for Snover is a good one. Snover are awesome. Especially blue ones. I MIGHT HAVE A FAVORITE POKEMON EVEN IF LAGUNA ISN'T GETTING ONE...........

[falseshore]

I can't decide between a Tirtouga and a Ponyta.

On one hand, cool firepony. On the other, cool turtle.

[viiru2alert]

I was always partial to Tirtouga.