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Bulbagarden Forums - Blogs - smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/ Bulbagarden - The original Pokémon Community en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:59:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/images/styles/XY/misc/rss.jpg Bulbagarden Forums - Blogs - smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/ Kyurem and Ghetsis: A Past Encounter at Giant Chasm? http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/kyurem-ghetsis-past-encounter-giant-chasm-44569/ Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:39:15 GMT I made this post some time ago in the Placeholder for Kyurem in BW thread, which is now closed. Since I frequently visit Giant Chasm in-game, this happened to cross my mind again, so I just felt like putting this in my blog orz. http://crystal.onigami.net/imagefiles/giantchasm.png So I just... I made this post some time ago in the Placeholder for Kyurem in BW thread, which is now closed. Since I frequently visit Giant Chasm in-game, this happened to cross my mind again, so I just felt like putting this in my blog orz.

So I just noticed that, near the entrance to Giant Chasm cave, there are stairs that lead to a broken bridge. Could this bridge have once lead straight to Kyurem's cave? If so, why would there have been direct access to the cave?

Personally, I think Ghetsis may have had something to do with this. I have a theory that he once tried to capture Kyurem a long time ago, well before N was conceived, and failed miserably. There are a couple things that could possibly point to a previous encounter with Kyurem. First of all, there's the eye patch over his right eye. Of course, everyone has seen this. But what a lot of people may not have noticed is his right arm, as seen in the opening cinematic for Pokemon Black and White:

It is completely black, in contrast to his left arm. This is only seen in the opening cinematic. In official art and in-game, he keeps his right arm concealed at all times. I believe that Ghetsis may have received severe frostbite injuries from one of Kyurem's ice attacks (possibly Glaciate). Although, for his arm to turn completely black, he would've had to have gone days without receiving medical treatment. When frost-bitten, the skin only turns black in the most advanced stages of frostbite. As for the injury to his right eye, that may be the result of flying debris caused by one of Kyurem's attacks. Looking at the concept art for Ghetsis, his right eye is indeed badly scarred. He may have gone in without knowledge of how powerful Kyurem was. Or, if he did know, then he was probably overestimating the strength of his own Pokemon. In-game, the player character encounters Kyurem at level 75, one of the highest levels for a legendary Pokemon not just in Gen V, but compared to the other generations, as well.

As far as the bridge goes...I'm not really sure what to make of it. People have been frightened of Kyurem for centuries, to the point of creating baseless rumors about it. So why build a bridge that leads straight to the cave it lairs in? And I'm not sure if Ghetsis had anything to do with the construction of the bridge. If Team Plasma was in existence, then this could be possible. But, if anything, Ghetsis' encounter with Kyurem may have lead to Kyurem becoming enraged and possibly turning the area into a frozen wasteland (similar to when the player character reaches the small lake in the central area), destroying the bridge in the process and leaving Ghetsis stranded there for days.

An interesting side note, the description of Giant Chasm on the map reads as such:

Legend says that if you approach this big chasm, disasters surely follow.

Perhaps there is some truth to this legend?

If this turns out to be true, then I think we may get a little more backstory on Ghetsis in B2/W2.

As for why he would go through all this trouble...who knows. He seems to have a thing for (pseudo) legendary Dragon-type Pokemon. He used N to get to Zekrom/Reshiram, he had the orbs that belong to Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, and he has a non-legit Hydreigon. Although this may speak towards his narcissistic personality more than anything.

I know this is merely speculation, but...I think its something interesting to talk about in regards to Kyurem? ]]> smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/kyurem-ghetsis-past-encounter-giant-chasm-44569/ <![CDATA[The Mystery of N's Puzzle Cube]]> http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/mystery-ns-puzzle-cube-43972/ Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:20:33 GMT Update 3/8: I misinterpreted the Abyssal Ruins prophecy, so the alternate timeline/universe theory is out. However, the original dragon is definitely still in. Update 3/7: Added translation of Puzzle Cube notes, amended a few terms used, and tweaked my theories a bit. I think this is worth... Update 3/8: I misinterpreted the Abyssal Ruins prophecy, so the alternate timeline/universe theory is out. However, the original dragon is definitely still in.
Update 3/7: Added translation of Puzzle Cube notes, amended a few terms used, and tweaked my theories a bit.

I think this is worth documenting in my blog and I've fleshed it out a little more with my thoughts about the Pokemon within the Puzzle Cube and the key required to open it upon solving it.

So how about we talk about this:

Originally Posted by Bulbapedia

N's concept artwork and the accompanying notes indicate that the puzzle cube might eventually become relevant to the game's plot and show that a central cube with a keyhole will appear when the puzzle is solved, locking away something mysterious in its core, which is implied to be a Pokémon.

Originally Posted by Silktree

But having checked with my friend GlitterBerri, I can confirm that whoever added to Bulbapedia missed a very important point. The highlight of the notes is: "In the middle, a TV broadcasting some sort of Pokémon?" To further this impression, the key is also referred to as a button. Finally, there is also a note about six colors, akin to those of the Rubik's Cube, where the "ornamentation is a motif in the shape of something meaningful". The object's official name is "N's Puzzle Cube"; the notes don't mention a Void Cube, let alone a Menger sponge.

Concept art for N's Puzzle Cube

I don't know about you, but it sounds like N's Puzzle Cube could be an elaborate type of Poke Ball. What could be inside? If it is a Pokemon, which one could it be? It might seem unlikely, but I think it could be a Gen VI Pokemon. If not, then maybe a Pokemon related to the Tao Trio.

Initially I dismissed the possibility of it being the original dragon, but what if this Puzzle Cube is acting as a time capsule? Since the Puzzle Cube most likely contains the projection of a Pokemon, it's possible that the Abyssal Ruins civilization sealed a projection of the original dragon inside the Puzzle Cube in anticipation of their long-awaited King. Since the split of the original dragon most likely cannot be undone, they did this as a bit of extra insurance for if and when the King awakened. Now that I understand the motives of the Abyssal Ruins civilization a little better, I can say that they probably intended for the split to occur for the sole purpose of awakening their King, even if it would cause much conflict and chaos. And the projection of the original dragon inside the Puzzle Cube can exist in any time, even after the split.

At first I thought maybe Ghetsis had something to do with this, since this Puzzle Cube was given to N as a child. But, to me, it seems like something like this is way beyond Ghetsis' level of thinking. Unless Ghetsis knows more then he's letting on, perhaps someone else gave it to N. The problem is that we don't have enough background information on Ghetsis to know what he's thinking or what his next move is. So I'm sort of stuck on who could've given the Puzzle Cube to N. Concordia and Anthea are also possible candidates. Originally I thought they were a bit too tight-lipped for this role, but they could easily expand their exposition roles in B2/W2. It's also possible that Concordia and Anthea are descendants of the Abyssal Ruins civilization.

As for N actually solving this Puzzle Cube, I was reminded of this part of the Abyssal Ruins prophecy:

King turns 2nd corner.
King turns 3rd corner.
King turns 5th corner.
King turns 7th corner.

In order to solve any puzzle cube, you need to turn the different sides of the cube until each face of the cube is uniform. If you only focus on the numbers in each line (Turn 2, Turn 3, etc.), perhaps this is a hint for solving N's Puzzle Cube? If the Puzzle Cube is indeed related to the Abyssal Ruins, then the Puzzle Cube may be much older then we realize, and it may even hint at a connection between N and the original King. The designs on the Puzzle Cube do look like they could date back to the time of the Abyssal Ruins.

There's no indication that this will actually be covered in B2/W2, but I think this is a very interesting bit of information. I really hope it doesn't get the GS Ball treatment. ]]> smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/mystery-ns-puzzle-cube-43972/ The Major Arcana and its application to Pokemon Black and White Part II http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/major-arcana-its-application-pokemon-black-white-part-ii-42599/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:48:12 GMT Now I'll move on to the player character's journey in general, going up to the events at N's Castle. The Major Arcana can only be loosely applied to the storyline, as the writers probably weren't thinking about this concept (or were they?). So I'll just cover a few of the turning points of the story. Keep in mind that the player character's journey could possibly cover the entire span of Major Arcana, but it doesn't necessarily touch on every single arcana.

Like before, there are spoilers ahead.

Magician through Hierophant could be considered minor events, or they could simply represent the introduction of their respective characters. I've already covered Magician and Priestess, so that leaves Empress, Emperor, and Hierophant. Since none of the other characters are fleshed out enough, I'm unable to associate a certain character with each of these arcana. So we'll skip them for now and move on to The Lovers arcana.

As the name implies, it is most associated with romance, relationships, and passion. However, I'm not going to focus on these aspects, as it would devolve into a shallow discussion of what the canon relationship would be (which there are none). Instead, I'm going to focus on the alternative interpretation of The Lovers arcana. This arcana is a card of choice, in which The Fool gains awareness of the world around him and shifts his focus away from the basic human archetypes to more complex concepts and struggles. And so The Fool must reawaken his true purpose for beginning his journey in the first place. Simply put, it is a transitional card. As controversial as it will sound, I would place this arcana with the infamous ferris wheel scene. Up until now, the player character has continued on their journey, earning gym badges and filling up the Pokedex like anyone would on a typical Pokemon journey. Unfortunately, this is no ordinary journey for the player character. Their awareness of the unusual situation with Team Plasma will awaken in Nimbasa City, and their true struggle will begin. The Lovers arcana also symbolizes doubts, temptation, curiosity, and dilemma; something akin to opening Pandora's Box, if you will. Here in the Nimbasa City amusement park, the player character was presented with a choice; do I follow N or not? Do I satiate my curiosity and awaken to a new reason for my journey, or do I remain blissfully unaware of the danger Team Plasma presents and continue on my "ordinary" journey? Obviously the mechanics don't allow you to not follow N, but it is inevitably a decision made by the protagonist in this story. And, well, we all know how that went.

Moving right along, we have The Chariot arcana. This arcana can actually be applied to two consecutive events: apprehending Team Plasma in Driftveil City, and the encounter with N in Chargestone Cave. The Chariot arcana is quite a complex card, as The Fool has moved on to higher levels of awareness and thinking. It represents honor, conviction, and discipline. It also denotes a difficult but brief victory, which leads to frustration. After learning N's true identity, the player character is charged with the task of preventing Team Plasma from accomplishing their goals. However, they are alone in this endeavor. They must struggle against a seemingly limitless, omnipresent force. Although the player character and Cheren manage to successfully apprehend Team Plasma in Driftveil City's Cold Storage, they are soon confronted by Ghetsis, resulting in the offending Team Plasma members being set free and effectively undoing the player character's hard work. Pretty frustrating, right? This frustration is carried along into Chargestone Cave, where the player character is forced into yet another encounter with N by the Shadow Triad. But this frustration goes both ways here. After losing yet another battle with the player character, N's frustration reaches a boiling point, as he fails to understand why he cannot win against the player character. This ultimately leads to N lashing out at Professor Juniper, and storming off immediately afterwards. Here we have two opposing forces locked in a struggle. Both are unrivaled in their conviction, never resting until they achieve their victory. They pull in opposite directions, yet this union of opposites is what carries the story along its path, as well as The Fool along on his journey.

At this point, the story starts to speed up quite a bit, making it difficult to place the remaining events with arcana. There could even be multiple arcana for certain events. So I'm going to have to break the order of the arcana somewhat.

The next major turning point of the story begins after you reach the exit of Twist Mountain and continues on to after you earn your 7th badge in Iccirus City. Near the exit of Twist Mountain, you and Cheren encounter a couple of Team Plasma members who mention other members at "a tower" and claim that they've just obtained a power that will allow them to rule the world. Cheren disregards this troubling piece of information and opts to stay in the mountain a little longer. Of course, the tower they refer to is none other than Dragonspiral Tower. The player character can rush ahead to investigate the tower, but they'll find that it is sealed, with Team Plasma no where in sight. I believe that The Hanged Man arcana best fits the player character's situation. This arcana symbolizes passivity, surrender, and inability to take action. The Fool is prevented from moving ahead in his journey, and he cannot prepare for what lies ahead on his path, which is beginning to become quite obscured. This suspension of movement is continued on to after the 7th badge is earned, when the Shadow Triad appears in front of the player character, as well as Cheren, Bianca, and Brycen, and informs them that N awaits the player character at the top of Dragonspiral Tower. No matter how quickly the player character ascends the tower, they cannot prevent N from awakening and obtaining Zekrom/Reshiram. Now here, a few different arcana could apply. Obviously Hanged Man is still in effect, as they have little to no control over the rapid succession of new developments in this situation. There is the Death arcana, which is another transitional card. The player character must abandon any preconceived notions about how they would stop Team Plasma and adopt an entirely new cause; awakening Reshiram/Zekrom. This leads to a small hint about how to truly end this conflict, which is the Temperance arcana, or the balancing of opposites. The Tower arcana also takes effect here, as it represents potential catastrophe and failure, as well as the need to change one's approach to solving a problem.

After obtaining Zekrom/Reshiram, N tells the player character that they must "become a hero, as well," and find the Light/Dark Stone in order to be able to stop him. And so the search for the other stone begins. The player character first backtracks to Relic Castle as it is possible that the other stone is located there. Ironically, we're also backtracking in the Major Arcana from the Tower arcana to the Devil arcana. The search at Relic Castle turns out to be a dead end. And standing at that dead end is the Devil himself. Its not often that this arcana represents an actual person, but if it does, that person is usually one with money or power, as well someone who is persuasive, aggressive, and controlling. Yes, you guessed it, it is none other than Ghetsis, one of the seven sages of Team Plasma. You've encountered him a few times already, but it is at this point in the story where his antagonistic tendencies truly start to seep out. The Devil is usually indicative of someone with an inexhaustible source of energy. To submit to The Devil would be defeat of the ego, something N has unfortunately already experienced. The Fool must defeat The Devil in order to gain strength and move forward in his journey. Of course, for the player character, this defeat can only occur at the end of their journey. However, for N, such a defeat remains to be seen.

Upon exiting Relic Castle, the player character receives a frantic phone call from Professor Juniper, telling them to come to the Nacrene City Museum immediately. After arriving in front of the museum, the Light/Dark Stone's true location is revealed to be none other than inside the museum itself. And so the player character receives the Light/Dark Stone. From this point, The Star, The Moon, and The Sun arcana all follow the player character's preparations to face N at the Pokemon League. Although it is unknown exactly how Reshiram/Zekrom is awakened, the player character inevitably becomes a beacon of hope for everyone in Unova. Although the player character must remain optimistic, they inevitably have doubts about whether or not they can awaken Reshiram/Zekrom. Ghetsis' next confrontation with the player character on Tubeline Bridge is for the sole purpose of inspiring fear and anxiety, claiming that the player character could never hope to awaken Reshiram/Zekrom. As the player character earns their 8th and final gym badge and heads to the Pokemon League, they are nearing the end of their journey. Although the task before them seems insurmountable, they are not truly alone. Along with their Pokemon, who have been with them since the beginning of their journey, the player character has nothing to fear. Yes, The Fool is nearing the end of his journey. He sees the light of The Star, which gives him hope. But it is this light that make him vulnerable to the illusions of The Moon, which causes him to tread the path with doubt and anxiety. However, The Sun illuminates his conscious mind, renewing his optimism and allowing him to prevail over his fears.

And so we come to the final test of The Fool; the Judgement arcana. It is here that The Fool reflects on his journey. Judgement covers the Elite 4 battles, but more importantly, it applies to the final battle with N, as well as the battle with Ghetsis. Here the player character's strength is put to the test. The awakening of Reshiram/Zekrom can also be seen as a of judgement of the player character's determination and purity of the soul. Judgement also symbolizes forgiveness, salvation, and the end of repression. This final test is pivotal not only for the player character, but for N, as well, as it allows N to transcend his gilded cage and continue his journey. After all is said and done, the player character successfully protects Unova, their World, and the bonds between humans and Pokemon. And thus, they obtain The World arcana, which symbolizes fulfillment, accomplishments, and contentment. The Fool's journey is now complete, and he may even embark on a new journey.

Wow, what a great journey! If you've read all of this, then I give you a round of applause. I'm so glad I finally typed all of this out. Yes, I really did spend the last six hours typing all of this. If only I could be this disciplined when it comes to writing essays for school.

Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Arcana ]]> smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/major-arcana-its-application-pokemon-black-white-part-ii-42599/ The Major Arcana and its application to Pokemon Black and White Part I http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/major-arcana-its-application-pokemon-black-white-part-i-42590/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:47:26 GMT Okay so this is my first blog entry...I'm all hopped up on Mucinex and coffee right now, and the discussion in the Placeholder for Kyurem's new forme thread has really got me thinking. I've actually thought a lot about this, I just never knew if it would be interesting to other people.

Spoilers ahead.

So, to begin, tarot cards have 21 cards that are known as the Major Arcana, starting with The Fool (0 or 22) and ending with The World (21). Simply put, the Major Arcana tells the story of The Fool's journey through life. It's one of the major themes of the Persona games, most notably Persona 3 and Persona 4. Most of the characters in these games are associated with a certain arcana. That arcana usually denotes their conflicts in life, and the (silent) protagonist can choose whether or not to help the character resolve this conflict. The character's conflicts may or may not tie in with the main plot of the game (at least in Persona 3). It can also be used to describe the protagonist's "journey" through the general plot of the game.

It's a pretty basic formula, and it can be applied to almost any story that revolves around a protagonist's journey. What better way than to apply this concept to Pokemon Black and White? Especially since B/W has one of the juiciest plots and character developments to date. I'll start off by discussing the major characters of B/W and which arcana can be associated with them. I'll avoid discussing the gym leaders, since their characters aren't fleshed out enough to really represent a specific arcana. I'll also discuss certain events in the game and which arcana can be applied to them. Bear in mind that the story of B/W doesn't necessarily touch on the concepts of all 21 cards, but it does follow the general order of the cards.

Right then, first up, we have the player character...in other words, you! Since you are a silent protagonist, The Fool arcana is definitely best suited for you, since the story is basically your journey through Unova. The silent protagonists in Persona 3 and 4 are also associated with The Fool arcana. This arcana is represented by the number 0; it's empty, yet it holds an endless amount of possibilities. The Fool has just begun his journey, and he is unaware of the precipice he stands before. On the actual card, The Fool is usually depicted with a dog. Pretty appropriate, no? As the player character receives their starter Pokemon and begins their journey, they are blissfully unaware of what lies ahead on the path they walk.

Next, we have Cheren, one of your childhood friends and friendly rivals. I feel that The Magician arcana is most appropriate for him. The Magician is associated with action and taking the initiative, but also immaturity. Cheren knows right from the get-go that he wants to become the Champion of Unova, and he wastes no time on getting started. However, he doesn't see anything past this goal, nor does he have any concrete reasons for becoming Champion. Obviously this is problematic, so much so that Alder points this out to him. The Magician is often lacking in spiritual knowledge, and when reversed, is in danger of becoming intoxicated by power. It is important that The Magician brings a focus to his goal(s), and not gain power simply for the sake of having power. Interestingly enough, The Magician is represented by the number 1, which is the cross-sum (sum of digits) of 10, which represents the Fortune arcana. I won't talk about this certain character yet, but it isn't until this character brings the true dilemma to the table that Cheren begins his transformation from having a single goal without focus to adding complexity and reasoning to his original goal.

Moving on, we have The Priestess arcana, who is incidentally looking back at The Magician and his lack of spiritual knowledge. Bianca, the other childhood friend of yours and another friendly rival, best fits the role of The Priestess. In contrast to Cheren, she begins her journey without any specific goals. Characters associated with The Priestess arcana are usually questioning their place or role in the world. The Priestess arcana symbolizes knowledge and mystery. There's actually a quote from Persona 3 pertaining to the The Priestess arcana that I really enjoy: "The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom." This arcana is all about looking inward and contemplating one's true role in life. Bianca spends most of her journey unsure of her goals, especially after realizing that you and Cheren excel in Pokemon battles while she does not. Not to mention her father, who is vehemently against Bianca leaving on her journey, also factors into Bianca's growing doubts, almost forcing her to come home in Nimbasa City before Elesa's intervention. However, these doubts don't linger for very long, and after your journey has ended, she elects to become Professor Juniper's assistant and focus on completing her Pokedex. I'll admit, her character resolution isn't very dynamic compared to others, but nevertheless it is typical of Priestess characters.

I'm going to shake things up a little and discuss one of the more intriguing characters of Pokemon Black and White. That's right, we're going talk about N now! As you all know, N is the king of Team Plasma, as well as your third rival. He is best represented by The Fortune arcana. As the name implies, The Fortune arcana encompasses fate, destiny, chance, surprises, and sudden changes. It's influence is all-encompassing and omnipresent, and, no matter how much we struggle, we are powerless to stop it. Yes, although he is the catalyst of change in the story, even N is very much a victim of fate. With N's character and The Fortune arcana, there is so much symbolism going on, its insane. What seems like a chance encounter in Accumula Town quickly evolves into the player character's greatest struggle of their journey. The player character is unaware of N's true identity when they first meet, possibly still in the blissfully unaware state of The Fool, until they arrive in Nimbasa City's amusement park. It is there, on the ferris wheel, that N reveals his identity as the king of Team Plasma, as well as his goal to seperate people and Pokemon. When N obtains Zekrom/Reshiram, true to his word, it seems that the player character is now locked in a hopeless struggle against forces they may not be able to match. Once the climax of the story begins at the Pokemon League, the player character resolves to venture into N's Castle alone, risking everything for the chance to crush fate itself. It is this selflessness and bravery that enables the player character to awaken Reshiram/Zekrom. From start to finish, it seems as if the player character and N were destined to clash with one another, with Unova's fate hanging in the balance. That is, of course, until Ghetsis' big bad "Man Behind The Man" reveal. Then it all comes crashing down for N, realizing that he was no more than another pawn in Ghetsis' grand scheme.

Whew! Wow, I could write a whole blog entry just on N. But I'll refrain and wrap things up. After these events, N thanks the player character and departs to a faraway region, where he may indeed begin his own journey of The Fool. It could also be argued that N was a Fool himself, even from the beginning, and his journey mirrored that of the player character. The events that took place at his castle could represent The Death arcana. Not a literal death, but rather a spiritual one, in which one cycle of his life ends and another begins. After departing, his "new" journey could cover the second half of the Major Arcana (Temperance through World), and perhaps if we do see him again, he could possibly have a more balanced, mature personality and overcome his oppressive and stifling childhood.

The concept of The Fortune arcana is perhaps one of the simplest, and yet it has one of the most profound effects on The Fool's journey. N brought change to many of the characters in Black and White. Yes, most notably, Cheren. Remember the cross sum of 10? The Magician often tries to control what The Fortune represents. Recently, I've realized something else about about N and Cheren; they both had goals with no sight of what came afterwards. It's true that N's goal (separate humans and Pokemon so that Pokemon could become perfect) was much more complex and profound than Cheren's goal (become the Champion), but neither of them took into consideration what they would do next. Cheren never thought about what he would do after becoming champion, and N never really mentioned what was in store for him and essentially everyone else after they were separated from Pokemon. You could say that, in a way, they both sought perfection, either for himself (Cheren) or for others (N). And if someone does happen to obtain perfection, there is nothing else after that.

However, it is The Fool, or the player character, that holds the most potential, due to being free of limits and their ability to adapt to different situations. So, essentially, it is the player character that is the catalyst for change in N, freeing him from his fate as a mere pawn who could have possibly been eliminated later on once his role was served. Ghetsis' plans do not pan out simply because the player character was the one person out of his control; the "0" in Ghetsis' equation which renders everything else null and void.

Well this is getting way longer than I expected, so I'll have to make this a two-parter. In the next entry, I'll discuss the player character's journey in general and the various arcana that could be applied to certain events. ]]> smalllady http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/blogs/52026/major-arcana-its-application-pokemon-black-white-part-i-42590/