"Annnnnnd, we are back!" I exclaimed as I gestured to the audience. "We've got a fresh batch of new questions to get through, and a wonderful year to celebrate as we come to the end of 2021." I frowned. "Frankly, I'm not sure how I feel about this year, but…better than 2020?"

Ryder shrugged. "Eh, doesn't matter too much to us."

"What I wouldn't give to live where you guys are…" I shook my head. "But anyway, no time for pleasantries. What's say we just cut right to the fun? The sooner we get through today's questions, the quicker we get to the big surprise."

Laura pumped her fist. "Sounds like a plan to me!"

"Excellent! So, first up…ah, my good pal, Mysteryals!"

Mysteryals

Hey PokeMaster64!

Session 2 Question A:

Do you ever plan to have a Tribe Of Fusions Gappei Village Reunion someday for the former villagers?

"Hmm, never fully considered it, though it hasn't been the first time someone suggested the idea to me." I scratched my chin. "I suppose…in the future, I could do something like that. Admittedly, these days, I've lightened up on the whole No TOF sequel thing, though I would want to move on to something beyond the original characters. After all, the fun of Tribe of Fusions was the different Pokémon, and there's new ideas to explore. Still, a reunion one-shot could be a fun idea."

Quinn nodded. "It'd be nice to see how everyone's doing after so long. Revisiting the old village after it's been cleaned up over the years."

Artemis grinned. "Reminiscing about the good ol' days. Ooh, I would get a kick out of seeing Juniper. The poor girl must be working herself to the bone for once."

I smiled. "Well, we'll leave the possibility open."

Session 2 Question B):

Diego and Chase, if you two become Fusions when dimension traveling to the TOF universe (I'm guessing Diego already has a device to do so, recalling his past haberdashery, lol), what Fusions would you become?

Diego looked around shiftily. "Whaaaat? I don't…have such a device sitting in my garage."

"…" Chase squinted. "He never mentioned the garage—"

"ANYWAY!" Diego sat back and rubbed his hands together. "Fusions are quite fascinating, so to experience becoming one would be a delight of scientific pursuit. Most have their useful applications, and I'm almost tempted to take on the form of Porygon or any of its evolutions. Though, as I said in the previous session, I would love to be part Metagross to amplify my incredible intelligence."

Chase rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, because everyone needs more of your inflated ego."

"Glad we're in agreement."

"Ugh…" Chase smiled. "Personally, I would love to be part Wooloo. It looks like a lot of fun rolling around in all that soft wool."

Diego patted his head. "You are a simple fellow, my friend."

"Hey! Simple's fun!"

"Respect!" Melissa cheered.

I laughed. "Can't argue with that. I prefer simplicity in my own life, too. Anyway, thank you for the questions, Mysteryals. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!"

Diego and Chase waved. "Laters!"

I clicked my remote. "Next up, we have…"

Ninetales29

Hey Brad, uhh it's me again hope your doing well, my question is, how do you look for a beta reader? Still haven't done much other than well, pretty much nothing. Still trying to get into it.
-Mystic Ninetales

"Hey Ninetales. Hope you're doing well, too. So, beta readers? Haven't asked for a beta reader myself, so I'm not entirely sure. However, from what I've looked up, you need to click on the dropdown box called Betas. If you're doing Pokémon related stuff, I recommend the Specific Games section. After that, I guess you just look through the Beta Reader Profiles and see which one might give you the most help. That's the best I can offer. Hopefully you find someone who can help. Have a wonderful holiday, Ninetales."

Diego squinted. "Couldn't they have just PM'd you like normal—"

"Hey, I'm willing to offer advice whenever I can." I clicked my remote. "Alright, moving on. Next up is…"

JDunks898

It's actually me, feel free to PM to verify, I just couldn't be bothered to log in.

"Eh, I believe you. Either you are JDunks, or the real one pops in and says you're an imposter."

Quick question for the Fusion peeps, is it confirmed if there were little gangs of Fusion kids or something that banded together to stay out of trouble a la Artemis and Asher? Because if so, I have a fascinating idea for a spin-off I'd be down to write with Brad's permission…

"Though we only focused on a specific group of kids, as I couldn't be bothered to come up with ideas for an entire community of children, so…technically, yes, there would be a little gang of Fusions running around." I shrugged. "Sure, go for it. I don't mind. Heck, with how expansive Gappei Village is, anyone could do their own Fusion POV."

also, Krystal, can I borrow an explosive or seventy? Totally not to artificially reproduce them and slip them to Pandora under the table…

Krystal smiled. "Well, I don't see anything suspicious about a fellow friend of explosives!" She started producing blue orbs in her wings, but I ran over and gently pushed her wings down.

"Uh, Krystal? Word of advice from my world? Never give someone an explosive when they ask you for one. Especially when it involves Pandora…"

Krystal pouted. "But explosions are the lifeblood of passion."

"Some people have a different take on that in my world." She groaned and dispelled the explosives. I sat back down and sighed. "Sorry JDunks, but I'm not giving Pandora anything else to feed her maniacal daydreams. Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you have for this spin-off idea. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!"

Wes glanced to the side as Krystal discreetly dumped some explosive orbs into a box. He looked away and whistled innocently.

"Anyway, let's continue." I clicked my remote.

GiratinaEmpress

Someone with a longer submission then me? BLASPHEMY. Someone who's more of a conspiracy nut than I? BLASPHEMY. TSOTI and BOTF Abridged? Blasph- Actually that doesn't sound like too bad of an idea.

I mean, while I might think those who can't read through the early like... 60 chapters of TSOTI are WEAK-. It would be quite entertaining, and a fun project for someone who's not you. . . wait no I can't get distracted by the concept of writing it, NOOOOO-.

"Ah, I see you also understand the pain of seeing an interesting writing concept and being tempted to write it down. A wonderful feeling that also feels like a hinderance most days!"

Anyway... since apparently somebody doesn't enjoy me rambling (i'm extremely offended by the way).

I jest, but I guess I'll make this more concise!

I laughed. "We all like to have fun here."

So! First off, I'll make this a bit cheerful... Couples! You... well, you feature them a lot in your stories, especially when it comes to a main man and leading lady... One can't help but wonder how Melissa feels when her whole world is teasing her and pushing her towards Jason... it's rather amusing.

And while there are the... majority of straight couples, we have got the odd exception in our glorious Krystal and Cybil- Wait, I'm getting off-topic! Anyway, for the actual question, when it comes to couples... and well, romance in general, what are your thoughts on including it? Why do you feature it very prominently? With the Pokémon couples you are... bias to (how could anybody figure that out I wonder), why?

Melissa whined and covered her face. "Why?!"

I chuckled. "Well, at least they're not teasing you over your farmer fantasy—"

"HUSH!"

Artemis smirked. "Farmer fantasy?"

"I said HUSH!"

I sighed. "And yes, Krystal and Cybil are the one exception as the only confirmed lesbian couple I've ever written. Though, Marie is still technically an option since she's bi and tends to tease the girls more than the boys. Admittedly, the reason they're the only gay couple is because I tend to be apprehensive including anything that can be…misinterpreted, to put it lightly. Like talking about very specific politics or something. Anyone who has been on Twitter will know people can snap like glass under extreme heat. Granted, I have no fear of that happening, but people can be randomly volatile. That's why I try to write Krystal and Cybil as they should: normal characters with some…eccentric personalities, which is no different to any other characters of mine."

Krystal sighed dreamily. "My sweet CyCy~."

"I do wonder myself why I write so many couples in these stories, but…truth is, it might be because I like seeing people happy with another person. I can't really relate to that as I'm apprehensive of relationships and dating. I don't want to get into specifics on that, though. It's kind of nice having some sweet fluff like that. Maybe I'm just a sucker for romance stories. Actual good romance stories, too.

"As for my specific bias towards certain pairings, probably Pikachu/Buneary and Charmeleon/Flaaffy, it comes down mostly to how I was influenced upon finding this site. I think I've taken a liking to the Pikachu/Buneary pairing because of ravengal's stories. Charmeleon/Flaaffy was just something fun I did when I imagined my own version of events in Pokémon as a kid. Good times, those were."

Anyway question two... this one has... been on my mind for a while, and is a bit more depressing, but... Well, there is a lot you have planned or have options for, from side stories to sequels- And while TSOTI could be said to be ending sooner... well, BOTF feels like it has loads of parts to get through, from the kingdoms to characters who are central to the plot who we know next to nothing about-.

But anyways... how long do you think you want to continue this? In previous Christmas Specials you've stated your desires to actually work on making published content as a writer, and like... you even made it sound like you were quitting fanfiction soon, but you're still here going strong. XP

It's a... depressing thought, and the future is always uncertain, and one can't be sure exactly what they want to do, but what with you being closer and closer to getting your masters, and well with things like jobs, life just finds a way to creep up on you.

...Jeez, I had meant for this to be shorter and yet somehow it feels as if I had given it the same length-. Oh well! Happy Holidays to all, and may the changing year bless you with good fortune!

I sighed. "In truth, it's hard to tell when I'll see the end of this fun little journey of ours. To think, since the start of high school, I've been dedicated my time to writing stories for people on this site. Hard to imagine one day, I may have to put it aside for something else. Though, who knows if it will come down to that? I practically spend one to two hours a day writing, and I managed to get this much out within a consistent time frame with only a few major bumps in the road. Maybe I'll find a healthy balance.

"Though, it may be a long time before I ever get to publishing my own work. There's plenty of other avenues for me to explore. I actually have considered becoming a college professor. Not necessarily to teach English courses, but to teach people about stories in general. Learning about archetypes, troupes, characters, worldbuilding, and all that fun stuff. I find that stuff just as important as learning how to write. It would give me a little more freedom to write, I suppose. Again, who knows what will happen? Maybe I'll just have a standard, well-paying job for a few years while I continue writing on the site, then eventually publish my own stuff.

"It's an inevitable possibility my life will overtake my hobby, but I want to keep writing on here for as long as I can. I managed to do a lot for the last…yeesh, probably nine years on this site, and I've definitely improved. I can't figure out where the future goes from here, but…I do appreciate all the support I've gotten since I started out. That's why this big surprise is something for all of you, too.

"Heh, we'll just have to wait and see. I've got a few more months left before I'm done with my Masters, then it's off to job searching. Hopefully I don't get rejected like last time. Anyway, thanks a bunch, GiratinaEmpress. I hope you have a fantastic holidays as well!"

Ryder smirked. "Scared about the future?"

"Apprehensive, more like, but I just want to live a simple, quiet life. Doing this is…a simple pleasure of mine." I sighed and shook my head. "Aright, back on track. Who do we have next?" I clicked my remote.

mikepeashooter

Whats rockin everyone? its Cappster here again for another encore that'll make you BANG YOUR HEAD!

ahem, sorry, I've been in a sorta rock n' roll kind of mood. listening to my jams from the heavy metal 80's to every teenager's emotional rock playlists from the 2000s.

I laughed. "All good, Cappy. I like rock n' roll, too, or just about anything within the genre. It's actually what helps me think when I'm writing."

So anywaaaaay, i gotta few question for you good peeps, especially with Laura my gal! first question, what would be pretty good (or, interesting) role swaps for your characters? like for example, swapping Melissa and Chase so that the former is in the latter's role and universe and the latter in the former's, something like that.

Chase winced. "Yeesh, I wouldn't want all that drama in my life."

Melissa tapped her chin. "Although, I would not mind living the life of a commoner."

"Commoner?" Chase whined.

I chuckled. "Interesting roleswaps, huh? Let's see…" I looked at the OCs and scratched my chin. "Actually, swapping Laura and Krystal might be interesting."

Laura tilted her head. "Eh? How so?"

"Well, you would get the chance to be a living Pikachu, for one. And your chaotic brand of…well, chaos would fit well as the team leader of Team Shatter Star. I can even see you being proficient with Data magic at your disposal. As for Krystal, she could be a ro—"

Laura scowled.

"—android like Laura with a bunch of explosive applications. Heck, she could even make herself self-destruct with little consequence."

Krystal smiled. "I love this idea!"

"Another interesting swap could involve Diego and Tony. Tony would actually fit pretty well in the LITC universe. He's already a perverted chick magnet as is, so he would feel right a home. And Diego could make an interesting rival to Aeternus since he would have the wits AND mind to battle the mad clown."

Diego rubbed his hands together. "I do like this idea of trading wits with a gang leader, and actual competent one for once."

aaaand second question. What if Laura was around all the way Since the very first season of the anime and till Pokemon Journeys? what sort of scenarios would be different when it was facing against those twerps? believe me, considering she's one tough cookie to take down, and i dont mind of course~

"If we go off assuming Laura had the upgrades she did in For the Love of Pikachu, it would definitely be an advantage in favor of Team Rocket. I don't say that to be bias, but…well, it's Ash we're talking about. He tried to get into a fist fight with them and wasn't exactly the sharpest knife. Though, since Misty was there, her Water-Types could actually turn the tides and short circuit Laura, especially since Team Rocket wouldn't have the knowledge of foresight.

"There's also the fact Laura would be imprinting off the Team Rocket of then, meaning she would take on some of their goofier traits, like wearing disguises that shouldn't work. Seriously, they wore a green jacket over their uniforms and that was enough to trick Ash and his friends. Say what you will about some of their other disguises, but I can give the benefit of doubt that they don't assume everyone with blue and red hair is Team Rocket…although, perhaps side on caution when you see both at the same time in the company of a small, feline companion.

"Actually, this would make a fun one-shot series: Laura in select episodes of the anime before the events of For the Love of Pikachu."

anyway, thats all my questions! im looking forward to what you'll be cooking up next year Brad! and also hope you don't get toooooo distracted when Legends Arceus comes out hehe. see yall, rock out!

sincerely, Cappy

P.S. I've always think of Wes and the TSOTI cast being bipedal

Wes squinted. "…Well, at least half of us are bipedal, so not technically wrong."

I chuckled. "It's a toss up whether or not I'll get distracted playing my new games. A month after Legends Arceus, I'll be playing Triangle Strategy by then, so I'll be quite set on games to play for a couple months. I've already been preoccupying my time replaying Super Mario Odyssey to get all the power moons." I frowned. "…I really hated getting that volleyball moon."

Artemis snickered. "You were flailing your arms like a madman trying to hit the ball with Cappy."

"Oh hush." I smiled. "Rock on, Cappy, and have a Happy Holidays."

Laura waved. "Bye, Cappy~!"

"Alright, who's up next?" I clicked my remote.

Well it's like a bluepirnt.
I also want to know the characters moveset, fighting style and any combo moves they used. Plus any ultimate attacks they used.
OH YEAH!
Also any forms or powers the characters can access

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to get that out to you when I can. It's, uh, quite the list to compile."

Anyways...
Here are some more Death Battle ideas for those that didn't get any.
Diego: The Joker VS Sweet Tooth
Chase: Miles Morales VS Static
Quinn: Prince Zuko VS Shoto Todoroki
Artemis: prolly gonna regret this...Deadpool VS The Mask
Krystal: Natsu Dragneel VS Portgas D. Ace

Diego rubbed his hands together. "Ah, pure chaos and destruction behind the wheel. My kind of party~."

Chase smiled. "Ooh, that one sounds interesting."

Quinn blinked. "…I can't help but wonder if this was chosen for my personality."

Artemis snickered. "Ah, who cares? I get the crazy guys to watch!"

Krystal nodded. "As long as there's satisfying explosions, I'm game for anything."

"Well, seems they'll be preoccupied with those in the near future. Take care, Fiction Realm, and have yourself a Happy Holiday." I glanced at Diego and Artemis. "You two don't get any ideas from those Death Battles, 'kay?"

Artemis raised her paw and smiled innocently. "Heavens, no."

"I'm a good follower of Arceus," Diego followed, crossing his heart.

"…Uh huh." I clicked my remote. "Alright, next up is—"

Drifter77

Hello once again Brad!
Thanks for expressing interest in my concept. While I am still working on the story outline itself, I have mostly finalized the synopsis and main characters of my conceptual story: a ragtag crew who are part of a Nomad clan that traverses across space consisting of an energetic Cinderace pilot, a level-headed Greninja navigator, a timid Hisuian Zoroark medic, a stubborn but well meaning Chesnaught enforcer, and a snarky Galvantula tech whiz. They just want money and a planet to call home, but they must be greater to combat a conspiracy that threatens the galaxy.

"Definitely sounds interesting, and I like how you're incorporating the new Hisuian Zoroark. A nice addition to the cast. Galvantula's a fun choice. You don't see plenty of non-humanoid Pokémon in these kinds of roles. Definitely looking forward to when this becomes a reality."

With that being said, here are my questions:
1) What were the inspirations for Victoria Maldonado, Felix Teufel and Krystal Frostwood?

"You know, funnily enough, I actually had some things to say about Victoria and Felix, but I'll start with Krystal. So, Krystal had a few inspirations. As I'm sure many of you know, I watch/read My Hero Academia, so it's no surprise some of Bakugo inspired the explosive aspect of Krystal. Though, there was also some inspiration drawn from an X-Men character called Tabitha Smith, a.k.a. Boom Boom, as her powers mimic how Krystal summons her explosives. I chose the names purely for their ice aesthetic for a Delibird, which is funny because Frostwood is her father's last name, and he's a Dragonite. So, yeah, Dragonite and Delibird are in the same egg group. Go figure.

"I came up with Felix and Victoria because I wanted two characters who were the embodiment of chaos and luck that serves to challenge Melissa's skills as a leader."

Melissa groaned into her hands. "They were nightmares on the first day…"

"Though, they have some interesting names. Victoria Maldonado is a fun one. Unsurprisingly, Victoria means victory. Maldonado is interesting, as it can be used as a nickname to call someone ignorant or ugly. Ignorant definitely fits the bill with Victoria, though I chose it because it also means ill-favored. So, Victoria Maldonado can basically mean ill-favored victory, which is pretty fitting with Victoria's contradictory bad-good luck.

"Felix Teufel was another fun one. Felix is a gambler with a love for all types of games, even if he has a spotty win-loss record for most of them. Felix means lucky/successful. Teufel, however, means devil. This can play into Felix's devilish features and how he presents himself to others. He is a lucky devil, and becomes much clearer when he's playing for keeps instead of for fun."

2) Is Benedict's last name Whitethorn or Stonefist? I found two different names for him in TSOTI.

I facepalmed. "Oh, son of a…yeah, that was bound to happen. One of the key issues with TSOTI is that I tend to forget when I say something from a previous point. Okay, as of now, he is officially Benedict Stonefist. If you could tell me where you saw Whitehorn originally, I see to fixing that. Wouldn't be the first time I've done this. I'm still unsure if I originally called Cicely by Cicely or Silvia."

That's all and have a merry christmas!

"And a Merry Christmas to you, too!"

Laura tapped her fingers together. "So, how many times did you have to retcon something in TSOTI because you made a mistake?"

"Let's just say I've been mostly decent about covering it up…" I clicked the remote. "Alright, let's keep going."

austin todd 315

The effort out into the names of each chapter and character is honestly astounding. It definetly requires a lot of attention to detail, especially since you have to know which names and words to look up and why. Really exciting to hear little tidbits like this about what goes on in the background, so thanks for sharing that.

I smiled. "It really is fun looking up all sorts of meanings you can put into a name and utilize them into a character. Take the names Leon, Leo, Ariel, and the like. They all mean lion, so it makes sense to attribute those names to someone catlike, someone brave and strong, or someone with a cowardly lion personality. It helps that some names have even deeper meanings when broken up into separate words. It's just a really fun hobby alongside my actual hobby."

Also, peppermint's amazing. In fact, I love just about any flavor that comes with the Holiday Season. From the aesthetic of the lights and decorations to the flavors of the food, it all just contributes to how much I love that Christmas Season feel.

"It's a pleasant time of the year to kick back and enjoy the sensory overload of sweets and joy. Good food around the holidays, hanging out with the family and teasing each other, and enjoying that reprieve as the New Year rolls by. Plus, it's winter, so I get to enjoy the cold. I love this time of year, too."

For my final question: You were already asked what your favorite chapter of the year was, but what's your favorite fight of the year? My personal pick is Tony and co. VS Famine, which is probably my favorite fight from your stories thus far.

"Oh, now this is interesting. I do enjoy my dive into various fight scenes between characters. Hmm…well, for the sake of fairness, I'll pick something from Secret of the Idol this time. I think I have to go with…Flint, Gwyn, and Ambrosine vs. Cicely."

Ryder raised his brow. "Ah, the one with the timeline nonsense."

I nodded. "I've been looking forward to not just that fight, but that arc. There was a lot to unwrap from Ambrosine's past to Flint and Gwyn's future. That fight served as a necessary catharsis to remind them why they came as far as they did. Plus, it was all worth it to have that big moment where Ambrosine finally had a genuine laugh. All that stress finally melted away, and they were allowed to live in the moment for once.

"Well, that, and the introduction of time magic's full capabilities was pretty fun."

Wes snickered. "You went all out on that one."

Krystal nodded. "Indeed."

The Special has been really enjoyable this far, as always. Hope everyone has an awesome Holiday!

"And I hope you have a wonderful holiday, too, Austin Todd. Thank you for your time." I sighed. "Man, who knows how long I have until TSOTI's finished. By my count, either 2022 or 2023, and that's whether or not I'll have the free time for it. Eh, I'll cross that bridge later."

Laura waved me along. "Alright, enough reminiscing over nothing. Next question!"

"Heh, alright." I clicked my remote. "Next, looks like we have Void Reader again. Whatcha' got for us?"

Void Reader

N this is why I hate the fucking abridged versions. They make lesser sense from what was putted. Original is best. NO. No abridges.

"Eh, kind of disagree on the makes less sense part. Just look at Sword Art Online Abridged, which most people claim fixes issues with the anime. And anyone who knows anything about the Ghost Stories English Dub…yeah, there's a reason that's consider the best version of the anime."

Since u asked. What r the new ideas for the reboot u have in kind?

"Nothing major, admittedly. I would probably tighten up the introduction of Diego, Chase, Diana, and Rebecca as well as fix some issues I had with explaining certain details. Probably a three-part introduction that just starts us in Neo City than start with a flashback of Diego and Chase's old lives. I would also touch up their living situation and any overarching plot points that honestly ruined the flow due to bleeding in from the original concept, namely the skateboard tournament stuff.

"I would also take the preexisting, minor Spinda character and give her a magician aesthetic, someone to play off Diego's logical mind."

Diego smirked. "Ah, what fun."

For my second question, I know I have been long overdue in my fanfic's writing but the thing is it's hard to find time to write now that I'm busier with my studies n when I do find the time, my motivation is put in question to wether I should write now but to be inable to finish a chapter. How can I ignited my drive n passion to write when the time is right?

I sighed. "Okay, I'm going to need to put an end to this question because there is only so many ways I can say the same thing over and over. Look, the truth is, there simply is no magic answer I can give you or anyone else to find your passion to write. It's either you give yourself time to find the right moment to sit down and write, or shove away all that hesitation and just do it in the moment. Writing is a long, complicated process that can take a lot of time. Even with the 1-2 hour limits I give myself, I'm still spending roughly a total of half a day writing chapters.

"Everyone's different when it comes to this stuff. It's either you bite the bullet, sit down, and write or…I don't know, something. You could just do it in increments, or just experiment to see what method of writing works best for you. All I can really say, and to not fish out an old meme, is to just do it. Go at your own time or speed. You're not dealing with publishers who do have you on a time limit, so take all the time you need."

I like the idea for an all world crossover movie like Infinity War n Endgame.

"Probably never going to happen, but it's a fun idea, regardless."

I always wanted to know the design for the Forestor's uniform in detail.

"Well, there's not that much to it. Camouflage hoodie/jacket and blue pants. There's some supplementary gear here and there, but that's about it. Gab actually made a good drawing of Jason that best highlights the uniform. I especially appreciated the Decidueye emblem on the dagger's scabbard. It was a nice touch."

Anyway, that's it. Happy holidays.

I waved. "Happy Holidays, Void. Take care."

Ryder crossed his arms. "You're not actually going to put us through a dimensional warzone like that, right?"

"I make no promises to anyone or myself." I clicked my remote. "Continuing, looks like we have zarza next. How are you doing, zarza?"

zarza7786

You should do a completion of Pikachu and Buneary One-Shots like Ravengal did except this be about Pikachu and Buneary's dating life in Sinnoh and maybe show what everyone has been doing when Buneary was pregnant with Scarlet

"Eh, even if I wanted to, it'd be pretty short in that regard. For the Love of Pikachu happened near the tail end of the Sinnoh arc, and there was only so much time dedicated to the Unova events. Plus, I don't have the creative energy as of now to do a one-shot series. A fun idea, but no."

Diego smirked. "If he can't finish our story, he's not going to get far with that."

"HUSH!" I snapped. I sighed and smiled. "Well, thanks for the suggestion, regardless. Have a wonderful holiday, zarza." I clicked my remote and moved on to the next question. "Ah, looks like the resident reaper is back. Whatcha' got for us, Grim?"

TheGrimReaper666

Interesting. The amount of effort you put into your charcaters' names is very impressive, a lot more thought put into them than I initially thought. It was so interesting in fact, I could honestly just sit down and read your detailed explanations on your characters names for hours. Like I said previously, I am always down to anaylzing things about a charcater's design. It's just pretty cool seeing the amount of thought put into a character from something as simple as their name.

"It's that extra touch of effort that I like to give my characters these days. Fun for me, and fun for anyone else who wants to take a crack at analyzing the internal meanings of a character's name. You might find insightful looks into the character, or another Keith Tibia situation."

Diego snickered. "Still love it."

As for the questions, once again, I have nothing more to ask. I mean I could ask a fun question to your or your guests, but my mind is drawing up blanks. Lol! I hate my brain sometimes. Nevertheless, it's still fun just being here and reading through all of the questions. They have got me thinking things I hadn't even considered.

"That's all good. It's pretty nice to see what's on people's minds and what they have to say to me. You get some personal questions, insightful questions, very strange questions, and all that. Good times all around, I say."

Still have no idea what this secret you're hiding from us is, and...well, it seems Ryder was correct, because I'm admittedly anxious to know what it is. Looking forward to the reveal! See ya later!

"Hehehe, won't be long now."

Quinn shook his head. "You have an unfortunate habit of leaving people hanging with suspense and cliffhangers."

"What can I say? I love that extra dash of suffering."

Wes narrowed his eyes. "Consider what you did in that recent chapter of Secret of the Idol, we can believe that."

"Heeeeeh…anyway, thanks for your time, Grim. See you later, and have a wonderful holiday!" I clicked my remote. "Just a few more to go, then we can put an end to the waiting. This is going by a little faster than I expected, which is good for my and everyone's sake. Haha! Okay, next up is…ah, we got gab again. Whatcha' got, gab?"

gab295

I think I've recently been interested in the general world/setting you put your stories in. Did you plan out every single detail like a psycho before you wrote them or did you just go with the flow and wrote off a general idea of every city/region? It's absolutely fun creating images of these places in my head reading BOTF and TSOTI so I just find it amazing you could keep track

"These days, I do put a little extra time in planning things out. Some days, I spend hours debating if I want to put a particular plot point in or if I want to change a preexisting attribute that hasn't been explored yet and see if that works out better. I actually have all of BOTF planned out, just with some adjustments to the minor details and how to fit in subplots. I'm actually currently writing out the summary map for the eventual BOTF Part 4. That one's taking time due to…well, certain plot points that have been built up. There's even been a case where I had to switch the order of chapters. Actually, what Wes said a moment ago is a good example of this, as what followed…that incident was something a bit goofier and fun, which I see as tonal whiplash.

"It keeps me on the straight and narrow so I'm not just doing whatever comes to my mind without thinking. That's one of the follies from when I first started out, too."

Lastly, I'd like to know what the best part of Christmas is for some of you guys over there!

Thanks a lot!

Diego smirked and rubbed his hands together. "The many ways I can weaponize snow." Chase scooted away from him.

Laura purred. "Oooh, I like the way you think."

Wes scrunched his face. "Do…we even celebrate Christmas in Mysto? Is that a thing? I don't think we've established many holidays."

Quinn shrugged. "Eh, we practically have it on our side of things."

Artemis sighed. "I'm a sucker for Christmas romance movies, where our two dashing leads are locked in an endless debate of will they, won't they."

"So, Hallmark movies?"

Artemis groaned. "Ugh, no! That's practically watching the same movie with different actors! I'm talking about something romantic like A Christmas Carol."

"…" Quinn squinted. "Sweetie, that's about a trio of ghosts haunting a cranky old man."

"Hehehe, my favorite's the Ghost of Christmas Future. He reminds me of you~. Dark, spooky, and silent."

Diego chuckled. "You like romance?"

Artemis pouted. "Hey, just because I like to bruise people doesn't mean I don't enjoy a little lovey-dovey trash. Besides, there's hundreds of adaptations of that story, so there's bound to be one with a romance subplot."

I chuckled. "I do enjoy A Christmas Carol as well. It's one of my favorites. Personally, my favorite part of the time is sitting down with my siblings around the tree and opening our gifts. There's something nostalgic about it. Reminds me of the good old days where we freak out over a pile of gifts. Nowadays, I revel in acquiring new pajama pants to sleep in. Dear Arceus, I'm getting old…"

Ryder chuckled. "Embrace your inner old man, Brad."

"I will when I follow up with my plans to live in the woods. I want a legend about me started. The scary-looking old man who spends all day writing stories about weird animals in different genres. I'll be the spooky old man in the area who's actually a really nice guy. Ah, that's the life right there."

Laura snickered. "Aiming real high there."

"Heh. Anyway, thanks a bunch, gab. Take care, and have a wonderful holiday." I scrolled to the next set of questions. "Alright—ooh boy, another long one. Strap yourselves in, folks! Luminoz1ty is back for round two!"

Luminoz1ty

Ah, well that last session was about as amusing as I'd hoped it would be. Oh, those were some great moments, made even more horrific by the power of memes a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶b̶s̶c̶e̶n̶i̶t̶y̶. (Thank you for protecting Mels like I asked.)

Melissa squinted. "Seriously, what the hay did I miss?"

Wes shuddered. "You really don't want to know."

I actually made that TSOTI scene just because Flint doing the Shrek meme is something I find amusing XD That and Wes and Ella mending their relationship was a very memorable moment in the story. I even changed my profile picture just for this very occasion! (Hope you like it, Wes!)

Hell, the entire Gelid Peak Arc is still one of my personal favorite arcs. I really enjoyed all of the interactions and reading the fight scenes.

Melissa blinked. "Shrek…meme? Okay, you know what? I will quietly accept ignorance, because I am already confused. What is a Shrek?"

"Something I hope you don't find the other meme related to it," I grumbled. I smiled. "And yeah, I was looking forward to that scene with Wes and Ella. It was a touching moment."

Wes sighed and smiled. "I will admit, it's a cute profile picture."

"Gelid Peak was also a lot of fun for me, as I got to experiment with some new ideas for characters and, as I'm sure most will say, brought along the greatest specimen alive: Gene!"

Wes laughed awkwardly as his ears drooped. "Ah yes, good ol' Gene…"

Oh and silly ol' me forgot to welcome back Diego, Chase, and Laura. (Diego x Laura shippers anyone?)

Diego scooted over to Laura and wrapped his arm around her. "Well, should we make it official, my mechanical menace? Star-crossed lovers separated by two universes?"

She smirked and tapped him on the nose. "We'll wait and see, lover boy~. I have my own prince of darkness I'm still pining for."

"You play hard to get, huh~?"

Chase deadpanned. "Leave it to Diego to be attracted to code and wires…"

Btw, I feel like Laura would unironically say "Your free trial of living has expired" in canon. If not, make that one of her catch phrases.

Laura pulled away from Diego and winked. "Heh, I'll have to remember that one…especially when I get this metal hands around Waltz's big neck!" she growled.

Diego sighed contently. "I love a woman who can kick my ass."

Chase bonked him on the head. "Bad Diego!"

And this is my response to GiratinaEmpress' comment, it is no surprise that a pretender to the throne fell short of their superior. A so-called "empress" has no right to approach the one who is 1NF1N1TE, let alone call it "BLASPHEMOUS". And if you believe otherwise, I challenge you to disprove it. Brad, get on the next Ultimate Arena episode. I believe I've found my opponent. OUR BATTLE SHALL BE LEGENDARY!

I chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that will…certainly be one of the weirder Ultimate Arena battles. I'll, uh…put a pin it and come back to you later on that. Heh…"

Great, I've stooped to rambling as well... *Ahem* Now then, on to questions!

1. On an unrelated note, what is your favorite genre/type of music?

On the topic of music, I was thinking about what song would fit for the upcoming Asher vs Ebony fight *COUGH COUGH*. Personally, I think Lost Ice Storms by Brandon Yates fits them both well, especially the lyrics. Ebony, not so much, but you get the general idea. What do you think works?

"Personally, I'm a fan of rock music, or anything associated with that genre. Like I said before, it's the kind of music I listen to when I'm choreography how I want a fight scene to play out. Certain songs help me get into the beat of what I want out of the fight. I think my favorite song is The Resistance, as it's pretty useful to think of any major scene where the good guys are gearing up and fighting back against a seemingly unstoppable foe. There's some pretty fun AMVs that use the song.

"Lost Ice Storms, eh? Got to admit, the name's pretty fitting. They both have history in snowy environments, often struggling in those habitats. I do agree, it works better for Asher, but there is that connection. I like it."

2. Here's a fun one, which animes/franchises do you think would be right up your OCs alleys? And would they fit into the world? (Melissa Pensworth meets Izuku Midoriya?)

"Heh. Melissa would certainly get along well with Midoriya. They have a lot in common: kind, hardworking to reach their goals, idealistic, cries a lot—"

"Hey!" Melissa exclaimed with a pout.

"Hard to nail down the best franchises any of my characters would fit right in with, though I can see Diego getting comfy in the world of KonoSuba. Everything there's wacky enough as is, and Diego would bring his own brand of anarchy into all that mayhem. Branching off from current guests, though, I can see Dark fitting in nicely in the Hellsing world. One more eldritch abomination for everyone. Ryder could work in virtually any action anime, though Darker Than Black would seem most fitting."

And that about wraps it up, I can't wait to see what the surprise is since you're really hyping it up as something very special. Again, I really liked the characters you introduced, the interactions, and the fights you did this year. That Voss vs Travis fight felt like something out of Demon Slayer. Love it, love it, love it.

Here's to another year! (Hopefully one that is better). Happy Holidays!

"I won't deny there might have been some Demon Slayer inspiration while writing the Voss vs. Travis fight. That was a fun one. And we'll be coming up on that surprise shortly. Thank you for your time, Luminoz1ty, and have a wonderful holiday!"

Artemis tapped her chin. "You think I would do well in Attack on Titan?"

Quinn patted her head. "I rather you didn't."

"Alright, two more to go. Homestretch!" I clicked to the next question set.

AllKorean

Whew, finally have time to sit down and write this after a tedious week of work. You would think people would avoid going to the dentist during the holidays, but I digress. On to the questions:

"Huh. I haven't been to the dentist in a while. May have to rectify that, soon."

To Brad, what do you consider to be your biggest pet peeves either when you're writing for your stories or when you read other people's stories? Do you try to avoid any particular clichés such as overused character archetypes, plot devices, etc.?

"I've got quite a few. A character cliché I can't quite stand, and a specific type of story I don't care for. These are typically things I find in fanfiction, though. Don't think I have any for published works, but I'm bound to think of some.

"I am not a fan of the media-savvy regular guy who gets transported into the plot of the original story…cliché. Basically, it's one of those fanfictions where a character gets transported into the world of their favorite series, kind of like an isekai without good ol' Truck-kun involved. Now, by no means do I detest these types of plots. Heck, I've quite enjoyed a few. However, the issue I take is the fact this character has knowledge of the events to come, thus kind ruining immersion when they do something like badmouth the characters for not having this next level foresight.

"It's basically like a viewer calling out a character's nonsense when something goes awry. In the true story, that's fine, but these cases just feel like someone venting their frustrations and bashing a character's decision without being a bit more tactful about it. Heck, sometimes the character's input means nothing, and they end up spending a moment acting like a jerk by saying how right they were.

"Like, if you can actually something with this new dynamic with your OC and the series characters, I'm all for it, but I get sick and tired of these characters that just have foresight to a situation. Sometimes these characters barely have a personality beyond being the straight man in a world of crazy, which kind of loses the punchline when their only role is to act like a buzzkill who feels the need to stand on a soapbox every other day.

"As for the fanfiction-type I can't stand, it's the infamous Ash Gets Betrayed story. I have seen enough of these time and time again that they feel like they've been copy and pasted through one of those AI script makers…actually, if someone legitimately took every Ash Gets Betrayed story and had an AI make a script out of those, I would be genuinely curious by the results.

"But yeah, they basically all are the same story. Ash's friends and loved ones get angry at him completely out of the blue for being a loser or something. Ash runs away with Pikachu and some of his Pokémon, disappearing for a really long time. Many years later, some big world tournament comes up where every plot-relevant trainer attends. Ash returns under a pseudonym like Alpha or something, and he has aura powers and a Lucario. He is much edgier now. In some cases, he kills someone. Only one of Ash's female companions figures out early on he's actually Ash.

"The only good one I've read was a parody done by the fantastic nutcase known as VGS2 the Sexy Sausage. It's called The Many Betrayals of Ash, and is…something wild, I tell ya. I do recommend it, though a fair bit of warning as it's M-Rated for a reason."

The next question is for anyone in the room: What are your new year resolutions for 2022?

"At this point in my life, it's finally get a job and hope I don't get rejected for the umpteenth time."

Diego slapped his knee and laughed. "Oh, you poor soul."

"Hahaha, very funny…"

I'm excited to hear what the announcement you have is and look forward to another year of great storytelling! Until next time, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"I look forward to it as well. Next year is going to be an interesting change once I finish up my Masters. Thank you for your time, AllKorean, and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, too!"

Laura scratched her chin. "Didn't you admit one time you wanted to do a parody of those stories?"

I shrugged. "If I did, it would probably be an April Fools one-shot. Not exactly a parody writer, as I've stated numerous times. Though…I am experimenting with an idea for a one-shot. Not sure when that'll get out, but we'll see. Anyway, onto the last person. I would say this is technically outside the cutoff date, but one more won't hurt. Let's wrap this up, Daemon."

Daemon Wolf 22

Diego was right about me being distressed. I've heard literally nothing but horror stories about college, except for this one college student I met IRL but she was like middle-aged and struggling with math. She seemed optimistic about college but the situation she seemed to be in is part of why I'm personally not bothering with college... aside from just plain not being able to afford it. I REALLY hope they don't drown you in debt, Brad.

I shrugged. "Eh, it wasn't that bad…though I did loathe Spanish. I have plenty of horror stories about my Spanish Class Curse. It never ended, I swear…"

Chase tilted his head. "So, you're not worried about the debts?"

I waved it off. "I try not to do into detail about this stuff, but let's just say I have certain advantages that allow me to go to college without fear of debt. Don't worry, Daemon, I'm going to be perfectly fine."

I personally haven't been doing much writing lately, been focusing on animation as a new passion, though I'm refocusing on writing until either January or February.

"Oh, that's cool. I've always wanted to get into animation, but I've pretty much devoted my time to writing by this point." I shrugged. "Eh, I'll live."

That leads me into my first question though. How would you feel about someone adapting your stories to animation, be it in show or movie format, or even just fanimations of some of your best fights? And I mean both your Pokémon fics and the original stories you'll write and publish in the future.

"I would certainly love to see my Pokémon fics be brought to life through fanimations. It would really give everyone an idea of how I imagine the series by giving everything that kinetic feeling. And I would certainly love for my original works to be given the animation treatment, too. There's a whole bunch of ideas I would love to talk about for my own works and how I visualize their translation into animation, though…that's not for here to talk about."

My second question is: Diego, Chase, who out of Brad's characters and OCs he's accepted into his stories would you two find the most fun to battle two-on-two?

Chase scratched his chin. "Tough call given that most, if not all of his other OCs, are standing in the realm of gods compared to us."

Diego chuckled. "Though, if you want a fair battle against duos, why not another infamous pair? I'd say we would have a fair bit of fun tangoing with the Thievery Twins, Gold and Jewel. They're not only on our level, but it would be fun determining who would be the most chaotic."

Chase smiled. "Works for me! Yeah, we can battle it out across the city with all sorts of tricks and junk!"

Diego nodded. "A real show to prove who the true kings of anarchy are."

Lastly, I just want to say, thanks, PokeMaster64. Out of everyone on this site, out of every fanfic author I've seen to be honest, you're the most inspiring. I've mapped out my life partly thanks to you, because you've not only said you'll become a proper author one day but also made significant strides towards that goal.

You and your stories are awesome, and though I haven't really managed to keep up with any of them since TSOTI's... like, fifth(?) chapter, I wish you the best.

I smiled. "Heh. That really does mean a lot. I got into writing because I was also inspired by the stories I found on this site, and I wanted to pass on that same inspiration since I started. I'm still surprised I've kept up as long as I did when many others have their own lives to tend to. It's going to be hard finding a balance for all of this once I get my life together properly. And I do hope one day I can become an official author. It's going to be difficult, and I have had to make sacrifices between how I write on here versus what publishers expect out of me, but I do hope to eventually work something out. I really do appreciate the praise."

Happy Holidays, y'all! Especially to the Anarchy Duo and Melissa (because she's the only one since those two that I actually managed to keep track of for a while and I thhhiiiink I was close to the end of Part 1 of BOTF when I fell out of it)!

Diego smirked and waved. "Laters, Daemon."

"Take care!" Chase exclaimed.

"Thank you for stopping by!" Melissa exclaimed.

"Have a happy holidays, Daemon." I sighed and leaned back into my seat. "And with that, we are officially done with—"

PING!

"…" I looked up at the monitor and saw one more appearing on the screen. "…You know, I have those cut-off points for a reason." I shook my head and straightened up. "Alright, alright, one more won't kill me."

Laura snickered. "You poor thing."

"Hush, Laura. Alright, looks like our last questions come from AnimeJewel…and hopefully I don't get any last minute questions. No offense, of course, Jewel. I'm always welcomed to try and include everyone in this. So, what do you got for us?"

AnimeJewel246

Hi! Um...Jewel here...I think we've talked like...once? I'm not the most consistent in reviewing, I'm sorry, but uh...this is my first time asking questions, so...gonna give this a shot! (Also, I'll try to review more often...!)

"Well, it is nice to see you, Jewel. Hope you're doing well. And don't worry, I understand. Maybe you've just been busy and didn't have the time to review. It does take up time, but I do hope to see you around more."

Yay, Diego and Chase! My childhood! Or, well, not really my "childhood" but I felt the nostalgia feels when I saw you two show up. Ah, those were the days. Unfortunately, since I only have two questions and will probably waste them rambling like I normally do when speaking to authors of works I like or...yeah. Sorry Diego and Chase. Love ya guys.

Diego waved it off. "Eh, it's alright. No skin off our bones."

Chase smiled and waved. "Thanks a bunch, Jewel!"

Er...hello, Brad! This is awkward, but eh, can I introduce you to my OCs? Or, wait, okay, that question made ZERO sense, lemme rephrase-I got a stroke of inspiration reading your stories and decided to do something similar, with the whole "Pokemon as humans" thing to help with your writing? I believe you mentioned it in a previous special or something, and it just felt really clever, so I wanted to give it a shot too. (I know there are other stories like that on this site, but it just seemed to be rather consistent in your stories it felt like it was your "brand", ya know?) So, I took a "story" I wrote when I was in like, I don't know, fourth or fifth grade(?), and changed the characters to Pokemon! It's a work in progress, and I posted the first chapter on this site...then took it down cause it sucked, but I want to push myself into actually posting it! Okay, I'm sorry, getting to the point now, can you...uh. Can you read my story...when I post it...and stuff...like for advice, idk what I'm saying, the main characters are a pikachu and a buneary, ummmmmm...

You know what, I'm changing the subject now, okay sorry-

I nodded. "Sure thing, Jewel. I'd be happy to look over your story and give some pointers. Trust me, not every first story starts out fantastic. It's a process that you learn the more you do it. Just tell me when you post it and I'll look it over when I get the chance."

Wes chuckled. "Looks like your philosophy on writing Pokémon fanfiction is spreading."

"Well, it's a legitimate idea, and it did help me out a lot when I first got interested in writing."

Hi Melissa! Bandits of the Forest is the story I most closely follow nowadays, though I AM curious about TSOTI. I really think you're a great and well rounded protagonist. Uh, Brad here did a great job at developing you, in my opinion. Anyway! My question for you is something I'm actually glad I came up with, since I wanted to come up with as interesting of a question as possible without sounding pretentious, but um, here it is. So, do you have any special memories with your mother and father in particular that you treasure? Like, any specific ones that comes to mind when you think of you and your family? I just thought of this in regards to how distressed you are in the recent updates for BOTF over your locket. I hope Luna gives it back to you soon...or somebody takes it for you...I'm rootin' for you!

Melisa smiled with an embarrassed blush. "Aww, thanks. I am…glad I am a lot of people's favorite character." She stroked her ear gently. "He really put a lot of effort when coming up with my character, and I do appreciate the support I get.

"Treasured memories with my parents, huh? It is strange, because I am not all that close with my father these days. Before my mother died, we were actually very close. Sure, they were both busy with their royal duties, but I did feel loved in that big ol' castle. I could go on and on about my mother, but…it feels right to mention a moment with my father before we became so distant.

"It is…kind of funny. He took me aside one day when I was very young to talk about the importance of the crown I wear. He expected a lot out of me, how I was his only heir to the throne. He wanted me to become a great ruler that would be admired for generations to come, and he would help me find my place once I took my spot on the throne. The details are a bit hazy, but…I do not know. I remember genuine warmth from him when he said those things to me. There was a time he believed I would become the greatest ruler of the Verde Kingdom. I did not understand what brought on that conversation, but it was…a memory I try to cherish when I look at my father today."

"Aww!" Krystal gushed.

Diego narrowed his eyes. "Yeesh, he surely changed his attitude."

Melissa sighed. "I do not understand either, but it cannot be helped anymore. I just try to hold on to the pleasant memories from the past and hope they keep me going." She smiled. "It was a wonderful question, Jewel. Thank you. And yes, I do hope to get my locket back…eventually. Hopefully."

...*looks over review* Okay. I swear to god I don't sound like this in my own author's notes. This was a one time thing. I am so sorry. Truly the jewel of anxiety attacks right here. Don't celebrate it, but Merry Christmas to you! Hope your end of the year is joyful! :D

Laura smirked. "Anyone want to bet they were using text-to-speech while they composed this little review?"

"I'll take that bet!" Artemis exclaimed.

Quinn pinched her by the ear. "Be nice, Artemis."

I chuckled. "Really, Jewel, I didn't mean that stuff I said earlier. Just joking around. Though you do not celebrate Christmas, I still wish you a wonderful winter and New Year. Take care, and I look forward to what you have in store with this story."

Ryder snapped his claws. "Annnnnd, that should be the last of them. Now."

I sighed and fell back in my seat. "Do this every year, yet it always catches me by surprise. But it's always a fun way to cap off the year."

Quinn nodded. "Indeed. You do go out of your way to show your appreciation for everyone's support, even if that means accepting last minute questions."

"Yeah. It's all worth it in the end."

Laura crossed her arms. "So, are you finally going to fess up and tell everyone what this super special surprise is?"

Krystal beamed. "Yes, comrade! Tell us this amazing surprise for everyone!"

I chuckled. "Alright, alright, but a little background first. So…I don't leave my house that much these days. Granted, that's not because of the human malware going around, but because I am that kind of person. Basically bordering on a hermit. So, I do spend a fair bit of my time writing, playing video games, and some exercise. That's basically my daily routine at this point.

"Though, I actually have found something to occupy my time recently and to get out of my own self-imposed isolation. Turns out, if you find the right people over the internet, you're bound to join a fun group where you can occasionally goof off. Your own little social group of likeminded people. You get some good laughs out of it.

"I suppose I should stop being cryptic and just say it. I've joined a Discord group over the last year and gotten to talk to some fun people all over the world. Just a bunch of weirdos like me. We do the usual thing like chat or post memes in what is affectionally called the Cakewalk channel. That, uh…is something of an inside joke.

"But we also occasionally set aside days to have a game day. We either play games like Jackbox, Gartic Phone (which is usually where everyone loses themselves in fits of laughter), Among Us, and much more. I've enjoyed my time doing these things. Plus, it's a great place to chat about whatever anyone's thinking.

"So, why not do something like that here? A Discord server for my own community. I've been working on it for months now, figuring out little things here and there. Just this fun place for everyone to hang out and talk amongst themselves, whether about anything related to the current stories being worked on or just in general. And we may even do game days, too."

Laura smirked. "Is this just your roundabout way to find people to play Pokémon Unite with you?"

"Hush, Laura!"

"Hehehehe!"

I rolled my eyes. "Now, I admit, I was the only one who worked on it…which you'll understand when you see the logo I made, so it doesn't have anything special like custom emojis, stickers, or the like. But hey, it's my way to give you all something for the support over the last several years. Just some good ol' fun for everyone."

Wes smiled. "Aww, that's real sweet."

Melissa clapped. "A wonderful place for everyone to come together and talk about whatever's on their minds."

"Exactly. So, if you want to join the PM64 Community Server, just head over to my profile page, and there should be a link somewhere. I'll be sure to put it somewhere noticeable. Oh, and there's likely a chance I'll have to space out the letters in the link because links on this site can get wonky." I smiled. "But yeah, this is my present to all of you for your support. I do hope to see most of you there. It's been something of a year, but hopefully things will cool down in the coming days. Or not. Who knows? At this point, nothing can surprise me. Nice to end the year with some cheer."

Wes waved. "A wonderful winter wonderland to all of you!"

Krystal spread her wings and lobbed crackling sparks into the air. "An explosive cheer for all those smiles!"

Quinn sipped his cocoa. "Many memories with family."

Artemis wrapped her feelers around Quinn and kissed his cheek. "And with loved ones."

Diego smirked. "Always remember the good times even when they're out of reach."

Chase grinned. "And cherish them for as long as you can."

Laura folded her arms behind her head. "Even in the worst of times, there's always a silver lining."

Ryder bit into a cookie. "So, take pride in those moments and live life the way you want to."

Melissa clasped her hands together. "Spreading a little joy and cheer through the year."

I grinned. "Couldn't have said it better myself. With that, to one and all—say it with me, gang!"

"Have a Merry Christmas!"