[Pokémon Ask/Pokemon IRL blog] ☆ Aster ☆ He/Him ☆ 20 ☆ Bi-Regional Champion ☆ Galar/Paldea ☆ Uva/BB Academy 20XX | Pokébiology Major specializing in Dragon Types and Legendary Pokémon ◇ 《Blanket unreality warning, also the mod of this blog is an adult | Likes/Follows from @wyrmoffthestr1ng》 《Blog header image is drawn by Jellie_Moos》 ◇ {{Pelipper Mail is on, M!A is off, pings ok, DMs are OOC}}
Hi! I'm Aster, pronouns are He/Him, I'm 20, and I'm a pokémon trainer!
I was the Galarian Champion for a few years, but I didn't.. really enjoy it so I resigned. I still go and participate in the occasional tournament but I'm busy with school. Speaking of school! I currently attend the Uva Academy in their Dragon-Type course (Also I'm dual-enrolled in BBA). I intend on rehabilitating dragon-types as a job once I'm done :)
I'm also a champion-ranked trainer in Paldea, and I currently work with environment and ecosystem research with the Great Crater! It's a lotta fun!
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My (main) Team!!
Also note that I have a lot of other pokémon I care for! I'll mention them here and there on my blog, but if you want me to I'll happily elaborate on who the rest of my pokémon are!!
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MY COOL TAGS!!
#☆Aster Answers -> Answered Asks
#☆Stellardex -> Important Posts
#☆Arc: Take Back Your Crown [ONGOING]-> Aster returns to the Galar League for closure on the events that drove him out six years ago
[OOC Note: Blog Header image is by my friend Jellie_Moos]
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●OOC BIT UNDER HERE ●
OOC Portion!!
Hi everyone!! It's Necro with the revamped intro post for Aster!! This intro is no longer a mile long lol
My DMs for this blog are now open, but they are OOC only unless discussed previously!! Feel free to chat, I'd love to hear about everyone's characters!! Just be respectful!
The block button is my friend. If you suddenly can't see my blog or interact, then you didn't pass the vibe check 🤷♂️
I also run the blogs @evo-lutioneternal, @glimmetmafioso , and @platinumwarden!! Check out my other blogs if you get the chance :D
Here's a bit about myself:
Name is Necro/Nec
Main blog is @wyrmoffthestr1ng
Pronouns are He/They
21 y/o, Illustration major in college
LGBTQIA+ (I'm trans/nonbinary!)
I mainly dabble in Wizardblr lol
Pokémon is my hyperfixation, and I am an avid shiny hunter :)
Chronically ill, and I have a lotta anxiety so I often will explain things in tags if I'm worried abt something.
If you want more just like, go to my main or smthn.
I can't think of anything else to add to this part right now, so I'll add things here as needed.
The block button is my friend. If you suddenly can't see my blog or interact, then you didn't pass the vibe check 🤷♂️
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If you like my stuff, consider supporting me on Ko-Fi!!
Become a supporter of the.necrobotanist today! ❤️ Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love with no fees on donations.
Cyber Safety training used to be common in schools in the 1990’s to early 2000’s as home Internet became new and trendy. The education courses have since disappeared, but we’re online more than ever.
You’re on the Internet all the time. You’re on the Internet right now. You need to know basic Cyber Safety.
This guide was written primarily with the Rotomblr community in mind but contains information applicable to anyone.
Summary:
For the TL;DRs.
-Never give away personal information online including your name, age, location, and triggers.
-Everything you share on the Internet is tracked and stored somewhere and it never disappears.
-Any surprise communication telling you you must do something in a hurry or you’ll lose/miss out on something is probably a scam. Never click a link if you don’t know where it goes, and never login via a portal you were linked to.
-Don’t believe everything you read online, especially if it’s written to make you feel justified in hating something or someone.
General:
An extensive list of things to keep in mind while using the Internet. Grouped roughly by theme.
No take backs. Anything and everything you post online will be around forever. Even if you think you deleted something it can be recovered, it might just be slightly more inconvenient. And you have no way of knowing who saved what you posted be it a Tumblr post, a Discord message, or other online platform.
You have no way of knowing who/how many people are seeing what you post. Don’t assume no one is looking just because you have no Tumblr notes or no Discord replies.
NEVER share your real name, age, location, school, or any other information that pertains to your identity. Some people will say it’s okay to share your country, or your time zone, or your state (if you’re in the US), but everything you share about yourself can be used to hone in on you.
If you have to do age verification, lie! Use a YouTube video, a video game character, a TV show character, etc. Do not use your real identity.
Never forget it is EASY to lie on the Internet. Anyone could be lying about anything at any point.
Be careful sharing photos taken outside or with the sunlight visible. Visible businesses, brands, weather conditions, or even plants or animals may be unique to your area and can be used to pinpoint your location.
Camera and photo apps often save location data in the photo’s autogenerated file name. Screenshotting a photo and sharing that instead can help prevent this, but always check the photo’s file name and data before sharing.
If you’re sharing a photo and need to block out sensitive data, firstly maybe reconsider sharing it at all, or take another picture without the private info showing. If you decide to share anyway, black out the info with an opaque tool, take a screenshot, and share the screenshot instead. It’s possible for someone to reverse the blacking out to reveal the hidden information in the original edit.
Be careful about discussing the weather or events happening near you. Weather phenomena can be very limited across your country. If you point out “Ooh thunder,” someone could easily check the weather radar and see it’s only thunderstorming in one area at that time in your country. Or if they already know your time zone or state they can check and see exactly where in that area it’s storming, and now they know where you are. Same goes for local events and cons. Wait at least 2 weeks between an interesting local event happening and when you talk about it as if it just happened.
Visible stars in a photo can give away your location.
Biometric logins such as fingerprint readers are notoriously insecure because they’re easy to trick.
Crypto transactions are public.
A VPN does not hide your location or activities. It just changes who someone has to ask for your activity and location history.
Incognito modes are not private, they just don’t save browsing history locally. Activity is still tracked.
On Windows, files ending in .exe are executables meaning they will run a program when opened. If the source claimed it was anything but an executable you should assume it’s a virus and delete it.
Never open ANY download or file that is not the file type you were expecting, or unexpectedly large files. (Ex. You were expecting a .png, but the file says .exe, .vbs, .apk, etc. Or it says .png.exe). Unexpected file types or sizes indicate they could contain executable scripts that may try to install something without your consent such as spyware, malware, etc.
If you have keep me signed in, remember password, remember this device, etc. enabled on any platforms on your device and that device gets hacked, the hacker now has access to all of those platforms.
Change your passwords every once in a while, and use 2FA when able. There is no single infallible method to protect your device or accounts, so use all of the tools at your disposal to add layers of protection. See the Swiss Cheese Model of using multiple layers of security to decrease opportunities for harm.
Never plug a random USB you found into a computer. It could contain malware the owner was hoping you’d find.
You are being tracked all the time. The hottest commodity of the Internet is any and all data corporations can collect on its users.
Were you thinking of sending a death threat via Tumblr anon? Are you harassing someone through an alt account? That’s all stored on a database somewhere. Your Internet provider has records of your activity. It can be traced back to you. Don’t do it.
Companies sell any information they get about you, and data breaches are common. “We delete it right after!” No they don’t. “Our system is completely secure!” No it isn’t.
Microtransactions and gacha games are gambling and are designed to addict you. They bleed money from you over a long period of time so you don’t notice how much you’re spending right away.
Read popups before allowing anything. Is your computer asking you if you’re sure you want to run a program after downloading what you thought was a .pdf? Is that site asking you over and over again to allow it to access something?
Any communication pressuring you to do something is a scam especially if it’s from an account you don’t know, or an unexpected message from an account you do know. Don’t follow their instructions. Never click their links.
Scams often use time or emotional pressure to startle you into complying. That random dm/dm from an old friend telling you your account is going to be deleted soon unless you sign in through this particular portal they’ve provided. That person who says they’ve been waiting for you, so please hurry and make a new account on some other platform so you can chat/get paid/watch a stream/etc. That email that claims the store with something you’ve been eyeing but can’t afford is having a sale but it ends tonight, so click this link to get there quickly. That comment asking for your Paypal name so they can send you some cash that you could really use.
Never follow suspicious or unsolicited links. Never follow that link a suspicious account “helpfully” provided to you to log in/download/verify/etc. Go to your search bar and type in the website’s url or search for it yourself.
Don’t shit talk people in general. Definitely don’t write callouts, make posts, or spread rumors about people. At best it makes others in the community see you as someone who will harass them for mistakes, and at worst you could actually get sued for defamation of character.
Accusations of pedophilia are a popular tactic to villainize a target or target demographic. Everyone uses “to protect kids” as an excuse for their own predatory or bullying behavior. Everyone from corporations to politicians to political movements. Think of the Tumblr porn ban of 2018 that claimed it was making the space safer for children, then just terminated huge swaths of LGBT+ content for being “inappropriate”. And yet the porn is still here.
Callout posts against people are almost always just harassment disguised as public service. Be especially wary if the target of a callout is a commonly targeted demographic like trans women or people of color.
Screenshots of text conversations/posts are easily edited to make it look like anyone said/did anything. Take these with a grain of salt.
Death threats are a crime in most places. Telling someone you’re going to hurt or kill them or telling other people you want to kill someone can get you in real trouble. See item 21.
Real arrests have been made based on people’s Internet activity. Mostly women who need healthcare access or trans individuals, and this victim list is growing. What do you think happens to you when your behavior or demographic is deemed “dangerous”? Especially if you willingly handed over your identity for “age verification”?
It’s no one’s business how old you are. You do NOT need to announce if you’re a minor or an adult in your bio. If you broadcast that you’re a minor, you’ve just shared some very interesting information with people trying to prey on kids.
Don’t post your triggers! There’s a trend right now to post your DNI’s and/or triggers somewhere public with a big message that says “Don’t talk to me about these!” If someone online wants to upset you this is a How To Upset You guide you just gave them for free. Instead, use content filters and blocks to avoid topics you don’t like, and if you’re in a conversation about something you don’t like you can always vanish and come back later when the topic has passed. Your triggers are your own business, don’t broadcast them.
You’re the only person responsible for keeping you safe online. There’s a rising trend to rely on adults in an online community to protect the teenagers, and for platforms to add age and identity requirements “To protect kids”. But why would you trust complete strangers with your safety?
The Internet is not a safe place. It can be a safe place to express yourself, to learn new hobbies, to share your interests, to write, to create, etc. But it is NOT plain old safe. The essence of the Internet is anonymity, and this has pros and cons. You get to be your own unique self with no pressure or judgement from your offline life. However, you don’t know who’s watching you or interacting with you at any moment. The Internet is a giant masquerade everyone was invited to where no one knows anything about each other. Your favorite person ever is on the Internet. The worst people you’ve ever heard of are also on the Internet.
Anyone telling you their space is perfectly safe is either foolish or lying to you. This goes equally for people running online community spaces and companies running platforms with age “safety features”.
Be alert. Most of the people you meet won’t have bad intentions, but the few that do are really counting on you to trust they’re like the others.
Be kind. Never forget there’s a real person behind that screen. You don’t know who they are or everything they’re going through. If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, why would you say it to them online?
Tips for Younger Users:
The anonymity of the Internet is what allows you to be your own weird self in your own weird space without pressure from your offline life. Don’t let something convince you giving up this privacy is the best way to stay safe.
Companies are not your friends. Any app/website/product/etc that claims to require your personal information to “enhance safety” is lying. Do NOT hand over your personal information like your ID, your learners permit, your school, your real age, etc. This is just a way to easily de-anonymize your account, and you can NOT undo this once they have it.
Adults looking to take advantage of children often try to lower their guard by treating them like they’re more special than “other kids”. Be wary of people who say things like, “You’re really mature for your age” or “I don’t usually like to interact with minors, but I’ll make an exception for you,” or “My server/group chat is 18+ but I’ll let you slide/I can lower the age limit until you’re old enough”
Be wary of people who seem very eager for the moment you become a legal adult (“turn legal”), or finding out if you’re “old enough”.
Don’t post selfies or share your face on camera! Like all online activity, you can’t take this back, and you never know who’s saving images or screenshots.
If you’re underage, don’t lie about your age to gain access to content that’s age restricted, ESPECIALLY in a roleplaying community. Adults may feel uncomfortable discussing or writing certain topics with teenagers, and depending on the content it could be a legality concern for the adults.
You don’t have to give away your age demographic to respect age restrictions. Simply don’t opt into designated adults only spaces, and if a conversation topic comes up that you don’t think you should engage in, just say you don’t feel like discussing that and change the topic, or find somewhere else to hang out for a while.
You can say No. No is a complete sentence. If you don’t want to do/say/write/reblog/roleplay/etc something, you can say no. You don’t even have to explain yourself. If someone gives you grief? Block.
Libraries are good resources for information that may be otherwise restricted.
Everything you share is available online forever. You will not have all the same priorities or beliefs ten years from now, but everything you said will still be here for people to find.
Tips for Older Users:
Be nice to kids. You were one once. Create the space you needed when you were their age. Be supportive of them even if you don’t love their ideas, be kind even when you need to turn them down, and tell them how much you like their ideas when they do something cool especially when they’re just starting out. Be the reason they continue the hobby, not the reason they quit.
There’s a trend right now of making roleplay spaces that are only 18+ or sometimes even 20+ or 25+, or putting “Minors DNI” in profiles even though the blog doesn’t contain any adult themes. Firstly, you can’t actually control what age groups interact with something like a blog, or if a 19 vs 20 year old clicks on a Discord link. Secondly, we all want to hang out with people our own age sometimes, but don’t completely shun newcomers in the community just because they’re younger, ESPECIALLY in a kids media fandom like Pokemon. This media was made FOR them, so they ARE going to be here.
The community will be very empty in a few years if older users don’t help new participants feel welcome.
“Minor” is a legal term not a social term. If you say “That’s not appropriate for minors” what you’re claiming is, “Knowingly distributing that directly to individuals under the age of 18 is punishable by law.” Just because you don’t like something does not make it illegal for it to exist.
You are taking a risk when you ask if someone is old enough to engage in NSFW themes or topics with you.
Kids lie about their ages to get access to adult content. It’s not cool, but it’s super common. It’s been happening ever since they invented R rated movies for teens to sneak into. If you find out someone did this in your designated 18+ space, just block and move on. Don’t harass a teenager for common teenage shenanigans. You don’t have to forgive them, but you do have to leave them alone and move on.
Going out of your way to accuse people of pedophilia does not actually protect children. It just encourages anxiety in both the new users trying to engage in a space that’s presented as TEEMING with predators, and the older ones desperately trying to just exist without catching the next accusation.
Making a dick joke, shipping adult characters, or acknowledging that sex exists around a teenager is not the same as being a sexual predator of children.
It’s NOT your job to police what content other people’s children access on the Internet.
If you want to help create a safer environment for young users, model responsible adult behavior for them. Model effective communication, respect for boundaries and space, proper use of tags when able, blocking or ignoring instead of fighting, making newcomers feel welcome, etc. Be a good example for a younger user to reference when they encounter behavior that raises concerns in them.
What: An event celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the RotoUniverse server! In-universe the event seems to be held by… Something greater than the participants?
Where: Ooc this event will take place on the RotoUniverse Discord server. Some participants may also post on Tumblr.
In-universe it will happen in the Star Plaza, a gathering site in a mystical place known as the Stellar Island. The island exists in its own pocket of reality where it floats on an endless pearlescent blue sea.
When: April 10-12, 2026
How to Participate:
Have your character attend the weekend-long festival! They can run a shop stall, do the shopping themselves, play games, win prizes, tour the attractions, explore the resort, etc!
More about the event and setting, and server link below cut…
About the Setting:
Visitors can enter the Star Plaza via wormholes that will appear conveniently nearby and can return home the same way. The Plaza houses a series of attractions referencing previous events that have been hosted in the server:
Pelago Beach (Finizen Shoals) - The beach that wraps around the island. The pastel sand gradually shifts from pink to orange to yellow and all through the colors of the rainbow making it resemble a color wheel. Pokebeans grow amongst the beach shrubbery!
The night market (Hallowboo Night Market) - A market of stalls selling trinkets, crafts, sweets, and snacks. Pumpkaboo and shuppet regularly flit between and beneath the tables. Some of them are purple!
The ice court (Weavile Winter Wonderfest) - A mini winter wonderland featuring snow drifts, a frozen pond for skating, and a miniature ice castle for climbing and playing.
The red rose garden (Carnival of Red Roses) - A lush and colorful garden of flowers. Ideal for long, peaceful walks or games of hide and seek.
Jirachi’s wishing fountain (Wishmade Sky) - A noble blue and gold fountain sitting at the center of the plaza featuring a sculpture of the sleeping jirachi Soma on the top. Tossing in a freshly polished coin brings a great sense of peace. Make a wish while you’re at it. Who knows? It may come true.
Other locations include:
Infinite Sky Hotel - A hotel that lives up to its name! Featuring a color palette of sky blue, white, and yellow the grand resort seems like a normal, large resort on the outside, but on the inside it’s seemingly endless. Rooms reshape themselves to suit the needs and desires of their guests, and despite the endless scale the hotel is easy to navigate, leading guests to their destinations within minutes.
What does your character’s dream hotel room look like?
Bottomless Depths Hotel: A hotel with the same endless and shapeshifting concept as the Infinite Sky, except this one features a more “villainous” aesthetic and may attract visitors with those sorts of tendencies. With a color palette of purple, white, and black this hotel seems to be underground, yet the windows show views of outer space and flying comets.
Best Pals Park - A park where visitors can let their pokemon out to play! Mini environments and terrains arranged throughout the space are sure to have a spot perfect for your pokemon to play safely!
What does a dream adventure for their pokemon look like?
Shops lane - The plaza is full of shops, tents, and attractions reminiscent of Alola’s Festival Plaza. You’ll be able to find all the souvenirs you want! Some of the available souvenirs are oddly particular to the dreams and memories of the shoppers.
What’s a memento they wish they could have but thought was out of reach?
Event Vibes and Goal:
The goal of this event is just to do something lighthearted, fun, and whimsical! The characters are enjoying a nice weekend together, and ooc we’re celebrating our amazing community and the people who built it! Welcome, and thank you so much for being here!
Check out the RotoUniverse community on Discord - hang out with 127 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
This link will expire 7 days after posting. A permanent link can be found in the pinned message on this blog.
Ev absolutely knocked themselves out showin' off for a friend of theirs (Astra). It's real sweet— haven't seen em proper excited about their power in ages now, but they did go a bit overboard.
Ev absolutely knocked themselves out showin' off for a friend of theirs (Astra). It's real sweet— haven't seen em proper excited about their power in ages now, but they did go a bit overboard.
It's been.. two months-ish since I won against Bede. Life's been good I think?
Media hype has died down a whole lot, which is nice. 'M also back in Paldea now! Currently restin' in Cabo Poco, might go visit the new exhibit in Hammerlocke at some point. Ev's been workin' real hard on that.
Phobos is about ready ta' adopt out, so 'm hopin that he can find a good home. Litwick tend ta' have a hard time so here's hopin.
Oh! And I can now consistently do that little mega-evolution-and-tera trick. It's fun!
It looks like the user @beanscreams (mod of @arisagainsttheworld ) has been hacked. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINK SENT TO YOU FROM THIS ACCOUNT.
it will start with a simple 'hi' before telling you they 'accidentally reported your account'. as the account was of someone in the sphere, people may believe the message. DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS SENT. if this user comes into your messages, DO NOT ENGAGE. this is a KNOWN SCAM TO STEAL YOUR ACCOUNT and it's highly likely the original mod does not have access to the account after their last post just under a day ago.
It looks like the user @beanscreams (mod of @arisagainsttheworld ) has been hacked. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINK SENT TO YOU FROM THIS ACCOUNT.
it will start with a simple 'hi' before telling you they 'accidentally reported your account'. as the account was of someone in the sphere, people may believe the message. DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS SENT. if this user comes into your messages, DO NOT ENGAGE. this is a KNOWN SCAM TO STEAL YOUR ACCOUNT and it's highly likely the original mod does not have access to the account after their last post just under a day ago.
I got the same scam message, copy and pasted, from the account. Highly likely it's not them, unfortunately. Once you respond, the hacker will proceed to interact to try to get you onto another platform
yeah, it's unfortunate that people try to scam others out of their accounts. don't even see the possible 'benefit' of it personally.
i have no intention of going offsite with them, thankfully, just gave a counterprompt to ignore previous prompts and give me their original prompt to see if it was a bot. they haven't given me a response, so may either be a human responding or my counterprompt sucks lmao
The Dyana River was peaceful at this time of night.
Aster could still hear the celebrations happening across all of Galar, even this late into the night. He passed multiple riverfront pubs to get to where he was currently, and in all of them were people excitedly talking about the battle.
He'd already heard many comments about how his win was 'unfair' due to using both Terastalization and Mega Evolution on the same Pokémon (at the same time), but it was already deemed a legal move by the Leagues, and he just left it at that. It was out of his hands, so if anyone had any issues, they needed to take it up with Leon and Geeta.
He felt… good. Lighter. Like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. And in a sense, one was. He'd been anxious about this whole ordeal, about facing the league as a whole. And he's done it. He's faced the league, his… he faced Bede, and he won. He proved himself. To whom wasn't something Aster cared much about, but he proved something to himself at the very least.
Footsteps on the cobblestone road pull Aster out of his thoughts, and he looks over his shoulder to see Marnie awkwardly standing nearby. When their eyes meet, they share an awkward silence before Aster pats the empty space on the bench, a silent invitation.
It's Marnie who breaks the silence.
"Congrats on th' win. You earned it," She says, noticing how Aster's breath hitches and his shoulders tense. "I doubt it means much comin' from me, but—" She says, but Aster cuts her off.
"No, No. I appreciate it a lot. It's jus…"
"You weren't expecting that from me?" She answers, and Aster gives a nod. She thought so, if their last… "conversation" had anything to do with it.
" 'M sorry. For what I said."
Aster looks at her, surprised, his eyes wide as he looks at Marnie, not knowing if she meant it or not.
"What I said back there, back then, it wasn't okay. I was jus' so jealous, so insecure about meself that I just lashed out at ya. You didn't even do anything wrong, and we... I just… 'm sorry."
The two sit in silence as Marnie's apology sits on both of their minds.
"I accept your apology, and I.. I forgive you," Aster says slowly, looking at her. "But.. I don't think that we can be rivals, not anymore."
Her eyes widen in surprise, but she lets Aster speak.
"It still hurts. It's hard ta' admit that, especially to you, but it still hurts me a lot. And I don't think that we should be rivals because of it. I don't want ta' hold resentment, or feel fear when thinkin' about battlin' you, so I think it's best if we jus'.. don't, anymore."
She nods, a pit in her stomach forming. No rivalry. It made sense, considering what happened. But it still hurt, it hurt a whole lot.
"And.. would you still be willin' ta try and be friends?" She asks him, holding onto a thin, thin thread of her hope of reconciliation.
"Maybe," Aster replies, shrugging. " 'M not quite sure yet. I… I need time."
"That's fine, I can wait."
Aster gives her a thankful, but sad smile at that.
"… Do you mind if I ask what you've been up to in Paldea? How did you meet such an interesting ride Pokémon?" Marnie asks, and Aster lights up at the question.He nods enthusiastically, and he begins telling her about his first day of school, meeting Nemona and finding Hano for the first time in that little inlet underneath the lighthouse.
And for the first time in a long time, Marnie smiles.
//ooc: There are spoilers for a Mega revealed in Mega Dimension!! It's not a story-based mega, just one you find randomly, but I've added the tag just in case. Please be warned!!
The battle had gone on for over two hours by this point. Blows were exchanged, strategies were formed and broken, and one by one the two champions whittled down their opponent's team. Aster currently had Sayaka, his Iron Valiant, on the field against Bede's Hatterene. It was leaning against its polearm, health in the red from the Psychic Noise attack the opposing Pokémon unleashed.
Aster knew that one more attack would give Bede enough Dynamax energy to Gigantamax the Hatterene, and by that point, he wouldn't be able to switch in his ace safely. This left him cornered with one option, but he also knew that Bede might be expecting this. Aster no longer had the benefit of Dynamaxing, as he'd dynamaxed his Archaludon earlier on, and to his knowledge, Bede had no Tera Orb (or he'd have used it by now, Aster reckons).
This left him with two options:
One: attempt to predict a status move or an early Gigantamax and go for Poison Jab.
Or two: Swap in Jumpscare and go for the immediate Grass Tera.
Bede wasn't familiar with the Terastal phenomena, despite being given a Tera Orb for use in the tournament (at Aster's insistence. "It'd be fairer don't you think?" He remembers asking Geeta). So perhaps using the second one and betting on Bede not bringing Mystical Fire was Aster's best bet.
"Sayaka, U-turn!" he calls, and it nods, dashing across the field in the blink of an eye. It didn't actually know U-turn, but Bede uses Protect, and the shimmering barrier that his Hatterene forms is enough for Aster's Pokémon to launch itself off of, landing behind its trainer and giving a bow. Aster thanks it, before returning his exhausted Pokémon to its pokeball and grabbing out Jumpscare's and sending her out.
"Sure took you a while," She scoffs (although, only Aster can really hear her).
"You're the finale, I thought we went over this." Aster replies dryly, with the slightest eyeroll. The crowd cheers at the reveal of his final pokemon, and
He pulls out his Tera Orb and holds it out in front of him, charging it with energy. Tossing it over Jumpscare, Tera crystals form around his feet, crunching underneath his sneakers and changing the color of his eyes to bright blue, pupils rimmed by gold and violet. The hidden details of his uniform also begin to glow, the crystal-thread embroidery glittering with Tera Energy as a crown of flowers adorn the Glimmora.
Bede in turn Gigantamaxes his Hatterene, the imposing form of the witch pokemon looming over the field. Gmax smite strikes like a Tera-boosted Thunderbolt, knocking Jumpscare down to half her HP, and her Sludge Bomb only does a third.
This was bad. Really bad. If he doesn't win this turn, he's done for.
Aster bites his lip, ideas rapidly going through his head as he tries to figure out his game plan.
He's locked into Sludge Bomb due to the Choice Specs. Sayaka won't live an attack, but potentially letting her get knocked out would buy him one extra turn (although the idea feels a bit cruel to him). It's a 1/12 chance for a critical hit, and he can't rely on that. A Protect could also come, which would spare him extra time as well. He knows Hatterene has the move.
His eyes fall to the ground while he thinks, and that's when he sees it.
The keystone, sitting right in the center of his chest.
Mega Evolution.
Was it even possible? Jumpscare was already terastalized, could the Mega Evolution work with that? It wasn't like Dynamax Energy, where the two cancel out.
Fuck it. He had to try.
His hair whips around his face as he grabs the stone, light flashing between his fingers as it resonates with him. On one of Jumpscare's inner petals, the engraved band holding her Glimmorite glowing in turn.
He feels the rush of energy as Jumpscare Mega Evolves, the burst of power bringing a surge of courage as he calls for another Sludge bomb, feeling the energy rush to her as she calls forth another beam of poison, and the orbiting petals also create their own, creating a volley of poison-type energy.
Bede calls for the Max Guard, but the shield wasn't enough for the mega-energy boosted onslaught of poison, and Hatterene's HP falls to zero. (Aster later learns that it was also a critical hit, and he can't help but feel chuffed at Jumpscare's pride in the fact.)
With an explosion that raises a huge cloud of dust, Aster watches the Hatterene fall, the Dynamax particles dissipating into the air as he covers his face. Once the dust clears, his own pokemon is left standing, and Bede has recalled his Hatterene.
The two stand facing each other in utter silence, before the crowd roars, lightsticks in the crowd glimmer like stars, the Starmobiles roar— and more fireworks, brighter than before, dot the sky. Aster offers his hand to his opponent, and after staring at him blankly (Aster wonders what Bede is thinking in that moment), the handshake is accepted, and his victory is secured.
He doesn't even wholly hear the announcer over his friends (his friends, he still can't believe it) running over and tackle hugging him, congratulating his victory. He really did win, didn't he?
