Five... for Fighting

It's almost the end of the year, and it's time for the usual series of reflection posts dealing with this blog, my life, and Pokémon in different kinds of ways. As I noted at the beginning of the year, I chose (or "deemed") the theme of this year to be "Give Me Five", a theme that not only has a numerical dynamic to it but also implications of some "rest". Yet given how this year has transpired for me personally and Pokémon in general, there is something to be gained from it, and that may not necessarily involve a "rest".

For that, in fact, there have been some struggles within the realm of Pokémon games, like the major Unite update that came along with some major criticism, or the updates to Pokémon Go that bring lots of new things to enjoy yet just as many issues to deal with. These struggles are in stark contrast to the expected "rest", even though moments of the latter can still be found. Like a certain saying - "there is no rest for the weary" - Pokémon fans like me may be tired of the goings-on, but they'll just have to struggle ("fight") alongside the "rest".

With all that have gone on within the year - for the Pokémon game affairs, and specifically for me, Pokémon affairs beyond games such as cosplay - I'm finding that I'm struggling in the interplay between the "fight" and the "rest" for them. That includes for this blog, which may be reflected in certain ways that a few readers, friends, and other people might detect if they are observant enough. And yet I still have to make sure that the "fight" and the "rest" are there.

Meanwhile, the choice of titling for this post should be quite familiar to music fans, as it's the name of a rock band, of which one song of theirs had already been brought up on this blog for discussion with general Pokémon affairs. Since the band is mentioned again, I feel that it is proper to offer another song of theirs, one appropriate for this specific discussion:

I can't stand to fly

I'm not that naive

I'm just out to find

The better part of me

I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane

I'm more than some pretty face beside a train

And it's not easy to be me...

-- "Superman (It's Not Easy)", Five for Fighting

Aside from the certain superhero that becomes the title of this song (and in fact many of the themes raised within), its subtitle may be considered representative as the general gist of those themes. For this current discussion, it's not easy to "struggle" and "rest" - moreover at the same time - when there are affairs involving something as universally liked as Pokémon.

Out of all the years I've blogged and for Pokémon in general, this might be one of the most difficult given the "fight" that Pokémon things have had to offer and the "rest" that I should be (have been) able to get alongside them. Yet rest assured (ahem), I'll still need to continue my struggle with them, even if "rest" may have been out of the question, for what's left of this year and into the next year for Pokémon and beyond.

One year ago: Cosplay: M-ZONE E-Sports Festival & Elpico X-Mas

Two years ago: Going... Going... Gone

Three years ago: The Answer for Two and Two

Four years ago: Plus One, and...

Five years ago: A(n Un)Clear Vision?

Six years ago: Cosplay: MC & "Reflections of Love" End of Year Events

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (Above and Beyond), 12/29/2018

Eight years ago: In Lieu of a Book

Cosplay: ChibiCon x ICC Competition

Goh: I knew it! All in...

Ash: ...ChibiCon!

Pikachu: Pika! Pi Pika! [imitating the ChibiCon ditty]

Me: Yeah, same old song and dance (more "song" than "dance", but you get my point).

Goh: It's Sunday, so this has got to be Day 2.

Me: Indeed it is.

Goh: Also, it's the end of the year, and you'd usually have that awards thing for this edition. There doesn't seem to be any this time.

Me: You know, I was wondering about that. I would have been notified weeks ago about any movement on this front. But as you say, it doesn't seem like that worked out for this year.

Ash: I guess that's why you sent me on this day! Well, besides the thing from yesterday.

Me: Sure. But there's also another reason.

Ash: Hey, I met your girl fan and really faraway friend! 

Me: That is it. 

Goh: They must be really close to you - and each other.

Me: So we are. We decided that this should be an opportunity for us to meet, have fun, and update on things - while we go to the convention.

Ash: We did that! Especially for your... "Delia"...

Me: Um, yes. The new Kanto and Johto outfit I sometimes send you with is strongly linked to her. And that's what you have now.

Goh: Oh. That's deep.

Pikachu: Pika... [dejected]

Ash: So, we did talk about that and a few life things over lunch, and then we explored the convention together.

Goh: And then they met your friends, and your friends met them.

Ash: We didn't get to meet a few, though. 

Goh: Well, maybe next time.

Me: I guess that could be hard. And how was the convention? Same old, same old?

Ash: Yeah! Lots of booths, lots of goodies, and... lots of people in the middle of the day!

Me: OK, that's a lot to take in. I think everyone got something.

Ash: I just got freebies. You know how your things are.

Me: Sorry about that. Maybe the next time ChibiCon gets going, I can have you get more things.

Goh: So, looking at the schedule, they have two stages - one for band and performance, the other for dance groups and DJ. Did you get to see any of them?

Ash: Just really briefly. We all had other things to do, like during the ICC thing where there was a talk about "fantasy" things. I thought our friend would be interested in that.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika. ["A good talk."]

Me: Very much, so I don't mind you missing the performances.

Ash: After that, we just hung out together. Your "girl fan" left first, and then I left to come back to you.

Goh: So today was more of a "hang out with friends" thing than a "hang out at the convention" thing.

Me: Yeah, you could say that. And it's a good thing that no intense Pokémon thing was happening.

Ash: I did catch a few holiday Eevee for you!

Me: Except that. But that doesn't really matter too much.

Goh: What was important were your friends and a good place for you all to be in.

Me: So, the convention delivers on that again, even if a lot of things are still the same - including the crowd.

Ash: Let's try to get in when it's not so crowded next time! 

Pikachu: Pika pika pika? ["Is that possible?"]

Me: I will always try to do that, but it depends on the scheduling and such, like with our friends today.

Goh: I'm sure things will work out. By the way, this is the final Sunday of the year... so no more conventions or festivals until the next. 

Me: If there are, not ones I can really send Ash to.

Ash: OK, so this year has been pretty good, and this one closed things up well.

Goh: So it did. Best of luck for the ones in the next, then.

Me: I can't agree more. We'll talk again when we get to them when the year turns over.

One year ago: Getting Down on All Fours

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2023

Three years ago: Pokémon Problem, My Problem

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2021

Five years ago: Road to 25th Anniversary: Life Goes On

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2019

Seven years ago: Soul-Searching and Pokémon

Eight years ago: From Journal to Blog

Cosplay: Amphoreus Year End Cosplay Finale

Me: OK, it's the end of the year, and there's a couple of special things to make it lively.

Goh: One of them is today.

Me: Sure enough. And hey, Ash will find it familiar.

Ash: Oh, it's a follow-up to this one with the futsal!

Me: Why, yes it is. This one doesn't have sports, though.

Goh: So where is this one? 

Ash: At the usual mall - like for the "break party" from earlier this year.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika chu. ["Nice to go back there."]

Goh: Oh, that's great! So we can expect a lot of the same things. 

Ash: So there was singing - but I didn't sing... (I did feel a little sad for our friend by a song they sang.)

Goh: OK, it's not like you're always asked to do that. What about that sad thing, though?

Me: I'll save it for the other special thing. Go on for now.

Ash: All right. And then there was dancing by the ones who can...

Goh: Obviously not you.

Ash: Not well enough, haha. And little games - I got a sticker by playing...

Goh: Well, that's OK.

Ash: And the character parade.

Me: That's all you (and me in some way).

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yup!"]

Ash: There were only 10 of us, and I had my Kalos outfit.

Goh: Where were the others?

Me: I can think of a reason... but we'll deal with it at the end.

Ash: I got the idea that I wanted to try doing the Mega Evolution thing, but then I forgot while I was in the middle of doing it on stage. And I was the first one up!

Goh: Huh. I guess I can get why you were tripped up.

Ash: But it was OK - because everyone won something.

Goh: Oh wow. That rarely happens. What did you win?

Ash: Best, um... "husbu".

Pikachu: Pika, chu... ["Hmm, wonders..."]

Goh: Have you ever heard of this term? 

Me: Mm-hmm, it's a technical term. But I can't say too much. All I can say is that people like us for who we are.

Goh: OK, I trust you. 

Ash: And you should get a little something good out of that soon - alongside this goodie bag.

Me: I will look out for that. So, it's a good day for that.

Ash: Yeah! A friend helped me get there and back to you.

Goh: That's awesome. 

Ash: And all of this in just a few hours - I even picked up something that our friend needed.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika! ["Double duty!"]

Me: It's good to take advantage of the opportunity, before that other special thing.

Goh: Before we get to it... would that be the reason?

Me: Oh, yes. And Ash will be dealing with it.

Ash: I think I know what it is!

Goh: I think I have an inkling too.

Me: Of course you do. But that's tomorrow.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2024

Two years ago: Being a Pokémon "Ambassador"

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2022

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: The Road in Kaleidoscope

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2020

Six years ago: Pokémon and the Furry Fandom

Seven years ago: A Tripartite Conversation

Eight years ago: I Can Hear Your Voice

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/26/2025

Before things are lost even further and need to be found, there is the rollup of Pokémon Go events for this month to be made. As the events that kick off a season called "Precious Paths", they could be considered to start to pave those paths and bring forth a few appreciable things for those who still play the game. Yet it also comes at the end of the year, so there is that fact to be factored into the events - and therefore the paths and appreciation as well, which this rollup serves to unfold in some way.

Starting off the month and this season was a path into a familiar recent region, as the Journey to Paldea event from December 2 to 9. The highlight of this event was the debut of the Nacli species family, a rocky and salty one. With double XP bonuses for raids and evolving, selected species appeared on alternate days to be caught for two Collection Challenges rewarding Larvitar and Bagon, with these two Shiny boosted. Other Pokémon of the region also appeared in raids and Field Research encounters, while the paid extra had small bonuses and even more encounters. This event was also complemented by a Go Battle Week from December 4 to 7, as well as the separately explained Community Day; with that, it becomes a culmination to and mingling of several paths.

In this month, it was also time to pep up and prep up, and that came by the Well Armed event from December 11 to 16. That's because the event featured Fighting types, along with the debut of the Clobbopus family. That had to occur by way of completing a Global Challenge about Max Battles, which also rewarded other species in the wild and Candy bonuses from those battles, complementing the event's double Candy bonus. Meanwhile, those Max Battles also offered Dynamax Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, with an associated Shiny boost. Other Pokémon in the wild and Field Research encounters were of the Fighting and occasional Water types, and the paid extra had Candy and Max Particle bonuses among others. Once pepped and prepped, Trainers could also take on Gigantamax Snorlax again in a Max Battle Day on December 14 with all the usual perks. Of course, the pep and prep could be construed to be in more than one way for the present time.

As is expected of this time of the year, the holidays are at hand and so is the Winter Holidays event, of which Part 1 took place from December 17 to 24. For this year, Sudowoodo and Charjabug come to enliven things, the former with a tree costume and the latter with a tree costume, able to evolve to Vikavolt. They can be raided for and in this part also caught in the wild, along with a bevy of seasonal and Ice-type Pokémon. In the Egg department, 7 km Eggs also have seasonal(-costumed) Pokémon, some of which in this part also got a Shiny boost. A few of the seasonal Pokémon also appear in Field Research encounters. This first part also introduces a Go Pass with the usual free and premium tracks to last through the entire holiday period, with lots of encounters, items, and bonuses, especially for those who pay for the premium track, as well as new avatar items with the new costumed Pokémon. Complementing this first part was a Celestial Research Day on December 20 featuring Solrock and Lunatone. All told, there was a certain brightness to this part.

Part 2 of the Winter Holidays event continued where Part 1 left off from December 24, with its end coming later on December 29. This part retains the Eggs, Field Research encounters, Go Pass, and avatar items from Part 1; it also rewards coal... in the form of the Rolycoly species family making its debut in the wild and raids. This time, Pokémon may also drop items when caught, and some wild costumed Pokémon get a Shiny boost. More seasonal and Ice-type Pokémon also join the festivities in the wild and raids to make this part even livelier, and the liveliest part is its peak, the Winter Weekend on December 27 and 28 (that's today and tomorrow), with a special feature on holiday costume Eevee through a Timed Research set, and the opportunity to level up the Go Pass as much as possible on these two days. It may be a little less bright in this part, but it's still quite festive.

The end of the year often (also) represents the end of many paths that have been traversed throughout the year, but for Pokémon Go this season, the paths are already getting started. And that start comes at a bit of an appropriate time for the usual festivities at the end of the year, which have their own appreciable paths to follow. With that, it's time to end the year and get the next one started so that, in turn, the paths of that one can start.

One year ago: Pokémon Through the Ages: The Radical Era and The Future

Two years ago: Pokémon Face Off Figures - Charmander and Mew

Three years ago: Cosplay: Trans Mini Fest

Four years ago: Pokémon Unite Holiday Event

Five years ago: My Missing Pokémon Pieces in 2020

Six years ago: More on Sunner and Me

Seven years ago: Wallpaper: 20th Movie - Remember and Continue

Eight years ago: The First: Episode 001 - "Pokémon - I Choose You!"

Lost and Found Christmas

And then, the day itself comes. Christmas for many is a time of great cheer, especially when the conditions are normal. But when they're not, it can be a bit of a confusing time - and the moment of the holiday might be in a lost-and-found state. So it is that with a happening that befell my personal affairs, as well as some distant people finding themselves in a quagmire, I thought I'd discuss this state of affairs for the holiday, and certainly I'd include the pertinent Pokémon experiences for that and more.

For the "lost" part, there have been a few occasions of Christmas that I've had where Pokémon was an included part. One of them happened to be the occasion where I also obtained the relevant Pokémon album, which was indeed adjacent to the time. I know now that I can never get the occasion back by the above happening - although that's probably the case regardless. For the others, they might also be shuffling themselves and the Pokémon things they still have, so at least a bit of the day is "lost" for them.

On the "found" side of things, in many of the past years, I've been able to get into certain happenings close to or exactly on the occasion - one of them earlier this week - that enable me to put in Pokémon. These would represent me "finding" them and therefore "finding" a kind of Christmas to celebrate. As others recover from their quagmire, which could take until the next time Christmas comes around, they can also find their Christmas celebrations; with luck, some of those might just involve Pokémon.

The ways that things are "lost" and "found" on this day might be considered an oddity, given the festivity that's in the air. Yet it is understandable that life happens with or without an upcoming or ongoing festivity, in particular the one of this very day. Losing or finding oneself or the associated happenings would then be expected along with the progression of life (and certainly Pokémon things), but with the festivity at hand, one seems to just need to go along with it and find only what really needs to be found.

I'm still at the moment trying to find myself after the happening above while contemplating the Christmas happenings I've lost and found alongside Pokémon. Others may be in the process of trying to find their footing after they have lost hold of it, and still others may be in the process of finding Pokémon things that can complement them in whatever state they're in. In all of these cases, at least there is still today and the hopes that it implies or brings - just maybe to lose the "weight" and find the "wings to fly".

Merry Christmas. I hope that (Pokémon) spirits are always found and never lost. 🎄

One year ago: A Natural (Pokémon) Christmas

Two years ago: The Colors of (Pokémon) Christmas

Three years ago: Much Ado About Christmas

Four years ago: Keeping the (Pokémon) Christmas Spirit

Five years ago: Merry Christmas... in Fantasies

Six years ago: I Like Christmas, Merry Christmas

Seven years ago: Christmas Bash: Concept Album?

Eight years ago: Merry Christmas!

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.

One year ago: Giving Pokémon Gifts... with Santa Included

Two years ago: The Pokémon Intrigue Before Christmas

Three years ago: It's Gotta Be... A Big and Red Guy

Four years ago: The Mistletoe Dangled Over...

Five years ago: Christmas Song, Really

Six years ago: Let's Go Play with Buddies

Seven years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts

Eight years ago: Cool Wintry Song

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.

One year ago: Quickies: Delivering Punches and Kicks

Two years ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2023 - 10th Anniversary

Three years ago: Café Remix: Pay to Win?

Four years ago: 2021 Pokémon Center Merchandise Highlights

Five years ago: Playing Pokémon on the Quick

Six years ago: December for Love

Seven years ago: Quick Ball Tin and Pokémon Coin

Eight years ago: Perspective