He is now officially crowned this year's PPC Pokémon Tournament Champion!

Which puts Scape in second place, and, uh...

*consults notes*

...I think Huinesoron in third? I don't even know how to work it at this point, but he's the only other contestant that made it far enough in the brackets (and didn't drop out) to qualify. I don't really see who else would fight to contest the third place trophy, and Storme's made it to the end undefeated, so making him re-fight for the first place spot is dumb.

So, um, unless anybody has any objections, I think hS takes home the bronze cup.

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-586507153

Kinda spoiler kinda spoiler kinda spoiler etc etc etc.

I have no idea how, but somehow I'm the champion again. Thanks to everyone I played for amazing and tough matches and I hope everyone enjoyed it.

... is that one of those Mumakil things from the far south?

((Apparently it's based on a pig, as well.))

I shall call it Oliphaunt. And I shall point it at Morgoth and let it loose - and laugh.

((It isn't yours and you can't have one.))

Spoilsport. What about the... wait, I recognise this cat. It's Sauron!

((It's not Sauron. This is a different Alakazam.))

So it's a different cat? A lesser cat... a cat of Queen Beruthiel!

((No.))

But yes. And it is teamed with...

...

... what in the world is that?

((It's a ghost inhabiting a washing machine.))

That's ridiculous.

((I didn't make it up.))

... you know what, fine. It's a weird water creature with a shell, I'm calling it Fastitocalon.

((I already have a Pokemon named-))

Okay, then I'll call it Turtle-Fish. And its fire-rock buddy can be... uh...

((I don't think there are any mythical creatures in Middle-earth like Heatran.))

Who says it has to be a mythical creature?

((That's pretty obviously your theme. But a Fire/Steel Pokemon doesn't-))

Hah! So you say. But fire and steel? That's one of Morgoth's dragons, and that means I can call it a serpent of iron, after those that assailed Gondolin in the old tale.

((... those aren't mythical.))

What, the fantasy tanks that never showed up again? Sure they are.

Not that I admit to my theme being myths.

Next is a flying... thing. Owl, maybe? It has a certain unreal quality to it; I think I shall name it pretty butterfly-

((That's a Discworld character.))

-- all right, then it can be Princess Mee. Lovely, according to the poem, was she.

((You're really stretching this.))

Silence. The next item is a mushroom, or rather a tree, and that means it has to be named Entwife. I mean, it doesn't look much like them, but it's a plant, so it'll do.

And finally we have a... werewolf.

((Those are definitely real.))

Yes, you would know that, wouldn't you? Your vaunted Finrod found it out for certain.

((Do you have to?))

Yes. Obviously this Pokemon is as evil as the day is bright, and furry besides... I understand it's a shape-shifter of sorts, too, and cunning. If it isn't a werewolf, and isn't one of Beorn's kin, it must be a relative of Badger-Brock, Bombadil's foe.

((This is ridiculous.))

You're the one who said I had to link them all to mythical creatures.

((That is absolutely not what I said.))

You've ruined your bed, now lie in it. I'm off home.

>Dafydd

There were seven kings in Beleriand in the greatest years of the First Age.

((Oh, no.))

As it happens, there are also seven Pokemon on 'Scape-grace's' team.

((Oh, no, Dafydd, really--))

It seems therefore entirely appropriate to--

((Dafydd, Scapegrace already has a theme, they're all robots from--))

I didn't ask for your opinion. So! Toxapex. It looks like a mountain on the outside, but it has a frail little creature in the middle. Yes, it's covered in spikes, but ultimately, it's unable to defend itself.

((There is no way this will end well.))

In other words, it's Fingolfin. Holed up in Hithlum, he ultimately couldn't stand up to Morgoth's attacks.

((Neither could your grandfather.))

Huinesoron! That was hurtful and you should be ashamed of yourself.

((But... you...))

Next up is pretty little... ah, 'Peromosa', apparently.

((Don't pick, mistakes happen.))

Not to me. With that long, carefully-tended 'hair', this Pokemon can only be compared to Finrod of the 'golden house of Finarfin'. As a bonus, it's a bug, and surely would love to live underground in a filthy cave like-

((Yes, you've made your point.))

Third is Metagross, and I'm sure I don't need to explain why it's named after Turgon. The rocky spines of its legs are a perfect mirror of the mountains of Gondolin, and unlike Fingolfin, it's actually able to make good on that promise.

Then there's a rather gorgeous Fire-type creature which must of course share a name with my own dear brother. Maedhros would... well, admittedly he'd probably be quite put-out to know I'd named a bug after him, but if he wanted a say in this he shouldn't have died.

Serperior... is Thingol. It just is. Look at it.

((... I can't argue with that.))

Then we have Hoopa-Unbound, which is not so much terrifying as overcompensating. With that ludicrous crown, it can be only one person: Morgoth himself, holed up in his dungeon quaking in fear.

((You're including Morgoth in this?))

I included Finrod, so it's not like I have a high barrier for competence.

((!!))

Finally, Tapu Fini. I admit I can't really tell what the design is supposed to be, but it looks something like a boat. By what would be happy coincidence if I wasn't such an expert at planning, the last king in Beleriand is Cirdan the Shipwright. Ta-da!

((... I will grudgingly admit that was impressive.))

You're too kind. No, actually you're not kind enough. Do better next time.

>Dafydd

... what, you're not going to let me start with your team?

((I've learnt better.))

Spoilsport. O-kay, so first on Evil Uber... ah, EAIvil Ultra... this person's team we have a large, angry-looking dragon. It looks kind of like Glaurung, if Glaurung was actually intimidating.

((I don't think Tyranitar is a dragon...))

Nonsense; just look at it. I'm going to call it Glaurung, and stay out of its way.

Then there's... is that what happened when Aule tried to make a mole 'better'? It looks like his kind of design.

((I thought you liked Aule.))

His skill, yes. His design sense, not so much. I'm sure I could've done a better job of mountains, for instance. Honestly, you'd think one of the creators of the world would at least know when something looked good.

Then we have--

((Aren't you going to nickname it?))

Why would I do that?

((Well, you... did before?))

Exactly. Next we have... a centipede. It's... just a centipede.

((It's eight feet long.))

So it's a big centipede. Hey, didn't you say that a bunch of stuff was bigger back in your world's history? Giant insects, giant lizards, giant birds...?

((That's... not precisely what I said, no.))

Something like that. I guess this team is themed around Big Stuff From The Dawn Of Time.

((That was my theme, actually.))

Then it's a stupid theme. Moving on, we have... a shark? Just... a shark?

((It has legs.))

So it does. A mutant shark, then. I mean, don't get me wrong, sharks are intimidating, but not so much as - what's next - as a... uh... that's a furry.

((Dafydd...))

What? I'm not casting aspersions, but that's definitely a furry. With spikes on her hands.

(('Her'?))

Yes. After that we have a robot with giant claws for hands. Quite impressive, but not very practical, I can't help thinking. I would make a comment about those wings being far too small to lift it, but let's be honest here: it's a robot. It has rockets. It just does.

((I think it's supposed to be a bug.))

Look. hS. I've gone through this whole thing without picking on you once--

((There was that whole 'Glaurung is a pushover' thing.))

Your words, not mine. My point is, don't provoke me. Got it?

((...))

Good. And finally we have... a star. Looks quite nice. Hey, wasn't that your badge last time we did this?

((... kind of.))

Shows good taste.

Overall, this is a very dark-seeming collection. It practically oozes evil. Which is appropriate, I suppose, for someone who calls themselves Uber Evil Overload.

((That's not what he--))

Don't care, done now.

>Dafydd