UB-08 Echo and UB-09 Cling have evolved! Full 'Dex entries and thought process below the cut.
If you're wondering why the first-sighting details are so specific... I'm working on some AU stuff. I'll post the details once I get the info sheet done. But for now, let's just say I missed the train by about 8 years. Better late than never >:3c
I had a rough idea of what UB-08 Resonance looked like since I first conceptualized the line years ago, but it was after finalizing Echo's design that this one really came together. The face could easily be adapted to look like both long ears and cool shades, and the cloak transitions nicely into a full-on bell. (Said bell was fairly difficult, being geometric and all, but I think it turned out alright.) I wanted to go for a vibe like ancient and mysterious space tech, in keeping with the alien tropes the Ultra Beasts have in their designs. I imagine it being physically tanky, but mainly using special attacks.
UB-09 Snare's line went through a bunch of iterations, none of which seemed to stick (*rimshot*) until very recently. I knew from the beginning that it was gonna be a sundew. They're just really freaky and cool. Most of my attempts looked way too "alien" for a hypothetical starter, until I added the reptilian alien trope to the mix. I also decided to give it markings that suggest a snazzy space-explorer uniform. And with Naganadel having a bit of Xenomorph vibes in its design, I thought it'd be neat to throw a bit of Predator into one of its counterparts. I'm really happy with the result. It's so satisfying to nail a design that you've been stuck on for a hot minute. Anyway, this one's more of a glass cannon, with good Speed and decent offenses on both sides (leaning towards physical).
The new video you made should have a part 2 pls :3
I probably won't make a part two, but i'll make more videos about the au. at some point once I have the lore more cleared out i'll make comics and animatics about the au, so it would be less hard to understand. right now im revamping the au :DD
Gift art for @kira-vera and @mana-chan who’s lovely UB AU/Wicked AU is absolutely fantastic!
My favorite pick for this AU is definitely Guzzlord Hala and this piece is a sort of continuation of this comic where Hau finds his grandfather in his Ultra Beast form.
Everyone seems to have their own UB AU, so since UB AUs are great and I love them here’s the one I came up with.
It’s… well, it’s a Pokemon AU in the way that there are no Pokemon and humans have some Pokemon-like abilities depending on several things. Keep that in mind as I explain.
It’s really, really long, so I’ll continue under the cut.
Once upon a time (15-17 years ago probably) a baby girl was found by Professor Kukui while he was exploring the Altar of the Moone. He named her Moon after the Altar and took her in. A few years later he would meet Professor Burnet and eventually marry her. The two researchers acted as Moon’s surrogate parents even as they continued their research.
Kukui mainly studies the biological variances of humans with Pokemon-like abilities (though this is the norm since, again, there are no Pokemon in this universe) and the potential their abilities presented. Burnet, on the other hand, would continue researching dimensional rifts and such, much like she did in the games.
Since there are no Pokemon, the Island Trials are extremely different. There are still Trial Captains, and the captains are extremely accomplished warriors chosen as candidates to become the Island Kahunas. The Kahunas would still have powers based on their chosen elements (Hala would have increased Fighting ability, Olivia would have control over rocks, etc.), but they would also be able to tap into the Island Guardian’s powers. As an example, Hapu could probably go into Avatar State or something and control water as part of Tapu Fini’s blessing.
In fact, the Tapu’s themselves are said to be Island Guardian deities who chose a certain family line from their corresponding island to be their possible vassals and channel their powers in times of need. From these lines came the Kahunas and the Trial Captain positions. Yep, they’re all related.
Anyway, moving on to actual Ultra Beast related things.
Shortly after Moon turned 16, mysterious wormholes began opening up all around Alola. Mysterious creatures known as Ultra Beasts emerged from these wormholes. These Ultra Beasts could take on a human form, but still use their powers to an extent (but nowhere near as powerful as when they were in their actual forms). The Ultra Beasts negotiated with humans about living on Earth, an a decree was reached.
An experimental community (something more similar to Xavier’s Institute for Gifted Youngsters, really) would be created for Ultra Beasts to learn more about human society so that they could integrate into it more easily. The UBs not included in the experiment refused to return to Ultra Space, so an artificial island was created as a sanctuary for those who remained. Thus was the creation of the Aether Foundation: an organization created by Ultra Beasts for the protection of UBs and their integration into human society.
The UBs could not return to their individual Ultra Spaces due to certain humans from other connected dimensions invading and capturing UBs. These UBs were kept for a variety of reasons: experimental studies, expendable soldiers, or as pets. Any UBs who escaped Ultra Space were hunted by the Ultra Recon Squad (boom, tie-in to the new games). Whether the URS seeks to act as an ally or adversary to UBs has yet to be determined, however.
Anyway, the human International Police had begun to investigate UBs and the Ultra Wormhole energy they exerted as a way to track down and identify disguised UBs. After all, if these UBs were escaping now, who’s to say that one or two hadn’t come to Earth in the past?
And now, at last, we get to the part where Moon comes back into the story. Moon was believed to only have weak psychic powers, but she and the Professors were approached by Looker and Anabel, two International Police Investigators, about Moon and how she resonated weak Ultra Wormhole energy she released. She was believed to be a Faller, much like Anabel. Still, she was requested to leave the Professor’s home on Melemele Island to stay at the Ulaula Aether House, where the UB integration experiment was to take place.
From there Moon would become good friends with her other classmates and get into all sorts of adventures!
… right?
Someday I’ll write a story about all this. I don’t want to spoil it all now! Anyway, let’s move on to the characters, shall we?
Moon - A girl with weak psychic powers who is believed to be a Faller. She joins the Aether House as a student. She will be the narrator for the first Act of the story (when I get around to writing it someday)
Sun - A Kartana who attends school at the Aether House. He’s one of Moon’s first friends. He was born and raised in the Kartana specified Ultra Space. He came to Earth with his mother, who currently lives in Aether Paradise.
Hau - One of Luna’s childhood friends. He’s the grandson of Melemele Kahuna Hala, but is not a candidate to become Kahuna. He does, however, possess an odd power that goes beyond that of the Trial Captains and Kahunas…
Lillie - A Nihilego and one of Moon’s classmates at Aether House. She is the (adopted) daughter of Lusamine, and was born in captivity.
Gladion - A Buzzwole and biological son of Lusamine. He and his mother were captured by certain humans when he was young, so he grew up in captivity. He still remembers being free, which causes him to be rather rebellious. He is fiercely protective of Lillie. He attends school at Aether House.
Guzma - A Xurkitree who lives in Aether House. He was hand picked by Lusamine to join the school, but only agreed to attend if Plumeria went with him. He has never been held in captivity, but finds the idea sickening. He has difficulties controling his powers when he gets emotional.
Plumeria - a UB-Adhesive who lives in Aether House. She is Guzma’s closest friend and grew up with him after she escaped the humans that were capturing UBs.
Acerola - Attends school at the Aether House as a human representative. She is Nanu’s niece and a descendent of the Tapus. She will continue to act as a Trial Captain, causing her to miss certain events in her absence.
Lusamine - A Pheromosa and mother of Gladion and Lillie. She created the Aether Foundation and runs it as President. She is very involved with diplomatic matters and the running of the Foundation, but always makes an effort to visit her children at Aether House. She and Gladion were captured by humans. While in captivity, she met Mohn and the two fell in love, resulting in Lillie’s birth. Losing her husband has made her even more protective of her children.
Faba - A UB-Burst and the Aether Foundation’s Research Branch Director
Wicke - A Guzzlord in charge of the Aether House. She acts as a teacher and counselor for the attendees of the school.
Kahili - A Celesteela who has been hiding on Earth for several years. She joined the Aether Foundation after being found out by the International Police. She loves flight more than anything.
Nanu - A human who frequently visits Aether House to see his niece. He is a Kahuna and a descendant of Tapu Bulu’s chosen line.
Mohn - father of Lillie and Gladion. Though he is only biologically related to Lillie, he treats Gladion as one of his children and loves Lusamine dearly. He will likely be a UB-Assembly (or a Nihilego, depends if there are any new characters who will fit this better) who stayed behind to allow his family to escape.
Professor Kukui - Moon’s surrogate father and teacher at Aether House
Professor Burnet - Moon’s surrogate mother and researcher. Seems to know more about the UBs than she’s letting on.
Sina and Dexio - two researchers from Kalos who seem to be looking for the legendary Zygarde
Zygarde, Necrozoma, Lunala, Solgaleo, and Marshadow - the only “Pokemon” to exist in this AU. They are hidden well and have not been seen for many, many years (if at all!)
Of course, there will be other characters involved, but these are just the main characters I’ve decided on as of now.
There’s lots more I could add to this, but it’s already pretty long. That being said, I would love your questions and ideas about this! It’s pretty crazy, but I’m excited to really start digging into it, especially with Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon being released in a little over a month! I’ve got tons of other ideas as for story and it’s all got me really friggin excited.
Oh, and before I forget - thanks to @mana-chan for making a really awesome UB AU that inspired me into coming up with this crazy thing! Her Wicked Beast AU is really awesome and I look forward to seeing how it develops as we get more info about USUM!
