My three-novel series is finally complete! Made in collaboration with my dear friend @foxgirltrauma, this is the largest (and best) project I've ever done. There's twists and turns, love and heartbreak, and even some funny little animal guys! (Please don't tell Nintendo...)
You can read all of the books on my website: https://val-triplicate.neocities.org/. There you'll find a heaping plate of bonus content, fanart and fanfic, and a book by @foxgirltrauma which details the origin story of my character Zora!
Speaking of which, my ask box is always open! Anonymous asks are accepted just the same. I adore hearing about people reading my work, and I answer almost every question I get. Anything related to one of my characters may be answered in character, and the lore revealed will always be canon. The interactions themselves are never canon, though.
For Whumptober 2025 prompt 29, "Last one standing."
Last One Standing
An amnesiac Vaporeon, cheated and betrayed, must make her mark by showing that she cannot be crossed. It's a tough world for a Pokémon, after all.
A fanfic for my friend @val-triplicate 's Frost Spirals novel, which is a part of their Vaporeon Cycle series! Go check out their work on AO3 or on their Tumblr!
Contains spoilers for Chapter 4 of Frost Spirals.
Read on AO3 here!
Rating: Gen
Fandom: Frost Spirals, Pokémon: Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon
Pairing: N/A (outside of "Vaporeon x Bad Decisions")
Content warnings: Non-graphic violence, in the sense that the actual violence that is happening is graphic, but I'm not describing it in detail, so...? Not sure if I should add an archive warning for Graphic Depictions of Violence if the violence is not Being Depicted Graphically. Also, murder.
Check out @whumptober and @whumptober-archive for more amazing works and to learn about this event! (Also, image source is from Whumptober’s AO3 collection!) Thanks for reading!
Lugia's rage subsided. He felt as if he had just surfaced from a long, deep dive.
The cavern held its breath.
All that remained of Moltres's murderer was a stain on the cavern floor.
Zapdos had stopped staring at his talons in favor of comforting his sister.
Articuno wouldn't pry open her eyes, still trembling.
Lugia tore his eyes away from his children. They're bereaved, just sensitive to the suffering of others. Even those who do not deserve it, Lugia thought.
Lugia looked to Entei. You. You understood, didn't you?
Behind what remained of their sister were Entei and Raikou.
Raikou's breakdown was to be expected, he'd always had more love than sense.
Lugia ignored the way his heart clenched hearing his sobs, and tore his eyes away.
Glancing around the cavern, Entei was no longer in attendance.
Lugia looked back at what used to be Suicune, and carefully stepped around it as he left the cavern.
Outside, the sun had sunk below the waves, and the stars were beginning to wake. The sound of waves was broken with quiet sobs.
Ho-oh and Entei clung to each other.
Lugia knew he would have to face her again. She hadn't been present at the execution.
Lugia's mouth went dry, and he tried to think of something to say.
They were even now, weren't they? Why didn't it feel like it?
Lugia forced its attention back to Entei. Such a good child, to comfort your mother, he thought.
Entei's shoulders shook, buried in its mother's feathers.
Ho-oh looked up at Lugia and said nothing. She looked as tired as he felt.
She shook Entei gently until it looked up at her.
"Go get your brother, I want to see him." Her voice was hoarse.
Entei obliged and walked back into the cavern, pointedly refusing to meet Lugia's eyes.
It was just them now.
Ho-oh searched her old friend's face.
Lugia swallowed, throat tight.
"It had to be done."
There was a storm in Ho-oh's eyes. She tightened her beak, and looked off at the dying embers of twilight.
Clouds gathered in the sky.
The hole in Lugia's chest was no smaller than the day Moltres died. The waves lapped at his feet, tinged pink.
"Ho-oh, I—"
"Do not," she interrupted. "Stop. Just stop. It is done."
Entei returned, carrying Raikou on its back. It went to its mother's side, and the three of them left.
The sky opened up, and the rain began to pour.
Lugia knew he would not see the rainbow after this storm.
Yes, this is what I've been working on since I last posted. Yes, it really did take me that long. No, the CSS was not fun to figure out. So it ever goes!
By the way, if you missed it - I've updated Frost Spirals on my website! The big feature is some new art by @fanartbycactus and @rusty-eevee, but there's a rather large and important change to V-CREATE. I'd recommend rereading it; it fixes some continuity issues with the sequel and with One Million and Eighty-Six.
There's also plenty of notable changes elsewhere, at least for people who think typos and wording tweaks are notable. I won't judge, they bothered me enough to fix after all!
So, what's next from me? We'll just have to see! I do have irons in the fire, but nothing to announce just yet. Keep an ear out, and have a great day!
I've got a new Frost Spirals bonus episode today - an epilogue for a character of medium importance! Dedenne was inspired by @rusty-eevee's amazing Open Arms animatic; I loved it so much that I had to do something with the one Pokemon depicted that I hadn't yet used.
For Arbok: First off, I wanna say, I'm a fan. You're cool, and I hope we get to see more of you in the future; preferably enjoying a nice, relaxing vacation with your favourite snack. Second off, could I please trouble you for the "secret lore"? Who has been behind everything? What is everyone hiding? What have you uncovered? Third off, could I interest you in a freshly baked croissant, included with this missive? I hope you have a pleasant day, regardless!
VAL: Hey! Thank you for the ask - I'm always excited to bring less central characters back.
VAL: The last Arbok ask implied its plans changed as a result, though, and I wanted to clear something up.
VAL: These responses will never be canon, but the information revealed always will be.
VAL: The last Arbok ask didn't really happen, but it did independently change its plans for the reasons given.
VAL: Just something to keep in mind! These "portals" are a framing device, nothing more.
Arbok notices the portal quickly. It looks around it, suspicious, and hushes its voice.
ARBOK: Greetingsss, sssussspiciousss flatterer.
It carefully picks up the croissant and flips it up in the air. It smacks the pastry hard with its tail, and it goes flying.
ARBOK: Here'sss my first sssecret finding: trust no one. Certainly not the godsss.
ARBOK: Here'sss my sssecond: No one but the godsss can make portalsss like thisss one. Catching my drift?
ARBOK: And one lassst ssspicy sssecret: Poissson typesss are not immune to poissson, merely resssissstant.
ARBOK: I'm not ssstupid anymore, Hoopa. Watch your back.
ARBOK: Unlessss you're here to ssshare some anssswersss of your own?
It watches the pure-black portal with a smug glare. You try to explain yourself, but the terminal isn't accepting any more input. Satisfied, it walks away. You see its destination as it does: out of Crossroad Town, towards Basin City.
Just finished Frost Spirals, feelong very normal about it *lying*
No, but for real, it's great!
Oh my gosh, thank you!! I'm so glad you liked it - this series is truly my pride and joy. I assure you, no one is less normal about it than me. XD
If you have any questions, I would love for you to toss them my way! I like to write bonus stories for my works, too - if there's any characters you'd like to see more of, I'd be thrilled to give them some focus. c:
A lot of them will get more screen time very soon, of course! Now and Forever is more of an epilogue to Frost Spirals than a sequel. The sequel I'm still writing right now. All of the really important characters who didn't get much exploration get it in that book!
As always, the first two books can be found on my website for those curious about the series!
