I love this story! I hope that you will update it, I know it's been a while but I'm still holding my breath.

Heyyy again, Artemis! Hope you're doing well.

Okay, I already reviewed this chapter, but I was rereading that beautiful phone call scene and it has come to my attention that I have not gushed about it nearly as much as I had meant to in my initial review. This realization has coerced me to return to this scene and give it the proper gushingness it deserves. Please excuse me while I expose your eyes to even more of my incoherent babbling. I'll just make this more of a fun less-analytic-more-gushing review dedicated to that one part. (Am I allowed to do this? Am I allowed to review more than once...? Meh, I'm doing it.)

I don't think the phone call scene starts with Reggie's call. I think it starts with Paul coming in while distracted on his phone. The other stuff that happens in between Paul arriving and Reggie's call might have been influenced by the state of mind Paul's in because of this call, but I won't get into that because I already did last review. Anyways, I'm guessing the one Paul is texting when he comes is Reggie, and I get the impression that that might have also been why he's late. Paul also tells Dawn he's already talked to Reggie today, so I think Paul had been talking to Reggie over Skype before, and then their discussion went from serious to frustrating and annoying (from the way Reggie was acting during the call, it gave me the impression he was calling more out of annoyance over whatever they fought about (maybe even as a deliberate attempt to annoy Paul) rather than urgency). Because they were arguing, Paul lost track of the time, was like, Crap I have to go, but they both still wanted to get their point across so one of them sent a text, and then they got started on a text war. (Haha, I wonder if Drew ever hears them arguing - he's shown before that he thinks he should stay out of Paul's business, so I doubt he would deliberately eavesdrop too much, but even if you can't hear what's being said, you can usually hear people talking and their tone of voice through the walls. I'm imagining Drew all torn between eavedropping and thinking he should stay out of it - if it had been Gary, I get the feeling he'd be a bit more willing to listen in.) So they're texting, Paul makes it to the lesson, texts Reggie a final I NEED TO DO MY GUITAR LESSONS THING NOW, STOP TEXTING ME REGGIE and that's it for the text war. Ah, I wonder what they were arguing about - wait, what if it was whether Reggie should come over? With everything that's going on, Reggie starts saying, Hey, I should come over for emotional support, and Paul's like, NO do NOT come over you have work anyways, and Reggie's like, But da situation, Paul, da situation, you need me! Haha, I can imagine the argument escalating like that! (That's probably not what they were arguing about, but until we get confirmation on what it really was, I'm just going to imagine that was part of it.)

You know, I've been reading this scene from Paul's and Dawn's POV, but this time, my brain was like, You know, there's an unsaid Reggie POV too, and now I'm imagining Reggie at home during all this and it makes everything in this scene EVEN BETTER.
So, even though he's stopped texting, Reggie is still feeling argumentative. He considers calling Paul to annoy him, but either decides to cool down first or decides it won't be fair to whomever Paul's tutoring. He waits a couple hours (Dawn does mention they practise for a couple of hours, right?) and then calls Paul again over Skype, thinking he must be done by now. Paul doesn't respond, and Reggie's like, That's it, phone call it is. He calls, realizes Paul isn't going to pick up, and thinks, I am going to annoy you until you pick up. Paul knows exactly what Reggie's like and throws a little silent tantrum because after all, he's a little brother who is perfectly capable of being a bit stubbornly bratty in his own way. Like, he could have just put the phone on silent, but he was like, Nope, I'm going to make this big show of ignoring it - I'll put it down and walk away while listening to it ring and imagining Reggie's face while he doesn't get his way because that makes me feel more triumphant in my spitefulness - with Dawn as an audience too, a witness to my successful spite. Paul doing this is basically equivalent to Reggie trying to argue a point while Paul, instead of leaving the room, just puts his hands on his ears like, I can't hear you, blah blah blah. (Now that I think of it, it kind of reminds me of the very first chapter: Reggie was deliberately annoying Paul by blasting pop music, Paul came down to yell at him (which he calls his favourite part of the day) with his hands over his ears - it's all their normal, comforting, brotherly routine, haha.) Meanwhile, Reggie's like, Well two can play at that game, I'll see how long it takes until you break. Paul's like, Nope, not picking up, Reggie.

But Dawn does. (Thank you, Dawn.)

And Paul's like, Waitwaitwait what is happening I didn't know we were at that point in our friendship when she feels comfortable picking up my phone without asking what no no no miscalculation
Meanwhile, Reggie sitting at home hears, to his surprise, a girl speaking instead of Paul, but, being Reggie, he knows exactly how to respond without hesitation. And when he realizes Paul's still in the room with her, he's like, Oh yeah, I win this round - put this on speaker, I need to hear Paul being tormented myself. Haha, I can imagine that smirk on his face when he realizes he can take his annoying brother act to the next level. Meanwhile Paul's all, What is happening, what happened to the Dawn who used to be afraid of getting me angry - I like confident Dawn more BUT NOT IN THIS MOMENT.
And then he and Dawn play keep-away around the piano, and honestly, while Dawn clearly knows she's getting a really rare reaction out of Paul, I wonder how much she realizes that she is witnessing a really, really emotionally personal and genuine experience of Paul. Like, he's really reserved most of the time, and is mostly in control of how he lets out his emotions in front of others, so almost everything he does is controlled and orchestrated by him. Here, though, we see Paul interacting with his brother during a brotherly quarrel that's gotten him really riled up - it's like seeing Paul in his natural habitat, haha! Reggie's done it in the very first chapter too, strategically waking Paul up in that annoying way, bc by getting Paul worked up like that, it's like opening the door to Paul's most genuine self so he could shove in as much 'apply to this school!' into Paul's unguarded self before he shut the door again.
It's interesting, because though most of his friends are still wary about getting him angry, Gary also figured out that getting Paul into a tantrum-like state was the best way to get him at his most inner, personal self. Drew and Ash didn't fully understand the steal-contacts-prank, but Gary was calculating a lot more than just getting him riled up. The first time they got him worked up (by waking him too early) was an accident, which is why they ended up getting painfully knocked to the ground. But Gary learned from that; he realized to get Paul to open a door to his inner self, they had to annoy him in a way to not make him harsh and cruel, but childishly temperamental. And as long as you could avoid bodily harm when he's in that state, he's a lot more easy to reach into and manipulate/convince to do something, such as answer a very personal question.
And I said I wouldn't get too analytical for this review, and yet, here I am. ANYWAYS.

Reggie realizes Mystery Girl is Dawn! I think I mentioned this in my last review, but he reacts exactly how I'd imagined he'd react! I've actually wondered to what extent Paul talks to Reggie about the girls - of course he's told him about the guys (they're in a band together, after all), but the girls, he doesn't necessarily have to mention, though they are in his life enough to mention them in some way. Maybe not necessarily by name, but let's see... He might have mentioned Leaf - prob not going too much into how close they are, but still calling her a friend. Actually, he might have mentioned her by name too - after all, when Paul went back home for the winter holidays, I imagine Reggie would have wanted to know who designed Paul's guitar case so spectacularly, and Paul thinks pretty highly of Leaf, so he prob would have given credit where credit is due. For May... oh! The prank war! Paul might have mentioned his roommate's prank war with May, and I like to imagine he might have possibly sent Reggie the link to the bald prank, haha! Reggie didn't recognize Drew when they first chatted over Skype, but that might have been bc Paul hadn't sent it to him yet (May might not have posted it yet) or maybe Paul sent it to Reggie later to spite Drew for answering the Skype call. For Misty, Paul might have mentioned there's a friend he goes to work out with at the gym. And Dawn, Reggie said the identifying descriptor Paul used when talking about her was "troublesome girl" - Paul might have used to rant a little about her to Reggie earlier in the year (which might have been why he was trying to come up with a word that described her when they were doing that joint project for Mr. Finn's class - to better describe her to Reggie; I mean, he does this in the anime too: Reggie recognizes Ash not by name, but as the trainer with a Pikachu that knows volt tackle - Paul doesn't really name the ppl he talks to Reggie about, he uses some other identifying factor). Haha, side note: Reggie also mentions he should have recognized Drew by the green hair when they talked on Skype - I'm imagining Paul mentioning Drew has green hair to Reggie:
Reggie: So what's your roommate like?
Paul: ...He has green hair.
R: What?
P: It's REALLY green.
ANYWAYS so "troublesome girl" might have come from Paul and Dawn's initial dislike for each other, and it remained her descriptor even after they became friends, so Paul might have mentioned to Reggie he's giving her guitar lessons, hence now, in Reggie's head, everything is clicking together.

And haha, it's not just Dawn who's shocked: Paul is too! Except while Dawn is searching for any hint that Paul talks about her positively in private, in Paul's case, it's more like, Oh no don't you dare Reggie don't you dare tell her about our private conversations this is why I never tell you actual identities of ppl! And Reggie's like, Sorry, bro, I'm in an annoy-Paul mood right now, so I'll say something embarrassing like "HE'S TALKED ABOUT YOU LOTS OF TIMES" and let you suffer the consequences (although honestly, Reggie is more fanboying over Dawn so he's prob more speaking to her than trying to get on Paul's nerves at this point). Haha, I wonder what Reggie makes of everything he hears when Paul and Dawn are fighting over the phone. He's prob just enjoying their squabble and imagining what's going on - they give enough hints with the screaming and the "put me down!" And then their unpleasant fall haha.
I wonder what the guys made of the scene when they came in haha! I feel like Gary and Drew might have been thinking back to what Leaf and May said about setting them up together, like, Yup, this looks like progress... possibly...? Meanwhile, Drew might have figured out who was on the phone: Dawn said "Reggie" nice and clearly. The guys prob figured out what happened, but Paul likely gave them a few good threats afterwards to keep their mouths shut haha.

One thing about Reggie hanging up: he says to Dawn, "We'll talk later". Now that I think of it, he might have been saying that to Paul, but I took it as saying it to Dawn, and I was like, Aw man, I really want more Dawn and Reggie interactions, but how are they going to talk later if Paul won't give Dawn his phone? (He's definitely not going to trust her with it after this.) But this time, I realized... Reggie can absolutely talk to Dawn later, if he wants to. In fact, he says how in this very chapter: Dawn is internet-famous! He can easily reach out to her over social media! But it actually might be important if he ends up doing this too: sure, would REALLY love the comic relief and the bonding and friendship, but if Reggie puts together that she's the same girl Ryu is using to threaten Paul, he could possibly be involved in warning her.
Because Paul NEEDS to warn her. She's in danger right now, and the longer Paul keeps her in the dark, the more likely she'll stay in danger. This goes for all his friends, really: I have a theory that Ryu figured out where Paul is through May's bald prank video (how else would Ryu know exactly where to go to deliver that threat? Like, the envelope didn't even have an address - Ryu would have had to go there himself and told the receptionist whom it was for. And since May opened the door when she was letting in Gary and Ash, the video might have recorded Paul's room number/the hallway of Valor Dorm, giving Ryu just the tips he needed to know where Paul is), and if that's true, then not only does he know May's and Drew's faces, but also Gary's and Ash's, since they were in the video too. (Hope I'm wrong about the prank video theory bc...) And I'm pretty sure it was Ryu in that diner Gary and Leaf went to - they talked about Paul, and if he recognized Gary from the prank video, Ryu knows Gary and Leaf are connected with Paul too. That leaves Misty - there's no hint he's associated her to Paul yet. But still, that means Ryu has seen at least a few of Paul's friends - all of whom have become possible targets as a result - so Paul NEEDS to tell them, he NEEDS to give them a heads-up, and I know it's difficult, and that's why Reggie might be a help: he knows they need to be warned, so he could drop a hint himself, or, I don't know, somehow facilitate the telling. Being in touch with one of Paul's friends - namely, Dawn - could be a way for Reggie to have someone keep an eye on Paul and report back, or it could be a way for Reggie to give them the warning they need. I wonder if he'd do that, though. He does respect Paul's boundaries to a certain degree, and he knows telling them about Ryu isn't the same as telling them about something like Paul's birthday. Haha, maybe he won't end up contacting Dawn at all. I'm really curious as to how Paul's going to end up telling them...

And again I went on a more serious direction when this review was meant to be just fluff. But yeah! Loved this scene! Ahh, there are so many fun scenes in previous chapters too, from before I started reviewing. A part of me wants to go back and ramble about those as well, tho I remember you mentioned you're planning to edit the earlier chapters and add stuff (or am I remembering wrong?) so it makes more sense to wait until you do that. Though it's still very tempting...

Oh, and this is a little off topic, but it's April in the story right now, right? April is Leaf's birthday! Paul's birthday was first, and we got a whole chapter on that. Misty's birthday was during the holidays, and the girls mentioned getting her gifts, though Paul's not that close with Misty so not surprised there wasn't a lot of focus on it. Gary's and Ash's birthday, I don't remember if you mentioned it... It's in March, right? Not super important to the story though, so again, not surprised there wasn't much focus. Haha, Paul's not the celebratory type, so I can imagine him just going along with whatever Drew planned, and if Gary and Ash decided to go clubbing that night, Paul would've been like, Nope, I did enough celebrating for one day... or month... or year...
Point is, those other birthdays aren't super important to the story, but there is a possibility Leaf's might be bc of Leaf's closeness to Paul. We've never seen Paul give an actual gift to his friends yet - sure, he bought Dawn that notebook and the song book, but those weren't really gift-gifts, more like things he felt she needed so he got them for her. Everything nice he's done for someone has had a practical purpose, but we've never seen him go out of his way to give a gift as an appreciative gesture. And Leaf is someone he's constantly described as a good friend that he feels really close to and really appreciates. If he finds out that it's her birthday, would he do something for her? Give her some kind of gift? (Prob something green, since he's noticed she likes green.) Even if it's like a tiny thing that no one else would notice, it could show how much Paul's grown, like going from being distant and wary to considering whether he should adhere to birthday norms and do something nice for a close friend. Although at the same time, there's SO MUCH going on right now, with both Misty and Ryu - I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't much focus on Leaf's birthday. Like, even if he managed to make time for it, would Paul even know when her birthday is? She did mention it's in April when she was talking about her childhood (I think... did she mention it?), but I don't remember her mentioning any date, and even if she did, would Paul have been paying attention to a detail like that when the focus of her story was her trauma?
Anyways, Leaf's birthday and Paul's possibly involvement in it might not even be touched on in this story, but it was just an interesting thought that came to mind and I thought, I'm rambling enough already, might as well ramble about this too.

I think I should end this off here. I feel like there's something else I wanted to talk about that I missed, but oh well. Haha, this ended up being a lot longer than I'd thought...
As usual, awaiting the next chapter! Stay safe and happy, Artemis, and have a great day!

I have to agree with Paul being my favorite character in the anime as well. Game/manga wise it'd be red. A lot of people just doesn't understand Paul or silver. They are like Vegeta, they believe strength is the only thing that matters in this world and everything else is just a delusion for the weak. People think Paul mistreats his pokemon but honestly he's doing nothing wrong. If you remember Paul even says chimchar agreed on the hard training because he wanted to be stronger, and it's not like Paul FORCES his pokemon to stay with him. He even released his azumarill and chimchar because of it. Of course you could say he's giving up on them which is true he just don't have the patience to deal with it, but at the same time he's helping them by releasing them since they aren't built for that kind of life. You don't applaud Paul's actions, you understand them. The only thing I really hated was that he didn't respect them. Hardcore training is fine so long as you give credit where it's due. And he didn't thank his pokemon for any of his battles.

I also enjoy Misty but I honestly feel like she's more of a sister to Ash than a romantic interest, (although I'm not saying it couldn't work out) but what I don't get is why people love Misty so much yet iris is basically the exact same but everyone HATES her. Maybe because Misty is an OG and she's stealing her place? Idk either way it's hypocritical and biased AF

Alright look... You probably don't remember but a few months ago I left I VERY disrespectful comment here and I want to apologise. I'm sorry if I came off too bulgar but I'm just a speak my mind kind of guy, I mistakenly thought this fic was M rated when in fact I saw it was T and realized after the fact. I just want to let you know I'm sorry for that the only reason I was asking for lemons was because when the characters get "intimate" with each other it makes me feel like the relationship is more powerful. But I've realised it doesn't need them in the story to show the characters love for one another and you've done a great job at showing that. It's been 6 months since you've last updated and that honestly saddens me, I hope you'll never give up on this story too many authors such as yourself do so when they had a good run going and all for their stories to just end on a never ending cliffhanger which sucks. I'm glad I see your reviews on Amy's story though as that gives me confirmation that your still alive and hopefully still working on your story. I love her stories as well and seeing how much you support her makes me feel happy that you care that much about her. I know I came off as an asshole but I'm trying to change that. Forgive me if you want it's up to you. If not I completely understand and won't beg you too. Don't let people talk you down with their bullshit, tell them to STFU and that this is YOUR story and write it however you want. I just needed to get this out cause I felt like a dick for what I did. I honestly have to see I feel like you detail things a bit TOO much in this story but even so it is nicely done so I can hate it, that just shows how much effort you put into it and I respect that. I just took for granted all you authors and your stories not realizing one day you guys would stop writing and I learned to cherish these stories. For example the woman who wrote "special adventures" (can't remember her name cuz it's a bunch of numbers) has clarified "eternal legacy" will most likely be her last story which is sad. And Sarah Kay writer is now retired along with bass0bassium and they wrote some of the best burningleaf fics out there. Somewhereinnevada64 hasn't updated his story In years and ik it's most likely due to his brain tumor, I just hope he isn't dead he's the king of burningleaf. And you and Amy seem like the only ones left which is depressing for me. So many authors no longer writing, and the two left don't update very often. Ik your dealing with real life too so I understand. Which is why I'm writing this review to deeply apologise to you as I have no place to talk shit about your story. I know I could never take the time to write a fanfiction even though I have many ideas for them. Your determination is astounding and I respect you and Amy for not abandoning your stories. Also don't unblock my account. I deserved it and if I review I can review as guest. Just please try to update more often if you can that would be great. These stories are for people dealing with the bullshit of real life to escape and read something about their favorite characters and imagine it being Canon (even if it's sadly not) you've helped me a lot with this story when I'm feeling like shit I can read this and just relax. These 8 characters and their little group has always been one of my favorite concept as their basically a family. Same as dexholders stories just the concept of having so many great friends like them is what I envy and wish I had which is why I love these stories so much. They always have each other and you've wrote it greatly.

Overall thank you for your time if you've read this and please my sincerest apologies ;)

Keep this story going!

I’ve been rereading chapters, over and over again. Going back and forth between scenes trying to piece together Paul’s past and predict their future. I can’t. I absolutely love this and just reading this all over again has made me happy. I look forward to hearing from you and I truly hope you’re doing okay in these hard times. I know this year was filled with many plans, but I still hope better days come soon enough. Stay safe!

Ok I will start off with saying that I saw this recommended on tumblr and I was like cool can’t wait to read it. And oh my Mavis was this such an amazing read! I can not fathom how you can manage such greatness! The relatable way they are written the casual reference to Pokémon! The actual real problems and how they are being handled! The suspense the drive! All are amazing! This is a slow burn that is just an amazing bond fire that refuses to quit! I can not wait for the next chapter ! I bet by the next time you post you will see such a huge amount of new fans!

(continued...)

And then enter Stella - a new player to this twisted mess that is Misty's life.
"Who's she and why should we care?"
Haha did I mention I love May's commentary?
I'll admit, I'd forgotten who Stella was, but when I searched her up, I immediately remembered the episode she was from. That vicious circus ringmaster is the SS's manager? Yikes! The SS would be totally okay with collaborating with her - they're as toxic as she is! - but with how the sisters treat Misty, and then with STELLA of all people as the manager as well… all these people Misty has to deal with, this is seriously abuse Misty needs to be saved from becoming a SS, like, I know it'll work out eventually (I hope it does, it HAS to) but seriously isn't there anyone who can stop this, how is this allowed?
And Stella has the AUDACITY to reduce our wonderful band to a bunch of stereotypes and then COMPARE THEM TO THE SS like, no, you're wrong, Stella: this group is nothing like the SS because, I don't know, maybe because it's missing the toxic-ness?
(Darn it, Stella's stereotyping got me wondering how she'd label the boys. Let's see, I guess Gary would be the leader, Drew the intellectual, Ash the spontaneous one, and Paul the scary one? Not a perfect fit, but it sort of works...?)

Speaking of the boys (or, as Misty calls them, "Helpless roadkill"), they actually came! Well, three of them did (as much as I love any scene with Paul there is no way he'd come to a place like this willingly). And ahhh poor Dawn thinks it's her fault, and Misty thinks he did it on purpose! I doubt he did but of course Misty, in her pent-up frustration would blame him. And even then, she still feels bad for thinking it because she knows he probably wouldn't and everything between them since the fight is a mess and when will they make upppp I need that scene!
… Although, it would be interesting if Paul actually DIDN'T tell them. What if it was the SS who had something to do with it? Or some connection Gary has? Even if Paul mentioned something in passing, Dawn didn't actually say WHICH club they were going to be at, and, like Dawn said, why would PAUL of all people gossip about something like that? And I mean, Rudy's there too, and I'm pretty sure Paul doesn't talk to Rudy at all. Also, Rudy knew she was going to perform: the SS must have advertised it. That's how everyone must have found out.
Lol Gary and Drew escaping the awkwardness! And then, of course, there’s Ash.

That little interaction with Misty and Ash, with Ash wanting to be there for her even though he knew she wouldn't like it… it just shows how well he knows her. And not just his being there, but how he replies to everything she says - simple, short phrases: "Okay," "I know." It's like that time during the blackout, when Ash convinced Misty to listen to her sisters' messages, and, after she got upset, all he said was, "You're right." That's the thing about Ash: he knows how to listen to Misty. Sometimes when people listen, they also try to give advice, or to reason, but Ash knows that with Misty, when she's upset, she wants neither of those things. She needs to be listened to, she needs to be heard, and Ash, with his simple nature (not simple as in not smart, but simple as in not making things more complicated), knows how to show he's listening, that he hears her. Not by saying anything complicated or even something someone else might find to be good advice, but by staying true to his nature. And that's the issue with Rudy: I think I've said this before, but he simply doesn't stand a chance because he doesn't know Misty as well as Ash. He doesn't know about her personal baggage, and how it's shaped her, and how he needs to talk to her and listen to her. Maybe, if it had been a different situation, and Misty didn't have the same kind of immediate struggles, and her baggage wasn't as bad, maybe they could have worked out a relationship. They would have had their conflicts (I mean, with Misty's temperament, there's no way they wouldn't have at least one fight every once in a while) but worked them out and learned about each other. But Misty's already closed off, and the only one she's ever fully let inside is Ash. Actually, considering their history and how they've grown up together, it wasn't a matter of Misty letting him in, but him already being there, and them growing with their lives entwined and I am analyzing this way too much let's move on.

The SS's performance! And they use the song and dance Misty identifies with. Of course they would use that performance as a way to attack her mentally. Goes to show just how manipulative and psychologically abusive they are.

I found it interesting how Pokemon were intertwined with the performance - I mean, now that I think about it, in the anime, Pokemon have always been a part of performances, including those by the SS. But in this story, since all the performances have been focused on the students of HPAA, I just didn't think about how Pokemon must be involved in different kinds of performances outside of school. Speaking of which, are Pokemon allowed to be used as part of the school performances? Because if so, Changing Grace could potentially incorporate Pokemon moves into their concert for bonus points and bring their performance up a whole new level!
Also, I love how the Pokemon are described - specifically described by Misty. Even though she hates her sisters, she loves these Pokemon, whom she probably grew up with. She really beautifies them and their moves.

And then, poor Rudy. I don't blame him for being oblivious - he knows nothing about the situation, and Misty wouldn't respond to his texts when he caringly tried to check on her, and it's hard to imagine celebrities you love actually being abusive monsters. There's no way he could have known what's going on. But he shouldn't have made assumptions. Even if he didn't read the atmosphere when he and Misty went aside to talk, his first question should have been if she's okay - he already said he was worried because she wasn't responding to his texts, so he should have followed up on that worry instead of making assumptions just because he finally got to meet up with her.
Still, I feel so bad for him. He's genuinely sorry about the assumptions he made. He was misled by the advertising by her sisters. And sure, he makes mistakes in how he approaches the situation and the things he says, but he's genuinely trying to support her, to be good to her. It's just that he doesn't know how to listen to her like Ash does. But he's trying to - he's begging her to talk to him, to explain, to give him her side. But what he doesn't understand is that for Misty, listening to her doesn't mean getting her to talk to him. It means understanding that she's upset and being there for her. She doesn't always speak in words - sometimes, her language is frustration and anger, and Ash knows how to read that. Rudy does not. (Though it’s unfair to expect him to know how to approach her at a time like this - Misty’s case might not be the same as some other people’s.)
Man, it sort of reminds me of how Dawn treated Kenny when she was spiralling out of control. But it feels different somehow - maybe because in Kenny's case, he sort of seemed like a lovesick puppy who's (annoyingly) tailing Dawn around (though, to be honest, I’m still a little curious as to where Kenny’s role in the story could go), while Rudy seems to be more mature, more on equal footing with Misty. I feel that though he’s hurt, he can handle this, but I won't blame him if he gets mad at her for a bit. It would be interesting if, rather than him continuing to pursue Misty when things settle down, or even stay unreasonably spiteful of her, he uses this experience to realize they just aren't meant for each other, and they have a moment where he and Misty talk it out and decide not to pursue a relationship but still part on good terms. Because Rudy's not a bad guy - he's just not suited for Misty.

Okay, I knew the SS were planning something. What I didn't predict was that they would sign up Changing Grace and force them to perform impromptu! Like, how's that fair in the least?!
And the worst part was, whether they succeeded in performing or not, that wasn't the point. The point was to humiliate them - the SS knew exactly what would happen once they finished. They knew about the Paint Festival. The way they'd set everything up, Changing Grace was meant to be brought down either way.
Also, you've done an excellent job making Lily so unlikeable! Every jab she throws their way, I just want May to have an actual fistfight with her (and I think May would actually do it, if given the chance!). Like... ugh! AND DAISY! I can tell Daisy's a bit different from the other sisters, like maybe, to some degree, she is actually capable of being… fair? We saw a glimpse of something in her during that thing with Principal Cynthia. But honestly, she still did something like this, and… like even though I feel she might view stuff in a slightly different way from her sisters, that doesn't take away the fact that she wants to bring Misty down, to humiliate her, and just…! Even if we find out what caused Daisy to want to bring Misty down so much, I don't think I'd forgive her. And then there's Violet - I'm actually a little curious about her now. She hasn't talked a whole lot - it's usually Daisy and Lily - but I'm guessing she's the "stoic intellectual" one in the SS Stella mentioned. It makes me wonder how exactly she acts when considered separately from the other sisters.
But ugh! The SS need to go - seriously a part of me just wants Paul to give them a vicious tongue-lashing like he did with Dawn that time way back when she was yelling at him for refusing the guys (and I guess with Misty when they had that fight *sob*) but it doesn't have to be him who does anything, just anyone! Like the girls when they stood up to them when they first appeared! I want them to have an actual showdown or SOMETHING I want the SS to be taken down!

But, man, I just feel so bad for the girls! And I mean, Leaf's already dealing with self-esteem - this must be devastating. And that was supposed to be Misty's outfit for the concert! And… man. Misty running away sort of reminds me of when Dawn ran away after the Diamond Concert. But it's different - Dawn's was a matter of her fragile insecurities, while, in Misty's case, her sisters have been deliberately chipping away at her until they exposed the raw, hurting core. And that's the difference, I think: Dawn's pain was caused by her going out of control, but Misty's was caused by someone else, and she had no say, no choice, no control over what they did to her, to her friends.
I'll admit something: in the anime, I actually wasn't a huge fan of Misty. It wasn't that I disliked her - and I actually sort of like her for nostalgia and stuff - it's just that she felt less defined as a character. Almost like the creators took every trait that was seen as ideal for the female sidekick to a male protagonist and poured them on her. I don't know. Or maybe it felt she didn’t really have a proper character arc? (Or maybe it’s just me, haha).
But it's actually through reading fanfiction that I've come to like her much more and have a more solid image of what she's like (or at least what she's like to the fans). And ahhh just what you're doing with her character in this fic - especially in this arc - it just makes me love her so much more. You just turned her into this character I can envision and sympathize with. Like, the final scene with her and Ash was just heartbreaking. Her pain, her sorrow, her crying. Just, wow, you did an excellent job of creating that scene, showing that heartbreak.
And Ash! Like, he's just so perfect in that scene, the way he acts, the way he does what he can for Misty. A legitimate friend holding her, someone safe she can break apart in front of - and Misty is not one to let herself fall apart in front of just anyone.

So. That's the end of the chapter. And I kind of want to end it there because it seems right, but Paul's paranoia about Ryu's got me paranoid about him too. Like, they were all in a crowded club, the girls having performed onstage together - Ryu already knows Dawn's face (and I'm pretty sure Leaf's too) so if he was there, if he saw them performing, he could easily put it all together and associate them with Paul. And right now, Ash and Misty are deep in an alley, and I'm glad it's both of them together because it's safer, but being in an alley at midnight near clubs where there is alcohol is NOT safe in any circumstance I seriously hope they get out of there without anything worse happening (or anyone following them, considering the kind of stalker Ryu is, especially when it comes to anything related to Paul). I doubt Ryu would act right now, but something bad's coming eventually and the more he knows about Paul's friends, the worse it'll be.

ON THAT CHEERFUL NOTE

Seriously, Artemis, you're doing an excellent job with this story! And even if you want to use your writing time to write other stuff, I'm still planning to follow this story to the end. Take your time, and all the best with everything you hope to accomplish, and all the other projects you have planned, whether they're related to Heroes Grace or not!

Hope you're doing well. Stay safe and happy, and eagerly awaiting the next chapter! :)

Heyyyy Artemis! Gah, sorry for reviewing SO LATE - I thought I'd have this done way back in October, or at least during the winter break, but I didn't know how BUSY it'd get. But I've now gotten it written so here it is!
Ahhhh so many gems in this chapter! As usual, let's start at the beginning!

I loved getting that little insight into Dawn's first year at the academy! A part of me has been curious about how first year went for her - and not just with Dawn, but with the rest of the main eight as well. Paul just seems like such an inseparable part of the group now; it's hard to think of how the main eight (well, seven if he's not there) were before he arrived.
Like, for the guys, the group would have been just Drew, Ash and Gary - I'm sort of interested in seeing how they got together as friends that first year, especially considering how Drew used to be distant, and Ash and Gary's friendship had weakened after Leaf left.
And then the girls! Dawn, May and Leaf were already friends, and we know Leaf ran into Gary (well, Gary's Umbreon found her) early on, and slowly but surely, everyone found one another and connected and... I just think it would be a super interesting story, especially with Drew, since he was the 'loner' who needed opening up back then (also, I'm sort of curious about who his previous roommate was, though I doubt it's anyone too important at the moment).
And they all would have had their own dynamics and interactions and drama (at some point, Gary mentioned that first year had its fair bit of drama or something like that), and it would be interesting to see how things worked out. Though Paul just seems like such an integral part of the group at this point, it's hard to imagine them without him. Also, he happens to be my favourite character, so a long, multi-chaptered fic without him would probably make me feel like something's missing… Though you portray and develop the characters so well I probably would love it either way… Wait, what if it were a collection of one-shots? Haha, that would be fun: a collection of fun, light-hearted one-shots about the main eight in their first year (and yeah, all eight - let's throw in a little of Paul at his previous school, and maybe some fabulous Paul and Reggie brother moments). Like, it could be this thing you just add to whenever you feel like it, and nothing like some big project or—
WAIT WHAT AM I SAYING?! I think I really went off track with the review here! (In summary, the idea of the main eight as freshmen is intriguing, and as for making some prequel one-shot series, would totally read it if you wrote it but I know you're busy and have other projects in mind no pressure I'm just enjoying Heroes Grace is what I'm saying OKAY BACK TO THE REVIEW.)

So DAWN. As a freshman! Unsurprisingly, a total extrovert, haha! But yeah, her back then, and her now are a huge difference! I'm sure she put in a lot of effort in her first year too (I get the sense you can't exactly wing it in a prestigious school like this), but now, it feels like she's become more of a perfectionist. If I have to pinpoint a reason, I'd say it was the concerts. And I don't just mean the Showcase that gave her the title. The whole idea of ranking makes the contests very competitive, regardless of who you are. And so Dawn getting recognized for a good ranking would have meant getting so much positive feedback for doing well competitively, which struck her especially strongly since she was finally getting recognition for being herself rather than being her father's daughter, and then she won the showcase which made her competitiveness explode in an unhealthy, toxic way, hence the whole plot of the Diamond Concert arc.

Now on to Misty! Yes, Dawn, it IS disheartening how people so easily switched from loving Dawn to turning against her so quickly. At the same time, I don't think anyone actually hates her or anything. What they see is a quarrel between two groups of celebrities, and since the Sensational Sisters (I’ll just call them SS) are more popular and officially established and recognized, people just sided with them. Basically, they just want the drama (and, I mean, this IS an ARTS school, so). Even in real life, we can see these dramatic issues flaring in basically every social media platform. I mean, even in one of the early chapters, back when Dawn was bombarding Paul with questions (which had ended badly), part of the reason she was so upset at what had happened was because of the negative public response that had come out of it. I'm pretty sure it's why the SS made such a huge display when they confronted Misty: they wanted the publicity, because their entire career is based on publicity and they know how to use it, how to twist it so it frames them in a positive light.
Still, though, not saying that the school turning against the girls is meaningless. It's meaningless from a bystander's perspective, but the ones who have to face the hate are probably in a terrible mental state because of it, and that's not even considering the pain that comes from knowing what's ACTUALLY going on.

It's really interesting, comparing Misty's attitude in all this to how Dawn was right before the Diamond Concert. It's kind of like a role reversal: back then, it was Dawn who'd become isolated and toxic and obsessed and wouldn't listen to her friends' attempts to help her, and it eventually led to Misty snapping and straight out slapping her because she was so pushed to the edge. Here, it's Misty who's become isolated and toxic and obsessed (I mean, I know it's hard to take what's going on off her mind, but her routine sounds REALLY unhealthy), and while Dawn hasn't had an outburst yet (well, she hasn't had the chance to be with Misty to have a proper outburst moment), she sort of does vent mentally for the readers. I wouldn't be surprised if Dawn has a big confrontation with Misty at some point, although now that I think of it, Paul sort of already did that...

Speaking of Paul, here he comes!

"…I still had no idea what /exactly/ was bothering him, but … I knew it couldn't be the drama with Misty because Paul wasn't really the type to invest that much in other people's problems. … he just didn't let it affect him personally."

Tsk tsk, Dawn, you still have a lot to learn about him. Because while, right now, Misty might not be the direct thing he's bothered about, she has definitely contributed. I mean, that whole fight? Need I say more? Even if right now, he isn't thinking about Misty, what she said has definitely affected him, and will continue to affect him until he and Misty talk it out. And this isn't the first time a friend's pain has affected him enough to get involved.
I mean, even before Dawn and Paul were friends, wasn't it Paul who predicted where she ran off to after the Diamond Concert and went and got her? Didn't he later even speculate that it must have been because he PERSONALLY related to her in that moment?
And back with Drew, that time Drew was upset about May's rejection, wasn't it Paul who had him leave the dorms rather than mope and blast his music? Wasn't it Paul who helped Drew write the song, even asked Drew if he was sure he didn't want to sing it since he knew it was something really emotionally important to him? And even though he was mostly involved in May's drama through Drew, he was still there, still listened to Max when he told him about May's relationship with her dad and even speculated a bit on it.
And with Gary and Leaf, wasn't it Paul who placed a hand on Leaf's shoulder when she was upset and had to leave the party (was it Melody's birthday party? can't remember) - even when he didn't know what to say, it affected him enough that he knew how to be there for her, even if it was for a moment. And wasn't it Paul who went out in a snowstorm and, frantic with worry, found Leaf and carried her back? Wasn't it Paul who took the initiative and provoked Gary to the point of realizing his feelings and running after Leaf?
And Ash, even though the Ash-Misty arc hasn't ended yet, didn't Paul, when seeing the terrible advice Gary and Drew had given him for confessing to Misty, go out of his way to TALK ABOUT ROMANCE and give Ash the advice to reject the other two's orchestration of his confession? And I'm not even mentioning how Paul got so fed up with Ash being dense about his feelings for Misty that he went ahead and spelled it out for him.

My point is, in all cases, Paul HAS gotten involved in his friends' dramas, whether willingly or not, and, on more than one occasion, has even taken the initiative and done stuff to directly help the situation. Dawn's got the part that he cares right, but thinking that he doesn't get bothered by other people's problems, that he doesn't let it affect him personally, is so very, very wrong. Not that I expect Dawn to realize that - she would have to read a whole fanfic about their year to get a clear vision of what's going on, haha.

"Whatever was bothering him didn't seem to be impacting his life so drastically that it was harming him … he'd made it pretty clear he was managing just fine without a sounding board."

NOOOOO DAWN it IS harming him, it is VERY MUCH harming him, he is NOT managing just fine, he even needed to talk to Leaf about it because of how bad it is, help him Daaawwwnnn!

On the other hand, Paul has grown so much as well! Like, he's learning human communication, haha! He actually realizes when something he says sounds judgemental and apologizes and explains himself - Reggie would be so proud!
And haha, Dawn just mentally freaking out and celebrating about getting stuff out of him! I like how she starts off the entire first scene thinking, I shouldn't push it, I should stay out of it… But by the end she's like, OH YEAH I'M PUSHING THIS ALL THE WAY.

And then she gets his opinion on Misty. Oh boy.

Okay, when Dawn mentioned Misty, I wasn't sure what to expect from Paul. On the one hand, he knows she's hurting, and he feels guilty for contributing to that hurt that morning they had that fight. On the other, he's also hurting, and, like with Misty, some of it has to do with their fight. (Seriously, I just want them to talk it out please guys just talk it out - though at the same time, I'm wondering how it would look like to have Paul and Misty of all people sit down and talk anything out.)
So Paul went with anger, which, all things considered, is a totally understandable reaction. Though, to be honest, I was a little surprised, since I'd thought he'd still be feeling guilty, though the anger may have also been guilt induced. When he gives his rage explanation, I thought the rage came from the fight, but then, Dawn mentioned that something more personal was going on here, which might not even have anything to do with Misty. And then it all made sense.

Because if, in that rage rant, you replace 'she' with 'I', you realize that PAUL IS LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF. The only thing he says that might be unclear could be the last line, when he talks about people pointing out "how incredibly stupid that decision was," since none of his friends have done that yet, but there might be a hint in this very chapter about who HAS: Reggie. Reggie is the one who knows the entire situation, who might have told Paul that he needs to give his friends a heads-up about what's going on, which might have led to whatever argument Paul implied he had with Reggie this chapter, which was why he wouldn't pick up the phone, and also why Paul erupted and had his rage rant when Dawn asked him about Misty - because his own issues were already on his mind, and his last conversation with Reggie had riled him up to the point that he needed to vent.

And the reason Paul is even able to use Misty as a substitute for himself in his venting is because Dawn is right: Paul and Misty are pretty similar in some regards. Even after he's done his rant, and he and Dawn have a calmer conversation about Misty, I felt that everything they were saying about her could apply to Paul as well.
"How could you trust anyone after growing up with that?"
"I don't know. I guess you don't, even if you want to." - Paul is definitely talking about his own trust issues here, which he got from growing up with Ryu.
And what Paul says about what his reaction would be to someone trying to help, and how Reggie might have said something like what Dawn said, it made me think of how something exactly like this must have happened in Paul's life, even if the bridge thing was metaphoric. I mean, Reggie did save his life and is the reason he continues on, even after Paul hit his lowest point - it's because Reggie made him keep going, forced him to let himself be saved in that moment.

AND THEN!
And then comes the absolute glorious GEM of a scene that is the phone call with Reggie.
I have been waiting for a scene like this with Reggie for SO LONG you don't even know. In the very first chapters, when we first saw Reggie and Paul interacting, I just fell in love with their brother relationship. Like, they care about each other and love each other and always have each other's backs, but they also clash in some regards personality-wise, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that trope so much whenever it comes up in books and shows and stuff, especially with siblings. I knew, however, that since the focus of this story is Paul in a boarding school away from home, Reggie would have limited appearances, if any. But a certain scene gave me hope: when Drew had that very brief chat with Reggie on Paul's laptop.
Since then, I've been craving another scene like that - Reggie always gave me the impression he would LOVE messing with Paul when it came to his friends, so for a long time, I just wanted a scene where someone has a nice long chat with Reggie over Paul's computer, or picks up his phone when he's not there or something. Because of what's going on in this arc, a part of me felt something like that would happen, but I thought that Paul wouldn't be there, and that the conversation his friends would have with Reggie would be more serious (I thought it would be the guys trying to figure out what's going on with Paul - also, I would still love any kind of interaction with Reggie and Paul's friends - I just want to see their reaction to him, and how Reggie would act and stuff).
And then, THIS CHAPTER HAPPENED.
DAWN PICKS UP THE PHONE.
AND TALKS TO REGGIE.
WHILE PAUL IS IN THE SAME ROOM, MORTIFIED.
AND THEY UNITE TO DRIVE HIM CRAZY.
Ahhhh loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
Like, when the phone began to ring, and it didn't look like Paul was about to pick up, I was thinking, Is this what I think it is? Pick it up Dawn! Pick it up!
And she does!
And Paul's expression when he sees what she's doing, and then Reggie's immediate response to Dawn's greeting!
ALSO Reggie realizing who Dawn is! I've known all along that there was no way Paul would tell Reggie he was friends with Dawn, and that, since Paul talks to him about everything that's going on, he would have probably been referring to Dawn as 'troublesome' or something - I've just been waiting for Reggie's reaction for when he found out. I thought it would be if he came over in person or something. (Speaking of which, I feel like Reggie WILL show up in person again at some point, probably when we're in the thick of the Ryu situation… but that might just be me. ANYWAYS.) And Reggie's reaction is exactly how I imagined! Him fanboying over Dawn, and at the same time embarrassing Paul by telling Dawn how he talks about her "lots of times" haha! And then Paul has one final desperate attempt to get his phone back before Reggie could say something forever-humiliating, which leads to that thoroughly awkward moment when the guys come in hahaha! And Reggie's like, Now that I've left you in an awkward position, I'll abandon you to try to explain yourself, byeee! (Now that I think about it, it's sort of like that awkward morning Dawn had with Paul, and how Paul decided to let Dawn be more awkward rather than explain to Drew what was going on. Brothers be alike, am I right? Also, not just that moment, but the end too, when Dawn's teasing Paul about talking about her - it's like when Paul was teasing her about falling on the way out - role reversal, haha!)
Aw man, I sort of wish Reggie had stayed on and talked to the guys too, but I think part of the reason he didn't was because he didn't know who had come in. He's totally fine with teasing Paul in front of his friends, who he probably sees as trustworthy, but he knows Paul's boundaries, and humiliating Paul in front of people he is not comfortable with (not that he's comfortable with having his personal info spilled to his friends either, haha) would go too far.
And ahhh, this scene was so funny and loveable and long awaited and soooo gooood!
But you just HAD to put in that second phone call, didn't you? With that weird phone call that is no doubt from Ryu where Dawn CONFIRMS THIS IS PAUL'S NUMBER thereby giving Ryu yet another way to stalk him (how did Ryu even get Paul's number *sob*), like, you just HAD to put that sinister undertone to everything, didn't you? Gahhhh! Still, I REALLY want to see where that goes, even though this arc is mostly focused on Misty, you're just building Paul's up little by little gahhhhh how do you write like this?

Speaking of Misty, let's FINALLY go on to the next scene!

"A storm was coming. It was already in the air. And it was about to enter this gaudy, techno-pop themed nightclub and ruin all these people's evening of fun."
This line so perfectly describes everything I was thinking when I first started this scene. Except the only people whose fun I knew would get ruined were the girls. I just knew it was a bad idea to come, but it wasn't like they had much choice. Still. I mean, the club is called MONSTER House - it's the SS’s lair, seeing as they're pretty monstrous themselves.

The Monster House is so vividly described - I especially liked that touch about Misty noticing the waitresses. Since she's a waitress herself, it definitely is something she would notice, and she would definitely empathize with the girls doing the same job as her. Having her notice something like that keeps her character consistent and really develops the lens she sees the world through.

And of course, there's May! Haha, I just love her! "Where's your LIST Bouncer-guy!?" "It's called trash-talking, and it's customary when confronting an enemy." What would this scene be without May's commentary? In all honesty, I feel like May would have lowkey enjoyed a place like this… if the circumstances had been entirely different, of course. But I'm with Leaf - if the bouncer had denied me entry, I would have been like, This is the extent of my effort, let's go somewhere else and get food.

"It's going to be fine. We're just gonna watch them perform, and then we're gonna leave. Simple as that."
… Dawn, I know you're saying that to be reassuring, but do you remember who you're dealing with? You really think the SS would make anything "simple"?
"It was better not to say anything; I didn't want to risk that my words would come out more biting than I wanted, fueled by frustration but with nowhere else to go but at the closest target."
Which is exactly what happened with Paul. (I repeat, I just really want them to make up for that fight T-T )

And then enter Stella - a new player to this twisted mess that is Misty's life.
"Who's she and why should we care?"
Haha did I mention I love May's commentary?
I'll admit, I'd forgotten who Stella was, but when I searched her up, I immediately remembered the episode she was from. That vicious circus ringmaster is the SS's manager? Yikes! The SS would be totally okay with collaborating with her - they're as toxic as she is! - but with how the sisters treat Misty, and then with STELLA of all people as the manager as well… all these people Misty has to deal with, this is seriously abuse Mi

Hi Artemis, I’m completely new to all this here, and I have read so many Pokémon fanfics so far, but your story touched me. If you weren’t on this site, you could make a career as an author, because you are talented! I just want to say that this story is lovely. I have read some that are too dark, too short, too shallow but this one makes me want to keep coming back for more. I’m not going to ask you to rush and update soon, because good work takes time, and I’m sure you have a life outside of this too! It can be tiring (I mean, 55 chapters so far?!) but I hope you know, whenever you do update, I will always be here to devour it all. I know it can be disheartening after a while if you don’t get feedback, and I’m sure you have loads but please do finish, and don’t give up on us (I know some authors do, which is really sad...). Be happy and stay healthy! Love, a fan xx

Author, I always check up on this story, as it has been a constant in my life. I love you and your writing so much! I found this gem in 2015 and it seems weird to me that it's been 4 years (haha i was 11 when i first read this). I love re-reading this story and I'm always so excited to see an update. This story is a small pleasure in my life. I finally moved past my shyness and decided to post a review to give support! I wish you the best from the bottom of my heart ;3; 3

I love love LOVE this story! If I have to wait for the rest of my life to read the ending of this story I will! It is amazing and I look forward to the next chapter whenever you get around to it! Stay strong, work and school take a lot of energy so take your time.

Listen, I love this story so much the Grim Reaper himself couldn't stop me from reading it. Please though, take your time, I love this story so much because of how YOU have imagined it to be, and the direction YOU have been pulling it in. Don't rush out anything, I beg of you. Take your time and focus on whatever you need or want to. Even if you were to change course and start a new story, I think I would still read it just because I love how you convey emotions and the detail and care you put into it. Best of luck with getting back into college, and don't overwork yourself please! 3

THANKS FOR UPDATE! Which I felt really deserved the caps. I loved Dawn’s section the most too, some light heartedness amidst all the problems occurring. I can’t relate with Misty’s sisters, unless they were just meant to be b*tch characters- why would they do this kind of things? And being in Misty position, a strong willed character being in such a defenceless position, is quite a struggle.

Don’t worry about long updates, we’re here to stay ;)

I haven’t read the update yet but I just wanted to let you know how ECSTATIC I am to know you’re alive and doing better. I didn’t expect an update from this but I’m over the moon! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to see more.

Hello!
It's so good to see you back! A well-written chapter, as always. I loved Dawn's POV the most just because it was the right combination of light and serious. The last time I reviewed, I think I was a freshman or sophomore in college and a psychology major. I am now in my fourth year of college, changed my major to music ed, and have three years to go, and let me tell you, the very beginning of the chapter when Dawn is musing about her past practice habits is a music major in a nutshell-freshmen don't practice because they think they can sight read like a pro, then realize they can't and spend the rest of their time in college in a practice room if they're not in class. You just forgot the stress of a full load of music courses (I'd love to see you torture them with music theory). XD
Also the last time I reviewed, I think I made some kind of mention about how performing arts schools are run (they wouldn't focus on pop/rock band type stuff, it's more classical training), and from a more grown me to you, I wouldn't want you to change it for the world. It fits into the world seamlessly. I do still stand by my previous comment that I'd like to see some more of their day-to-day classes, like music theory, or voice lessons, or even ensembles, for more of that classical training aspect of the school. Probably not in this story, but a definite recommendation for the sequel.
Misty's POV was palpably stressful, to angry, to icy blankness. The music nerd in me was hoping they'd bust out some acapella skills and not use their instruments. And Ash's POV was icing on the cake. Not to be weird, but I liked seeing Misty broken from Ash's perspective. You didn't have to include the blurb at the end about highlighting the differences between Ash and Rudy. Ash knew Misty was broken (for now); Rudy wouldn't have even taken the extremely obvious hint.
As for your personal endeavors, it's great to hear you want to go back to school. If you do for sure go back, just make sure you pace yourself according to how you know you'll work, not how they want you to work. Don't let them bully you into finishing in a timeframe that's unrealistic for you!
That's all from me this time. Well done, welcome back, and happy writing!