Wednesday, December 24, 2025

The Party Opener: It's All About That Bash

Who's that Pokémon
At the Pokémon Christmas Bash
Who's that Pokémon...
Brock: It's Brock...
Misty: ...Misty...
Ash: ...and Ash!
Who's that Pokémon...
Jessie, James, Meowth: Team Rocket's having a blast!
Who's that Pokémon...
All: Happy holidays from the Pokémon cast!
-- "Pokémon Christmas Bash", from Pokémon Christmas Bash

As I had said last year (see below), I'm running out of songs to feature from the "legendary" Christmas Pokémon album that is the above, and in fact there are two songs left. One of the songs is appropriately enough the opener (first track) and title track of this album, which sets the tone of the album; perhaps I should have featured it first or much earlier such a long time ago. But that is no matter, and now I can feature it in a "first and last" manner.

So, this opener and title track puts in the context of the songs of the album: a Christmas party where Ash and co. as well as Team Rocket - plus Professor Oak, not stated here but implied in the other tracks - gather for the celebration of the holiday. This is explained by Dexter (the voice of the Pokédex) in the first verse, also its only appearance on any of the songs in this album, after which all other characters in the context shine.

In fact, the following verses feature Brock, then Misty, then Ash, and finally the Team Rocket trio. They all explain what they're up to for this party and what their holiday wishes are - and those might involve romance, attraction, zeal, and a different take. Then there are the choruses, which echo their sentiments; the last one is quoted above, which features everyone alongside the lyrical vocals and Pokémon voices that tie everything together.

Many of the elements of this album, as I've noted time and time again in different places, are seemingly rather "ridiculous" for either Christmas or Pokémon, as various perceptions might suggest. The album starting off with this song and the way it is, however, also does suggest that the intent is to ease in the listener to all the quirkiness of the album, which would then make them not so quirky and in fact rather believable. 

Of course, by discussing this song, that means there's only one song left to discuss from the album (the "last last"), and that would have to come next year. For all that the album offers, as both Pokémon and Christmas, the important thing remains the celebration of either and/or both. And when it's "all about that bash" - no "trouble", or at least just a little bit here and there - even Pokémon still has a place amidst the goings-on of the season.

Five years ago: Christmas Song, Really
Seven years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts
Eight years ago: Cool Wintry Song
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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

TCGP: A Crimson Blaze Rages

Moving on to Pokémon and other related matters, there is the matter of something new for the mobile implementation of the TCG. That would be expected to be in the form of a new expansion, which in this case would be a mini expansion or a Themed Booster Pack. Now, like most prior Themed Booster Packs, this one also continues a major expansion that precedes it. After Mega Evolution first arose in this game, the natural step is to continue it, and that comes in the form of a "blaze of glory".

"Crimson Blaze" is the name of this Themed Booster Pack, and as indicated by its pack image and orange border, its focus is on the Charmander species family. More specifically, that would be on Mega Charizard Y as the embodiment of that evolved form's Fire-type side. True to that, the main "immersive" card features the species family and this specific Mega Evolution form all in the card image. It's a real blazing wonder that any player can have and play, if they can draw the right cards from the packs.

Besides Mega Charizard Y, the mini expansion also has the Mega Evolution forms for the other first generation fully evolved first partners, as Venusaur and Blastoise. It also has the Mega Evolution forms for Steelix and Lopunny, along with a selection of other complementary Pokémon that include a few Legendary Pokémon - two of which are from Kalos. Speaking of said region, one of the Crown rarity cards is a Pokémon with an "edge" on it, and the Supporter cards feature familiar faces from a familiar journey.

For the card numbers, the numbered section has 69 numbered cards, and the overnumbered section has 34 cards for a total of 103 cards in all. Its full art and Shiny selections, certainly in the latter section, have a few fascinating Pokémon in them that will surely please anyone who draws them within a pack. The Trainer card section is rather small in the number of cards, and their functions may be considered as "limited"; it seems their appeal would be if their full art versions are encountered upon, for both collection and play.

Given the contents of the cards in this mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack, they may be taken as a "special selection" for fans of Mega Evolution, and especially for a particular Fire-type Pokémon that has fascinated many fans since the early days of Pokémon, even into the present day. Its "blaze of glory" always burns bright for those fans, and those playing TCGP right now can harness that aspect in Mega Evolution form with this new mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack, keeping the flame raging.

Three years ago: Café Remix: Pay to Win?
Six years ago: December for Love
Eight years ago: Perspective
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Monday, December 22, 2025

Felitsa and My "Delia"

In my local area, Mother's Day falls on a specific day of the year instead of on a designated (day of a) weekend of a month. And it happens to be... today, of all things. It's a day I've never really touched on because of its variability across the world, and in fact the variability of the relationship in my case. But now, I have a reason to address it, and of course that involves a few Pokémon things attached to them as well.

Every Pokémon fan will recognize Delia as Ash's mom, who as I've discussed may have some connection to the moon. No doubt, she has quite a bit to do with how Ash is and has always been, as depicted in the anime. And even if that's not particularly evident, at least a few things can be discerned from the moments when they're both together and then separate. Many Pokémon fans might just have similar impressions of (and to) the two.

As for my own, I have to say that my relationship has not been quite like Delia and Ash - or to be more precise, similar in some ways but quite different in others. It's a lot more strained and certain moments are not as pleasant, so we tend to be aloof. All the same, the influence and marks are still there; that includes this blog, which stems from my Pokémon dealings, which ultimately stems from my time in the U.S. alongside her.

Then there's "Felitsa" as mentioned in this post's title. Felitsa is the mother of Yanni, an artist I often mention on this blog; in fact, a music piece is dedicated to her by her name as its very title. The name has connections to the Latin word felix, which means "happy" and is itself a name; the same is true for "Felicia", "Felicitas", and others. The point is that there is some element of happiness involved.

Now, though... happiness is cast aside in my case, for I've lost my "Delia" - not exactly on this day, but just a couple of days ago. Regardless, the momentum is close enough on this day that it simply had to be brought up. Even with all the variability involved as per the above, one of the constants is indeed Pokémon... which is why I do think of her as my "Delia", not the least given the fact of my cosplay efforts.

So, on the occasion of this day, it's still appropriate to reminisce, for a lot of my other current happiness does stem from "my 'Delia'". For other Pokémon fans, they might just have their "Delia" of concern - and hopefully at least a little bit of that is also "Felitsa". Whenever they celebrate their Mother's Day, then that too becomes a good day for all happiness that has resulted. For now, thanks and so long to my "Delia".

Three years ago: Mixing In and Out of GBL
Seven years ago: A Pikachu Hand Puppet
Eight years ago: I Claimed My Team
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Sunday, December 21, 2025

Cosplay: Greenland Christmas Festival

Me: I did say "others", didn't I?

Goh: Another one this weekend! It must be busy.

Me: No kidding. But we'll have more on that a little later on. For now...

Ash: OK, so this is a Christmas festival.

Me: Right, a short one. Have a look at the schedule.

Goh: Ooh, that is short. Only a few hours.

Ash: And it looks like the entertainment is all dance groups.

Goh: I think so!

Pikachu: Chu, pika pika! ["A short dance!"]

Me: I'm sure you can tell why that is, especially by the location.

Ash: Oh, it's a market outside a neighborhood!

Goh: OK, that's interesting.

Me: The story that I got is that it's to celebrate the opening of the market, at least in part.

Goh: Like the card game shop about a year ago.

Ash: I saw ads for it while I was there.

Goh: You think they're related?

Me: I think that may very well be the case. 

Goh: So, there was a dance group, and then... a character parade.

Ash: I got in this one! It was free (with something else to do).

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["That works."]

Goh: Nothing to lose - maybe a lot to gain?

Me: I read there are six prizes. But then a lot of characters might want them.

Ash: Sure did! There were over 20, and all of them looked great.

Me: Yeah, I thought that might happen. That goes along with the "busy" thing we'll deal with soon.

Goh: And that meant... you didn't get anything.

Ash: No - it all went to them. And even they had to battle it out. I knew some regular prize winners that didn't win.

Goh: So, you just made things lively.

Ash: Yeah.

Goh: After that, a few more dance groups, and then it was done.

Ash: Pretty much.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["That's all."]

Goh: Now for that "busy" thing.

Me: OK, so there were actually two more festivals some distance from this one, happening at the same time.

Goh: I see.

Ash: But this one was lively!

Me: I'm not sure about one of them, but I heard the other didn't get many visitors.

Ash: So, at least this one won out.

Me: You can say that. One of them had a singing competition... but in the end I chose this one for you because it was the closest and easiest to get to.

Ash: Well, you did what you could.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Of course."]

Me: Oddly enough (or not), they were all Christmas-themed somehow. 

Goh: It's absolutely the season, so it was really the time.

Ash: And it's a good time for all.

Me: Mostly. But for me... 

Goh: Oh?

Ash: Oh, I'm sorry.

Me: More on this by myself soon. At least others will have a good Christmas now.

Eight years ago: Friend Faves
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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Cosplay: Sayonara Kotoshi 2025 - Isshoni, Kagayaki no Mirai e

Goh: Hey hey, it's "your festival" again. 

Ash: Haha, "my festival".

Me: Hmm. It is indeed, and it's on my "home turf", so I (we) should support it, like last year. And this time...

Ash: There's a singing competition! I want to be in it.

Me: You sure can. In fact, I'm giving you "Advance Adventure" to work with.

Ash: OK, Hoenn outfit it is.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika! ["Nice choice!"]

Me: Great!

Goh: So... everything's the same as last year?

Ash: In the same place - with a lot of the same booths for food, merchandise, and community.

Goh: Oh, and entertainment too.

Ash: The same - bands and dance cover groups.

Goh: But then, the singing competition is new.

Me: Apparently so, and that's why we're jumping on it - also since we've been absent from one for a long time.

Goh: All good reasons. How'd you do?

Ash: I nailed it! I had a lot of fun too. And just before it rained somewhat hard too.

Goh: Again like last year. Almost everything in this one was a repeat.

Ash: You could say that.

Pikachu: Pi pi pi pika... ["Almost all the same..."]

Me: As for the winners...

Ash: The three of them were all girls. So the boys didn't get a chance.

Goh: Huh. I guess you two will have to set up something for next time.

Me: Looks like it. And there was also a character parade like last year, but...

Ash: I wasn't in it - and I could tell who was going to win right away.

Goh: Well, looks like your eyes are getting sharper for noticing this.

Me: Or it was already obvious from the very start.

Goh: Hmm. By the way, last year you had Necrozma raids going on... did anything Pokémon also happen at the same time this year?

Ash: I went to look for Solrock and Lunatone by doing tasks around the festival! But I couldn't do much since it was also raining.

Me: Even if I were to do it myself without a festival, it would be a challenge with the rain. At least it's an independent thing. 

Pikachu: Pika. ["Works out."]

Me: OK - takeaways, nags, and final thoughts.

Ash: I think they did great this year! Except maybe for bossing all of us around a bit too much.

Goh: But we do expect some from them.

Ash: Sure, in a way - like getting my bag searched.

Me: Oh, you mean it was like me being at the airport?

Ash: Yeah, you know the feeling. And maybe they can set up the area much better.

Goh: It's an open court, right? And then they have to put up barriers and all.

Ash: Yeah, that.

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika. ["Blocks, here and there."]

Me: Yeah, this is kind of hard. But things were still good overall, from what I can tell.

Ash: They hope it would be shining, even - like the subtitle of this year [OOC note: it means "together, to a bright future"].

Goh: Hey, yeah! That makes sense.

Me: Well, there's hope for bright futures just yet, with this one and others. 

Four years ago: Merchandise over Games?
Six years ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain
Eight years ago: Movie Manga!
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Friday, December 19, 2025

More on Precious Departures

I'd said earlier in this Pokémon Go season's opening post that it being called "Precious Paths" would imply meeting with certain things but also parting with yet other things. The latter is now what I want to bring up, also in the specific context of them departing - a context that may be considered to go deeper in some ways. For that, I do want to dig deeper in some of the contexts while keeping others shallow, at least for the time being.

The elimination of Aeos Coins in Pokémon Unite would certainly be a departure for the game, even with some of its shades remaining through the item exchange and another feature - for those who are observant. It has apparently become a departure that many have not taken too well either, making it "precious" in another way. Whether or not this will lead to a precious departure of a different sort, that is for players to determine.

Meanwhile, a different Pokémon game, one that I rarely mention by itself on this blog by virtue of not playing it, has apparently been making the rounds on ending its service and playability in certain places first. A significant place in relation to that is also coming up, and it'll be a "precious" departure for it when that happens. How that will play out for me in covering it here is a bit of a doozy and might even constitute a "departure" in itself.

As for applying all this back to Pokémon Go, the game that is behind the season itself, at this point it might still be a little vague. However, considering some of the events and happenings on tap for this month and the next, a fair bit of it can be considered a "wrap-up for loose ends" for this year, and that may be taken as a "departure" in some ways, with the hope of things coming out better for later happenings this season.

Sometimes the most precious path might be the one that one has just treaded, and all of these Pokémon game happenings strongly indicate that, even with Pokémon Go as the "umbrella" for their interpretation. Any departure will certainly be reminisced somehow, and reminiscing these seems to become something to do on the "precious path" that is this season. With that, the season continues to progress and depart along its points.

Now... it seems I have to address a relevant precious departure for me very soon...

Three years ago: Scarlet and Violet Uptake
Eight years ago: Nostalgic Returns
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Thursday, December 18, 2025

Bigger on the Inside

Fans of certain fictional series might recognize a concept related to certain things in those series, in that they are "bigger on the inside". The concept is obvious enough, suggesting that those things are internally more spacious than their outsides - in particular with regard to size - would suggest. This concept may be considered to have a place in Pokémon as well, with the way that certain small things here can (do) or may just encapsulate bigger things.

As expected, one of those things is the Poké Ball. Like a certain encapsulating time travel device, there is the thought that its inside portion is actually much bigger - otherwise species behemoths like Rayquaza and Eternatus won't be able to fit. Else (or perhaps in addition), there is also a "compression" factor in play that allows Pokémon and environments to fit in such a small space, much like archive files on a computer. Whatever happens, there is some universal agreement that the Poké Ball is definitely "bigger on the inside" somehow.

Then, there are the dungeons in different Pokémon regions. Often, from the outside and in particular their entry points, they might appear to be pretty small. However, as soon as one steps into and navigates them, one realizes that they're actually pretty big. In fact, it could also be considered that the actual dungeon, if it were to actually exist, would also be quite big by actual standards. This too is similar in regard to a different game outside of Pokémon, for which the "bigger on the inside" is also a hallmark of some of its areas.

In similar fashion, the regions of the Pokémon world can be considered to be a lot bigger than their illustrations and manifestations would suggest. If their real-life models have anything to say, it may be that they're similar in size and in scope, and one would definitely be dealing with something major. In this case, the "inside" is the true nature of things, and that true nature is being able to fit all the Pokémon, people, and other things within that true expanse. The "bigger on the inside" concept thus has its own way of manifesting here. 

Something to be gained from the "bigger on the inside" concept is that not everything that is depicted is true to their scales, furthermore if they have things that lay hidden within them. So it is that the fictional series have big things inside seemingly little compartments - and for that matter, so does Pokémon. In some sense, size does matter... and yet that size may also depend on things as they are on the outside followed by what really goes inside them.

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