Pokémon/Fanfic Recs/General

% These are recommendations made by Tropers for Pokémon general Fanfic, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add more fanfics you love to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Remember to put the work in the appropriate location according to the alphabet. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Fanfic Recs fics should be posted on the appropriate page.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

''Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.''

A.C.X. - WARPED by Project-Phoenix
 * Recommended by User:mcb 01932, seconded by User:Tangent 128
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Quoted right from his profile: "Enter the life of nearly 17-year old Robert Fierro. He is your typical high-school sophomore loser, troubled with bullies and insincere girlfriends, as well as a dysfunctional family. He just wants a break from his life, and when a girl he thought liked him puts him aside for someone she thinks has a better sense of "adventure" he asks for that too. But soon things for him take a startling turn. He suddenly finds himself with everything he had asked for... And it turns out that it isn't exactly what he had in mind. He quickly finds himself in an unfamiliar world and an even more awkward situation. Soon, he's on the run from a terrorist organization that he's supposed to be fighting, and finding himself in near-death situations every time he turns around. Going back to his old life no longer appears to be an option and he's not quite himself anymore either..."
 * Comments: This is not your average everyday fanfic. The only element that ties it to Pokémon is the fact that there are Pokemon in it. Other than that, it's completely original...and I never thought I'd use the words original and fanfic in the same sentence.
 * User:Tangent 128: As of late September '10, it is being reposted in revised form on the author's new account with a M-W-F schedule.

Acrophobic by EkaSwede
 * Recommended by User:Ungulateman, User:Umbee, User:Kaiserin Kai
 * Status: Complete.
 * Summary: A Charmeleon with a fear of flight and a Trainer that wants it to evolve.
 * Comments: Absolutely amazing. Well-developed characters, angsty without being mopey.
 * User:Forkinyoureye: YMMV on this one. I found it a bit short and overdone.

Almost Like Flying by starling-night
 * Recommended by User:Sessalisk, User:antialiasis
 * Status: Complete.
 * Summary: A scyther is captured, and hates it - right up until she doesn't. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on who you ask.
 * Synopsis: A wild scyther is caught by a frivolous trainer and hates her capture. At first. This fic is absolutely heartbreaking.

Alphabet Soup by CoffeeIncluded
 * Recommended by: Rawkstar Vienna, Holliequ, Life of Pi, yiran
 * Status: Completed.
 * Synopsis: N can remember only bits of the ceremony. Bree can't remember anything from before her sixth birthday. Bree White, Cheren Shiro, and Bianca Noir are in no way prepared for what lies buried. Memory's a funny thing, isn't it? Slight Cheren/Bianca, White/N.
 * Comments :As the author states in her summary, memory is quite a funny thing. Rather dangerous, too as it sets up what might be one of the best novelizations of Pokemon Black and White out there. The fic is mostly adventure, with a dash of mystery, that will captivate just about anyone under its spell. The protagonists, Bree White (based on Hilda from the game), Bianca Noir, and Cheren Shiro, are brilliantly fleshed out, their characterizations being one of the story’s highest points of praise. Each character goes through extremely noticeable character development, along with N, who stays true to his nature in the game, and whose character is studied in depth throughout the fic. The grammar is impeccable, and the storyline branches out from the story told in the actual game, allowing for various theories and Wild Mass Guesses to be analyzed and tested. Romance is included, but isn’t the focus of the story; it’s simply the icing on the cake that is this fantastic gem in a sea of fan fiction. Overall, highly recommendable.
 * Seconded. The description's not always perfect and you might not agree with the interpretations of the characters, but the author knows exactly what she's doing with them and they carry the story really well. Highly recommended, borderline must-read.
 * Thirded. Coffee Included really wrote a masterpiece with this one. Everything that needs to be said has been said but this: Her ability to weave a great story into Black/White's already powerful plot is amazing. The last few chapters of this great literary work will blow your freaking minds out of your head.
 * She also has a fan work (warning for massive spoilers) that's pretty decent in its own right.
 * The piece is brilliantly laid out, with clear foreshadowing everywhere. The author handled the amount of foreshadowing nicely; enough so that most can easily guess it, but not enough so that it's blatantly obvious. A little problem is the use of Big Damn Heroes, which was used a couple of times, which itself isn't a bad thing, but it was too obvious to have enough emotional impact. However, the rest of the fic is very gripping and powerful, and The Reveal was done masterfully in the closing chapters. Overall, one of the best literary pieces of fanfiction I have read. Highly recommended.

Angelic Shadows by WiseAbsol
 * Recommended by @/Extraintrovert, Dark Magician Girl Aeris (User:Aeris Avalon)
 * Status: Ongoing, but updates slowly.
 * Synopsis: Angelic Shadows, occuring a year after the events of Mewtwo Returns, follows the lives of and interactions between Mewtwo and the assassin sent to kill him.
 * Comments: The plot is Troperiffic in the first act, but the writing is just so damn good and the characters so unbelievably human (even though one of them isn't human) that you willingly and cheerfully ask for seconds. Tropes Are Not Bad after all.
 * User:Aeris Avalon adds: WiseAbsol's work runs along the deeper lines of the potential of the Pokémon franchise; it is not intended for children. It is, however, a deeply thought-provocative piece that plays on the emotions of the readers as it pulls you further and further into their tangled lives. Angelic Shadows is a prime example of WiseAbsol's ability to paint an image in the minds of her readers and hold it there until her story is told. While it may be a little much for some fanfiction goers to handle, it's easily a good fit for the advanced reader.
 * User:Gattsuru: There's an  with the more recent chapters, possibly enough to squick many readers. Still worthwhile for those who don't mind.
 * User:A Handfulof Dust: The author has been revising through the story since 2009, and recently finished up the process. The story is now more readable and fleshed out, and certain plot points have been changed for the better.

Ashes of the Past by Saphroneth
 * Recommended by Mutant Rancor
 * Synopsis: At some point during the Pokemon: Best Wishes season, Cyrus succeeded in remaking the world in his image. Arceus did not like that very much, so he chose a champion to go back in time to Set Right What Once Went Wrong. Naturally, having already saved the world several times and having great potential with Aura, Ash Ketchum is that champion. After a week in a pocket dimension training to learn Aura, Ash is returned to the day he started his Pokemon Journey with the ability to restore his friends' memories of the other timeline and sets off to solve as many problems as possible...and, of course, have fun on the way.
 * Comments: A good balance between action and comedy (both individually great), very few spelling and grammar errors, several unexpected plot turns (to both the time travelers and the readers), and Competent!Team Rocket make this a very entertaining read. Also, If that doesn't make you read, nothing will.
 * Now with a trope page Ashes of the Past

Autophobic by ScytheRider
 * Recommended by User:Ungulateman, User:Umbee, User:Kaiserin Kai
 * Status: Complete.
 * Summary: Charmelelon gets over its fear of flight, only to begin to fear itself.
 * Comments: Sequel to Acrophobic. Exploring the psyche of a near-suicidal Charmeleon and how it gains new life when it evolves is magnificent

Bare, along with Legacy by User:Giovannix Seren.
 * Recommended by User:Crazy Mango Fangirl
 * Status:
 * Synopsis: Bare goes into how Giovanni and Madame Boss's relationship...or, rather, what she may have done that turned him evil. Narrated by his OC wife, Seren, with a bit of sweetness to counter some of the grit. Regarded as one of the author's best. Legacy: After Domino and one of his sons have a boy, and name the kid after him, Giovanni thinks about what it will mean for the child.
 * Comments: A lot of the stories are good, but GxS does mention not wanting people to read her Ice prompt, since it is no longer in her canon (extended anime). This troper (User:Crazy Mango Fangirl) emailed the authoress, and she has stated that the events in Bare will be elaborated on (like at the end ) and also that there will be a few more gritty fics to come (one having the aftermath (or possibly the scene) of MB torturing Giovanni when he's young. Another has him flashing back to the event that precipitated Bare, and having to help   deal with his own demons as well.)

A Beginner's Guide to Pokemon by Thanos6
 * Reccomended by User:GG Crono, User:Poptard, User:Umbee
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Summary: An in-universe "field guide" to Pokemon, written by a snarky and slightly eccentric Professor. In-progress.
 * Comments: Highly entertaining. It draws from pretty much every Pokemon-related media to present a book of the sort that might be purchased by a neophyte trainer, looking to give "real world" (so to speak) explanations for most of the gameplay mechanics. The author (that is, of the book) is prone to witty asides and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Currently finished are all the chapters on the basics of training. The author (of the fanfic now) is now setting out to write an encyclopedic entry on every single pokemon. Yeah, you heard me.
 * Seconded by User:Riti Troll. But the reason why I like it is actually not the information and thought given to make it seem like a plausable world (Such as being able to buy stones from Ads, or changing "Trading" to "Interaction" with trading being merely the easiest way of getting it.) But actually all the hilarious punny names given to the "Further Reading" books and professors (such as I Knew You'd Read This Book by Tetsuo Xavier.) I think those are worth the price of admission if nothing else is. (But a lot of the unproffesionalisms are also awesome.)

Beginning Trainer's Guide to Pokémon by Chencheya
 * Recommended by User:CAD, User:Umbee, User:Poptard
 * Status: Last update 2008. Recently 'discontinued,' although this status is pending.
 * Synopsis: A very different and interesting type of fanfic, this one attempts to write a pokedex of sorts, taking several pokemon and explaining their behavior and physiology, making them seem as realistic as possible.
 * Comments: It's Fanon at its best, and very addicting to read.

Between Heroes and Monsters by Jack Nex
 * Recommended by User:Lord Veres
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: When a disaster heralds the arrival of a new evil in the land, one absol must rise up to defeat it. With the help of his trainer and his friends he must find the strength to vanquish enemies both human and pokémon and finally face the evil within himself.
 * Comments: A dark and plot-focused story with an original and diverse cast of well written original characters and a lot of humour throughout. Written from the first person perspective of the main characters, the narrative and description are a joy to read. Some moderate violence and foul language.

Black Adventures, by Black
 * Recommended by: diamonddmgirl, Tropers/Trivialato
 * Status: Active, Ongoing (no real schedule)
 * Synopsis: Black (based off the male player character from pokemon Black & White) gets a MissingNo. as a starter pokemon. Then N decides to follow him arround. Together they rescue gym leaders from Brainwashed and Crazy pokemon. Has a lot of Ho Yay between Black and N, as well as some Black/White and Black/Arti stuff. And major divergances from canon.
 * Comments: Trivialato: Quite the interesting and humourous webcomic. Though it mainly operates on Rule of Funny due to its roots in 4Chan, their plot is actually quite coherent, with a large amount of Character Development, Magical Girl theming, and several metric TONS of Ship Tease and bisexuality. In most cases, this would make for a bad fanfic, yet this girl ends up creating something that would appeal to anyone's sense of humour, sexuality, or choice of genre. So much, actually, that it has its own on-site fanbase, as well as its own topic.
 * Tags: Humor,

Bloody Goldenrod by P Chill Now
 * Recomended by User:Shoddop Eat Your Burgers
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: Decades after Gold and Silver, a much more dangerous gang has taken over all of Johto. The protagonist is the Boss's son, who is struggling to find his place in the "family business", all while they are at arms with a rival mob in Kanto.
 * Comments: The story has an involved plot and backstory, and the characters, despite being OCs, are deep and well-written. The story aims for a much more realistic, gritty Pokemon world, and succeeds greatly. The writing is excellently descriptive, while being immaculately paced. The story is not very far along, but already makes for an enjoyable read.

The Bonds That Break by Blueysicle
 * Recommended by Loffyglu
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: Five years before the events of 'Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness'', a prominent Admin of the Cipher syndicate, Eldes, was forced by Greevil to fake his own death in order to cease his involvement with the Purification Chamber's development and to strengthen his focus on Cipher. Six years later, Eldes is given an opportunity to revisit his old family and rekindle the bonds that were broken after his "death." But when their memories of him have been stripped by Haunters sent out by Greevil after they received news of his supposed passing, and when they see him as nothing more than a diabolical ex-Cipher Admin, can he succeed in reaching out to them?
 * Pairing(s): Very mild Trudly x Folly once a subplot about Miror B. and his cohorts develops (this pairing probably wouldn't even register if you weren't looking for it, though); considering Eldes's former role as Lily's husband, there's of course some Eldes x Lily (one-sided after Eldes sees her after his "death," of course).
 * Comments: Few Pokémon Colosseum/XD fanfics seem to exist on the Internet, but it's good to know that TBTB, one of those few, is a fantastic read for any fan of the Orre games. Bluey takes an idea that's borderline Wild Mass Guessing material and actually makes it seem very plausible, in addition to doing wonders as far as character development goes (which is quite an accomplishment when the games give relatively little to work from, especially concerning Silent Protagonist Michael's character). There are, in the beginning, a few instances of grammatical errors, but these are generally mild and fade overtime. Also of note is that, while Eldes is the focus of the majority of the fanfic, other characters eventually come into play; notably, Trudly and Folly begin to take much of the spotlight as time goes on.

Broken Wings by Trish
 * Recommended by User:Krisnack
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Ash is 38. He's achieved the title of Pokemon Master. He's married to Misty with two children, themselves aspiring trainers. Life couldn't be better. Only he's about face to face with his greatest enemy, and it's not a villainous team, nor is it a rampaging legendary Pokemon. It's Motor Neuron Disease.
 * Comments: This fic explores a subject seldom touched on in the Pokemon world: terminal illness. Motor neuron disease isn't something that attacked with a thundershock. It isn't even an infection. It's a process. While there might not be mush action in this story, there is despair, renewal, fear, hope, betrayal, and courage. And even as Ash's illness takes it's emotional toll on those around him, he learns that how we deal with death is just as important as how we deal with life.

Canon Rape by Bittersweet Romanticide
 * Recommended by User:Gattsuru, Seconded by User:Umbee, User:Pykrete, User:Poptard
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Essentially dozens of pages detailing where Word of Dante and Fanon has been preemptively Jossed, drawn as parody or satire.
 * Comments: Sets itself apart by simply putting forward well-written one-shots where the problem ends up blinking you in the face, often enough to earn loud laughter. While there are a few pages where the canon conflict is partially due to the author's own Word of Dante viewpoint, it's well worth it to finally have someone point out that chlorine and sea animals are not the best combination, or smacking around a Sue. Finished
 * User:Pykrete: I second not only this, but most of BSR's repertoire. She does a great job of keeping everyone in character and exploiting a wide range of Emotional Torque when she's not busy being hilarious. It's a little odd to note some of her earlier works are guilty of a couple things she rails on in Canon Rape (and are still good -- go figure), which is a marked sign of a growing writer getting better as she goes.

Carnage Necropolis by Aiselne Phoenix Nocturnus
 * Recommended by Drayke, User:REV 6 Pilot
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: "Ash, Misty, and Brock enter an ominous city where something presumably murdered the locals. Much to the kids' horrific discovery, the residents and Pokemon aren't quite as "dead" as authorities claimed. – A Pokemon spin-off of Resident Evil."
 * Comments: Set within the Johto arc, it's treated exactly how it should be: kids discovering and reacting to zombies exactly like kids would. No one becomes a Genre Savvy Badass, they're frightened children just trying to survive. Pairings are Ash/Misty and James/Jessie, but don't expect them to be one of the main focused issues.

A Champion's Story by Warenscape the Squishy
 * Recommended by Etriax
 * Status: In Progress
 * Synopsis: "Eric Lombardi, the Pokémon Champion from the United States, has journeyed to the Sinnoh region to take on the Pokémon Champion there. But along the way, he discovers something that will change his life forever... For better or worse."
 * Comments: This fic is set in the Sinnoh region, assuming that Sinnoh is part of the geographical Earth we all know. Eric is just a teen who wants to try to be the best, but things just keep getting in his way. He also has a selection of pokémon that, while not the full six, does get the job done pretty well, both on and off the field of battle. There is a degree of OC/Gardevoir pairing in the story, as well as Gardevoir/Lucario, though at the time of recommendation, nothing major has happened there. The author seems to be trying extremely hard not to let his character become a Marty Sue/Gary Sue, but he has a clever sense of humor and is creative during battle sequences. He also has a knack for making things rather dark, especially in later chapters. If only he'd update more than once a month.

Clouded Sky by Negrek
 * Reccomended by User:wescotta, User:Rogue 7, User:Pykrete, User:antialiasis
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Shortly after being given a Murkrow as a starter, Tobias Talltree learns the truth about his region.
 * Comments: Similar to Xanthic Growlithe Contract, except less mind-screwy and far more likely to be finished. Aside from Pokemon Master (see below) and Writing of Wrongs (see: Final Fantasy VII) it is probably the best piece of fanfiction I have ever read. You should read it too.
 * User:Rogue 7: A first impression-Very well written, and the new Pokemon created seem interesting, as does the trainer. I'm sure it gets better, but let me just go on record as saying that Murkrow, as a Pokemon, is awesome. Screw the "bad omen" stuff.
 * User:Pykrete: Awesome. Characterization is great, the Pokemon he made up work well (Accemenla is pretty much awesome personified). I was going to say this looks like a Dead Fic but it seems the author updated just a few days ago after a year's hiatus, and I'm quite stoked.
 * User:antialiasis: Heartily agreed. It has a compelling, interestingly realized setting, solid characters and the single most mind-blowingly twisty plot I have ever read - in a good way.
 * This troper also agree. The hero was believable, the pokemons have their own minds and their own quirks, and the pacing was not choppy at all. Not even after a long time skip. This fanfiction ranks as one of the best I have ever read in the Pokemon section, perhaps even better than Pedestal.
 * Additional Info: Has its own page.

Collector by Brian1
 * Recommended by User:Hobgoblin
 * Status: Oneshot
 * Synopsis: Ash meets a girl named May, and she takes him to her special place.
 * Comments: A really well-written, though admittedly creepy, piece. Downer Ending. The rest of his works aren't as dark, though.

The Darkness Within by tracefan
 * Recommended by User:Ultimatehaou
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: The adventures of a sarcastic ex-Rocket Dragonair as he and a few friends are stalked by various factions, including a near-immortal phantom that tries to turn them against each other for his own purposes.
 * Comments: One of the few fics told from the Pokemons' points of view, it's a well-written arcing story line with plenty of unique characters and plot twists, being able to switch from hilarious to dead serious in a few pages. It's got over two hundred chapters now, but is currently undergoing a better written reboot here.
 * Update: The author has now cancelled the rebooted version as well, due to a lack of intrest in writing a story he already wrote for 3 years.

''[http://pokemology.com/pokegear/ditto/index.html Ditto! Gary's Story]'' by Poryhedron
 * Recommended by Har D Har Koopa
 * Status: Dead
 * Synopsis: This is the story of Gary (no not that one), a trainer from Pallet Town. His journey takes place many years after that of Red. Along the way he goes through similar challenges as the old champion did.
 * Comments: I haven't read this in a few years, but I plan on it again soon. This is a great version of the standard OC Trainer fic. The author is only going off of Gen 1. Not the anime, Special, or anything after Kanto. what he tries is to take the world of that one game, and make it make more sense. A great fic, probably my favorite Pokemon fic.

Doctor Doom travels through Kanto with a Magikarp as his starter by Sir Chris (Less Up-to-Date Alternate Fanfiction.net link here).
 * Recommended by User:Igordebraga and Navllyk
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: Doctor Doom got tired of ruling over his own world so he decided that becoming a Pokemon Master would be a good way to spend a week or two. Hilarity (and slaughter) ensues.
 * Comments: Worlds colliding in this hilarious parody. It might not be for the most sensitive (or Pokémon purists) due to its plentiful violence, since no one stands on the path of DOOM!

Dragon Days by Gastly's Mama.
 * Recommended by cabrpi
 * Status: In Progress
 * Synopsis: During his youth, Lance of the Kanto Elite Four was saved from wannabe Team Rocket members by a wild (and vicious) Charizard. Inspired by this, he becomes a masked vigilante who targets the real Team Rocket, but his actions may have unintended ramifications. Eventually, he comes into conflict with a madman bent on revenge for a tragedy that occurred years beforehand.
 * Comments: Split into two different plots, the story of Dragon Days alternates between a young Lance and the older, more experienced Lance we see in the games. Both plots are woven together very tightly, and without one, the other would have no significance. Hot off his success with Rival's Story, Gastly's Mama has crafted a real thriller here. But be warned: this story is leagues more mature than Rival's Story. There's a good bit of violence and profanity, although it's tastefully done.

Eon Sky: You Have No Idea by Latio-Reol
 * Recommended by User:gabe 02
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: A 12 year old child from the real world gets thrown into a conflict with a bunch of "Armageddic morons", discovers an interesting set of problems in the war, and becomes a self described terrorist. He takes about a thousand risks, develops a sadistic attitude, and befriends a psychotic Lucario
 * Comments: An interesting deconstruction of Kid Hero. Gets pretty dark.

A Fear of Change by Diego Zeyon
 * Recommended by User:Glacial Eidolon
 * Synopsis: A rebirth fanfic centered around the protagonist, Joshua, and his Trainer, Karen, along with a host of other major and minor characters, including a snarky Swablu, an energetic Furret, and Mew himself. Strikes a good balance between Lighter and Fluffier and Darker and Edgier, and is a touch more realistic in tone than many Pokémon fanfics.
 * Comments: There are a few rough patches here and there, but A Fear Of Change is in general a very good way to waste a few hours, as the world-building is excellent and the tone is realistic enough for a Pokémon fanfic to continually surprise you where you least expect it. Note that the story is some time or another going into revision, according to the author's profile. In the future it could be even more improved, though the story isn't updating at the moment.

Friends, partners and more... by Slifer. Warning: The sex scenes are NSFW (which is why it requires an account to read it), happen between pokemon and humans and the backstory of some characters may contain triggers. Original German version is here
 * Recommended by User:Rakaziel
 * Status: Completed
 * Synopsis: Focuses on an OC Trainer and his pokemon and contains romance, drama and fighting Team Rocket. The Setting is a more realistic take on the Pokemon world. Also contains, explains and slighty deconstructs pokemorphs. Good storytelling and pacing, likable characters and some very well written crowning moments.

Going Back by User:Jackman B
 * Recommended by User:Jack Nativity, User:Ethereal Frog
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: A young Trainer by the name of Joshua has gathered all eight Badges in Sinnoh and is preparing to cross Victory Road to challenge the Pokemon League's Elite Four. An accident causes a cave-in and seriously injures him, and his team of Pokemon must work together to escape the cave and keep their Master alive.
 * Comments: This is an original character and original team, using only a few events from Diamond/Pearl. Surprisingly good for a Pokefic, perhaps the biggest plus is that Joshua and his team are believable characters. The dialogue between the Pokemon is fun to read, and you can tell that despite the experimental writing, the author's put a lot of effort into this story. Apparently he is considering a prequel and a sequel depending on how much people like this.
 * User:Ethereal Frog seconding the rec. The story is plenty long enough to develop the characters and have a proper ending. The plot is interesting, and the ending is great, if a little sad, but it's a happy ending nonetheless. Great story, and I hope to see more one day.

Goodbye Stranger by ibuberu
 * Recommended by User:Amp
 * Status: Complete.
 * Summary: A game-verse series of expositions concerning the various protagonists' mostly missing fathers.
 * Comments: The only word that I really can use to describe this fic is 'beautiful.' Its structure seems to be well thought-out and the emotions of the protagonists ring true. It is also fairly Troperiffic for a one chapter work.

The Greatest Reborn Story Ever by srgeman and Lady of Darkfire
 * Recommended by User:phazonfarmer
 * Synopsis: Two kids die, become a Doduo, and are adopted by a kid who thinks all you need to be successful is good looks and the ability to ramble.
 * Comments: This is what happens when a writer decides to write a Crack Fic of his own idea. The characters are fully aware that they're in a story, pointing out scene changes, off-screen events, and the inconsistencies of the world they live in.

Guardians of Pokémon by Mr Panda
 * Recommended by User:Spiri Tsunami
 * Status: Last update 2007.
 * Synopsis: Ash must awaken the 17 Guardians of Pokemon to protect the world from an unseen force. The Guardians must then capture every Pokemon of their type by using their special powers.
 * Comments: Set in some sort of weird Animeverse AU, This odd hybrid of Pokemon and the Magical Girl genre is actually quite interesting. The original characters are good (there are no Mary Sues), and not even the presence of some Love Dodecahedrons can bog it down. I'm this close to breaking down all of the tropes that this fic uses. To name a few: Catgirl, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Capulet Counterpart, Glam of Shazam, Genre Savvy, Heel Face Turn, Face Heel Turn, The Harvey...

The Guardian of Voyagers by Alaskapigeon
 * Recommended by User:mysterynovelist 2010
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Summary: What if the real world was populated by Pokemon? What if you could get a gym badge in San Francisco or New York? What would happen if an ordinary girl was taken on an extraordinary adventure?
 * Comments: When I originally clicked on this story, I thought it was going to be the usual 'original trainer going on his/her own journey' fic. Man was I wrong. The actual story is much Darker and Edgier (but in a good way); it focuses on a young girl named Alaska who encounters a boy named Hermes. Hermes turns out to be a Shadow Human, or someone who was genetically altered by Team Shadow to have supernatural abilities but forced to control a violent bloodlust. The events that transpire from then on include evading the evil organization, as well as defeating a huge prophecy. However, it is implied by the most recent chapter that something even bigger may be going on...

Heart of the Magma by purple-drake.
 * Recommended by 2 writeis 2 life
 * Status: Complete (though it comes with a sequel, Choice and Consequence and a side-story, Brother My Brother)
 * Synopsis: "There was a time when Team Magma worked for the good of the pokémon world. When they were ruled by reason and not madness. When they had in their care the daughter of their leader, a little girl who represented hopes and dreams... and fears..."
 * Comments: Basically a story about Maxie's family and his relationship to his subordinates, as well as the reason why he wants to expand the landmass in the first place. The author has a knack for details and dialogue that really help to bring each and every character to life- the Magma admins each have personalities of their very own and Maxie's daughter actually feels like a ten-year-old kid. Maxie's role in the story is fairly minor, actually, but he's there for the most important parts- and very much The Woobie, which is an interesting way of looking at him, but it all works.

Henkou by Nauran
 * Recommended by User:REV 6 Pilot
 * Synopsis: Going by the infamous Pokemon Coma Theory, which is given on the profile page in an updated/fresh rendition, this fanfic depicts Ash waking up from a Dying Dream and trying to come to terms with the real world, or not. As its plot stems from such a controversial concept among the fanon and had opened with an emotionally powerful first chapter, this story has been described as having great potential by its readers.
 * Status: In-progress.
 * Comments: "Wow. Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride. It'll be interesting to discover how this will play out."
 * "You've pulled off some excellent pathos with all of this. In the first chapter especially, you can feel Ash's despair vividly."
 * "This is, without a doubt, the best opening chapter to a story I've ever read. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end, and now I just want to read MORE!"
 * "EXTREMELY realistic in terms of environment and emotion, and the whole thing raises so many questions, you can't HELP but read on!"

Hoenn Insane: The Version of RSE You Didn't See. by Ketn- er, Kenta147
 * Recommended by User:Mattman 324, User:Poptard, User:Firebert
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: An extremely Genre Savvy pokemon trainer teams up with a characture named Mary Sue, and fight Team Aqua and Team Magma, all while avoiding Brenden and Anti-Sue and trying to stop the evil in Hoenn!
 * Comments: A crack at bad RPGs (Specifically stated in the final chapter), it has EVERYTHING. God mod as the main villain, a Mary Sue with a typical Sue team (Raichu, Pikachu, Espeon, Articuno, and Suicune. Also, the main hero is a well designed Genre Savvy kid, made to represent the old RPGer who knows how to make a charact. And did I mention the humor? Some of the off the wall humor they throw at you will leave you laughing for a while afterwards. A great read if you've been going through bad times, or reading sad fanfics, as it ALWAYS will lighten your day.

Hoenn League: A Brendan and May Adventure by Breezy
 * Recommended by User:Assassin, User:Poptard
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Adaptation from the Ru/Sa/Em games. After moving to Hoenn, May finds herself pulled into the world of pokemon battles on an adventure with a frustrating white haired boy named Brendan and his slow-witted Mudkip, Muddy as they go on the Pokemon League Challenge.
 * Comments: A humorous and all around entertaining long running fic, it may have been one of the first fics to have pokemon "translations" done successfully.

The Human Species by Shaded Skies
 * Recommended by Ghingahn
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: "Humanity has gotten fed up with their fragile position in the world of Pokémon. The best of trainers will subdue or dispose of every powerful Pokémon in existence. But which side of the conflict will you end up on if you're neither human nor Pokémon...?"
 * Comments: This is a fairly dark fic that has a good bit of both violence and humor. The main character comes off as a pretty big Jerk Ass in the beginning, but he mellows out later on. The legendary pokemon show up on a regular basis . There's quite a few mature themes in the story, but most people should be able to handle them. Highly recommended.

I Am Lucario by lupyne
 * Recommended by User:Faislittlewhiteraven, seconded by User:Pykrete
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: A prediction has been made; at some point in the future, a disaster will strike the city, possibly leaving it and the surrounding forest in ruins. Along with his friends, an Absol and an Eevee, a wild Lucario is set on preventing it at all cost. But until then, Lucario intends to live life to the fullest: pursuing his hobby of human-watching, exploring new sights, and cracking the mysteries that surround his friends.
 * Comments: A beautiful little fanfic with lots of love for all its characters. The story mostly follows Lucario's 'Human watching' with a reflective and mostly optimistic style, but a number of chapters have some intense scenes; many of which are rather sad. Has battles as well as lots of fun between the main trio, but I find that what really hooked me onto this fic is the stories of the one chapter characters; all of them have very different stories to tell but like Lucario I find each one has something to offer and is worth the read.

Irony by Stixn
 * Recommended by 2writeis2life
 * Status: Complete
 * Synopsis: Grings Kodai was arrested nearly one year ago. Remembering the past has triggered one last vision of the future. The vision of his death. Little did he know just how near it was.
 * Comments: One of only a small handful of fics that star Grings Kodai, the villain from the thirteenth movie; and easily the best of the bunch. The entire story is set inside of his head, and by and large does an excellent job of conveying his views on the situation, as well as certain points in the movie itself. Because of the limited perspective, some of the scenes are a bit of a Mind Screw. The story also contains some disturbing bits, but the often-gorgeous prose helps things along immensely. The author even manages to give Kodai a few fleeting touches of vulnerability, without altering his characterization at all.

Journey of a Thousand James by Meinos Kaen
 * Recommended by Tropic Thunder
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Pairings: James/Harem (Not the focus of the story)
 * Synopsis: James suddenly gets a call. An old friend is finally healed and is waiting for him to pick him up. He does so, but... The return trip to get back to his traveling companions takes an unexpected turn before even starting. Now up: Interlude I Rx R, please
 * Comments: I'm kinda confused as to why this hasn't been recommended already...

La Serie de Ken by Mewtwo Power
 * Recommended by User:Da_Nuke
 * Status: Completed.
 * Synopsis: It takes the original premise of the series and turns it into a more mature series aimed at older teenagers.
 * Comments: If you know Spanish, read La Serie de Ken.
 * User:Fish Called Waldo: The full TV Tropes description is under the Fanfic section of page, and is where the links for La Serie de Ken lead. If those don't help, nothing will.

~Latias' Journey~ by Ri2
 * Recommended by Kitsu, Vipvoo, User:Pykrete, User:Dialga X, User:Flairina, User:Poptard
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Latias is forced to flee Altomare after it is destroyed by the mysterious Ghost King, who she angered by rejecting his advances due to her feelings for Ash. Chaos ensues.
 * Comments: Much Better Than It Sounds, and full genre-savvy goodness. A word to the wise; you won't be finishing this in one sitting... it's over a million words, and that's not even counting the unfinished (but living!) sequel. It gets pretty gruesome at parts, and more so as the fic goes on, but it has wonderfully light-hearted moments such as the defeat of Gary Stu, which involves "Phanphy the Clown" and the Pokerockers. The characterization and writing is excellent, to say the least. However, as this troper already stated, it ventures into some rather dark and squicky territory, including rape, torture, and incest.
 * Vipvoo seconding this like whoa. It'd probably be best if you started with the prequel though.
 * User:Pykrete: I was a little daunted by the sheer volume and held off on reading it -- I regret that delay in hindsight. The length feels more discretely episodic than Doorstopper. Bonus points for actually managing to get Team Rocket to reach even higher levels of Epic Fail while somehow still managing to be a legitimate threat. Don't let the quirky, surreal humor fool you though, it hits pretty absurd levels of disturbing near the end. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
 * User:Zero Tw 0: Read this if you feel in the mood for Genre Savvy characters and Deus Ex Machinas to the max. That is all!
 * User:Dialga X: Extremely long but it is worth reading through it. Uproarously funny elements worthy of a good Crack Fic coupled with dazzling action sequences are a winning combination. However, there is an extreme amount of blood, gore and violence and some very disturbing imagery present.
 * User:Flairina: HUGE length, but is quite good. However, as previously warned, in the later chapters there is extremely grotesque and detailed imagery, many examples of A Fate Worse Than Death, and a horrendous amount of blood, which flips back and forth with Lighter and Softer chapters (thank goodness).
 * Strilight: The story was exeptional, the writing was good, it kept me occupied for a long time. One thing you might want to do after finishing it is to reread some of the earlier chapters. You might notice something that you missed on your first read, which discribes the amount of detail Ri2 added in this story. Or the battle scenes are epic enough to revisit again.
 * yiran: Your Mileage May Vary. I guess I'm going to be the first one on this page that is against this fic, eh? Anyway, it's obvious that the grammar and spelling is completely fine, but that doesn't make a good piece of fiction. The main thing I don't like about it is its excessive Lampshade Hanging. I'm serious. Whenever a character in the story mentions that "that's the lamest and most cliché plot device ever", it's actually worse than not mentioning it, since the author acknowledges its badness (for the lack of a better word), but still uses it anyway. Plus, many times where the fourth wall is broken, I just can't stay serious enough to actually feel the emotional impact that would have been delivered well. Another really annoying point is that it inserts dark stuff when there's no reason to. Also, sure, intricate details that are referenced later might be put in (such as the ), but there are some serious plot parts that were obviously unplanned.  The omnipresent narrating doesn't help the interest of readers; you're anticipating what happens next, then you jump off to another scene with completely different characters? This especially annoys me in the  And responding to the previous troper, I didn't think the battle scenes were interesting at all. I thought they were excessively long and I often skipped past them just to see how the plot would advance. Yet another complaint from me is that the story loses focus on Latias pretty quickly. I don't mean that someone else starts taking over the story, but this just doesn't seem like Latias' Journey, it seems more like, because other characters get just as much, if not more "screen time" and background than Latias. Yeah, this big chunk of text is pure criticism and complaining and whining, but I put YMMV at the start of it for a reason. Not recommended, or disrecommended if you like fancy words which actually aren't in most dictionaries.

The Legend of Eevee: Pokeflute of Time by that one little guy.
 * Recommended by Supercomputer 276
 * Synopsis: Take The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Make everyone Pokemon characters. Make Link a brain-dead Pichu, Navi a bad-tempered Togetic who does most of the killing for him, and everyone else completely nuts. Stir at your reading speed and enjoy.
 * Comments: Pure comedy from start to finish. Rapidly lampshades some of the ridiculousness of Zelda games. Occasional Dungeon Bypass by blowing up everything in sight.

The Life of the Legendaries by Jakayrta.
 * Recommended by User:Dialga X, gumbal1
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: So what goes on in the Hall of Origins? Are the Legendary Pokemon as boring as they seem to be or are they just like us? The answer will surprise and shock you.
 * Comments: Yeah, the fic itself is kind of cracky but it works. The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon bits are pretty well done too and yet have some comedy. A private message sent by the author states that the fic will get less "cracky" as it progresses.
 * Seconded, just... have some Brain Bleach ready for chapter nine.

Like a Line Drive! by User:Lightning Kimba
 * Recommended by User:Angelic Grace
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: A young trainer and his shiny Eevee travel throughout the lands of Johto, discovering the origins of their apparent history together, despite the trainer's resistance to his so-called "destiny". A parody of how Pokémon fanfics are generally written in its fandom.
 * Comments: This is quite the fun series. As of the beginning chapters, it appears to be playing around with cheap skills the main character would generally have if handled with a bad writer, and uses them to his disadvantage rather than making him an ace. The Narrator's also a fun character, often acting as a young intern walking into the job rather than a true veteran. Overall, it has both a comedy and action feel, catching even meta-savvy writers if they read in closely enough.

A Little Night Music by srgeman
 * Reccomended by @/aBBaFan.
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Angela Duncan is a human girl who, after killing herself, is reborn as the starter pokemon of her best friend. She spends the next several months be tortured by Not Pokemon, hunted by a faceless killer, and fixing her own flawed life.
 * Comments: An extremely dark story, its biggest problem is it sometimes ends up too dark. Also, it frequently draws attention to the stupidity of its own universe. It has a completely original cast, and is one of the few stories set in the mangaverse. Although there are over twenty main characters, each one has a well rounded personality, and individual motivations. It's over 300,000 words, and 114 chapters. As of this posting, it's the most reviewed pokemon fanfic on fanfiction.net. Also significant in that it spawned a miniature fandom of many other writers using the same story formula and reincarnation mechanics.
 * The story has recently been deleted by the site staff...
 * It's back up now, along with srgeman's sequel, Smiles Of A Summer Night.
 * Contested: While the story itself is interesting and engaging, the writing is absolutely riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors so flagrant they detract from the story's meaning.

Lull by Breezy
 * Recommended by User:Assassin, User:Umbee
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Summary: An elaboration on the Cresselia event that happened in the Diamond and Pearl series, after winning the league and foiling Team Galactic, Lucas was put on a pedestal he never wanted to be on. Now untrusting of everything, he and, to his annoyance, Dawn investigate a mysterious event in Canalave City.
 * Comments: This story really explores how a teen would react to the publicity and slander one would expect from the events set by the game. The main theme of trust and subconscious is a theme that's been employed smoothly and makes this fic an interesting read.
 * User:Umbee: Now this is an amazing Pokemon fic. Every single character has been written beautifully and realistically, and they're one of the fic's strongest points. Humor is inserted in just the right places, and the running gags don't get stale. If you want a story that's serious without being too dark, with fleshed-out characters and setting, I cannot recommend this one enough.

Madhouse by Trexmaster
 * Recommended by User:Totally Original
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: A world where a constant struggle between Zerstorung and just about everyone else forms the basis of everyday life. It takes place in the Team Fortress 2 universe several years after RED and BLU ceased fighting, the mercenaries playing a somewhat important part in the story.
 * Comments: You might be wondering what this has to do with Pokemon, but if you read through it you'll notice several hints towards a connection with the Pokemon universe and theirs, obviously meaning they're going to do something with it. That aside, the story is quite good, progressively getting better as it goes on.

Mentor by Dagzar
 * Recommended by User:Wavebird
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Mentor follows the adventures of 15 year old Leah Gordon, who is forced to complete her unfinished pokemon journey with two kids as their mentor.
 * Comments: A great read by all standards, this fanfic touches upon how most Pokemon trainers are never successful, the main character being one of those trainers. Highly recommended. In progress, but the author posts the percentage of completion of each chapter daily.

Mind Over Matter by DavidBrin
 * Recommended by Supercomputer 276, User:Umbee
 * Synopsis: The epic struggle between fun-loving Mew and prudish Azelf can only be settled by one thing; the Gobstopper of DEATH! Not as random as it sounds.
 * Comments: A silly little exchange between the playful Mew and the logical Azelf. It's hard to describe how funny it is without being too over-the-top.

Minor Miscalculations and Unlikely Ascension by Fragmented Disillusionment (TF Fics.)
 * Recommended by User:Ao S_Kirby
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Minor Miscalculations is the story of a young trainer named Alvin who gets transformed into a pichu by an ancient artifact. With only his pikachu (and later joined by his best friend and psychic, David), Alvin must fight his pokemon instincts while trying to find a way to become human again. This will take him across the sea to the region of Kanto, where he unknowingly becomes caught up in a Team Rocket operation that could cause the boy to lose everything. Unlikely Ascension, a sort of companion one-shot to Minor Miscalculations, tells the story of a young man named Logan. Born without any psychic abilities into a family of psychics, the boy was often bullied an abused in his youth. Even after defying the long-thought idea that those not born with the ability could never develop it, he's still treated like an outcast in his own family. This story follows him as he sets out to make his own path, and ends up finding a way to be far more than he is.
 * Comments: Both stories are complete and take place in a more realistic interpretation of pokemon canon. Although, there is very little of canon characters, the original characters are well-developed and unique. These works have even inspired other fan fiction based in the same realistic pokemon world. The writing is excellent considering the age of the writer, and the writer himself is quite open to people contacting him about the stories.

Morphic by Dragonfree (Or you can go to FanFiction.net)
 * Recommended by Vapour, User:Umbee User:Digi Flame
 * Status: Completed.
 * Synopsis: Several scientists tried to make Pokemorphs (half-human, half-Pokemon) and succeed, but they're forced to keep them after an abortion debate. Few years later, the Pokemorphs become teenagers and... this summary does not do the story justice.
 * Comments: A great Deconstruction of Pokemorph stories and a great read after quite a few Pokemorphic Mary Sues.
 * Seconded with joy. Quite possibly the best Pokemon fanfiction I've ever read.

N's Mother by Skylar-ginny
 * Recommended by Tropers/2writeis2life
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: N's mother reflects on her courtship with Ghetsis and the birth of her son.
 * Comments: This fic is quite short, and doesn't do much more than discuss just who N's mother is and what sort of relationship she had with Team Plasma; but it's jam-packed with enough emotion and memories to satisfy the readers. The fact that it's written from the perspective of N's mother (who's narrating from beyond the grave, no less) makes it all the more so, and it manages to raise some really interesting philosophical questions about Ghetsis, seemingly without trying. While it probably can't be considered canon anymore (now that everyone in the fandom's pushing the idea that ) at the same time the fic is, if nothing else, one of the more enjoyable artifacts of a time when N's past and family were a glorious free-for-all.

The Natural History of Pokémon by Shadow Wasserson
 * Recommended by Dialga X
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Imagine a field guide to a realistic Pokémon universe.
 * Comments: It is a field guide to a realistic Pokémon universe. The author clearly has a solid grasp of real-world biology and maanges to work it into Pokémon world. It should be noted that the universe is neither game nor anime nor manga; it is a hybrid of all of them coupled with Real Life.

New Game by Misheard Whisper
 * Recommended by User:Rinne
 * Status: Oneshot
 * Synopsis: What happens to your Pokemon when you press New Game? If you don't transfer them to another game, they might well resent you for it. A sobering look at that New Game button we all take for granted.
 * Comments: An eloquent little ficlet that develops and beautifully presents the thoughts of six Pokémon and their impending deletion, all in under 2000 words. There’s no forceful aesop here, but the personalities that are shown will definitely make you think twice before pressing that button. Warning: major Tear Jerker.

No Antidote by User:Falcon Pain
 * Recommended by User:CAD, User:Yoshi 348, User:Krisnack, User:Gattsuru, User:Ethereal Frog. User:Fawn, User:Umbee, User:antialiasis, User:Roihu, User:Pykrete, User:Canary In The Coal Mine, User:Miko Galatea, User:Kayi Rowling, User:Doxie Vee, User:Calamity Jane
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: A young pokemon trainer from Pallet obtains a starter and begins on his journey, but then suffers a tragic accident that leaves him with a fading mind and only weeks to live. What does this mean for Bulbasaur, his starter, and how far will Bulbasaur take their mutual promise to go as far as they can, no matter the obstacle?
 * Comments: This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do a fanfic. Only eight chapters, but brilliant characters and storytelling make it one of the best. Very dark and tragic, and has an ending you will never see coming. Highly recommended.
 * User:Yoshi 348: Seconding the rec. The fic knows exactly where it's going and what it's doing, and most importantly who its characters are, and that's really the heart of any good story. So mostly perfect it's a bit bewildering that there's the awkward two lines of aggravating Song Fic shoved in the end of each chapter, but at least that's easily ignorable.
 * User:Gattsuru: Nthing the rec. This is impressively well-written. Short, somewhere between short story and full novella, but hits all the right moments and touches all the right notes, with an excellent choice of Twist and an odd, entertaining Bittersweet Ending. The perfect Dark Fic, changing not a single motivation nor attribute in the series and still leaving you very, very depressed. Deus Ex Pokeball and Mute, Too, by the same author, both are also great reads.
 * User:Ethereal Frog: Nthing the rec also. Rather short, but I like that, I don't get too attached to the characters. Speaking of which, the characters are well thought up, but the twist at the end is rather jarring, but it provides closure, and that's always good. Well written, short, but sweet.
 * User:antialiasis: A very interesting read and ingeniously thought out, much more so than it seems at first glance - one of the best things about it is the subtlety. The final two chapters feel a bit jarring, but are appropriate to make the point the author is trying to make. Note when you read: the author did not just make a mistake. The author did not just make a Retcon in response to reviews pointing out he did something wrong. Every. Last. Thing in this story is deliberate and significant. Trust me.
 * User:Pykrete: (N+ 2)th'ing the rec, for all the reasons above. Also, Beedrill takes a tactical nuke to how most fic writers handle his species, and is pretty much concentrated awesome.
 * User:Canary In The Coal Mine: Not only do I agree with all the comments above, but there is something to be said of the very idea of the ending: Pokemon meets . It's a rather interesting and unexplored idea that could very well fit into the pokemon universe. I'm surprised more stories haven't tried to examine and play with it.
 * User:Miko Galatea: What can I say that hasn't been said already? The writing and characterisation is brilliant, and I came close to crying several times. The highlight for me would have to be ; that was just masterfully done.
 * User:Kayi Rowling: I recommend it too, but can't say anything that hasn't been already said. It's good.
 * User:phazonfarmer: Nth'ing this one too, as well as User:Falcon Pain's other works. He clearly knows how the Pokeverse works, to the point that when I went to Bulbapedia to check, it all worked out quite smoothly.
 * User:Doxie Vee: Re-recommending this fic. It's powerful, brutal, well-researched, beautifully written, and deeply upsetting. Magnificent on every level.
 * User:Haya: I recommend this fanfic for many of the reasons stated before. Unlike my fellow tropers, I actually recommend it for the incredible closure it gives.
 * User:Calamity Jane: I also recommend this fanfic. It has all of the great things I look for in a story; strong sense of continuity and a knowledge of where the story is going, plot twists that curve the story into an impossibly beautiful shape, and a "dark but soft" take on the world in question. If I had a choice, I'd much rather be in a pitch black bouncy-house than a pitch-black iron maiden, in terms of darkness and edginess. The author's other stories, Deus Ex Pokeball and Mute, Too, also come highly recommended. Read all three of them and you get totally immersed in the world created by this brilliant author.

No Boundaries: A Wiki Pokemon Story by DJ Spenstar (with Chimchar2356025, Nalyd Renrut, Gideoncrawle, and Fanfiction2010)
 * Recommended by User:Power Of Rock
 * Synopsis: In the Hoenn region, a group of teens take their own shot at becoming "the best like no one ever was." Enter the quirky and fun Chimmy, the fallen Jhoto trainer Nalyd, and the passionate and compassionate rising star Spenny, as they brave the entire land of Hoenn for their chance in the hall of fame. And with the help of Spenny's father Gideon, his Houndour Sullivan, and the many Pokemon they'd find along the way, they just might get there.
 * Because when you're a Pokemon Trainer, there are No Boundaries
 * Comments: Still a work in progress that has only recently started, but so far it's a great work. A more serious take on the Pokemon journey as opposed to the anime, but still lighthearted and fun while adding a special meaning to the whole thing. The fic keeps its feet on the ground but its mind in the stars. Certainly worth catching up on while it's new and joining the authors on the ride, chapter by chapter.

No No Pokeball by User:Mr Wuff
 * Recommended by User:Fawn
 * Status: Deadfic, was never finished. Some chapters still survive (link above) but not all of them are there.
 * Synopsis: Satoshi is a fatherless boy who wants to be a Pokemon Master. Pikachu is a childless father who paid the price of thievery with the life of his sons. When they meet by chance and misfortune, they forge a friendship not bounded by a Pokeball.
 * Comments: A very well written, philosophical, thought out deconstruction, with excellent characterization. The first few chapters are kinda dull, and the fic takes a while to really get into the philosophical stuff. Despite these flaws, it is one of the best fanfics I have ever read. Edit: Unfortunately it appears to be a Dead Fic now, the author has deleted it from his Fanficion profile and the link above is missing chapters.

Obsession by Blackjack Rocket
 * Recommended by User:Androidraptor
 * Status: Last update February, 2011.
 * Synopsis: An original backstory for P 2 K's enigmatic antagonist, the collector/Jirarudan/Lawrence III.
 * Comments: Probably one of the most lush and engaging fics I've seen, period. This is a character who got maybe 20 minutes of screentime in canon, yet this fic fleshes him out into a deep, complex character with surprising ease. This isn't your usual Draco in Leather Pants villain backstory filled to tits with melodrama, Linkin Park, and halfed-assed Freudian Excuses. Jiri's flaws are very well evident, even at the age of nine, and it only serves to make the story all the more compelling and mature. It's a shame she only puts out a few chapters a year.

''Painting A Masterpiece by Divine Wolfe
 * Recommended by Pichu-kun.
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: One-shot, slight BluexLeaf. There hadn't always been just two of them. Once, there had been three...Blue, Red, and Leaf friendship
 * Comments: This story is already a rare fanfic for this fandom. A game based fanfic and a good one at that. It revolves around an often forgotten, or outright unknown, friendship. Red, Blue, and Leaf's bond. As stated in the summary, it has some Blue/Leaf undertones however it's not thick enough to be a shipping fic. It takes place several years after HGSS; The trio are nearing the end of their teenage years, now at the age of seventeen. Red, Leaf, and Blue have long been torn apart. Leaf hadn't been in contact with the boys for some time and returns to Kanto from Orre with naive, impulsive ambitions thinking that her friends haven't changed. Blue has lost his cocky personality for a short tempered one. Red has isolated himself from society to train on Mt. Silver, and most importantly his friends. The story isn't nearly as angst ridden as it sounds though. I wouldn't even exactly call it angst, as more so simple mild hurt-comfort. It has some tie-ins from other games, such as Brendan, Michael, and Barry being mentioned. But it mainly follows the Kanto trio in a way that most of the fandom never thought of and deconstructs their personalities. I would recommend it even for people who dislike game fanfics; It does not stray too far from the games, the characters aren't OOC, and it's not a mess of a fanfic. It's a short, but filling, oneshot. On a subnote, all the Pokemon stories by this author are wonderful however this one pokes out among the bunch.

Pedestal by Digital Skitty
 * Recommended by User:Kaiserin Kai, @/lalalei2001, User:gumbal 1, Salnax, User:Haustere, yiran
 * Status: Completed.
 * Synopsis: A boy sets out on a Pokemon journey with his Numel Pedestal. Together they deal with double weaknesses, unplanned catches, unexpected nicknames, and his own destiny.
 * Comments: What starts out as your run of the mill cheerful and humorous new trainer goes on a journey story quickly takes a turn for the worse. Shows the effects of ignoring warnings and not paying enough attention to those closest to you. Very well written, with comedy added when appropriate in the form of a number of running gags, yet completely serious when it needs to be. This story is not based on the Anime or the Games, though it borrows mythology from both. The only canonical characters that it uses are the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Champion. Primarily takes place in Sinnoh, although other canonical regions do appear. Those looking for a very well written original trainer story with an original plot should check this out.
 * Seconded. I gave it its own page.
 * Thirded. Go read it now.
 * Fourthed. My favorite fanfiction ever. Turned me onto fanfics in general and convinced me to buy the game.
 * Fifthed. It's quite an enjoyable read. The only downside is that now I have high-standards when reading fanfics, which is arguably not a good thing.
 * yiran: It is surprisingly deep in philosophy for a Pokémon fanfiction. I have a little problem about the lack of death for the absolute main characters(and subsequent less realistic results), but it is negligible compared to all the positive qualities of the fan fiction you'll find. Highly recommended.

A Pallet Pair by Veravine
 * Recommended by User:Roo
 * Status: Complete
 * Summary: Ever wonder who the other trainers from Pallet Town were, and why we never saw them compete in the Pokemon League alongside Ash and Gary? Well, meet Ivonar "Eevee" Marain and Joey "Remmy" Remshaw, the two "unknown" Pokemon trainers as they start their own Pokemon Journey. It's not quite "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," but the two protagonists do have a tendency to unknowingly visit places just before or after Ash does in the anime, either setting up or experiencing the consequences of various canon events.
 * Comments: It's a pretty old fic, having been written during the early stages of the anime, but still (in my opinion, anyway) ranks as one of the best Original Trainer fics out there. Ivonar and Remmy may not be destined to be the greatest ever or very important in some world-saving thing, but they are engaging and compelling characters, (and uniquely, there is no romance whatsoever between them), and all their Pokemon have very clearly-defined personalities. The tone and feel of the story is very close to the first season of the anime, and several canon characters make at least a cameo; most noticably Brock, Misty's sisters, Professor Oak and good old Team Rocket, who get the honor of two major appearances.

Pika by Zachary Braun.
 * Recommended by User:Pykrete, Fawn
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: A Pikachu is adopted by an abusive trainer, sees the world, and gains enlightenment. Er...I think.
 * Comments: Major Mind Screw ahoy. Wear a helmet.

Poke Wars by Cornova.
 * Recommended by User:Dialga X
 * Status: 3 complete. 1 ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Ho-oh plans to make a utopia for Pokémon, by wiping out humans. He has supercharged all the Pokémon and imbued them with an intense bloodlust. Can Humanity and Lugia's corps of Legendaries band together to stop him?
 * Comments: This series of four stories tells the tale of Ho-oh's genocide against humanity. They are all dark, gritty and high-octane war stories. They are quite violent but the action sequences in them are absolutely dazzling. The character development is pretty good as well. A word of caution: the effects of the Pokémon attacks are quite disturbing.
 * There are also four Expanded Universe stories that should be noted as well:
 * Poké Wars: The Pokemon They Carried
 * Poké Wars: Hell In Sinnoh (by Jakayrta)
 * Poké Wars: Dawn of a New Era (by Jakayrta)
 * Poké Wars: Downfall of a Champion

Pokemon Colosseum: Apparitionsas well as the rest of the series by Digi-Dolphin
 * Recommended by User:zaiaku 666
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Wes/Rui
 * Synopsis: The first part in this author's Pokemon Colosseum Continuation Fics that give more of a Backstory to Wes' past as a Snagger and how it affects his future.
 * Comments: A well written start to the series, with a decent backdrop. Though it focus is more on the games, there are mentions of the anime including a Noodle Incident involving Ash and Misty. Same in those later stories invlove the main hero of Pokemon Silver being a Sweet Polly Oliver. The series has a tendency of being a little crazy at times but still an very good read.
 * Pokedude10: The series overall doesn't stray too far from the original idea. I like the that their world is based on the games, yet borrows parts from the anime as well. The Main character strays close to Marty Stu territory at times, But thankfully it doesn't last long.

Pokémon: Crimson by ABBryant
 * Recommended by: lindabhair
 * Status: ongoing
 * Synopsis: from ffn: "Twins Hilbert and Hilda Henderson have a dead father and a still grieving mother. N has hopes, but no agency. Bianca Jones has a papa so strict she wants to be free. Cheren Shiro has dreams of championship and no brains. They all have a story to tell."
 * Comments: It's a retelling of Black and White with both Hilbert and Hilda and has a point of view that rotates between them, Bianca and Cheren. I started reading this as a short thing to pass the time since it was pretty short. Now I'm checking every day to see if it has updated. It was just okay for a while but then it really got going when Cheren  and Bianca.
 * Tags:, Alternate Character Interpretation

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Gone Wrong by burningfoot.
 * Recommended by Rita689, Troper49
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: A parody of Diamond and Pearl. Two different people enter their games purely for your entertainment. The game isn't going right but being a criminal, killing Gym Leaders and using AR doesn't make it better but does make it more fun. Now with epilogue.
 * Comments: Very funny. I've read through it several times and still laugh at it all the time. However, it's not for kids. The summary isn't kidding about killing gym leaders (often for no good reason) and there are many mentions of mature topics. That said, the fic is relatively light and fluffy, and constantly lampshades the stupidities of the pokemon world. Worth a read.
 * Seconded by Troper49, whom found this fanfic to be really funny. All the characters in the story (yes, even the narrator) are all crazy, stupid, and funny characters, however, it is the two main characters who really shine. From the trouble-making Allen to the more sane Emma, the two character have interactions that are some of the funniest Burningfoot ever written. Every time I read this fanfic, I burst my gut laughing. Highly recommended.

Pokémon Legends Saga by devilrose87
 * Recommended by Psykosis
 * Summary: The Legends Saga starts out in Hoenn, but later installments reach out all over the Pokémon world. The first arc involves a somewhat mysterious trainer trying to take down Teams Aqua and Magma, but May unwittingly gets swept along. Everything then branches out into a whole mess of trouble involving the Legendary Pokémon.
 * Comments: The whole story is very well written and is updated on a weekly basis. Be warned that their will be lesbianism in some of the later chapters, if you're offended by that.

Pokemon FOCUS by Con Kipcha
 * Recomended by User:Faislittlewhiteraven
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: "Where do all the Pokémon go when they can't cope with everyday life anymore? To Pokémon Rehab of course! Acceptance into F.O.C.U.S. is highly coveted by potential trainers, but do they have what it takes to fix these peculiar Pokémon?"
 * Comments: Being set mostly in a boarding school with most of the characters being humans in their mid to late teens, there's automatically a lot of annoying high school drama going on, but this fic more than makes up for it with well written and often hilarious (and sometimes gross) moments between the characters and their pokemon, as well as adding a bit of real life to the pokemon world.

Pokemon Gray by Blu Rose
 * Recommended by User:raptyr
 * Status: In Progress
 * Pairings: None so far, though hints of White/N
 * Synopsis: White understands Pokemon, but an incident left her with a crippling fear of them. Now she's on a journey with her brother Black to overcome it. But how can she while clashing with Team Plasma and the odd N?
 * Comments: An interesting take on Pokemon Black and White. Great character interaction, mainly an upbeat story, but at times serious and sad. White does seem to get over her fear of pokemon a bit quickly,, but it's a minor nitpick. The characters are kept in-character, and it does a good job of being a good story without trying too hard to be so. YMMV on a few points, but definitely worth a read.

Pokémon Johto - The Funne Version!!! by Soujiro Mafuné
 * Recommended by User:Genocide Heart
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: A novelization of the second generation of Pokémon games, with focus on comedy and Alternative Interpretations of characters, based on the many canons of the setting. Follow Kenta Seliro as he tries to survive in the Johto Region, while being forced to be a Pokémon trainer against his will and dealing with insane Pokémon and his own friends. Currently over forty chapters long and counting!
 * Comments: It's a fun fanfic, and I found myself smiling and laughing more than a few times as I read it. I suppose you could call it comedic drama... or is it dramatic comedy? Either way, it was good enough to link for me. Your mileage, of course, may vary, but give it a try if you are looking for a few laughs.
 * While it does have a few mishaps here and there, such as the unfunny pre-chapter/post-chapter attempts at comedy and part of the Violet City Arc, the actual chapters are solid gold in comedy, with at least one Crowning Moment of Funny per chapter. As for the characters, they're fairly unique overall, and stereotypes are constantly played with and made fun of.

Pokemon Hunter by User:Jeison Ken:
 * Recommended by User:Streak Raiden X
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: Here's the actual description: A teenager forced into a Pokemon vigilante organization wants out after a year of torment. Getting out, however, will prove to be even more maddening. It follows a teenager who is forced to be part of an organization known as the "Pokemon Hunters". He decides to escape and when he gets out, he becomes hunted by his former organization as well as a mysterious new one. I can't exactly tell any more without spoiling. One has to read it and it's full of tropes, I think.
 * Comments: Pokemon Hunter has a little bit of everything. Action, adventure, romance, suspense, drama, etc. The story is not finished, but it gets updated very regularly and it's long and drawn out enough that I believe it deserves a page. It has 11 chapters so far and the creator is nice enough to always update his Fan Fiction.net profile with his status on each of his stories. He's currently working on two spin-offs: Pokemon Hunter EX, which is sort of a plot expansion story running alongside the normal story. The other is Beyond the Bandana, which tells the story of one of the major characters. It's a very well made story and I have to admit, I spent one day just reading it all.
 * Seconded by Darkblade26: It's a little unorthodox, but it's really not a bad fic, and the unique perspective and characters kind of makes it refreshing.
 * User:REV 6 Pilot here. The fic isn't bad, but the characters' mood swings can be confusing. I'm neutral about it for now.

Pokemon Legacy by Red Eyes Black Dragon Master
 * Recommended by The Dark Trex
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: A rouge trainer is going around the Kanto Region destroying Pokemon Gyms and killing the Gym Leaders. At the same time, Ash is now 19 and coming back to visit Pallet town. Misty has a secret she has to share with him. A deconstruction of some of the darker themes and ideas in the pokemon world, like the gym leaders, child soldiers, and the Joys and Jennys.

Pokemon Master by Ace Sanchez
 * Recommended by User:wescotta
 * Seconded by User:Big Daddy P
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Pokemon Master is a brilliant translation of the Pokemon television show from an episodic, monster-of-the-week kiddy show to a postapocalyptic 'shonen fight' Dark Fic.
 * Comments: The writing isn't always greatest- and these 'characters' often don't always seem much like their animated 'counterpart' at all, but the story makes up for it with great pacing, rather gory battle scenes and a role for practically every character on the show and in games.
 * User:Guy Smiley: Meh, the role thing is easy if the characters don't have to act like themselves at all.
 * Added marks for successfully predicting the Dark type (In this case, Shadow type Pokemon) before they were even introduced. Shame about Light Pokemon though- but Fusion Dance with Pokemon IS referenced in Pokemon Reburst
 * User:Sabrina Diamond: I know this may sound rather over-rated but, Bishounen Ash + Dark and Troubled Past + Olympus Mons = Awesome
 * @/wescotta: Then again, the characters of the Pokemon anime were sort of shallow and cliched in the first place, so no loss... It's still really fun to read, especially if you've seen some of the show and can 'catch all' the references.
 * User:Triple Elation: Dude, I think I remember reading this when I was around 15 (circa 2000) and it blew my mind completely. I had no idea you could take something like Pokemon and- and- and do this with it. I'm almost afraid to go back and take a look- something tells me it couldn't possibly live up to what I remember of it.

Pokemon Rebirth by Gemma Bright and Tim Dixon
 * Recommended by User:Keyboarder, seconded by User:Krisnack, Thirded by User:Gorsecloud
 * Status:
 * Pairings: Jesse/James, Ash/Misty, and several others that the author says will come soon.
 * Synopsis: A series of Fan fics about many things ranging from what happened to Meowth and the rest of Team Rocket to a pokemon trainer, who is psychic, who has to contact the pokemon world's god to save the world. Many take place in Tatto, the closest the pokemon world will ever come to Great Britain. The main story on the site is Ultimatum, which is about a psychic who was just trying to help a town get rid of Team Rocket agents and stumbled onto something more complicated. The prequel is Altered Paths, which should be read before, is about what happened to Team Rocket once they lost track of Ash and the gang and are ordered to come back to base.
 * Comments: The series attempts to explain plotholes and generally WMG about many things in the pokemon world. There is also a wiki style encyclopedia here and a deviantart gallery for current and upcoming projects with spoilers in the scraps section here.

Pokemon Storm Clouds and its sequel, Storm Clouds II by User:deeman 45.
 * Recommended by @/Leliel
 * Status:
 * Pokemon Storm Clouds: Complete.
 * Storm Clouds II: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: A twist on the old Trapped in TV Land plot where a nerd named Dan and his wannabe girlfriend Missy get zapped into a game of LeafGreen. The twist? It seems the Pokemon universe is a bit more realistic than seen in the games, and the process causes Missy to mutate into an Eevee (the title referring to her pelt color), and Dan is oblivious to his friend's plight, given that she loses her ability to speak English in the process.
 * Comments: Both a funny and insightful look into the life of the Pokemon world, as well as the gradual revelation the Dan has about what Pokemon would be like in Real Life, and Missy gradually coming to accept her being about a foot tall and having a tail bigger then she is.
 * The fanfic was recently completed; the final chapter, number 24, was posted in late May.
 * Now has a sequel, as stated above - put all relevant tropes on the same page, but take care to differentiate between the two by sections.

Pokemon: The Future Lies in the Past and Pokemon: The Vision of His Future by Mark Drodman
 * Recommended by User:Seventy Seven
 * Synopsis: Ten years in the future: Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum disappears in a raging hurricane. His friends, Misty Williams and Brock Harrison, brave the terrors of Sternbreak Island to save him only to uncover a terrible secret from Ash's past.
 * Comments: A more mature take on the pokemon anime that still keeps a lot of the playfulness that characterized the original show. The first fic in the series jumps immediately into the action and only reveals slowly what Ash and the gang have been up to since their traveling days in the Anime. This all leads up to the big reveal at the ending . The second fic continues looks at the past of Ash's father and continues with the adventures of Ash and the gang. Excellent pacing and use of the flashback. And plenty of moments for Rocket and Pokeshippers too, though they are of course secondary to the main plot.

Pokémon: The Power Inside by Legacy
 * Recommended by User:Ca Br Pi
 * Synopsis: Several years after beginning his Pokémon journey, Ash Ketchum is at last eligible to compete in the tournament of Pokémon Champions in Sapphire City. But, as the tournament progresses, Ash receives a mysterious coin with equally mysterious powers, and finds that old Team Rocket might not be as dead as was once thought.
 * Comments: A well-written (WIP) piece of Pokémon literature by someone who obviously knows what he's doing. Dawn vs. Misty might not be anything new, but the relationships between the characters are complex considering how many of them there are. A few old ideas, but they're reworked masterfully. This troper really enjoyed reading the first several chapters and jumps whenever a new one is posted.

POKEMORFZ by stupidfic
 * Recommended by User:Miff The Fox, User:Poptard
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: An Affectionate Parody of pokemorph fanfiction. Team Crazy kidnaps six teens and turns them into pokemon hybrids (including one hedgehog hybrid). Hilarity Ensues.
 * Comments: Crack Fic, but the good kind. Finished.

The Prodigy by DeathbyFanfiction1029
 * Recommended by partner555
 * Status: on going
 * Synopsis: What if due to safety the Pokemon League decided to raise the starting trainer age to 13? How would this affect Ash and co.? Imagine a more mature, smarter Ash embarking on his Kanto journey prepared, and ready to take the Pokemon world by storm.
 * Comments: This is one of those fics that have good plots and an actually smarter Ash, but this one manages to retain Ash's ability to say silly things for great comedic effect. As of the time of this writing (19.9.2011), it is only 4 chapters in.

Refractions, Innocence, Rain, and Equilibrium. by Dark Magician Girl Aeris
 * Recommended by User:Mew 24 ever, User:Mike
 * Status: complete.
 * Synopsis:
 * Comments: If you happen to be a fan of Mewtwo, then I highly recommend the oneshots Refractions, Innocence, Rain, and Equilibrium. Of course, seeing how it's Mewtwo, they can be depressing...
 * User:Mike: The rest of her works on that site are just as good. Seconding by Mike.

Random Doom and Random Doom the Comic Series by BehindTG
 * Recommended by User:Captain Napalm, User:KYM Snowman, Sithking Zero, User:Dominus Temporis
 * Status: Ongoing, but updates can be... sporadic, to say the least. Keep in mind the high quality of the pictures, and of the horrible phenomenon known as "Real Life," and she (Behind TG) can go months without uploading, before releasing a deluge of new updates. Generally, though, when a new chapter is coming out, two pages a day is common.
 * Synopsis: A series of gag and short comics revolving around the misadventures of trainer named Jenna and, more notably, her Pokémon in Sinnoh.
 * Comments: I was actually surprised that these comics didn't make it onto this page sooner, given the fact that some of our own have apparently been following them for months and leaving comments and that they command enough of a following that people are making both fan fiction and fan translations for these comics. As if the artwork alone wasn't reason enough to read them, Random Doom also possesses a decent number of well-developed characters, and masterfully executes a wide range of narratives (especially humorous ones). While the comics are updated fairly irregularly, sometimes veer a tad too far off into crude humor, and have occasional grammatical errors (the author is Finnish), they are hands down among the best (if not the best) Pokémon fan fiction presently on the net.
 * Seconded here. There's something for everyone, with Loads and Loads of Characters, each with their own quirks, habits, likes, dislikes, everything! A must read, if I do say so myself.
 * A third recommendation from me. The only downsides are the gaps between updates and the occasional spelling or grammatical errors- both of which are justified, as explained above. Each character is well-rounded and distinct from the others, and the background/minor characters are just as colorful (even if most of their characters are All There in the Manual). What really makes Random Doom stick out, besides the beautiful art, is the sheer attention to detail and references to entries from throughout the series. It's clearly done by a longtime fan who has a lot of love for the games and for making art, which makes the long waits worthwhile.

Regret by Crukix
 * Recommended by Drakenzie, User:Visionofthe Damned, Tragedy On Broadway, yiran
 * Status: Complete.
 * Summary: "A world destroyed by war. A world where deadly creatures known as Pokemon stalked the earth. I grew up in that world. By some ill-fated miracle, I got the chance to stop the destruction. Only, I found out I caused it all. This is how I destroyed the world."
 * Comments: The story begins in an apocalyptic setting, though is quickly rewound 80 years to the more familiar time. It's a realistic portrayal of Pokemon, with a realistic anti hero and a team full of pokemon with vivid personalities. The author warps even fan favourite Pokemon such as  You're constantly treated to the brutal and realistic nature of the fic, with the main character suffering to the point of   You're told from the start that the hero fails, yet you're constantly guessing as to how exactly everything goes wrong.
 * Heavily seconded. The hero's Pokemon are all characterised so well that you can't help but love them. Not all of them are safe, however, as  Judging by the reviews alone, there seems to be a heavy following for Lacey, the hero's Nuzleaf who   Go read it now.
 * Thirded. It now has its own page.
 * It's about as realistic as Pokémon can go; unlike Pedestal, where  Although I have to admit the ending is pretty frustrating. Regardless, it's a very good story. Highly recommended.

Reluctance, by tastychainsaws
 * Recommended by Hanz
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Summary: Matthew Wilder, an 18-year old Basement Dweller is being forced out of his Slacker lifestyle and forced into being a Pokemon Trainer by his mom and Professor Oak. Being one of the few people of his world with an absolute disinterest in Pokemon, he's nonetheless railroaded into the plot of FireRed and must go throough the Pokemon Journey in order to get back to his previous lifestyle.
 * Comments: An entertaining parody with a good start. The main character's an entertaining Deadpan Snarker who's habit as the Only Sane Man of his world leads to some great lines as he weathers the NPC Dialogue. He's also great at giving some of the absolute dumbest names for his pokemon, such as Sgt. Pepper for his Squirtle. Seems to be a Dead Fic, confirmed by the author in his profile page in that all of his stories are on indefinite hiatus.

The Retelling of Pokemon Colloseum by Bob And Bill
 * Status: Complete.
 * Recommended by: User:Treeckosawesomeness
 * Synopsis: A retelling of the first Pokemon game to take place in Orre. As a comedic take on the generally Darker and Edgier entry in the Pokemon series, it explains what is left out in the games. Contains minor Wes X Rui shipping.
 * Comments: Absolutely hilarious. The humor Bob And Bill shows is enjoyable for anyone who likes a good laugh.

[= =]

Revelations: A Cynic's View of Pokémon by User:Coriander Wryters
 * Status: Complete.
 * Recommended by User:Verity, seconded by User:Anoroku
 * Synopsis: A Darker and Edgier take on the Pokémon 'verse through the eyes of a jaded trainer with a dark past by the name of Karuta and a Genki Girl named Nozomi who doesn't know what she's getting into when she tags along with him.
 * Comments: Darkity dark dark, if it's not inherently obvious from the first chapter, but has a lot of genuinely funny moments, well-realized and interesting characters, and a handful of Crowning Moments of Heartwarming, as well.
 * User:jaimeastorga 2000: The first chapter was a pretty good introduction to a grimdark Pokemon world, but the fic quickly deteriorated in the following chapters as the main character was shown to be a Mary Sue. Not recommended.

Reversed by Shirogane and Sei
 * Recommended by User:Umbee
 * Synopsis: Two different stories set in the same world. For reasons completely unknown to everyone, every single Pokemon in the world has become a gijinka. Ethical issues and mistrust between Pokemon and normal humans have effectively destroyed society as we know it. And caught in the middle are some time-traveling trainers and their Pokemon who are now very out of their element.
 * Comments: It's a fan-comic, not a fanfic, but it still deserves to be here. Sadly, Word of God says it's a Dead Fic.

Rival's Story by Gastly's Mama
 * Recommended by User:Sith Droideka 2
 * Synopsis: This is the story of FRLG/RGBY from the point of view of your rival, Blue. It chronicles his quest to beat his hated rival Red and become champion. It also explains many elements from the original games, such as the man on the roof glitch, what happened to Blue's Raticate, and how Red got his Espeon.
 * Comments: Rival's Story is phenomenal. The plot is excellent, and even more importantly it manages to somehow make you hate Red (from Blue's point of view), at least until the end. An excellent story for any Blue fans, and an excellent story overall. Also features many excellent battles, such as Giovanni and Sabrina. Recently completed, with 100 chapters. Also a bit out of line with HGSS canon, but it was planned before then.

A Sapphire Shines in Sinnoh by Eeveexpert.
 * Recommended by Dreamaniac.
 * Status:
 * Synopsis: Featuring mostly original characters with occasional cameos, A Sapphire Shines in Sinnoh is the first in a series of fanfics by Eeveexpert. It is centered around a family of seven eeveelutions and one eevee, on their own for the first time as their trainer journey's to Johto. A mysterious, well-done plot and more Eevee's then you can throw an evolutionary stone at.
 * Comments: While the action scenes are worth reading on their own, the relationships and various heartrending emotional scenes make this fanfic a must read. All of the characters receive incredible amounts of characterization and development, and is a testament to the trope of Doing It for the Art.

Shade of Darkness by FallenVangaurd
 * Reccomended by KidChimera00
 * Status: Permanent Hiatus
 * Synopsis: Two eevee siblings' parents are killed in a forest fire and they shortly meet up with another eevee and her glaceon brother. That's really all one can say without spoiling the whole story.
 * Comments: It's surely one of the best fics on the site that needs to be read and re-read, though some closure would've been welcome when the author gave up on the story.

Shadows Like You by Cosmic Mewtwo
 * Recommended by User:Nexus
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Mewtwo now living alone on Mount Queyna, is angsty and depressed because he's the only of his kind in existance. Meanwhile, Giovanni decides to have his scientists create three more Mewtwos...
 * Comments:

Speak Up by Mya_Latti.
 * Recommended by Faislittlewhiteraven,Hedgi
 * Status: In Progress
 * Synopsis: So after about four months of tests, the doctor had confirmed to his mother what was wrong with Red. "Your child is mute," This follows the storyline of the Generation I games.
 * Comments: Of the many great fanfics out there that follow Gen1 hero Red, and explore the effects his journey have on him, this fic stands out from the crowd by focusing on an aspect of Red Fanon that many writers avoid mentioning as anything more than a character trait: his apparent inability to speak. While the fic has a few irritating things, such as OCs, Red never remembering to carry a notepad and a pen even after thinking of it and one or two moments of Fridge Logic regarding how visable sign langauge could actually be during battle, the fic more than makes up for them with its inspiring messages and in-depth character exploration of both Red and his childhood friend-turned rival. A must read for any Gen1 fan.
 * Comments: This is one of my favorite stories. Red might be Mute, but his 'voice', so to speak, is wonderful. It spans Crowning Moments of Awesome, Funny and Heartwarming, and just feels so good. ~ Hedgi

"Stars Fell" trilogy by Spruceton: Stars Fell on Pallet Town, Fractured Stars, and Blue Heaven
 * Recommended by User:Ari Rockefeller, User:Pykrete
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: The series focuses on Ash's family life, in particular, his estranged father. But what sets it apart from other similar stories is not only is his father not one of the typical suspects (e.g. Giovanni, Prof. Oak, Lance...) but get this: the man actually wants to build a close, meaningful, relationship with his son!
 * Comments: It hits all sorts of emotional highs and lows, and you'll love every second of it.
 * User:Pykrete: I'll second the first one, it was pretty awesome. I personally found the sequels a tad grating at times, mostly due to, but if you can stomach that there's some great writing to be found. Ash's dad is one of the better OC's I've seen, and is consistently written quite well.

The Sun Soul by 50caliburchaos
 * Recommended by User:Arc Varanus, User:jaimeastorga 2000, User:Kaiserin Kai
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: The world is a dangerous, violent place, and mankind vies for its very existence on a planet prowled by terrifying monsters and powerful creatures. Ash of Pallet Town, a talented trainer, knowing this all too well, sets out to change everything.
 * Comments: I found a reference to this fic on this site today, read it on a whim and was instantly hooked. It's a darker take on the Pokemon 'verse, stripping away the sugary exterior of Pokemon and taking the concept of such a world, where monsters with highly destructive capabilities roam the frontier freely, to it's harsh, logical conclusion. Very dark, very grim, very much recommended.
 * Has its own page.

Sword and Shield, as well as the other stories by Kayasuri-n in that 'verse.
 * Recommended by User:Mike, User:Cariyaga
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Sword and Shield has psychic-hating homicide detective Brenda Johnson investigating a murder in a lab, which leads to the discovery of Team Rocket's leader and an alliance with Mewtwo, who has decided to become a police officer and incidentally has impressive computer skills. Jokulhaups has Brenda and Mewtwo investigate a serial killer who is targeting the only people who would pose a challenge to an up-and-coming trainer. World on Fire is the investigation of a serial murderer/rapist, followed by a wee bit of a falling out between Brenda and Mewtwo. Chosen Fate involve a long series of murders of identical young girls.
 * Comments: Warning: non-canon. Its set in something rather like the modern world, but with pokémon. There are all sorts of modern conveniences, like cars, or homicide cops. The fics are, as should be expected in a fic following a homicide cop, quite dark. However, there are some moments of humour, and also some Crowning Moments of Awesome. They are very well written, and my summaries really don't do them justice. If you can deal with training being almost totally incidental to the stories, I highly recommend these.
 * User:Kchasm: Is the fact that someone out there's probably shipping the two protagonists considered the white elephant in the room, or am I allowed to mention that?
 * User:Gattsuru: Secondary characters in the series are shipping the two protagonists, and there's no small amount of subtext. But it's a minor attribute in a series that emphasizes crime/cop drama, and does quite good at it.
 * User:Mike: Note: An additional story, Chosen Fate, has been added and linked since @/Cariyaga seconded this.

Tales of Flame and Anomaly by Buwaro and Dark Magician Girl Aeris, respectively. Fanfiction links: Tales of Flame and Anomaly
 * Recommended by User:Hydrall
 * Synopsis: This is a pretty in-depth 'verse of two stories (There was a third but its gone now), both of which crossover occasionally. Tales of Flame is the story of a charmander imaginatively named Flame by his master, who is nicknamed 'Moron' back, and is partially a parody, partially its own continuing plot. Anomaly is the story of Eve, another clone of Mew, and her adventures in the Pokemon World; It's much more serious. Both are funny and action-filled, while keeping together a universe that includes a much more competent Team Rocket, a gender-bending Mew and a jerkass evil Celebi.
 * Comments: Both of them are still going strong, with Tales of Flame over 314 chapters in. Anomaly still updates, if slowly.

Threads of the Soul by Desk Rage
 * Recommended by User:Pandora Tears
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Synopsis: "Do not deceive yourself, Lucario. In order to be useful to our masters and comrades, we all learn skills against our nature."
 * Comments: If you're a fan of the eighth movie, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, you must read this fic. The fic takes place centuries ago, providing more backstory to Sir Aaron and Lucario, and even introducing to how they first met. Let me be blunt and say that if you didn't think Lucario's whole story wasn't tearjerking enough, then be prepared when you read the first couple of chapters when he was just a Riolu. What sets it apart from other fics is how categorized the wild Pokemon were, how they view human technology and terminology nonetheless (by the way, "nest" = "home") especially Lucario's very determined and noble mother. While there are a few typos, the story immediately grabs you with its vivid imagery and emotional dialogue.

The Ties that Bind by Saffire Persian
 * Recommended by User:antialiasis, User:Golden Dragon 326
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: They say that Time will eventually heal all wounds; but people tend to forget the deep, everlasting scars it leaves.
 * Comments: Not only well written and an intensely believable exploration of the emotions associated with loss, but also simply one of the most heartwrenching pieces of fanfiction (or fiction in general) that I have ever read. There are a couple of typos that take you out of it a little, but only because the entire rest of it is so gripping and powerful.
 * I second that. The author, interestingly enough, writes it in second person and makes it work extremely well. They're also one of the rare authors who can write a battle without it being a bland use-this-move-in-your-face presentation. Also, as mentioned, is a bittersweet story that, regardless of which region/starters you favor, you'll remember for however long you remain a Pokemon fan.

Travels of the Trifecta by Shinneth
 * Recommended by Lawnmowergirl
 * Synopsis: Based around the fan theory that Pyramid King Brandon is Paul and Reggie's father, this fanfic focuses on their fractured family as Brandon issues a challenge to both of his sons as he embarks on a quest to obtain Regigigas.
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Comments: This fic is insanely long but well worth a read if you're a fan of any of the following: Paul, Reggie, Brandon, Maylene, Conway, really in-character fanfics, expansion of canon, long fanfics...etc.

Unknown Dungeons by The King of Dastards (Also on Fanfiction.net)
 * Recommended by M.W.Midnight, @/Cresskill
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Grey Remora is a young boy in Pallet Town who has bad luck with Pokemon. As he ventures out into the world to overthrow a corrupt champion, he finds himself accompanied by several "unique" Pokemon... Unfortunately, most of them are trying to kill him.
 * Comments: A different and funny take on the pokemon trainer's journey, making the hero a cowardly wimp and his pokemon all either homicidal or insane. It seems to flirt with Deconstruction here and there, such as its handling of random encounters as being butchery and a disobedient Charizard similar to Ash's was at first, only made far more willing to kill. All in all, a good, well-written read and its story seems to be building up to something interesting. Another plus is that all the pokemon's speech is translated in brackets, occasionally providing rather amusing conversations, although the humans can't understand it.

Unoriginality 1 An Original Trainer Story by Farla
 * Recommended by User:Inkki Bookman, User:Umbee, User:Fawn, User:antialiasis, User:suspiciouscookie
 * Status: Last update was 2008. However, could be considered complete, as each chapter is stand-alone.
 * Synopsis: These are a collection of insightful short stories examining different aspects of cliche Pokemon fanfictions that are usually found on fanfiction.net such as the cliche beginning of a OT's pokemon journey, the names they give their pokemon, various failed attempts at NOT writing a Sue-fic and so on.
 * Comments: While the story is a good "what not to do" guide that is also kind of funny. Farla's arrogant tone completely ruined the story for me.
 * Arrogant? I read it as more of a generally "annoyed" tone. Besides, it's not like she places author notes between every single line. Why don't you just skip the top and bottom if you can't handle a bit of ranting?
 * Another troper here- no, it's definitely arrogant. It comes off very much as "my way is the only way to do it" and yet she contradicts herself quite a bit. Some of her points are valid, but they're not worth wasting a whole "story" on it, and certainly not in such a vitriolic tone. Can we dis-recommend a fic? Because I totally would this one.
 * User:antialiasis: Arrogant or not, it is frequently quite funny and brings up interesting points beyond those made in your standard Mary-Sue parody. Even if you find her tone annoying or disagree with some of her ideas, it's still worthwhile food for thought and chuckles.
 * It should also be noted that there are several cases where Farla simply contradicts canon- such as when a Suicune, sent out to fight another pokemon after being caught, just jumps over the heads of everyone there and leaves, or in the chapter "Sometimes the answer's just no", where an Abra just leaves, despite having been caught by the trainer. She goes out of her way to point out how bad and awful OT fiction is for ignoring canon, and then just does the same thing- I hae to second the dis-recommendation thing, really.
 * User:Falcon Pain: Those examples reflect one of Farla's biggest pet peeves: catching and training a Pokemon that doesn't want to be caught or trained and treating it as anything other than abuse. I find these stories worth a read but not necessarily worth taking to heart.

Pokemon XD^3: The Waves of Truth and Pokemon Ranger and the Gardener of Gratitude by The Great Butler
 * Recommended by User:Nekusagi
 * Status:
 * Synopsis: Combining characters from the games and anime, XD^3 and Gardener of Gratitude are action-adventure stories in the style of classic Two-Fisted Tales. In XD^3, the heroes fight a villainous force formed from Collosseum and XD villains Cipher, who are united under a new ruler with diabolical plans for world domination. Gardener of Gratitude finds the grandson of a renowned archaeologist on an expedition to unearth the secrets of his past drawn into a conspiracy of royal intrigue and treachery, full of mystery and suspense. While XD^3 has a definite science fiction angle, Gratitude is a more straight fantasy adventure in the pulp style of Indiana Jones.
 * Comments: XD^3 is the third fic of a trilogy, spanning 16 chapters at the time of this writing, and considered by the author to be the strongest of the trilogy. It can be read and enjoyed without reading the first two, as all backstory is explained for new readers. Gardener of Gratitude is a spinoff of XD^3 featuring one of the supporting characters and expanding on events referenced in XD^3.

Xanthic Growlithe Contract by Facia
 * Recommended by User:wescotta, User:Joysweeper, User:Shadow Dog
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Why are most Pokemon trainers children? Why do Nurse Joys all look the same? Why can't people buy tickets for the S.S. Anne, and why doesn't anybody bother researching wild pokemon? In Xanthic Growlithe Contract, ten-year-old Elliot roams Kanto with a menagerie of unusual pokemon, including a Jigglypuff that can only use Uproar and a Poochyna that grows weaker as it evolves. But as he travels, he can't help but notice that something is mysteriously, inexplicably wrong...
 * Comments:
 * User:Joysweeper: Seconding the reck! It's very good, although the protagonist doesn't do all that much himself, but eighteen chapters into the Johto part it becomes a Dead Fic, complete with a note saying "Yes, I am updating". So many questions are left unanswered.