The Eon Academy [S.S. Wishmaker Side-Story]

[Kentucky Fried Torchic]

Prologue: Off The Books

Boy, you don't mess around! My initial plan was to review a few chapters at a time, but there was so much packed into this prologue that I had to share some of my thoughts!

Some people use prologues to lay the groundwork for the adventure to come, to introduce the reader to the characters, or to simply grab the audience's attention by leaving them wanting more. This prologue did all of the above, and instead of whetting my appetite on some intrigue and mystery (although there were shades of that), my experience of "wanting more" came from the explosive battle with Rayquaza! Hopefully I didn't just spoil the prologue, but wow, using a high-stakes, high-octane scene like that to climax your prologue makes me only wonder where the story can go from there.

Having just come from reading the underlying S.S. Wishmaker RP, I am glad to see further world-building on top of the foundation of elements already laid in that collaborative endeavor. The shady side of the Pokémon Leagues and governments feels very Tom Clancy at times, especially when describing things like unregistered Poké balls, a really cool concept that immediately had me wondering about how they interact with the likes of Team Rocket and Kurt in Azalea Town. Are Aprikorn-based Pokemon balls illegal? The overall shadiness around the League and governments also makes me worry that Steven is too naïve in trusting that he can protect Starglade merely by hiring the right personnel. Institutions have minds of their own, and the more I see the less I trust.

Also coming off of S.S. Wishmaker, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Diamond Ladies make a reappearance. From the epilogue and the title alone I did not expect them to come back, especially so soon, but the reasons for doing so were clear in-universe. The powerful relationship between Jon and Cassandra was evident in the RP, and it was a treat to see them working and battling together for a common mission. Unfortunately, the cast reunion also hinted that Lance is back and up to his old ways, but, again, the reasoning in-story made perfect sense. Of course the League would use a Dragon Tamer to try and subdue Rayquaza. It wasn't entirely clear to me why the powers that be wouldn't want to tame Rayquaza instead of killing it, but thanks to Jon and Cassandra's efforts that's neither here nor there.

Speaking of old friends, I always really enjoy Latios. Well, to be most accurate, I should say that I especially enjoy the reactions of other characters to Latios. Even the legendary Pokémon pales in comparison to my real favorite character though.

One reason why Jon is my favorite character is that he will make the hard choices that need to be made, but always with full knowledge that he will need to make amends for them later. We saw this in S.S. Wishmaker, and we can see it here, too. His initial plan to put Rayquaza to sleep with magic is one of those instances. He is quite ruthless when he needs to be, yes, but moral as well. He can also be persuaded by an alternate plan, such as Rayquaza's appeal to honor.

The battle that happened between Jon, Cassandra, and Rayquaza was also a nice treat for the audience. The battling showcased was a good blend of game-based strategy fused with a writer's imagination. The quick-thinking and coaching from Jon highlighted again his talents as a teacher, and the rapid fire of the battle culminated in a dazzling finale. Some detail was sacrificed for the breakneck pace, which was an all right trade to make.

Ultimately, the story has cemented Jon as a profoundly viable protagonist and I'm certainly looking forward to reading more, much more!