Card for this year! This year’s template didn’t really work when I just copy and pasted over the seafoam one, so I decided since I’d have to redraw some stuff anyway that I could change some of the featured characters around too!
It’s finally here!!!!! Currents Leading Home’s prologue has finally been published! Go check it out here:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
here:
On a fateful night nine years ago, a current stole Cyan from the waters of his true home. With only vague memories of his past, and lacking
here:
Fanfic: PMD: Currents Leading Home, Pokémon | FanFiction
or here:
On a fateful night nine years ago, a current stole Cyan from the waters of his true home. With only vague memories of his past, and lacking
Here’s a description:
On a fateful night nine years ago, a current stole Cyan from the waters of his true home. With only vague memories of his past, and lacking basic knowledge of who he is or even what species of pokemon he belongs to, the young serpent doesn’t have much to work with in his quest to find out where he came from. He’s a stranger in a place he was never meant to exist in, and he doesn’t seem to be able to shake the dreadful feeling of never quite belonging.
But soon Cyan isn’t the only odd pokemon at Splendent Reef.
With the recent arrival of a rescue team from the surface, Cyan has never seen the reef churn with so much anxiety. And that’s just the beginning.
A reckless old friend who’s inspired to establish a team, a rude not-yet dragon-type ‘mon who insists they’re fine living on their own, and a religious movement that seems intent on ridding the seas of outside land-dweller influence all disturb what was previously the calm sea of normalcy in Cyan’s life.
Will the ripples grow to become a current leading the way home, or will they just drag Cyan deeper under the waves?
Made a little animated welcome thing for my art fight profile! probably gonna be using it elsewhere as well! Really happy with how it turned out, especially considering this is my first time making this sort of thing!
Snippet of Currents Leading Home (my pmd oc fanfic) writing underneath!
Cyan weaved through the intertwining tendrils of kelp, trying his best to avoid the drag of their cool, slimy touch. The thief wasn’t particularly fast, but they were quite adept at navigating the tangles, flying through narrow paths that Cyan had to slow down at to cross so he wouldn’t get his serpentine body hopelessly snarled. The thief’s coloration and tail fins blending in with the occasional rotting kelp strand really didn’t help matters either.
Luckily he didn’t have to worry about losing them for long. They hit a clearing, and Cyan finally caught up, speeding ahead to cut the thief off before they could slip back into the forest on the other side.
“Give back what you stole.” Cyan flared the fins on his head out as far as he could in an attempt to be intimidating.
The thief laughed. “No. Who the hell are you?”
“Please?”
The russet-brown and violet ‘mon tsked. “I took these berries fair and square. If you expect me to give them up, then you gotta make me.” They sneered. “Otherwise, you really should get to leaving now. This is my turf.”
“Not without the goods you stole,” Cyan declared with as much bravado as he could muster, trying to hide his mounting unease. This conversation was heading in an absolutely awful direction.
The thief’s eyes gleamed, no doubt seeing right through the flimsy facade. “Whatever. Suppose we’ll settle this the fun way.”
Jet black ink exploded across Cyan’s vision. Cyan whipped around, disoriented by his sudden loss of sight. A tail slammed into his belly, and he went crashing back through the forest. He dove into the fall even further, attempting to escape the onslaught long enough to get a chance to gather himself. His head was starting to spin, and his stomach was churning.
“Huh, not much fight in ya, huh? Damn, that’s boring.”
Cyan drifted further away from the voice, kelp dragging against his side. Just a bit longer. He felt like he was going to puke.
His vision cleared, and the weight in his stomach lifted. His Shed Skin had finally taken effect.
His sight renewed, Cyan spun to face the thief, then charged them, shooting off a Thunder Wave once he was back in the clearing.
The thief yelped. “What the…” They sprayed neon green droplets from their mouth as they dodged the static. Cyan cried out as the attack splashed against his side, the toxic beads sizzling into his skin.
“What kinda aquatic ‘mon shoots dang thunderbolts?!” the thief exclaimed.
Gritting through the pain, Cyan flared his fins and charged again. The thief tensed for a blunt attack that never came. Instead, Cyan circled them, faster and faster, kicking up a small but intense whirlpool that completely surrounded them.
The Twister swept the thief up, flinging them around, before slowing and eventually dissipating. The thief spun in the water for a few more seconds before steadying themselves, fins clutched tightly around the satchel strap to make sure it was still secure.
Before Cyan could ready another attack, the stranger flapped their fins up and down frantically, kicking up clouds of bubbles. “Woah, woah, woah. Wait. Hold up. You’re a dragon-type?!” Wide eyes stared at him intensely.
“I-wait you know what that is?”
“Duh? Of course I do. I’m a wyrm too!” They jabbed a fin at their chest. “Not that I’m actually a dragon-type. Yet.”
“I think I’m one? That’s what I’ve been told. I’m honestly not really sure.”
“Huh? How do you not know?” They scoffed. “Being a wyrm’s a big deal!”
Cyan’s fins drooped. “I don’t really remember what I am. Uh, sorry.”
“Okay?” The thief drew out the word, an incredible amount of judgement dripping from their voice, and Cyan’s fins drooped further. They clearly thought that he was an idiot.
A silence stretched in the sea between the two supposed wyrms. That is, before the thief decided to break it.
“You aren’t gonna kill me, right?” When Cyan just stared, dumbfounded by such a morbid question coming completely out of the blue, the ‘mon continued. “‘Cause like I don’t much feel like dying, especially for something I didn’t do.”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. I don’t want to kill anyone!” Did Cyan give off that impression? By the waves, he hoped not!
“Oh, really? Forget I said anything ‘bout it then.” The thief grinned, but it didn’t quite reach their averted eyes.
Cyan swished his tail around anxiously. “So um, can you give the berries back please?” At the question, the thief raised an eyebrow. Cyan’s heart dropped. Oh Kyogre, this is worse than the fight itself.
They wrapped their fins around the satchel strap. “You’re still on about that?” Cmon, why is a ‘mon like you even bothering with me? You’re a wimp, but I bet you could still get your own from someone else. Leave some for a fellow wyrm. Man.”
“Oh, it’s not for me. I just need to give it back to the shopkeeper.“ At the thief’s disgusted stare, Cyan squeaked. “It’s theirs!”
“They had plenty of berries to feed me and a whole bunch of other ‘mons. Why would they care about me taking a few? More importantly, why’s a wyrm like you concerned about it? You a part of their little group?” The thief chuckled.
“Of a pod that lives there. Me and a friend help with problems that crop up around the reef.”
They sputtered. “A pod… You live in a school?”
“Is that bad? I don’t really-“
“Wyrms don’t live in schools! They’re self-sufficient!” Their eyes narrowed, pulling their face into quite the hostile-looking expression. “You should have been kicked out already. Why’re your parents keeping you around?”
“I-well, I mean they’re Finizens that took me in. I don’t really know where my original family’s at-“
They waved dismissively. “Or what you are. You already said that. Suppose that explains why you’re way wimpier than any other wyrms I’ve met.” They crossed their fins. “Sounds like you got kicked out pretty early. Kinda lame you found a group anyway. But I guess whatever floats you through the currents.”
“I- that can’t be right.”
“That’s how us Skrelps work. You see anyone with me?”
“Oh.” Cyan thrashed his tail around harder. They were wrong. They had to be. “Well, can I please have the berries back?”
The Skrelp sighed deeply. “You aren’t gonna leave me alone about that, are you? Isn’t even yours.” They loosened the satchel and tossed it over with an eyeroll. Cyan scrambled to catch it, letting out a sharp exhale when the strap thumped against the top of his neck. “Now shut up about it.”
Cyan had to return the berries as soon as possible. He knew that, and yet… He rubbed his tail against the bumpy seams sewn into the satchel strap, working up the courage to ask one last question. “Hey, since you seem like a ‘mon that knows a lot about underwater dragon-types-“
“Duh I am one. Or will be. Whatever.”
Cyan dragged his eyes up to meet the Skrelp’s. “-can I maybe talk to you again soon? I think you may know some things that could help me figure out who I am.” He couldn't just give up on finding answers to who and what he was. Even if it was really starting to seem like he wouldn’t like the truth.
The Skrelp’s eyes lit up, but the shine was quickly snuffed out as their face shifted into a particularly mean-spirited sneer. “Ooo, the little pod-wyrm wants help from the horrible, no good thief?”
They were very clearly making fun of him. Cyan pushed through the horrible knot that the insult had formed in his throat. “If you wouldn’t mind?”
They looked away sharply. “Fine. Whatever. Come back or don’t. Doesn’t matter to me.” Did Cyan see their face flush a split second before they turned their head? No, surely not.
Cyan tried to wear his best confident grin, but again he could feel the mask falter. “Thanks! I’ll try and come back soon!” He rushed away as fast as the loose satchel let him, heart pounding. Oh Kyogre, I probably seemed so stupid. Why is it so hard for me to be normal? He took a deep breath and slowed down his swimming once he was out of sight. I wouldn’t blame them if they left just so they wouldn’t have to see me again. But he couldn’t go back and redo the conversation. He just had to keep on pushing through.
…
Stipe’s mother had warned them to steer clear of any other aquatic dragon-type ‘mons. That they’d likely kill them for some sort of long standing grudge that none of the Dragalge even remember. But this little serpent was so fascinating. Never thought that someone like him would associate with a group like that. What an insult to wyrm-kind!
He must have been too much of a coward to strike out on his own, and other members of this so-called ‘pod’ he found were probably enabling that behavior. Heck, if Stipe’s mom didn’t drive them off, they’d probably still be stuck by her side like a pathetic little fry. Not that they’d ever admit that out loud. They’re strong enough to make it on their own. A pod. They scoffed. How idiotic!
But despite how stupid they were for wanting it, they couldn’t push away the sharp longing in their chest for the wimpy little wyrm to come back after all.
Was practicing drawing Cyan’s “fins” when I made a sketch that I really liked, so I decided to digitalize it. Unfortunately said sketch was the drawing where I was sketching out how his fins drooped when he’s sad, so y’all get a drawing of upset Cyan on this lovely day!
