Dragonfree
Just me
The 2016 Serebii.Net Forums Fanfiction Awards
Hosted by Dragonfree and The Great Butler
Hosted by Dragonfree and The Great Butler
The votes have been tallied and the results are finally in! Thanks to everyone who voted and nominated this year, and we look forward to seeing you participate again in next year's awards. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
Overall Fiction Awards
Best Pokémon Chaptered Fic
1st place (4 votes): [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
2nd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
2nd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
2nd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
2nd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
2nd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=543597]The Legendarian Chronicles [Revision 11][/thread] by Chibi Pika
7th place (0 votes): [thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
Best New Pokémon Chaptered Fic
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=654372]Phantom Project[/thread] by diamondpearl876
3rd place (2 votes): [thread=655761]snowstorm on the yellow sea[/thread] by roule
4th place (1 vote): [thread=650003]Love and Other Nightmares (revised)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
5th place (0 votes): [thread=652320]Pokemon Moonlight Silver[/thread] by FlamingRuby
Best Pokémon One-Shot
1st place (4 votes): [thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
2nd place (3 votes): [thread=655743]Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Plasbad [Re
LASMAAAAA'd Edition][/thread] by Umbramatic3rd-4th place (1 vote): [thread=653384]Dear Purrloin, (one-shot)[/thread] by Dramatic Melody
3rd-4th place (1 vote): [thread=655952]Look and Listen (Serebii Yuletide 2016, PG)[/thread] by Mrs. Lovett
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=655944]Finding Love in the Endless Sky[/thread] by PhalanxSigil
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=655521]New Paths [One Shot, Sun/Moon spoilers][/thread] by Bay
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=653397]Let's Free: Quarterly 3[/thread] by The Teller
Best Non-Pokémon Fic
1st place (5 votes): [thread=651636]The Storyteller (original story for Camp NaNoWriMo 2016; PG)[/thread] by American--Pi
2nd place (2 votes): [thread=655885]The Fate of the Krogan [PG-15] (Mass Effect)[/thread] by Griff4815
3rd place (0 votes): [thread=650501]Come Over (Daredevil)[/thread] by katiekitten
Other Fic Awards
Best Plot
1st place (4 votes): [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
2nd place (3 votes): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
3rd place (2 votes): [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
4th place (1 vote): [thread=655761]snowstorm on the yellow sea[/thread] by roule
5th place (0 votes): [thread=652320]Pokemon Moonlight Silver[/thread] by FlamingRuby
Most Original Overall
1st place (4 votes): [thread=638717]Humans of Hoenn [Images over 500 KB][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=642362]Flying in the Dark (revised)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
4th-5th place (1 vote): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
4th-5th place (1 vote): [thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
6th place (0 votes): [thread=651172]Pokemon: Moments[/thread] by IDBN
Best Writing Style
1st-2nd place (2 votes): [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
1st-2nd place (2 votes): [thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=653384]Dear Purrloin, (one-shot)[/thread] by Dramatic Melody
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
7th-8th place (0 votes): [thread=642362]Flying in the Dark (revised)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
7th-8th place (0 votes): [thread=638717]Humans of Hoenn [Images over 500 KB][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
Best Description
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
3rd place (2 votes): [thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
Best Setting
1st place (4 votes): [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
4th-5th place (1 vote): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
4th-5th place (1 vote): [thread=653397]Let's Free: Quarterly 3[/thread] by The Teller
6th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=655761]snowstorm on the yellow sea[/thread] by roule
6th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=648727]Hen of the Woods (Yuletide 2015 one-shot)[/thread] by JX Valentine
Best Expansion of Canon
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=571130]Operation GEAR: The Angel of Reckoning (R)[/thread] by The Great Butler
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
3rd place (2 votes): [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
4th place (1 vote): [thread=638717]Humans of Hoenn [Images over 500 KB][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=652320]Pokemon Moonlight Silver[/thread] by FlamingRuby
5th-7th place (0 votes): [thread=655725]Figurehead[/thread] by Blackjack Gabbiani
Best Character Development
1st-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=655952]Look and Listen (Serebii Yuletide 2016, PG)[/thread] by Mrs. Lovett
1st-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=642362]Flying in the Dark (revised)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
1st-3rd place (2 votes): [thread=643519]The End (PG13)[/thread] by DeliriousAbsol
4th place (1 vote): [thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
5th-6th place (0 votes): [thread=543597]The Legendarian Chronicles [Revision 11][/thread] by Chibi Pika
5th-6th place (0 votes): [thread=655761]snowstorm on the yellow sea[/thread] by roule
Best Characterization in a Short Story
1st place (3 votes): [thread=638717]Humans of Hoenn [Images over 500 KB][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
2nd place (2 votes): [thread=655946]Winter Ocean (Serebii Yuletide 2016, G)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=655978]A Sunset at the Lighthouse[/thread] by CorvusAtrox
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=650495]Take Five (Collaborative)[/thread] by Polipuff
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=653384]Dear Purrloin, (one-shot)[/thread] by Dramatic Melody
3rd-6th place (1 vote): [thread=649261]Eight Badges (One-Shot)[/thread] by [Imaginative]:[Clockwork]
Best Character Relationship/Interaction
1st place (4 votes): Avice and her crew, [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Aqua and Magma grunts, [thread=648884]Soda Pop [one-shot][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Geist and Door, [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
4th-5th place (1 vote): Rico and Arbor, [thread=649261]Eight Badges (One-Shot)[/thread] by [Imaginative]:[Clockwork]
4th-5th place (1 vote): Falkner and Winona, [thread=655944]Finding Love in the Endless Sky[/thread] by PhalanxSigil
6th place (0 votes): Maxie and Archie, [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
Most Suspenseful Fic
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
1st-2nd place (3 votes): [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
3rd place (2 votes): [thread=571130]Operation GEAR: The Angel of Reckoning (R)[/thread] by The Great Butler
4th place (1 vote): [thread=651626]The Impassive God [PG-15][/thread] by Samayouru
Most Heartbreaking Fic
1st place (7 votes): [thread=653384]Dear Purrloin, (one-shot)[/thread] by Dramatic Melody
2nd place (1 vote): [thread=649261]Eight Badges (One-Shot)[/thread] by [Imaginative]:[Clockwork]
Most Heartwarming Fic
1st place (5 votes): [thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
2nd place (2 votes): [thread=654784]Unrequited Love (one-shot for FFQ Edition 1 challenge; PG)[/thread] by American--Pi
3rd place (1 vote): [thread=655834]In the Bleak Midwinter[/thread] by Cutlerine
4th-5th place (0 votes): [thread=656033]Youngster Josh [Yuletide 2016 fic][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
4th-5th place (0 votes): [thread=653397]Let's Free: Quarterly 3[/thread] by The Teller
Funniest Fic
1st place (5 votes): [thread=655743]Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Plasbad [Re
LASMAAAAA'd Edition][/thread] by Umbramatic2nd place (3 votes): [thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
3rd-4th place (0 votes): [post=18252144]Yangverse Michronicles - No Survivors[/post] by Umbramatic
3rd-4th place (0 votes): [thread=650495]Take Five (Collaborative)[/thread] by Polipuff
Pokémon Genre Awards
Best Trainer Fic
1st place (4 votes): [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
2nd-4th place (1 vote): [thread=543597]The Legendarian Chronicles [Revision 11][/thread] by Chibi Pika
2nd-4th place (1 vote): [thread=632517]Pokemon Generations: Satsumi's Journey[/thread] by Hakajin
2nd-4th place (1 vote): [thread=655761]snowstorm on the yellow sea[/thread] by roule
5th place (0 votes): [thread=648253]My Way (PG-13)[/thread] by Jersey Jimmy
Best Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Fic
1st place (6 votes): [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
2nd place (1 vote): [thread=568115]Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Reflecting Balance[/thread] by DarkerShining
3rd place (0 votes): [thread=625612]Pokémon: Convergence[/thread] by PhalanxSigil
Best Pokémon-Centric
1st place (4 votes): [thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
2nd place (3 votes): [thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
3rd place (1 vote): [thread=655389]Hidden Power: A Lumineon's Story (response to FFQ Edition 5 challenge; PG)[/thread] by American--Pi
Best Canon Character-Centric
1st place (4 votes): [thread=571130]Operation GEAR: The Angel of Reckoning (R)[/thread] by The Great Butler
2nd place (2 votes): [thread=655952]Look and Listen (Serebii Yuletide 2016, PG)[/thread] by Mrs. Lovett
3rd-5th place (1 vote): [thread=652320]Pokemon Moonlight Silver[/thread] by FlamingRuby
3rd-5th place (1 vote): [thread=655725]Figurehead[/thread] by Blackjack Gabbiani
3rd-5th place (1 vote): [thread=655521]New Paths [One Shot, Sun/Moon spoilers][/thread] by Bay
Character Awards
Best Human Main Character
1st place (4 votes): Avice, [thread=640860]Time and Tide[/thread] by Cutlerine
2nd place (3 votes): Annie, [thread=650003]Love and Other Nightmares (revised)[/thread] by diamondpearl876
3rd-5th place (1 vote): The Great Nathanial Morgan, [thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
3rd-5th place (1 vote): Rita, [thread=655952]Look and Listen (Serebii Yuletide 2016, PG)[/thread] by Mrs. Lovett
3rd-5th place (1 vote): Jimmy Lecavelier, [thread=648253]My Way (PG-13)[/thread] by Jersey Jimmy
6th place (0 votes): Maressa, [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
Best Non-Human Main Character
1st place (3 votes): Solonn, [thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Pleo, [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Geist, [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
4th-5th place (0 votes): Blue, [thread=655389]Hidden Power: A Lumineon's Story (response to FFQ Edition 5 challenge; PG)[/thread] by American--Pi
4th-5th place (0 votes): Harlequin, [thread=643519]The End (PG13)[/thread] by DeliriousAbsol
Best Human Supporting Character
1st place (4 votes): Guzma, [thread=655521]New Paths [One Shot, Sun/Moon spoilers][/thread] by Bay
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Brendan, [thread=638717]Humans of Hoenn [Images over 500 KB][/thread] by Dramatic Melody
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Tabitha, [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
Best Non-Human Supporting Character
1st place (5 votes): Eltenios, [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
2nd place (3 votes): Grosh, [thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
Best Human Antagonist
1st place (5 votes): Archie, [thread=624047]Drowning[/thread] by Starlight Aurate
2nd place (2 votes): Belle, [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
3rd place (0 votes): Ghetsis, [thread=655725]Figurehead[/thread] by Blackjack Gabbiani
Best Non-Human Antagonist
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Adn, [thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Enigma, [thread=643519]The End (PG13)[/thread] by DeliriousAbsol
3rd place (2 votes): Lyn, [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
4th place (1 vote): Hess, [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
Best Minor Character
1st place (8 votes): Starshine, [thread=643519]The End (PG13)[/thread] by DeliriousAbsol
Funniest Character
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Geist, [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Tom, [thread=655743]Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Plasbad [Re
LASMAAAAA'd Edition][/thread] by Umbramatic3rd place (2 votes): Scout, [thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
Fic Moments Awards
Funniest Scene
1st place (4 votes): [spoil]Another successful GTS transfer. He grinned.
Sure, it was lazy. But the professor never said how he should complete the Pokédex. Breeding all those starters was paying off. He typed in the next Pokémon on the list and hit submit.
WARNING! INDECENT REQUEST! INDECENT REQUEST!
The trainer clutched at his ears as sirens blared and alarm lights flashed. Police barged into the internet café and hauled him out.
“What’s going on?!” he cried.
“We don’t tolerate that kind of language, sir,” one told him coldly.
“But I just wanted a Cofag-” he started, before soap was thrust into his mouth.[/spoil][thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
2nd place (2 votes): [spoil]You can smell Aanya Singh's choice before you see her. A wave of raw-sewage stench, leavened by some chemical scents you can't identify, washes over you, and you decide right then and there that you won't need your sense of smell for a while. The great Nathaniel Morgan, who doesn't have the luxury of turning off his olfaction, gags and grabs for the railing. Down on the field, Raticate buries his face in the dirt.
The puddle of sludge disgorged by Aanya Singh's pokéball quivers, grows a gaping hole in the middle, and says, "Oh my God, is it me? I'm up?" The muk gathers herself, heaping up into a lopsided mound with vaguely-defined mouth and eyes. A great pseudopod stretches up from one corner of her body, growing drippy fingers and waving to the crowd. "Look at all of them! They love me!" Her waving hurls hunks of goo in all directions, wilting grass wherever they land. "Yeeeeah!" Muk bellows, hand clenching into a sloppy imitation of a fist. "Let's do this!"
"Oh, this is just fantastic," Raticate says. He raises his head reluctantly as the referee announces the round but keeps a paw over his nose, his eyes watering.[/spoil][thread=587729]Salvage[/thread] by Negrek
3rd place (1 vote): [spoil]He ran – ran - for the first time in years. It was a short distance from his position outside to the front desk, but it left him gasping for breath.
“They’re… onto us,” he panted.
She nodded and slammed a button. The cages behind her screeched opened. Gradually numerous Ditto slowly exited their drab confines.
“Go on, get out!” he urged. “If they find out how we were using you… Oh, we shouldn’t have listened to that Professor!”
“Shut up! We’ll be fine! Just…” She snatched at a broom and tried to sweep the flubber Pokémon out into Route 34.[/spoil][thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
Most Frightening Scene
1st place (9 votes): [spoil]Mewtwo²’s eyes glowed blue, and the device in Rick’s hand twisted and collapsed into a useless lump of metal before he tossed it into a corner. The instinct to run as fast as he could hit Mark a split second later, but his limbs refused to move, frozen in place by some terrifying force. May, unrestrained, bolted for the door, but Rick leapt at her like a hungry predator, grabbing the collar of her jacket. She threw her hands back and the jacket began to slip off her shoulders, but before it could, he’d wrapped a muscular arm around her neck, gripped her shoulder with his other hand and pulled her back inside, throwing her against the wall of the corridor. Mark tried to scream but his mouth wouldn’t move, either, and breathing was almost impossible even as icy terror and panic clawed at his lungs, desperate for air; he heard a strange, squeaky moan emerge from his throat, too weak to be heard by anyone who could help.
May, eyes wide open and lips pressed together, kicked desperately at Rick as he gripped her neck with both hands; he didn’t even flinch. “You killed him!” he snarled. “It was you!”[/spoil][thread=10783]The Quest for the Legends, now with its ILCOETH revision![/thread] by Dragonfree
Most Heartbreaking Scene
1st place (4 votes): [spoil]“Ari?” Senori said with a sudden burst of energy, scrutinizing Trainer and me with squinted eyes. He didn't sound normal. His voice was hoarse and strained.
“No, not Ari. It's Sai,” said Trainer. He pulled me to the side and explained to me that Ari was the one who had banished him from his old clan. I nodded and focused on the buzzing of the machines to ground myself to the present moment.
“Uh huh. Very funny, Ari.” Senori sauntered over to Trainer, the feeding tube wires trailing behind him. He looked Trainer in the eye. “Are you going to let me come back anytime soon? Gets a little lonely here sometimes.”
“I know it does. I come by when I can.”
“Uh huh. You not showing up isn't about some eye for an eye situation, is it? It's not a power game, right? Well, I guess that's what it is... A total power game...”
Trainer frowned and buried his face in his hands no doubt to hide the pain he was feeling. It was odd, knowing that Senori believed he was speaking with a family member he left behind years ago. It felt like I, too, had left him behind years ago.
Trainer managed a smile and said, “I don't understand, Senori.” He had mentioned to the team once or twice about Senori having bad days and good days. If Senori was completely confused, this had to be a bad day. “Can you tell me more?”
“I couldn't save the clan and now you want me to go and save the whole world, is what I mean.” Disorientation. Suspicious and fearful of others. “I'm not a hero or a god... is what I mean.” Repetitive statements. Unable to take care of self.
I'd seen it all before. My breath hitched, and it was all I could do to not bolt out the door. Have patience. Use nonverbal cues. Refer to the patient by their name. Trainer was doing everything right, but Senori was still dying.
“You're a leader, Senori,” Trainer said, his voice low and wispy.
“Yeah. If you say so.” He paused. “For what it's worth, this doesn't hurt. So don't go and cry about it.”
“...I'm not going to cry, Senori.”
The furret's eyes widened, as if coming to an important realization. He marched in a circle, contemplating his next move like he might during a battle. Then he said, “Why'd you fight me that day, Sai? Why'd you do it?”[/spoil][thread=654372]Phantom Project[/thread] by diamondpearl876
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [spoil]Normally he was much more lively than today. But today he felt like thinking quietly, sat next to the other uninhabited tree stumps. Nobody else wanted to use these charred homes.
He swore that same strange memory had come to it once again. He had been running – not floating, running - with someone, from something… They got separated, and…
That was as much he could recall.
But that was impossible, right? He had always been a Phantump, not a human.
Wait… how did he know that word, ‘human’?
He sighed. He wished he remembered what it meant, and what happened.[/spoil][thread=644406]Drabble Dex[/thread] by bobandbill
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): [spoil]The place was eerily silent, with the only companions being the mist, the jagged rock formations that formed the spires in between the dungeon... and of course the unconscious forms of a Nidoran, a Growlithe, and a Cubone up ahead.
"A-Aah! Nida! Elty! Guardia!"
The young Lugia tried to beat his wings and fly over, only to wince and gasp as he felt pain shoot through his left wing. The bird uneasily pulled his wounded wing back to his side, and darted along to the prone bodies ahead.
"G-Guys? W-Wake up," he pleaded, nosing at the unconscious Pokémon. "We're out of the dungeon now, we can go back…"
No matter how he pushed or pecked at them, there didn't seem to be any reaction from any of his friends. The Lugia began to grow uneasy as he started to realize that his friends were surely badly hurt- Wait a minute! He had something that could help them!
"H-Hang on!" he chirped. "I'll- I'll heal you, and then you'll be all better!"
The Lugia searched through Nida's bag, and came across an Oran Berry. After some clumsy attempts at peeling away the rind, the little Protector remembered that Crom had just eaten them in the past.
The Lugia quickly stuffed the berry into Nida's mouth, waiting for her to bite down on the berry… except she never did. The berry just flopped out, with a faint coating of spittle attached. The bird tried moving the berry over to Elty's mouth, and then to Guardia's, but none of them seemed to get any better.
Wh-Why hadn't it done anything?! Wh-Why hadn't the berry made any of them better like in the past times when the team was hurt?! The little Guardian then remembered that Guardia had said that Pokémon became 'dead' when they were hurt very badly… What had Elty said about being 'dead' again?
Your body couldn't move, couldn't talk back...
D-Did this mean that…? Nida… Elty… Guardia… They were all...
"N-No! You can't be 'dead'! You can't!" Pleo cried. The little bird futilely tried rouse his teammates, as his fears began to mount and tears started to well in his eyes. "W-We were gonna go home together! We- We were-"
The Lugia's voice hitched as he began to sob. He tried to save them! Why weren't they fine now? He was supposed to be a Protector... but he failed at protecting them… If he wasn't a Protector... what was he then? And what would he do without his friends?[/spoil][thread=641829]Fledglings[/thread] by Spiteful Murkrow
4th place (0 votes): [spoil]This was not worth it. It was just too hard. He wanted to go home, but it was too far. He didn’t particularly want to push forward, but even that was too far. Deep somewhere within the Viridian Forest, he and Arbor were basically trapped.
She had been fighting bugs nonstop, and he had drained all of his potions on her. Now she was in her poké ball, exhausted. He had picked a spot in a small clearing to sleep, trying to stay away from any hanging kakuna or metapod.
If anyone attacked them, they were doomed. She was too tired to fight. He was too slow to run. It was nearly pitch black now. He had no hope.
Holding Arbor’s poké ball tightly, Rico began crying. He would never tell anyone.[/spoil][thread=649261]Eight Badges (One-Shot)[/thread] by [Imaginative]:[Clockwork]
Most Heartwarming Scene
1st place (5 votes): [spoil]By the time his travels took him away from Kanto entirely, there were so many new things to learn that the worn old book simply couldn't hold any more. He'd brought along new, empty books to fill instead, then started up files on his computers and phones when those more convenient methods came along. Dusk balls are better than lure balls or net balls—you just do your fishing at night. Perilous soup may taste unpleasant, but it's helpful if you made mistakes while training a team member.
But he still had the Pokémon Trainer's Guide. His backpack seemed emptier without it, somehow. It was no real use as a bible to devote himself to, not anymore, but sometimes he would sit up late at night and flip through it anyway, smiling at the evidence of just how far he'd come.
Something tugged at his hand and drew his attention away from the Guide's chewed-up pages. The charmander chattered and pointed toward the road, its tail swishing back and forth and back and forth at a blistering pace. He smiled. He wasn't used to traveling with a charmander that was forever bouncing over here and pulling over there, its face full of fiery impatience. (Perhaps the Guide was right about some charmander, anyway.) This little guy was nothing like his first partner—no other pokémon ever would be—but still cute, still cool, still a good friend and companion in its own way.
More annoyed chattering told him that Charmander was ready to head for Viridian, anxious to see what awaited them there. He had to admit a smidgen of curiosity, too. He'd seen it all before, of course, but that was so long ago... It would be nice to see the look on this charmander's face as it laid eyes on the city ahead—on the world beyond—for the first time. It'd be even better if some of that wonderment happened to rub off on him.
Page 26: There is so much more than what has been described in the previous pages...
Whatever lay ahead, he decided as the morning sun shone down and warmed their backs, he and Charmander were going to go meet it together.[/spoil][thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
2nd place (3 votes): [spoil]Guzma snorted. “Don’t remind me. I still think this region’s traditions are whacked.”
“You have to admit, some of the trials were fun. Remember when we had to face the second totem Pokémon?”
“You mean the one with that Wishiwashi while outside in the pouring *** rain?” Guzma cackled and slapped his knee. “Your Magnemite and my bud Wimpod hated that, but they pulled through in the end. And the third totem? Who thought it’s a good idea to bring in a Salazzle?”
Smirking, Kukui let out an “hmph” sound. “Back then, I thought you would be a good trial captain, maybe even a kahuna. As I mentioned at Malie City, however, you were too focused on which moves are the strongest instead of ones that work best with your Pokémon. I was too for a while.”
“Yeah, you did preach about that mumbo jumbo.” Guzma shrugged. He then tilted his head, his eyes wide. “Hold up, ya think I can be a kahuna?” he asked, and Kukui nodded. Guzma howled in laughter. “That’s rich coming from you.”
“I’m not lying when I said that. If you had overcome that one flaw, you could have reached that potential.”
Guzma regarded him for a moment, then he waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Nah, I would be terrible. Besides, kahunas are supposed to be like role model material, and I’m not that. What can I say, I live for destruction.”
Another round of silence surrounded them. Kukui scratched the back of his neck and his feet shuffled on the ground.
“What will you be doing from here on out?”
“Why do you care?” Guzma asked, glaring at him.
“I’m just curious, that’s all.”
Kukui watched as Guzma squinted his face. He then stood up, took off his Team Skull pendant, and handed it to Kukui. The professor’s eyes flickered.
“Huh, what’s this?” The pendant grew heavy in his hands.
“There’s no purpose for Team Skull anymore. I’m gonna lay low for a while and figure that out.” A grin pulled on Guzma’s lips. “Don’t expect me to change, though. Your boy Guzma will still be his bad self and beat the living lights out of you.”
Kukui blinked at first, then he laughed. “I wish you luck on whatever path you decide on next.”
They shook hands, then Kukui watched as Guzma took his leave. He made several steps, but he then stopped to face back at Kukui.
“Before I go, tell the Vice Chief I said thanks for letting me crash here for a while. And that I hope Lusamine feels better soon.”
“I will,” Kukui said.[/spoil][thread=655521]New Paths [One Shot, Sun/Moon spoilers][/thread] by Bay
Best Action Scene
1st place (4 votes): [spoil]Halvard shouted something, and Uthald put on a burst of speed, circling back towards the longships in a long arc. As the Gyarados passed by, Torvald lobbed a spear towards his brother. Halvard caught it out of the air as Uthald changed direction again, this time swimming straight at the Wailord. Uthald drew close and lunged forward, sinking his fangs in the Wailord’s flank. The leviathan groaned and drew away, but Uthald struck again and again, the water around the beast turning red. With a long, low groan, the Wailord descended beneath the waves, its fins working furiously to get it away from the Gyarados.
Halvard barked a command to Uthald and shifted the spear to the crook of his arm while he tied his waist to the longest of the three spars that crowned the serpent’s skull. Uthald roared before plunging into the depths after the Wailord, Halvard clutching the spine in his right hand and holding the spear close with his left. Wulfric and the northmen waited in breathless anticipation, staring at the water where Halvard had disappeared.
The northmen had begun to secure the wounded and dying Wailmer to the ships to be towed back to Rovngalad, but Torvald barked an order to bring them all to attention. “Leave them!” he shouted. “Back to your oars! Halvard’s coming!”
A massive shape was rising from the depths, and the northmen frantically worked their oars to get out of the way. The Wailord burst to the surface again, bleeding from several new wounds. Uthald had wrapped himself around the back of the Wailord, where it was less broad. Halvard still clung to the spike on the Gyarados’s head, but his hair was plastered to his face with a mix of salt water and blood. The spear he had dove with was now buried halfway up its length in the Wailord’s flank, and every time he twisted it a fresh gout of blood poured forth. The northmen cheered as the Wailord groaned in obvious pain.
Uthald contorted, sliding back into the water, but instead of delivering the final blow, the Gyarados surged up and bit down at the highest part of the Wailord’s back that he could reach. Halvard leapt from Uthald’s crest and drew his sword, driving it into the whale’s back. He proceeded to walk towards the Wailord’s blowhole, drawing a long, gaping wound as he did so. When he was nearly halfway across the creature's back, the Wailord gave a final moan before closing its eyes and ceasing its struggle. Wulfric clutched his iron ring and said a prayer for the repose of its soul.[/spoil][thread=650793]The Halvarsaga[/thread] by Firebrand
2nd-4th place (1 vote): Door and Geist's battle against Belle and Starr, Chapter 8: Dreamyard, [thread=648123]Electric Sheep[/thread] by JX Valentine
2nd-4th place (1 vote): [spoil]The first thing he saw once he could see again was the sight of an oddly dull gray beam, almost more like a blade, howling past Oth. The claydol shuddered in midair and fell, minus one hand and a few of their eyes.
Before anyone could react, another gray beam burned a hole between Alij’s eyes, shooting out of the back of his head with a burst of mist.
A third tore through the air, and this one was aimed right at Solonn. He felt it explode against a shield he very nearly didn’t raise in time, its strange, lightless energy dissipating like dust in his face.
It blinded him for a moment, but Solonn knew what he’d see if he didn’t move. He dove out of the way, feeling glass shatter and bite into his hide, and kept going into the space beyond. Racks of clothing and accessories clattered and clanged and fell in his wake, draping fabric over his face and blinding him again until he stopped and shook it off.
Solonn rushed back to the broken window, praying silently and aloud that no one else was dead. From across the street, he saw the new form of their attacker for the first time. The thing was nearly human shaped and seemingly made of white, lightless fire, their head a towering plume of flames-that-weren’t, their body tapering into a ghostly tail.
The creature fired at another of the glalie—from this distance, and with so much dust in the air, it was hard to tell which—only to be foiled by protect again. That glalie promptly retaliated with a blizzard—and while they didn’t freeze this time, their hollow, anguished roar told that the impact hurt soundly all the same.
Solonn charged back out onto the ruined street with an ice beam coalescing between his horns, but the specter surged out of the way before it could connect—only to smack right into a bystander’s psybeam. There, apparently, was another weakness; the creature howled again, gripping their head.
Their pitch-black eyes opened again, and they took on a look of deep concentration. Another gunk shot went hurtling their way, but they zipped out of harm’s way again with their trance unbreaking.
Only to come out of it themself in clear confusion.[/spoil][thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
2nd-4th place (1 vote): The Pokemon Center scene in Chapter 4, [thread=632517]Pokemon Generations: Satsumi's Journey[/thread] by Hakajin
Best Cliffhanger
1st place (9 votes): [spoil]And then the creature suddenly stopped short, taken by surprise. So did everyone else, in spite of themselves. Solonn caught himself staring; he forcefully snapped himself out of it and let his ice beam fly. It hit its mark, alongside another ice beam and a mud bomb.
Leaving the specter a prone, shuddering heap at the feet of the apparently human being who’d just joined them.
The man, short and bald, let his gaze flick up to the other pokémon in the room with him for only a moment before returning it to the creature trying to lift themself up before him. In his hand, something that looked black and reddish-gold in the deep crimson light glinted for a moment before hurtling toward the specter—an ultra ball, Solonn realized.
“Get ready to open fire on ’em again,” the man said, and Solonn could have sworn he recognized the voice from somewhere. The face, too. “That thing’s not guaranteed to hold.”
No sooner than he’d spoken, the ball burst open, spilling its captive out in a flood of white light. Another barrage of attacks hit the specter the instant they rematerialized, and ice encased them once again, their lightless flames suspended in mid-flicker. The man threw another ultra ball; it sucked the specter in and clunked to the ground, where it shook, and shook… and shook…
And fell still.
The ultra ball held Solonn’s stare as fast as it held its new prisoner, but only for a moment. Then he looked back up at the man who’d captured the strange pokémon… and then, at last, he realized who he was looking at.
Either someone had cobbled together a very convincing disguise or illusion, or else Ren Bridges, once a member of the illustrious Apex League, had survived the Extinction.[/spoil][thread=636137]Communication[/thread] by Sike Saner
Most Memorable Quote
1st place (5 votes): [spoil]The paragraph that starts with: "The Pokémon Trainer's Guide did not say anything about how dark the night would be."
[/spoil][thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
2nd place (1 vote): [spoil]Page 26: There is so much more than what has been described in the previous pages...
Whatever lay ahead, he decided as the morning sun shone down and warmed their backs, he and Charmander were going to go meet it together.[/spoil][thread=655578]The Pokémon Trainer's Guide (one-shot)[/thread] by Phoenixsong
Author Awards
Best Established Writer
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Sike Saner
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Cutlerine
3rd-5th place (1 vote): Mrs. Lovett
3rd-5th place (1 vote): Spiteful Murkrow
3rd-5th place (1 vote): diamondpearl876
Best New Writer
1st place (5 votes): roule
2nd place (4 votes): CorvusAtrox
Most Dedicated Writer
1st place (3 votes): Spiteful Murkrow
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Chibi Pika
2nd-3rd place (2 votes): Dragonfree
4th-5th place (1 vote): American--Pi
4th-5th place (1 vote): Sike Saner
6th-7th place (0 votes): FlamingRuby
6th-7th place (0 votes): Cutlerine
Most Improved Writer
1st place (4 votes): American--Pi
2nd place (2 votes): The Teller
3rd-4th place (1 vote): Chibi Pika
3rd-4th place (1 vote): Jersey Jimmy
5th-6th place (0 votes): JX Valentine
5th-6th place (0 votes): Shattersoul
Reviewer Awards
Most Helpful Reviewer
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Negrek
1st-2nd place (3 votes): Hakajin
3rd-4th place (0 votes): JX Valentine
3rd-4th place (0 votes): American--Pi
Most Dedicated Reviewer
1st place (4 votes): American--Pi
2nd place (2 votes): Dramatic Melody
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