You are literally the shakespeare of pokemon fanfictions I don't know how else to describe that

I am really happy with how this turned out. At first, I thought there would be more of a focus on Fiona as a "main" character and how much of a wonderful flawless person Vincent was because he's the trainer, but I was happy to be proven wrong. It was also interesting to see how, despite not all of the conflicts being resolved, the team still stayed together (I almost expected Hal to leave). I also have a personal affinity for Gallade, so I am very happy that Jean got a happy ending (you executed his suffering flawlessly-it's one of my favorite literary topics).

Overall, great work, fellow writefag. I applaud thee.

But, really, what's the last pokemon in the apricorn ball? D:

I figured you'd probably reply.

I like seeing your replies. Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm thinking clearly when I put down my comments for your stories, since I write them as soon as I finish reading.

It seems to me that Can't Escape, as dark as it is, is still perhaps your strongest work, in some ways.

I never felt much emotion for Joe's father, James, for instance. His past is interesting, but something felt missing. Maybe the timing just felt off, since it flashed back and forward during a time when a lot of other stuff had just happened. In the present, even with his illness, he was such a singular character ("annoyed father") that I looked at his scenes with Marianne and really almost expected the scenes to be more about their relationship than his own character developement. And they kinda were. It wasn't until James jumped into the pool with Fiona - you must like that name; I do, too - that I started to feel compassion for him. It finally started to feel like they were a family, now. Amazing, that pool. Started out as a symbol of horror and danger with Grace, and ended up a symbol of acceptance and hope with James. But anyway, I'm way off from my intended topic...

You're a good writer, cge. I don't know what order you wrote these stories in, but by and large, you've got a very interesting band of characters and a talent for penning adversity. I'd say you give about as much attention to setting as is necessary to keep a mental image of the story going, which makes it very engaging. A lot of novels almost entirely neglect setting, and it keeps you detatched from the narrative on some level, because you don't know what to picture is going on. I think it helps that the Pokemon characters are established and popular characters, though. You don't have to explain to anyone what a Typhlosion really is, unless you wanted to.

I understand a bit better now how Tio and Hal helped to point out Vince's character flaws to him in-story. That did bring the necessary level of closure, but since it happened on the downward slide from the final climax to the ending, it was a little late. I already was distressed and stressed over Phil, and it had passed. By the time Mac made his move, I was done worrying about it and just wanted to see the end of the story, on account of the other characters. The way everyone was so calm after Phil's scene really made me doubt you. It broke the fantasy. The heartlessness of the league officials didn't help, and there was absolutely no repercussions to the league or any talk of outrage or justice or... Just sadness. I know Fiona is a Dark-type, but her glib remarks really rubbed the salt in. No one even hushed her, either. Everyone seemed to have lost themselves in a fog of confusion. And on some level, sure, rightly so, but... Chapter 8, like I said, was all about Jackie. She was the most real. Even if Vince does have flaws, I'd expect his Pokemon to put on a better show.

But it is behind us. You are the writer, and I am the reader. You decide what it is I can see, and I am left to deal with what I see. I would never demand that you change a story. That is preposterous. All I can do is tell you how your story affected me. Can't Escape came /this/ close to being a story of love and friendship conquering evil and indifference, though. It's left a mark. But is it the mark you wanted to leave?

Maybe I'm being too harsh. It still is a story about that. But it's going to be known more for the horror aspects. They overpower the rest of the story, perhaps.

I said that you might not have the wherewithall to pen true love and remorse. Well, immediately after I hit "send," the scenes between Vincent and Theodore immediately came to mind.

I was wrong. You do have it in you. Those scenes were precious. Extremely well-done.

I still think the aftermath of Phil's scene was not handled quite right, though. I'd say Jackie was the only one who was even close to acting appropriately. They're your characters. I understand and appreciate that. But as a reader, to go through that emotional trauma without any meaningful release or closure was pretty hard on my soul. At least, for the sake of your readers, treat us a bit more gently in the future. You don't have to shy away from the hard things in life, but please be more gentle at times.

Wow. I mean it.

That's a heart-wrenching story, to be sure. Phil. Fiona. Mac. Shade. Jeane. Vera. Carl. Hal. Tio. Hmph. Man, I really grew close to these characters. I aways had a hard time putting myself in Vincent's shoes, since he was by and large so emotionless, but I realize that he was perhaps not meant to be a so-called "self-insert" character. I think that as the lead human trainer in the story, it's a natural inclination to try and relate to him, though.

The drama was expertly done. I read other people's reviews before reading this story, and still I never saw coming what ultimately did end up coming. I have to admit, I was shocked. Shocked many times. The scene with Phil was far from the only surprise.

The shift in the story, once Fiona stopped having nightmares, was kind of subtle at first... Mac was such an absolute monster... I was so relieved that he was taking more of a back seat by then. That shift in focus saved the story. I don't think I could have endured any more of that. I would have to simply stop reading the story.

I understand that underneath the skin of that monster beats a human heart... But everything in me was wishing that Mac would receive due payment for his crimes. He should have died. Not at Theodore's hands, but in an executioner's chair. But if he is capable of truly changing his heart and mind... But no, no human can do that on their own.

Oh man, I really love Vince and his companions. You really put a lot of TLC into crafting each of them. Hal was kind of ignored at first, but even he caught up by the end and really shone through. Vera quickly became one of my favorites; I always looked forward to what she was going to do with a lot of anticipation. Theodore had so much going on... His special powers tying into his distant past was a stroke of genius. It could have easily become a mary-sue situation, but I was so surprised by how you introduced it and pulled it off... And this story even made me a fan of Iwamoto!

I have to say, though, that Vincent's deadened reaction to Phil felt wrong on many levels. When things like that happen, people need to mourn. Vince never mourns. Red flags and whistles and alarms going off all over the place. Either something is wrong with him, or you, the author, might have exposed a weakness in your penmanship abilities: expressing heartfelt love and remorse.

I would recommend this story to others. I would probably not read it a second time, myself. It's quite a heavy load to bear.

I still don't buy that the Ampharos would not only go off with a random dude who captured and abused him, but be loyal enough to him that he would attack his former trainer with the objective of capturing the one member of the team he really should not have had a beef with. Other than that, I'm just glad you got to the end with no sex. Unless urination is a sexual thing for you. It might be.

"Weep not for roads untraveled.
Weep not for sights unseen.
May your love never end, and if you need a friend,
There's a seat here along-side me."

Marvelous end to a marvelous story. However, time for criticism. I feel like Phil's passing is a tragic one that hit me like a freight train of sadness, (maybe because I'm an emotional buffoon) but it left me there with, "This dude's dead; feel bad." and provided little else to take me away from the emotion, and now, I'm left here, like, "Out of all people, it happened to him?" Like, if you stabbed a normal kid and a mute kid, I'd feel worse for the mute... Horrible analogy, but maybe you get my point. And then there's Zap. He's just... there. Just there. Sure, he gets in an argument and storms off, but that's to be expected from an electric type. G-get it? Still, I expected him to come back, and fill a slot in Vinny's team. I guess I wanted resolve; more screen time for those who were lacking it, if you will.

And now I feel more awful, because I was cursed with a realistic imagination, coupled with lucid dreaming for the past few years that only picks settings out of things I already have envisioned, and it already happens with games. Play Red Dead and then go to sleep and then WHAM! It's nuts. And horrifying, cuz I never play anything else, like I don't play educational games... Mavis Beacon... *sigh* Numbuh Munch.

So now lemme level with you for a sec, get back to a real review. Electrical Engineering? Pretty smart. General Relativity? Pretty fuckin' smart. This? Fucking... GENIUS! It helps you get to know all the characters in a controlled environment, (Y'know, except for the two that it doesn't. You know who they are... don't play dumb... I said don't- *sigh* Moving on.) so that when you put bad dudes and good dudes together every action seems pretty logical. It makes sense that Theo would destroy Shade. Not... wow, I didn't mean it like how it came out. Uhh... What Vera says makes sense, like when she revisits old dialogue because it's relevant. Like when she said it's more saddening when y-... Staying away from that too.

And the character dialogue is aaaaall different, which is awesome, like, you can read it and tell who's talking just based on things they said most of the time. Mister T? Must be Tio. "Beat-asses"? Fio. "Little shit"? Backpfeifengesicht. But I digress, it really drives home the point trying to be made in that moment. I usually pick a character to read the dialogue for when I read a book/story, and this time the dice I rolled picked Tio. I quickly found myself reading out loud most of the dialogue under my breath, the reason being it was so real. And it was kind of funny, reading Tio's lines, because judged on what he would say, I imagined this big toughie. Then they would go to sleep and it would be like snuggling with a bear, (much like the last chapter) and by then I was smirking.

This is a tale that makes you feel good. It reads well, and punches you in the face, giving you no choices when it wants you to tear up. It has its adorable moments, its sad moments, its happy moments, and it's awkward moments, but it pulls together everything that I in particular have been waiting for, and it delivers VERY well. However, its lack of closure on... no, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on Phil, but on ONE character, there's a lack of closure. That would be Zap.

Ultimately, this is a good read that I will probably recommend to others.
It combines everything I look for and has me reading until I literally can't.
The dialogue was easy to read and great for character portrayal.
And as satisfying as the ending was, it didn't conclude everything.

All this adds together to allow me to give you a solid:
-9.6/10-
While we're on the subject of graduating college, this gets an A.
Oh, and I was serious about not feeling those feels in a long time,
I suppose I should say... thanks? Yeah, that's fine.
*salutes to cast and walks into distance*

Thanks a bundle, friend,
Guy

Author!
Stop killing things!
Me!
Stop listening to music!

I was listening to "Linkin Park - In My Remains", when Vera displayed Mac's suicide attempt.
The lyrics were all, "Like an army, falling, one by one by one... And I was all, "Fuck! Feels! Again!?"
To top it off, I cheered when Shade was bitten, but when he died, I felt like a dick for cheering.
CONFLICTING EMOTIONS!
AAARGH!

STOP! STOP IT! I barely know these characters and y-
*sniffling*
You're making feel these things... that I haven't felt in SO long.

And with only two chapters left, I expect shit to throw down, and Phil's death not to be in vain.
I mean, it has to happen...
And he'll still be remembered in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
Like, right?
Anybody with me?
...
r-right?
*blows nose*

Awwwwww...
... just, I mean...
D'awwww...

The personality of this, "Mac" is most baffling. He's very nice to trainers, as with his team, yet unreasonably upset with Fiona. (You'd think a grudge wouldn't be so severe.) However, his original attitude with Zap is strange, as I would expect his anger to not carry over onto others; especially those he had just met. However, upon reading that he is a fat fuck, his actions make more sense. Nay, they are not justified, but it does make more sense.

Funnily enough, I used this word yesterday.
Still not tired of it.
Backpfeifengesicht.

Oooooh...
What a blow.

Sleeping scene Too many d'awws. Too many. Curses, author.

Interesting characters...
I dare say Tio's my favorite.
Hard to not like someone after seeing/reading an embarrassing moment.