Orre Week

You all are invited to the October art challenge for our favorite and memorable region Orre! 

I call it Orretober, it’s a scheduled challenge so everyone can have their time to finish their drawings 

The rules are simple: no rules, just have fun and use the tag  #Orretober

big super thanks to the amazing @latealzalost for their help ^^

Day 6: Your Favorite Colosseum?

FINALLY, SOMETHING I CAN CHOOSE! Something short too!

My choice is hands-down Pyrite Colosseum. I’m a sucker for that “run-down rusty” look, and Pyrite has that down, but somehow it feels more complete when in the Colosseum. The holes in the wall make it feel like if I were there, I would feel the breeze go through the building and blow off some of the collecting dust. Like, it’s abandoned and yet it’s not, it’s lively yet dying…Maybe that’s just me.

I liked how they made it play a part in the story of Pokémon Colosseum, but I also enjoy it being optional for Gale of Darkness, in case you want to train up some weaker Pokémon or you’re low on funds, etc.

Day 7: Your Favorite Memory Associated with Either Game?

My favorite memory? Gosh, that’s a tricky one.

I think the best one would be the ending to Colosseum.

Listen, the battle against the last two trainers were HARD. And that’s not even counting the fact that I had Shadows to snag. So beating them down felt like I jumped the last hurdle to salvation.

And when Ho-oh showed up for our heroes…so many emotions. It’s like it came to say, “Congratulations!”

And that scene is tied with the ending to Gale of Darkness as well. Both of them.

I’ve already said my peace about Michael leaving behind the Snag Machine, but him returning home to his family when all was said and done…it got me feeling a LOT of emotions.

It felt like a soldier returning home, for real, after a deployment overseas. The soldier is finally home.

And I know that feeling, because my Dad has gone on many deployments. And all the while his family waited, loving him no matter what, yet fearing the possibility that he may die fighting (he never went into combat, but still).

Perhaps that’s why the camera focused on Lily, Michael’s mother.

And that’s it. That’s all of the days.

These games will forever be my favorites.

Day 5: “Your Favorite Protag, Wes or Michael?”

Goddammit I have to choose again?! I–

Y’know what? Fuck it. I’m choosing both.

Wes is unique in that he’s a protagonist that started out working for the opposite team. In fact, it’s more than possible that he helped in snagging some of the Pokémon that ended up as Shadows.  I’m ignoring the claim that he was meant to be the next game’s antagonist since that never happened real quick, because that means we’re free to interpret his explosive exit from that team was out of revenge after realizing what was happening or something related.

Who knows if he intended to be a hero or just leave it all behind, but whatever he planned, it went out the window, and soon he was on a quest to save the Pokémon that were turned to Shadows. Catching the attention of Celebi and Ho-oh is also tell-tale sign that he’s changed. In the end, it became a quest of not just heroism, but redemption. And that’s something you don’t see often in Pokémon.

Michael straight-up lived in the lab his late(?) dad and the latter’s best friend built up in the case of another disaster like what happened 5 years ago, his father vanishing from his life at some point, leaving behind the research of the Purify Chamber and the Snag Machine, both of which were soon to be used by his son. Gotta wonder if he believed his father would be proud…

And this kid is a fucking trooper! He rescues an important news station, an entire city that was being held hostage, got attacked and robbed by the team Wes had been working for 5 years ago, and has been threatened with physical violence, stalking, and straight-up murder. And yet he keeps going, keeps marching on, doing all he can to save everything and everyone until he lets go of the Snag Machine…with a bit of hesitation, if that scene was anything to go by.

Day 4: “Your Favorite Villain?”

My favorite villain, huh? Hmm…I’m gonna go with the twins: Ardos & Eldes.

You’re probably wondering why. For Ardos, it’s the potential. After defeating him post-game, he straight-up tells Michael that he fully intends to revive Cipher, and have them track the kid’s every move when that comes around. That was supposed to be a hook. A hook for a sequel. A SEQUEL WHERE THE FUCK IS MY SEQU–

Not just that; Ardos basically said, “Once we come back, I’m having them stalk you.” Remember, Michael is 12 at youngest, 14 at oldest. And he’s being stalked by a group of people fully capable of harming Pokémon & people in order to complete their goals.

To me, this implies, “Interfere again. I fucking dare you.” Like, holy shit, what are you gonna do, assassinate him?!…Actually, that’s not out-of-the-realm of possibility, considering he fully intended to kill him (and everyone else there) by blowing up Citadark Isle.

Now on to Eldes. It’s because of the potential this time, too, though it’s slightly different. Let me explain: Eldes isn’t all that bad of a dude. He questions what he’s fighting for when he’s seen at Mt. Battle, for example; questioning his own motives and his worry for putting his Pokémon under too much stress.

It also helps that he technically saved Michael’s life, along with the lives of everyone else there, by convincing the main baddy to not blow up the Isle like Ardos tried to do. He even convinced the boss that Cipher was done for; there’s no point to prolong it any further.

But the potential I find lies in his interactions with Michael on two certain occasions, and the possible connection there.

The first occasion is the second encounter with Verich in Gateon. The latter and Ardos walk away right after the conversation is over, but Eldes doesn’t leave right away. He just…gazes for a bit before taking off. This may just be due to his character, but you gotta wonder if there’s another/different reason (which I’ll get to).

And then there’s the moment right before you battle him for the first time. He tells Michael that the battle that they’re about to have will not be a test of skill nor friendly, and he wishes it didn’t have to be like the way they must fight now. Again, character depth, but it also makes you think: Eldes wanted to battle you…but not like this. Not like this.

Now, what was the thing I wanted to get to about Eldes (and indirectly Ardos)?

I have a theory/headcanon that Eldes is, in fact, Michael’s father, who faked his death and left his family to protect them from being found-out by Cipher. Hell, Eldes may have been under alias with the family and changed his appearance when he left. I get it, it might seem Farfetch’d (hehe), but I dunno, it’s possible. I mean, where did Michael and Jovi get their hair colors from? Genetics can be strange, after all…

Anyways, sorry this is longer than usual, but that’s why I have two favori–

Wait–hang on, I actually have three favorites.

Miror B.

Day 3: “Your Favorite Pokémon to use?”

I’m supposed to choose?! Aw geez…

Well…this might be a cop-out answer, but the starters for both games.

Hear me out: Wes of Colosseum starts with Espeon and Umbreon. As most fans know, Eevees evolve into those two via friendship (and time of day). That alone, when you think about it, kinda describes Wes’ character well (low-key calling out the “Wes was supposed to be the antagonist of the sequel,” even if it is true).

And dude, who wouldn’t want to start with Eeveevolutions? That’s awesome!

As for Eevee in Gale of Darkness…oh boy. Let alone the fact that I’m a sucker for Eevee and that you could choose to evolve it into any of its evolutions at the time, there’s also a lore thing I feel behind it, too.

If you recall, Michael had obtained it from his father who, according to in-game dialogue, has passed away. A certain line early-game by someone in the lab also mentions the kid’s father, but immediately goes, “Wait oh shit I’m sorry about that I didn’t mean to upset you!”

So that means Michael’s still upset about his deceased father. And listen: I would treasure a gift from a relative too if they passed on.

And that, folks, is why I always keep the starters as a part of my main party. Always.

(1 was a reblog, so I’m posting it here too)

Day 1: “Your Favorite Game of the Two?”

For me, I think it would be Gale of Darkness. I have both games, but I used to always watch my older brother play the second one and I don’t recall watching the first. Not knowing they were related, I started playing it when my bro got tired of it.

Now, by this point, Gen 4 was out with Platinum and I had beaten that game’s story without actually understanding any strategy behind battles. The whole mechanic with Shadow Pokémon made me think, using status moves to my favor and the frequent double battles really helped with more strategy.

I did eventually play Colosseum, and while I like it for the same and different reasons, I just…I can’t bother myself with purifying all the Shadow Pokémon. Maybe it’s because I’m used to the Purify Chamber or I’m impatient, but it feels slow.

However, all aside, I love both games very dearly. They’re what really got me into Pokémon and explains why I prefer the spin-off games over the main series (with a few exceptions).

Day 2: “Your Favorite Town?”

Oh boy, that’s tricky. Hmm…I would have to say Agate. In Colosseum, it had such a different vibe in it compared to the other locations, and it felt like a quiet place to relax and recuperate, away from the rest of the dangerous region. Which made the Cipher attack on it all the more impactful; it’s like someone invading your safe space.