2017 Fanfiction Awards Results

Nominated by icomeanon6

Go Home is as brilliant as it is brutal. It ties together strongly resonant themes and visceral sensations through the eyes of one of the saddest, realest characters I've seen in fanfiction. It is a difficult read in the best sense of the term: it is a masterfully written attack on your sense of empathy. Reading it is more than worth the tears.

Nominated by Cutlerine and Chibi Pika

Electric Sheep just gets better and better the more Jax writes it. It started out good, felt its way towards excellent, and is now hovering somewhere around superb. (That's better than excellent, shush.) It's no longer being updated on these forums, so I'm definitely going to take my last chance to nominate it for these awards and do so right now.

I still love this story. I love the protagonist, and the way she's dragged practically biting and clawing into the plot, loudly protesting all the way, but sticking to her guns to protect someone close to her and unravel the mysteries at the heart of her family. Great character dynamics, a deliciously layered conspiracy all spiraling out from the death of a single person, a fantastically creative interpretation of a futuristic Unova, and a lot of great secrets in store later down the road.

Nominated by Cutlerine

Phantom Project is the sequel to Survival Project, and what it does is take everything that made that first fic great and continue with it, while systematically improving on all the things that it didn't do so well with. The result is some seriously excellent character-driven drama, and there was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be my first nomination for Best Chaptered Fic when the awards rolled around.

Nominated by The Walrein

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol, diamondpearl876 and DreamSayer

I'm pretty new to reading this, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it! Everything from the plot to the writing style is fantastic.

Nominated by TikTok13

Nominated by Sike Saner

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by icomeanon6

See above.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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!

Nominated by Ambyssin and Chibi Pika

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 read this fic completely on a whim, long before I'd decided to read the large volume of fics I'm following today. I was not prepared for six developed and uniquely troubled protagonists all living unique lives and playing off each other in fun and interesting ways, all amidst a richly detailed portrayal of Johto.

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol and DreamSayer

This is such an original and well crafted story. TikTok really creates a vivid world with likable, and lesser written, pokemon characters.

Nominated by TikTok13

Nominated by Sike Saner and Chibi Pika

Phalanx's latest fic is a real treat, with a dynamic protagonist who's got a fascinating past that has huge potential to cause all sorts of problems throughout her Pokemon Journey (and already has!)

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Dramatic Melody and Negrek

Chromatic has some really amazing one-shots, but “Orange” stands out for being very energetic and so dedicated to the rebellious nature of its main character. [Imaginative]:[Clockwork] does an amazing job of working with the narrative he’s set out to tell and making us feel a whole range of emotions about it that I couldn’t help not nominating this story.

Short and simple, this one-shot nevertheless manages to be a vivid depiction of what it might be like for a Pokémon to be captured while at the same time avoiding so many of the clichés that usually come with that scenario. The Growlithe's capture isn't absurdly abusive and awful, but neither is it the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Pokémon and trainer, and [Imaginative]:[Clockwork] gets across the complexity of the situation deftly, always mindful of the fact that his subject isn't human and thinks in a different way than any of us. Definitely the one-shot that made me think the most out of any that I read in 2017.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

It really hits all the right notes for me—two realistic and relatable characters with well-thought-out problems, a setting so alive that you can’t help but get immersed in it, and Firebrand’s prose that’s just such a delight to read.

Nominated by The Walrein and TikTok13

Nominated by Cutlerine

Dramatic Melody is always good for a superb one-shot, and Unpacking is no exception. It's short, but powerful – and entirely done in dialogue, too, which makes the strength of its characterisation and plot all the more impressive.

Nominated by Cutlerine

This is an exceptionally cute little Christmas-themed one-shot. Like so many Christmas stories, you know how it'll end before it even gets going – but it handles itself so well that you keep on reading anyway.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Short but sweet, with a lot of powerful emotions and wonderful interactions between its two main characters.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by icomeanon6

This is a superbly creepy collection of thematically-related short stories. Each one gives me something new to think about and a new image that I can't unsee (in a good way!).

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface and diamondpearl876

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Negrek

Real-world myths, legends, and bits of history remixed with Pokémon? Sounds good to me! PhalanxSigil knows how to choose a cool story to give the Pokémon treatment, too; you'll find both familiar tales and some you probably haven't encountered before in this collection, which I think really adds to the fun.

Nominated by Cutlerine and TikTok13

Like The Halvarsaga, The Amazing Hawlucha Man is a really simple but incredibly good idea: superhero shenanigans in the pokémon world. It's brilliant, and all the better for being so well executed; Firebrand takes the idea and explores it about as fully as you could really wish for.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Pretty sure I nominated it for this last year, but honestly, it's still true. And this isn't the sort of fic to rest on the laurels of its original premise, either. It's constantly pushing the envelope, introducing wild new plot elements, shaking up character dynamics, and showing off cool interpretations of its world.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface

Nominated by Cutlerine

Epistolary fiction is hard to write, but Flying in the Dark is a sterling example of the genre. Diamondpearl876 does an excellent job of creating two voices operating not quite in harmony, each trying to give the other a certain impression of themself, full of secrets and half-truths. Stylistically, it's really impressive.

Nominated by Ambyssin, diamondpearl876 and DreamSayer

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.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

There’s a playful tone that really elevates the story, and how JFought writes dialogue does a lot in making a pretty mundane plot into a really interesting read.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Cutlerine

The Worldslayers is exhausting. The whole fic is an exercise in describing this worn-out world, where everything has persisted longer than it was meant to, where everything is dead and yet lingering on as memories. Bit by bit, chapter by chapter, the picture we get of this world deepens. It isn't description as we usually think of it, a big chunk of descriptive text; it's much more subtle and effective than that.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

I really love the way this fic just pulls you straight into its world and doesn't let go, using all the senses to paint a richly-detailed picture of a Pokemon-inhabited Akihabara.

Nominated by The Walrein

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Cutlerine

The Halvarsaga finished quite early on in the year, but it's still a fantastic idea for a fic. I mean, vikings, you guys. And more than that, Firebrand follows through on the promise of that setting; it's a rich, vivid and very colourful depiction of an extraordinary period of Northern European history. But better, because there are also pokémon that possess swordsmen or scream you to death.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

It’s insane how Firebrand made the setting so alive in this story. “Mojo” blends the real-world and Pokemon world very well, making an already great one-shot even better.

Nominated by Sike Saner

Nominated by Negrek

It might seem kind of weird that I'm nominating a story based essentially in the real world for "best setting" (and have actually kind of done it twice, hmm), but I think considering how Pokémon would really work in a world much like our own and putting your own spin on both real-world and Pokéworld culture requires just as much creativity and attention to detail as cooking up your own region or really digging into a canon location. And while so many real-world-Pokémon fics are set in the United States or Canada, roule chooses places most people might not think of as the settings for her stories–Ukraine, in this case. Her stories always show a high level of research and understanding of the place and people she wants to represent, and this gives them a much different flavor than all the iterations of "that time I was walking home from high school and randomly found a Pikachu." She has a lot of different fics to choose from, and this is a characteristic of all of them; I'm just nominating the one I'm most familiar with here. If you're interested in Pokémon-real world mash-ups, it's definitely worth checking some of her work out!

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody and Negrek

I really like how immersed icomeanon6 makes the reader feel with how they set up the setting in this story. It does a lot in making the story more impactful.

icomeanon6's wild west-Pokémon fusion is a wonderful take on Pokémon in a pre-Pokéball era. Although this is a short story, icomeanon6 manages to pack in loads of details that suggest a much larger world, and a fascinating one at that. Worldbuilding aside, the bleak mid-winter environment lends the story the perfect atmosphere and is so perfectly described I could practically feel the chill coming off my computer screen. A great example of how to do setting right!

Nominated by Cutlerine, TikTok13 and diamondpearl876

Bay's got a sharp eye for character, and her Grimsley and Nanu are spot-on, revealing so much about the characters I'd never have thought of myself. It's a delight to read them, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Negrek

Was going to nominate this for "Best Setting" again this year, then realized I was already full up for that category, oops. In any case, the world-building in Fledglings goes way beyond creating a cool new world for the characters to adventure in; it does its best to have that world make sense in a way the canon often doesn't. One of the coolest aspects, for me, is how the Mystery Dungeons are tied into both daily life for the Pokémon and their history and culture, and somehow Spiteful Murkrow makes the weird, well, mysterious dungeons feel like something that could actually exist and make sense in a coherent world. A big part of what makes this story fun is the vibrant, sprawling place Spiteful Murkrow's created for it to happen in, and the way he builds on Pokémon canon is definitely an important facet of that.

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface

Nominated by icomeanon6

The worldbuilding in Halvarsaga is superb; calling it "Vikings meets Pokemon" doesn't do it justice. This really feels like an authentic past to Kalos and Kalos's northern neighbors, and there was a lot of thought put into how Pokemon function as livestock, cavalry, prey, and gods in a low-technology world.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

PhalanxSigil works with what is probably the most familiar narrative of Pokemon and somehow adds layers to it that makes it more interesting and holistic. Granted, it’s not an uncommon interpretation of Red and Blue, but how the story tackles their dynamic is so, so well-done.

Nominated by Cutlerine

Preparations is a delight. It was my Yuletide gift fic, so obviously I'm biased, but I think it nails that essential short story criterion of doing a lot with relatively little; it's not long at all, but it sketches out a whole history and a culture while simultaneously adding a new interpretation to an interestingly open bit of canon – I love seeing alternate explanations for why Aster matters, and in Preparations diamondpearl876 has given one I've never come across before. That's definitely worth a nomination.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

Gladion and his Pokemon really shine here, and seeing how one particular dynamic fixes itself as the story goes on was a real treat to read. Ambyssin does a great job in presenting everyone’s favorite edgy rival from Alola, reminding us that behind the cold facade is a trainer that really cares for his Pokemon.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

More than anything, the story just gets Team Skull’s unique character so well in this story. Yes, they’re ridiculous and downright funny, but The Teller balances that out with why they’re labeled a villainous team in the first place.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

How Zinnia snaps Greta out of her funk is probably the best conversation I’ve read this year. Zinnia is just so ripe with character here while Greta makes for a great catalyst to the story’s narrative, and Eskay64 used both of their characters very well.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

It was already true before, but this past year gave these two a ton of development, with a lot of opportunities for both characters to feel vulnerable and depend on each other, while also keeping up the fun snark and banter that made them so much fun to read in the first place.

Nominated by Cutlerine

I might have nominated this last year, I can't remember, but it's just brilliant. Good epistolary fiction with multiple correspondents' perspectives is difficult to pull off, and as I said above, the way Markus and Haley try to manipulate what each sees of the other – even as, through sharing these things with each other, they're drawn a little closer together – is really well done.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

These two together are just such a joy to read, and how Blackjack Gabbiani presents their exchanges is so natural that you feel like you’re right beside them in this scene.

Nominated by The Walrein

Nominated by Ambyssin and TikTok13

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.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Cutlerine

This is one of the strongest of roule's fics to date; I love how vividly the twitchy suspicion of the idol who knows how likely she is to be stalked is evoked, and the way it colours all her interactions and transforms them into potentially spooky encounters. There are some genuinely weird things going on, like the woman wearing a Nepalese deity mask, but it's in Mizuki's mind that these weird things become properly creepy, and it's really cleverly done.

Nominated by The Walrein

Nominated by Cutlerine

Orange again. Simple, effective, devastating. I won't spoil it in case you haven't read it, but you should 100% read it.

Nominated by Sike Saner

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

How the story makes us feel sorry for Red does so in a very interesting way. The story actually ends on a not-as-heartbreaking note, but realizing just how Red has processed and eventually accepted the whole ordeal doesn’t fail to punch you in the gut.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Alright, I'm biased–this fic hit a lot of personal sweet spots for me with its themes of separation and reunion, of lost connections and unconditional acceptance. I love the way the characters' bond is explored, all the tough emotions they have to face, and it makes the ending all the sweeter.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

It feels weird nominating this for Most Heartwarming seeing as the first half of the fic is pretty much a contender for Most Heartbreaking, but how Eskay64 turns it around with the introduction of Zinnia really leaves you in that bittersweet acceptance that Greta has. That last line only adds to the sweetness, too.

Nominated by Cutlerine

It's a Christmas story. You know what's going to happen. But you read it to see it happening anyway, and when you're done you come away with a warm feeling inside. It's just a great short story.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Nerdy does a great job nailing the mile-a-minute humor style of an abridged series, while also throwing in a lot of fun re-imaginings of the BW cast.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by icomeanon6 and Negrek

The Legendarian Chronicles makes no apologies for the tropes it deals in, and it doesn't need to. When I picture the quintessential Pokemon story that's been aged up a few years, I picture this fic. It's just classic Pokemon terrifically executed. And by golly what an exciting ride it is, especially with some of the twists and turns that were posted this year.

One of the rare trainer fics that actually dispenses with the trainer journey in favor of what might otherwise be the "B" plot–Team Rocket shenanigans, in this case–The Legendarian Chronicles is a great example of how much you can do with the premise of "but what if young kids were actually tasked with taking down a criminal empire?" Chibi Pika answers with explosive action scenes, high drama, and real stakes that drive home how serious a situation the characters, newbie trainers who just wanted to have a journey with Pokémon, have gotten themselves into. It's an excellent trainer fic that presents a new take on a classic genre and is a blast to read on top of that.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Ambyssin and Chibi Pika

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 fic embodies the purest essence of what it means to be a Pokemon Trainer, and why being a trainer is such an important part of childhood. It puts a ton of effort into making Pokemon Training an indispensable part of its world while also realistically examining the repercussions of characters getting into the kind of hijinks one typically expects from trainer fics, with some not-so-typical outcomes.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Ambyssin, TikTok13, Chibi Pika and DreamSayer

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).

With a huge scope, a lovable cast of morally-grey characters, and suspense and intrigue around every corner, this action-packed adventure keeps your attention the whole time and never stops throwing new thrills at both its characters and its readers.

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol

Nominated by Spiteful Murkrow

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika and Negrek

Her previous fics already told us this much, but Sike is an absolute master at getting inside the head of her Pokemon characters in ways that are familiar and relatable, yet alien and strange, often by pushing the characters themselves into wildly unusual situations or forms. Part of what makes this so effective is the way that her fully-sentient Pokemon characters never stop feeling like Pokemon, and the way that their unique biology and way of life colors their narration and reactions.

As with the other fics in the saga (The Origin of Storms, Communication), The Worldslayers delivers exactly what I'm looking for in a Pokémon-centric fanfic: Pokémon whose biology and abilities actually affect how they view and interact with the world, Pokémon societies with diverse structures and priorities, Pokémon/human relations more nuanced than "training good, everyone loves training" or "training is slavery!!!," and Snorunt driving cars (or in this particular fic, not driving cars because they've turned into spiky ice-snakes. There are great fakemon, too!). It's a bonus that Sike gives so much attention to interesting and under-appreciated Pokémon like Nosepass, Glalie, and Arbok, and even more of a bonus that she has a penchant for writing Pokémon who are messed up and sad inside–not a specifically Pokémon-centric thing to recognize, but something I personally very much enjoy!

Nominated by Cutlerine and Ambyssin

This fic is just very charming. Which sounds like damning it with faint praise, but I mean that sincerely. The characters are fun and engaging, it handles the introduction of new world information really well, and it's overall just a fun read.

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).

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

There's been a lot of System:Reboot love, which is great, but I wanted to give a shout-out to its precursor in a category that wouldn't force Del to compete against herself. Glitched does a great job getting into the heads of a wide variety of Pokemon characters as they struggle to combat not an enemy, but a deadly epidemic that threatens to destroy their entire world.

Nominated by Cutlerine and TikTok13

Again, Bay has a really sharp eye for character; her Grimsley and Nanu are exceptionally good. If you're not reading it, you probably should be.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

How Ambyssin explores Gladion’s character here makes for a great read, treating his dynamic with his Pokemon with a lot of care.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Cutlerine

Rarely have I seen such a great Blue. TikTok13 just nails everything about him, right down to the way all his different emotions manifest as anger. Definitely one of the best canon character-centric fics I've read this year.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

An interesting and heartwarming exploration of the partnership between N and Reshiram throughout the BW storyline.

Nominated by Sike Saner

Nominated by Negrek

Annie isn't your typical journey protagonist; a lot of them have problems, but not a lot are recovering from serious medical issues, strained family relationships, and unhealthy coping methods. But Annie certainly isn't a downer to read, and her sharp observations of the world around her and her refusal to take anybody's crap make it fun to follow her even when she's stuck in the hospital. It's going to be a delight to see her journey get properly underway and how she changes from the trials it's sure to entail… get Annie out of Sandgem 2k18

Nominated by icomeanon6

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Negrek

Mark is your everyman protagonist, thrust into a crazy situation way outside his control and unlike anything he expected when he began his journey. And that's why his character works so well; his very ordinariness grounds him in the midst of all the high-stakes drama surrounding him and keeps him relatable even when he's dealing with truly fantastic problems. And despite the dangerous and fantastic problems Mark encounters in the story, Dragonfree resists giving him any kind of special powers to deal with them, or even particularly high-level training skills; Mark gets through on the strength of trying his best, working to be a kind and compassionate person, even when it seems hopeless, and generally trying to understand other people and help them solve their own problems. He's an excellent commentary on the power of simply trying to be a decent human being in the face of cruelty, hopelessness, and chaos, and I think that makes him both an unusual and especially effective journeyfic protagonist.

Nominated by Ambyssin and diamondpearl876

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.

Nominated by Spiteful Murkrow

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol

Harvey is an adorable character with a mysterious past that you can't wait to find out about. In typical PMD style, he's a human-turned-pokemon, learning more about the world and gaining new attacks as the story progresses. I also love that, even though he's a minccino, he uses a bow and arrow. DreamSayer writes him really well, and you really care about the character as you're reading.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

Furik was an enjoyable character in both of JFought’s one-shots last year, but IMO it was in “The Evening Thief” where we got to see why he’s such an enjoyable character. How he builds a dynamic with the characters around him and the environment he’s in is such a joy to read.

Nominated by Negrek

It's really difficult to talk much about Starr without getting into serious spoilers (that being a major reason I chose to nominate her under this particular name, heh), but she's absolutely one of The Legendarian Chronicles' most nuanced and well-developed characters. Her relationship with the protagonist, Jade, is painfully complicated and real, and it's already shifted a lot even in just the opening portion of the story. I foresee a long and difficult road ahead for Starr as she tries to come to terms with her past and what her future might hold, and I can't wait to see how she handles it.

Nominated by Negrek

Gregory was already starting to show some interesting depth in the previous version of Love and Other Nightmares, and diamondpearl876 has brought him back strong out of the gate in the revised version. He's one of the few people Annie can really rely on while trying to recover from her illness, and while she doesn't entirely trust him (probably wise!), he stands out as being a character who actually does seem to care and want to make things better, without making Annie's suffering all about him. I'm really curious to see where their relationship goes in the future and what secrets Gregory might be hiding.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

I nominated Tabitha for this award last year because even if he was an antagonist, Starlight Aurate did a great job in showing another side of him that made him more than a villain (which, in essence, is what makes Drowning a compelling read.) It’s the same reason why I’m nominating him now, since Chapter 15 takes that even further and gives us a character in the middle of a situation much larger than he could’ve ever imagined that you can’t help but sympathize with him.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

All her shame, anger, pain and trauma really came together in this past year in a big way that was totally worth all the buildup it got throughout the final arc of the story. It's a bit hard to explain out of context, but as the strongest character in the story, seeing her hit rock bottom purely as a result of her own failings and being so incredibly conflicted by her own feelings toward said failings–it's wonderfully heart-wrenching.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by icomeanon6

This little terror of a Venipede does so much for the themes of this story. I've described her before as "endearingly gross," which necessarily entails a significant writing accomplishment in my book.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Negrek

For someone who can't talk, Golduck has a whole lot of personality and a whole lot of influence on the story. I love to see pokémon who aren't just extensions of their trainer, with their own lives and opinions and character arcs, and Golduck frequently makes it clear that he doesn't always agree with how his trainer does things. He pushes her to think about why she's doing what she's doing, or why she isn't, and in doing so makes her a better person and more interesting character. And even though he might give his trainer a hard time now and again, he's strongly devoted to her, and his mixture of sass and quiet strength mean it's always a pleasure to see him show up in a scene.

Nominated by icomeanon6

It's hard to explain this one without spoiling. This Pokemon gets a nomination for a few scenes late in the story so far that sent chills up my spine. A great look into the mindset of a Rocket Pokemon.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Sike Saner and diamondpearl876

Nominated by Chibi Pika

I'm not even a Scizor fan, but I love Sasha so much. Having a Scizor use morse code through claw-pinching is clever enough, but her innocent questions and adorable concern for her trainer have already made her instantly endearing after only two chapters.

Nominated by Cutlerine

There are relatively few antagonists in the stories I've read, but Russo is a great example. He's one of those characters who incarnates the principle that the worst monsters are human, and icomeanon6 really makes it work.

Nominated by Negrek

Rick is a great antagonist in that he's not only horrifyingly threatening to the protagonists, being in possession both of a terribly powerful super-super-clone and a deathwish towards one of them in particular, but also a very tragic figure. His intense paranoia and the extreme actions he takes because of it make sense, given his past, but at the same time drive him ever further away from any hope of actually feeling better or solving his problems. You can't help but feel a little bit bad for the guy, even when he's trying to choke the life out of another beloved character.

Nominated by Negrek

I believe Dramatic Melody nominated Tabitha for "Best Human Villain" last year, so I guess it's my turn now, heh. At this point Tabitha's only clinging to "antagonist" by the skin of his teeth, which is pretty good for a guy who's held a kid in terrifying captivity for days, ordered people's executions, and generally continues to be loyal to that guy who wants to evaporate the ocean for some reason. It's clear that he's wavering in his convictions, though, and isn't at all comfortable with what his job's pushed him to do. Will he remain an antagonist much longer? It's hard to say, but he's already well into the gray and shading lighter all the time–my personal favorite flavor of villainy.

Nominated by Sike Saner

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Cutlerine

The second Blair(e) I've nominated. This one's because of the revisions Antoshi made; she was a fairly unconvincing character in the original version, but she's an excellent Gym Leader as things stand.

Nominated by Negrek

Cordyceps has exactly one gag, but I'll never get tired of it. I hope the mushroom approves.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

JFought really gets her childishness down, and it makes for some really funny exchanges with Furik. Her character does really well in adding to the feel-good vibe of the entire story.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

I mean, I didn't think I needed a Totodile saying "Girl, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself" in my life, but I clearly did.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by Cutlerine

Really, I want to nominate the whole exchange from Mizuki's first encounter with the stranger to the moment they part ways again, but that's too long, so here's the central section instead. It really is wonderfully creepy.

Nominated by Negrek

This scene really needs to be appreciated in context for the full effect, but I think the tension shows through even in this small excerpt. Weeks on weeks of fruitless searching, with no leads and no idea of what else they could possibly try, and the characters' nerves are clearly fraying. At any time their end-of-the-world detector Chaletwo might inform them that it's too late, that they've failed and all their increasingly-hopeless searching was for nothing. Dragonfree's writing this chapter really brings you into the characters' experiences, feeling the same tension and uncertainty and rising unease as the apocalypse draws closer, as powerless as any of the characters to stop it.

Nominated by Cutlerine

It's been a long time coming. Syr's not always been the best dad, but he's always been dedicated, and he's only got better as he gains experience and figures things out. Throughout The Worldslayers up to this point, he's been hiding his fears and anxieties, forcing it all down inside him, and this is the messy, chaotic moment where it all explodes outwards again. It's wonderfully handled.

Nominated by Negrek

Gladion, you monster, how could you ever leave that adorable Riolu behind?? I definitely wouldn't be strong enough. Just the thought of his sad little face is enough to do me in.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

It’s a special kind of heartbreak, what this last scene does to you. It’s actually the least bitter out of all the scenes in “Worth”, but how PhalanxSigil presents Red’s acceptance is so great.

Nominated by Negrek

The fact that The Worldslayers is getting nominated at least twice in this category should give you a sense of what to expect from the story; there are just too many fantastic heartbreaking moments to choose from! Cutlerine already picked a good one, but I wanted to put a word in for my personal favorite. Sometimes it might be possible for Ren to forget that he's the last human on earth, but unexpectedly stumbling across the remains of a long-abandoned Secret Base brings that knowledge back with crushing brutality. A brief, quiet moment, but the few words here speak volumes.

Nominated by Cutlerine

The end of The Halvarsaga is wonderful. It really is. After all the action, all the fighting, you have this little moment of peace. It's great.

Nominated by Dramatic Melody

Really, that excerpt can extend to the whole scene of Hal taming the Ponyta, because icomeanon6 does such a great job of presenting it. How they used Ponyta’s fire as a way to present Ponyta calming down was really nice, and it’s guaranteed to take a few “aww”s out of you by the end of the scene.

Nominated by Cutlerine

Posted on the 31st, A Gym Legacy is just eligible for this year's awards, and I'm very glad it is; like most of this year's Yuletide fics, it just makes you feel good. The whole thing is really what makes it work, but this scene is the climax, and it's very sweet indeed.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

This is just the start of a massive five-against-one battle that spans most of the chapter, taking constant turns as both combatants dance around the risk of attacking each other and getting attacked in turn, all culminating in an awesome last stand from Tyranitar.

Nominated by Virgil134

Since the scene is quite lengthy, I decided to only post the beginning of it here as a snippet. That said, this scene is action packed from start to finish and the snippet definitely shows that. While the main heroes are chased through a pirate town, they have to deal with multiple groups of pirates, wild Jellicent, and an Empire dead set on capturing the baby Lugia protagonist. This scene is bound to keep you at the edge of your seat, and a fitting climax for the arc it was part of.

Nominated by Ambyssin

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.

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol

This is one sentence that blew me away!

Nominated by Virgil134

Nominated by Ambyssin

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface and Chibi Pika

Tiktok came out of the gate swinging with an awesome character study and his subsequent fics have only continued to delight from there.

Nominated by DeliriousAbsol

DreamSayer has really developed as a writer over the short time he's been writing. It's such a joy to read his work.

Nominated by The Walrein

Nominated by Ambyssin and Spiteful Murkrow

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by diamondpearl876

Nominated by Cutlerine

A Blond Ray of Sunshine, in its first incarnation, was okay. After the revisions? I was genuinely impressed. Antoshi made real progress as a writer through those revisions, and that's definitely deserving of recognition.

Nominated by Nerdy McNerdface

Samples: (Nerdy McNerdface)

Chibi’s reviews have probably been some of the most important to me this year. They give strong, good criticism while also pointing out all the great parts of someone’s fic, and I really admire that. I chose their review of White Abridged since it had been one of my drives to keep writing it (although it then went on hiatus, but ironically it was unintentionally Chibi who helped me start again). I wanted to make sure they still had a laugh reading my fic, while all making sure I didn’t do too many slip ups. Overall I have to give a while loada props to them!

Nominated by DreamSayer

Samples: (DreamSayer)

Nominated by Cutlerine

Samples: (Cutlerine)

If diamondpearl876 reads something, a review will result. Not always right away, but eventually, time permitting, you get a review. And that's pretty much the definition of dedication, I think.

Nominated by Ambyssin

Samples: (Ambyssin)

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.

Nominated by Ambyssin

Samples: (Ambyssin)

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.

Nominated by Chibi Pika

Samples: (Chibi Pika)

Sike has been a consistent reviewer on Serebii for as long as she's been here. Whether the forum's in an activity spike or a drought, Sike has always been one of the most loyal reviewers around, and the same has held true even throughout the tumultuous year of 2017.

Nominated by DreamSayer

Samples: (DreamSayer)