The New Normal - 15-18 - INTERLUDE - POKENET REACTIONS

The New Normal – 15-18 – INTERLUDE – POKENET REACTIONS

[THE PAIRINGS FOR THE WORLD TOURNAMENT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED! WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS?! WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN?] By Battlecast

[Picture of the symbol of the Pokémon World Tournament. It is shaped like a Pokéball divided into four pieces, with each section representing a different region]

Ever since the Pokémon World Tournament was announced to the raucous cheers and excitement of battle lovers everywhere, we had all been waiting in eager anticipation for who will be partnered with who for the upcoming battles ahead. Especially considering the new format that the Tournament will be running – consisting of far more battles than what the previous format allowed for.

With the addition of the new preliminary stage, there are going to be many more battles for us viewers to enjoy as we watch the best trainers in the world duke it out to determine who will become the ultimate victor. Like the previous tournament, cooperation between both trainers are going to be an absolute necessity to ensure victory – a single trainer alone will unlikely be able to carry their way through every battle by themselves.

And today, those partners have finally been announced! For those who have missed the announcement, here are the list of partners for the Pokémon World Tournament:

[Graphic listing out all 28 partners]

Of course, we’re sure many of you are going to be most interested in finding out who the Tri-Regional Tournament winners would be paired with this time. Suffice to say, we here at Battlecast aren’t disappointed! John, Drake, and Pryce, who had all shown extremely dominant and powerful performances last time, especially during their fights against the Champion (and John fighting Lance 1v1 and winning – can’t forget that!) have all been paired up with someone new.

And it’s clear to see that the organizers for the Tournament have meticulously ensured that the teams are as ‘balanced’ as they can be.

John has been paired with Elesa, a decently experienced Gym Leader and Electric specialist in Unova. Drake with Burgh, a Gym Leader peer of Elesa and Bug specialist. Lastly, Pryce with Roark, the young and new Gym Leader at Oreburgh.

Let’s focus on John and Elesa first, as this is likely the partnership that many have their eyes on. At first, it might seem like this team has it all – John has the power, and Elesa has the speed. And while that potent combination cannot be denied, there are little Type synergies between Normal and Electric. An ideal partnership for the latter would be either another Electric or Water specialist, so that both trainers can capitalize fully on the Rain. But here, John has nothing that innately supports Elesa’s fighting style, and vice versa.

That being said, John has always been known to be able to foster working relationships with people – it is why he is able to be so well-connected politically. And in the last Tournament, it was clear that he took up a supporting role for the earlier fights to give a chance for Roxanne to show off rather than being hidden under his long shadow. So maybe John will be able to put those talents to use once again and craft a strategy for him and Elesa to make use of so that they could have a repeat of John’s past performance. Only time will tell.

And then there’s Drake. The man who would have easily been the star of the past Tournament if not for John’s fight and victory over Lance’s Emperor. He has been paired up with Unova’s Gym Leader Burgh, who by our reports is a decently experienced Gym Leader with a mind for the arts. Normally, we aren’t ones to discuss a trainer’s personality traits when considering their likelihood of victory, but when working effectively with your partner is so important, having non-conflicting personalities is a must.

Which is where Drake might struggle in. The long-time member of the Hoenn Elite Four is certainly one of the prime candidates to win it all, but his blunt and aggressive character have frequently rubbed quite a few people the wrong way in the past. Ignoring both of their strengths as a trainer for a moment, will this clash of personalities undermine the team’s potential? Or will Drake manage to find common ground with Burgh?

Moreover, the Typing of Bug and Dragon aren’t the most synergistic either…[Click here to continue reading]

Comments

TangelaThoughts

You know, I’m not surprised at all that they paired John with an Unovan. He’s proven that he has a genuine desire for internationalism and forging bridges between regions, so it makes sense that he’ll be paired up with one. The Leagues are probably hoping he’ll be able to befriend and make a good impression to one of the Unovans this way.

That being said, the pairing with Elesa did surprise me. I thought he would be paired with Lenora, considering they are both Normal specialists and were seen getting along well in Unova. Maybe this is just the organizers making things harder for him? Arceus knows we need that to make this Tournament fair.

ElesaFan

OMA! Elesa paired up with John!? Isn’t he like, super strong or something!? Does that mean our model is actually going to win it all this time?! Luck and beauty really do go together!

And… what if John and Elesa got to know each other a bit better during their partnership? You get what I mean????

Gardevoir34

Fat chance of that happening. No offense to Elesa, but that ship has long since sailed. Even if she was trying to throw her hat into the ring, Cynthia’s firm hands have got that locked down. Did you see the pictures of them together eating lunch?

[Pictures of the meeting between John, Elesa, and Cynthia. John and Cynthia can be seen looking deeply into each other’s eyes with loving affection]

Yeah, Elesa practically looked like a third wheel there. The Cynthia and John ship is too strong. It’s not sinking.

FlyingHigh

Moving on from that derail, I’m personally really interested in seeing how far the Unova Elite Four manage to go! We know they lost in a battle against our own Elite Four, but with the format of the Tournament allowing for many battles, we’ll actually get to have a proper comparison of their strengths – maybe even in a rematch! Can’t wait!

Iris4Champion

Anyone know anything about Karen? She’s been paired with Iris, and we all want her to do well and not get saddled with someone… mediocre.

NotTooMuchWater

As difficult as it is to admit, Karen managed to defeat Sidney before she even became an Elite Four, meaning that she is very likely the premier Dark Type specialist within Indigo, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. While there may be some that say that she’s currently the weakest among the Indigo Elite Four… that is by no means an insult to her strength. Not only is this a minority opinion, don’t forget that the Indigo Elite Four is the strongest it’s ever been.

In my opinion, Iris is in very safe hands. And if the two of them manage to work together where Karen’s disruptive tactics can shine, then they might be primed to win the whole Tournament.

GodBidoof

Between the double Gym Leader pairings or the Elite Four/Gym Leader pairings, who do you think will (on average) make it further in the Tournament?

FearTheRat

Well if the previous Tournament was any indication, most of the Elite Four/Gym Leader pairs made it further than their double Gym Leader counterparts. I mean, out of the final Top 3, only Pryce and Candice were both Gym Leaders, and Pryce was previously an ex-Champion.

I think that shows pretty clearly that having one Elite Four on your team makes your chances of winning noticeably higher. It’s unfortunate, but there’s no actual way to ensure that the teams are going to be fully balanced. The Sinnoh League can only make do – and I’m certainly satisfied with their attempt.

GeneralistGeneral

Honestly, for my own thoughts about which pair might win this, I think everyone’s sleeping on Lucian and Lenora. Lucian might not have done so well last time, but this time he should have a partner that he’s able to work a lot better with. I did the research, Lenora’s a formidable and respected Gym Leader with a flexible team of Pokémon that should be able to adapt well to Lucian’s style of fighting.

Another pair I have a lot of hope for is Aaron and Dorothy. Aaron is an Elite Four, and Dorothy is a Gym Leader who trained under Agatha. Sure, Ghost and Bug might not be the strongest Types, but I really feel there’s a lot of hidden potential there with these ‘unpopular’ types working together.

Amoogus

You’re all wrong. It’s going to be Marshal and Crasher Wake taking the win for sure. Strength matched with strength!

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[UNOVA ARRIVES IN SINNOH! What are their thoughts and feelings about our cities and culture? An interview with the foreign Gym Leaders and Elite Four!] By Sinnoh News

[Pictures of the Unovans arriving in Canalave City]

Just earlier this morning, our guests and visitors from Unova have finally stepped foot onto our shores for the first time ever. Though we have heard about them from second-hand reports and observations from others, this is the first time we’ll be able to interact with them in person.

It was a truly historic occasion.

Naturally, our reporters were not ones to pass on the chance to interview these newcomers, and we manage to snag a few of them for some questions. First, we asked the Gym Leaders of Unova what their first impressions were of Sinnoh.

“Everything’s very different from back home.” Gym Leader Burgh told us, “In Unova, we favour skyscrapers and modernity. Here? There is a huge emphasis on Sinnoh’s traditions and culture, and that is reflected in your unique architecture. As an artist, I believe both are unique and interesting in their own way, and I couldn’t possibly choose one over the other. However, I do like that Canalave City isn’t nearly as crowded as Castelia. Still, being in a new region has really stirred up my inner creativity, and I’d love to be able to visit your galleries and museums for additional inspiration whenever I have some free time.”

“I heard about what happened to your Galactic Company. Big shame that. It’s always a rough one when a business turns their backs against their own customers like that.” Gym Leader Clay said, “But I’ve also heard many good things about your Devon Corp and Silph Co, so it’s good to know that the rot didn’t spread. I’d actually like to speak with these two companies myself if I could. I’d reckon we’d get along pretty well, and I hope they make time for me and Unova. There’s a good deal out there just waiting to be signed, I just know it.”

Later, we moved on to other questions, like their impressions on the Gym Leaders and Elite Four members that they had met so far.

“It’s easy to see why your people hold them in such high regard. I heard about the fight against the Legendary that you had here, and I was sceptical that it actually played out in the way that the reports described it. However, having met with your leaders in person, and the determination and resolve that they had when they spoke of the event, I knew that it was no lie.” Lenora said, “Because of this, I am greatly looking forward to the opportunity to test myself against individuals as capable and as determined as I have seen them to be.”

“At first, I was a little nervous to be meeting so many important people from a different region.” The young Gym Leader Iris said, “But once we did meet, I discovered that they were all so friendly and welcoming! Even though I haven’t known them for a long time, I can tell that your Gym Leaders must all take their responsibilities really seriously! Oh, and I’d love to actually meet with Tate and Lisa! I haven’t met them yet, but I heard that they were around my age, so I really want to talk to them and discuss things! Maybe we can learn things from each other!”

Gym Leader Iris seemed especially enthusiastic to talk about her newest experiences in Sinnoh, and she went on to describe her previous meeting with Karen and John…(Click here to continue reading)

Comments

RuinsManiac

I don’t know much about Clay, but I know he used to be a miner. Think he knows anything about archaeology? I’d love for him to host a scientific panel about the unique geology of Unova.

UnovaNo1

The way that everyone describes Sinnoh as ‘traditional’ and ‘historical’ makes it sound like they’re trying to be polite about the fact that Sinnoh is a backwater region that hasn’t embraced the times. And from what I’ve heard about Indigo and Hoenn, the situation is little better there either. If it weren’t for your leaders, Unova could easily be the dominant one in negotiations. Shame!

KantoRepresent

Oh yeah? Then which was the region that introduced the Pokénet, the PSS, and even the Fairy type to your unenlightened backwater of a region? Oh that’s right – it was us. So shut your trap and go back to your overpopulated cities and cry in that tiny and overpriced apartment that you call a ‘home’.

ElesaFan

You’re both far too patriotic for your own good. As an Unovan myself, I like the cities that we have, but I also find the unique charm of Sinnoh to be really interesting. I’m caught up in a few things, so I can’t make the trip there right now, but I hope to do so soon!

Amoongus

Hey, anyone know who are the best and most popular Gym Leaders in the New Regions? And why they’re so popular/great?

FlyingHigh

Generally Giovanni, Pryce, Clair, Tate and Lisa, and Volkner are amongst the Gym Leaders that people respect the most or consider to be the strongest, for a few different reasons. The obvious ones are Volkner and Clair, who are respected because they are pretty much acknowledged to be at an Elite Four level of strength (especially Volkner, who is seen to be on par with Elite Flint), but chose to not take up the position for one reason or another. Likewise, Tate and Lisa are respected because of their incredible talents, even at a young age. Basically, they’re our version of your Gym Leader Iris.

Pryce is respected because he used to be Champion, having ‘recently’ stepped down. His rule was… controversial, especially towards the end, but he still retains a lot of the support and strength that he used to have. With Giovanni, he’s respected for his actions and philanthropy. He’s a director at Silph Co, and he’s been very active politically with many of the recent changes that many have considered to be a boon to Indigo.

TangelaThoughts

^To elaborate on the above, Giovanni is seen as the ‘leader’ of the Kanto Gym Leaders. Pryce and Clair ‘share’ leadership over Johto’s. Things are less clear cut in both Hoenn and Sinnoh, as I’m not aware if there is actually a ‘leader’ amongst their Gym Leaders (could be wrong though). Are things different in Unova?

Iris4Champion

Clay is seen as the leader, given that he’s the most experienced. But I just know that Iris will eventually take up the position eventually! Once her talent and potential finally blooms, there’s no way the others won’t look to her for guidance!

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[AD: What to see in the New Regions! A comprehensive tour guide about all the best sites in Indigo, Hoenn, and Sinnoh!} By Explorers of the Skies

[Shot of a scrapbook that contains scenic pictures from the three regions. Many famous locations are featured prominently]

For those of you looking to visit the newly introduced regions of Indigo, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, but don’t know where to start? Well look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of the best tourist attractions from every region for you to get a head start on your vacation planning.

We all know you’re interested in coming over now that the World Tournament is taking place.

First of, we shall start with the region closest to Unova – Sinnoh. Obviously, the greatest attraction there is the Temple of the Titan, a newly built memorial that currently houses the dormant Legendary Titan. While you’re there, you might as well visit Spear Pillar too, as it was the location where the cataclysmic clash of Legendaries took place. Even if you aren’t a trainer, you cannot pass up on visiting such a significant place for the most important event in recent history.

And while you’re in Sinnoh, why not visit the newly constructed Fight Area, with the Battle Frontier as its main attraction? You don’t need to be a trainer to take in the sights and enjoy the unique competitive atmosphere that is always present in the Fight Area. For those of you with money to splurge, the Fight Area also possesses many luxurious accommodations and facilities that will transform your vacation into something full of decadence and relaxation.

Just trust us – once you’ve experienced it for yourself, you won’t want to leave!

…

Moving on to Indigo, cities like Celadon and Goldenrod should always be one of the first places you head to – especially if you’re a big shopper. Both cities serve as the commercial heart of Kanto and Johto respectively, making it the place to buy any souvenirs, clothing, or whatever other gifts you feel like getting.

But if you want a more cultural experience, then head over to cities like Cerulean or Blackthorn. Cerulean is known to be the centre of the arts for Kanto, and you’ll be able to experience all kinds of magical performances and contests there – you can even go cave diving in the Cerulean Cave should it tickle your fancy. On the other hand, Blackthorn City are where most of the Dragons of Indigo resides and are raised. Especially for you trainers out there, it’s the perfect place to visit. You might even get lucky and catch one in the wild just like that!

Or, if you fancy going a little off the mainland, then there’s always the newly renovated Sevii Islands for you to visit. The Sevii Island is home to the headquarters of the Regional Union, but also possesses many great beaches for you to get your tan on. For those interested in history and politics, it’s like combining a study trip with a vacation. It’s the best of both worlds.

…

Last, but certainly not least, is Hoenn. And if you’re in Hoenn, then you cannot afford to miss out on the soul-cleansing and relaxing hot springs of Lavaridge Town – you could even visit Mt. Chimney while you’re there! Then, if you still have money to splurge after shopping through both Sinnoh and Indigo, then Mauville City is the place to be. It is a massive shopping mall filled to the brim with all kinds of different shops, selling almost anything you could think of. Luxurious accessories, great food, stylish clothes, Pokémon and trainer gear – it’s all there.

But if you want to head to somewhere more peaceful and serene, then why not head over to either Fortree City or Pacifidlog Town. The former is a city built in the trees, while the latter is a town built floating on the ocean’s surface. Having been to both places, this writer can guarantee that you won’t regret experiencing these unique places for yourself.

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[Steven vs Wallace! The battle to determine the future of Hoenn is finally here! Who will come up on top?!] By The Hoenn Times

[Picture of Steven and Wallace edited so that they are standing side-by-side, with their respective Pokémon flanking them]

After his convincing victory over Drake, the battle that many had anticipated is finally about to happen.

When Steven first made his announcement to challenge the Champion, there were many that dismissed his challenge as nothing more than the arrogant bragging of a silver-spooned heir that was too consumed by his own pride. However, after his dominant performance against all of Hoenn’s Elite Four, it’s clear that Steven is very much out to win. He may very well be our next Champion.

Therefore, we felt that it was appropriate to provide a run down of teams that both trainers’ are likely going to field:

[Graphic of Steven and Wallace’s teams. Steven is shown to likely make use of a combination of his Skarmory, Magnezone, Aggron, H-Goodra, Claydol, Mawile, and Metagross. Wallace is likely to field a combination of his Wailord, Sharpedo, Tentacruel, Walrein, Ludicolo, Whiscash, Gyarados, and Milotic.]

Though it might sound boring, our analysts here at the Hoenn Times very firmly state that these two are evenly tied in strength. So instead of trying to determine who will win, our focus will be instead on the shift in politics if Steven were to be successful and become the newest Champion of Hoenn.

Surprisingly, from the many interviews that Steven has participated in, it seems like Steven and Wallace are mostly of one mind when it comes to politics. As some of you may already know, Steven and Wallace are actually friends, which possibly explains the reason why the both of them share similar political views.

The only major change that Steven will very likely enact, as he has been speaking openly about doing so for the past few weeks, is that he will be accelerating the proposal that our future leaders could become appointable from any region. Obviously, that has been on the forefront of Steven’s mind as he has been looking for ways to help his friend, Bruno. Though it is interesting to note that Wallace has not currently opposed this idea either.

Outside of this and other possible changes to several financial policies that he will be making, we predict that things will mostly follow the current status quo even if Steven were to ascend.

Overall, this writer believes that the relative lack of sweeping changes that Steven will bring to be a good thing. Wallace has been there to guide Hoenn through the many changes that have graced our region over the past few years, to great success. He has managed to forge strong foreign ties for our region, building mutually beneficial relationships with Indigo and Sinnoh that have led us into prosperity. So we see it as a good thing that Steven has no intention of going against such decisions.

What do you think? Who do you think is going to win? And if Steven does win, what do you think he will be like as our new Champion? Let us know in the comments below!

Comments

NotTooMuchWater

My opinions on Steven has flip-flopped heavily over the past few weeks. Like many others, I thought he was making the challenge as a way of advertising some Devon Corp product or to advance some kind of mysterious political agenda, but after seeing him win (his Metagross was insane against Drake), I’m now a supporter.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Wallace too, and it’s a shame that we can’t have both of them be our Champions, so I’ll just see where the die lands. I wish both of them luck.

FearTheRat

Nah, how could you not be a supporter of Steven after he beat Drake like that? That Baton Pass into his Metagross instantly secured him the fight; Drake was completely outplayed. It really showed off Steven’s skill as a trainer – and you can’t just buy that with money.

Super excited for his fight against Wallace.

TangelaThoughts

I’m very interested to seeing how Steven will be guiding Hoenn if he does take up the mantle of Champion. However, I’m also interested in seeing what Wallace would do should he lose the upcoming battle. Is he going to step down into a peaceful retirement, content with his years of service and the political achievements he has accomplished? Or is he going to try to fight back for his old position, perhaps making his way back into the Elite Four?

I mean, he certainly has the strength to do so if he so chooses. But personally, I’m not sure if he’s the sort of person to do that.

SlugmaBalls

In my opinion he’s going to take up the mantle of Gym Leader at Sootopolis City if he loses. He used to be its Gym Leader, and everyone knows that Juan only took up the position because Wallace ascended to Champion. I think it makes sense for him to return to his old position. I just don’t see Wallace retiring to complete obscurity when he’s as capable as he is.

FlyingHigh

I have a lot of respect for Wallace, and I think it will be a major disservice for Hoenn if he were to lose his position as Champion. Steven may be good too, but Wallace has already proven himself to be a great Champion. I hope he stays, but he does have a hard battle ahead of him. I think both trainers are practically equal in strength.

FutureAce

Nah, Wallace’s got this in the bag. Steven’s strong, I admit, but don’t forget the sheer defensive power of his Milotic that he showed off in the last Tournament. Even Drake and Pryce combined struggled heavily to take it down.

Metagross might be strong, but Milotic will be able to wall it. Trust me.

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[PROFESSORS MEETING UP? A GATHERING OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS!] By Sinnoh News

[Picture of Professor Oak, Blaine, Rowan, Elm, Birch, and Juniper talking with each other. Another man with blonde hair can be seen in the background, but his face is too blurred out to determine their identity]

It seems that the gathering of trainers for the Tournament has also caused our greatest minds to come together as well! After all, why wouldn’t they? This is the perfect opportunity for them to freely share and discuss their ideas and theories with each other.

Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain an interview with the Professors. Despite this, we here at the Sinnoh News will be keeping an eye on future scientific developments that might crop up as a result of this extraordinary gathering of individuals. As it is very likely that such a gathering of Professors will lead to them working together on some kind of incredible and unforgettable joint project that will completely change the way that we see the world. The discovery of the Fairy type comes to mind.

And if so, we wonder what kind of incredible thing would they discover or create? We’ll be updating you if and when we receive further information!

A.N. This marks the end of Arc 15 – the Unova Arc. Thank you for everyone for your continued support of The New Normal – it means a lot to me and encourages me to keep on writing. Coming into the next arc, as previously stated, are going to be a lot of battles.

But battles are not the only thing coming. As hinted in this very Pokénet Interlude, and from a few previous chapters, the Professors will be working together on something important too. Props to those who can guess what it is! And unfortunately for John and the others, PLASMA are also going to be taking action as well! Nevertheless, hope you enjoyed! And thank you again for the support!