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1-> ''You know what? Life sucks. I've been training for about four years now, and I've seen a whole lot of crap. [[KnowYourVines I've got scars from poison ivy]], [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes half-resolved neurosis about water]], [[AnimalsHateHim I've been beaten by more Pokemon than I can frankly remember]], [[ItMakesSenseInContext I've had holy water thrown at me]], [[BreadEggsMilkSquick I've had to cross-dress more times than I'd admit to in other circumstances]]...still, I've had bad luck since I can remember. It wears on you. This big stuff is...different. You can ignore it or you can fight against it. Either way -- [[ButtMonkey life sucks]].''
2
3''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4871317/1/Pedestal Pedestal]]'' is a ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' fanfic that starts out [[FandomSpecificPlot deceptively similar to other stories]]. A young trainer aspires ToBeAMaster, with great dreams of being the best, placing his hoped-for Pokemon on a [[TitleDrop pedestal]]. A year later than most trainers, he finally receives his starter... And it's a Numel. HilarityEnsues, but not for long.
4
5It later becomes DarkerAndEdgier than the games, with heavy deconstruction of prophecies deciding fates and the general theme of chosen ones, and the consequences of ignoring warnings. However, it still has moments of comedy.
6
7-----
8
9!!This fanfic contains examples of:
10
11%%* AbortedArc: What ever happened to that red jacket...?
12%%** Word of God states the jacket would have gone to a planned cross-over.
13%%* AccidentalAimingSkills: The protagonist is pro at this - especially when trying to catch birds.
14* AccidentalMisnaming: The AuthorAvatar eventually starts to refer to the protagonist as [=NamNar=] too, leading to this gem in chapter 94.
15-->"[=NamNar=], c'mere."\
16"Uh, ''who''?"\
17"You, silly."
18-->"That's not my name. My name is--"
19-->"Ach! No, none of that yet."
20%%* ActionGirl: Carlita.
21%%** [[spoiler: Ultimately, Hanna. Her secret weapon lays waste to Nick's team, and she even beats Nick himself in a fistfight.]]
22%%* ActionSurvivor: It's a wonder that the protagonist is still alive at this point, especially after being mauled by Pokemon (and people!) so many times.
23%%* ADayInTheLimelight: Both Hanna and [[spoiler:Nick]] have one.
24* TheAllConcealingI: There are more than 150 chapters at this point and we ''still'' don't know the narrator's name.
25* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Harlan has a massive crush on the moody feline that is Ike, to the point of [[spoiler: choosing the go with the main character after Nick dies to stay close to him.]]
26%%* AntiAir: Ike was meant to be this, but Kostya and Alice are used, more often than not - mostly because the protagonist doesn't believe Ike can be trusted.
27%%* AnyoneCanDie
28%%* ApatheticCitizens: Deconstructed.
29* ArcWords: You will face many trials. Do not let yourself become dark. Do not get sidetracked with the injustices of the world; do not become angry and bitter. And, when the time comes, let go.
30** However, the ''full'' text was interrupted; it first ran 'And, when the time comes, let go of h—'.
31* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler: Carlita's tail gets chopped off during the battle with Nick.]]
32* ArtificialLimbs: [[spoiler: Carlita]] gets fitted with an artificial [[spoiler:tail]] after the events of the final fight. However, even with the new limb her doctors find it unlikely that [[spoiler: she'll ever dance again.]]
33%%* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Literally with Jude, though it's actually a shiny Pokemon.
34%%* BabiesEverAfter
35* BackForTheFinale: Jude makes an appearance for [[spoiler:Oonu's]] funeral in the final chapter.
36%%* BattleAmongstTheFlames: The main character has been involved in four so far
37%%** The first is when he breaks out of the warehouse during The Tournament arc.
38%%** The second is when he faces Vaporeon in Sunyshore.
39%%** [[spoiler: The third and fourth come in quick succession during the Stark Mountain battle. First he faces down Lola just outside Stark Mountain, and then he battles Nick deep within the heart of the mountain.]]
40%%* BattleButler: Jacques, Cossette's loyal Gallade.
41%%* BecauseDestinySaysSo: This makes up a large part of the plot.
42* BestServedCold: Hanna seems to have spent an awful long time training up Molly [[spoiler: to kill Nick.]]
43--> "Look, if you're worried about me, really. Don't. I've been preparing this for ''years''."
44* BigDamnHeroes: Interestingly, two examples in The Tournament arc: [[spoiler: inverted when the protagonist busts ''out'' of the building to save people, and when the main antagonist, Nick, shows up and kills his own followers to stop the fighting and probably save them from a very bloody CurbStompBattle.]]
45** Lucian at the very end of the Vaporeon Arc.
46** Sela and Vaikuntha tend to become this from time to time, such as [[spoiler:being part of TheCavalry who arrives to assist the protagonist's team at the battle of Stark Mountain]].
47%%* BigSleep: [[spoiler: Nick's death at the hands of Arceus.]]
48%%--> [[spoiler: Then, he shut his eyes tight and leaned against Chase, just as the white pokémon leaned down and pressed the tip of its snout against the dragon's forehead.]]
49%%* BilingualBonus: Cossette and her family speak French natively, and it's been implied that Jude speaks it, too.
50%%* BittersweetEnding
51%%* BlindSeer: Katerina.
52* BloodSplatteredInnocents: The main character, although how innocent he is at this point in the story is debatable. And more often than not, it's his own blood. Later a much straighter example occur with [[spoiler: Cossette.]]
53%%* BrokenPedestal: The plot and much of the character interactions later in the story thrive off of this trope.
54* TheBusCameBack: For Hanna at the end of the Vaporeon arc.
55%%* ButtMonkey: The protagonist. Let's face it, life for him isn't exactly peachy.
56%%* TheCavalry: Played straight for both sides during [[spoiler: the battle with Lola on Stark Mountain.]]
57* CerebusSyndrome: It starts off as a cheerful, humorous story about a trainer starting his Pokemon journey, but soon there's more blood than Pokemon battles. [[FromBadToWorse It got worse]] from there.
58* CharacterTitle: Pedestal being [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Des's]] full name.
59%%* CheerfulChild: Cossette. Carlita is the pokemon version of this.
60%%** Completely averted with the protagonist and Benjamin.
61* ChekhovsGunman: Lola. She has an EarlyBirdCameo when the main characters journey to Snowpoint, and while she gets more focus during the tournament and gym race arcs the most pivotal moment she's involved in is [[spoiler: being killed on national televison.]] Much later, it's revealed that [[spoiler: [[FakingTheDead her murder was a sham]], ''and'' she's had a hand in almost all the obstacles the main character has had to face in the story so far - such as being the driving force behind Nick's worsening SanitySlippage, the organiser of the nightmare attacks, and being one who goaded the main character into attacking Vaporeon by sending messages from Nick's number. She's also manipulated many events in the protagonists life from behind the scenes, such as fixing the tournament so that they'd achieve a gym position and covering up their involvement in Nick's prison break. Finally she's 'the first' in the ghosts' prophecy...]]
62%%* CliffHanger: There are some truly terrible ones, some coming right after an even worse one before it.
63* ClimacticBattleResurrection: A minor one happened during the battle against Vaporeon, where [[spoiler: nearly everyone except for the main character and his group get killed.]] The battle on [[spoiler: Stark Mountain]] is also this, as everyone except the main character, [[spoiler: Lola and Nick]] get taken out of action pretty quickly once the fighting starts proper.
64%%* ComingOfAgeStory: The story starts off ''technically'' when the protagonist is ten. Five years so far have passed.
65* ConflictingLoyalty: During the final arc, the main character is torn between [[spoiler: desperately believing that Nick can be saved and taking him out for the safety of the region.]]
66* CosmicPlaything: Implied ever since [[spoiler: Arceus]] had a cameo. Later chapters confirm this trope is in effect, but ''also'' reveal that [[spoiler:the MC that's the plaything - it's Abigail and Nick.]]
67* ConvectionSchmonvection: Zigzagged. In Stark Mountain characters wearing dark clothing are shown to be extremely uncomfortable and non-fire pokemon have a hard time battling for long periods due to the heat. However, a rickety RopeBridge can somehow stand over a pool of lava without bursting into flames...
68%%* CreatorCameo: [[spoiler: Chapter 94.]]
69* CurseCutShort: Fairly often, although more and more in recent chapters due to the rating going up.
70** Chapter 121 starts off with a "Holy freaking sh—", the first time the protagonist has resorted to such language.
71* CynicismCatalyst: A dead little brother was [[spoiler: the catalyst for Nick's FreakOut]].
72* DanceBattler: Carlita to a T. [[spoiler: Events which occur during the final battle put an end to her dancing days. Without her tail, the doctors aren't even sure she'll be able to manage a slow waltz.]]
73%%* DarkFic: Though not apparent at first.
74* DarkIsEvil:
75** The dark-haired trainer [[spoiler: turned out to be Nick, and we find that out just before his FreakOut]]. He has also been stated to wear dark clothes from then on out.
76** [[spoiler: In Chapter 147, it is implied that the dark-haired monster might actually be Lola.]]
77%%* DarkIsNotEvil: Rather, ghost types aren't evil. Mostly.
78%%* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to ''most'' original trainer pokemon fics out there.
79%%* DeadpanSnarker: The protagonist and Lola.
80* DeathByOriginStory:
81** [[spoiler: Benjamin's mother was executed for being in Team Galactic. His father is in prison for life.]]
82** [[spoiler: Abigail, the first person to undergo Arceus's test, is the first person to fall victim to the rabid Abomasnow]]
83%%* DeusExMachina/DiabolusExMachina: The entire [[spoiler: Arceus scene]] in chapter 154 could be seen as this.
84%% Do not combine tropes like this^. If you uncomment this, do not keep them together.
85%%* {{Deconstruction}}: Of many Pokemon friendship fics.
86%%* DiedInYourArmsTonight: [[spoiler: The mercenary's girlfriend, Zoe, dies this way after being shot by Vaporeon.]]
87* DisguisedInDrag: The protagonist cross-dresses as a girl in order to get past border control. He later swaps outfits with another girl in order to [[spoiler: escape from Sunyshore Gym.]]
88%%* DoubleMeaningTitle
89* EarlyBirdCameo: Lola gets introduced way back when the main character and Hanna first visited Snowpoint City, and only pops up again during The Tournament arc. Also, the Electabuzz that the main character owned for all of 10 minutes comes back later with a more important role, [[spoiler: as one of Lola's pokemon.]]
90* EnemyMine: The protagonist teams up with the mercenary who attacked him early on in the story in order to infiltrate Vaporeon's hideout. [[spoiler: He gets betrayed, as some of his friends suspected he would.]]
91%%* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Nick, the protagonist.
92* EyeScream: [[spoiler: Ike is blinded after getting his eyes slashed during the final battle.]]
93%%* EvilFormerFriend [[spoiler: Nick to the protagonist.]]
94* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: Sela Schaffer states this when she realizes who the protagonist is during the Gym Race arc.
95** [[spoiler:"Well, no, but—look at him! He's famous! And he's so tiny! I thought he'd be bigger. He looked bigger on the television."]]
96%%* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Nick.]]
97* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: The only way for the story to end peacefully at this point is if [[spoiler: Nick goes to jail or dies]]. Considering the protagonist's feelings towards him and [[spoiler: the fact that he already ''bailed him out of prison once before'']]... [[spoiler: He dies. Via Arceus]].
98%%* FallenHero: [[spoiler: Nick.]]
99* FamedInStory:
100%%** Played straight with the protagonist, though it's an unfortunate thing as it could reveal [[spoiler: his friendship with Nick]].
101%%** Nick, [[spoiler: even before his [[FreakOut ''incident'']]]].
102%%** Jude, played straight.
103** Vaporeon is a TV celebrity and Arianna seems to be pretty well known in fashion circles, if [[TheFashionista Hanna's]] reaction is anything to go by.
104* {{Fangirl}}:
105** Implied with Hanna's remark in chapter 16. She has also been shown to root for the protagonist and Alicia's relationship, even going as far as to help him out.
106%%** Cossette, to an extent.
107%%* TheFashionista: Hanna shows shades of this.
108%%* FeaturelessProtagonist: The protagonist can be seen as this, sometimes. [[spoiler: Not any more! Now we have his full name, gender and [[http://digital-skitty.deviantart.com/art/TEAM-AWESOME-149112749 several]] [[http://digital-skitty.deviantart.com/art/99-fate-164295789 pieces]] [[http://digital-skitty.deviantart.com/art/Pedestal-REAL-Reason-163061462 of]] [[http://digital-skitty.deviantart.com/art/62-effort-166456099 art]] by the author to give us an idea of his appearance! So what if it took 150+ chapters?]] (Weblinks Are Not Examples)
109* FiveStagesOfGrief: In chapter 151, [[spoiler: the protagonist's messages to Nick each seem to be one of these stages, albeit out of order; the first is bargaining (begging Nick to pick up), the second is depression, the third is anger, the fourth is denial (thinking Nick had a reason or explanation), and the fifth seems to be a rather broken acceptance.]]
110%%* FlatWhat: Nick's reaction to [[spoiler: hearing that Matthew is dead]]. Possibly deconstructed, given the circumstances and description of how flat the word was.
111* FourIsDeath:
112** There are four Pidgey chicks when the main character adopts them. Is it ''that'' surprising that not all of them make it? [[spoiler: Poor Oonu and Woonu...]]
113** Also, the time [[spoiler:Nick goes through Victory Road when his Rhyhorn nearly dies, and he releases his Froslass because it wouldn't kill]] is stated to be the fourth time, ''many'' chapters before it's revealed this all happened.
114** In a more comedic example, the protagonist is deeply afraid of the ''fourth'' gym in the traditional circuit, Crasher Wake's, because his Water type is double super effective against the protagonist's starter.
115%%* FreakOut:
116%%** [[spoiler: Nick]] suffers a HUGE one. The rest of the story after that point follows the protagonist, and [[spoiler:the rest of the region]], struggling to deal with the fallout from it.
117%%** Most of Sunyshore and the remaining Gym race trainers suffer one during the [[spoiler: media attack]].
118%%** Benjamin has one after [[spoiler: he kills someone for the first time.]]
119* FluffyTheTerrible: The Tyranitar [[spoiler: that Hanna uses against Nick]] is called Molly.
120* FullNameBasis: At the point of her introduction, it was almost exclusively Sela Schaffer. More and more, it's Nick or Nicholas Sayre, too.
121* GreyAndGrayMorality: The main villain only snapped and killed in revenge of [[spoiler: his little brother's death]] because the government did absolutely nothing about it, even ''when it happened before'' (and to the main character!). Many characters have voiced sentiments agreeing with his basic ideals, even if he took things too far.
122-->"Not to mention the fact that when you get to be this high in the world, especially in today's training climate, we're all about five minutes from pulling a [[spoiler: Nick Sayre]]."
123-->"No we're—"
124-->"I don't know where ''you'' were, but I was in Sunyshore fighting off trainers and Pokemon with my goddamn ''fists'' when that riot broke out. You were all fighting tooth and nail against each other. And judging on your Luxray's behavior, you're not a perfectly innocent trainer, either," she snapped, cold once more. I reeled back, caught off guard by the personality change. "The fact of the matter is that each and every one of us has the potential to turn just as bad, if not worse, than he is. All it takes is the proper trigger. For him, it was [[spoiler: Matthew.]]"
125** Although he now has followers who completely agree with him, possibly more than he himself agrees.
126** The 'good guys' also have done horrible things. The main character himself [[spoiler: has killed a Pokemon]], is more keen on stopping his [[spoiler: ex-best friend]] instead of his fanatical followers, Shadow Sneaked an entire camera crew to who knows where and never bothered to care about where they potentially ended up, may or may not have been indirectly responsible for the deaths of at least eight Pokemon, and, of course, could very well be responsible for [[spoiler: Nick becoming a monster and causing the rest of the tragedies]], anyway.
127%%* GratuitousNinja: Keith.
128%%* GroinAttack: Hanna uses one during her fistfight with [[spoiler: Nick.]]
129%%* HandicappedBadass: [[spoiler: Ike and Carlita become this after the Stark Mountain fiasco.]]
130* HeroicSelfDeprecation: The main character, more and more as the story wears on. [[spoiler: Lampshaded by ''Arceus'', of all things.]]
131--> [[spoiler: ''"...even if some of its members can be slightly self-depreciating at times."'']]
132%%* HighlyVisibleNinja: Keith, since much of his early appearances involve his participation in an event on national television.
133%%* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Vai gets stabbed with one of Koel's feathers.]]
134* HoldYourHippogriffs: Any time a real-world idiom that references an animal is used, the appropriate Pokemon is substituted.
135* HolyHandGrenade: [[spoiler:Arceus ''is'' more or less used as a willing weapon.]]
136%%* HotBlooded: Carlita, Des (when he gets mad, anyway).
137* HumanityOnTrial: [[spoiler: Arceus tries to judge humanity based on the actions of the main characters]].
138* ImAHumanitarian: Several lines of ghosts, most notably the Duskull line, have been stated to eat humans as part of their diet. Dusclops can speak in human tongue specifically to lure children to them. [[spoiler: Kostya just evolved, and he suddenly doesn't need his translator anymore.]]
139* InsaneTrollLogic: The people who [[spoiler: attempt to follow in Nick's footsteps]] believe that, if any member of your Pokémon team is [[spoiler: the same as any that Nick has, or the same as one of the names taken on by the people who ran the Tournament]], you're instantly on their side. They do lampshade this by claiming it's definitely not a foolproof method, and they only seem to believe it for certain if you have at least ''three'' of the same Pokémon (though one or two still puts you on their radar), but still.
140** Slightly justified in that those particular Pokémon aren't ''too'' common, and after [[spoiler: Nick's attempted slaughter of the Champion]], publicly owning one of those Pokémon does make you suspicious in general. Then again, this just means that if you aren't completely clued in, or if you had the misfortune of owning a [[spoiler: Garchomp or Flygon or Houndoom]] before all this started, you're going to be under suspicion and possibly hunted down for no reason. [[spoiler: Certainly happened to Vaikuntha and Benjamin.]]
141* ICanStillFight: Carlita quotes this as she desperately tries to stop the main character from recalling her [[spoiler: after her tail gets cut off.]]
142--> "I can still fight! I—I'm not bleeding anymore, see?"
143%%* IdiotHair: The protagonist has one in pictures drawn by the author.
144* IHaveYourWife: Happens a ''lot''. [[spoiler: The cops keep Benjamin with them in order to draw out his parents, who were members of Team Galactic, after they started an armed siege when the organization fell. Vaporeon holds the mercenary's girlfriend hostage in order to ensure his loyalty. Lola does this to Alicia to get the the main character's side to withdraw their pokemon during a battle. Finally, Nick's family was held hostage to get him to hand himself in to the authorities.]]
145%%* IncompatibleOrientation: Archie and [[spoiler: Alicia]], and their respective relationships with the protagonist.
146* ImportantHaircut:
147** Cynthia cuts her hair short after the Champions Tragedy.
148** During the Gym race, Hanna cut her hair, too.
149* ImprobableWeapon: Skarmory feathers have become an increasingly popular alternative to swords.
150* InTheBack: [[spoiler: Lola stabs Vai this way during the chaos of the Stark Mountain battle.]]
151* InnocentBlueEyes: The protagonist has them. During the story's finale, they play an essential part in [[spoiler: convincing a delusional Nick that he's not his brother.]]
152--> Those big blue eyes, so wide, so trusting, so confused.
153* IntergenerationalFriendship: Nick is quite a bit older than the protagonist and even Hanna. This is somewhat the norm for the protagonist considering Benjamin and Cossette are the characters he strikes up a friendship with who are younger him.
154* IronicEpisodeTitle: "It Is Cruelty To Be Humane To Rebels" in the chapter where [[spoiler: Stantler and Houndoom are murdered]], "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This" for the [[spoiler: nightmare chapter]], "A Horizon To Catch Up To" for [[spoiler: the protagonist's MoralEventHorizon]], and many others.
155* JadeColoredGlasses: Definitely in place on our protagonist, especially considering that most recently, he has [[spoiler: been more worried about ''where'' to put the bodies and actively wished for Vaporeon's death.]]
156%%* JustifiedTitle
157* KarmaHoudini: Depending on whether or not you believe she was lying, [[spoiler:Lola qualifies. If she was telling the truth, she masterminded at least most of the major plot points and was even behind several deaths, albeit indirectly. And while she dies, she ''wanted'' to die. She died happily, knowing she was able to get one last, great rise out of the protagonist. Aside from some mild injuries, she didn't suffer any sort of karma.]]
158* KarmicTwistEnding: Arguably, most of the ghosts' warning turns out to have this to some degree. [[spoiler: The protagonist was effectively put on trial by the public during the Gym race arc, he ''purposely'' was out trying to become as dark as possible to avoid psychic locks, he's been nothing ''but'' sidetracked to the point that Arceus had to drop in on his dreams to try to set him back on track, his personality has become much more cynical and distant, and he ''still'' hasn't let go of Nick.]] The real kicker is that he is even aware of the last one, and simply is unable to. The only part of the prophecy that's been completely played straight so far is that they told him not to die - but it's unknown whether that was the ghosts' attempt at humor or honestly a part of the warning.
159%%* KickChick: Carlita.
160* KidHero: The protagonist brings peace to the region at the tender age of 15.
161%%* LipstickLesbian: [[spoiler: Alicia.]]
162%%* LethalLavaLand: The inside of Stark Mountain.
163%%* LivingShadow: Kostya and Pollyanna take this form regularly - but subverted a bit in that that's not their real form.
164%%* LovableAlphaBitch: Hanna, Alice to an extent.
165%%* MacheteMayhem: Vaikuntha could go this way.
166%%** [[spoiler: Lola recently picked up the habit as well. With actual results.]]
167%%** The protagonist's efforts to jump and the bandwagon [[EpicFail have so far fallen a bit flat.]]
168%%--> [[spoiler: "Wow, that was... sort of pathetic," Nick called encouragingly. "Wanna try again?"]]
169* MadnessMantra: Nick has one when [[spoiler: he's in jail]].
170--> "…I want to be alone, I want to be alone…"
171%%* MamaBear: Alice, most trainers if their teams are threatened.
172%%* MindScrew: [[spoiler: The nightmares.]]
173** Arguably, what the [[spoiler: ghosts and even Arceus have been hinting at all along]].
174%%* MoodWhiplash: Even lampshaded by a couple characters at various points.
175%%* MoralityPet: The Pidgey chicks and Cossette for the narrator. Zarek, too, although for a shorter time.
176%%** In a way, most Pokemon become this to their trainers, and even vice versa.
177%%* MotorMouth: Alicia talks a lot, especially when nervous.
178%%* MusicalThemeNaming: Alice.
179%%* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: [[spoiler: Des to Isabella, [=NamNar=] to Woonu, [=NamNar=] to Archie, [=NamNar=] to Lola... And most recently, [=NamNar=] to Nick.]]
180%%* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Initially played straight with Hanna, but she has come into her own later in the story.
181* NeverFoundTheBody: The bodies of many people who died in the Vaporeon Arc, [[spoiler: including Archie and Lola]] were never recovered due to the place they died in going up in flames. [[spoiler:[[FakingTheDead However the real reason that Lola's was never recovered was because she wasn't actually dead in the first place...]]]]
182* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The protagonist [[spoiler: completely and utterly fails in his job to ScrewDestiny, and the entire regions suffers for it.]]
183* NoNameGiven: The protagonist of the story doesn't have a name and is only referred to as "[=NamNar=]" elsewhere.
184* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: [[spoiler: Nick attempts to collect all his pokeballs before fleeing from the police.]]
185--> He'd be damned before he left another one of his team behind.
186%%* TheNotLoveInterest: Hanna.
187* NotMeThisTime: Turns out [[spoiler: Nick wasn't the one who killed Byron. He was actually trying to save the guy!]]
188* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Des, short for [[CharacterTitle Pedestal]].
189* ParentsInDistress: [[spoiler: Nick's parents were held hostage by gunman who demanded that he hand himself in. Trying to rescue them is what got him caught.]]
190* PeacefulInDeath: [[spoiler: Nick and Chase.]]
191--> [[spoiler: It was Nick Sayre and his Garchomp, laying side by side. Eyes closed and the ghost of a smile. Chase curled around him, protective and loyal even then. Both of them dead.]]
192%%* PlayedForLaughs: A lot of the violence in the early chapters...only the [[MoodWhiplash injuries don't simply go away.]]
193%%* PowderKegCrowd: The protagonist and his friends face the wrath of one during the [[spoiler:Gym race arc]].
194%%* FreudianTrio: (In The Beginning)
195%%** Super Ego: Nick
196%%** Ego: Narrator
197%%** Id: Hanna
198* PragmaticAdaptation: In this 'verse, you can buy Pokemon translators that let you understand your Pokemon.
199%%* ProperlyParanoid:
200%%** Well, Des ''is'' weak against water...
201%%** Likewise, Vaikuntha won't let Koel fight fire Pokemon.
202%%* PropheticFallacy: And how!
203%%* ProphecyTwist: [[spoiler: Not becoming [[DarkIsNotEvil dark doesn't mean becoming evil]]; it means using dark type Pokemon to hide from psychics]].
204* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Surprisingly little is given to justify the protagonist [[spoiler: breaking a terrorist out of prison.]]
205* PsychicDreamsForEveryone:
206** Early in the story, the protagonist regularly gets dreams visited by [[ItMakesSenseInContext stalker ghosts and goddesses of love]]. Though he didn't actually see the future in any of them and the culprits of the dream invasions are psychic or ghost pokemone.
207** Multiple people are also plagued by graphic nightmares. Which takes this trope somewhat literally, as [[spoiler:a psychic-type pokemon caused them]].
208%%* PsychoSupporter: If they use a [[ItMakesSenseInContext Pokemon name]], chances are they fit this.
209%%* PutOnABus: Happens to Hanna and Jude at different points during the Vaporeon arc.
210%%* RealWomenDontWearDresses: Subverted in the fact that Alicia has never been shown or stated to be in anything ''but'' a dress.
211* RealMenEatMeat: Partially subverted, in the fact that the protagonist fought with vegetarianism and killing Pokemon for food. He went back to eating them, however.
212* TheReveal: The narrator's name is finally revealed at the end of chapter 159.
213%%* RivalTurnedEvil: Fuels ''all'' of the conflict in the later parts of the story.
214* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[spoiler: Nick storms the Elite Four Headquarters and slaughters Cynthia's entire team, after his brother dies due to government inaction]].
215* TheRunaway: Cossette is implied to have run away from home after having an argument with her parents shortly after the main character moves to Sunyshore, and is currently living with him in the gym.
216%%* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler:Nick.]] You could make a case for him being a case of TheMentallyIll, considering he never truly recovers from his psychotic break.
217* ScrewDestiny: Played straight, subverted, inverted, and all around just screwed around with to the point where even the cast isn't sure what would be screwing destiny and whether or not anything they've done counts as it.
218* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Jude ditches the main character after his WhatTheHellHero moment at the end of the Vaporeon arc. The main character does this when [[spoiler: he quits being a gym leader after the events at Stark Mountain, and ''again'' when he essentially walks away from the champion position in the epilogue.]]
219%%* SelectiveSlaughter: [[spoiler: Nick, Houndoom, Stantler and Vaporeon. If you ''deserve'' your Pokemon, well then, you're okay in their books!]]
220%%* SelfFulfillingProphecy
221* ShoutOutThemeNaming: Nick fits this trope best, surprisingly enough.
222** Nick's Garchomp, Chase, is a shout-out to Chevy Chase, voice of the landshark in the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' skits.
223** We also have [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Chekhov]], [[Series/DoctorWho Who]], [[Creator/IsaacAsimov Patru]], [[Literature/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream Harlan]], [[Creator/JulesVerne Jules]], and [[Franchise/TheTwilightZone Ser]], which is short for Serling.
224%%* ShoutOut: One part has a small reference to WebVideo/MarbleHornets and Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos. The protagonist reacts accordingly.
225%%* ShovelStrike: Used to [[spoiler: kill Stantler and Houndoom]].
226* SmittenTeenageGirl: Hanna towards Nick in the first half of the story. Gender bent with the protagonist towards Alicia in the second half.
227** Cossette counts as a smitten ''preteen'' girl towards the protagonist.
228%%* SoProudOfYou: This is pretty much the last thing [[spoiler: Nick says to the protagonist before he leaves for evildom.]]
229** Partially subverted in the fact that the protagonist refuses to see his parents' pride in him, instead concentrating on their constant worry.
230%%* {{Socialite}}: Hanna.
231%%* SourSupporter: Ike. Sometimes, even Des fills this trope when his trainer gets whiny or loses track of the right way.
232%%* SpoiledBrat: Hanna, though the fandom loves her for it.
233%%** Cossette and Zarek fit this, too, thanks to the main character.
234* TheStarscream: Ike ''detests'' being made a trainer's pokemon, and for the first part of the story actively looks for ways to undermine the main character. He gradually grows out of this as the story progresses.
235%%* StaticStunGun: Ike, most of Lola's team.
236* StayInTheKitchen: The main character bans Hanna and Cossette from coming with him to [[spoiler: face Nick]]. This is justified though, as [[spoiler: he thinks]] Hanna doesn't have any pokemon and Cossette has next to no battle experience and only has a crippled Gallade to rely on. [[spoiler: This doesn't dissuade them in the least.]]
237* StepfordSmiler: Carlita shows signs of this when [[spoiler: the main character tells her she can't dance.]]
238--> I couldn't decide whether or not she was forcing herself to be cheerful.
239* StockNinjaWeaponry: Keith has enough hidden knives for any situation. His preference for using Poison-type Pokemon may also qualify.
240%%* TheStoic: Des.
241%%* StoutStrength: Des.
242%%* StrangerSafety: The Pokemon universe thrives off of this, and our hero is no exception.
243* StunnedSilence: Carlita, after the main character tells her that [[spoiler: she can't dance any more.]]
244--> [[spoiler: "Carlita, you won't be able to dance again."]]
245--> She was perfectly silent.
246%%* SympatheticMurderer: [[spoiler: Nick, the protagonist.]]
247* TalkingYourWayOut: The main character orders his Pokemon to do this in order to convert some hostile pokemon to their side. Probably would've worked better if they weren't in the middle of a raging battle at the time...
248--> Alice: ''"You want me to go and talk to a hostile Garchomp?"''
249%%* TeamMom: The protagonist. It's even been lampshaded by a couple characters.
250* TemptingFate: The protagonist tries to ''actively'' avoid doing this by the second half of the story, for what little good it does him.
251--> Sela: "Looks like I'm playing cavalry again, huh?"
252* ThemeNaming: Jude plays this straight with the pokemon he breeds, though some of the themes he pictures are a little obscure. For example Eevee litter Isabella and Alexander came from all had four-syllable names that started with vowels.
253* TitleDrop: The main character drops one during his confrontation with [[spoiler: Nick.]]
254--> [[spoiler: "But I'm finally going to fix that, one way or another. I'm taking you down off of that pedestal, Nick. And if I have to kill you to do that, to keep Sinnoh safe from you, I will."]]
255%%* TokenEvilTeammate: Ike.
256%%* TokenMiniMoe: Cossette.
257%%* TomatoSurprise:
258%%** [[spoiler: The dark-haired trainer turning out to be Nick]], for the protagonist at least.
259%%** [[spoiler: The black hoodie-wearing trainer turning out to be ''Lola''.]]
260%%* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Carlita and Alice.
261%%* TorchesAndPitchforks: The [[spoiler: riot in Sunyshore]].
262%%* TouchOfDeath: How [[spoiler: Arceus kills Nick and Chase.]]
263%%* {{Tsundere}}: Alice.
264* TwoGuysAndAGirl:
265** The protagonist, Nick and Lola were this for a short while.
266** This dynamic occurs again Gym race arc, with the introductions of Vaikuntha and Alicia.
267** Possibly Des, Carlita, and Ike, and then later Kostya, Alice, and Zarek.
268** [[spoiler: The Pidgey chicks were for awhile.]]
269%%* UnreliableNarrator: [[spoiler: Chapter 148, told by Nick as his sanity starts slipping.]]
270* UnlikelyHero: When they first started out on his journey, nobody would have pegged the protagonist as being the one who'd eventually bring peace to the region.
271* WellIntentionedExtremist:
272** [[spoiler: NICK. He murdered Hanna's team to stop the protagonist from getting too involved with him.]]
273%% ** [[spoiler: Vaporeon has shades of this.]]
274* WeNamedTheMonkeyJack:
275-->"Guys, ''no''. I want to name them! And Des—Vai, really?"
276-->"''No, Vi. It's said differently. And uses different letters''," he replied smartly.
277-->"I still will get confused and I'm the one deciding what to name them!"
278-->Three guesses as to what they ended up being named.
279* WeUsedToBeFriends: Boy is this drilled home during [[spoiler: the confrontation between the main character and Nick.]]
280--> [=NamNar=]: "I thought you were my friend. I thought you were still... Good, somewhere, in there."
281%%* WhamEpisode:
282%%** In the first half, there was much speculation as to where the plot was going. Chapter 57 promptly destroyed that.
283%%** Chapter 132, as well.
284%%* WhamLine:
285%%** Chapter 121: [[spoiler: "Des. Kill it."]]
286%%** Chapter 147: [[spoiler: "I've missed you so much, Matthew."]]
287%%** The meaning of these words: [[spoiler: "Let go."]]
288%%** Chapter 156 is ''full'' of them. The most jarring would have to be [[spoiler: "...A slow waltz, perhaps," and "...he won't be able to see again."]]
289* WhatTheHellHero:
290%%** [[spoiler: Pedestal]] gives an absolutely ''epic'' one to the protagonist. It [[HesBack snaps him out of his mindset]].
291%%** Again: [[spoiler: "Des. Kill it."]]
292** And ''again'': [[spoiler:the protagonist DID just murder someone in relatively cold blood]]. And is then more or less rewarded for it, and at the very least, forgiven by most of the cast.
293** Jude also gives one the the main character, complete with a punch to the face, after his attempts to team up with the mercenary in the Vaporeon arc go pear shaped.
294%%* WholeEpisodeFlashback: [[spoiler: Chapters 151 and 152]].
295%%* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Nick]].
296* WouldHitAGirl: The protagonist smacks Lola with a Skarmory feather to shut her up while [[spoiler: confronting Nick]].
297--> "What. I'm not afraid to hit a girl, and she's been infuriating and awful this entire night."
298** The protagonist also slaps Hanna. To be fair, she started it.
299* WritersCannotDoMath: The poll to announce the public's predictions for the winner of the gym race is as follows: 17% for [[TheStoic Lola]], 15% for [[TakeAThirdOption the race being cancelled]], 13% for [[BewareTheNiceOnes Vaikuntha]], 10% for [[HairTriggerTemper Sela]], 8% for [[{{Ninja}} Keith]], another 8% for [[ButtMonkey the protagonist]], 5% for [[TheAlcoholic Archie]], 3% for [[LipstickLesbian Alicia]], and another 3% for [[BrattyHalfPint Benjamin]]. This adds up to a total of 82%, so apparently 18% of voters were not counted.
300* YouAreNotAlone: Hanna lectures the main character about this after [[spoiler: he tries to talk her down from killing Nick.]]
301--> "You do ''not'' have to bear the weight of the world on your shoulders, contrary to popular belief. I am here to help you."

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