Line #1 Fanfic/ForTheMission


1	''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10926418/1/For-the-Mission For the Mission]]'' is a ForWantOfANail story by [=AeroJester203=] based around the events in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorersOfSky''. The shifting of events stems from the protagonist keeping his memories, and not having [[IdentityAmnesia amnesia]]. With his mission not erased from his memory, the human-turned-Pokemon seeks to find a way to complete it, despite still being turned into a Pikachu. However, saving the partner, an Eevee named Martha, from thugs that tried to mug her, she sets her heart on [[InSpiteOfANail recruiting him to form an exploration team]]. Not being able to tell her his mission and out of other options, he takes up an alias and [[TheMole accepts]] until he can figure out a way to leave.
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3	The story has received praise for the [[PragmaticHero protagonist's]] [[TheStoic character]], forged from his experiences not lost in amnesia, as well as the TearJerker moments and twists in the story from the protagonist's actions.
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5	!!Tropes in For the Mission:
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7	* ActuallyADoombot: After beginning to use his [[spoiler:Substitute move]] again, [[spoiler:Nate]] rarely spoke in person. He knew that if he showed up as himself, he would risk being captured and all would be lost.
8	* AndIMustScream: [[spoiler:Dark Martha's ultimate fate in her fight with Nate. After being petrified, her life ends one of two ways: starvation from being unable to move ([[AlternateTimeline Timeline 2]]) or [[RetGone disappearing]] ([[TimeyWimeyBall Timeline 3]]). In the latter, she's even [[DeathWail screaming internally as she starts to disappear]].]]
9	* ArmorPiercingResponse: When [[spoiler:Dark Martha]] attempts a BreakingSpeech on [[spoiler:Nate]], the following exchange occurs:
10	-->'''[[spoiler:Martha]]:''' Of course. You just have to be the hero all the time! You thought I'd be ''proud'' that you left to save the world?! You were just too afraid to look me in the eye and tell me ''the truth''!
11	-->'''[[spoiler:Nate]]:''' ''[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness (shouting back)]]'' [[AwfulTruth The truth would've broken you in two]]!
12	* BatmanGambit: Used by [[spoiler:Nate]] against Team Skull, three times, [[spoiler:as well as Wigglytuff's Guild]].
13	** The first time, [[spoiler:Nate]] figured they'd cause trouble if he just stayed up late to catch them in the act.
14	** The second time, he made it abundantly clear that [[TheStoolPigeon he told Chatot they were raiding the food stores]], [[BeingWatched fully aware]] that Team Skull [[ImStandingRightHere would listen in]]. He also knew that they'd follow them in an effort to get revenge by making them fail their mission, so he ordered Maribel to get their target items and return them to Chatot to complete the mission. While Team Skull is ''so'' focused on their revenge, Maribel has already gotten back and reported that Team Skull had attacked them. Team Skull got [[GettingTheBoot thrown out]] by Chatot after going back to salvage their cover.
15	** The third time, [[spoiler:after Nate deserted the guild, he left a [[ExpendableClone Substitute]] to follow Team Skull around, since he knew [[UnwittingPawn they'd still be spying on the guild]] for any chances to get back at Martha and him. The clone listens in on their plan to get the Relic Fragment from Martha and go to the Hidden Land. He also uses them to get information on where the guild is going.]]
16	* BeingGoodSucks: According to [[spoiler:Nate]]. Doing the right thing his entire life meant he and his only friend got endlessly chased by [[spoiler:Primal Dialga]] and his minions. Then, since he had to keep up his charade to TheDragon sent to catch them, he was ForcedToWatch said friend be dragged off, likely to be executed, all so he could see their mission through. And their mission, no matter which way it falls, [[spoiler:[[BetterToDieThanBeKilled always ends in death]]]].
17	* BerserkButton: Do ''not'' hurt Martha's friends or she will deal a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on you. The same with hurting just about any InnocentBystander in front of [[spoiler:Nate]], especially children.
18	* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In this case, not so much "die" as [[spoiler:[[RetGone never exist]].]]
19	* BreakTheCutie: Martha. While she doesn't [[spoiler:get dragged into the future]], the events that happen still plunge her into despair, [[spoiler:and in [[BadFuture the worst case]], insanity]]. All the more heartbreaking that [[spoiler:it's ''[[BestFriend her]] [[MentorArchetype partner]]'' that's putting her through most of it.]]
20	* BreakThemByTalking: [[spoiler:Nate]]. For any opponent he can't take down immediately, this tactic is usually his fallback option. Even more effective if he throws in an ArmorPiercingQuestion or two.
21	** Incidentally, [[spoiler:[[EvilFormerFriend Dark Martha]]]] tries this tactic after [[spoiler:Nate's]] repeated [[KirkSummation pleas]] for her to either let him finish his mission or help him if she really cares about him. After her [[ShutUpKirk responses]], and [[spoiler:Nate's]] rejection of her offer to go back with her, she attacks him again and then shouts that he just always wants to be TheHero and didn't have the guts to tell her the truth. [[ArmorPiercingResponse It backfires]]. [[BeingGoodSucks Very]], [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech very horribly]].''
22	* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler:[[PragmaticHero Nate]]]] is not above striking any enemy before they see him, and will do so with minimal provocation. His paralyzing attacks also render the enemy helpless to him, and his tricks get more clever [[spoiler:once he starts using his Substitute move again. And in his last fight with Team Skull, the fight culminates with Nate [[BreakThemByTalking tricking Skuntank into a rage]] after [[CurbStompBattle turning around every one of his tricks]] and then leaving him at his mercy by ''[[TemporaryBlindness blinding him]]'']].
23	** Skuntank and Team Skull also qualify, since after their first encounter with Team Rapid. They always made plans to fight the duo (and possibly their recruits) only after they were weakened.
24	** [[spoiler:Dusknoir]] matches each of [[spoiler:Nate's]] moves trick for trick after finally [[spoiler:cornering him in the Old Ruins, a place he is ''certain'' that Nate [[InvertedTrope cannot]] [[YouCanRunButYouCantHide run away from.]]]]
25	* DevilInPlainSight: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], unlike in canon, in the case of Team Skull. [[spoiler:Nate]] exposes them the first night of their stay by [[TheStakeout monitoring their activities]] and then [[TheStoolPigeon reports them to Chatot]]. Although, he keeps their names out of it so Chatot [[AmateurSleuth investigates]] [[SubvertedTrope instead of]] [[CassandraTruth denying that their]] [[ObviouslyEvil "guests"]] [[IdiotBall wouldn't do such a thing]].
26	** Also [[spoiler:Nate]], arguably. While he's not evil, he ''is'' keeping up a deception to hide his true identity.
27	* ExpendableClone: [[spoiler:Nate's Substitute clones.]]
28	* FamousAncestor: According to [[BackStory Magnezone's files]], [[NumberTwo Maribel]] is descended from a long line of explorers, one of those being the near-legendary Team Aero.
29	* FragileSpeedster: [[spoiler:Nate]]. While he's a GuileHero and has his fair share of HeroicResolve, his Pikachu body can only take so much punishment before he's down for the count. Even as [[spoiler:a human]], his usual tactics involved tricking the enemy with [[ExpendableClone Substitute]]. He'll often make the first move in hopes of overwhelming the opponent before they can fight back.
30	* GuileHero: [[spoiler:Nate]], as a human. While the weaker of the duo, comprised of him and [[spoiler:his partner, Grovyle]], he had trickery with his [[spoiler:[[MirrorMatch flawless]] [[ExpendableClone Substitute clones]] and [[TheDarkArts Dark-type attacks]] [[StatusBuff fueled by]] KillingIntent against Ghost-type Pokemon]]. Even after gaining [[ShockAndAwe electric attacks]] he still has a knack for [[BatmanGambit manipulating]] [[ImprobablyPredictable the Pokemon around him.]]
31	** Later [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by [[spoiler:Nate]].
32	-->'''Martha''': But weren't you-
33	-->'''[[spoiler:Nate]]''': A human? Yes. But just because I couldn't [[PlayingWithFire breathe fire]], [[GreenThumb wield plant swords]] or [[SuperStrength suplex a boulder]] [[WeakButSkilled didn't make me completely helpless]]. What, you think I just [[TheLoad sat on my hands]] while [[spoiler:[[OneManArmy Grovyle]]]] did all the fighting?
34	* ImpostorForgotOneDetail: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. [[spoiler:Nate's]] clones are always filled with the relevant memories and have his exact personality down to where he can reliably trust them to make the decisions and say what he would. And nobody can ever spot the difference. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], since [[spoiler:he's had [[TheAgeless 400 years]] to perfect it.]]
35	* InTheBack: [[spoiler:Nate's [[PercussivePrevention "protection"]] of Martha is executed while she has her back to him]].
36	* MirrorMatch: [[spoiler:Nate's clones.]] See ImpostorForgotOneDetail above.
37	* NoNonsenseNemesis: Dusknoir. While he's limited by orders from his superior, [[spoiler:Dark Martha]], once he's sure that he has the real [[spoiler:Nate]] and not a [[ActuallyADoombot Substitute clone]], he immediately gets ready to execute him.
38	** [[spoiler:Nate]] also becomes this for [[spoiler:[[EvilFormerFriend Dark Martha]]]] after he finds out that [[spoiler:[[TeamKiller she killed the rest of Team Rapid]]]]. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when he winds up [[CruelMercy leaving her alive]]]].
39	* NotSoStoic: [[spoiler:Nate.]] One time crying ManlyTears over [[spoiler:[[BestFriend Grovyle's]] death]], SuddenlyShouting at [[spoiler:[[EvilFormerFriend Dark Martha]]]] [[RageBreakingPoint when she blames him for what she'd become]], and when he laughs genuinely for the first time when finding out [[spoiler:the Martha of [[AlternateTimeline Timeline 3]] recruited [[NoNonsenseNemesis Dusknoir]] to [[LaResistance their mission to change history]]]] right before his literal PostVictoryCollapse.
40	* Really700YearsOld: Specifically, [[TimeStandsStill 413]] [[TheAgeless years old]].
41	* ScrewDestiny: [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]]. [[spoiler:Nate]] tries to do this [[spoiler:preventing a vision he had of him and Martha traveling to Temporal Tower, because he doesn't want her to see him [[RetGone disappear]] once history is changed]].
42	** While appearing successful at first, [[spoiler:although it [[HeroicBSOD hurt Martha greatly]]]], he [[spoiler:winds up falling to [[OlympusMons Primal Dialga]] ''and'' inadvertently causing Martha's FaceHeelTurn because she becomes obsessed with [[LoveMakesYouCrazy saving him]] and [[YanDere making sure he never disappears]] by [[LoveMakesYouEvil keeping the future locked in darkness]].]]
43	** But, because [[spoiler:Dark Martha came back to [[PleaseDontLeaveMe convince Nate to come back with her]] he [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone saw just how his failure]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero kicked off the future of darkness and turned Martha into an insane shell of her former self]].]] With the new revelation, [[spoiler:Nate writes back to his team through the [[CaptainsLog Adventure Log]] [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong in hopes of changing the future]], [[DeathbedConfession telling the truth about everything]] and [[SorryThatImDying apologizing to Martha]] [[IHatePastMe for being too cowardly to tell her in person]]]].
44	** Through all of these events, the future changes again, this time [[spoiler:Martha]] being the one to invoke this trope, [[spoiler:fleeing the guild in the night and taking her team to the Hidden Land to [[TheSlowPath wait for Nate to be born and travel back in time to help him.]]]]
45	* SdrawkcabAlias: While not strictly backwards, [[spoiler:Nate's]] alias, Ian, ends with the first letter of his real name.
46	* TheFarmerAndTheViper: [[spoiler:Nate]] [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this, discouraging trust in himself after [[spoiler: revealing his deception to the guild]].
47	** He even [[spoiler: internally chastises Martha for trusting him with her back after all he did.]]
48	* TheMole: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] with [[spoiler:Ian/Nate]]. While he's not a villain posing as the good guy, or vice versa, if they found out what his mission entailed, [[CassandraTruth nobody would believe him]]. Worse, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero they would try to stop him]]. And yet he earns trust that he doesn't want, simply by helping Pokemon like he wants to while looking for information on his mission. Because of that, he's surrounded by "friends" that could become enemies at a moment's notice.
49	* TotalitarianUtilitarian: [[spoiler:Nate]]. He'll put his mission above anybody and anything else, [[spoiler:including Martha.]]
50	* TranquilFury: [[spoiler:Nate's]] usual way of expressing anger at someone who's endangering innocents.
51	* UnstoppableRage: Martha, when you [[BerserkButton hurt her friends]]. Nate has also shown signs of it, but it's implied that [[spoiler:Grovyle]] taught him how to TameHisAnger, so he never fully goes into a rage. Not to say that he won't [[TranquilFury brutally and efficiently tear you apart if you really manage to piss him off]].
52	* VillainsActHeroesReact: [[ExploitedTrope Exploited]] by [[spoiler:Nate]] when he [[spoiler:pretends to]] pick up the VillainBall. He causes Wigglytuff's Guild to chase him down to Treeshroud Forest, which lets them see that [[spoiler:returning the Time Gears to their altars didn't do anything]].
53	* WelcomeBackTraitor: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. [[spoiler:After [[TheMole Nate]] [[TurnCoat deserts the guild]]]], his greeting upon his return is uncertainty and caution. After his [[ZeroApprovalGambit confession]], he didn't expect anything less.
54	* ZeroApprovalGambit: [[spoiler:Nate's denouncement of the guild as well as confessing his identity as Grovyle's partner. After saying that he intended to collect the Time Gears again, they sent Team Rapid after him and saw that time was still stopped in Treeshroud Forest. Nate still never regained anybody's full trust after revealing his lies.]]

Context Fanfic / ForTheMission