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Citrine Isles

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"When their blimp ran into the storm, Ash, Misty, and Brock found themselves in a strange land where the Pokémon there see humanity as pests and enslavers. Now, having turned into Pokémon themselves, their only hope to return home is to participate in their local Pokémon League equivalent. All the while, the nature of what separates Pokémon and trainer blurs."
Citrine Isles Description

A fanfic created by Fanfiction.net user Diatomic-Rex. This Pokémon the Series Alternate Universe Fic follows Ash and friends before they went to the Orange Islands. In this AU, the Team Rocket blimp the group uses to take them to the Islands ends up crashing in a storm; and the group finds themselves on the titular island.

Just with one catch: Ash is transformed into a Riolu, Misty is transformed into a Buizel, and Brock is transformed into a Rockruff. Oh, and the islands inhabitants hate humans and think of them as soulless and evil oppressors.

Now the group and their teams must find a way off the islands by beating the locals own version of the gym challenge while maintaining their cover as Pokémon.

Naturally, hijinks ensue.

It can be read here on Fanfiction.net; and also read here on Archive of Our Own.


Citrine Isles contains examples of:

  • Adaptational Badass: Ash, Brock, and Misty; being humans in the past, are now Pokémon, and as such are now able to fight on a relatively equal playing field to their own teams (after some training and getting used to their new bodies).
  • All-Loving Hero: Ash, just like in canon, is this. He's far more forgiving of Team Rocket compared to his friends once he realizes that the team has been transformed into Pokémon just like them. He's also far more tolerant of Charizard being a Jerkass compared to the rest of his team.
  • Badass Bookworm: Zorua is a subverted example in that she knows how to use her illusions to full effect and is a skilled potions maker; as well as knowing how to fight. But she doesn't like doing so and prefers to hide and let others fight as opposed to doing so herself.
  • A Dog Named "Dog": A common theme with Pokémon/Maiju on the Citrine Isles. Some have names (such as Scholar Aspen), while others like Zorua just go by Zorua.
  • Fantastic Racism: The native Pokémon/Maiju of the Citrine Isles hold extremely unfavorable views of humans. Due to this, Ash and his friends have to keep their identities a secret.
  • Foil: The newly christened Cinder (The Hiusuan Zoroa) muses about this when examining her name.
    Though as she thought about it some more, she realized that her father had recognized the connections and contrasts that the two of them shared.

    Ash was born human, with a Maiju who left Citrine and became human. Cinder's mother was human and remained in Citrine a Maiju. Where the Zorua was a cowardly bibliophile, the Riolu practiced bravery and action. Riolu were associated with the sun and life, due their connection to both the sun and Aura, while Zorua were nocturnal tricksters. There might have been more parallels if she bothered to search further, but that assessment could wait for another time.
  • Forced Transformation: All humans who enter the Citrine Isles are transformed into Pokémon.
  • Not Allowed to Grow Up: At one point, an argument with Charizard leads Pikachu to attempt to evolve, but learns that he can't when touching a Thunder Stone does nothing. Jessie and James have similar experiences trying to evolve from Eevee to Flareon and Pikachu to Raichu, respectively.
  • Took a Level in Kindness: Charizard still remains difficult to get along with but offers to help far more than he ever did in the Indigo League. This came about from Ash and the others actually being able to talk with him.
  • Unskilled, but Strong: Charizard is easily the most powerful fighter in Ash’s group. However, he’s had little training to refine his techniques. This was a major factor in his defeat against Gallade.

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