Ambyssin's Nominations

Sometimes you really just need an over-the-top, action packed thrill ride to remind you how much fun fanfics can be. And Firebrand's story does just that. Taking some of the interesting elements of various superhero comics (mainly the Marvel Cinematic Universe) and adding a Pokémon-centric twist on them, he creates a very vibrant, colorful world that also gives off strong vibes of Kick-Ass. Hawlucha-Man, our central protagonist, is very entertaining and his ongoing storyline has kept me captivated. The other heroes (and villains) aren't slouches, either. And the Pokémon partners for all these characters are well-integrated into the setting. Hierro is an adorable little ball of feathers that puts Hawlucha's species traits to good use. I strongly recommend it!

Don't let the quirky title fool you (as I let it do to me when giving this story a read), this is a strong character-driven narrative that uses Pokémon (and all the power they can wield) as a way to take a good, hard look at the idea of going out into the world and learning from experience while we're young. And how that, in turn, can end up effecting the kind of adults we turn out to be. It does so by very effectively tackling the "group of young kids goes against a ruthless criminal organization." But, while there maybe some hi-jinx here and there, things go off the rails pretty quickly. The characters are all very well written and age-appropriate, with noticeable flaws to them. Derek in particular stands out and strikes a very familiar cord, because his fear of the unknown keeps him rooted to a job that is clearly driving him up the wall. And he doesn't see a clear way out, which I think is something many people can relate to. On the kids side of things, Travis gets driven through a serious ordeal that, while heart-wrenching, is something I just had to keep reading.

I know that Gen V had a storyline and cast of characters that got many Pokémon fans really invested. While I personally have mixed opinions of many of them, that didn't stop me from enjoying Five Years Later. It's a very sweet look at a hypothetical reunion for BW's player characters and rivals, taking place several years after the events of those games. The main cast all stand out, and have some insecurities that engage the reader. And the narration helps to juggle the cast around effectively.

I've always been a fan of a variety of TV series. And, yeah, maybe I don't watch quite as much TV as I used to, but boy does Fledglings make me feel like I'm reading a novelization of a long-running TV show. There are definitely familiar strokes from existing media here. Namely, fans of One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender will recognize some ideas. But it's been a very enjoyable story so far, with a robust cast of characters. Much like some of the more popular animes, this story has an ensemble cast and it puts it to very good use. The main storyline of Team Traveler trying to return home continues to have new layers added to it, with the introduction of various other factions besides the villainous Company, each of which has its own set of motivations. On top of this, there are a number of subplots popping up that provide numerous character development opportunities. Don't let yourselves be intimidated by the fic's current length. It's a very fun and engaging storyline.

Initially, I was rather taken aback by the direction that Salvage went in. But the more I continued to read, the more I found myself sucked into the story, and engaged in the overarching conflict. Sure, the (technically unnamed) kid protagonist is nice the most heroic individual; and it's easy to root against them sometimes. But the backstory with regards to Mewtwo's creation, and the way that Mew was treated, combined with the child's desperation to get both of them back, really creates this sense of excitement and urgency. And then the story grows even more entertaining when Team Rocket and Nate Morgan get thrown into the mix. Because now, in addition to the main plot thread, there's several subplots related to Pokémon battles and training and they've all been very enjoyable to read.

Del's latest dose of cyberpunk is pretty much PMD in name only. But that's in a good way! The heavily sci-fi-inspired setting of System gets a grungy makeover this time around. Focusing in on a group of space pirates as they steadily get derailed from their usual routine of doing for-hire contract deals was a really neat move and adds a lot of moral gray area to everything. Which makes it all the more amusing when two characters from Glitched get thrown into the mix and stick out like sore thumbs. Toxic environments, a Wishiwashi pirate ship that uses Schooling as a method of attack, water-types getting hunted down as food, and androids made to function like Mythical Pokémon are just some examples of the originality that Del brings to the table with this story.

While acting as a follow up to two previous fics, I do believe that Sike continues to maintain (and expand on) the original ideas brought up the story's predecessors. Of course, the Fakemon immediately would register as one of the biggest originality elements. Again, this is good. She makes everything believable and naturally integrated into this semi-post-apocalyptic world. And, of course, the greater focus on the presumed source of that apocalypse, the right creepy sounding deranics, adds that extra creepy, sinister factor that seems to cast this shadow over the world that really helps to mold its identity as a world that seems to be decaying before your very eyes, and yet is filled with characters who are trying to hang onto hope.

Part of what makes this story's central concept work (and Mattie such a fun main character to read) is Phalanx's decision to write this from Mattie's perspective. Sometimes, you just need something funny, with tons of salt sprinkled in. And Ionization does just that. Phalanx's writing here (as Mattie) gives the story a strong sense of identity and makes it so deliciously entertaining to read.

At first I was not the biggest fan of Negrek's propensity to switch between third-person limited and second person in the narration. But after catching up with the story, it really grew on me. There are just so many instances that made me smile, with the levels of snark and lemony narration ebbing in flowing wonderfully with what's actually happening. It really adds to the story; there's no way it would be the same without it.

The initial version of Antoshi's story did a very good job making Kanto out to be this bright, colorful place. And his revisions made to the story evoke that sense of nostalgia and wonder that I tend to have when, say, booting up Yellow or Fire Red. And, for a shorter narrative that's very focused on one central bond of friendship, you get a very strong feeling of that by the tale's end.

I've been making it a point here to try and avoid repeating any nominations in the interest of spreading the love. But I'm going to have to break that rule with this one. Because Fledglings provides quite a broad, expansive, and immersive setting that was so fun to get lost in. The seafaring tale takes readers to a variety of different islands, with different cultural values and customs (including some gratuitous foreign languages), landmarks that draw some degree of inspiration from real-world locales, and location-specific issues that certain characters need to deal with. There's also an undersea "highway" of sorts, which gets navigated by predominantly non-aquatic main characters. Need I say more here?

Among many other things that Cutlerine's piece has gotten praise of, one of the things that I believed got overlooked is how this story crafts Unova into something very real and believable. Cutlerine draws very strongly on current American cultural ideals and intersperses elements of Native American values and beliefs, giving them a Pokémon world-friendly makeover. Similarly, every location feels distinct, with an identity that's familiar if you've played a Gen V game, but should also draw real-world comparisons. And, of course, the parts of the story taking place outside the series. Cutlerine's use of the natural environments to create quiet spaces lead to some of the biggest moments in the story. The settings for each scene are crucial parts of how the narrative plays out. And for that, I say Go Home deserves recognition.

Though it's the most action-oriented fic of all the ones I've nominated, I think the progression of its characters gives The Legendarian Chronicles that extra little something that makes it special. Watching the effects of the Resistance's few missions on Jade and her friends can be rather gut-wrenching, and it has clearly changed them to the point where they're hardly even the same characters they were in the opening chapters. That's not even including the Pokémon themselves. Chibi (the character, not the author) has been put through the venerable wringer so far. Words can't really do this justice on my end. You've got to read it for yourself.

I personally feel like I have a stigma where I equate character development to someone generally "fixing their flaws," possibly as a result of going through a particular ordeal. But Go Home is a story that safely shattered that stigma. In some ways, yes, there are improvements for Gwyneth with regards to her attitude and beliefs. But, from the start, we're made aware of a lot of personal struggles she's had, and the immense amount of emotional baggage she's carrying. Her whole story involves coming to terms with the decisions that made said baggage pile up to the point of her mental suitcase exploding. And it does create an epiphany of sorts, but not before a moment of utter despair. There is a resolution of sorts, but it's not so much Gwyneth fixing a flaw, rather acknowledging the real consequences her actions have had and making a vow to seek out the resources to help her out going forward. I still found it satisfying, and moreover it forced a lot of introspection.

From the start of System:Reboot, it's made perfectly clear that Macro looks out for number one: himself. Then, along comes DL, and suddenly Macro jumps ship from that thought, making it his personal mission to undo the awful memory erasure that Big Bad Socket has done to DL. The interest comes in to play in that, as DL slowly regains memories (and becomes less of an automaton), their relationship involves from one that's entirely snark-driven to one where it's clear they care about each other, but there's still a rift between them, namely because of Macro's stubborn resistance to the idea of growing closer to others.

Sure, strangers choosing to travel with each other for the sake of convenience is something that's been done before. But Cutlerine makes it work, by throwing the two of them into horrifying Breach situations. And, all the while, they steadily come to learn a bit more about each other, so that the friction and barriers between them erode. But it's never perfect, because Artemis is paranoid and Cass winds up revealing reasons to justify that paranoia. It works to make the dynamic complex and interesting.

As stated earlier, this is an action thriller with some heavy psychological elements to it, so there are a lot of heart-stopping, hold your breath moments throughout. Makes things out to be quite the adrenaline ride.

This may seem a bit odd (or speak badly for me as a person) but, oh man, consider the sheer volume of arguing this story has going on, all of it is hilarious. When you combine that with really snarky narration, a child protagonist that picks the perfect moments to be most child-like, and, well, Nate Morgan, this fic just winds up falling firmly into dark comedy territory. And I wouldn't blame someone for labeling it as such.

There's a fair amount of shout-outs and references lying in this story, that those with a keen eye (not the ability) will spot, and should hopefully get a kick out of. Pleo, being a newly-hatched bird, is delightfully innocent, leading to a lot of funny moments. And then there are the bevy of pirate-related, comical antagonists, and the bickering between deadpan snarker Elty, and wild child Guardia, which isn't too overused so that it grows stale.

I've got to give the nod to Electric Sheep here, for its brilliantly-woven narrative drawing from some of the sci-fi classics. Especially since it uses the events sequence of the BW canon as a framing device to do something very unique relating to androids and free will. The fact that some of the canon characters show up and are concerned with these developments makes it all the better. And then there's Jax's take on Unova trainer journeys, and the sheer contempt her main character, Door, has for the way things are run here. In short, while it's using BW as its framework, it does something really cool and really original with it that you should totally read.

What I said above applies here. It really goes out of its way to offer up a strong argument for just why taking a trainer journey is so important.

This has been a really fun read. DarkerShining is intimately familiar with the core elements of PMD games, and works hard to implement them into a fic in a way that works. There's a very large supporting cast, but everyone's getting time in the sun and the many subplots are being juggled very well. I couldn't help but feel like I was reading a hypothetical anime themed around Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. And I consider that a good thing.

Much like I said earlier, this is a really fun, galaxy-spanning adventure where no one really qualifies as a hero, and it's sometimes difficult who to root for (or why I want to root for them, for that matter).

What we have here is a really cool concept: applying Pokémon to the mythologies of ancient civilizations. Phalanx makes each tale remarkably entertaining, utilizing each species' characteristics and/or Dex information to cast them as famous characters in mythology. As someone who was never much of a history buff in school, I found myself happily turning to Wikipedia to figure out who Phalanx was referencing. I was just that engaged.

I must, again, break my rule here. Yes, Casting Off is, in fact, a spin off or Fledglings. However, I believe you can still enjoy this story even without broader knowledge of its bigger sibling. Virgil134 hits the broad strokes of the world of Anyilla well, and introduces a charming and colorful little cast of characters, headlined by a thrill-seeking Cranidos (and it's always cool to see a fossil Pokémon take center stage).

Taking the Bond Phenomenon mechanic and applying it to the Diamond and Pearl anime, Mia Blaze's work so far reads like it's ripped right out of that season. The characters all feel very familiar, right down to Team Rocket practically stealing the show with their meta-humor and ridiculous renditions of the team motto.

Chibi made it very clear that Jade is meant to hardcore deconstruct the concept of "chosen ones" in fics, especially Pokémon ones. And thus far I'd say mission accomplished. With a strong emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder, and the many psychological troubles it brings, Jade is a protagonist you really feel for, and by extension immediately start to root for.

I really liked Derek. Because he spoke to me on a personal level. His anxieties are so relatable, as is his annoyance with the higher ups in his job. Everything he does has considerable weight to it and you really feel for him by the end of the main story, when things are falling apart around him.

I'm biased. I like Lugias. I'm one of those weirdos who loved Silver in the Whirl Islands anime arc, even if the li'l fella didn't make any sense. With that said, Pleo manages to stand out for reasons other than being a baby Lugia. His wide-eyed innocence and unfamiliarity with the world he emerges into really makes for interesting moments. Along with some that can be both heartwrenching and heartwarming. Seeing him grow to understand what the title of Protector means has been one of my favorite parts of this story so far.

Though introduced a little later in the story, the Hammer stuck out because he's a great example of an older, mentor-type, butt-kicking character that takes no prisoners. Seeing him standing up against the Sins was a sight to behold. But I give this entry its spot for the Hammer's mentoring of Alex/Hawlucha-Man. Both during the battle against the Sins, and later in a quiet scene, where he also takes accountability for keeping Alex in the dark following the fall of the sins. He's really a delight to read, and I'm rooting heavily for the guy.

For all the despair and hopelessness that Sike brings to The Worldslayers, Karo continue to be a unique, quirky character that often times offers surprising bits of insight. And seeing some glimpses into his thought pattern provides a really interesting contrast to main character Syr's persistent anxiety.

It's rare you get to see a Pokémon fighting crime beside its trainer. And rarer that its trainer is a superhero. But man is it satisfying. Hierro and Alex really have each other's backs, and the part in Chapter 14 where Alex details how he met Hierro is very heartwarming. Not to mention, they have some very effective techniques they pull off together in combat.

Admittedly, I haven't really read a lot stuff with main antagonists. But, Jax's android-related mish-mash of N's fanatical idealism and Ghetsis' cold, cunning, manipulative demeanor is truly a sight to be hold, especially since he hasn't so much as released a Pokémon. His presence alone is enough to be intimidating. He steals every scene he's in, without even chewing the scenery.

Go Home operated on cast of minor characters to make the "journey-woman" vibe work so effectively. The one that stuck out most to me was Dr. ze'Naarat, because Cutlerine did such a fantastic job walking a fine like between making her purely altruistic (risking her neck to help Gwyneth when she desperately needed it) and having her firmly planted in reality (trying to get Gwyneth to call off her voyage because, medically, she really shouldn't go anywhere and the odds are overwhelmingly against her). I think she was a very effective character used at a point where the fic hits a bit of a lull between some of its more gut-wrenching moments.

Hoopa is a Pokémon with a massive trolling streak. So, what did DeliriousAbsol do? Give her story's main antagonist an android Hoopa with one of the snarkiest, most defiant personalities imaginable. BackDoor isn't just funny for the amount of sass it provides (including mocking the flaws in Socket's plans which, thus far, haven't been going very well), but also the interplay it has with the completely mute, utterly emotionless TimeSkip (an android Celebi). I enjoy reading BackDoor to the point where I'm rooting for it to attempt to hijack the plot from Socket.

N00b is a purely comic relief character, but he's done very well. In what it is a pretty dire fic with some awful stuff going on, N00b always brings levity to the table in a way that doesn't suck me out of the scene.

I'm just putting up a part of this scene. And probably not the best part. This battle had me in stitches because of how efficiently and effectively Mattie shut this hater down. And the amount of snark and salt that went into said take down is magical.

Managing to just barely squeak this in before the deadline, Spiteful Murkrow gives us a faithful (and humorous) parody of every Ace Attorney game ever (including that Layton crossover no one wants to talk about)… that I can only quote a portion of due to character limits. Is it ridiculously out of left field for a Mystery Dungeon story? Absolutely. Doesn't stop it from being fun… even without a ladder or stepladder in sight.

Really, the whole Nate vs. Red battle deserves the nod. I probably didn't even pick the best representative sample, to be honest. Nevertheless, the action is explosive and over-the-top for the whole battle. But Negrek also manages to work in a horror element to this with the demeanor of Red and his Pokémon. It adds an intense level of heart-pounding anxiety to everything.

He's made some excellent progress, which shows in the revision of PMD: Odyssey to Dawn.

Submitter of numerous in-depth monster reviews. If Negrek reviews something, it'll be done with exceptional detail, like your fic got examined with a microscope.

Cutlerine puts in a lot of effort toward reviewing a wide swathe of fics, even those with faster update schedules. She even takes the time to go back and check out revisions made after her reviews, and will follow up with them in future reviews. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is.