Story behind the nuzlocke below
Back in early 2020, I started a Platinum Nuzlocke. Not for the challenge, but simply because it looked fun from the few videos and comics I saw of it. I picked Piplup and was so ready for all the trials I would put me and my partner through. Though, as it went on I kept on loosing pokemon left and right. Too many fights I had to eek out of via a sacrifice. Too many deaths where from dumb mistakes. It was also around then, in the heat of Covid and me being in middle school that I started to get overwhelmed. Not just from the game taking away my Gallade named Hat after an Iron Island Graveler explosion, but for school, family issues, and all n all self worth. So when I saw how much I've been royally fucking up in one of my few comforts during that time, I melted down. I was fragile and hopeless and for whatever the reason, this was the tipping point. I stopped playing after "beating" Cyrus. I'd hardly call it a win when only my Empoleon, Bubbles, survived.
At one point in 2021, I came back to the game to get a few more encounters and to beat Volkner. I did that but lost motivation for it again. Something that was happening more and more often as life went on. At the time I had no idea what it meant. I had no idea what was wrong with me and this nuzlocke didn't help.
Fast forward to today in 2025. I realized what was wrong with me a few years back, which was to say my gender. Not the answer I'm sure teenager me was looking for, but it's the one we got. After all this time I survived an abusive parent, a worldwide plague, gender dysphoria, (still) undiagnosed ADHD and Autism, and a Prep School that nearly brought me to insanity with how little sleep I got and how much stress and self hatred I had.
And yet, here I am. I conquered all of that. I made my own path and against all odds not only graduated, but am finally comfortable in my own skin. I know myself better than ever... But there is still one loose end to tie up. The reason I haven't done another Platinum nuzlocke. It may not seem like much, but returning to this game (and hacking it so my name is changed to the right one) felt so cathartic. It put my life into perspective in a way I couldn't put into words. Crafting a new team from the ground up with new knowledge and then taking down one of the hardest fights (in my opinion) in pokemon history just felt so freeing.
I still have a long ways to go in regards to my life, and there will absolutely be more obstacles to breach. But I know it's all possible. I've been shot through hell and back and now I'm staring down the devils double barrel yet again.
But this time, I know I got this.




















