Board 8 > Anagram Rates the Pokemon Anime Versus XIII

(+) Yeah! (+)

It was so traumatizing, this mystery event, that Gen couldn't even respond. I probably made her relive the misery. Oh god, what have I done...?

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

Oh huh? Oh... Well I skipped around, actually.

I've watched almost all of Ash's Kanto/Orange Island/Johto journeys, only half of his Hoenn/Battle Frontier journeys (I was kind of burnt out with pokémon at that stage in my life), then I watched almost all of his Sinnoh adventures (revived my interest) and left off on a certain point in Unova because I got busy with school and stuff.

I have every intention of resuming where I left off once Anna reaches that point though.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

Oh neat, glad to hear.

I hope my journey goes well. Anagram's probably right, of course. It's a huge commitment. But we'll see.

I was burnt out on Pokemon right around the same time you were. Emerald revived my interest though. I completely skipped a localized Crystal and Ruby/Sapphire.

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

There was a site that listed Pokemon episodes that removed filler episodes. So if a Pokemon was not caught, evolved, learned a new move or if Ash did not have a gym or an important battle or if no recurring trainer or Pokemon was seen or if it had nothing to do with a story/arc/background then the episode was removed.

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BOP Results: http://www.freewebs.com/charmander6000/Rivalry%20BOP.xls
Congrats to SuperNiceDog for winning the guru contest.

That's neat, but I'm really not watching the show for any legitimate story-intrigued reasons or anything. I'll take the filler... the whole thing's kind of lulzy from what I remember, with the occasional genuinely well-crafted battle.

Now, there's no guarantee I won't eat those words within the next several months, at which point I'll kindly request someone find that site for me if necessary.

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

Jeff Zero posted...

That's neat, but I'm really not watching the show for any legitimate story-intrigued reasons or anything. I'll take the filler... the whole thing's kind of lulzy from what I remember, with the occasional genuinely well-crafted battle.

Now, there's no guarantee I won't eat those words within the next several months, at which point I'll kindly request someone find that site for me if necessary.

The filler is normally awful. I'd skip it unless you're really certain you want to try this.

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005

I'm really certain.

More to the point, for however long my girlfriend joins in, she won't let me skip any episodes, anyway.

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

Good luck with Johto. Oh God, that Ledyba episode.

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Hey, its that SuperNiceDog! Congrats to the Guru 2011 winner

Iris declares Tepig to be extremely cute, and as she is a girl, she likes cute things, because as we all know, girls have no characteristics other than “likes cute things” and sometimes “likes boys” (and only sometimes, Zoey). She asks to catch it, but it wants to join Ash, which disappoints her.

Makes you appreciate that girl trainer who really liked her local baseball team.

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(Maniac64 at work)
All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.

Doing a watchthrough is a lot easier when you don't have to do write-ups for every episode. You already have it easy, Jeff!

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Magic Disappearing Signature

From: mnkboy907 | #460

Doing a watchthrough is a lot easier when you don't have to do write-ups for every episode. You already have it easy, Jeff!

This is true! I do want to post some random thoughts along the way, but avoiding detailed summaries and whatnot will really help.
BK_Sheikah00 | #458

Good luck with Johto. Oh God, that Ledyba episode.

:o

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

TRIPLE LEADERS, TEAM THREATS!
"All ready to go but you don't know where you're going - just like a kid."
Score: 6.5/10

The heroes have reached Striaton City (for real). There, they meet Cilan, who compliments Axew and, you guessed it, comments about the rarity of Pikachu in Unova. You’d think that, if they’re so rare, every single person in Unova wouldn’t instantly recognize them, but okay. He is a Pokemon Connoisseur, which is someone who titles his job in such a way as to make the target demographic for the cartoon unable to spell it. Ash asks for directions to the gym, so Cilan takes them there, pretending he’s not a gym leader as he does.

Unfortunately for Ash, the gym is a dual gym-restaurant. Cilan and his brothers attempt to serve Ash, but Ash, annoyed, simply tries to leave. The brothers finally reveal that they are, in fact, gym leaders. They also reveal that they're armed not just with pokemon, but with something far, far more vile: fangirls.

You really have to wonder what's with the girls on the left, there. Do they think they show their love for the brothers most effectively by dancing with each other? And… well, these brothers are… only slightly less fabulous than Tucker, really. Anyway, the girls love to watch the brothers battle challengers while wearing skimpy cheerleader outfits despite being like ten years old. Cilan explains that Ash must choose his opponent: Pansear, Panpour, or Pansage. God Panpour looks stupid, was that really the best they could do?

Ash instead chooses to battle all of them because he wants to battle as many new pokemon as possible, and the best way to do that is by compromising his ability to win in gyms. The gym leaders agree, so long as Ash accepts that he'll have to win two matches out of three.

First up is Chili. Ugh, fire puns. "Alright, I'll be turning up the heat and showing you how to cook!" That doesn't even make sense in context argh. Ash decides that since he's fighting a fire type, he'll use Tepig. Well, since Chili is an expert in fire pokemon and Ash isn't, I'm sure the gym leader will win easily.


Next up is Cress and his Panpour, so, because he countered fire with fire, Ash predictably sends out Oshaw-- Pikachu. Okay. Ash does his best to ensure Pikachu loses by using only the most predictable possible methods of attacks, and he succeeds.

Next up is Cilan. Since he's up against a Pansage, Ash sends out Pido-- Oh God, Oshawott. Pidove is the new Pidgeotto, isn't it? Oshawott, however, does not want to battle a grass pokemon, so Ash lies to it and says "you're the only pokemon that can get the job done." Ash's lies convince Oshawott to take the challenge. Well, I'm sure Oshawott won't get literally raped.


Ash tells Oshawott to hit Pansage with water gun, and when it fails, his advice is "aim better." It works, but oh yeah, Pansage is a grass pokemon and doesn't take much damage. Worse, it uses solar beam. Wow, huh, that seems kind of out of control for the first gym of the region. I mean, this isn't as bad as Falkner's Pidgeot, but still, this is a little intense for people with level 5 Lillipups and stuff. As the solar beam moves toward Notpiplup, the episode ends on a cliffhanger.

I reserve judgment on Cilan’s worthiness as a protagonist until I see more of him.

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005

End of Page 6: Pikachu and Latios draw
Start of Page 10: Pikachu loses to Panpour

The f***ing worst

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XIII_rocks, the cream of XIII fanboyism.

XIII_rocks posted...

End of Page 6: Pikachu and Latios draw
Start of Page 10: Pikachu loses to Panpour

The f***ing worst

At least with Snivy, Pikachu had a legitimate excuse.

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005

I know, that's why I didn't mention it

But ugh
Worse than when it beat Regice and "tied" with Elekid a few eps later

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XIII_rocks, the cream of XIII fanboyism.

"Roll of the Dice"

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

I'm not so sure Pikachu even had an excuse with Snivy. Despite not having electricity, it still had Quick Attack and Iron Tail to work with. Honestly a single Quick Attack should've been enough to end the match, unless Juniper feeds her Pokemon nothing but steroids or something.

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http://i50.tinypic.com/23qx00.jpg
"First time I got punched in the face, I was like "oh no", then I was like "this is a story"."

From: Anagram | #462

xD. Also, why Notpiplup?

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Hey, its that SuperNiceDog! Congrats to the Guru 2011 winner

According to LASS WHAT'S-HER-FACE, for whom both Brock and Ash harbor DEEP FEELINGS TOWARD, Pikachu should be Level 25 by the ninth episode.

...

Ash's Pikachu is like, what, Level 3050 by now, I guess?

Also, Aaayjaaay an' his Saynd-SHREW. Going even further back in time, Pikachu earns Ash a badge for electrocuting the entire gym. That's twice now. Good work, Pikachu. Pika-Pal! ;)

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

Also, "I know you, Team Rocket! You're the ones who got the lowest scores in the history of the school!"

...the entire organization showed up and flubbed the test? Did Giovanni seriously get a 6 on his paper? Or did Team Rocket just... not exist outside of Jessie, James and Meowth in the showrunner's eyes at this point? Because, er, Red and Blue were already out...!

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

DREAMS BY THE YARD FULL!
"Success. We've done it."
Score: 3.5/10

Fortunately, Oshawott deflects the solar beam using its shell. Jesus Christ, is there anything that shell can't deflect? And despite having seen "many Oshawotts" in the past, Cilan has never seen the shell be used to block! What is this. Well, the instant it tries to attack, the shell is knocked out of its hands. Cilan tells Ash that he has no spice and his attacks are bland, causing Oshawott to be boring, while his Pansage is "the most brilliant battler ever!" Wow, what a dickhead. Oshwaott is eventually able to retrieve its shell when it uses water gun to bounce around the gym at impossible to predict angles and hit the shell... somehow. Anyway,

Ash wins. The brothers give Ash the Trio Badge, and when Ash tries to show off to Iris for some reason, she just tells him that had he lost after he voluntarily made the battle more difficult for himself, he'd have looked like an idiot. Ha! I like Iris already. She insults his style so much that he challenges her, but she decides to simply leave. Cilan asks if they're traveling together, but Iris claims they're not. Huh. News to me. Upon learning that Ash is not, in fact, traveling with an attractive girl his own age, Cilan has only one facial expression.


Meanwhile, Team Rocket is infiltrating the Dream Yard (there was a minor subplot last episode that I cut where Giovanni orders them to go there to steal the "future energy" researchers were working on). We don’t learn this for a while, but for pacing purposes, I will tell you this now. Doctor Fennel was conducting research in a facility outside of Striaton City on dreams, hoping to use dream energy as clean energy to power the world. Sadly, some ambitious people got too close to her Musharna, so it accidentally ate their ambition (because ambition is a type of dream, get it?), which caused the facility to explode and Musharna to disappear. Fennel gave up on the dream energy, but some still remains in the area, so Team Rocket uses a machine to gather information on the remaining energy. For some reason, this awakens Musharna, who I guess was in the realm of dreams or something, it’s not really clear.

Meanwhile, Ash meets Nurse Joy, and he mistakes her for the other Nurse Joy. Now, in light of BW being a reboot, you can claim this makes sense, since Ash doesn't yet know that all Nurse Joys look the same... but in light of the continuity reboot not being a continuity reboot, I... just don't know. Also: she comments on the rarity of Pikachu. Cilan also shows up, and starts asking Ash creepy questions about how he trains with his pokemon. Fortunately, this is interrupted by Iris, whose Axew is asleep and glowing pink.

For once, however, it’s not because Iris is a girl and the writers only know how to associate cute things and pinkness with girls, but instead because of outside influence. Doctor Fennel runs in with her Munna, and it eats the dreams of Axew. We get to see Axew's dreams: to evolve into Haxorus and then... stand in one place and say its name. But it says its name threateningly. Fennel introduces herself as specializing in dreams and other mysterious phenomena, because dreams are extremely mysterious if you’re a minimum wage writer of cartoons for children. It’s at this point that Brock’s absence really begins to show: had he been here, he’d have already pulled his hitting on a hot chick gimmick.

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Fennel explains that pink mist is over the city, causing pokemon to fall asleep. Officer Jenny, having switched into the most butch haircut possible (and I’m really trying to stop making gay jokes but this show just makes it too easy), appears and orders all pokemon recalled into their pokeballs because of the mist. Ash protests, saying that Pikachu dislikes pokeballs. Huh. Okay. How about you, as a cop, just force him to because he's ten years old? No? Okay. Fine, Fennel has a solution, anyway.


Fennel thinks the key to solving this is in the remnants of the dream works, so she has Officer Jenny drive her there. Also, the heroes go with them because they have absolutely no involvement in this situation whatsoever. They all arrive and confront a disguised Team Rocket, asking what they're doing. Team Rocket admits they're conducting research on the energy here. Huh. How… villainous? I mean, yes, they activated Musharna and Musharna caused the pink mist to alert Fennel to come to the dream works to stop Team Rocket (this is explained), but that’s not really Team Rocket’s doing. Team Rocket’s not really doing anything villainous here, I have to say. I mean, if this area was dangerous, wouldn’t it be taped off or something?

Well, whatever. Musharna then teleports into existence from the Dream World or something, it’s never explained, because... it feels like this episode would be improved by a flying pig fetus, I guess. Team Rocket decides to do something actually villainous and kidnap Musharna for no reason, but fortunately, Pikachu easily defeats the harmless machine that is holding Musharna hostage but cannot otherwise defend itself, so Team Rocket just kind of leaves. Officer Jenny declares the case closed even though Team Rocket got away, thus showing that whether you’re in Japan or America, Officer Jenny is a terrible, terrible cop.

Team Rocket calls up Giovanni, who’s satisfied with their work. Huh. I… think that’s the first time that’s ever happened, actually.

Cilan, impressed by Pikachu’s ability to destroy stationary machines, asks to join Ash on his journey so that he can learn more about the pairing of pokemon and trainer. Iris appears again, and this time she decides to officially join Ash and Cilan for no reason. Ash and Cilan talk about their dreams, and ask Iris what hers are. Despite her dream of being a dragon trainer being ultra obvious, she refuses to say and the episode ends with laughter.

What a turd of an episode.

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BK_Sheikah00 posted...

From: Anagram | #462

xD. Also, why Notpiplup?

They have similar personalities, but with Oshawott, it just kind of works.

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Jeff Zero posted...

Also, "I know you, Team Rocket! You're the ones who got the lowest scores in the history of the school!"

...the entire organization showed up and flubbed the test? Did Giovanni seriously get a 6 on his paper? Or did Team Rocket just... not exist outside of Jessie, James and Meowth in the showrunner's eyes at this point? Because, er, Red and Blue were already out...!

In fairness, you could say that Jessie and James introduce themselves as Team Rocket, and that random guy didn't know of the larger organization.

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You could. You could.

Joke's on Giovanni, then!

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"we're about 50 years behind the rest of western society." -icon on B8

From: mnkboy907 | #467

I'm not so sure Pikachu even had an excuse with Snivy. Despite not having electricity, it still had Quick Attack and Iron Tail to work with. Honestly a single Quick Attack should've been enough to end the match, unless Juniper feeds her Pokemon nothing but steroids or something.

Eh, I think Pikachu was weakened across the board by that thing, it wasn't just attacks. And besides, if you find out you can't use certain attacks that'll mess with your...focus and whatever, which could have left him open and stuff.

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http://img.imgcake.com/Xiiijpgen.jpg - Me, as drawn by Ayvuir (who is also a giant douche)

Pidove is the new Pidgeotto, isn't it?

Someone had to draw the short straw.

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BOP Results: http://www.freewebs.com/charmander6000/Rivalry%20BOP.xls
Congrats to SuperNiceDog for winning the guru contest.

birds just arent cute or emotive enough

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FC 1849 0634 8041
Boring sig is boring

charmander6000 posted...

Pidove is the new Pidgeotto, isn't it?

Someone had to draw the short straw.

But all of the birds eventually lose all personality. Even Noctowl. Why can't we have a bird with personality? Argh.

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
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Pidove gets hit worse, the anime even taunts you with other trainers using Pidove/Tranquils making people believe Ash will use it in the next episode.

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BOP Results: http://www.freewebs.com/charmander6000/Rivalry%20BOP.xls
Congrats to SuperNiceDog for winning the guru contest.

Anagram posted...

charmander6000 posted...

Pidove is the new Pidgeotto, isn't it?

Someone had to draw the short straw.

But all of the birds eventually lose all personality. Even Noctowl. Why can't we have a bird with personality? Argh.

Don't worry Anna! Pidove will have exactly two chances to demonstrate its personality coming up in very short order! One will be when the obvious next member of Ash's team is introduced (of course that will mostly be limited to showcasing its gender) and the other will be when a certain egg is hatched.

After that though... look forward to a completely blank slate!

On that note, Starly never lost its personality because it didn't have much of one to begin with! Well I guess it demonstrated leadership when it was a Staravia, but that's not a lot to work with.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

GenesisSaga posted...

Don't worry Anna! Pidove will have exactly two chances to demonstrate its personality coming up in very short order! One will be when the obvious next member of Ash's team is introduced (of course that will mostly be limited to showcasing its gender) and the other will be when a certain egg is hatched.

After that though... look forward to a completely blank slate!

On that note, Starly never lost its personality because it didn't have much of one to begin with! Well I guess it demonstrated leadership when it was a Staravia, but that's not a lot to work with.

Yeah, but Staraptor made up for it by actually being... well, good.

Dammit, I understand that giving unique personalities to each of Ash's pokemon is a pain, but Tauros has more going on than most of his birds.

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Started: July 6, 2005

Hmm, episode 750 is titled "Iris and the Roughneck Dragonite" and episode 751 is titled "The Junior Cup Gets Underway! Dragonite VS Beartic!". Is... is Iris going to catch a Dragonite? o_O

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http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/4418/dsc02035h.jpg
http://i38.tinypic.com/2zqtqur.jpg

So does Dawn only return for two or three episodes, or is it a permanent thing?

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From: mnkboy907 | #483

Hmm, episode 750 is titled "Iris and the Roughneck Dragonite" and episode 751 is titled "The Junior Cup Gets Underway! Dragonite VS Beartic!". Is... is Iris going to catch a Dragonite? o_O

This would be excellent and the best.

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"My goal is to make this s*** cool again." - CM Punk

No way. Gotta be a trick. Roughneck Dragonite belongs to someone else from.the village of the Dragons and fights Georgia the next day while Iris watches or something.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

Anagram posted...

So does Dawn only return for two or three episodes, or is it a permanent thing?

It's definitely an extended stay type deal, but I don't think it's permanent.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

From: GenesisSaga | #486

No way. Gotta be a trick. Roughneck Dragonite belongs to someone else from.the village of the Dragons and fights Georgia the next day while Iris watches or something.

Well, one can hope.

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GenesisSaga posted...

Anagram posted...

So does Dawn only return for two or three episodes, or is it a permanent thing?

It's definitely an extended stay type deal, but I don't think it's permanent.

So more than like three episodes? Sounds good.

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005

Which reminds me... one of Team Rocket's members will bring some fresh perspective to the anime. The other two will remain quite bland and flavorless throughout. Truly, not a spicy recipe!

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

And I guess I made it a bit farther than that tournament after all.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

So Dawn is staying for the new tournament arc? YESSS!!

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Anagram posted...

So does Dawn only return for two or three episodes, or is it a permanent thing?

She's in the opening standing alongside all of the new rivals. So I assume (and hope that) she'll at least be there for the rest of the arc.

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Well considering all of the 300 IQ geniuses with 9 inch dongs on PotD I'd expect someone owning twelve mansions here, at least. - Ashphantom

BNVshark123 posted...

Anagram posted...

So does Dawn only return for two or three episodes, or is it a permanent thing?

She's in the opening standing alongside all of the new rivals. So I assume (and hope that) she'll at least be there for the rest of the arc.

Sounds promising, although Conway was in the opening alongside all of the other characters in DPP's last season, and he showed up only during the league.

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Anna already misses Dawn.

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BK_Sheikah00 posted...

Anna already misses Dawn.

Dawn was a pretty cool guy who didn't afraid of anything.

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New Topic
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/63329379

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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005

Cool. Lock this one down.

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Fennec... :3
http://fennecfox.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Fennec-Fox-Having-Fun.jpg

How should we do it?

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You should get at least one alt in the event you get warned or put into Purgatory. - Luster
It's probably easier to just not break the rules. - SmartMuffin

Play Secret of Mana

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Fennec... :3
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