#the scene

Chapter 3/4: Diantha and her family try to take care of each other. Ansha sees something in Diantha’s suitcase. Diantha sees something on Augustine’s bookshelf.

“So Hoopa shuddered with determination, as I held my very breath — and then, at the very last second, Team MZ and Zygarde emerged from the emerald distortion, with the mighty Rayquaza captured!” Ansha’s fists tremble from excitement, as she recounts the tale with sparkling eyes, and Diantha smiles from ear to ear — still transfixed by Ansha’s bevy of drawings, all spread lovingly across the kitchen table.

Really, the ferocious visage of Mega Rayquaza looks just like a crayon recreation of Ansha’s favorite storybook! And the visible wobbles of Ansha’s hand impart a sense of tension, one that Diantha isn’t even sure she could capture. Rayquaza faces down another green Pokémon, hulking and winged and covered in hexagons, as three adorably tiny Trainers watch the battle, with preciously heroic expressions.

Only Hoopa’s determination, as Ansha called it, is absent from the room with them, so long as the honest-to-goodness Pokémon of myth remains fast asleep — and in such a satisfying-looking donut coma, no less, floating up and down with its hand on its belly. Diantha suppresses her envy of its simple life and bottomless stomach, and refocuses on her little artist’s wonderful drawings, dotted with Hoennian runes and Mega Evolution symbols —

Rogue Mega Evolution, technically speaking. Hyperspace Rogue Mega Evolution, if Ansha’s cheerful account is accurate — and, frankly, the cheer in Ansha’s voice is the only reason that Diantha’s smiling too, rather than blowing a gasket about a second Lumiose crisis, of which people told her even less about than the tower. She bites her tongue to keep her smile, and pushes those thoughts to the back of her mind, though — Quasartico is under new and hopefully more forthright leadership, and her precious Ansha is not just safe, but happy, even! Perhaps even happier than if there hadn’t been a plague of rifts into dream and nightmare dimensions! Diantha takes a steadying breath, and moves on before Ansha can notice her hesitation, nor anything else that might be amiss with her mama’s disposition. The last thing Diantha wants is to ruin this day of reunion.

Public demo? ✅ Several days passed? ✅

So can we now talk about the bath scene? 

The mission in Terratriste? Fabulous! The despair, the anticipation and the urgency! And then how the MC sings in front of the ROs and the airships are destroyed based on the attunement… Is this the scene? I mean THE scene? The Canatata catalyst? Because it is a pretty ✨grand✨ one. 

But can we talk about the bath scene? 

Also Calliope reuniting with Alessandro was so lovely. Though I enjoyed having the option with the mild jealousy. I find it realistic, because of course my MC would want to be able to have his family back…

But can we talk about the bath scene? 

The ending, Fir, the ending! So happy that the chapter didn’t finish before “The last thing you’re conscious of is a warm body behind you, arms cradling you as you faint.” Without it - well that would have been simply cruel. And you wouldn’t do that to us, right?  I really hope that Corinne won’t pull away after discovering the truth. For her sake. Because if she’s not the one taking care of the MC, my man will double or triple faint, until she comes to his aid.. 😫

BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE BATH SCENE?

I don’t think I can talk about chapter 6, without referring to the bath scene. Loved every bit of it, if it isn’t already obvious! Voila! You have an incredible gift for bringing your characters’ emotions to life. And with Corinne? I can see that she is the “oldest” one from the ROs. Her maturity (also the emotional kind) it is displayed in this scene so well. How you’ve woven this part, I mean it’s not only desire with her, of course there’s that, but there is so much more emotional depth. The respect, the vulnerability, the attentiveness… She shows remarkable accountability and genuine, heartfelt honesty. So yes, LOVED it! 🥰 

Thank you very much and may your surgery go smoothly and have a quick recovery! ❤️‍🩹 The Cantata (and Viatica) fam is rooting for you, Comandante! 🫡

Wish you all the best, #blackchessplayer

Hello, my friend! 👋 Yes, we can talk about the bath scene! And all others, lol.

You’re correct, that scene was THE scene, the catalyst, the one I knew from the start I wanted to get to. And here we are!

Who says you’re not perfect? Who says you’re not worth it?

Who says you’re not pretty? Who says you’re not beautiful?