The Vaporeon Cycle, Book Three: WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS
The final book of The Vaporeon Cycle is finally out! I'm really proud of this one - it ties up so many character arcs, and introduces so much that @foxgirltrauma and I have been dying to share. Check out its recently-released Blind, P.I. as well!
As promised, I'll be waiting a week before I start to spoil anything from the first two books. In the meantime, I have something special to share! My favorite piece of fanart I've ever received, and one we've waited to post for an occasion such as this. I've always loved animatics so much... to ever have one based on my story is just mind-blowing to me. Thank you so much to my amazing friend @rusty-eevee... behold!
Have you finished Look Outside yet? I would assume so, but I didn't want to risk it - just had some thoughts on the Flawed Ritual ending I thought you might get a kick out of, especially as it relates to a party member you may or may not know exists yet.
I HAVE!!!!! I’ve played both Perfect ritual endings, Flawed, and Promise so far! So you can grace me with whatever it is you wish to share regarding those endings :3
Another mini-story for @fanartbycactus's AU! I'm picky on what I post on my main account, but I figure any excuse to showcase such a cool world is worth posting somewhere. Enjoy! :]
The mind is a prison, and it is the key. It is the start and the end, the truth and the lie, the power and the weakness. All things in balance, in theory. All things in balance for everyone but him.
Razz sidesteps the falling tree that got him last time. His nightmares aren't usually lucid, but it never helps when they are. Any capable psychic could break out with ease. Razz's powers are only strong enough to make it worse.
An arrow sings through the air. He ducks - he couldn't see where it came from, but he didn't need to. He knew where it was headed. Until something gets him, he won't wake up. If only that was where these dreams ended.
A fuzzy figure comes into view, then five more. His family. For just a moment, he convinces himself they're here to wake him up. He would have believed for longer if his feet didn't walk towards them on their own.
Razz dodges left. Only his upper body obeys, but that's enough for the Shadow Ball to miss his horn. His father snarls dream words at him, and a migraine grows. He closes his eyes. That's enough. If this is how it happened, he just wants to forget again.
Suddenly, he falls. Pain rises through his legs, but they're his own again. All he can sense now is a mental presence.
Not a psychic savior, nor a psychic invasion. Just the faintest feeling… of calm and solid steel beneath him, and another friend by his side.
New fic ahoy - a Christmas gift for the amazing @val-triplicate , based on their Vaporeon Cycle novels! (Contains MASSIVE spoilers for the first novel in the series, Frost Spirals, and light spoilers for the second novel, Now And Forever.)
Happy six-month anniversary to @rusty-eevee's Villain Venus AU! It's hard to believe we've been mired in this wonderfully doomed timeline for so long... I figured I'd celebrate with a cute little story about a potential happy ending! Let's skip ahead a little, and see how everyone settles back in!
You don't trust me, huh? Well, that's your prerogative...
On a soft summer day, the God of Empathy rests in a forest sunbeam. Honoring his passed loves isn't just about maintaining their legacies. It's not just about keeping peace and prosperity for all. Sometimes, it's also about slowing down and enjoying the world they earned together.
A commission of Zora, from the exceptionally talented artist Lampe! I very much recommend her, excellent quality with a very fast turnaround.
My friend @traumafox has recently released its completed book, and it's tremendous! If you haven't read Blind, P.I., you should. If you have, read it again!
To celebrate the occasion, here's a short story about Horteno! He's a mysterious character, alright... what is he really doing here?
What would you do at the end of the world? This isn't a rhetorical question – I want you to answer it. You don't need to say it out loud, just think it. Have it at the ready. You never know when you'll need it.
I have my own answer, of course. A reporter never asks a question they couldn't answer themselves. I don't like to just give it out, though – better to guide than to preach. Even if you know the lesson you're trying to teach, the wisdom they find along the way is more valuable in the end.
Ah, of course. You're a reporter too, right? I can't let you go empty-handed, but I do have my secrets to keep. How about a wager? I'll tell you some stories. I'll give you my wisdom, couched in the requisite parables, and hopefully you'll learn something from them. If you can guess my name by the end, I'll tell you everything you want to know. I'll give you the obvious for free; it's not actually Horteno.
By now you should know I'm not from around here, right? Rotom was the first local I spoke at length to. I tend to blend in until I'm needed – a journalist can get where he needs to be with no real issue. I imagine you have no trouble there, either. I don't exactly make this apartment easy to find.
Rotom was and still is an interesting case. She would be smart enough to figure it all out if she wanted to. Honestly, I think her failure to just speaks to how much she's grown. There's more to science and reporting than knowing every truth. The real prize is in living well, or helping others do so. She found every answer that would help anyone, and she left it at that. I could learn a lot from her there.
Ah – the rubble? I figured you'd have heard about that. I'm good with machines, that's all. I dated a Rotom once, and I happened to have some spare parts left over. Why not give them a happy home?
The next Pokemon I helped out was Blind. Hm? The black shard? My word, you have ears everywhere. Sorry, I'm not saying where I got it. Reporter's confidentiality. I'm sure you understand.
What to say about Blind... no, sorry, I can't help you with that particular investigation. Can't or won't? I don't think the difference is relevant here, honestly. All I can say is I wish the story hadn't ended the way it did. If I could have helped, I would have. Trust me. I did try.
Most of the Pokemon I've talked to since have just been trying to recover from the fallout of Wo-Chien. Don't blame it for everything, but it's the toughest case I've ever seen. Not the most dangerous, and I wouldn't use the word evil, but the most entrenched. Every inch of this world was tainted by it... but I think you'll be okay. The world's in good hands with my sister. I have a feeling it's in good hands with you, too.
So yeah, I mostly stick to minor things. Whatever small kindnesses I can get away with. Braixen? I was already doing my own investigation on the Rock Horn tribe, believe it or not. I'd heard the most affected victim of Wo-Chien was a member, and it seemed a thoughtful way to send my condolences. I know what it's like to have your family shattered like that. The least I could do was offer closure.
I think that's all I have to say for today. Feel free to publish whatever you'd like based on this, but I'll have to ask you to keep the rest of my secrets if you guess correctly. Are you ready to-
Oh. Yes, that's right. At what point did you-
You'd already guessed, huh? Well, I appreciate you listening to an old man ramble, then.
What else would you like to know?
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.
