I want to finish off Emerald arc today. It's kind of insane that this was how the arc ended in its magazine run and fans didn't even know what would happen next until the volumes caught up in late 2007-2008. GSC and RS only waited a few weeks to see the volumes wrap up their arcs, but FRLG and Emerald are probably where the whole "one gen behind" pattern with volumes started.

Something I only noticed now is that Noland never talks to Ruby specifically but Sapphire instead. And it makes me wonder if Noland and Anabel are meant to be a gender flipped mirror of Ruby and Sapphire's relationship. And I think that contrasts with how we're introduced to the two conversing with Wallace and Winona. Of course Anabel and Noland are usually paired with Ash and Cynthia/a self insert respectively among fans but that's interesting to see of Kusaka intended it.

Sapphire's respect for the old dex holders and how emotional she gets when she learns they're petrified is also cute.