AO3: Celestial-Kyuk0n
Writing Pokémon SV fanfic (Everything Leads to Zero)
Pronouns: she/her
Behind the scenes, ramblings, and fic extras live here!
Ask box open—anon welcome!
Be kind, stay respectful, enjoy the ride!
Hi, I’m celestial_kyuk0n! 💫(Kyuk0n for short)
This blog is my little creative den for Everything Leads to Zero, a Dipplinshipping fic featuring my OC, Lilac.
If you’re curious about her see the tag: #oc lilac eltz intro
I post worldbuilding notes, thoughts on the writing process, and the occasional scribbly drawing (usually when I get feelings). I also share random things that make me happy—usually Pokémon-related, since that’s my special interest—and some personal opinions along the way.
I’m making an effort to be more interactive here, even if it’s not always easy for me to start conversations. I still really value gentle, kind interactions, and I want this blog to reflect that. 🌸
Thanks for visiting — I hope you enjoy the story. 💜
AO3 link:
Everything Leads to Zero ⬇️
https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679
You’re welcome to ask questions, send reactions, or just vibe!
✨ I'm a non-native English speaker, so thanks for your patience! ✨
Community Guidelines:
Be Kind & Respectful: Please avoid offensive or harmful language. We’re all here to enjoy stories together.
No Hate Speech: This space is about positivity and creativity. Discrimination, harassment, or hateful content won’t be tolerated.
Anon is Welcome: Feel free to send anonymous asks—just keep it respectful.
Ask Anything (Within Reason): I’m happy to talk shop, share headcanons, or explain details from the fic—as long as it follows the rules above.
No Sensitive or Explicit Content: This blog is a safe space. Please don’t share anything graphic, racist, or otherwise inappropriate.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
⚠️ I ask everyone who follows me to please refrain from asking too many questions looking for hints, and to stop sending roleplay questions directed at the characters. You are still more than welcome to ask questions about the AU on this blog and comment under the chapters on AO3! Just please don't overdo it, don't always address the characters, and remember that this is an author-to-reader relationship.
Full Post about this here:
https://www.tumblr.com/celestial-kyuk0n/820556216660066304/important-post?source=share
Just a note about my OC, Lilac:
Lilac is a personal OC who carries some of my traits and experiences. I enjoy writing her relationship with the Pokémon SV characters because it feels emotionally meaningful to me, and I ask kindly that no one use her in dark, violent, or explicit reinterpretations (including mature “what ifs” or alternate crossovers).
I appreciate everyone who's supported her journey so far. Just wanted to make these boundaries clear.
Thanks for understanding and respecting her space. 💜
🤝 Everyone’s Welcome Here
One thing I’d really like to encourage is this:
🌼 Please don’t judge all ships — or all shippers — by the actions of a few people.
Every fandom has:
people who are respectful, kind, and simply passionate
and others who may behave in toxic or hurtful ways
But it’s unfair to assume that everyone who enjoys a certain type of ship is problematic.
Most people are just here to have fun, express themselves, and celebrate the characters they love. 💛
I support:
✨ Canon ships
✨ Yume ships
✨ Yuri & Yaoi ships
✨ OC ships
✨ As long as they’re healthy and respectful ✨
💗 And About Lilac & Kieran…
I want to share something personal too.
Writing their story has meant more to me than I ever expected.
Through them, I found comfort, expression, and the courage to open up to others.
They’ve helped me grow, heal, and connect with people — including many of you.
For that, I’m truly grateful. 🌙🍂
🌟 Feel Free to Share Your Thoughts!
If you’d like to talk about:
💬 your ships
💬 your OCs
💬 your comfort characters
💬 your reasons for loving a character
💬 or anything that makes you happy in fandom
Please feel free to comment or ask!
Let’s keep this space friendly, creative, and supportive. 🌸✨
Kyukon, is it possible that Hidden Potentials can…corrupt?
Everyone has a unique color for their Hidden Potential, but from what I can tell (mainly due to me believing that the colors Kieran is seeing regarding specific characters is their Hidden Potentials), Briar’s seems to be Black.
Black isn’t a color. It’s the absence of color.
Is it possible that due to years of scrutiny, Briar’s Hidden Potential corrupted?
Short answer: Yes, Hidden Potentials can be corrupted, and that’s simply because they are data!
There are two main ways to damage a Hidden Potential:
By hitting it until it is completely destroyed and erased.
By corrupting it in various ways. In this case, it doesn’t get deleted, but it undergoes some pretty nasty modifications.
I’m not sure if I should be spoiling this right now... but I’ll say it anyway! Obsessions actually corrupt Hidden Potentials.
It’s something we’ll see in action later on in the story, but yes: years of continuous emotional suffering and deep obsessions are two clear ways to corrupt a Hidden Potential. When this happens, it completely loses its color and turns black (since black is a non-color). ⚫
Hey everyone! Now that Chapter 64 is officially out and we’re all processing that massive cliffhanger, it’s time for our usual behind-the-scenes trivia post!
Today’s post is incredibly special because it is entirely dedicated to our favorite eccentric spectral mentor: Dr. Arthur (or should I say, Syringa Oleander). I spent so much time crafting his lore, his historical connections to the Paldean expedition, and his meta-narrative powers, so I'm thrilled to finally share all these secret details with you.
As an extra bonus, I actually drew a Concept Art of his design to help you visualize exactly how he looks!
Get ready to dive into the medical and historical files of the Underdepths. Let's take a look at the secrets behind the Celadon Potential! 👇
Syringa Oleander (Dr. Arthur)
🧬 General Profile & Historical Role
Identity: Rosalina's father. Eldest ancestor of Lilac. Chief Medical Officer of Heath’s original Area Zero Expedition Unit, exactly 200 years ago.
The Canon Connection: In the official Violet Book, Heath mentions a team member who was severely injured during their descent. In this AU, that nameless explorer is officially Arthur!
The Crystal Binding: After being mortally wounded by a feral Paradox Pokémon in the deep Underdepths, his body perished. However, his immense life force (Hidden Potential) bound itself directly to the Terastal energy of the cavern. He hasn't faded for 268 years, trapped in a state of spectral existence.
🗝️ Key Item: The Terastal Laënnec Stethoscope
The Design: Unlike modern plastic/metal stethoscopes, Arthur utilizes an 1800s acoustic single-tube cylindrical stethoscope (traditionally made of wood or ivory).
The Mechanics: In his spectral form, this cylinder appears carved out of raw, unrefined Area Zero crystal. When placed on a wound, the crystal flares with a warm, restorative light. Instead of just healing tissue, it literally re-aligns the "frequency" of the target's body data, fixing the damage instantly.
🎭 Personality Profile: The Eccentric Mentor
The Playful Stage: Arthur balances academic brilliance with the erratic madness of someone isolated in a crystal cave for centuries. He is highly theatrical, sardonic, and speaks with grand, sweeping hand gestures—treating reality like his personal theater.
The Chessmaster Mind: Beneath the eccentric facade lies a terrifyingly sharp observer. He respected Lilac instantly because he recognized her tactical brilliance. He saw that she wasn't just reacting; she was orchestrating a grand strategy against the world itself.
👾 Meta-Narrative Authority: Breaking the Stage Rules
The Menu Vision: Arthur is one of the very few entities aware of the Fourth Wall. He can actively see the floating dialogue menus, which he jokingly refers to as "the rules of the stage."
The Authority Hack: When he overrides the Player’s dialogue selection, he doesn't do it through brute force. He does it with the elegant precision of a magician who knows exactly how the trick works and chooses to steal the spotlight from the director.
🟢Hidden Potential: Auscultation (The Celadon Potential).
Just as Lilac "conducts" reality through music and Kieran "sketches" fate, Arthur "listens" to the core frequencies of the world. Through Auscultation, he hears the digital heartbeat, allowing him to diagnose code errors, locate anomalies, and intercept the Player's commands before they reach the screen.
Lilac returns to the upper levels of the Underdepths fundamentally changed. Armed with a newfound clarity, an uncharacteristic confidence, and an eerie, seamless synergy with the Player, she effortlessly sweeps through the dangers blocking their descent.
⚠️Content Warning⚠️: Hey everyone! Please be advised that this chapter contains intense psychological themes and depictions of mental distress. It contains themes of Sensory Distress, Dissociation and Depersonalization, Loss of Agency / Manipulation, Existential Dread & Reckless Behavior, Emotional Distress.
If you feel overwhelmed by themes of manipulation or identity erasure, please take care of yourself while reading.
Chapter 62. The choir in Area Zero’s music was described as “a lament. It was the synchronized, weeping voices of the thousands of souls trapped beneath the crater for centuries.”
And Chapter 63 reveals Crystal Town, a town where the ghosts of people who died down in Aero Zero, trapped beneath the surface in an unloaded area for centuries.
THE CHOIR IS THE GHOSTS FROM CRYSTAL TOWN.
Ahhh, you caught me! I see what you did there! 😉 Yes, you guessed it right: the Area Zero Underdepths choirs I described in chapter 62 are exactly the Hidden Potentials of the deceased trapped in Crystal Town in chapter 63.
This detail actually dates back to my very first playthrough of Pokémon Violet. When I heard how dominant the choirs became in the Underdepths OST, my immediate thought was: “Damn, these are clearly the souls of the hundreds of dead explorers Raifort mentioned during history lessons!” ...Which is a totally normal thought to have, I know. 😅
And to think I’m always the one saying I can't write dark stuff, only to proceed and have these full-blown creepypasta thoughts while playing by myself! 💀
Anyway, I really love this little detail, especially because Lilac is the only one who can hear them, since her Hidden Potential is tied to the in-game music. Plus, only she (and anyone with the Save File Reload power upon death) can access the area where Crystal Town is located. She basically has to throw herself into the void, die, and then come back to life, creating a sort of "time travel" effect.
Once again, these thoughts came to me while playing.
Completely normal behavior, I swear. 🫡😂
Can we see an interaction between the CrystalFlower couple by any chance? (Maybe before the Teal Mask trip???)
…I just need to fuel this fire with them. I’m so obsessed.
It took me a little while to figure out how an interaction between them would look before the events of the Teal Mask (and thus, before the start of ELTZ). I like to imagine that Flowery actually comes from the present timeline of the story—where the Terastal energy is messing up different dimensions—but he traveled back to the past to try and give Briar a subtle warning. He loves her and doesn't want to see her go too far down her dark path in the future.
For some wild reason, my brain also pictures him as a fake Grass-type Pokémon Biology professor at Blueberry Academy. 😅
By the way, all the botanical descriptions you'll see in this interaction are based on actual research I did (I absolutely love flower meanings! 🌸), and I adore how well they fit into this scene.
With that being said, I really hope you enjoy this crossover interaction! 💜
(The Blueberry Academy staff room is quiet, illuminated only by the artificial, bluish glow of the large windows and the harsh light of a laptop screen. Briar is sitting at her desk, surrounded by scattered notes on Kitakami and student profiles. Flowery—currently in his human Darkner form, posing as the school’s eccentric new Grass-type Biology teacher—leans against the edge of her desk, holding a cup of tea he doesn't actually intend to drink. He watches her with an intense, lingering gaze that she completely misses.)
Briar: (Frustrated, typing rapidly on her keyboard) “The administration is being ridiculously bureaucratic about this. A research trip to Kitakami cannot be left to a random lottery. I need specific elements if I want my study on the Terastal energy to yield actual results.”
Flowery: (He chuckles, taking a slow step closer, his eyes scanning the profiles on her desk. He spots the faces of Carmine, Kieran, and a specific application from Uva Academy) “You know, technically speaking, picking your favorite lab rats beforehand is against school regulations, Briar. The protocol says it should be random. But then again... rules are really more like a suggestion, aren't they? Especially when they get in the way of what we actually want.”
Briar: (She sighs, looking up from her screen, slightly annoyed by his presence but too exhausted to dismiss him) “It is not about favorites, Flowery. It’s about efficiency. This excursion is my chance to finally prove my ancestor Heath's findings. And to do that, I need her.” (She taps her finger firmly against the profile of the Uva Academy student: Syringa Lilac) “She is a descendant of one of Heath’s most crucial collaborators. I have a specific proposition for her, and she needs to be in Kitakami.”
Flowery: (His smile freezes for a fraction of a second. Internally, a cold wave of dread washes over him. He knows that name. He knows what happens to Briar once Lilac steps into her life. He masks his panic with a playful smirk) “Ah, Lilac! What a small world. You know, before I transferred to Blueberry, I used to teach at Uva Academy. Totally true, don't look up the records! I actually met her.”
Briar: (Her eyes light up with sudden interest, turning her full attention to him) “You met her? Tell me about her personality. Is she easily influenced? Is she dedicated to academic pursuits, or is she more... malleable?”
Flowery: (He feels a surge of thrill seeing her beautiful, calculating eyes focused entirely on him. He loves her sharp mind, but he hates why she's using it right now. Desperate to steer the conversation away from Lilac, he waves his hand dismissively, laughing) “Oh, she’s... a handful. To be honest, she reminds me of a friend's kid back home. A quiet child named Kris. Always staring blankly, ripping people's plans apart just by existing…”
Briar: (Frowning, writing down the name) “Kris? Are they another student from Paldea? Should I look into their file as well?”
Flowery: (He quickly leans over her shoulder, gently but firmly placing his hand over her notebook to stop her from writing, his heart aching at her proximity) “No, no, no! Don't bother. Kris is just... another random student. Totally irrelevant. Let’s talk about something much more interesting. Like... the biology of local flora? For example, did you know that in old folklore, people believed bringing a Lilac branch inside the house brings terrible misfortune?”
Briar: (She blinks, looking at his hand on her notebook, then up at his face, completely oblivious) “Superstition. I am a scientist, Flowery. I don't care about old wives' tales.”
Flowery: (His voice softens, losing some of its playful edge. He looks directly into her eyes, a deep, hidden sadness in his gaze. He is thinking about how this dimension's Terastal energy is the only thing keeping him alive and human, yet it's the very thing that will drive her to madness. He hates that for once, his meta-powers cannot change the code of this tragic script) “It’s not just a superstition. Sometimes, when you invite a delicate flower into your home... into your life... it brings a storm that breaks everything. Some things are beautiful, but they are meant to be left alone.”
Briar: (She scoffs gently, pulling her notebook away, missing the desperate warning in his words) “You are far too poetic for a biology teacher. Nature is meant to be studied and mastered, not feared.”
Flowery: (He lets his hand fall back to his side. Internally, he is breaking. He knows her destiny. He wants to rewrite her patch, to save her from herself, but the universal code won't let him) “Hey, smile again. You know... there's another flower. The Sweet Briar. Botanists say its thorns can wound you, but its leaves smell like fresh apples, and its extracts can heal. There’s always hope for a flower like that. Even when the future looks a bit dark.”
Briar: (She looks back at her screen, completely absorbed in her programming, offering a faint, dismissive smile) “A flower that wounds to heal? Sounds inefficient. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish coding these travel permits.”
Flowery: (He looks at her one last time, his chest tightening with hopeless ache. He realizes she will never look at him the way he looks at her—not while she is blinded by her obsession. He steps back into the shadows of the room, his voice dropping to a whisper she doesn't hear) “...Goodnight, Briar. Just remember I tried to warn you before the game started.”
Decided to take a spin at adapting this scene myself and how I would write it. Most of the dialogue is the same. Just the subtext is a little different.
Also, Briar calls Flowery “Florence” in this because it’s the pseudonym he’s using in Blueberry Academy. I just thought that nobody would buy him being called “Flowery.”
I think I leaned in a bit too much with the Asgore parallels but hey, I tried.
Contrasting the usual liveliness in the daytime, the Blueberry Staff room at night stayed eerily quiet, minus the low hum of the water enveloping the structure. The projected screens broadcast nothing more than a mocking illusion of the night sky and stars above to provide a small source of light. Briar’s laptop stayed the only other bright spot, bathing the scattered notes and student profiles on her desk in a harsh cyan light.
Realistically, no one would’ve stayed here this late into the night. And truthfully, that was correct; most of the teachers had left for bed by now. Except for one.
Sure, Flowery gave a reason to stay so late—getting his lesson on botany and different types of plants done—but by the ten minute mark his mind drifted to…other topics.
He let out a sigh and leaned against Briar’s desk, the heat from his cup slowly creeping up his hand. Why had he even grabbed a cup of tea anyways? Tea was much too acidic for someone like him, and besides, he ran on hopes and dreams after all! (And sunlight, too, but that’s currently out of the question.) He should’ve given it to one of the other teachers instead.
His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of a huff, followed by more typing. “The administration is being ridiculously bureaucratic about this,” Briar muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. “A research trip to Kitakami cannot be left to a random lottery. I need specific elements if I want my study on Terastal energy to yield actual results.”
Flowery chuckled, taking a slow step toward the frustrated scientist, eyes fixed on the various student profiles. He only recognized two; a girl with fiery scarlet streaks that clashed with her long deep black hair, and her brother, whose violet underside went well with his shorter black hair. Alongside those was an application to Uva Academy, the text obscured via papers.
“You know, technically speaking, picking your favorite lab rats beforehand is against school regulations, Bri.” He replied, his words coming out like a pre-rehearsed speech. “The protocol says it should be random. But then again... rules are really more like a suggestion, aren't they? Especially when they get in the way of what we actually want.”
Briar sighed, finally shooting a glance in his direction. He half expected her to glare at him, much like Raly did when he said that to them after his voice clips were turned off. But instead, she just spoke. “It is not about favorites, Florence. It’s about efficiency. This excursion is my chance to finally prove Heath's findings. And to do that, I need her.” She swept the papers aside to reveal the Uva Academy application in its full glory: a smiling, lavender haired girl with a violet beret stared back at them.
The name on the application made Flowery’s breath hitch, his eyes widening before he quickly shut them: Syringa Lilac.
Syringa. The girl who changes Briar’s life for the worse. The girl who gave her the Stellar Shard. The girl whom Briar uses. The girl who ended her story.
He quickly masked his panic with a smirk. “Ah, Lilac! What a small world.” He prayed she didn’t just hear his voice crack. “You know, before I transferred to Blueberry, I used to teach at Uva. Totally true, don't look up the records!” Dammit, Flowery! Why did you say that?! “I actually met her.”
He felt beads of sweat form on his face. She’s not gonna buy it. He thought. Yep. Well done, Flowery. You’ve blown your cover.
Contrary to his belief, Briar’s dark eyes lit up with interest, her full attention now on him. “You met her?! Tell me about her personality. Is she easily influenced? Is she dedicated to academic pursuits, or is she more... malleable?”
The sudden surge of thrill from her beautiful, calculating eyes on him felt like pure pleasure. He felt the heat creep into his cheeks, alongside a small amount of dread. Why? Why must she use that sharp mind of hers that drove him wild now? To get info on a girl he barely knew anything about? He waved his free hand dismissively, hoping that’ll be enough to get her mind on something else.
“Hahahaha! Oh, she’s... a handful.” Well, at least he didn’t say “flowers” when he laughed. “To be honest, she reminds me of an… old friend's kid back home. A quiet kid named Kris. Always staring blankly, ripping people's plans apart just by existing…” He trailed off, desperately trying to cover up the resentment bubbling up to the surface. He put down his cup of tea, now cold.
“Kris? Are they another student from Paldea?” Briar asked, jotting down the name. “Should I look into their file as well?”
Shoot. Without a second thought, he quickly leaned over Briar's shoulder, gently, but firmly, placing his hand over her notebook. He plastered on a fake grin, his cheeks now a deeper shade of scarlet. “No, no, no! Don't bother!” He reassured, one of his voice clips slipping out, the lack of sound catching his attention. “Kris is just... another random student. Totally irrelevant! Let’s talk about something much more interesting. Like... the biology of local flora! For example…uh, did you know that in old folklore, people believed bringing a Lilac branch inside the house brings terrible misfortune?”
She blinked, her gaze shifting from his hand on her notebook to his face, nervous grin and all. Somehow, she completely missed the blush. “Superstition. I am a scientist, Florence. I don't care about old wives' tales.”
For the first time during the entire conversation, Flowery’s smile faltered. He glanced over to Briar, a deep sadness lingering in his eyes. How ironic, isn’t it? The very thing keeping him alive and human is the very thing that drives his love to madness. It’s almost…familiar, even.
Notes scattered around the room, hanging from the ceiling. Red threads tying them all together. A person, desperately trying to prove themself. His cheerful voice, trying to get their mind off their work. A hand on their shoulder.
*Crack*
He shook his head before he continued. “It’s not just a superstition.” Flowery told her. “Y’know, sometimes, when you invite a delicate flower into your home... into your life... it brings a storm that destroys everything…Some things are beautiful, but they are meant to be left alone.”
All Flowery got from Briar in return was a scoff, yanking her notebook from his hand. “You are far too poetic for a biology teacher,” she replied, opening her notebook back up to the page she was on. “Nature is meant to be studied and mastered, not feared.”
He let his hand fall back to his side. Another crack. Simply looking at her now stung. All he saw was her destiny: Splayed out on the floor of the Crater, sobbing, bleeding. She cried for help. And yet nobody came.
And yet, Flowery couldn’t shake the feeling that this had all happened before.
A sudden, booming voice echoing through his mind: “Everyone will finally realize how right I was…That I wasn’t ‘crazy.’ That they weren’t ‘conspiracies…’”
A sharp sting coursed through his chest.
Oh.
That’s what this was all reminding him of.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spread and fall. He squeezed them shut, plastering on a reassuring smile as he leaned in. “Hey, smile again. You know... there's another flower. The Sweet Briar.” He chuckled. Of course he’d compare her to a plant she shared a name with. “Botanists say its thorns can wound you, but its leaves smell like fresh apples, and its extracts can heal.” He stole a quick glance at her. “There’s always hope for a flower like that. Even when the future looks a bit dark.”
Once again, his words fell on mostly deaf ears. Briar only returned a faint, dismissive smile. “A flower that wounds to heal? Sounds inefficient. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish coding these travel permits.” She shooed him off with one of her free hands.
Flowery nodded; he’d definitely overstayed his welcome by now. Guess another improvised lesson would have to do for tomorrow.
He grabbed his coat—draped on one of the chairs—and hoisted it over his shoulder before he waved back. “See ya tomorrow, Bri!” He beamed, almost a little too joyful. Briar didn’t respond back, not even as he stole another glance at her.
As he stepped out of the staff room, the longing ache in his chest returned. Of course. What did you expect? For Briar to come flocking to you, shouting “I love you too!” Get a chance, Flowery. Get a goddamn chance.
Those same tears from before pricked at the corners of his eyes. She’ll never look at you that way. She’s too busy with her research.
He swallowed the lump forming in his throat just before stepping in the elevator. But just as the doors closed, one last thought ran through his mind, the same words repeating over and over:
I absolutely love this! Thank you so much for sharing your vision of CrystalFlowerShipping with me! 🌟
Your rewriting is beautiful, and even though the subtext differs from mine, it fits the mood perfectly. Also, calling him "Florence" as a pseudonym for the Blueberry Academy is such a brilliant and realistic touch! It makes total sense that he wouldn't use "Flowery" there, and I love that kind of attention to detail.
Please don’t worry at all about leaning too much into the Asgore parallels or characters being OOC. I think your analysis is spot on! Briar and Deltarune’s Asgore are such a perfect match. Both are deeply obsessed with proving to the world that they aren't liars—Briar with Heath and Terapagos, and Asgore with the existence of the Dark Worlds. It’s an incredibly accurate observation, so don't apologize for leaning into it! In my own fic, I always enrich canon characters with new traits, so seeing your take on them is amazing.
It makes me genuinely happy to know that my fic and these crossovers inspired you to write. Seeing how other people interpret my universe is the best feeling ever. 💖
This looks super fun and I really wanted to give it a try! 🌟
🎶 Last Song: I’m currently listening to a personal playlist of various video game instrumentals with fan-made lyrics. I absolutely love them and they are a huge source of inspiration for my fanfiction writing!
📺 Currently Watching: I’m currently rewatching Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone. It’s been a while since I last watched this anime, and I really love the storyline of the Chrono Stone season.
📖 Currently Reading: Right now, I’m trying to decide which fanfic to start reading next. I’ve been enjoying a few days of vacation after my university exams, and I just got back to my reading list. It’s so hard to choose because I have so many, and I’d really love to read them all before the next exam session (which is still pretty far away, thankfully!).
❤️ Current Obsession: Drawing, music, writing, Pokémon, Deltarune, and pretty much any magical girl anime (literally any of them).
✍🏻 Currently Working On: A few drawings I need to finish, a post dedicated to Dr. Arthur, and revising the draft for chapter 64 of ELTZ. I also have other art projects in mind, but I’m already too busy for this week and I don’t think I’ll manage to start them. Maybe next week, especially since real life exists (and so does the heat).
👗 Currently Wearing: A simple, lightweight dress because this 40°C heat is absolutely killing me.
🔍 Last Google Search: Laennec stethoscope (I'm trying to study how it works and its structure because Arthur uses it, and I want to include it in his Concept Art).
It looks like all of my mutuals have already been tagged, so I’m turning to the readers of this blog! I know many of you are silent followers, so if you want to have some fun with this, I’m tagging anyone who sees this post. No pressure, no obligation!
I’d really love to get to know you all better, and feel free to tag me back if you decide to do it! 💜
How do you see Terastal Fate ending? I have my own personal interpretation of it, but, who knows?! Maybe your interpretation will spark mine.
(A.k.a: I just really want to yap about Terastal Fate with you)
The ending of Terastal Fate, huh? 🤔 I usually prefer giving happy endings (except for a few rare bittersweet or bad endings), so I think it would go something like this:
Flowery and Lilac team up to stop Briar. 🤝
Flowery wants to prevent Briar from doing something dangerous or something she might regret. Meanwhile, Lilac wants to protect herself and her friends, but at the same time, she doesn't want to be forced to fight Briar. She knows Briar's obsession comes from a shared desire: wanting a normal life and wanting to be loved.
So, Flowery accompanies Briar, Lilac, Kieran, and Carmine into Area Zero. Even though he can't catch Terapagos himself—because the game mechanics force Lilac to do it as the Protagonist—he can still step in to stop Briar's further plans.
I love to imagine an interaction like this:
Flowery: "Lilac… I know you're scared for your friends, but I'm asking you to leave this to me. We both love someone, and we both have to face them sooner or later. You already faced Kieran once; now let me face Briar. Let me be the one to save her."
Lilac, understanding the feelings driving Flowery, would step aside, praying that the universe lets Flowery win and truly help Briar.
And in the end, he succeeds. Flowery defeats Briar, who starts to realize her mistakes now that she can't do anything else and feels defeated. But instead of judging her, Flowery simply tells her that from now on, she can choose to be a better person, and that if she wants, they can start this new journey together.
Briar accepts, and everyone leaves Area Zero ready to start a slightly brighter new chapter in their lives.
I know, maybe it's a bit cliché or cheesy, but I love stories with a sweet happy ending! 😅
Plus, I didn't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers for things I'll actually do in my ELTZ fanfic.
But hey, now it's your turn! 🫵🏻 What's your interpretation of a hypothetical ending?
Alright, time for a little casual chat about all the tiny details, secrets, and Easter eggs hidden in this chapter!
I wanted to try something a bit different this time instead of my usual structured lists, because there’s just so much hidden context I want to share with you. 🔍
First off, let’s talk about our mysterious new doctor! As you might have guessed, there is SO much more to Dr. Arthur than meets the eye. I’m actually working on a lore post that will include his full official Concept Art, his design process, and some historical context about his role in Area Zero, so definitely keep an eye out for that very soon! 👀
Speaking of environments, I’m so excited to finally introduce Crystal Town. Visually, I really wanted it to capture that cozy, safe-haven energy of Deltarune’s Castle Town. But beneath that colorful magic lies a much darker undercurrent—the core inspiration for this place is actually Lavender Town. 🪦💀 Yes, the Pokémon graveyard. The bodiless residents here are essentially the “ghosts” of those who lost their physical forms in Area Zero, their Hidden Potentials trapped in the Underdepths by... well, something we’ll explore very soon.
Did you notice Lilac’s minor wardrobe change? She’s no longer wearing her ribbon on her beret; she has moved it to the collar of her uniform. 🎀 This is actually a tiny bit of visual foreshadowing for a specific reference to another piece of media that will make a lot of sense later down the line!
Also, when Lilac references Undertale or Deltarune, it’s not just me being a fan! It’s actually a nod to the crossover AU content I’ve been making on the side. In this universe, the fourth-wall breaks imply that characters can occasionally become aware of other games shared on the very same console data. It adds such a fun layer to how they perceive reality.
Finally, I really wanted to give Kieran his time to shine. In the canon Indigo Disk DLC, his character arc kind of takes a backseat once you reach the Underdepths, right up until the Terapagos fight. I always felt that was a missed opportunity! 💔 Here, I wanted to show his growth as a leader through a proper tactical battle, letting him command his “benched” partner Probopass and find his own rhythm before the final storm hits.
Let me know if you caught any of these details while reading, and I can't wait to share Arthur’s art with you all! 💜
Chapter 63 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
After a catastrophic fall, Lilac faces her deepest existential fears. While a desperate bicker unexpectedly shatters her despair, a bizarre new presence emerges from the shadows of the cavern. Meanwhile, high above the yawning chasms, Kieran must find his true direction and dictate the rhythm to clear the path forward. Can Lilac bypass the rigid rules of the game to reclaim her scattered instruments, or will the madness of the deep abyss swallow her whole?
⚠️Content Warning⚠️: Hey everyone! This chapter was an absolute rollercoaster to write. It contains themes of Emotional Breakdown & Existential Dread, Panic Attacks & Hyperventilation, Implicit/Unconscious Time Loops (Die-and-Retry Dynamics), and Mild Fantasy Violence. Please take care of yourself while reading! 🎶
Breaking News! AdelineSariana becomes an Everything Leads To Zero Battat! Fork found in kitchen!
No, but really, this is practically how my mind works when it comes to ELTZ. Thank you @celestial-kyuk0n, I now know how fandoms like Gravity Falls and UTDR feel when theorizing. (I mean this positively. I LOVE doing this.)
Decided to try out this sorta sketchy look for this one. Kinda like what I sometimes draw in my sketchbooks.
(Also, let’s just say this picture was inspired by a very specific song. Hint: It’s from what I consider a sorta popular, yet also sorta niche 2010’s musical—mainly because I didn’t find out about it until recently—and is THE signature song from that musical.) Let me know what you think it is!
This makes me so incredibly happy!! 💖 Seeing you theorize is honestly the biggest compliment an author could ask for! To be fair, I’m not even surprised that you’ve become a total Battat... because Flowery told me!
I absolutely love this sketchy art style, it looks so cool and fits the whole conspiracy board vibe perfectly! 🕵️♀️
(Also, I have to confess: I have no idea which song it is! 😂 But you peeked my curiosity!)
Since you love doing this so much, you deserve a little reward. Here is a completely out-of-context hint for the next chapter: "I'm old!"
Have fun adding this to your board! Thank you so much again for this amazing fan art!
Guys, I lowkey adore Audino, okay? 🙄 It’s literally one of my favorite Pokémon ever and it physically hurts me not giving one to Lilac. So, we are all going to collectively gaslight ourselves into believing that Lilac is currently in Pasio, somehow scored an Audino, and magically got a Sygna Suit complete with a Mega Evolution. (Don't ask me what item she’d use as a Key Stone though, my brain cells didn't get that far 💀).
Honestly, I'm obsessed with how this design turned out, even if it’s completely non-canon and I made it solely for my own dopamine fixes. Fun fact: if Lilac ever got a main Mega, she’d still vibe with her Altaria most of the time, but Mega Audino just looks too good on her to ignore. 🥰
Anyway, here’s a random shower thought I had while drawing this: what other Pokémon would you guys even give to Lilac? 🤔 Throw literally anything at me—shinies, legendaries, mythicals, commons, Magikarp, whatever. I’m just genuinely curious to see what kind of vibes you readers think match her. 👀 Let me know!
LOOK AT THEM!!! 🥹💖 They look absolutely stunning together in their Sygna Suits!
I am completely in love with this fan art, Adeline, thank you so much! 🥰
Also, I have to take this chance to praise @tuttiwrites once again for Kieran’s Sygna Suit design—I have always found it incredibly beautiful!
Here is what totally blew me away about your art:
The Color Contrast: I absolutely adore the contrast between Kieran’s orange and Lilac’s purple! 🧡💜 It pops so beautifully!
The Split Background: Such a brilliant detail! I love how Kieran’s side features a canvas of colors representing his art, while Lilac’s side is filled with musical notes for her music. It's so meaningful!
Now, we have a tiny problem though... accurate representation of my current state: 😭💔
This piece is making me want to give Lilac an Audino canonically in the fanfic even more! My heart is literally aching right now!
But hey... if you readers love it this much... I might just... make a little exception... 🤭 and, you know, give Lilac one extra Pokémon caught in Unova... one day, if I can finally make up my mind! 👀
Guys, I lowkey adore Audino, okay? 🙄 It’s literally one of my favorite Pokémon ever and it physically hurts me not giving one to Lilac. So, we are all going to collectively gaslight ourselves into believing that Lilac is currently in Pasio, somehow scored an Audino, and magically got a Sygna Suit complete with a Mega Evolution. (Don't ask me what item she’d use as a Key Stone though, my brain cells didn't get that far 💀).
Honestly, I'm obsessed with how this design turned out, even if it’s completely non-canon and I made it solely for my own dopamine fixes. Fun fact: if Lilac ever got a main Mega, she’d still vibe with her Altaria most of the time, but Mega Audino just looks too good on her to ignore. 🥰
Anyway, here’s a random shower thought I had while drawing this: what other Pokémon would you guys even give to Lilac? 🤔 Throw literally anything at me—shinies, legendaries, mythicals, commons, Magikarp, whatever. I’m just genuinely curious to see what kind of vibes you readers think match her. 👀 Let me know!
While I wait for the next ELTZ chapter, A little thing for the Terastal Fate AU:
How did Flowery react to Lilac when she came to Blueberry? Does he have an underlying resentment towards her like with Kris? I have a vague idea, but I also really want to see your interpretation.
My take on it is that Flowery would actually like Lilac, and in a way, he even feels bad for everything she has to go through. However, just like with Kris, he’d hold a bit of a grudge against her for what happens at the end of the Indigo Disk.
He doesn't hate her, simply because he knows her actions come from a place of desperate protectiveness over her loved ones (Carmine and Kieran)—just like how everything he does stems from wanting to protect Briar. 🥺 He understands her and cares about her, but at the same time, he can't just look the other way. He can't pretend nothing happened when facing someone who put his beloved Briar in danger. 💔
As a random side note, I heavily imagine Flowery and Lilac having a friendly Pokémon battle where they go all out, using their meta-narrative powers to the absolute max! Complete with Flowery's OST playing in the background! 😅 However, I have no idea who would actually win. It's totally up to interpretation, and hey, a tie is always a possibility!
This chapter marks the beginning of the Area Zero Underdepths arc, and to say I’ve been anticipating this moment would be a massive understatement.
Because this chapter is heavily inspired by meta-narrative games, it is packed with hidden gameplay mechanics, lore theories, and structural choices. Today, I want to pull back the curtain and dive into three specific trivia pieces that define how the logic of "the game" is breaking down in this universe.
Let's look at the hidden details behind the screen! 🎮
The UI Mechanics & Pre-Recorded Dialogue (The Player’s POV) 💬
One of the most core meta-narrative elements of this AU is how Lilac’s dialogue functions when she is under the influence of the Knowing. I want to break down exactly how this look from the Player's perspective behind the screen, as this distinction is going to be incredibly important for the upcoming chapter!
The Square Brackets [ ] = The Game UI:Whenever you see square brackets, you are looking at the direct representation of the screen interface from the Player's POV. This includes game choices like [ Option A ] and [ Option B ], descriptive text boxes, or explicit gameplay menus.
The Dialogue Options:The Player is the one constantly choosing what Lilac says. In the background code of this story, the Player is presented with a list of selectable prompts. Some match Lilac’s actual personality, some are wildly out of character, some are downright rude, and others explicitly reference the meta-narrative nature of the world.
Standard Quotation Marks " " = The Selected Choice:When Lilac speaks normally within quotation marks while controlled by the Knowing, that is the finalized script option that the Player has just selected. Her physical body is forced to voice it like a pre-recorded audio asset, giving her zero control over her own words.
Hint for Chapter 63: Keep a very close eye on both types of formatting, because the next chapter is going to push these mechanics to their absolute limits!
Crystal Illusions & The Wish-Granting Theory 💎
The scene on the bridge where our characters confront their deepest desires wasn't just a classic psychological trap—it is actually deeply rooted in real Pokémon lore and fan theories surrounding Area Zero.
There is a prominent theory within the Pokémon community that the Terastal crystals don't just amplify type energy; they possess the ability to pull desires, thoughts, and even alternate timelines into physical reality. 🤯 This is implied in the canon games by how the Professor's Time Machine operates and how certain Paradox Pokémon seem to originate from imagination.
As the group descends into the deepest parts of the Underdepths, they are getting closer to the source of this energy: Terapagos. The closer they get, the more unstable reality becomes. The illusions Kieran, Carmine, and Briar saw were the crystals actively mining data from their hearts. Lilac with a normal life, Kieran's longing to be a protective hero, Carmine's desire to keep Kitakami safe, and Briar's obsession with scientific validation were being extracted to create those traps.
The Glitched Tera Raid Theme 💿🎶
The soundtrack that plays when the “Trainer Battle” against Lilac begins is a distorted, slowed-down, and low-pitched version of the Tera Raid Battle theme. I chose this specific track for both narrative contrast and meta-narrative logic:
In the canon games, the original Tera Raid theme is incredibly heroic. With its driving electric guitar 🎸and shimmering, crystal-like bells 🔔, it sounds like the ultimate anime protagonist anthem—a track meant for saving the world. Turning it into a sluggish, bass-heavy creepypasta track creates a chilling subversion.
In a standard Pokémon game, the playable avatar doesn't have a unique boss battle theme because they are just the vessel for the Player. When Lilac breaks character and attacks the Player behind the screen, the game’s engine suffers a critical error. 🚩⚠️It tries to pull the most logical music asset available in the deep Underdepths of Area Zero, resulting in the Tera Raid theme—but because the script is completely broken, the audio files glitch and corrupt.
The oppressive, muffled, and underwater-like sound effect represents the literal breakdown of the fourth wall. Lilac is striking at the hand that guides her, and the sound is drowning out because she is actively trying to mute the Player’s control over her reality.
And that’s a wrap for today’s trivia!✌🏻
Before I leave you, I want to challenge you with a little riddle about a hidden gameplay mechanic tucked away in this chapter.
Something very specific and very meta happened behind the scenes. I didn't spell it out explicitly in the text, but the Player had to perform a certain "mechanic" to keep the story going. There is exactly one visual cue that reveals what just happened to reality.
Can you find the clue? What do you think it implies for Lilac's status right now?
Drop your theories in the comments! I can’t wait to see who catches it first. See you in the next chapter... and stay determined! ❤️
Chapter 62 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The descent into the Area Zero Underdepths begins. As Lilac, Carmine, Kieran, and Briar journey deeper into the glowing, crystalline cavern, the weight of the crater's history begins to surface. While Briar pursues her scientific ambition and Kieran looks for answers, Lilac faces a creeping, existential dread—realizing that some loops are already closed, and some scripts are written long before we are born. But the deepest part of the abyss doesn't just hold crystals; it holds illusions, traps, and a silent observer waiting to rewrite the data of their reality.
⚠️Content Warning⚠️: This chapter gets significantly darker and more psychological than usual. It contains themes of existential dread, dissociation (feeling disconnected from one's body), heavy emotional breakdown, and intense feelings of powerlessness. Please take care of yourself while reading! 💙
