Lack of Sleep is Not Fun

Hello, readers! Sorry, this is late (I wrote quite a bit on Monday, but even the listen to part was really long), I went to sleep early on Sunday to make sure I got enough for what I needed to do Monday. Or rather, what I thought was Monday, it’s really Tuesday and all the prep I did for it was for naught because I forgot to check the date, so I have to prepare again. It’s fine, I hope I get better sleep (I did a little bit better and managed to make the appointment).

This isn’t even counting that I tried to do this last week and my sleep was so bad I barely made it through the workday (and obviously canceled). However, I finished the main story for the Pokémon Legends Z-A DCL and just have to catch the last legendries and the other Pokémon I don’t have yet. Then I go DCL alpha hunting.

So, what I’m listening to, it’s changed quite a bit, or rather one has. I finished Nozomi of the Sand by sakurademonalchemist. Then I decided to listen to The Quiet Fox by TheBeardedOne. It’s a Naruto fic that’s a little different than others. Other than in-between chapters set in the current time, most of the story is told from one character’s perspective. No character is repeated and this makes it interesting. Naruto saves Hinata from getting kidnapped by making the mob chasing him think the kidnapper is trying to help him. They then end up at the Namikaze estate. It’s an interesting story and even finished!

When that one was finished I started listening to where I’m at currently with Naruto: Rise of the West by azndrgn. It’s a fic based on the Emperor Naruto of the West challenge from a while back. In the challenge – Naruto is kicked out of Konoha after the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. Hinata eventually becomes his Empress, typically leaving with him. They go to West, where they unite it as they are waring. Years later, Konoha is in a bad spot and go to them for help unknowing that Naruto is Emperor. There are also typically many characters from other stories that are part of the West.

In this one, Tsunade is forced to exile him (there are ones where she agrees) and Hinata, Neji, Tenten, Konohamaru and Hanabi follow him. They are almost captured either by Itachi and Kisame or Root agents. They’re saved by Yusuke (from Yu Yu Hakusho) and they follow him to the West (with Itachi and Kisame who voluntarily leave Akatsuki). All the villages are approached many years later to compete in several tournaments in the West. All agree. This fic is completed with 20 chapters.

I also finished In Another World With My Smartphone Vol 3 like, last week, I think? I then listened That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Vol 2. In it Rimuru meets some new friends and ends up in a battle for the forest. We also get some insight into some characters that will eventually have relevance.

After I finished that one earlier this week, I started listening to By The Grace of the Gods Vol 6. Ryoma participates in an adventurer training camp as a teacher and teaches quite a bit. After that he scares the participants with his battle prowess. Then he manages to save a man who was attacked by bandits, all while getting some new slimes!

As I mentioned I finished Broken Dreams by ThunderReborn last week, I then listened to Breaking the Sky by sakurademonalchemist. It’s a Dragon Drive and KHR crossover that I’ve talked about before here. Fem Tsuna gets into Dragon Drive and gets a special box to manifest her dragon Sora into the real world. She shouldn’t have been able to and certain people are trying to find her because of it. It’s only got 11 chapters and is obviously unfinished. After I finished that I started Crushing on a Devil by TanJaded. I mentioned it last week so I won’t go over it again.

Onto the quest, first is Dark Evangel’s Final Task by fg7dragon. This is a Negima! Magister Negi Magi and Harry Potter crossover. Evangeline A.K. McDowell tries to finally kill herself hundreds of years after the end of the Negima! manga. She finds that she can’t and meets Death, who gives her a task to do and then he will make sure she dies. What is that task, but live in and help shape Harry and make sure he destroys one of the Deathly Hallows so they aren’t united. She can’t actually contact him before he’s fourteen, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t doing things. It’s a fun little fic, but it’s sadly incomplete with 9 (actual) chapters and hasn’t been updated since 2012.

Second is Dark Knights by TheBeardedOne. This is a DC Comics story where Clark is found by the Waynes and is raised as Bruce’s brother. When Bruce becomes Batman, Clark becomes Nightwing. It’s got 13 chapters and is finished. It even has a sequel that intersects with another of the author’s fics that is later on the list.

Third is Dark Phoenix of Konoha by White Angel of Auralon. It’s a Naruto fic I’ve talked about before here. I’ve even mentioned listening to it recently. It’s a Naruto trains in secret and is more badass than normal. Sadly incomplete.

Fourth is Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo by AkumaKami64. It’s a Star Wars story, that I apparently only mentioned when I got updates and didn’t talk about the story. So Vader is sent back in time while chasing the Millennium Falcon in Episode 5. He finds himself back on Naboo during the invasion in Episode 1. He determines he’ll change things to go his way. However, he’s not the only one who’s in the past. It’s finished and has a sequel that is currently updating.

The fifth and final is Daughter of Flame by sakurademonalchemist. It’s a Harry Potter and Fullmetal Alchemist crossover I’ve talked about before here. In it Fem Harry is actually Roy’s daughter and goes through the Gate to meet him after her fourth year. There she travels with Ed and Al to eventually meet her dad. It’s got 14 chapters and is obviously unfinished with no updates since 2015.

Well, this took a while. Hopefully things are going well with y’all with the Holidays coming up. I’m planning on making sure I relax and maybe reach my quest goal by the end of the year (in case you forgot it’s reaching the Th stories in my side stories). I might be able to finish my final main S story, but who knows. It really depends on how much I read between now and then. I only have 5ish cycles before I reach a Th story, but I have over 10 to finish the S one. Anyway, as always, May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key!

Sorry It’s Late, I was Tired

(posting this on Monday because I’m tired and I can’t finish this Sunday) It’s been a hot week and I’ve worked outside in an inside garage for a few days, so I’m a bit tired. I also met the new person in the position I mentioned previously and she seems nice, but I haven’t had much interaction with her. The creative group I’m a part of hasn’t meet for last week or this week, but I did set aside time to work on my Cardcaptor Sakura/My Hero Academia fanfiction. I’m almost done with chapter 6!

Remember I promised I’d start posting it after I had 10 chapters complete, but I need to get them beta read. I’ve been hoping to have my creative group help me a little bit, but I may need to go further afield and contact an old friend that I haven’t talked to recently. She and I have had our differences, but hopefully she’ll at least listen.

So my thoughts on Fantastic Four: First Steps –

[*Spoiler Warning*]

I thought all the actors did a good job of portraying all the characters that I knew about well. Reid was the thoughtless scientist who doesn’t get emotions but is trying. He also likes to know all the variables and was frustrated when their son kept eluding his scans. I liked his statement about how he has to think of all the bad things so that he can be prepared to deal with them when they come.

Susan was the wife who knows who Reid is, but still gets frustrated with him for how he does things. She does get emotions and uses that to deal with the crowd that wanted her to give up their son to save them from Galaticus. Her dying and coming back wasn’t expected, but to be honest, I don’t know much about Franklin.

Ben being the most emotionally adept tracks. The heart of gold in the stone body is an apt description. The fact he has to shave his rock beard is very amusing. Of course he had to have a lady he likes that he meets up with before the final battle. Johnny forcing him to say “It’s Clobbering Time” is great.

Johnny is often portrayed as an irreverent womanizer. He did chase after the Herald, but he showed that he does have more than the emotional range of a teaspoon (If you don’t get this, I am judging you, fair warning). He was the only one who thought much about the recording from space and used them and the phrase the Herald gave him to turn her to their side. The fact he was willing to sacrifice himself for the earth got through to her and she pushed Galaticus through the portal.

Overall, a pretty good movie and an interesting transition into the new Avengers movies as currently there isn’t any connection between this universe and the main MCU one.

[*Spoilers End*]

Onto what I’m listening to changes – after The Analyst by aicyel, I started listening to the My Hero Academia series The Rabbitverse by ShadowedSword13. I skipped the first fic for now as it’s set later than most of the other fics in the series. It’s the main story, but I like the backstory first even it’s fragmented.

I started with Rabbit Tracks. It’s starts in class 1-A’s first year and is told in the format of reports of a vigilante that’s later named Rabbit (Izuku) and the heroes that interact with him as he’s later classed as a villain (though he’s more grey than that). I’m currently on Falling in the Dark (For The Girl He’ll Never Get). It’s snipets of Rabbit finding out about and falling in love with Uravity. It also gives some context to where he is and what he’s doing between Rabbit Tracks and the main fic.

I listened to Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Vol 2 on Audible. It was fun and it’s more about Yuna getting used to the new world she’s in and getting to know the people around her better, including the local lord and his daughter. She even find the chicken equivalent, gets eggs and makes her own business with them.

I’m now on Reincarnated as a Sword Vol 12. Fran and Teacher just went through a big battle with the main body of the fallen Godsword, but the battle isn’t done yet. They still have to save their friend and another has become the new body for the Godsword. How will they and the capital make it through this without falling themselves?

I decided that Death March in the Parallel Rhapsody light novel was changing too much from the web novel to continue listening to instead of reading after vol 20, so I’ll read the last 3 currently available ones instead. So I started listening Using the Force Made Easy by Fencer22. It’s a Star Wars fanfic set in-between Episode I and II. John Kesel a former Jedi youngling who escapes before being sent to the Agri-Corps decides to get revenge on the Jedi by releasing Force How-To videos. He explains about how to connect to the Force and even how to strengthen your connection to the Force. The Jedi Council finds out about it not too long after they send Obi-wan and Anakin to look into him. They end up joining his ship crew to observe him and because he makes Anakin question what balance is. Its great and has 24 chapters. It hasn’t updated since Dec 24, but they author updates infrequently.

Finally after Chaos and Shadows by sakurademonalchemist, I started Fate: Hammer Time by TedTheRabbit. It’s technically a Natsu verse and Marvel crossover, but only at the beginning and slightly. Marvel Thor (MCU or not) is at the end of his long life and The One Above All asked him long ago to send all of his power to the next wielder of Mjölnir. He sends the hammer to the next wielder with the last of his strength and it ends up with Shiro Emiya. Shiro is still in middle school and now has the power of Thor, what does he do but become a Hero of Justice. It has 64 chapters and was updated earlier this month. It’s supposed to be the start of a multiverse of other anime characters who will eventually get other powers from the Marvel verse but that’s in the future (they’re mentioned as potential wielders, but you can figure out who they are based on the descriptions).

Onto the quest, I’m finally finishing the A’s! First is Ascension Book One: Bloodline by megamatt09. [*Content Warning*] This author’s fics typically have a lot of sex in them. This one specifically has underage sex. The premise is that wizards mature early and need sex to reach their magical potential. I’m not agreeing with it, but I’m willing to put it aside as suspension of disbelief. [*Content Warning*] It’s a Harry Potter and DC universes crossover. Harry is the product of one of Zod’s experiments that gets Lily pregnant with his son (there’s more to it, but the story eventually explains that). He goes to Hogwarts, but only after passing his high school education. He gets together with many women from the Wizarding World, but ends up in Gotham after he graduates. It has 38 chapters and is complete. I’ve talked about it before here.

Second is its sequel Ascension Book Two: Eternal by megamatt09. It has the same warnings, but not the underage anymore (I think, it’s been a while). This mostly deals with Harry dealing with DC characters and there’s a world change that mostly wipes out the wizarding world and changes young Clark female (for later). It finally ends after 354 chapters (though the last ones are all sex). There’s room for a another sequel, but it hasn’t been written yet.

Third is Ashes Just Reward by The Warmongers of Simora. It’s a Pokémon fanfic set in Alola. Ash is having fun with the class even he already knows most of the information. However, the Legendaries of world want to thank Ash for all his help over the years. This is the story of Ash getting his rewards and what’s this about a secret organization keeping track of him? It has 49 interesting chapters, but sadly hasn’t been updated since 2021.

After that is Ashes of the Past by Saphroneth. It’s a Pokémon time travel fic that I talked about in my second post, here. It has 305 chapters now, but also sadly hasn’t updated since 2021.

Next is the sequel to Another Little White Lie by rayrae118, Woven in My Soul. You may ask, why this one, it’s because the third story in the series is the next one, but this needs to be mentioned first. It follows the next movie in the Star Trek 2009 storyline, with changes. Then is Ashes to Flame by rayrae118. It follows the final film, but also manages to deal with the an old villain from the first of the series. This is the last in the series.

Following that is Ashikabi no Shinobi by The Engulfing Silence. It’s a Naruto and Sekirei crossover where Naruto is immortal and he ends up taking Minato’s place in the game by accident. Things aren’t going to be happy that’s for sure, but it works out in the end. It’ completed with 43 chapters and a bit chaotic.

Then is Ashikabi of Thunder and Lightning by SeerKing. This is a Sekirei fanfic where things change from the beginning. Minato’s mom, Takami decides that if she can’t keep her son out of her boss’s game, she’ll help him. She convinces the Thunder Twins No. 11 and 12 to meet her son before they find Seo. This changes things and he gets them as his first Sekirei. It’s ongoing and was last updated early this year. I also talked about it before here.

After that is Aspect by DeusVerve. It’s a My Hero Academia fanfic. Izuku doesn’t get a quirk, but he does get magic. From Death, when he almost dies to the sludge villain. He just has to help those she tells him to. It’s an interesting set up, but the author hasn’t updated since chap 7 in 2022.

Following that is Aspirations by megamatt09. [*Content Warning*] As previously mentioned, this author has sex scenes, though much less than his other ones. There is slightly underage sex scenes, but it’s not as bad as the ones in the other story. [*Content Warning*] In this Harry Potter fic, Hermione and Ron don’t believe Harry when his name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. This leads Ginny to help him, and many different changes happen. Including a greyer Harry and Ginny and Hermoine even gets into Dark Magic. It’s completed and is one of his earlier fics.

Third to last is Ataraxia by a1lvera5hley. It’s a My Hero Academia and How to Train Your Dragon crossover. Hiccup is reborn as Izuku. Toothless even follows him as a cat that can turn into his dragon form. It’s sadly incomplete with 23 chapters and hasn’t been updated since 2021.

Second to last is Aura Heart Journey by Kairomaru. It’s another Pokémon fic. In this one, Trainers start later and are more mature. Ash starts his journey with Pikachu, but he makes friends with him fast because of his Aura powers that he’s trained. It’s a good fic, but at least on hiatus and hasn’t been updated since 2022. It still has 39 chapters.

Last of the A’s is Avatar Taylor by Dalxein. It’s a Worm and Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover. When Aang dies in Book 2, Raava gathers the energy to create a new Avatar, but lets it go when Aang is brought back. It’s found by the Queen Administrator and changes what it can do and what it wants to do. I like it a lot and I’m waiting for the next chap. I’m fairly sure it’s still updating, but the last chapter was put out in Dec. 2024.

Finally done with the A’s! Next week I’ll talk a bit about the other new anime I’m watching this season. Hopefully your week goes well and as always – May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key.

The Week and a Superman Movie Review

Hello everyone, it’s me again. It’s been a pretty boring week for me. Work’s been the same, but I have now been to almost all the company locations except the farthest out ones. I did see the new Superman movie last weekend, I didn’t talk about it last post because I didn’t have time. I’ll talk a bit about it now, but before that

[*Spoilers Start*]

I thought it was an interesting movie. I’ve never really seen or heard of Kal-El’s parents being portrayed as telling him to take over the planet. The fact that part of the recording was corrupted was just dying for someone to either fix it or fake it to make things worse. Of course, most of Superman’s story is about his humanity and how he sees himself as human over being Kryptonian. He even straight out said it when confronting Lex. Superman is the mask and Clark is how he sees himself. This is interesting as Batman is the opposite. In Batman Beyond, someone tries to make Bruce think he’s crazy, but Bruce knows it’s not his subconscious speaking because it called him Bruce. He implies that he calls himself Batman in his head.

Moving on, Krypto being an untrained menace really makes the movie amusing. That Krypto is a cause or mitigating factor of most of the issues throughout the movie, makes it great that Clark uses him to help defeat Ultraman. Of course, Kara being a drunk party girl is an interesting take, but we’ll have to see where that goes.

Ultraman being a Superman clone, yeah, I could tell just as soon as Lex and his crew just straight up walked into the Fortress of Solitude. I mean really, the One character who wears a mask and doesn’t speak for the whole movie, even if I didn’t already know about Bizarro, I would have thought clone. Yo no est stupido.

Lex being in touch with his feelings and admitting that he’s jealous or envies Superman, seemed slightly out of character for him. Not the fact that he knows he’s jealous or envious, the fact he admits it, to Superman, in front of subordinates. Lex’s got an ego and my take on him is that he might if they were alone, but in front of others?  Not unless he was in full meltdown mode, which he wasn’t at that point in time.

Lois being about to break up with Clark was an interesting choice. I mean, she was worried about their differences, but she got over her doubts when she saw his humanity over his being an alien. Her going to his house and seeing his history there in his room, soothed her that he was as human as she was.

Guy and the Justice Gang… Lol, Nathan Fillion did a great job portraying Guy’s Ego with a slight willingness to help people. Hawkgirl was great, though it took me a second to get used to her scream when she first started to attack. Mr. Terrific, I honestly don’t know enough about the character to say much, but he was fun.

Overall, a good movie. I’ll wait and see how they do with the new DC verse.

[*End Spoilers*]

So, I actually changed a few of the stories I’m listening to. First is, like I mentioned last week, My Heroic Drabbles by sakurademonalchemist. I’ll go over the more interesting one, two or three shots that I’ve gone through. I’m not going by chapter on this one, but the name of the chapter/s.

First is A Hero’s Wings, which has two chapters. It’s a crossover with Gundam Wing, where Izuku is Heero. Interesting and has a smarter Heero. The next interesting one-shot is Cheshire. In it, Shota (Eraserhead) has a kid from a one-night stand that acts like a cat. Not much to go on, but would have been interesting to see more. Then there’s Crystalized Hope, it’s a two-shot where fem. Izuku (Hikari) actually has ice powers, but accidentally killed a cat when they manifested and hid them because the cat’s owner wanted to jail the one who did it. She would have become an figure skater if All Might hadn’t given her his powers. Again, would have liked to see more.

After that there’s Do Bad Well, which is a two-shot crossover with Yu Yu Hakusho. Izuku is Yusuke and comes back in time. Atsuko is actually his aunt and he moved in with her and changed his name after Inko died. After the main story (at least I assume so, it doesn’t actually say), he ends up before his mom dies. He decides to change things for the better. Eclipsed Heroics is a two-shot that has fem. Izuku (Hikari again) starts a hero review website Eclipse. This is one of my favorite type of fics, where Izuku actually uses his hero notes. Ferrous is a two-shot Iron Man crossover. Izuku gets an internship at Stark Industries at a young age and moves to America. It turns out he’s Tony’s son and he takes over when Tony is captured. This changes things.

Flying Free is a two-shot crossover with Dragon Ball Z. Izuku is the result of a magic(?) flower that cause Goku and Inko to hook up some time before the end of Dragon Ball when he and Chichi get married. Izuku has dream where he meets and is trained by Bardock. This leads to him and Gine being brought back. This causes changes when Raditz shows up. The final one I’ll mention is the one three-shot I’ve gotten to, Queen of Chaos. Harley Quinn is reborn as fem. Izuku and lives a normal life until All Might shoots down her dream. Then she decides to change things her way, as a supervillain. She teams up with Dabi and Toga (even helping her). She even stops the League of Villains attack on UA and saves Todoroki’s mother. I wish there had been more of this.

I’ve gotten to volume 19 of Death March in Parallel World Rhapsody. There were quite a few changes. One, Satou still can’t chant as he never got that orb in the auction. Two, Satou isn’t from Hikaru’s (Mito’s) world, but a parallel one. So, she waiting for her Satou. Three, they never had to deal with ‘his majesty’ turning into a demon as he was never even mentioned. Four, Arisa has another brother who is alive and trying to retake their kingdom. He still had to deal with the ‘Evil’ God’s offshoots the same way, so that’s something. There’s more changes, but those are the biggest ones.

I’m on volume 5 of The Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter. The War has started and Iris has deal with that and other things in her territory. It’s the last one from her story. Finally, I’ve started Effects and Side Effects by Pheonix Dawn. It’s a Harry Potter AU that changes after the Department of Mysteries. Voldie wants his soul fragment back and sends a potion to Draco to give to Harry that will help with that. When it’s given to Harry, he fights back and destroys the fragment, but there are side effects. The most prominent being that he’s turned into a girl. Eight witches swear themselves into his services and accidently end up married to him. This is their story. Sadly incomplete and was last updated in 2015.

Onto the quest, first is Another Little White Lie by rayrae118. This is a Star Trek AU from the most recent movies (2009). James T. Krik runs away at a young age to his aunt and uncle. This is his story as his genius gets him in and out of trouble. He even meets most of his crew early. This is the first of a set of stories and goes through the end of the first movie. The whole series is finished. I’ve actually talked about it before here.

Second is Another Path by DragonflyDream. It’s a Katekyo Hitman Reborn fic where things are very different. Tsuna has a twin who his mother treats better than him. This leads Tsuna to meet and befriend Hibari and Shoichi and early. They eventually have to flee when his twin tries to kill him. It’s very interesting, but sadly unfinished and hasn’t updated since 2022.

Third is Another Path by Selector. It’s a Worm fic, where Taylor gets another power. To be completely honest even glancing over this one I don’t remember much about it, which is something in and of itself. It has six chapters and I can’t even tell if it’s finished looking at the end of the last chapter.

Next is Another Soldier Reporting by sakurademonalchemist. This is a Katekyo Hitman Reborn and Harry Potter crossover. Lal Mirch is fem Harry and is sent back in time. I’ve talked about it before here. It’s incomplete and hasn’t been updated since 2019. After that is Another Way by ack1308. It’s a Worm AU where Marquis wasn’t captured and raised Amelia. I’ve also talked about it before here. It’s still updating but has 40 chapters so far.

Then is Answering the Call by Mirrond. It’s a My Hero Academia AU where Izuku is All for One’s son and wants to be a hero and manages to convince other villain’s kids to become heroes too. All for One decides if you can’t beat them, join them and blackmails Nezu into becoming vice principal and to make a new class for the villains’ kids. It’s definitely crack as All Might gets really weird. Incomplete, but unsure if continuing.

Finally is Appearances Can Be Deceiving by soulofdarkandlight. It’s another My Hero Academia UA, but not as cracky. After All Might offers Izuku his quirk, he goes home and finds his cousin. Said cousin doesn’t care if he’s quirkless or not and decides to do something about how he’s treated. It has 64 chapters, but sadly hasn’t updated since July 2023.

Got a few trainings and the massive company conference coming up, so it’ll be a busy week. Have a great week and… May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key!

I Kept My Promise … Don’t Keep Your Distance (or I Posted Again!)

So, like the title says, I actually managed to write another post when I wanted to. Yay! As I start this post on Thursday, I am wearing my shirt with the KH quote like I said I would. Matt, you say, that’s great, but what’s happened for you this week?

At work, my supervisor is still being a pain. Yesterday, it was more so, enough so I talked with my previously mentioned supervisor’s supervisor today. My supervisor is off for today and tomorrow, but that isn’t really why I decided to talk to her. What made up my mind was my church’s service yesterday. The readings were pointing me that way, but the 2nd hymn had the words “Oft to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side”. There was more to it, but I decided that for myself and the others who had to work under him, I needed to say something.

Did I go into the meeting and lambast him? No, if I had gone in wishing evil to him in my heart, I might have, but that’s not who I am and not how it went. I brought it to her that he was doing too many things and is stressed and it’s affecting his work relationships. I said that while I am going to talk to him on Monday when he gets back, I wanted her to know so she can also support him in fixing the causes of the stress. We talked for a good hour or so about what’s been going on from my point of view and some things I was told by a co-worker (with her permission). I didn’t accuse, I didn’t blame, I wanted to help.

She listened and let me know some of the things I had mentioned were things that they (the two of them) had talked about in their meetings (the concepts and background, like micromanaging). I will talk to him on Monday (not that I’m looking forward to it), so that’s something I’ll talk about next post. So, look forward to it or not, we’ll see what happens. (Friday was very busy, but more relaxed without him around.)

Matt, if you were so annoyed as demonstrated by last weeks post, why did you go this route? Because my choice in church was to do this in as loving a way as possible. Pragmatically, being calm and logical to a potentially angry outburst make you look better because people are most likely so side with you, correct? Me going into that meeting or the one on Monday being accusing and blaming, will get me nowhere except causing issues. So, I’m going to get my slightly frayed control over my anger back under it and be cool and calm.

Also, I asked about the courses and she had talked to the department director about it, but they wanted more information about why those courses (which was in the original email about this subject). I understand, they’re very busy and an email from month’s ago, wouldn’t be their top remembrance priority. I won’t get a Spanish course, but they’ll buy me a Spanish learning CD set. Which, to be completely honest, I already have one or two.

That might work better for one of my co-workers they did the same for as they’re constantly on the road to sites so can repeat and respond. However apparently, even if I got an actual online course, I would have to do it outside of work time. One of the reasons I wanted to have a course was to take up some of the down time I have a work, so this is better than nothing, I guess.

On to what I’m listening to, honestly, it’s mostly the same list from last time because all of them are longer listens. I’m currently on Black Sky by Umei no Mai. It was the first fanfiction I talked about on the blog. It’s currently at 343 chapters, but the author hasn’t posted since last October. Still a really good fic. Yesterday’s Tomorrow is finished, so I continued back to this one to finish my rereading (which I have now the next day, now I need a new one to replace it in the rotation).

The next change is that I’m on the 15th volume of Death March in a Parallel World Rhapsody. It’s mostly still following the web novel’s story with a few new elements along the way. I finished the 11th volume of Reborn as a Space Mercenary and my new Audible story is the 10th volume of Reincarnated as a Sword by Yuu Tanaka (also the last of the series currently available on Audible [except it’s not now, lol. The 11th volume just became available!]). I don’t think I’ve talked it yet on here, but it’s a classic isekai story where a guy dies and is reincarnated in another world. This time however, he just wakes up as a sword in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, he can view the world around him and psychically move. He eventually ends up being wielded by a Black Cat beast girl named Fran. She names him Teacher and wants to become the first Black Cat in history to evolve. It’s their story and it’s fun. There are 16 volumes out in print so plenty to read!

Finally, I forgot to mention a series I’m listening to in the rotation, My Hero School Adventure is All Wrong as Expected by storybookknight. It’s a My Hero Academia crossover with My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong, As I Expected. My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected (by Wataru Watari) is a slice of life story about Hikigaya Hachiman. He’s a loner high schooler that is a cynic about ‘youth’. He writes an essay about how it’s an illusion and degrading it, so his teacher forces him to join the Service Club. Watch as he’s forced to help students with their issues while dealing with the caustic President Yukino Yukinoshita. It’s amusing, but I don’t think I’ve read more than the first book.

In the fanfic, to prove other’s wrong and to show up the girl he confessed to (and was turned down), Hikigaya applies to UA hero school. Despite an alarming essay about heroics, caused by dealing with pain from a damaged leg (from when he saved a dog from being run over before the test), and only really helping people to copy their quirks, he gets in. Follow this cynic as he and his new friends (including many more characters from the original story) change the My Hero plot.

Moving on to my current quest, I’m planning on at least finishing all the that start with A then a space. It’s gonna be a long one. The first of these is A Family Duty by sbmcneil. It’s a short Harry/Ginny fic set after the war. Molly’s side of the family, the Prewetts had a mandate from royalty based on a prophesy that they have to keep from going the wrong way. After the war, the sign that prophesy’s time is approaching happens and Molly and those of her family more inclined to Prewett magic have to work to stop the worst from happening. Naturally, one of those is Ginny and Harry is allowed by the words of the prophesy to help. It’s a cute little story.

Second is A Family of Rogues by sakurademonalchemist. Surprisingly, I haven’t talked about it before, but it wasn’t posted until 2020 and I wasn’t posting then. It’s a crossover between Katekyo Hitman Reborn and DC comics (mostly Batman, but small mentions of the Justice League). In it, Harley and Ivy take out some yakuza and find a young fem. Tsuna is there being held hostage against her father (who has no idea she’s missing). The Gotham Rogues take care of her and she even gives them the idea to call out the fact that the evidence found by the Batman can’t be used as he’s not deputized and wondering why he’s allowing Robin out so late on school nights and in a revealing outfit. It’s amusing and I wish it had more, but I think that about most of their fics.

Next is A Friend Indeed by kb0. It’s another cute Harry/Ginny short story. I’ve talked about it before here, but it’s still a fun story I come back to every once in a while. Then there’s A Godfather’s Love by sbmcneil. It’s a sad little Harry Potter one shot. The big change is that Sirius never escapes Azkaban and Voldemort attacks it in Harry’s sixth year. Sirius is tortured and killed while Harry watches having never learned of him. This causes him to confront Dumbledore about it and change how he’s going about preparing for the battle against Vodlie. It’s of course Harry/Ginny and worth a read.

After that is A Growing Affection by Xavon Wrentaile. I’ve talked about it here, but it’s a longer Naruto story that’s Naruto/Hinata. A Hero is Built by Kyodon follows that. It’s a My Hero Academia story. It’s a story where Izuku never got OFA and is grown up and head of a tech and support company. He and Ochaco are married (she’s not a hero either as she didn’t get into the hero course as there wasn’t a Midoriya to help) and he’s kidnapped by the Shie Hassaikai. There he meets Eri and like Tony Stark, creates an armor to help get himself out. This is his story of how he becomes a hero despite his quirklessness. It’s unfortunately incomplete and has been since 2021, but there’s still 17 chapters to enjoy.

Then there’s A Hero Rises by Zabeck. It’s another My Hero Academia fic, but this one is a lot longer and is still updating (even if I’m personally a bit behind). [*Also a warning, this has explicit sex scenes, don’t read if you’re underage or aren’t interested*] Izuku’s and All Might’s first meeting goes slightly differently and it changes how All Might goes about things. It manages to set things up for Izuku to save Himiko and they eventually start going out. However, don’t think this is just a Izuku/Himiko story. No, it’s’ a Izuku/Himiko/All 1-A girls harem. It has a more morally flexable Izuku that has a more involved relationship with Tomura. It’s worth a read if you’re okay with the mentioned scenes and some, ah, kinks, that are mentioned in the tags.

Following that is, A Hunter’s Heroics by sakurademonalchemist. It’s a My Hero Academia and Hunter x Hunter crossover (that was also posted in 2020). Gon is Fem. Izuku’s (Ichigo) maternal cousin and Inko moves them to Whale Island after she sees how Ichigo is starting to be treated after being diagnosed quirkless. Ichigo follows Gon to the hunter exam and the story changes. It’s only 7 chapters and of course incomplete, but a fun fic none the less.

A Kernel of Truth by mp3.1415player is the next one. It’s a Worm fanfic set when Taylor is young. Like all of mp3.14’s fics, it’s very funny. Annette’s ancestry is very strange and that’s caused odd things to happen around Taylor. Like the monster under the bed being real and named Bob and her beating up the closet monster for not being quiet so she can go to sleep. It digresses from there. Very funny, unfortunately not complete and hasn’t updated since 2022.

Then there’s A Memorable Christmas by SailorLeia. It’s a Sailor Moon fic set during Sailor Moon R. It’s a Serena/Darien fic set during Christmas. Darien hasn’t remembered that he’s Tuxedo Mask and Usagi and the others are doing their best to remind him and get the two together. However, twins Ann and Alan won’t make it easy. It’s fun and complete!

To follow is A New Beginning by Breanie. It’s the sequel to A Different Beginning and it follows Harry and the others through their seventh year and beyond. It’s a Harry/Ginny story and worth reading. Then, A New Hero by Platinumsabr. It’s a Rosario + Vampire and slight Ben 10 crossover. I mainly read this because of one of their other fics that I’ve talked about on here before, Here in My Arms. This is only one chapter, but more were expected. The author hasn’t posted anything since 2017.

After that is A New Journey by Texas Longhorn. It’s a Pokémon fic where Ash wins at the Sinnoh tournament and becomes the Champion. Then, he’s offered the chance to become the Pokémon Master. However, before he can face the current one for the title, he has to catch all the Pokémon from the four regions. Misty joins him on his journey and their relationship evolves. It’s an interesting fic and is still updating.

Then A New Life by Serena530 follows. It’s a Harry Potter and Sailor Moon crossover. It starts off on a sad note as Ginny dies as well in the final battle. In the aftermath, Harry learns that he isn’t really the son of James and Lily. It turns out he’s really Japanese and his current looks are because of a disguise spell Dumbles put on him. After falling out with Ron and Hermione, he decides to take up his real name and go to Japan to learn about his real culture. So Mamoru Chiba goes to Japan and meets a certain dango-haired young girl. It’s interesting, but incomplete. It was last updated in February.

Next is what I call the A Not So Story trilogy. First is A Not So Story – Sirius Catches Up by Captain Compass. It’s a Harry Potter one-shot parody. Sirius escapes, but things are very different. Including singing gondolas, Snape in MLP pajamas and all you can eat haggis. It’s amusing.

Second is A Not So Story – The Fourth Champion by Captain Compass. It’s a Harry Potter short story parody about what would happen if Harry had declared Tom Riddle as his substitute. Silliness ensues. Third and finally is A Not So Story x The Graveyard by Captain Compass. Another one-shot parody where Harry and Cedric play rock, paper scissors to decide who will take the cup and they keep on tying. ‘Moody’ is sent to fix the issues and there is a very different outcome.

After that is A Place in My Dreams by SeerKing. It’s a Sword Art Online and Campione crossover. Set after the Campione story is over, Kirito defeats Kayaba Akihiko like he does in the series. However, the battle has a second stage as Kayaba is backed by a god. In slaying him, Kirito becomes a Campione. This is about how he discovers his powers and deals with the Japanese magic association. It’s still being updated, but irregularly as it’s not on SeerKing’s scheduled updates, not that he’s updated in a month and half.

A Protector’s Pride by NeoRyu777, which I’ve talked about before here, is next. It’s a Bleach fic where Ichigo deals with his inner hollow before the Vizards come to him. They decide to battle every two weeks and whoever wins is in control until the next battle. It’s finished, but the author didn’t end up writing the sequel he wanted to. The outline for it is on the last chapter and he should be publishing his first book this year.

Followed by A Push in the Right Direction by sbmcneil. It’s a cute little Harry/Ginny one-shot. Harry has trouble being romantic because of his past, but Ginny helps him figure it out. Worth a read. Then there’s, A Rain Cloud in a Stormy Sky by AmberPaladin. It’s a Harry Potter and Katekyo Hitman Reborn crossover. Fem. Harry, Ivy-Rose, runs away after her fourth year. She ends up working for the Varia after Xanxus is frozen. Then, she accidentally becomes the Cloud officer. It’s 17 chapters but hasn’t been updated since 2021.

Getting closer to the end there’s, A Ripple in the Pattern by Liam G. It’s a Bleach and Wheel of Time crossover. Ichigo is sent by the Reio to the world of Wheel of Time to fix one of his oldest mistakes. He’s sent to the White Tower around the time Ewgene and company arrive. Things change from there. The author has stopped writing since 2023 and if they come back will rewrite them.

One I’ve mentioned before during this authors quest, A Second Chance by sakurademonalchemist. Here is where I first talked about it. It’s a Harry Potter and Rosario + Vampire crossover. Harry decides to go to Youkai Academy before 5th year. It’s only three chapters and hasn’t updated since 2013.

A My Hero Academia one-shot is next, A Secret Torch by Clouds (myheadinthecoudsnotcomingdown). A reporter finds out about One for All and Izuku has to deal with the fallout. It’s interesting. A Harry Potter short story follows, A Set Up Gone Wrong by jojor99. In it Harry didn’t go to Hogwarts and meets Ginny when she’s tricked into going to a Ministry dinner. It’s fun, complete and has 12 chapters.

Then there’s a Star Wars time travel story called A Sith’s Second Chance by VFSNAKE. After he dies, Vader wakes up on Naboo at the beginning of Episode 1. He decides to change things for the better. It’s an great story, but not for those who are Obi-Wan fans.

Next is a prequel to the actual next story Throw a Chair Through a Window and Call It a Day by jaded_ghoster. It’s a My Hero Academia story where Aizawa is put in charge of UA for a week. He makes Izuku his secretary and chaos ensues. It’s sequel, A Slight Emotional Manipulation of Peers by jaded_ghoster, is after Aizawa is now the vice-principial and more chaos happens. It’s 5 chapters and was updated last month.

Then there’s a Harry Potter three-shot, A Smarter Hunt by kb0. Harry decides to finish the war in a different way. He goes to hire the goblins to find the Horcruxes and hunt the Death Eaters. It goes well.

The next is a set of stories in the same Harry Potter world. While only the first one is one in the original list, the other two stories were in the same folder so I did them together. First is A Sovereign Summer by DukeBrymin. Harry goes to the Burrow at the beginning of book 6 and finds himself falling in love with Ginny. Second, Like a Queen by DukeBrymin (and the original story) Harry tells Ginny he would ‘treat her like a queen’ when she goes to meet Dean on the train going to Hogwarts in the 6th book. She has to decide who she’ll go out with. The third and final one is, A Princely Sum by DukeBrymin. It’s Christmas of the 6th book and the twins decide to help their sister’s boyfriend with a problem he has. It’s very funny and they’re all worth a read.

The next I’ve talked about before here. It’s A Tale of Two Swords by sakurademonalchemist. It’s a Harry Potter, Fate series and Hobbit crossover. Fem Harry pulls out Caliburn instead of the Sword of Gryffindor and things change. It’s incomplete (of course) and hasn’t been updated since 2018.

The next one is in the middle of a series I’ve already talked out. It’s the Honestly Harry Series by Captain Compass. The first one is, Honestly Harry – Getting to Hogwarts. I’ve talked about it before here. Hagrid takes Harry to Hogwarts instead of staying the night at the shack. Things change a lot and as a warning has underage messing around being pushed by magic. For the parts we’re talking about it’s a Harry/Ginny/Hermione story. Second is Honestly Harry – Year of the Rock. I talked about it before, here. It follows the first year of the three and the interesting things that happen. Third is Honestly Harry – The Founder’s Chambers. I talk about this one and the next one here. It tells the second year of the three. The actual one on the list happens in the middle of this fic during Christmas. It’s called A Very Granger Christmas by Captain Compass. [*It’s rated M for a reason, don’t like, don’t read*] Something has happened to Ginny, so she doesn’t remember them. So, Harry and Hermione go to her house for Christmas.

Next is another series, this one is A Very Special Series by Epeefencer. They’re all Harry Potter one-shots. The first one is, A Very Special Christmas by Epeefencer. At ten, Harry wishes for a happy Christmas and ends up at the Weasleys. Afterwards, Harry goes back to the Dursleys when he to sleep. Second is A Very Special Birthday by Epeefencer. Harry and Ginny wish to see each other on his birthday and he ends up there again. Third is A Very Special Birthday II – Ginny’s Birthday by Epeefencer. Harry ends up there again for Ginny’s birthday. But, something is different. Fourth is A Very Special Day: The Day After Ginny’s Birthday by Epeefencer. Harry actually stays the night after Ginny’s birthday and this is the aftermath. Fifth is A Very Special Day: Going to Hogwarts by Epeefencer. It tells the story of Harry going to Hogwarts without Ginny. Or is he? Finally is A Very Special Day: Attending Hogwarts by Epeefencer. It tells the story of Harry and Ginny’s first day at Hogwarts. They’re a fun set of stories.

The final story for today is A Young Girl’s Delinquency Record by Gremlin Jack. It’s a Youjo Senki fanfic. Tanya doesn’t get the stand down order and she and the other’s stop the Francois from evacuating. However, Tanya blows up the Type 95 and destroys part of a city. She’s arrested and eventually tried by several countries for war crimes. She escapes and has to make her own way in the world. Eventually, Visha finds her way back to her and several other members of the 203rd follow. Watch as they change the world. It’s a long time to get there, but it’s a Tanya/Visha story. It has 37 chapters and was last updated in 2023.

Okay, so like I said I’m looking forward to the new Pokémon game in October. However, the new Digimon Game, Time Stranger, comes out earlier in October. I’m a fan of Digimon too and am looking forward to it!

I’ll keep you guys (and gals) updated on the work situation, and maybe even talk about manga or anime next time. As always, May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key!