History Fanfic / InfinityTrainBranchingPaths

* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
** Overlapping with ArmorPiercingResponse. Let's just say they're a frequent occurrence. Usually to prevent the escalations in the main story that led to many bad ends.

* BlameGame: It's still present, even if it isn't as prominent as in ''Blossoming Trail''.However, in Ash V, it’s just as bad, if not worse. It actually gets to the point where Ash is happier outside of the lab, and then ultimately quits working there after Parker assaults Maple and has a screaming fit at him about Chloe's disappearance.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When Goh demands to know if it would kill Chloe to actually say 'yes' to one of Ash's invitations for once, Chloe snarks 'Actually, yes'. Goh gapes at her before wondering if this makes her a zombie now.

* ForWantOfANail: Each story shows how things could have been ''vastly'' different with one single word or action. The nails mostly involve various characters (usually Goh and Ash) calling out Chloe on her {{Jerkass}} behavior and telling her the truth about her misconceptions.

* WhatIf: Generally takes the form of "what if "X" acted rationally instead of letting their anger and spite get the better of them?"

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Overlapping with ArmorPiercingResponse. Let's just say they're a frequent occurrence. Usually to prevent the escalations in the main story that led to many bad ends.

* BlameGame: It's still present, even if it isn't as prominent as in ''Blossoming Trail''.
** However, in Ash V, it’s just as bad, if not worse. It actually gets to the point where Ash is happier outside of the lab, and then ultimately quits working there after Parker assaults Maple and has a screaming fit at him about Chloe's disappearance.

* PoorCommunicationKills: [[AvertedTrope Averting]] this trope is practically one of the main reasons for this story's existence. However in one story a lack of communication of any kind ultimately does kill: Ash V.
** To make things more clear, there is never any communication between Chloe and everyone else in the story while she is on the Train, so Chloe never gets called out for her bitchy attitude by Talia, nor does she threaten Parker that she will run away again unless everyone apologizes. Without those things causing her to [[TookALevelInKindness become a much kinder girl]], she goes into the Fog Car still a bitter spoiled brat..and ends up becoming Lady Destiny, and then killed as a result of it.
* RejectedApology: In Parker II Parker doesn't buy Yeardley's apology since, in his mind, if he was sorry he wouldn't have done all that bullying to his sister in the first place. [=UnChloe=] points out the flaw in that logic by asking Parker if his revenge on Yeardley ended up killing him by accident, would he be sorry then?

** In a positive twist of this, Ash does this gradually during Ash V: At first by staying out of the lab itself to avoid the toxicity and the blame game (which also has Parker and Goh blaming him for what happened). After Parker accuses him of being a black hole, gets on his case for helping another girl, and then attempts to assault said girl (Maple), he flat out quits working at the lab and goes back to traveling the world. [[EsotericHappyEnding Then again, things quickly go to hell in Vermillion when Lady Destiny shows up...]]

* UncertainDoom: In Ash V, the fates of Atticus, Lexi, Amelia, Hazel, Tuba, Grace, the Apex, and the other ritual components are not revealed after Chloe becomes Lady Destiny and killed, though considering what the Fog Car is based off of, it doesn’t look too good for them.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Ash V is the most divergent and expansive AU of them all, but it is also pretty clear that there isn't a lot Ash can do to change things beyond himself. The situation is so toxic that there is little he can really do to change it beyond not getting stuck in it himself.
** Chloe in Ash V never communicated back to anyone, and no one knew they could contact her either. As a result, she lacked the self-growth needed to get through the Fog Car, and thus fell to become Lady Destiny and later died.

An anthology of stories where somebody uses logic and reasoning, instead of devolving into angry blame spitting as a tribute to the one-year anniversary of ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail''. Read the story [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/32491213/chapters/80582098 here]].

* BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: Implied in Ash V. When Parker tries to snap at Ash and call him out over how he didn't ask him anything about Chloe, Ash responds by [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asking if Parker would've actually helped had he done it]]. Parker's ensuing silence gives the implication he would've invoked this trope, even if he wants to say otherwise.

* AdaptationalSympathy: While it varies depending on the story, the characters are less tolerating of Chloe and Parker's self-indulgent speeches and the general BlameGame everybody plays.

* BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: Implied in Ash V. When Parker tries to snap at Ash and call him out over how he didn't ask him anything about Chloe, Ash responds by [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asking if Parker would've actually helped had he done it]]. Parker's ensuing silence gives the implication he would've most likely invoked this trope, even if he wants to say otherwise.

* BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: Implied in Ash V. When Parker tries to snap at Ash and call him out over how he didn't ask him anything about Chloe, Ash responds by [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asking if Parker would've actually helped had he done it]]. Parker's ensuing silence give the implication that this trope would've most likely been used by him, even if he wants to say otherwise.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Overlapping with ArmorPiercingResponse. Let's just say they're a frequent occurrence. Usually to prevent the escalations in the main story that led to many bad ends.
** One notable example in Chloe II is when Ash is able to get Chloe to accept his help by asking her how she can expect people to give her a chance if she keeps assuming the worst of everyone.
** Also in Ash V, Ash asks Parker point-blank whether or not he'd have actually helped him connect with Chloe if he had approached him first instead of Goh.

** Though he's only five, Parker snaps and tries assaulting Maple in a rage over Chloe's disappearance. Officer Jenny intervenes and detains him before he could draw blood.

* ForWantOfANail: Each story shows how things could have been ''vastly'' different with one single word or action. The nails mostly involve various characters (usually Goh and Ash) calling out Chole on her {{Jerkass}} behavior and telling her the truth about her misconceptions.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: Goh and Ash IV reveals that the reason why Goh even recorded the Yamper vs Gengar batle that would cause the entire ''Blossoming Trail'' story to happen was because he only wanted to commemorate Chloe's first step to be a Trainer. He (and Ash) realize from her reactions of losing that it ''really'' crushed her self-esteem since she lost to the Alola League Champion and her classmates will just laugh at her. Goh quickly deletes the video in both instances, sparing her the humiliation.

** Ash V is the most divergent and expansive A.U of them all, but it is also pretty clear that there isn't a lot Ash can do to change things beyond himself. The situation is so toxic that there is little he can really do to change it beyond not getting stuck in it himself.

--> [[ThatManIsDead There is no more Chloe Cerise, I am Lady Destiny of...]] ''(phone suddenly disconnects)''.

* StealthPrequel: The Ash chapter, specifically Ash V, turns out to be this to Recap/InfinityTrainCherryBloodlines, as the end of that chapter, showcases the line of events that created ''that'' universe.

* BlatantLies: In Ash V, Parker claims he would've told Ash what he needed to know about Chloe if he had come to him first, but his hesitation before answering all but confirms in Ash's mind that he would not have.

** To make things more clear, there is never any communication between Chloe and everyone else in the story while she is on the Train, so Chloe never gets called out for her entitled behaviour by Talia, nor does she threaten Parker that she will run away again unless everyone apologizes. Without those things causing her to [[TookALevelInKindness become a much kinder girl]], she goes into the Fog Car still a bitter spoiled brat..and ends up becoming Lady Destiny, and then killed as a result of it.

** In a positive twist of this, Ash does this gradually during Ash V: At first by staying out of the lab itself to avoid the toxicity and the blame game (which also has Parker and Goh blaming him for what happened). After Parker accuses him of being a black hole, gets on his case for helping another girl, and then attempting to assault said girl (Maple), he flat out quits working at the lab and goes back to traveling the world. [[EsotericHappyEnding Then again, things quickly go to hell in Vermillion when Lady Destiny shows up...]]

** Though he's only five, Parker snaps and tries assaulting Maple in a rage over Chloe's disappearance. Officer Jenny intervenes and arrests him before he could draw blood.

An anthology of stories where somebody uses logic and reasoning, instead of devolving into angry blame spitting as a tribute to the one-year anniversary of ''Blossoming Trail''. Read the story [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/32491213/chapters/80582098 here]].