So, there are several things that interest me about this story, and some of that may be because I recently started a sociology class. But, anyway, to begin with, I like the formatting of this story. While it reads like a narrative, it has a structure and flow of a poem. Really well crafted to be able to do something like this. What mainly interests me about this story is that it begins in a sort of state of safety: the unspoken truce between creatures in this ultra world. It's not a safety in the sense a person in civilization would understand, but it's more of a primal sense of safety. That safety is broken to put Nihilego into another sense of safety: that of comfort, contentment, and freedom offered by our world or the Pokeworld. So, in this way, you've used your word in several different contexts within the same story, and that speaks well for how you've handled the challenge.

Let's move on to the sociological aspect. Nihilego is experiencing culture shock as it is introduced into a new world. It has to relearn gestures, expressions, and meaning out of symbols to assimilate in its new environment. Culture shock, if it runs its course properly, usually is brief and eventually the newcomer gains new insight and friendships associated with the new culture, which we see here. So, in essence, your story is a myth, or metaphor, for that experience.

Finally, just one last note on something you mentioned in your author's notes. While I admit that it was better that you went with a more benevolent version of Nihilego (I've only just started playing Sun), its name and its given personality interest me. Obviously, it's a reference to Nihilism. Clever, Pokemon Company, clever.

Anyway, this was a fun read, and good luck on the challenge!

Best,
Zad

Hi~ Coming at you with a review!

To address your main concern from the forum, I think the fic makes a lot of sense without knowing the fandom. Even the basic idea of, this is about a monster that is unlike the others, is clearly demonstrated. Also, the main theme of safety is really overt. There's no doubt that it's a concern and not just for our pov character.

Admittedly, my knowledge of the character is a little spoiled but that doesn't ruin the experience either. I like the idea of sentience and how it influences the character. the morality for me is, while interesting in the sense that aliens have morality, it feels a bit too human to me, if that makes sense. Like, its sense of how to survive doesn't feel all that different from say, Lusamine's. I like how relatable that is. To me, it feels a little off somehow. Not that Nihelgo should be evil and ruthless, because that wouldn't make sense either. But these forces contradicting each other and then coming to a similar standpoint in the end would also be interesting. I think what I'm trying to say is that I want more moral arguments between aliens and humans because humans would technically be aliens. That's not fair to put on you. My brain was just thinking about it in that sense. So forgive that little rant there.

In terms of structure, and this is a personal nitpick please feel free to ignore me, the paragraphs are very short. I like short quick things, but for how long it is, the brevity from point to point feels like the story is pacing too quickly out of the gate all the way through. Which is fine! To me I feel like the fic (or this chapter) could slow itself down a little. Seeing as Nihelgo is essentially in captivity, time would probably move very slowly for it when it comes to things happening or not happening. But that's a personal thing.

I really do like the concepts addressed in the story and they're addressed in a very human manner. I wish you luck if/when this story keeps going. Good work so far!

This is a pretty good story. Works for your word and I like what you did with the Ultra Beast lore here. Love seeing good works with new features from the new games. Nice job and good luck with the contest.

:) I loved it, wheels. Should it be marked complete?

Hey! I don't know Pokémon at all but I liked how you wrote this story. Very original. Good luck!