Christmas 2023
The problem with really good characters is that you can put them in any situation and they’re gonna make it interesting and entertaining. You don’t even need to come up with ideas either, they’re just gonna write the story for you. That’s exactly what happened here. My brain needed only to suggest setting the Christmas special in the Paldea region and I knew I’ll be drawing way more than anticipated. I’m not gonna lie to you, I could write an entire second webcomic with just humorous slice-of-life hi-jinx with the Gen IX characters. The ideas just come naturally. It’s terrifying.
Nemona is a JOY of a character, easily the best rival in the franchise by a mile. I can imagine her in kindergarten, talking with other little kids about wanting to meet Santa Claus, except when other children wonder what presents they’ll get, chibi-Nemona’s wondering if he uses Ice types and how to write a letter of challenge to leave out with the milk and cookies. I had to cut out a ton of ideas from this special, and indeed one of them was Nemona being tsukkomi‘d after saying “I’ve dreamed of battling Santa since I was five”.
Lea, the white-haired trainer and Nemona’s primary enabler, is based on a challenge run I did in Violet some time ago. Not quite a Nuzlocke, as instead of catching one-mon-per-area, I was allowed to catch one-mon-per-type and then replace each with an egg containing a completely random Pokémon modified to hatch with that specific Tera type. For example, I’d catch a Toxel, count it as my one and only Electric catch, then pick one of the Electric-Tera eggs and hatch… Helios the Oricorio, who’s making his appearance in this comic. Trust me, as the MVP of the run, he deserves a cameo. His various forms came in handy several times, but the Ghost one was definitely his primary one. The other cameo from the run is Chanx the Shiny Lurantis.
And naturally, you can’t have me draw a bunch of characters without some unnecessary shipping. But how can you blame me! As a culinary character with [spoilers], Arven would absolutely take an interest in Penny, a girl steeped in technology to the point of sustaining herself with nothing but cup ramen and such. I imagine at first he just couldn’t stand seeing her eat cheap, unhealthy stuff, then he noticed the parallels to [spoilers] and started to worry about her, and then as he got to know her more and more, he eventually realized she’s not like [spoilers] at all, because unlike [spoilers], technology is in large part her means of supporting and connecting with people she cares about. And by that point he cared too much to avoid the doki-doki. Meanwhile, Penny keeps being annoyed at him for barging into his life, because fixing her unhealthy habits is “none of his business”, and suspecting ulterior motives, but becomes increasingly more susceptible to Arven’s genuine kindness. Eventually she stops reminding him that he called her a “pipsqueak” during [spoilers] and starts being kind back, justifying it to herself as just “paying her debts”, like she did when she helped the player character with [spoilers]. Also, she just can’t help absolutely loving Arven’s food, eating it being the one time she drops her guard completely.
And of course the guest star, emphasis on the “star” – Larry. If there’s anyone Lea would entrust with the trio’s Pokémon and the task of giving Nemona a challenge, it’s obviously him. Especially considering her ace is an Oricorio. Having him work on Christmas night is both hilariously fitting and an opportunity to give him a nice celebration with a bunch of appreciative teens. Couldn’t think of a better present for Larry than some genuine gratitude.
We have random Poképajamas, themed around Umbreon, Armarouge, Dolliv and Altaria, with a bonus Scovillain eye mask.
Why are you reading my autistic rants about the best Pokémon games, Merry Christmas, you crazy weirdos!
♪~Comment if you care, follow if you fancy~♫
Discussion ¬