Facing the unknown
Pokemon: The Unknown Continuum
is a fanfiction by Pocket-fulla-shells, based loosely on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games. It follows Floyd, a cynical bassist from Edinburgh, who suddenly finds his family, friends, and life whisked away from him when he awakens in another world in a body that isn't his.While the fic starts out closely following the plot of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers (albeit a lot Darker and Edgier), it gradually evolves into something more. Although the entire plot as a whole is based on Explorers, the author provides his own unique and interesting spin on the concept.
Pokemon: The Unknown Continuum provides examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: As a re-imagining of Explorers of Sky, it adds a LOT of content and plot points that weren't in the original game.
- Alternate Universe: The "human world" in this fic is a version of the real world in which both Pokemon and normal animals exist. Later, we find out that Pokemon themselves originated from the Mystery Dungeon world (the "first world"), and they accidentally ended up in our world (the "second world") via dimensional rift, eventually driving almost all native Earth animals to extinction.
- Deconstructor Fleet: One of the author's main reasons for writing the fic was delving into the
Fridge Horror of the original games. For example:- The fic deconstructs the escapist nature of the Mystery Dungeon games, specifically in how the protagonists (and by extension other fanfic writers) don't seem to have a problem with being thrust into another world and body against their will, with being essentially forced into dangerous and violent lifestyle of an explorer, and even with being permanently trapped in said world. Floyd is traumatized by his experience and wants nothing more than to return home and see his friends and family again, to the point it cripples his ability to form friendships with the residents of the new world and he ends up being disliked as a result, even by his partner.
- The fic deconstructs the game's romanticization of the Guild, pointing out just how dangerous, violent, and mentally scarring life as an explorer in the PMD universe would really be. Floyd fears for his life every day and wonders why his peers don't seem to have a problem with it.
- While Chatot's strict, rigid nature is Played for Laughs in the games, this fic portrays him as a manipulative Bad Boss.
- Determinator: Floyd will find his way home if it kills him... or involves tracking down Giratina himself!
- Early-Installment Weirdness: More like early version weirdness! In the first published version of the story:
- Floyd was named Andrew, and the team Serge forms with him was called Team Postal.
- The fic used the Japanese name of Snivy (Tsutarja) because they did not have an English name at the time.
- The fic was subtitled Unknown Chasms and was much less serious, relying largely on Comedic Sociopathy.
- Floyd was a lot more of an asshole, so much that the author actually toned him down for the current version.
- First-Person Smartass: Floyd, especially in the earlier chapters, often engages in this. He was even more of this in the original version of the fic.
- Foreshadowing: Floyd spends some time in the first few chapters ranting about the religious beliefs of those around him. Later in the story, he actually meets several legendaries, who more or less confirm many of these beliefs as true.
- Floyd's rant about the Palkians' belief in "pokemon souls" and reincarnation seems pretty random at first. We find out in the final chapters that Serge was a devout Palkian during his human life.
- Serge is one of the only Pokemon we meet who absolutely insists on being called that instead of by a Species First Name. This seems random until we learn that he was a human in his past life.
- Hope Spot: See Wham Episode below.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Floyd struggles to use his new powers at first, though he later becomes more competent.
- I Choose to Stay: An odd example of this trope occurs in Chapter 15. After Floyd discovers his entire human life has been taken over by a doppelganger, he decides that it's in his best interest to stay in the pokemon world, punishing evildoers. He figures that if he can't go back home, he can at least make the best of his new life.
- Law of Conservation of Detail: The author considered having Floyd complain about his new form's lack of clothing, as it would have been "funny and in-character," but left it out because he felt it would "cover the entire story with a layer of awkwardness that [he] didn't want."
- Odd Couple: At the beginning of the story, Floyd and Serge have extremely contrasting personalities, and they initially only work together to help each other achieve their own personal goals. Somewhat deconstructed as this ends up causing a plethora of problems for them.
- Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions: Averted with Floyd. He's devoutly religious and constantly talks about it throughout the story.
- Reset Button: Floyd and Serge essentially cause this by eliminating the original timeline. History continues as normal and Floyd and the other humans still end up existing, but they have no memory of what happened due to not being the originals.
- Shout-Out: Some of the chapter titles include Stream of Consciousness, This is the Life, Raise the Knife, Limelight, The Wreckers, and To Live is to Die.
- Floyd's name is likely based on the protagonist of The Wall, Floyd Pinkerton, or is a shout out to the band in general.
- There's a scene in the final chapters in which Serge visits the grave of his preincarnation in the human world... now where have we seen this before?
- The fic's prequel is subtitled Scenes From a Memory. It was originally posted with the subtitle Prequel to the Sequel.
- Shoo Out the Clowns: The original version of the fic was very darkly humorous and Floyd's antics were mostly Played for Laughs. The current version takes itself a lot more seriously.
- Special Person, Normal Name: According to the afterword, Wigglytuff's birth name is Edmund.
- Species First Name: Played with; Pokemon call each other by species, but this is just a formality, and they do have actual names. Serge is one of the few characters who insists on being called by their birth name.
- Tomato in the Mirror: Serge turns out to have been a human in his past life.
- Unexplained Accent: Serge has a French-sounding name and is described as having a French-esque accent.
- Waxing Lyrical: Happens at the end of Chapter 35:
- Wham Episode: Chapter 14. Floyd finally returns to his home world, only to discover that he's been replaced by a doppelganger of himself. He then realizes with despair that he can't go home again.
- Chapter 34. The original Floyd fades away because the timeline that led to him going back in time ceases to exist. Unlike in the original Explorers games, he isn't coming back. The author cements this fact by switching to Serge's point of view for the remainder of the story.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Serge calls out Floyd on this in Chapter 12 as a result of the Amp Plains incident.
