Books of 2022: Quarter 4 - Everything Not "Fables"

 

So, just like the title says, this is everything else minus everything Fables

 

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

Following the events of the previous book, Jack Reacher is again on the side of a highway still looking to hitch a ride to Virginia. Picked up by three strangers, Reacher finds himself in more trouble when the woman in the back seat secretly reveals that she's been kidnapped. Finding no one is simply who they say they are, Reacher is pulled into a conspiracy involving the FBI, CIA, a dead man, and a collection of terror cells operating on American soil.

Needing a breather after completing the entirety of the Everworld series, I decided to go back to the Jack Reacher series. In case you're also wondering, yes, I am also excited for Amazon to release season 2 especially after how well the first season did. This book though, probably not at the top of the list for them to pull for a TV adaptation. A good chunk of the story is either Reacher riding or driving the car while an investigation takes place outside the car involving other characters. It still has enough of the Jack Reacher action and mystery I love from these books. I also learned how to talk continuously for a minute without using the letter "A" so that's a nice bonus.

 

Never Go Back by Lee Child

Jack Reacher finally makes it to Washington DC to meet with Major Susan Turner, a woman he's only ever spoken with on the phone and who now has his old job. Instead of finding Turner at his old desk, however, he finds that she's been arrested for accepting a bribe. At the same time, Reacher is pulled back into the US Army to face charges from his past that he can't recall.

The final book of the last four with some continuity (as most of the other books can be read as stand-alones) and the basis for the 2nd of the Tom Cruise "Jack Reacher" movies. To be honest, I liked the movie more than the book in this case: it provided better clues related to the plot and the Big Bad was also better. The book made Reacher's "daughter" less of an annoyance (plus she wasn't there for a majority of the story) so that's a thing the book did better. Other than that, another Jack Reacher novel. You know what to expect by now.

Deadly Class Vol 12: A Fond Farewell (part 2) by Rick Remender

The final chapter of Deadly Class! Marcus and Maria left behind their old lives of death and bloodshed to begin again as simple, regular folks trying to get by in America. Finding some fame as a writer, Marcus still struggles to reconcile his past ideals with his present situation. Meanwhile, a few of their old King's Dominion classmates are cleaning house, taking out anyone with connections to either past as well as anyone in their way, including the couple.

It's the end of the series! To think I only started this because of the cancelled Syfy show. To tell you the truth, it ended a lot differently than I expected. I didn't expect them to get to adulthood, for one, and though instead the story would stay within their school/ teenage years. And, simply based on Marcus's attitude, I expected the whole thing to end on a down note. But, as Marcus says about his own story, everyone knows that the protagonists are eventually going to die, but the story doesn't have to end there. It could just end and leave the audience in a happy, content spot, and that's what this story does.

The Magic Order by Mark Miller

In Volume One, someone is killing wizards, and not just any wizards but members of The Magic Order - a secret society of magic users sworn to protect humanity from the monsters that once ruled the Earth now driven into the darkness. They hide in plain sight, people you might see everyday: on your way to work, sitting behind a desk, a vendor on the street. The Magic Order will need all its members, even those reluctant to be a part of it, to stop those responsible.

In Volume Two, those that hide in the shadows decide to strike while The Magic Order undergoes a change in leadership. An evil warlock seeks to restore the world to the times when monsters reigned and humanity cowered before them. Cordelia will need to lead The Magic Order against those foes from the past to keep humanity safe.

Set in the present day, The Magic Order is about a secret group of wizards who protect humanity from the monsters that once ruled the world now hiding in its shadows. Though they have magic, the members are encouraged not to use it for personal gain, their current leader even refraining from using his abilities at his job as a stage magician. What I really liked about the story is that while both stories involve magical fighting, the spells weren't just generic blasts of magical force (seen in the finale of Willow on Disney+) but actual spells that did more than just go "pew-pew".

I picked up the first volume wandering Other Realms one day on simply a whim and name recognition  alone while knowing nothing about the storyline, characters, artwork, etc. Yeah, just because it had Mark Millar's name on it. If you've never heard of him, he wrote Kick-Ass, Wanted, Marvel's Civil War, Nemesis and a bunch of other comics. I loved a lot of his other work and decided to just put my trust that though this is the first magic-based comic I recall him writing, that if its as good as his superheros stories, it was going to be good - and it did not disappoint.

I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young

I Hate Fairyland Vol 1: Madly Ever After

Gertrude was just seven years old when she was whisked away against her will to a magical fairy world. Simply wishing to return home, she is sent on a quest to retrieve a key that will return her home. Unfortunately, Gert is terrible at the tasks assigned to her and what should've been a quest filled with joy and happiness turned into Gert's blood-soaked, terror-filled rampage across fairyland lasting almost thirty years as she tries (and fails) to find the magical key to return home.

In my comic-reading binge, OtherRealms also hands out this free "Coming Soon" newsletter which is where I read that something called "I Hate Fairyland" was going to restart. Interested in the title, I took a look at the synopsis and said, "meh, why not give it a try." And holy shit, I did not expect this! Obviously, the beginning depicts Gertrude disappearing into the magical world, only the beauty is juxtaposed with kidnapping scene. The story jumps ahead by the roughly thirty years to find Gert still on her mission, obviously no longer filled with the wonder and whimsy of a child but the harsh bitterness of adulthood, comically still trapped in the child-body she arrived in. Gert solves ... all, yeah, all of her problems and encounters with excessive amounts of cartoon violence. I mean, right from the beginning, she shoots down the moon with a cannonball for annoying her with its narration, then kills a whole bunch of stars for being witnesses to the act. It's really funny and outlandish, just taking the idea of being whisked to a magical world and turning it on its head.

I Hate Fairyland Vol 2: Fluff My Life

Having ruined her own escape from Fairyland by murdering the queen, and thus becoming the queen, Gertrude must now undertake her new royal duties (which she is still horribly bad at completing). She'll meet a new dragon-costumed child who was sucked into Fairyland, enter a fighting tournament, gamble with dark wizards, and be forced to choose between two paths that could either lead her home or mean the destruction of Fairyland and everyone in it.

I Hate Fairyland Vol 3: Good Girl

Deciding to try a new tactic, Gertrude decides that perhaps if she attempts good deeds that will help her accomplish her task of getting home. Larry gets a small sneak peek at what his life might've been like if he were assigned to guide any other child. In her travels, Gert will meet her idol (as well as become one), wander a labyrinth, and encounter some old friends.

I Hate Fairyland Vol 4: Sadly Never After

It appears Gert has met her demise, finding herself in Fairyland's Hell. Fairyland, however, can't seem to let Gert rest as a new evil threatens to end the world. The fate of the world now rests upon Larry and Duncan the Dragon to bring Gert back in an effort to save Fairyland.

I Hate Fairyland (issues #1-2)

Finally back home, Gertrude bounces unhappily from job to job as the homicidal nature developed in Fairyland makes her a very, very poor employee back on Earth. In the end though, one man is willing to hire her for her very, very specific skills - to rescue his son from Fairyland.

Devil's Reign

 

 

Wilson Fisk, the former Kingpin of New York, has been elected its new mayor. In his bid to secure his power and put down the superheroes for good, he enacts a law making it illegal to be a masked vigilante in New York City. To back up his scheme, he has recruited Dr. Otto Octavius, a special squad of armored officers, and even his own Thunderbolts team. The heroes of New York will set out to defeat and expose Fisk to the people before the next election.

 

So, one of the reasons you don't see any of the traditional Marvel or DC superhero comics is just the simple fact that I have no idea what's going on in the current storylines. Seriously, this one even included end notes detailing in which specific issue a particular event happened. I personally had to stop reading at time simply to look up who certain characters were (apparently Matt Murdock has a con-artist brother or something). The only reason I picked this one up is because I bought a couple issues of the "Devil's Reign" event on a whim and decided to finish that particular storyline. It's different from the traditional hero vs villain story as Fisk is already in control, and the heroes can't simply use their powers to fight him. Yeah, I know that part of it feels like another version of "Civil War" or a Superhuman Registration Act but I mean, that's usually a big thing heroes can't just punch their way out of, so I understand using it again.

 

Quickstops (#1-3) by Kevin Smith

 

 

 

 From Kevin Smith's "Askewneverse" comes short stories based around the characters you know from the slacker movies you love. In the first issue, we get the interview with Ben Affleck's character, Brody, during the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie during which he describes working at the Quickstop and the inspiration behind the popular "Bluntman and Chronic" comics. In Issue Two, Randall attends the funeral of his cousin (the one that died from a broken neck while trying to suck his own dick), reminiscing about the past and his excitement at working at the video store. The third issue shows Elias working at the religious summer camp and how he got into cryptocurrency (a big part of Clerks 3).

 

Though I admit I haven't watched all of the movies that I guess fit into Smith's View Askewniverse I really liked reading all of these short side stories involving its characters. The writing, artwork, and jokes fit right in with the movies and are great accompaniments to them as well. 

Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier (#1-3)

 

 Demons aren't supposed to be summoned as easily as a dog, or a servant. Ellie Hawthorne however just discovered that someone has bound a lot of devils from the infernal realm to be called upon just like that. It'll be up to Hawthorne to send them all back to Hell.

A different take on the typical "demons from hell" stories, in this case the main character seeking to return the demons to Hell to get them away from the real bad guys.

 

 

Least We Can Do by Iolanda Zanfardino (#1-4)

 

 

A young woman sees the evil of the government and seeks to do something about it. Stealing a family heirloom in the dead of night, she sneaks off to join the rebellion with nothing except her optimism and hope. But can just one person actually make a difference?

 

An Evil Empire suppressing the masses. A growing rebellion looking to change the way things are. A new comer with no experience, boundless optimism, and a potential to turn the tide. It's a story that's of course been told countless times before. What makes Least We Can Do stand apart is just how focused on the main character's progress the story is, focusing on her growth rather than simply action and adventure as other stories might. I was also interested in the magic system where power came from rare gems. For it to work though, a person must bond with a particular gem and, so far, it's been just one gem per person.

 

 

End After End by Tim Daniel and David Andry (#1-4)

 

 Walter Willem is dead, and that's where his adventure reluctantly begins. On his way to a traditional afterlife, he is brought to the End After End to fight for a leader he doesn't recognize against alien forces for a cause he doesn't understand. He'll need to use his strength, cunning, and bravery to survive. But why should he?

An interesting concept because, really, there's no reason for Willem to do anything: He knows that if he dies there, he'll simply more onto whatever was supposed to be next for him.

Eight Billion Genies by Charles Soule and Ryan Browne (#1-6)

 

 

 One moment, life is proceeding exactly how you expect it should. The next, everyone - EVERYONE - in the world finds themselves with a single genie ready to grant them one wish. As expected, everything goes sideways as wishes are made, and cancelled, and horded, and the human population finds itself dropping in the chaos and madness. Will humanity, or even the planet, survive when everyone is given exactly what they want?

Sometimes great ideas come from a simple question. "What if everyone got exactly what they wanted?" Obviously, there is a social commentary to it all but it's also filled with comic book action as people try to protect what's theirs from the chaos of the world. Each issue starts with a current count of the number of days since the genies appeared, as well as the current genie population representing unused wishes and human beings still alive. I heard about this series after several issues had already been released, and it took a while until I could find all of the back issues in a comic shop.

GCPD: The Blue Wall by John Ridley (#1-3)

 

 

 The rookie cops just graduated from the academy and are thrust into Gotham City. Each is hopeful and optimistic, simply looking to protect and serve and make a difference. Being a police officer though is a hard job and just because you're on Batman's turf, doesn't mean the job is easier.

So far the series is just three issues into its run but it's still really heavy with issues faced by the police especially in today's climate. Honestly, when I first picked it up (a rare grab from one of the two major publishers) I was hoping for stories from the police's point-of-view in regards to working with vigilantes and apprehending supervillains but so far the story has avoided those with just one mention of Two-Face so far. The series focuses more on real-life issues, such as racism, recidivism, and hostile work environments.

I mentioned before that I got really into comics last year (originally because Dungeons and Dragons stuff are also found in comic book stores) and if you looked at this list and said, "Hey, that doesn't look like a lot," well yeah that's not all of them. So, like how I watch TV shows, read manga, and watch anime, I'm trying to give most things that I pick up a three-episode limit so see if they'll hold my interest. There's a couple comics that I started but didn't stick with, as well several more that I only picked up one or two issues before the end of the year and so I don't want to put them on this list just yet (I think almost half a dozen just off the top of my head).

Books of 2022: Quarter 4 - Fables

 

So, I got really into comics last year, and thus only read ... wait ... that can't be right ... yeah okay, so I only read two books. Yeah, so two books and a whole bunch of comic books. And if this picture doesn't look like a lot, it isn't. I really did try to get ALL of my comics into a picture but that pile was getting too big to get into a single frame. Anyways, let's get this over with. So I didn't realize how long this was going to be when I started so I ended up having to splice out everything not Fables into another post.

1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham

Set before the events of the Fables series, Snow White attempts to meet with the Arabian Fables to form an alliance against The Adversary. Instead, she is locked away as a prisoner. Upon meeting with the Sultan, she learns that she is to be his new bride, ravished, and executed the next morning - as he has done to every woman he has wed prior. Seeking to save her head, Snow White begins a series of tales shared amongst the Fable community, each story ending just as the sun rises, the Sultan too enthralled to have her killed.

The first book I bought of the entire series because of a college reading assignment ... um like a decade ago. I don't think it was for a writing class, probably a fantasy reading class, I'm guessing in the 200 level. It was amazing seeing stories I hadn't thought about since I was a kid being re-imagined into stories for an older audience in a comic book format - complete with scenes of murder, rape, revenge. I especially liked the re-imagining of certain characters such as The Black Forest Witch being almost every single unnamed witch throughout the fairytale canon (or at least the ones common to the Grimm Brother's stories). After reading this one for class, I started down a path of picking up each of the books until its "conclusion" which I guess so far holds up as DC comics started the series again about a year ago which in turn, has led to my new comic book addiction (more on ... some of those new series at the end).

The Main Fables Storyline

 

Fables vol 1-3

 Fables Vol 1: Fables in Exile (#1-5)

Set as a murder-mystery, Sheriff Bigby Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf in human form) discovers a gruesome scene at Rose Red's apartment, leading to the conclusion that she had been murdered. Along with Red's sister and deputy mayor of Fabletown, Snow White, the two interrogate suspects and gather clues to Red's disappearance while introducing Fabletown, a hidden community of exiles and refugees seemingly related to the fables and stories told on Earth.

Fables Vol 2: Animal Farm (#6-10)

As punishment for faking her death and scaring the other Fabletown residents, Snow White takes her sister Rose Red to the Upstate Fabletown Community - a.k.a. The Farm - where those Fables unable to pass as human are forced to live. Once there, the two discover an uprising amongst the non-human fables seeking to take over The Farm, then Fabletown, and finally lead a resistance against The Adversary in the homelands.

Fables Vol 3: Storybook Love (#11-18)

Jack serves as a soldier for the Confederate army in one of his get-rich-quick schemes and tricks Death itself. A short story involving a prying journalist and the ways and measures Fabletown has protected its privacy from prying Mundy (regular, non-magical humans) eyes. Bluebeard and Goldilocks (still hiding from the Fabletown authorities for her part in the previous coup) hatch a plan to take over Fabletown, starting with the elimination of Bigby Wolf and Snow White. When their plan is discovered by the secret mouse police, Prince Charming challenges one to a dual while Wolf and White find a way to elude the other.

The first three volumes serve as an introduction to the series: setting up the characters and their backgrounds. The Fables are essentially refugees that just happen to have a connection to stories told in our world fleeing from a war ravaging their own worlds (The Homelands) into our world. The audience is introduced to Fabletown, where the Fables that can pass as human live, and The Farm, where the other Fables that cannot live. Much different than the volumes that follow as the plots are set more as mysteries than as the war story that follows.

Fables Vol 4-11

Fables Vol 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers (#19-21, 23-27)

Boy Blue recounts the last days of the resistance before the Fables left the Homelands for the Mundy world, sealing the final gate behind them. In the present day, the first refugee in a century arrives in Fabletown after escaping capture by The Adversary's agents. Suspicious of the newfound Red Riding Hood's miraculous arrival, Bigby Wolf goes in search of answers. Wooden soldiers, the shock troopers of The Adversary soon arrive in Fabletown seeking to bring the refugees back under The Empire's control.

Previous stories focused on the internal strife amongst the refugees crammed together, trying to survive, while only alluding to the terror of the Adversary and his forces faced by the Fables. This is the first book where we get to see the might of the Adversary's army, and how they could overcome so many seemingly fantastical and deadly creatures.

Fables Vol 5: The Mean Seasons (#22, 28-33)

Bigby Wolf meets with an old US Army buddy from his time serving in World War II, recounting a deadly mission during which they discovered the Nazi's conducting occult experiments. In the present, Bigby Wolf and Snow White's litter is born, resulting in changes to their living situations. The mayoral election between King Cole and Prince Charming is decided. A mysterious new killer sets itself upon Fabletown, and Bigby's mysterious father visits with his grandchildren.

Fables Vol 6: Homelands (#34-41)

Escaping with a small portion of Blackbeard's treasure, Jack leaves Fabletown with another scheme in mind. Arriving in Hollywood, he quickly makes a name for himself and founds a new studio set on creating a movie trilogy all about himself. Boy Blue, meanwhile, wielding stolen magical items from the Fabletown community business office, sneaks back into the Homelands alone on a mission to rescue Red Riding Hood and to assassinate The Adversary once and for all. Succeeding in his mission, he discovers instead the true power behind the throne, Geppetto the woodcarver.

Fables Vol 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) (#42-47)

Refugees from the Arabian Fablelands arrive at the Fabletown community in search of sanctuary and to build relations between their two communities. Upon their arrival, they discover differences between their two groups as well as some similarities. Their unlikely partnership is threatened when a djinn - a powerful, magical being - is released. A short love story between two wooden dolls, Ronnie and June, brought to life to serve The Empire. Providing a look into the minds of the wooden soldiers and their creation, it also reveals the anomaly of two experiencing feelings as those made of flesh feel.

Fables Vol 8: Wolves (#48-51)

Mowgli continues his search for Bigby Wolf in order to save a friend, traveling the world and speaking with all sorts including, of course, the wolves of the land. Upon Bigby's return to Fabletown, he is immediately sent on a dangerous mission into the heart of the Adversary's realm to deliver a message to Geppetto and, to an extent, get revenge for setting the wooden soldiers upon Fabletown. Returning home, Bigby and Snow White are reunited and married, given a plot of land where they can raise their children together.

Fables Vol 9: Sons of Empire (#52-59)

Geppetto convenes a council of advisors to discuss how to deal with the exiled Fables living in the Mundy realm, especially after the destruction of the magical grove from whose trees all wooden soldiers are formed. Shorter tales introduce other Fables that don't play as big a role in the main storyline, such as Rapunzel and the Three Blind Mice. Bigby, Snow, and their children take a trip to visit Bigby's father, the North Wind, and meet with unexpected kin. Santa Claus pays the Fables a Christmas visit, changing one Fable's life forever.

Fables Vol 10: The Good Prince (#60-69)

Restored of his lost memories, Flycatcher sets out on a quest, guided by none other than the ghost of Lancelot of the Round Table. He'll travel the depths of the underworld, gathering ghostly followers on his quest for redemption, until he ultimately faces off against the hordes of The Adversary. In the mundy world, The Fables prepare for war, training themselves with mundy technology and war tactics.

Fables Vol 11: War and Pieces (#70-75)

The exiled Fables have all their pieces in place and the war against The Adversary is under way. Right before that though, Cinderella is tasked with retrieving an important package that puts all of her operative skills to the test. In the Homelands, the Fables have mixed their own magic with Mundy world guns, bombs, and tactics to eliminate The Adversary's forces and cut off their capital from all other worlds. The plans progress smoothly until the enemy devises their own counter-offensive. *One comment about this book: Nothing cooler than seeing a wooden ship flying through the skies while a sniper on-board shoots down a dragon.

This collection of volumes tells the tale of The Fables' war against The Adversary (spoiler: It's Geppetto having gathered power with pride, self-righteousness, and his living puppets). After an attack on Fable Town by wooden soldiers and Baba Yaga, the Fables will launch an offensive against The Adversary utilizing their magic as well as knowledge gathered from their new home to overcome the Empire's forces. Lives are lost, people are found (in more ways than one), and the war comes to an end in an unexpected way.

 

Fables 12, 14-16

 Fables Vol 12: The Dark Ages (#76-82)

With the war against The Adversary finally over, the Fables move into the post-war phase. Funerals are held, scouting parties are sent to other worlds, plans are made for the spoils of war. Far, far away though, another evil locked away by the empire is released and sets its sights upon Fabletown.

Fables Vol 14: Witches (#86-93)

Frau Totenkinder, the fabled Black Forest Witch and current leader of the Fables' thirteenth floor magical community, has decided now is the time to act against the Fables' new enemy, Mr. Dark. Having abandoned her post, the others decide a change in leadership is necessary, especially to prevent Geppetto, Fabletown's newest resident, from seizing control in a time of fear and uncertainty. In the now lost business office, Bufkin the flying monkey seeks to stop an assortment of dangerous, destructive creatures from escaping, including the freed djinn brought by Sinbad, as well as the similarly freed Baba Yaga. Back in Haven, it's the baseball championship, but the real trial begins the next day.

Fables Vol 15: Rose Red (#94-100)

As tensions among the Fables grow now that they are all confined to The Farm, Rose Red's depression takes her further and further away from her duties. In her spiral, a vision appears and reinvigorates her, and we see the truth of her past. Meanwhile, Frau Totenkinder, now returned to Bellflower, confronts Mr. Dark in a dual.

Fables Vol 16: Super Team (#101-107) 

Having defeated the djinn, Baba Yaga, and the other monsters lurking in the business office, Bufkin sets upon a quest to return home. Having retreated to Haven, Ozma and Pinocchio put together a team to take on Mr. Dark based on Pinocchio's comic book knowledge. We also take a glimpse into the sleeping Imperial City, the center of Geppetto's former empire, and Sleeping Beauty, who put the city to sleep.

The defeat of The Empire led to the release of many powerful entities kept captive, one of them Mr. Dark. An entity embodying darkness and all the things that go bump in the night, Mr. Dark sets his sights upon Fabletown for a perceived slight against him while he was locked away by The Adversary's forces. Against such a terrifying foe and with a lot of their resources depleted during the war, the Fables will need to abandon Fabletown and retreat to their last sanctuary, put together a team of their best, and rely on allies willing to challenge an enemy seemingly unstoppable.

 

Fables 13

 

Fables Vol 13: The Great Fables Crossover (#83-85, Jack of Fables #33-35, The Literals #1-3)

Taking a break from the main storyline, Jack Horner delivers a warning that the end of the universe is coming. Seeking him out, Bigby Wolf and Snow White discover The Literals, personifications of genres, and that one of them is seeking to rewrite the universe, effectively erasing all of them. Bigby and Snow team up with The Pathetic Fallacy and Mr. Revise to save the world. 

A crossover event between The Fables comic and its spin-off, Jack of Fables which focused on Jack Horner's adventures after being kicked-out of Fabletown for his antics. It was one of the spin-offs I never got around to reading because, well, money. 

Fables 17-19

Fables Vol 17: Inherit the Wind (#108-113)

After Bigby's father, the North Wind, sacrificed himself to imprison Mr. Dark and save all of the Fables, his mantle must now be passed on to one of his grandchildren. Meanwhile, Bufkin leads a revolution back in his homeworld. A Christmas time story where Rose Red learns her new duties as a paladin of Hope.

Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (#114-123)

A new toy received by Therese transports her to Toyland to become their new queen. Therese quickly becomes disenchanted with her new role when she finds herself surrounded by discarded toys and no sustenance, quickly spiraling downward into madness. Darian, rising to his role as the pack leader amongst the cubs, sets off to save her. Instead of finding a typical boyhood heroic quest, he's instead confronted with the test of a true hero.

We've had other stories of sacrifice and gone through the deaths of other characters thus far, but this story was the worst of them all (and possibly through the rest of the series). Darian's sacrifice, oh, this one his me hard. Not just his sacrifice but the moments leading up to it as he wanders the desert alone looking for another clever option. "Will it hurt?" and "Will anyone ever know? Will they find out I did the right thing?", oh those moments...

Fables Vol 19: Snow White (#124-129)

The saga of Bufkin continues as he not only completes his overthrow of a tyrant but commits countless heroic deeds across countless worlds until his eventual retirement. Back in Fabletown, the Fables are returning after the defeat of Mr. Dark only to find a new fiend hidden in plain sight - Snow White's first betrothed - Prince Brandish. While Bigby is away searching for their missing cubs, Snow, with the help of the other Fables, will look for a way to stop the evil prince.

After the defeat of Mr. Dark, the cubs are selected as the best candidates to succeed the North Wind. While one of them becomes king and takes on the role of the North Wind, another becomes queen of her own realm. In the end, all of the children learn what it means to be a part of a pack, and about responsibility that comes with it.

Fables 20-22

Fables Vol 20: Camelot (#130-140)

Embracing her role as an Avatar of Hope, Rose Red decides to bring about a new Camelot complete with knights and a round table. At the same time, Snow White and her cubs mourn the death of Bigby, who finds himself wandering a type of afterlife. Also, a short story describing how Fabletown finally comes to an end.

Fables Vol 21: Happily Every After (#141-149)

The Fabletown community finds itself split as both Snow White and Rose Red gather forces loyal to themselves. At the same time, a hidden enemy has brought Bigby Wolf back from the dead as a vicious killer and set him upon the residents of New York City. Also mixed in are epilogue stories featuring several Fables characters.

Fables Vol 22: Farewell (#150 and extras) 

The battle between Snow White and Rose Red comes to a close. Fabletown meets its end. An epilogue in which we get one last glimpse into the lives of the Fables before we leave them forever.

The end of the Fables saga finds two sisters, Snow White and Rose Red pitted against each other due to the curse passed down their bloodline. The Fables are choosing sides between the two, and its conclusion will lead to the destruction of Fabletown. As an ending, I was satisfied as the last volume provided an epilogue for a majority of the Fables as many set out back to the Homelands while others stayed behind in the Mundy world. There was more that could be done with it (obviously as they've recently restarted the series for a short run) as magic was finally exposed to the world, but the story still ended on a good note.

Fairest (Fables Spin-off)

Fairest Vol 1: Wide Awake (#1-7)

Taking place between the war with The Adversary and after the battle with Mr. Dark, we take a look at what became of Sleeping Beauty, aka Briar Rose, after putting the Imperial City to sleep. Awoken by Ali Baba, the Prince of Thieves with a kiss, they are both captured by the Snow Queen who did not appreciate being put to sleep by Fabletown's secret weapon. Along the way, we learn more about Sleeping Beauty's curse and even have an encounter between her and the evil fairy.

Fairest Vol 2: Hidden Kingdom (#8-14)

Rapunzel receives an ominous message from her past in regards to her children. Sneaking off to Japan with her hair cutter, Joel Crow, and Jack (of all the tales), she'll find herself in a war between two factions of Japanese Fables, all refugees from the Hidden Kingdom. There, she'll confront her past and try to own up to the mistakes she's made.

Fairest Vol 3: Return of the Maharaja (#15-20)

Nalayani is the sole defender of her village after all of its men went to fight The Adversary's army. Though The Empire may be gone, that doesn't mean her village is still safe from other monsters prowling the area, and she sets off to meet with the new Maharaja for aid. Instead she finds a restored Prince Charming, thought dead after sacrificing his life in the war. The two will set out into the land of Indus to battle against monsters, and though Nalayani requires his help, it is Prince Charming who will emerge truly changed.

Fairest Vol 4: Of Mice and Men (#21-26)

Cinderella, Fabletown's greatest spy, is sent on a mission to uncover a mysterious organization threatening Fabletown and its inhabitants. Traveling the globe, she'll uncover connections to her past she believed resolved at midnight that one fateful night.

Fairest Vol 5: The Clamour for the Glamour (#27-33)

After receiving a magical glamour that allows him to pass as a human as well as being welcomed into Rose Red's new Camelot, Raynard the Fox sets to woo a number of Fable women. Instead, he finds himself thrown out on his own where he'll meet a Mundy woman enchanted with fantasies of princes and happy-ever-afters. After a series of hijinks finds the two of them on the run, Raynard will need to put his sly fox nature aside if he wants to be regarded as a man.

Fairest in all the Land

Someone is killing the "Fairest of them all" and it is up to Fabletown's greatest spy, Cinderella, to uncover the killer and stop the murders.

Putting the spotlight on the female Fables, Fairest is a collection of tales centered around strong female protagonists from the pages of Fables, all working against tropes typically placed upon the female characters in fairytales.

Cinderella (Fables Spinoff)

 

Cinderella Vol 1: From Fabletown with Love

The defeat of The Adversary has led to some unintended consequences, one of them being the unchecked and unmonitored transportation of magical items from the Homelands into the Mundy world. To find out who is behind the distribution and put a stop to it, Fabletown sends their top spy, Cinderella, to track them down. She'll team up with another dashing, rags-to-riches fable and even encounter an enemy from her own storied past.

Cinderella Vol 2: Fables are Forever

Fabletown has long known that they weren't the only Fables from the homelands to retreat to the Mundy world when The Adversary took over. A shadow Fabletown, operating in secretive cells across Earth, with their own elite death-dealer (and Cinderella's arch-nemesis). Thinking she was safe, her opposite has risen out of hiding and it's up to Cinderella to take her out, once and for all.

Told in the genre of your typical spy thrillers, the two stories force Cinderella into missions only she is capable of handling.

Fables #151-156

Fabletown is gone and many of its refugees have scattered. King Cole and Cinderella attempt to speak with the proper authorities as magic spreads throughout the Mundy world. Snow White, Bigby Wolf, and their cubs settle on a new world, and, like all parents just looking to get a job done in silence, send their restless kids off into the wild in search of adventure. A new Jack in the Green is sent upon a quest to bring a villain to justice, this time none other than Peter Pan.

I didn't know the series was being revived through DC Comic's Black Label (supposedly its "mature" line of comics or something). I just happened to be at OtherRealms on RPG Day looking for free stuff and I saw the first issue. Since then, everytime I've gone back to pick-up an issue, I seem to be getting the last copy off the shelves, so either everyone else is getting their early, or they're ordering a single issue for me. It's only supposed to be a 16-issue run (unfortunately not forever). Definitely the reason I had to go back and re-read ALL of the other volumes over several months.

Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Trainer

 I took a breath. No point starting in a blind run in an unknown area with unknown hazards and an unknown number of guards. Being in the interior of the building this area must be smaller than the other's I've seen so far, which honestly wasn't saying much thinking back on the huge spaces I'd seen thus far. Emberwilde had other ideas, however, emerging from his pokeball. "Where is the whelp?" he roared, nose sniffing the air.

"Char," I said still hunched down, "Lord we are not supposed to be here. I was just about to start searching for the runt, quietly."

The Charizard let out a snort, black smoke pouring from his nose. "I've found his scent," he said stomping down one of the hallways. "And a Lord can go wherever a Lord pleases. Best you remember that."

Hearing the shouts and footfalls coming toward me, I picked myself up and hurried after the fire pokemon. Running after Emberwilde, I realized the Charizard could really move when he wanted to. I always knew they were fast in the air but on the ground they typically relied on their brute strength of overwhelm their opponents. Seeing Emberwilde run on its two legs though made me wonder just how fast the pokemon could actually be.

After one more turn, Emberwilde stopped in front of a door with Ruby's name written on a piece of paper stuck to it. At the same time, a couple of guards turned a corner and spotted us. Before they could do anything, I ducked under Emberwilde's wings and pounded a fist on the door.

"Hey, what are you two doing back here?" shouted one of the guards just as the door swung open to reveal the green-haired trainer and several pokemon behind her, including the runt.

Quietly, I said, "Professor Oak asked me to introduce your Charmander to its father." The Charmander tilted its head quizzically, eyes darting back and forth between myself and Emberwilde while the Charizard's glare burned a hole in the back of my head. I kept my gaze upon Ruby, hoping that whether or not she believed my lie that at least she would let us into the room before either the guards grabbed me or my Lord set me aflame for the sleight upon his name.

After a minute, Ruby gave me a subtle nod, stepped around me and said to the gym security guards, "Sorry about the confusion. Thank you for doing your jobs so well but this is my travel companion and adviser. Just running late as he always is." She gave me a soft slap to the back of my head after the last part, and the guards shrugged their shoulders and walked back to their posts.

I felt a little insulted being shoved into the room while Ruby simply held the door for Emberwilde, allowing him to strut inside, but it was a far better outcome than being escorted out of the gym so I really couldn't complain. "So, you want to tell me why you really snuck down here, or should I call security back here? I'm sure they haven't gotten too far just yet," said Ruby, her arms crossed. Behind me, the Charmander let out a growl though after traveling with Emberwilde for several days, it might as well have been a tiny yip.

On edge after the last few tense moments without a minute to catch my breath, I whipped around to growl back at the tinier fire pokemon. "Char, Char," I said in its tongue, "Knock it off you little runt. Your betters are speaking now." The combination of my words, tone, and the glare in my eyes forced the smaller pokemon and its companions to cower back a step or two.

I didn't see Emberwilde move so much as felt the world around me shift. One moment I was staring down Ruby's pokemon, the next I was sideways and falling to the floor after Emberwilde's tail whip swept me off the ground. Once the shock wore off, I opened my eyes to find Emberwilde's face just an inch from my own. A low growl rumbled past his exposed and glistening teeth. Slowly, cautiously, I brought myself to kneel before the Charizard. "I apologize for the outburst, Lord Emberwilde. It has been a trying day. I promise to conduct myself better as one in service to your status."

Emberwilde's rage-filled eyes stared into mine long enough that I truly believed this would be my last day. After a long, long time staring into those eyes and those teeth, the Charizard's eyes finally softened. Grunting, he nodded his head toward the smaller pokemon before walking back to the corner of the room.

Still on my knees and head lowered to the floor, I turned to Ruby's pokemon. "Please excuse my earlier outburst. I meant no disrespect toward either your selves or your master." With my head bowed lower than all of their own (a difficult task considering Ruby traveled with not only a Raticate but a Pikachu as well), I then met each of their eyes to offer each a chance to reprimand me with either tail or tooth or claw.

"Okay, that's enough of that," said Ruby, yanking me to my feet by my shirt collar, "Who are you two? And what are you doing back here? And, most importantly, what the hell did you say to my pokemon that made yours attack you?"

Fighting the urge to knock the dirt and dust and whatever else happened to get onto my clothes from the floor (as the Inferno Clan tradition stated that shame should be worn as well as felt until the offender could be redeemed) I quickly explained about the Tartarus Isles, and wanting to scout the gym leader for Emberwilde's battle tomorrow. "Then seeing that look upon both of your faces after the last match, that hard look of determination unfortunately mixed with desperation, we knew we needed to speak with you and the runt -"

The slap connected with my cheek before I could finish the sentence, jarring my head to the side. Behind me, Emberwilde, as a Lord witnessing his vassal be struck unprovoked, let out a warning growl. "His name is Matches, not 'runt'," said Ruby, sternly looking at myself and then, less sternly, at Emberwilde and his teeth.

"I am sorry, Ms. Ruby, I meant no disrespect. I was merely stating what Matches would be referred to if not taken in first by Professor Oak, and then adopted by yourself." Behind me, Emberwilde's growl faded. Still, I waited until Ruby's face softened before continuing. "And that's why we needed to speak with you and Matches before the next match. You see, Matches still has the fire of one from the Inferno Clan in him, and I can see that you two are a formidable fighter. Those qualities, while helpful out in the world where fights are almost always matters of survival, in the arena, they could prove deadly to not only opponent but yourselves as well."

"If you came to tell us to back down from the next fight, you're wasting your breath," said Ruby turning her back to me.

I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not here to talk you out of the next match. I'm just saying not to take it too far. When the time comes, and against Misty's water pokemon, trust me it will, that you two won't resort to desperation. This is just a battle for some piece of jewelry and pride, it isn't life or death."

Ruby turned on me, close enough to smell the most recent battle on her, eyes wide and full of fury. "This might just be a game for a small trinket for you, but to us, this is life and death," Ruby snarled, droplets of spittle landing on my face. Her Charmander stepped next to her, letting out its own growl in acknowledgment.

I felt as well as heard Emberwilde's stomps as he moved from his spot against the wall to right behind me before letting out his own roar. Once the room fell into a hush, he spoke, "Char Char Charizard Char Zard Char."

Though Ruby's Charmander understood Emberwilde's wisdom and guidance, I could see the confusion on the other trainer's face. "Lord Emberwilde asks why, if this was truly a life or death battle, why did Matches merely scratch at its opponent's hard shell? Why not wrench the shell open with its claws and fill its maw with the Shellder's innards? Leave it's carcass as a trophy to mark its victory as well as its territory against other challengers? This is what a fight to the death is, after all?" Seeing Ruby's face change from rage to disgust to visibly queasy as she perhaps imagined her Charmander feasting upon another pokemon, I added, "And that's why we had to speak with you both, because that wild rage still exists within your Charmander, and if your can't tame it, then it will come out, unexpectedly and very, very violently."

Covering her mouth and with averted eyes, Ruby nodded. "Thank you. I think I understand now." Swallowing her pride, and perhaps a little bit of something else, she looked at me and Emberwidle and asked, "But without Charmander's rage, it won't be able to defeat Misty. What are we supposed to do?"

 We stood in silence for a while. Eventually, Charmander spoke, tugging on Ruby's shirt as it did so. "I'll lose," it said, somberly. Though she may not speak Char, Ruby certainly understood her Charmander, dropping to a knee and embracing the fire pokemon.

And just then, it was time for the final match to start. Emberwilde and I accompanied Ruby to the trainer box, me as an "advisor" and Emberwilde as Ruby's Charmander's "father," which Emberwilde was not happy about. I think his exact words were, "No one will believe one of my blood could be so small," and yet no one questioned it. Seeing the arena up close with the roar of the crowd around me really gave perspective that this was a much bigger stage than Pewter City, and it would only get bigger.

True to their strategy, Charmander lost. It managed to put up quite a fight against Misty's Starmie after defeating her Staryu, but we all knew defeating two of the gym's water pokemon was too big of a task. Knowing it was doomed once the Starmie entered the water, Charmander instead kept to weakening the other pokemon's defenses every time the water pokemon broke the surfacewith a barrage of tail whips and leers. It got in a couple of scratches before Misty's pokemon ultimately knocked it unconscious.

Rather than watch the rest of the watch, Emberwilde and I sat comforting the defeated fire pokemon. After all, we foresaw how the rest of the match would go: knowing it didn't stand a chance alone, Charmander did its best to weaken Misty's pokemon for the rest of its team. It took the remainder of Ruby's pookemon but in the end, she was victorious!

"And that's the game folks!" boomed the announcer's voice over the loud speakers. "Congratulations to Ruby and her pokemon in their hard fought victory against the best of the Cerulean gym."

Both trainer and gym leader returned their pokemon to their respective pokeballs before meeting in the middle of the arena. Emberwilde and I watched as Ruby wiped tears of joy from her face as Misty presented her with the Cascade Badge, a "shiny trinket" we'd soon win ourselves.

"Good luck on the rest of your journey and take care of yourself," I said as Ruby and I parted ways outside the gym, me back to the pokemon center for the night and Ruby onto the next town, "as well as your Charmander. I see now that its spirit would make it a fine member of the Inferno Clan."

"Thanks," Ruby said, looking over at her Charmander a couple steps away speaking with Lord Emberwilde, "I'll be sure to raise it right and provide it with the strongest companions I can." Then, leaning closer to me, she added, "And make sure to take care of yourself too. Your Charizard seems like it could kill you if he wanted to."

I laughed, nervously. "Yeah, he probably will." Hoping my smile would ease the look of horror on Ruby's face, I walked over to Emberwilde's side.

"Char Charizard," Emberwilde said passing along words of advice given to all new members of the Inferno Clan when the come of age. Charmander listened intently and nodded aggressively with a big smile on his face. Noticing me standing near, he turned and headed back to his own trainer. We gave each other one last wave before parting ways. Turning down the street, Emberwilde let out a grunt and a puff of smoke from his nostrils.

"Yeah, I saw her too," I replied, "and I'm sure she saw us too." I closed my eyes for a moment, bringing up the image of Ruby and Charmander waving to us. Then, focusing on the alley just behind the two stood Misty and a hooded figure. Misty was listening and didn't look happy. She glared at Emberwilde, just for an instant, before reluctantly taking something from the unknown person.

"You think whatever she got is meant for you tomorrow?" I asked redundantly, not even needing to turn my head to sense Emberwilde's affirmation.

"The next match may become a fight to the death," Emberwilde replied. I turned my head quizzically as the fire pokemon continued, "A scent lingering on the other person. I recognized it from back home. Back from the Tartarus Isles." Then, he vanished back into his pokeball, leaving me alone to contemplate who else from back home could be in town.

I know, right, I'm still writing this thing! Yes, one practice Reddit post from years ago is still at it, bothering me, nagging me to be worked upon. So, if somehow you made it all the way to the end of these posts (however many I split it into) or just the end of this one without having read any of the other "Emberwilde Comes" stories and are wondering, "what the hell is this?" well the short answer is simply Pokemon Fanfic. And, for a more detailed explanation: The Bearer, our main protagonist, comes from a land (The Tartarus Isles) where not only are all the pokemon naturally at a high level, but they're also the dominant species. Every year, each clan sends their Champion to the Kanto Region and, transported by their Bearer, must defeat each gym leader to earn the right to compete against the other Clan Champions for the right to rule the isles for the next year (or something like that, I haven't given that part too much thought ... yet). So far, we've chosen the Inferno Clan's Bearer, traveled from the Tartarus Isles, though Pallet Town, challenged Brock at Pewter City, encountered Team Rocket while traversing Mt Moon, and even defeated Misty, a part I wrote a while back out of boredom.

I did try to do some research (the bare minimum of course) into Pokemon Red and Blue, thinking I could perhaps use that walkthrough as a mirror/ guide to this series. In an effort to not add too much, I did cut out the idea of introducing another Bearer from the Tartarus Isles as a sort of "rival scene" (I'll do it later). I do feel a little proud of putting in the other Kanto trainer who took the Charmander, not only because I always chose Charmander but because I always wondered what happened to the other three trainers out of Pallet Town (they only every showed Ash and Gary in the show).

And yes, as much as I'm trying to get away from this series (because, hey, unless Nintendo is willing to cut me a check, no way is any of this profitable), I do have more scenes planned (no, not what happens next unfortunately ... or fortunately?) but not the next scene so it isn't something to be worked on soon, just to end on a happy thought for the three of you who still read this trash.

Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Welcome

Previously on Emberwilde Comes, our heroes survived their trek through Mt Moon as well as an encounter with the evil Team Rocket. Now, emerging in Cerulean City, a new challenge awaits them.

Upon entering Cerulean City, I felt the instinctive fear all fire types feel when confronted with water. It was overwhelming as my vision filled with more water than I'd seen for the past couple of days. In addition to a natural flowing river surrounding the city, pokemon and humans splashed and swam in a multitude of deep pools while a giant waterpark threatened to flood five blocks in all directions. The worst were the variety of signs and billboards depicting oceans or rainstorms for water-themed businesses that appeared themselves to blot out the sky. Having lived my entire life on an island, I managed to wall off the fear fairly quickly but not before spending a full-minute taking it all in, my body giving an involuntary shudder. I wanted to leave Cerulean City as soon as I set foot in it.

I took an step back, wondering if Emberwilde and I could skip this city, that perhaps he may earn a badge at another, more obscure gym. After all, The Champion merely needs to win eight badges to participate in the End of Year Tournament, not necessarily from the same gyms mapped out every year. I froze, remembering the message, no, the taunt waiting for Emberwilde just outside the gates. An Atreolpeaf tree, native to the Tartarus Isles, stood amongst a small grove of native Kanto trees, its usually bright orange flowers already fading to an ashy gray. Carved into the tree was a raindrop with three rings wrapped around it's bottom. The Forest Clan had already passed through here at least four days ago judging by the rate of decay of the Atreolpeaf tree struggling to survive without the Tartarus Isle's volcanic soil. The Rainmaker clan then passed through, perhaps right after them, though stopping briefly to carve into the tree. Neither of the two would've had a problem against the Rock Pokemon at the previous gym, nor run into as much trouble as I had in crossing under Mt. Moon.

The anger recovered my desire to bear the Inferno Clan Champion across Kanto, and if that path forced us to confront our most difficult opponent so early in our travels, then so be it. Emberwilde would crush all challengers put before him. My fire restored, I strode into Cerulean City with my head held high.

I discussed with Emberwilde what our next step should be outside the caves of Mt. Moon especially with half of our party exhausted, injured, or both. Emberwilde, as any warrior of the Inferno Clan would, argued that we simply needed a couple days of rest before continuing onward. Reminding him of the head start the other clans had, I suggested the use of a "Pokemon Center," a place we were told housed machines that could heal pokemon in minutes. As much as he hated the idea, Emberwilde eventually accepted my suggestion, grudgingly, and simply returned to his pokeball.

Alone and unprepared at what I might find, I walked hesitantly into the Pokemon Center. Immediately, my senses were overwhelmed: bright florescent lights reflecting off of clean white linoleum floors, the overpowering smell of antiseptics so heavy in its use I could taste its bitterness and feel it on my skin, and, most of all, the eerie quietness of it all as people and pokemon alike waited patiently while a pink-haired woman (perhaps a relative of the Nurse Joy from back home) simply smiled politely from the other side of a desk. Back home, healers were always patching someone up whether from a hunt or battle or simply an accident. There were always two or three Pokemon or people waiting to be seen, the air filled with their groans and whines, the stench of blood a constant.

Hesitantly, I walked through the waiting room to the woman sitting behind the desk. The nurse's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, as she said, "Welcome to the Cerulean City Pokemon Center. I'm Nurse Joy. How can I help you today?"

Panic set in briefly as all the information I received with the other prospective Bearers about the workings of the Kanto healers vanished from my mind. "Umm," I stammered, "I'd like to use your machine?"

Nurse Joy's smile disappeared, turning to confusion. "Sorry, I don't quite understand."

"Chansey?" came another voice from the other side of the table. Looking over, standing next to Nurse Joy, was a pink Chansey wearing a similar hat. "Are you here to heal your pokemon?" the Chansey repeated.

My panic faded to relief upon seeing the pokemon in a familiar setting. "Chansey," I said in greeting, "Yes, but I don't understand this place." After admitting confusion, the Chansey grabbed a tray with six cut-outs, each the size of a pokeball, then pointed at a machine off to the side. Nurse Joy looked from the Chansey to myself in confusion for another second until she simply shrugged her shoulders.

I placed five red-and-white pokeballs and a black-and-red one into the tray. Simultaneously, Nurse Joy and I grabbed the tray. Swiftly, I released the tray and then snatched Emberwilde's ball back. Apologizing, I said, "Sorry, but as Emberwilde's Bearer, I cannot allow anyone else to handle his dwelling, especially not with The Lord inside."

Again, confusion appeared on Nurse Joy's face for a moment until her eyes widened in understanding. "Ahh, another from the Tartarus Isles. My cousin told me that you all would be starting your journey soon. I also should've guessed once I saw you were able to converse with Chansey." Taking the tray, Nurse Joy motioned for me to come around the desk to the Kanto healing machine with Emberwilde's ball. "Yes, your ... rivals, as the kids call them, were here several days ago, and were just as adamant about holding onto one particular pokemon. A .... Champion, I think they were referred to as."

Nurse Joy placed my tray of pokemon into the machine and I dropped Emberwilde's ball back into the empty spot. A glass lid covered the pokeballs as the machine began a series of whirls and beeps, lights flashing. "You can have a seat with the others," Nurse Joy said, pointing back to a set of chairs, "It could take a little while to make sure all your pokemon are up to full health."

I sat and watched people walk in and out of the Pokemon Center, some pokemon in need of healing after a battle while others were just in need of a check-up as if they were pets. The relationship between Pokemon and people continued to astound me the more I traveled the region. Could it work this way back home in the Tartarus Isles? Could Lord Emberwilde and I truly become equals?

A series of loud mechanical chimes awakened me from my daydream. Nurse Joy waved to me as she said, "Your Pokemon are fully healed." After placing each ball back onto my belt, I caught her giving me a quick glance up and down. "Um, in case you were interested, we do have some bunks available if you needed a rest, as well as a shower and laundry service."

I caught a glimpse of my dirt-stained face reflected in the countertop and took a subtle whiff of my clothes. I nodded in agreement with Nurse Joy as Professor Oak's bathing comments once again played in my mind. "Thank you. But first I believe Emberwilde would like to win the Cascade Badge from your city's gym leader. We're already a couple days behind our Tartarus Isle rivals."

"Oh my," Nurse Joy said before I could head out the door, "Well, I believe another challenge is already underway, but I'm sure Misty could make time for you after her battle. A young woman from Pallet Town if I remember correctly."

I shook my head. "Oh, if that's the case, then perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. It wouldn't be in the Tartarus Isle way to challenge someone right after they've dueled another. Maybe I'll head over though just to watch the battle."

As if simply thinking aloud, Nurse Joy said, "Interesting. We rarely treat fire-type pokemon here, much less two in a single day."

Instead of going directly to the gym, I spent a good part of an hour wandering the city before realizing I'd passed it twice, mistaking it for a giant aquarium instead. The building was massive, much bigger than the Pewter City gym, complete with a towering five-story glass tank filled with almost every known water pokemon: schools of Goldeen, clusters of Shellder, and even a Gyarados serpentining the entire enclosure. My focus on the incredible sight, I almost didn't hear the cheers and jeers echoing from inside on my third pass, the unmistakable sounds of a crowd entertained by competition.

Pushing open the door, I found myself in a hallway lined with glass cases and frames containing all manner of memento and memorabilia celebrating the Cerulean City gym: trophies and medals celebrating previous victories and achievements; pictures, statues, and articles honoring pokemon and trainers. Filled with equal parts terror and amazement, my footsteps echoed as I crept deeper into my enemy's den afraid that not even Emberwilde's flame could protect us here.

Through the doors at the other end of the hall, I finally entered the arena just as the battle ended. Bright lights shone on an enormous above ground glass pool probably close to thirty feet deep. Separated by a hundred feet on opposite ends of the pool were two raised platforms where the pokemon trainers stood. Several pillars raising just above the waterline and platforms floating upon the water gave a place for non-swimming pokemon to stand.

My eyes though immediately focused on the pokemon standing atop one of the floating platforms - a Charmander, breathing heavily and tail-flame waning. I gasped, and finding Emberwilde's pokeball in my hand, had to restrain myself from releasing a Lord of the Inferno Clan into the arena to rescue a fellow fire-type pokemon surrounded on all sides by water. Taking a moment to compose myself, I pondered why a Charmander would be battling in a water gym in the first place, especially, according to my previous conversation with Professor Oak, they were considered rare in the Kanto region.

Focusing my gaze upon the giant screen above the arena, I saw that Charmander belonged to the Trainer, Ruby, the girl with green hair on one side of the pool. It looked as if four of her pokemon had already been knocked out of the match, leaving her with just two left. Was this a desperate gambit, a show of pride, or did she actually have a good reason for sending out the fire pokemon? Then I noticed the screen also displayed where Ruby hailed from, "Pallet Town."

I returned my eyes to the Charmander, staring hard for any tell-tale clue. Professor Oak said that the Inferno Clan sends its runts away as a mercy but also to help bolster their population in the Kanto Region. If this girl was from Pallet Town, could that Charmander be one of ours, from our clan? I pitied the poor thing having to grow so far from home yet knew it was for the best. Seeing the determination in its eyes though filled me with a pride that even though one may be raised and coddled in a softer world, the natural predator instinct still remained.

Through the glass, a Shellder swam circles around the platform, though far slower than it should. After three laps, it sprang from the water, seeking to tackle the fire pokemon and knock it into the pool.

"Charmander, behind you!" warned Ruby. Turning at the last moment, the Charmander took the full force of the tackle, the Shellder hitting his chest. I gasped, watching Charmander slide backwards as the Shellder drove them both to the edge of the platform. Claws digging into the floating block, the Charmander halted their momentum inches from the water. Then, it switched from defense to offense.

Seeing the tables turned, the green-haired trainer didn't hesitate. "Now's your chance. Use scratch attack!" she shouted. Gripping his opponent with both clawed hands, Charmander threw the water pokemon down onto the platform. Out of water and its speed reduced, Shellder could do nothing but sit motionless as Charmander laid into it continuously with both claws. Although many of the strikes simply sounded like nails raking against stone, several sounded closer to a butcher's cleaver chopping into a slab of beef. After a few seconds of perhaps two dozen strikes, the Shellder flipped onto its back, and, not a second later, the judge's bell rang out through the stadium.

"Let's hear it for the challenger, Ruby, in a well fought battle against Cerulean City's own Brooke. We will now take a fifteen minute break to allow our trainers and their pokemon a short rest and to reset the stage before our final bout of the day, the challenger Ruby against your very own Ccrulean City gym leader, Misty! Food and drinks can be bought at the concession stands, and a reminder that the second and third floor restrooms have been opened for use. We'll see you all back here in fifteen minutes for the start of our last match."

The crowds parted around me giving me a wide berth though I'm unsure if it was due to my focused, unbroken gaze upon the green-haired trainer, or (recounting earlier remarks) perhaps I really did need a bath. Through the crowd, I watched as Charmander finally returned to its trainer's side. Seeing her look the pokemon over for major injuries before pulling him into a hug assured me the runt would be properly cared for in Kanto. As she sprayed a medicine from a potion vial, her mouth moved and I saw the fire pokemon respond simply with a nod of his head. No doubt praising the pokemon on the hard won fight, or talking strategy for their next fight. As they spoke though, I noticed something in their eyes, the looks of determination changing, hardening into something else entirely. Something more primal, a look I'd seen too many times in the Tartarus Isles, and one I never expected to see here amongst children vying for shiny trinkets. As I shook in fear, the two of them made their way down a tunnel and out of view.

Following a person is similar to stalking prey, the basics of which are taught to all in the Inferno Clan at a young age. Falling in with the herd of people, I slipped around the concession filled with smells that made my stomach growl, and the long, snaking lines of people with uncomfortable faces and oddly-dancing children. I needed to speak with Ruby and the runt before the next match or else something terrible may occur. Though I could easily let Emberwilde loose to knock down doors, because I planned to be back tomorrow (and remembering the trouble caused when he burned down one gym), I decided this search would instead focus on stealth and subtlety.

Though I'd never navigated a jungle like this one, the basics should still remain the same. I stayed mixed with the crowd, always right behind a group as my eyes scanned for an opening. After a few minutes, I finally caught a break when I overheard a man at the concession stand order another to take a tray of food for "the challenger." Following right behind, I quickly grabbed at the door marked "Restricted Access," feigning courtesy as I held the door for the man with the tray. Then, I slipped in and took cover behind a stack of crates as the door closed. A new maze where I clearly didn't belong, this new section would require speed more than anything.

Books of 2022: Quarter 3

 Catching up on 7th grade reading

 

Search for Senna by K. A. Applegate

"Slowly Senna climbed to her feet. She turned and looked at us. She was maybe a hundred feet away.
     I could see confusion on her face.
     Her mouth formed the word, 'no.'
     And then the entire universe ripped apart."

Mysteriously called together one early morning, a group of average high school kids witness one of their own dragged through a portal in the jaws of a giant wolf, ripped from our world into another. In its wake, the four are brought through as well as the portal closes behind them. David, Christopher, April, and Jalil (almost strangers to one another) find themselves prisoners in Everworld, another dimension created by the old gods when they retired from Earth. Held captive by Loki accused of hiding his captured witch, the four of them search for not only a way to return home but also to save Senna, where she may be.

Land of Loss by K. A. Applegate

 

"Somehow, someway, for some reason, the old gods of Earth decided to abandon the real world. We didn't know why....
     They brought along all the creatures of myth and legend. And they dragged a healthy number of humans across with them, because, hey, what's the point in being a god if there's no one around to kiss your immortal butt."

Alongside Vikings, the stranded teenagers set sail for the realm of the Aztecs and their sun god, Huitzilopoctli. In an effort to secure the release of Odin from Loki's clutches, the Vikings need to take the sun god's head, while the group goes along believing themselves safe amongst the Vikings in case Loki comes for them. Christopher witnesses the horrors of combat and violence and so much worse in the clutches of the Aztecs. The group will need to rely on one another to not only survive the ordeal but escape to find their way home.

Enter the Enchanted by by K. A. Applegate

 

"We don't exactly know what Everworld is. We know it is a universe constructed by the fugitive gods of ancient Earth. We know that recently alien immortals have found their way in. Interlopers in a private chat room."

Reunited with Senna, April and the group find themselves in the company of Galahad and other knights of the Round Table. Momentarily safe within castle walls, the group looks to Senna for answers and only receives more questions: Is Senna really a witch? Is she their only way home as well as the way for every other being in Everworld to return to Earth? Can they escape Everworld, back to their lives, knowing that the monsters in Everworld can also use her a a portal to escape back to Earth?

Realm of the Reaper by K. A. Applegate

 

"Then the pig said, 'Give me your apples. Give me your apples or I'll gut you, one by one.'
     We gave him our apples.
     Just another day in Everworld."

Trudging through the woods, Jalil and the group are swept into an unsettling city at the base of a mountain where the guards face inward, allowing anyone to enter but ensuring no one leaves. The group finds themselves the guests of Hel, daughter of Loki and Ruler of the Viking underworld.

Discover the Destroyer by K. A. Applegate

 

"There was a stone, a ruby inside by chest. Right where my heart should be. And in six days it would burst into flame and kill me. We were thirsty, hungry, exhausted. Our heads, or at least my head, was full of recent memories of unspeakable horror.
     But I was feeling strangely upbeat."

David and the gang are set on a quest by a robbed dragon from Norse mythology - get my treasure back from the fairies, or the rubies swapped for your hearts will ignite and kill you. The five teenagers discover fairy land isn't quite what the real world makes them out to be, finding instead a giant marketplace - the hub of all of Everworld's commerce. Getting back the treasures is never as easy as just asking, and the fairies are too martially superior to swing a sword at. Instead the group will need to come up with something of value to trade, but what can they offer when the fairies not only control hordes of riches but they're also bargaining against the god-eater, Ka-Anor?

Fear the Fantastic by K. A. Applegate

 

"Whenever Everwold me went to sleep I sort of snapped back into the continuing saga of boring, real-world me.
     A great life. I could be dragon food one minute, fall asleep, and still have to face the SAT's.
     Here's a news flash: Life isn't fair."

Things had just started to look up for Christopher and the gang: They got their hearts back from a greedy dragon, they escaped an entire city of fairies that hated them, and now they were rich with a backpack full of diamonds. In Everworld though good things don't last forever, as the group finds themselves not only captured by Hetwan aliens but heading right into their territory. Promised immortality by a captured Greek god, the group finds they'll still need to pass right through Ka-Anor's capital to reach the relative safety of Olympus.

Gateway to the Gods by K. A. Applegate

 

"'Yeah. You know what? Screw their little temper tantrums. I'm tired of this. This is what comes from having your butt kissed for thousands of years. Reality time for the gods starts right now.'
     I think all three of us were proud of David at that moment.
     And all three of us edged slowly away from him."

Atop Mt. Olympus, the group finds a sanctuary they had yet to experience in their entire time in Everwold: A soothing bath, plentiful food, soft beds. The only downside appears to be the army of Hetwan marching against the Olympian gods who appear to be indifferent to the threat they face. April and the group must work to not only unite the gods but also assist in the effort to drive back the Hetwan army.

Brave the Betrayal by K. A. Applegate

 

"We had to figure out how to undo our careless mistake. We weren't exactly the serpents in the Garden of Eden, but we had managed to take a bad situation and make it worse.
     We had introduced gunpowder."

"Yeah, Jalil, tell yourself that's all there is to it. Tell yourself it's not personal. It's not ego. Real-world reason meets magic? No, real-world, nuclear-age ruthlessness meets Everworld naivete."

The Coo-Hatch, alien mortals kidnapped by their own alien god, have proven themselves a threat but also proven that they can be bargained with. The price - to be returned home and leave Everworld behind. The group is tasked by the Olympian gods to find Senna's mother, a priestess of Isis who can supposedly create a strong enough gateway to the Coo-Hatch home. On their way to the land of the Egyptian gods however, Jalil and the rest will need to cross the African region. Confronted and confounded by a messenger, the group will fight against a simple request but one that also challenges their beliefs - give a sacrifice in honor of the gods. In the real world, Jalil also faces an even more terrifying challenge - asking a girl on a date.

Inside the Illusion by K. A. Applegate

 

"They saw me as a witch. A gateway. A mutant freak who lived in both universes at once. To the gods I was a tool or an impediment. But they did not fear me, oh not yet. They didn't fear me because they didn't understand. They didn't see the crucial fact."

The group's entry into Egypt to search for Senna's mother, of course, does not go as smoothly as they hoped. They find Egypt choked and starved due to the damming of the Nile by dwarves. The city itself, its temples and palaces, are ruled by Amazons who are systematically looting everything of value while the Egyptian gods lay dormant. Expecting to find in her mother a power like herself, Senna instead finds a sad and scared woman simply looking to run to the next easiest thing - an utter disappointment in Senna's eyes. but the group will still need her to complete their bargain with the Coo-Hatch and turn the dies in the war with Ka-Anor.

Understand the Unknown by K. A. Applegate

 

"Didn't want to go to sleep and cross over to the real world, the old world. Just wasn't in the mood to deal with my mother or my job or school or any of those other people and things about my old life that no longer seemed very important."

Having escaped Egypt with a promise from Senna's mother to help send the Coo-Hatch back home, the group sets sail for Olympus. Thanks to Merlin's meddling, and a god-created storm, David and the group are sunk down into Neptune's domain where the psychopathic god rules his denizens through fear. Finding himself against a foe that could drown them with a thought, one that he cannot fight through brute force, David must find another way to save his team and escape. 

Mystify the Magician by K. A. Applegate

 

"'I'll go with you,' I said, startling myself and earning an honest surprised look from Elf Mommy, and a look of warm appreciation from Etain.
     'You will?' April said, more puzzled than impressed.
     'Yeah. Someone's going to need to show these two heroes how to run away.'"

Arriving back on the surface, the group find themselves on Eire shores in a town under the protection of Merlin himself. A town, in fact, though missing the protection of a god, managed to not only thrive, but even embrace the technology brought to Everworld by the group: electricity, telegraph, even a working cable car. Christopher even finds - love. Though safe for the moment, the group knows it is only a matter of time until Merlin's return. Senna though, unwilling to wait until she is formally captured, begins to enact her master plan, jeopardizing Christopher, the group, and even Everworld itself.

Entertain the End by K. A. Applegate

 

"Now, here we were, the four of us, planning an invasion of Hel's domain, fading or already gone in the real world, more than  likely we'd spend the rest of our lives in Everworld, a place of massive uncertainty, fear, and violence. And on some distant level, I really didn't mind."

April, the group, and a few others escape the capture of Merlinshire by Senna's soldiers but now see a new threat. With the Sennites, armed with real-world technology, now leaderless, and Ka-Anor, the alien God-Eater, both a threat to Everworld, the group decides it is finally time to gather forces to destroy one of the groups before they team-up and destroy Everworld together. To do so means another trip to Hel to rescue a couple of imprisoned gods, a realm none of them are happy about revisiting.

I don't remember exactly what it was that even reminded me of a book series I started in middle school and never finished as the school library only carried the first couple of books. So anyway, reminded, I first checked Amazon to make sure ALL the books were for sale (no point in buying a couple at a time only to find even just one book missing), then splurged and bought them all at once. So, that's what the reading list looked like for a while, though it really should not have taken me three months to finish as the books are meant for folks much younger than me. I know when I got caught up in it, it took me less than a week to finish a book but other things came up and some days I wouldn't read at all. And if you read the last book post, you know what that thing is.

Like another K. A. Applegate series, "Animorphs" (another I also never finished), each book is narrated by a different character from their perspective. Also like "Animorphs," this wasn't the typical teenage power trip fantasy that I was used to at the time. The four main characters are way out of their depth in dealing with the threats Everworld presents. David attempts to deal with it with bravery and confidence, and finds himself severely lacking. He isn't just a child facing battle-hardened adults, but a child fighting monsters and gods. Christopher is the jester of the group, using humor and jokes to deal with his fears. He even acknowledges his fear, just wanting to run away back home to his couch and television. April is the most sensible of the group, the "good girl" who spends her time at school and church and drama club. She attempts to balance out everyone's personalities to help them survive the situation they find themselves. Jalil is the logical one, always looking for a way to make sense of Everworld as fantastical of a place as it is. In the real world, he's plagued by his own demons, a severe case of OCD, but finds himself now fully in control of himself in Everworld.

Everworld itself is a patchwork of different old-world lands and religions and myths pieced together in a way for them all to exist in one seamless space. It's something that little kid me liked to read about, stories of old gods and heroes and monsters - simple stories that older me now knows were simple because myths are how they used to teach, and there's no point in trying to teach someone if the story you're using is just going to go over there head. And little-kid me liked seeing these different ideas blended together - "hey, what if we take these things and just blend them together?" - especially toward the end when we get to see real-world knowledge and tactics challenge the supernatural. I mean, I've probably written stories like that and will continue to write things like that (isn't that what Urban Fantasy is?).

As the series goes along, the group is faced with not the fear of death but even deeper, philosophical questions which Applegate poses to young readers. They find themselves questioning reality and if their Everworld lives have become more important than their real-world selves. Is their lives in a fantasy world really more important than their their mundane lives which is seemingly being left behind? David faces his past trauma to find where his need to always be brave comes from. Christopher, a borderline racist, sexist, alcoholic, and all-around asshole, grows-up after not only meeting people worse than him, but also those that are his better. April's faith is questioned when she calls out to the gods she can see instead of the one the believes in. Jalil's notions of logic, science, and rationalism are challenged constantly by Everworld's fantastical elements which at times hinders the group until he can find a way to balance both in his mind.

The end of the series, now that I somehow know more about books and publishing (thanks writer interviews), makes me think that the deal was only for 12 books and the publisher was unwilling to extend the contract. Who knows, maybe I have that wrong and it did end right where the writer wanted it to end. It just felt unfinished as the major threat was still out there in Everworld and the group simply leaves their real-world selves behind, fully investing in Everworld. Sorry for the 20 year old spoiler. I get that they killed their (possibly) only way back to Earth but I Applegate could have written a way for the group to find a way back if more time was given.